Action: 30 Mar 2017

Senators Schumer, Whitehouse and Blumenthal held a press conference about Neil Gorsuch and the dark money being spent to get him confirmed.

There are some other interesting facts in the clip that Senator Whitehouse brings up about our Supreme Court and their voting history.

Senator Schumer explains the history and reasoning behind the 60 votes needed to confirm a Supreme Court Justice. Schumer's point being, if you can't get 60 votes, don't change the rules, change the candidate.

So, take a look at the YouTube press conference and then call our Senators.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MmRwmlqv_WI


Senator Roger Wicker: 202-224-6253

Senator Thad Cochran: 202-224-5054

Script:

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I'm calling today to voice my objection to the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

Action: 27-31 Mar 2017

This was copied from a FB post.  We need an Independent Commission to investigate our last election. This action is in the House.  I will look for info on the Senate Committee and do another post later in the week.

CALL TO ACTION

Tell members of the HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE to insist on open hearings. Chairman Nunes should be removed for obstructing his own committee's investigation and sharing information with Trump before bringing it to the committee.

Make your voice heard! IT MATTERS. Our activism helped defeat trumpcare by unrelenting pressure. Now let's continue to hammer them on the investigation. Let them know we are not going away until the truth is revealed.

Leave messages tonight and tomorrow. Tweet any time.
(If DC mailboxes are full, call local offices and leave messages.)

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I am calling today to say I want an Independent Commission to investigate Russia's involvement in our Election.

Or

I am calling today to say Intelligence Committee Chairman Nunes should be removed for obstructing the investigation.  I also want the Committee's hearings to be open.  America needs to know.

*Congressman Trent Kelly: 202-225-4306

*Congressman Bennie G. Thompson: 202-225-5876

Republicans:

DEVIN NUNES (R-CA) Chairman @DevinNunes
Wash DC 202 225-2523
Clovis 559 323-5235
Visalia 559 733-3861

MIKE CONAWAY (R-TX) @MikeConawayTX11
Wash DC 202 225-3605
Llano 325 247-2826
San Angelo 325 659-4010
Odessa 432 331-9667
Midland 432 687-2390

PETER KING (R-NY) @RepPeteKing
Wash DC 202 225-7896
Massapequa 516) 541-4225

FRANK LOBIONDO (R-NJ0 @RepLoBiondo
Wash DC 202 225-6572
Mays Landing 609 625-5008

TOM ROONEY (R-FL) @Rooney4Congress
Wash DC 202 225-5792
Okeechobee 863 402-9082
Punta Gorda 941 575-9101

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R-FL) @RosLehtinen
Wash DC 202 225-3931
Miami 305 668-5970

MICHAEL TURNER (R-OH) @RepMikeTurner
Wash DC 202 225-6465
Dayton 937 225-2843

BRAD WENSTRUP (R-OH) @RepBradWenstrup
Wash DC 202 225-3164
Cincinnatti 513 474-7777
Peebles 513 605-1380

CHRIS STEWART (R-UT) @RepChrisStewart
Wash DC 202 225-9730
Salt Lake City 801 364-5550
St. George 435 627-1500

RICK CRAWFORD (R-AR) @RepRickCrawford
Wash DC 202 225-4076
Jonesboro 870 203-0540
Cabot 501 843-3043
Mountain Home 870 424-2075

TREY GOWDY (R-SC) @TGowdySC
Wash DC 202 225-6030
Greenville 864 241-0175
Spartanburg 864 583-3264

ELISE STEFANIK (R-NY) @RepStefanik
Wash DC 202 225-4611
Glens Falls 518 743-0964
Plattsburgh 518 561-2324
Watertown 315 782-3150

WILL HURD (R-TX) @HurdOnTheHill
Wash DC 202 225-4511
Del Rio 830 422-2040
Eagle Pass 210 784-5023
San Antonio 210 927-4903
Socorro 915 235-6421

Democrats:

