Bill Frist recently delivered the 25th annual Lamb Lecture at East Tennessee State University. Read his blog at www.Volpac.org.
The Politico reports that Fred Thompson is favored by Christian Conservatives by a 10 point margin over his closest rival, Rudy Giuliani.
This is another interesting article pointing out that the Democrats have lost any momentum they may have had from the 2006 election, and may find themselves tagged in the 2008 election as the party that couldn't stop Bush when given a chance, or as the party that did not try hard enough.
William Kristol has another good article in The Weekly Standard. He points out that now it appears the war may well be won, in spite of the Democratic Congress's best efforts. As Mr. Kristol says it's the congressional Democrats who are the losers.
When I first saw this story I thought the author was talking about Al Gore and the issue of gloabl warming. Well, he does talk a little about that, but then he goes off on a tangent about Gore being such a hawk. I'm not sure how the two fit together, but it is an interesting perspective.
I think this is important enough to post in it's entirety:
Thursday, October 18, 2007
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn made the following statement Thursday regarding the need to reach a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), following the failure of House Democrats to override the President’s veto:
“Now that the House has predictably voted to uphold the President’s veto, it’s more important than ever for Republicans and Democrats to work together on a bipartisan, compromise SCHIP bill and send it to the President to sign immediately.
“Democrats stalled for weeks to play political games and run partisan attack ads. This program is too important to be used as a political pawn. Low-income children in Texas and across the country are depending on Congress to get the job done. I hope my Democratic colleagues will join us in sitting down, rolling up our sleeves and doing the job that the people have sent the Congress here to do.”
Sen. Cornyn co-sponsored and voted for a $10 billion expansion of SCHIP. The Kids First alternative he supported provides a 40 percent increase in funding and resources to address the key problem in Texas of outreach and enrollment.
Last Thursday, Sen. Cornyn sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging them to reconsider their decision to shutdown negotiations on SCHIP. Senator Cornyn wrote, in part, “If you believe that covering low-income children in Texas and across the country, requires more than the 40 percent funding increase that Republicans have introduced, I am more than willing to work with you to find a reasonable, bipartisan solution. But, reauthorization of SCHIP is too important to be used as a political pawn for campaign purposes.”
The BBC has announced that it will cut 1800 jobs, broadcast fewer programs and require staff to create content for television, radio and the Internet, creating a showdown with journalists and other employees.
China has warned the United States that its honoring of the Dalai Lam "gravely undermined" relations between the two countries.
The Washington Post is reporting that Denny Hastert intends to resign from Congress rather than complete his term 15 months from now. According to unnamed aides, Hastert intends to resign at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
Fact sheet In Focus: Health Care
MYTH #1: President Bush's proposal would not help poor children.
* FACT: The President strongly supports SCHIP reauthorization and his 2008 budget proposed to increase SCHIP funding by $5 billion over five years. This is a 20 percent increase over current levels of funding.
* FACT: The President's proposal maintains SCHIP's original purpose of targeting dollars to poor children who need them most.
MYTH #2: Cost is the only reason for President Bush's veto threat.
* FACT: There are numerous problems with Congress's SCHIP bill. In addition to raising spending by $35 to $50 billion, the legislation:
1. Turns a program meant to help poor children into one that covers children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year.
2. Would move millions of American children who now have private health insurance into government-run health care.
3. Is an incremental step toward the Democrats' goal of a government-run health care system.
4. Raises taxes on working Americans.
5. Relies on a budget gimmick that drops SCHIP funding by almost 80 percent in year six, masking future deficits and ultimately resulting in a choice between higher taxes or forcing millions of children to lose health insurance.
6. Creates new funding schemes inviting states to overspend their budgets and shift health care costs to the Federal government by using SCHIP funding to offset state Medicaid spending.
7. Provides incentives to states to relax protections against enrolling ineligible individuals, including illegal immigrants.
MYTH #3: President Bush is wrong in claiming the Senate SCHIP bill would cover children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 per year (400 percent of the Federal poverty level).
* FACT: The Senate bill grandfathers in New York at a higher SCHIP match rate than the rest of the country – allowing SCHIP to cover children in some households with incomes of up to $83,000 per year.
Background Information:
* Sens. Clinton and Schumer: "New York State's planned CHIP expansion would have covered children up to 400 percent of the national poverty level." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Press Release, "Clinton, Schumer Blast Federal Rejection Of New York's Attempts To Increase Health Coverage For Children," 9/7/07)
* The Federal Poverty Level for a family of four is $20,650. Four hundred percent of $20,650 is $82,600. ("The 2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines," Accessed 9/20/07, Available At: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/07poverty.shtml)
* The Senate bill states: "(B) - Exception - Subparagraph (A) [the limitation of the matching rate to the Medicaid rate for children whose effective income exceeds 300 percent of the Federal poverty level] shall not apply to any State that, on the date of enactment of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, has an approved State Plan Amendment or waiver to provide, or has enacted a State law to submit a State plan amendment to provide, expenditures described in such subparagraph under the State child health plan."
