Is Obama’s Health Care Plan Constitutional?

U.S. President Obama

Many are questioning the Constitutionality of Obama’s healthcare plan, which is an interesting premise. Is it Constitutional to compel citizens to obtain health insurance?

It can be argued, people are compelled to obtain car insurance, lest they be ticketed and fined. Therefore, the same principle would apply. In short, it probably is Constitutional, due to established case law in other areas of commerce regulated by the government.

Gibbs Says He Doesn’t Know if White House Has Reviewed Constitutionality of Forcing People to Buy Health Insurance

Monday, November 02, 2009 - (CNSNews.com) - White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs said today that he does not know if White House lawyers have reviewed whether it is constitutional for the federal government to order individuals to buy health insurance and said that the White House is not seriously considering the concerns of people such as Sen. Orrin Hatch (R.-Utah) who believe the mandate is not constitutionally justified.

This was the second time in two weeks that Gibbs had dismissed concerns that the Constitution does not give the federal government the power to force individuals to purchase items the government wants them to purchase.

Hatch told CNSNews.com last week that forcing people to buy health insurance cannot be justified under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause.

http://www.cnsnews.com

Obama Rips Health Insurers

Video: Obama Lashes Out at Health Insurers - The Associated Press

U.S. President Barack Obama ripped health insurers over their high premiums and deceitful lobbying, aimed at spreading misinformation regarding his administration's initiatives.

Obama Says Health Care Bill Not Perfect

"Video: Obama :Health Care Bill "Not Perfect"

U.S. President Barack Obama issued a speech yesterday on the merits and faults of the current health care bill that senators are battling it out over in Congress, with the Democrats in favor of it and Republicans firmly against it.

Whistling the lyric, "Me and my shadow strolling down the avenue"

Lone Republican Senator, Olympia Snowe, pictured above, has sided with the Democrats on health care, much to the dismay of her party.

Text of the President's speech as provided by the Associated Press:

Good afternoon. Today we reached a critical milestone in our effort to reform our health care system. After many months of thoughtful deliberation, the fifth and final committee responsible for health care reform has passed a proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support.

This effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee. It's a product of vigorous debate and difficult negotiations.

After the consideration of hundreds of amendments, it includes ideas from both Democrats and Republicans, which is why it enjoys the support of people from both parties. And I want to particularly thank Senator Olympia Snowe for both the political courage and the seriousness of purpose that she's demonstrated throughout this process.

Now, this bill is not perfect, and we have a lot of difficult work ahead of us. There's still significant details and disagreements to be worked out over the next several weeks as the five separate bills from the Senate and the House are merged into one proposal.

But I do believe the work of the Senate Finance Committee has brought us significantly closer to achieving the core objectives I laid out early in September.

Most importantly, this bill goes a long way towards offering security to those who have insurance and affordable options for those who don't. It reins in some of the worst practices of the insurance industry, like the denial of coverage due to preexisting conditions.

It also sets up an insurance exchange that will make coverage affordable for those who don't currently have it. And, as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has certified, it will slow the growth of health care costs in the long term, and it will not add a penny to our deficit.

The committee's progress over the past several weeks is the culmination of work by all five committees and numerous members of Congress over the better part of this year. We've reached out to stakeholders across the spectrum -- doctors and nurses, businesses and workers, hospitals and even drug companies -- and we've considered a wide variety of ideas and proposals in an effort to find common ground.

As a result of these efforts, we are now closer than ever before to passing health reform. But we're not there yet.

Now's not the time to pat ourselves on the back. Now's not the time to offer ourselves congratulations. Now's the time to dig in and work even harder to get this done.

And in this final phase, I hope that we will continue to engage each other with the spirit of civility and seriousness that has brought us this far and this subject deserves.