ADAM SCHIFF D-CA @RepAdamSchiff Ranking Member
Wash DC 202 225-4176
Burbank 818 450-2900 or 323 315-5555
Hollywood 323 315-5555

JIM HIMES D-CT @jahimes
Wash DC 202 225-5541
Bridgeport 866 453-0028
Stamford 203 333-6655

TERRI SEWELL D-AL @RepTerriSewell
Wash DC 202 225-2665
Birmingham 205 254-1960
Montgomery 334 262-1919
Selma 334 877-4414

ANDRE CARSON D-IN @RepAndreCarson
Wash DC 202 225-4011
Indianapolis 317 283-6516

JACKIE SPEIER D-CA @RepSpeier
Wash DC 202 225-3531
San Mateo 650 342-0300

MIKE QUIGLEY D-IL @RepMikeQuigley
Wash DC 202 225-4061
Lakeview 773 267-5926
Portage Park 773 267-6583

ERIC SWALWELL D-CA @RepSwalwell
Wash DC 202 225-5065
Castro Valley 510 370-3322

JOAQUIN CASTRO D-TX @JoaquinCastrotx
Wash DC 202 225-3236
San Antonio 210 348-8216

DENNY HECK D-WA @RepDennyHeck
Wash DC 202 225-9740
Lakewood 253 533-8332
Lacey 360 459-8514

Thanks a lot Little Marco

This article explains how the GOP underfunded the ACA.  I knew it had been underfunded by 2.5 billion but I didn't know how it happened. Thanks to Thom Hartmann for the explanation.Just read the highlighted areas to get to the heart of the matter.
WEDNESDAY, MAR 22, 2017 03:44 AM CDT

How Republicans quietly sabotaged Obamacare long before Trump came into office

Billions that should go to Obamacare are missing, thanks to se

THOM HARTMANN, ALTERNET

This article originally appeared on AlterNet.

Donald Trump suggested that the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) was a clever ruse by our first Black president and his Democratic friends to have a successful health-care system in place for his own presidency, but one that was set up to fail in the first year of the next president’s term.

Trump said (on 3/10/2017) that this year “would be a disaster for Obamacare. That’s the year it was meant to explode, because Obama won’t be here. That’s when it was supposed to be, get even worse. As bad as it is now, it’ll get even worse.”

While most people are rolling their eyes – why would Obama do that, particularly when everybody expected the next president to be Hillary? – there’s actually a substantial grain of truth to Trump’s assertion.  He has identified, however, the wrong culprit as the person who poison-pilled Obamacare for 2017.

That distinction would go to Marco Rubio (and his Republican helpers in the Senate).  Let’s step back to 2015 for the entire story, which is bizarre and fascinating.

When the ACA was rolled out, telling insurance companies that they had to insure anybody who signed up, regardless of previous conditions or sickness, everybody realized that the insurance companies would probably lose money in the first decade or so, until previously-uninsured-but-sick people got into the system, got better, and things evened out.

To get the insurance companies to go along with this danger of losing money, the ACA promised to make them whole for any losses in any of the first decade’s years.  At the end of each fiscal year, the insurance companies merely had to document their losses, and the government would reimburse them out of ACA funds provided for by the law.

The possibility of their losing money was referred to as the “risk corridor,” and the ACA explicitly filled those risk corridors with a guarantee of making the insurance companies, at the very least, whole.

And then something happened.  As The New York Times noted on December 9, 2015, “A little-noticed health care provision slipped into a giant spending law last year has tangled up the Obama administration, sent tremors through health insurance markets and rattled confidence in the durability of President Obama’s signature health law.”

Rubio and a number of other Republicans had succeeded in gutting the risk corridors.  The result was that, just in 2015, end-of-fiscal-year risk corridor payments to insurance companies that were supposed to total around $2.9 billion were only reimbursed, according to Rubio himself quoted in the Times, to the tune of around $400 million.  Rubio bragged that he’d “saved taxpayers $2.5 billion.”

