Reno Hayek Symposium

Harry Reid got his 60 votes dealing his “cash for cloture.” Problem is that the cash is yours, or more appropriately that of your children, grandchildren and descendants for several generations. Because the bill will not reduce the deficit but increase the deficit some $300 Billion–this for the simple reason that Congress will not cut Medicare the $480 Billion required in the bill. Old folks vote, and vote consistently; the pols won’t cross them. So the unsustainable mountain of federal debt grows higher!

George Will says it well: “Reid was buying the votes of senators whose understanding of the duties of representation does not rise above looting the nation for local benefits. And Reid had two advantages — the spending, taxing and borrowing powers of the federal leviathan, and an almost gorgeous absence of scruples or principles. Principles are general rules, such as: Nebraska should not be exempt from burdens imposed on the other 49 states.” (via RealClearPolitics – Obama Claims Two Unsightly Triumphs.)

Here’s an initial list, complements of research from the Senate staff,  of how you bribery money was spent:

In the original Reid amendment:

• Louisiana Purchase ($300M) (section 2006, page 432, line 14)
• Florida Medicare Advantage grandfather clause ($25-30B) (section 3201, page 895, line 9)
  

In the new Reid amendment:

• Nebraska ($100M), Vermont ($600M), Massachusetts ($500M):  Adds three targeted state FMAP provisions. Specific FMAP bonuses for VT, MA, and NE (starting at page 96, line 9). VT gets a 2.2% FMAP increase for 6 years for their entire program. MA gets a 0.5% FMAP increase for three years for the entire program. NE gets 100% FMAP for newly-eligibles forever. (section 10201, page 96, line 9)
• Hawaii:  Adds a DSH extension (section 10201, page 101, line 6).
• Michigan, Connecticut:  Amends section 508 extension so that hospitals in Michigan and Connecticut have option to benefit under section 508 if it means higher payments. This was also done in previous legislation. (section 10317, page 174, line 9)
• Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming:  Dorgan/Conrad frontier amendment adds 1.0 hosp wage index for those states. MT, SD, ND and WY would qualify (AK and NV also qualify but would not benefit because they are already above 1.0 wage index value).  Also establishes a 1.0 practice expense GPCI floor for physicians in those states.  (section 10324, page 208, line 16)
• Libby, Montana: Medicare coverage for individuals exposed to environmental health hazards in or around the geographic area subject to an emergency declaration as of June 17 2009.. The EPA announced a public health emergency at the Libby Montana asbestos superfund site on June 17, 2009. Posted at http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/phe.html <http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/phe.html> (section 10323, page 193, line 21)
• Nebraska and Michigan: Carve-out from the insurance fee for Nebraska Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Michigan Blue Cross/Blue Shield. (section 10905, page 369, lines 10-25 though page 370, lines 1-15).
• Nebraska: Carve-out from the insurance fee for medigap policies sold by Mutual of Omaha and other companies.  (Section 10905, page 371, line 1)
• Connecticut Hospital ($100M): Dodd took credit <http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jk5LKXjjlToRUNXFB_OKs7AoX4EgD9CNFKM00>  for this last night, but was it bait for Lieberman as well? $100,000,000 For “Health Care Facility” “At A Public Research University In The United States That Contains A State’s Sole Public Academic Medical And Dental School.” (Manager’s Amendment To H.R. 3590, Pg. 328) <http://www.politico.com/static/PPM145_chris.html>

Now you may think this is crass, unscrupulous and unprincipled as does George Will. But I see this portending the Animal Farm to which Obama is leading us. For, despite Constitutional protections like equal protection of the laws and due process, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Tom Motherway