HR 3200 Health Care Reform Benefits For You

Some staffers on the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce have been burning the midnight oil to get the facts straight for the Central Coast on HR 3200, also known as "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009."

They have crunched the numbers and for 639,088 people living in Lois Capps' 23rd Congressional District, the coastal areas of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, it breaks down like this:

Up to 15,700 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees;

4,100 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D;

350 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs;

Health care providers would get payment for $50 million in uncompensated care each year and

148,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

I'll post what the picture looks like for our other two districts in the next two days. You're welcome!

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Lois Capps Is Where The Action Is!

Some central coast conservatives question where Lois Capps is in the health care reform debate. Lemme show you:

Little more than ten days ago, on the 13th, Lois and her supporters were gathered at the intersection of Reason St. and Health Care Reform Avenue. Actually the address is in the 300 block of East Carrillo Street, where Capps' office is located.

Demonstrators showed they cared about their neighbors and family members by supporting President Obama's healthcare reform efforts now taking shape in Congress. Those supporting the president outnumbered those opposed.

When will Lois actually meet with the "teabaggers" and other protesters? Capps has stated she intends to hold a community forum in early September, preferably in a church where health care opponents presumably might be less rowdy and boisterous.

Heck, they might even bring their ability to reason and act like adults!

Just ask your parents or grandparents if Medicare and Social Security assistance is something they would prefer to live without. Oh, if your loved one is a veteran, ask if they would care if the Veterans Administration stopped all their health care treatment and prescription drug supply.

Not likely that any of the people you love would give up these successful programs that the governed--you and I and our parents or grandparents--voted to create.

In my case, I'm alive and have post-stroke medication and doctor's appointments at my central coast veterans clinic. Beats pushing daisies!

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Who's Watching The Watchdog?

Could not leave well enough alone, and last Friday I drove around lil' Lompoc and listened to the radio. Caught part of Andy Caldwell's radio show where he talked on the phone with a conservative mentor by the name of Richard Cochran.

Caldwell is also Santa Barbara County's so-called watchdog according to many observers. The Santa Maria Sun's 2008 annual "Best Of" edition names Caldwell "Best Community Watchdog."

The "watchdog" title has been used by Andy for years to describe his activities on behalf of COLAB. The acronym stands for the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business, the group of business honchos from each of these parts of our local economy.

When Andy mentioned that Lois Capps, representatives from SBCAN and other liberals won't appear on his radio show, my ears picked up. Now why would people who are usually promoting their latest fund-raiser refuse to go on the air and tell their story?

Could it be that Caldwell is not a "watchdog" at all, but in reality is a "lobbyist?"

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