And, indeed, he had.  But the insurance companies were thrown into a crisis.  And, with Republicans in Congress absolutely refusing to re-fund the risk corridors, that crisis would get worse as time went on, at least over a period of a few years.

So the insurance companies did the only things they could.  In (mostly red) states with low incomes and thus poorer health, they simply pulled out of the marketplace altogether.  This has left some states with only one single insurer left.  In others, they jacked up their prices to make up their losses.

Robert Pear in the Times noted, Rubio’s “plan limiting how much the government can spend to protect insurance companies against financial losses has shown the effectiveness of quiet legislative sabotage.”

To add to the political psychodrama, the first hack by Rubio  was maintained by Republicans into the 2016 budget, meaning that things got even worse in October, 2016 – the first month of the federal fiscal year when these cuts hit the worse, and, no coincidence, the month before the presidential election.

Rubio’s October Surprise was extraordinarily effective.  October 2016 saw an explosion of stories in the news about how health insurance companies were either pulling out of ACA exchanges, or jacking their prices up wildly.

Time magazine wrote “8 States Where Obamacare Rates Are Rising by at Least 30%” without mentioning Rubio’s role in why. Ditto for NPR’s “22 Percent Hike in Obamacare Rates…” and CNN’s “Obamacare Premiums Soar By 22%.”  If you date-limit just to October of 2016 – the month before the election – you can find hundreds of similar articles.  It was a huge story, but somehow Little Marco’s role in it all – along with his friends in the GOP – never made it into any of the stories.

Excuse me while we state a few facts...

1. Action: 24 Mar 2017

Today's call to action:

Senator Roger Wicker: 202-224-6253

Senator Thad Cochran: 202-224-5054

*Congressman Trent Kelly: 202-225-4306

*Congressman Bennie G. Thompson: 202-225-5876

Script:

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I'm calling today to object to Trumpcare.   I want to keep the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and I ask Congress to make improvements to the ACA.

2. Action: 24 Mar 2017

The following is a Press Release from Rep. Ted Lieu. I've been watching him for awhile and I like his thoughts.  In this statement, he is spot on.  I'm calling Roger, Thad and Bennie.

REP. LIEU STATEMENT ON REPORT OF TRUMP ASSOCIATES’ POSSIBLE COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA

March 23, 2017 

Press Release

Washington – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement regarding the CNN report that Trump associates possibly colluded with Russia to affect the outcome of the 2016 election in the United States.

“The bombshell revelation that U.S. officials have information that suggests Trump associates may have colluded with the Russians means we must pause the entire Trump agenda.  We may have an illegitimate President of the United States currently occupying the White House.” 

“Other than allowing routine governmental functions, there must be a total and complete shutdown of any agenda item being pushed by the Trump Administration.  Congress cannot continue regular order and must stop voting on any Trump-backed agenda item until the FBI completes its Trump-Russia collusion investigation.”

“Congress must immediately form an independent commission and appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the collusion allegations with impartiality and independence.  Congress also needs to pass the Resolution of Inquiry, authored by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and I, to compel the Trump Administration to publicly disclose information on its Russian ties to the American people.  At this point in our nation's history, there is nothing more important than finding out whether or not high crimes were committed by associates of Donald Trump or possibly by Trump himself.”

Today's call to action:

Senator Roger Wicker: 202-224-6253

Senator Thad Cochran: 202-224-5054

Congressman Trent Kelly: 202-225-4306

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson: 202-225-5876

Script:

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I'm calling today to object to any and all Trump administration agenda items being moved forward until after the completion of the FBI investigation into the Trump Campaign's involvement with Russia.

Wicker on Neil Gorsuch

Article by Senator Wicker is below my remarks.

Senator Wicker, you are wrong again.  The American people elected President Barack Obama to replace Antonin Scalia.  It was Barack Obama who was the President of the United States when Justice Scalia passed away.

No one knows when a vacancy will come on the Supreme Court.  Whoever is the President at the time of such vacancy, gets to make the appointment.  The Senate does not get to decide what President will fill a vacancy.  