* New York enacted a state law to submit a "State plan amendment." While that amendment was disapproved, the language of the Senate bill would still allow New York to claim the enhanced match if approved by a different Administration in the future.
* FACT: The Senate SCHIP bill also grandfathers in New Jersey's program at 350 percent of the Federal poverty level, which includes children in families with incomes of $72,000 a year.
* Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ): "Corzine added that the state, which covers about 122,000 kids in its program, known as FamilyCare, 'will continue to provide health care to children in families with income up to 350 percent' of the federal poverty level – or $72,275 for a family of four. He also wrote that he is prepared to file a lawsuit challenging the new rules." (Christopher Lee, "N.J.'s Corzine to Defy New Health-Care Rules," The Washington Post, 9/14/07)
MYTH #4: Democrats are not seeking a political victory by passing a bill they know will be vetoed.
* FACT: House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): "If he vetoes the bill, it's a political victory for us." (Robert Pear, "Veto Risk Seen In Compromise On Child Health," The New York Times, 9/17/07)
* FACT: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD): "With a bill on its way to the president's desk by the end of next week, Democrats will be safe in blaming the White House for allowing the program to expire, according to House Majority Leader Hoyer." (Fawn Johnson, "Negotiators Strike SCHIP Deal, Agree To Slightly Modified Senate Measure," National Journal's CongressDaily, 9/19/07)
* FACT: House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA): "The Medicare and Medicaid portions of CHAMP have been abandoned for rhetorical and/or political reasons that are unclear to me." (Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), Dear Democratic Colleague Letter, 9/20/07)
MYTH #5: President Bush will be responsible if SCHIP is not reauthorized by September 30.
* FACT: Congress is irresponsibly waiting until just before SCHIP expires on September 30 to pass a final bill they know will be vetoed. Democrats have known for months that President Bush would veto a bill like the one they intend to send him.
* FACT: One of the Democrats' leaders has even said such a veto would be a "political victory." Members of Congress are putting health coverage for poor children at risk just so they can score political points in Washington.
* FACT: President Bush has called on Congress to pass a clean, temporary extension of the current SCHIP program that he can sign by September 30. The President does not believe health coverage for poor children should be held hostage while political ads are being made and new polls are being taken.
* FACT: The President has instructed HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt to work with states to mitigate the resulting damage if Congress allows SCHIP to lapse.
As I was posting this article about Benazir Bhutto's dramatic return to Pakistan, a news bulletin came on announcing that there had been a bombing very near Ms. Bhutto's motorcade. At least 30 people are believed dead, but Ms. Bhutto is safe.
Joey Bishop, who I remember as a member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack has died at the age of 89. He was the group's last surviving member.
The cost of living increase for Social Security recipients will be only 2.3% for 2008, the smallest increase in four years. Of course, the problem with this is that people on fixed incomes can't keep up with the increases in all of the fixed expenses that they have. Utilities, health insurance, etc. will all go up more than this. Today I got a notification that my garbage bill is going up $12.00 a month and my health insurance is going up $13.00 a month. You can be sure that electric, water and sewage will also go up.
George Will, is not one of my favorite columnists. I find him to be smug and pompous. But this article at least makes sense. Will argues that the Democrats are pandering to the middle class. I think we have known that for a long time, but it's worth reading.
Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarter has a good article about the bill condemning Turkey for the Armenian genocide of 1915 beginning to lose steam. It's about time.
Michelle Malkin has an excellent article in Townhall.com about the SCHIP bill. In view of the House vote today, sustaining the President's veto of the bill, this is an especially important column to read.
The labor unions in California are protesting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal about health care. According to the labor unions the Governor's proposal would gouge the middle class. The Governor's plan would require individuals to purchase health care insurance, with the state providing subsidies for the poor. Under the plan, individuals earning more than $35,735 and families of four making more than $72,275 would not receive subsidies.
This is an e-mail from Congresswoman Heather Wilson from the First Congressional District of New Mexico. I don't think she will mind if I share it with you. Thanks to River West for sending it on.
The Collapsing Deficit October 16, 2007
Dear Friends,
We balanced the budget and paid off $450 billion in publicly held debt in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. Those were the first balanced budgets since 1969. It's hard to remember now, but, the week before 9/11 the Congress was debating what to do with a budget surplus. Then the world changed. We were recovering from a national emergency, fighting a war and in an economic slowdown all at once.
Our priorities changed. But the way back to balanced budgets is to control the growth of government spending and economic policies that encourage strong economic growth. That means low taxes and fair regulations. When we passed more tax relief in 2003, the tax and spend crowd was enraged. But that tax relief was just the right thing to do. And now, the data is in to show it's working.
On Thursday, the final budget data came in for the year that ended September 30. The budget deficit is collapsing faster than anyone projected. It is now only $163 billion. I know. "Only" in front of any number in the billions is hard to swallow. But keep in mind that only 24 months ago the deficit for this year was expected to be twice as large and this deficit is 1.2 percent of GDP -- quite low by historical standards.
As a percentage of the economy, the deficit is now lower than the average of the last forty years. Why? Because tax revenues grew by $161 billion this year -- the highest level of Federal revenues ever recorded. And it builds on the 14.5 percent and 11.8 percent increase in revenues during the last two years.
Tax relief combined with spending restraint promotes economic growth. The economy is in its sixth straight year of sustained economic growth. Since August 2003, our economy has added more than 8 million new jobs and the national unemployment rate is at 4.7 percent.
This progress back toward balanced budgets and strong economic growth is threatened by the budget resolution passed this year by the new Democratic Congress. The budget is a blueprint that looks out five years. It is not signed by the President and I opposed it. Included in their assumptions is the second largest tax increase in American history. They are planning for all of the tax relief passed in 2001 and 2003 to expire. Income taxes would go back up. The marriage penalty would come back. The child tax credit would be cut in half and capital gains and dividends would be taxed at higher rates again. The death tax would come back to life.
None of this would be good for our economy and job creation or for balancing the budget. The way to balance the budget is through policies that encourage economic growth and controlling the growth of government. Raising taxes is the wrong way to go.
The head of the U.N. food agency operations in the Somali capital was seized and jailed Wednesday in Mogadishu.
John Schoen has an interesting post on MSNBC. I can remember when the middle class made above $35,000. Now families with incomes of $100,000 say they are being squeezed.
It looks like the Democrats in the House are finally going to think of the Country instead of playing politics. John Murtha, of all people, has come out against the genocide resolution. It's about time.
So Pirates still exist, and the attacks have increased 14% worldwide.
this seems like a weird idea by Tom Tancredo. He wants immigrants seeking to join relatives in the United States to provide DNA samples to prove their family ties. I don't think I like this idea.
The FDA has approved a new chemotherapy drug to treat advanced breast cancer. The drug, Ixempra, was approved for use in women who have failed treatment on three other types of chemotherapy.
Researchers have found a strain of bacteria that can cause ear infections that is resistant to all antibiotics approved for use in children. This could become a serious health risk.
China is threatening the United States, telling our government not to honor the Dalai Lama. Congress is going ahead with their plan to present the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, and the President plans to attend.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, whose term of office is not up until 2012, has announced that she will not seek a fourth term. Senator Hutchison is thinking about a run for governor of Texas.
Ed Morrissey can always be counted on for a thought provoking article. Ed points out that the Democrats are going to be on the losing side of any battle with the President over spending. As he correctly points out the American people strongly favor fiscal restraint. Another miscalucalation by the Democrats.
Robert Novak has an interesting column about Rudy Giuliani and the religious conservatives. I think he makes a very valid point and that is that religious leaders like Dr. Dobson are as out of touch with their base as Washington politicians are.
Jed Babbin has a very thoughtful column in Human Events about Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats efforts to undermine the war in Iraq by their attempts to alienate Turkey. Pelosi and her gang of cronies come awfully close to treason in my opinion.
Fred Thompson says
"I believe that conservatives beat liberals only when we challenge their outdated positions, not embrace them. This is not a time for philosophical flexibility, it is a time to stand up for what we believe in."I think Fred Thompson has it right.
Two planes collided this evening on a runway at London's Heathrow Airport.
The Washington Post is reporting that House Republicans are likely to uphold the President's veto on SCHIPS. Good for the House Republicans.
Fred Barnes does a fantastic job pointing out how a biased poll question can cause the poll results to be skewered. In this case the question is one supposedly asked Republican voters about S-CHIP.
Bill Frist blogs on Volpac (www.volpac.org) about using medicine as a currency for peace. As always Dr. Frist makes a lot of sense. He quotes the 9/11 Commission Report: "When people lose hope, when societies break down, when countries fragment, the breeding grounds for terrorism are created." Dr. Frist goes onto say "We simply cannot afford to stand pat - not when we know medicine can help bring stability ...can serve as that currency for peace."
If the United States gives into Iraq's demands that Blackwater be expelled, they need to have the manpower to replace them.
I could have told them this. Teasing never helps, especially if you have an overweight teen.
The Democrats have really gotten themselves in hot water with this goofy idea that their staff should get immunized for several diseases before heading to NASCAR country to conduct research at a pair of races. NASCAR fans will not forget.
Don't let the headline fool you. Remember this is an article in the New York Times. And of course, the Times tells you all the bad things the Republicans are facing before having to admit that the Democrats are doing just as bad, if not a little worse.
Peter Bronson has an op-ed in the Cincinnati Enquirer that really sums up Al Gore's Nobel prize succinctly. Gore has done nothing to earn a Nobel Prize for Peace.
William Kristol has a great article in the Weekly Standard pointing out why things aren't as bad for the Republican party as everyone seems to think.
James W. Ceaser, a Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia has a very thoughtful article about the state of the Democratic Party today. As he points out the serious Democrat must consider whether to accept the ugly style the new radicals of the left have developed for use among themselves, as the way the party will operate - or begin to think deeply enough to find a principled ground for rejecting a faction in their midst that is not only stupid but dangerous as well.
The BBC is reporting:
Russian President Putin has been warned of a plot to kill him during a visit to Iran next week, officials say.
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