Senator Wicker, you and your Party created ideas that are not in our Constitution when that document speaks of nominations to the Supreme Court.  Further, your Party doubled down on your beliefs when it was reported that you intended to hold this vacancy open for 4 years should Hillary Clinton be elected.

The only way for your Party to right the wrong you created is to make restitution to the American people.  You need to honor our vote for President Barack Obama and you need to advise and consent on Judge Merrick Garland.  Anything less is simply wrong.  And you sir, will be judged to be on the wrong side of history. 

"Wicker Praises Trump Pick for Supreme Court

   Judge Gorsuch Has a Judicial Philosophy Much Like the Justice He Would Succeed

The tragic death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia last February left a colossal void on the highest court in our nation.  He was brilliant, principled, and fair, unmoved by politics or public opinion.  The task of replacing him is enormous, but President Trump has put forward an excellent nominee who embodies the characteristics that Scalia brought to the bench. 

Judge Neil Gorsuch is more than qualified for this consequential role.  His legal background includes clerking for two Supreme Court justices and serving for the past 10 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver.  He has earned widespread bipartisan respect for his intellect, collegiality, and fairness when it comes to applying the law and the Constitution.  His nomination to the Tenth Circuit was unanimously approved by the Senate.  

Americans Chose Trump to Fill Court Vacancy

The Senate has a constitutional responsibility to provide “advice and consent” on executive nominations, including judges to federal courts, appeals courts, and the Supreme Court.  As Mississippi’s U.S. Senator, I take my part in this process seriously.  

Last November, the American people elected a president who promised to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court in the mold of Scalia.  President Trump has followed through on this promise with Judge Gorsuch.  He is a nominee capable of earning support from both Republicans and Democrats.  In fact, several Democrats currently serving in the Senate, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), were among those who confirmed him to the Tenth Circuit in 2006.

I am pleased President Trump has selected a judge who understands the importance of defending our constitutional rights and unabashedly protecting our religious freedoms.  This was made clear in the Hobby Lobby case, in which Judge Gorsuch agreed that Obamacare mandates should not force business owners to violate their religious beliefs.  He has also ruled against the removal of the Ten Commandments from public land. 

Protecting the Framers’ Separation of Powers

The highest court in our country serves as a vital check on potential excesses of the government’s legislative and executive branches.  It is not a place for activism or policymaking.  In keeping with Justice Scalia’s legacy of judicial restraint, Judge Gorsuch has a record of upholding our Constitution’s separation of powers.  

At 49 years old, Judge Gorsuch can shape the future of the Supreme Court for many years to come if confirmed.  I am confident he will remain true to the judicial philosophy and convictions that have brought him to this point in his distinguished career.  As Americans know, a single vote in Supreme Court decisions can have a major impact.  Landmark cases protecting Second Amendment rights and religious freedom have been decided by one vote.  

We need Supreme Court justices who are committed to defending the Constitution and the principles it enshrines.  I believe Judge Gorsuch has the intellect and competence to fulfill this responsibility, and I look forward to his confirmation process in the Senate."

P.S.: It is disgusting to me that one of our Senators talks about "the Constitution and the principles it enshrines" when his Party has so abused the same document.

Action: 23 Mar 2017

The vote in the House on Trumpcare is later today.  It looks like it won't pass but why take a chance.  Please call your Congressman.


Today's call to action:

Senator Roger Wicker: 202-224-6253

Senator Thad Cochran: 202-224-5054

Congressman Trent Kelly: 202-225-4306

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson: 202-225-5876

Script:

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I'm calling today to object to Trumpcare.   I want to keep the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) and I ask Congress to make improvements to the ACA.

Action: 22 Mar 2017

Today will find former Vice President Joe Biden returning to
Washington, DC to help save the ACA (Obamacare).  Welcome back, Joe.

Today's call to action:

Senator Roger Wicker: 202-224-6253

Senator Thad Cochran: 202-224-5054

Congressman Trent Kelly: 202-225-4306

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson: 202-225-5876

Script:

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I'm calling today to object to Trumpcare.   I want to keep the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) and I ask Congress to make improvements to the ACA.

Info from the NY Times

Under Obamacare

House Republican bill

Individual mandate

Repeal

The Affordable Care Act requires people who can afford it to obtain health insurance or face tax penalties. This part of the law was meant to keep insurance affordable for those who are older or sick.

The Republican bill would eliminate the individual mandate, which means that people would not have to pay a penalty if they went without insurance. One possible effect, though, is that healthy people might be less likely to buy insurance, driving up prices for those who need it most, like older people and the sick. To limit this, the plan proposes a “continuous coverage incentive,” which would charge people in the individual market a 30 percent penalty for lapses in health insurance coverage.

Employer mandate

Repeal

Larger companies must provide affordable insurance to their employees or face financial penalties.

Subsidies for out-of-pocket expenses

Repeal

The federal government provides tax credits to help some people pay deductibles and make co-payments.

Would repeal this so-called cost-sharing subsidy in 2020.

Premium subsidies

Change

The federal government provides tax credits to middle-income Americans on a sliding scale according to income, to help offset the cost of premiums and deductibles.

Would change the way subsidies are distributed by using age, instead of income, as a way to calculate how much people receive. Tax credits would be available in full to individuals earning less than $75,000 and households earning less than $150,000, but they would be capped for higher earners. The subsidy would be $2,000 for a person under 30, and double that for people over 60. The bill would also expand the health plans that qualify for subsidies. The amendment would also allow people to deduct more health care expenses from their income taxes, a provision that might be changed in the Senate to instead increase tax credits to older insurance buyers.

Medicaid expansion

Change

More than 30 states expanded Medicaid coverage by raising the eligibility cutoff to 138 percent of the poverty level.

Would let states keep Medicaid expansion and allow states that expanded Medicaid to continue getting federal funding as they would have under the A.C.A., until 2020. Federal funding for people who became newly eligible starting in 2020 or who left the program and came back, however, would be reduced. The bill also proposes capping federal funding per enrollee, based on how much each state was spending in 2016. The amendment would allow states to impose work requirements for some Medicaid beneficiaries and give states the option to receive a lump-sum block grant for Medicaid, rather than per capita funding. States that haven't expanded Medicaid already would not be allowed to do so in the future. It would also stop allowing states to cover adults with incomes above 133 percent of the federal poverty level after this year.

Health savings account

Change

In 2017, an individual can put $3,400 and a family $6,750 into a tax-free health savings account.

Would allow people to put substantially more money into their health savings accounts and let spouses make additional contributions. The basic limit would be at least $6,550 for an individual and $13,100 for a family beginning in 2018. The amendment would no longer allow consumers to roll over excess tax credit money into a health savings account.

Restrictions on charging more for older Americans

Change

Plans can charge their oldest customers only three times the prices charged to the youngest ones.

Would allow insurers to charge older customers five times as much as younger ones and give states the option to set their own ratio.

Dependent coverage until 26

Keep

Children can stay on their parents’ insurance policies until age 26.

Pre-existing conditions policy

Keep

Requires insurers to cover people regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and bars the companies from charging more based on a person’s health history.

Essential health benefits

Keep

All insurers must offer 10 essential health benefits, including maternity care and preventive services.

Prohibitions on annual and lifetime limits

Keep

Insurers are barred from setting a limit on how much they have to pay to cover someone.

Action: 21 Mar 2017

The Republican healthcare bill does not repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act. It amends it.

So, when Congress and Tom Price and Sean Spicer talk about their bill being only 100 pages and the Affordable Healthcare Act being 2700 pages, they aren't telling the truth.  By adding their 100 pages, the "new" healthcare legislation  I will be 2800 pages.

Additionally, the Republican 100 page attachment to the Affordable Healthcare Act will unfairly hurt the poor and the elderly citizens of MS.

Let's tell our Senators throw out their proposal and to fix the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Senator Roger Wicker: 202-224-6253

Senator Thad Cochran: 202-224-5054

Script:

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I'm calling today to object to the Republican healthcare legislation.

I prefer to keep the Affordable Healthcare Act and to make improvement to the ACA.

Action: 20 Mar 2017

And so it begins.  This week in Congress the Intelligence Committees will hold hearings about Russia's interference in our Election and advise and consent hearings will start for 45's Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch.

Both MS Senators participated in what amounted to a dereliction of their duty when they obstructed Judge Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court.  And now, the Republican Party is expecting the Democrats to roll over and play nice with Neil Gorsuch's nomination.

This Supreme Court vacancy was stolen from President Obama and Judge Garland.  There is only one way to make this right and that is to demand that 45 nominate Judge Merrick Garland.  The next vacancy will go to Neil Gorsuch.

Let's start calling and asking our family and friends to do the same.

Senator Roger Wicker: 202-224-6253

Senator Thad Cochran: 202-224-5054

Script:

This is ______.  I live in _____, MS.

I'm calling today to object to the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

The Republican Party was wrong in denying Judge Garland his seat on the Supreme Court.  The only way to correct this error is for President Trump to nominate Judge Garland for this vacancy.  Neil Gorsuch can then be nominated for the next vacancy.

Info added 6:50p:

After listening g to FBI Director James Comey's testimony today, I believe the Senate needs to withhold a vote on Gorsuch until the investigation is completed.  Why would we allow a President who is under possible criminal investigation, nominate a lifetime position on the Supreme Court?  Your thoughts?

The Supreme Court Vacancy

Another reason to reject Neil Gorsuch.


"With his history of favoring corporate interests above everyday people, it should be no surprise that the New York Times just reported that Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch has ties to reclusive Colorado billionaire Philip F. Anschutz. Formerly a lawyer representing Anschutz’s companies in court, Gorsuch now owns property in Colorado with some of Anschutz’s closest associates. Anschutz is reported to have provided funding to both the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society, the two far-right organizations to which Trump outsourced the job of creating his list of Supreme Court nominees, from which Gorsuch was chosen.

Between his close relationship with an ultra-conservative billionaire and his decisions that have favored corporations and harmed workers and consumers, it’s clear that the majority of Americans who want to save our democracy from the influence of big money have a lot to worry about when it comes to this nominee."*

*Rio Tazwell


This is what I think about the Supreme Court vacancy.  This seat belongs to Judge Merrick Garland.  The only way the Republican Party can correct their error is to approve Judge Garland.  If another vacancy occurs, then maybe Gorsuch.

An example of "FAKE NEWS"

While I would like nothing better than to pin the following statements on our new Secretary of Health and Human services, to the best of my knowledge, the concluding statement is not true.

I do my very best to run down facts before posting on this blog.  So here is what I found.  The referenced Town Hall was held on 15 Mar 2017.  I pulled it up on YouTube and watched every minute of it.  Believe me, it was not pleasant.  Basically, the whole thing was a bunch of GOP double speak about "choices" and "driving down costs".  You know the drill.

The opening of this article with a question from Brian Kline, did take place.  But after the first paragraph, the author at Politic US who is not named, either made up the rest of this story or he/she cobbled together statements from other events.  See how this works?  Draw the reader in and then start the spin.

As always, I stand to be corrected.

Tom Price: “It’s Better For Our Budget If Cancer Patients Die More Quickly”

Brian Kline is the type of person who voted for President Donald Trump in November. He’s a working-class man whose job is in retail, scoring him $11.66/hour. Thanks to Medicaid he’s being treated for cancer. During the CNN town hall with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Kline explained his situation and his struggles. “My question is pretty straightforward,” Kline told Price. “Why do you want to take away my Medicaid expansion?” Price’s dispassionate answer seemed to fall flat on the audience. “I took care of a lot of patients with cancer,” Price explained about his 20 years as an orthopedic surgeon. “We don’t want to take care away from anybody. What we want to make certain, though, is that every single American has access to the kind of coverage and care that they want for themselves.”

“But, what if there are people out there who are going to die more quickly because of what you’re doing here, because you’re essentially taking medical care away from people who need it the most?” Kline wouldn’t back down. “Are you saying you actually want people to be okay with that?” Price thought for a second, then replied: “Look, I understand how all of this sounds right now, but you know, there comes a time in everyone’s life when they just have to stop talking B.S. and be practical. As of right now, the fact to the matter is, our national budget is hemorrhaging money because of Obamacare. And believe me – I get how insensitive that sounds, but at the end of the day, we have to stop ignoring the facts here."

He continued, "I understand that this is not something anyone wants to hear, especially people who've got worse problems to deal with than the state of the national budget, but this is one of those situations where the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.  When President Trump assumed office, he was appalled at the state of the national budget and our finances.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Barack Obama was to blame, since he's the one who left the hot potato behind for us to deal with.  Now, I'm not going to go into whether or not he did that on purpose, but at the end of the day, all I can say is, we have to fix the problem or else we're looking at Nationwide riots and another economic recession."

"Put simply, we have to plug some holes - of which, by the way, there are plenty - and we kind of have to start with the biggest ones," the orthopedic surgeon added.  "Unfortunately for millions of people across the Country, Obamacare seems to be the biggest one so far.  Besides, there are more ways than one to look at this picture.  I know it's not pretty, but at the end of the day, even people who are able to fight off cancer - I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, Brian - they can't lead 100 percent normal lives, ever again.  What kind of an existence is that, to have to survive instead of live?"

"At the risk of sounding insensitive, we've pretty much got two choices here: we either repeal Obamacare, or we take out more loans from countries like China.  And nobody wants to be in debt to the Chinese.  At the end of the day, it's better for our national budget if cancer patients pass away more quickly, it a lousy way to live anyway, and I'm sorry to say it out loud, but it's the truth," Price concluded.

te

Shame on our Senators

This may be hard to read...Trust me Senators Wicker and Cochran are on the list.  Shame!

Let's schedule a Town Hall

Dear Barbara,

Thank you for contacting me to express your desire to have a   town hall meeting.    I appreciate your taking the time to call   my office.  

                    I welcome opportunities to meet with Mississippians, both in Washington and across our state.    When Congress is in session, these meetings are typically held in my Washington office.   During state work periods, I am usually visiting communities across Mississippi or working in one of my state offices, which are located in Hernando, Tupelo, Jackson, and Gulfport.     I also frequently hold public events and community meet-and-greets throughout the year.   Last year, I met with Mississippians and community leaders from all of our 82 counties.

                    As your U.S. Senator, I will continue to work hard to represent Mississippi values in Washington, promote individual liberty and freedom, and protect traditional family values.   I will also closely monitor legislation affecting Mississippians and the communities across our state.     My service on the Senate Armed Services, Commerce, Environment and Public Works, and Rules committees provides me with opportunities to influence a broad range of legislation.

                    If you would like to schedule a meeting with me, please feel free to e-mail scheduling@wicker.senate.gov   and do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance.                    

                    With best wishes, I am

Sincerely,
Roger

Roger F. Wicker
U.S. Senator
555 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C., 20510
202-224-6253

Email sent: 15 Mar 2017

Senator Cochran and Neil Gorsuch

THAD COCHRAN
MISSISSIPPI


WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1501

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
CHAIRMAN

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY

COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION

March 9, 2017


Ms. Barbara Tuchel
1268 Hickory Lane
Tunica, MS 38676-9521

Dear Ms. Tuchel:

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding judicial nominations.

On February 1, 2017, President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit to serve as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.  This nomination has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary where it awaits further action.  

I take seriously the advice and consent responsibilities the Constitution entrusts to the Senate. The justice who eventually fills the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia will have long-lasting and far-reaching impact on our rights and laws.  I will keep your thoughts in mind as the Senate considers Judge Gorsuch’s nomination.

Having the benefit of your views is important to me.  I appreciate your taking the time to write.


Sincerely,

THAD COCHRAN
United States Senator

Dear Senator Cochran:

Thank you for your reply.

However, I am very unhappy that your response is so disingenuous.  You stated that you take seriously advise and consent.  Why didn't you take advise and consent seriously when Judge Merrick Garland was nominated?

This isn't a rhetorical question.  I would like a sincere answer.

Senator Wicker on the ACA and my rebuttal

Dear Barbara,

                    Thank you for contacting me regarding replacements for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).    I am glad to have the benefit of your views on this issue.

                    Congress has already taken the necessary steps to begin repealing this unpopular health-care law.    Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 (S. Con. Res. 3) passed by a vote of 51-48 on January 12, 2017, with my support.    This repeal resolution initiated the process of ending Obamacare by setting the necessary budgetary levels for the next eight years.    On January 13, 2017, the House of Representatives also passed S. Con. Res. 3.          

                    Obamacare greatly increases the government's role in our health-care system, fails to lower costs, and raises taxes and premiums.    Americans deserve affordable, high-quality health care   –   not a 2,700-page bill that puts Washington bureaucrats in control.

                    There are many Obamacare alternatives being considered in the United States Senate.   Certain aspects of the current law would easily pass Congress again after a full repeal, including provisions protecting individuals with preexisting conditions and maintaining dependent coverage through the age of 26.    I am committed to finding a new approach to health-care reform that actually lowers the cost of care for families and workers.                      

                    I support lower premiums and patients' freedom to choose their providers.    In 2008, I introduced legislation that would have broadened insurance competition across state lines, giving individuals and families more choices and using market forces to drive down costs.     My bill would have allowed patients to keep their current doctor and would have helped Mississippians who cannot afford health insurance.     I believe in workable solutions that empower patients   –   not unelected bureaucrats   –in their health-care decisions.

                    Be assured I will keep your views in mind as I work with my colleagues in Congress to find a common sense replacement to the harmful health-care law.   Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance.

                    With best wishes, I am

Sincerely,
Roger

Roger F. Wicker
U.S. Senator
555 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C., 20510
202-224-6253

Dear Senator Wicker:

Before replying to your letter, I waited until the CBO scored the Republican healthcare bill.  What a disaster!

For years we have listened and watched​ as the GOP voted to repeal the ACA.  It's 2017, so you all have had 7 years to craft replacement legislation.  Seven years and this is the best you can do for to the American people?

In your letter, you stated that ACA is unpopular.  I beg to differ.  If the ACA is so unpopular then why have we been able to to insure so many more people?  As you stated in your letter, the Senate vote for repeal was 51-48.  That is not very convincing.

Is the ACA perfect?  No, it is not.  Is it better than what was available before 2010?  Yes, it is.

This week there has been much discussion about the CBO being off in its ACA estimate of the number of people it would insure.  Why is that?  I think it is because 19 states did not take advantage of the Medicaid Expansion.  MS is one of those States.  According to the Kaiser Foundation, 164,000 more Mississippians would have benefited from the Medicaid Expansion.  What did you do about this?  Did you call our Governor and encourage him to participate?  Or was your stance to just say no because it was Democratic legislation?

It is time for you to do what is right for MS.  We are a relatively poor state.  We need the benefits offered by the ACA.  It would be best for the citizens of MS if you would spend your time helping to fix the ACA.  It is popular with the American people.

By the way, the new healthcare legislation does not repeal the ACA.  It amends the ACA.  So, now we have a healthcare bill that is 2700 pages plus the Republican suggestion.

In closing, I want to convey to you exactly what I prefer in healthcare legislation.  I prefer Medicare for all.  Why?

1. Healthcare is a right.
2. Free market healthcare has not worked and is not available anywhere in the world.
3. Medicare for all will control costs and premiums