I commend the chairman and the committee's members for their achievement and the example that they've set. And I look forward to continuing to work with Congress in the weeks ahead. We are going to get this done.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Obama Assembles Doctors On Health Care

The Obamas U.S. President Barack Obama assembled doctors in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C. to discuss his plans regarding the American health care system. Obama has introduced several health care initiatives that have been met with great resistance by segments of the U.S. population. Obama Rallies Doctors President Obama gathered doctors at the White House Monday for a pep rally in support of his health care reform plans, which he argued would help them spend more time treating patients and less time filling out forms. Obama said little new about his signature domestic policy initiative, but he used the choreographed event to put some momentum behind reform proposals taking shape in Congress. The key Senate Finance Committee may vote this week on its version of health-care reform legislation. The roughly 150 doctors assembled wore white lab coats under the brilliant fall sun, some sheepishly carrying them under their arms as they made their way to the folding chairs. In opening his remarks, Obama called them "spiffy."... "If you're willing to speak out strongly on behalf of the things you care about and what you see each and every day as you're serving patients all across the country, I'm confident we are going to get health reform passed this year," Obama told them... http://voices.washingtonpost.com

Support Wanes For Obama Health Care Plans

First Lady Michelle Obama: Not while we're in public, Barack, later at the White House!

A Rasmussen poll reflects, support for U.S. President Barack Obama's health care initiatives has drastically eroded, waning to 41%. An overwhelming majority of Americans oppose the plans, based on items that have been disclosed in the press and online.

For example, it was revealed yesterday, by the Politico website, there is a proposed clause in the health care plans, that would fine individuals a four figure sum and jail them for one year, if they fail to purchase health insurance.

Health Care Reform - Support for Health Care Plan Hits New Low

Monday, September 28, 2009 - Just 41% of voters nationwide now favor the health care reform proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and the lowest level of support yet measured.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% are opposed to the plan...

http://www.rasmussenreports.com

Ensign receives handwritten confirmation

This doesn't happen often enough.

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.

Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it "Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold."...

http://www.politico.com

Americans Sick Of Health Care

...And War

Former U.S. President, Bill Clinton and current President, Barack Obama

According to a New York Times report regarding a poll, Americans are sick of the health care debates raging in Washington, as U.S. President Barack Obama, attempts to launch his sweeping initiatives.

As previously stated on the Judiciary Report two days ago, Americans have also grown weary regarding war, according to a poll released yesterday.

Public Wary of Obama on War and Health Care, Poll Finds

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/us/politics/25poll.html

Obama's Television Blitz

U.S. President Barack Obama did five television interviews last week, in support of his national health care plans. On the television program, Face The Nation, the interviewer asked the same question the Judiciary Report pondered months ago, is the President taking on too much too fast.

Certain problems within the U.S. government should rank high on his agenda. Quite a few can easily be fixed. However, the health care issue is a mammoth problem that requires complete thought and thorough planning.

It would have been more appropriate to introduce a small tax increase on America's richest citizens, leaving the middle class and poor out of the extra taxation and eased it into a fund for a program to provide low cost health insurance for the members of American society, most in need of coverage, but are the least able to afford it.

One could cut costs in government across the board and wait until the nation's financial outlook improved, before attempting drastic financial decisions, such as health care for everyone, with the government footing the bill.

The only way this can be done quickly, without bankrupting the nation, is creating a health care tax everyone has to pay, following the international model and one would have to be careful introducing something of that scope overnight in a nation of 305,000,000 people.

Obama Removes Racism From Protests

Video: Obama says racism not behind health protests - ITN NEWS

U.S. President Barack Obama believes racism is not behind the health care protests that have been transpiring in America. Money is the primary reason, as racism has been the mitigating factor.

People are genuinely concerned about the cost of Obama's health care initiatives. However, there are some, not all, that dislike the President for his race and used it as an opportunity to bash the Commander-in-Chief.

Senate Health Care To Cost $1 Trillion

According to estimates, the U.S. Senate's health care remedy for America, will cost the nation nearly $1 trillion dollars over the course of 10 years. That's a lot of zeros.

Senate's 10-year health fix would cost $856B

WASHINGTON – Sen. Max Baucus on Wednesday brought out the much-awaited Finance Committee version of an American health-system remake — a landmark $856 billion, 10-year measure that starts a rough ride through Congress without visible Republican backing....

http://news.yahoo.com

Obama's Health Care Pitch

Video: Obama: Health Care Reform Needed Now

U.S. President Barack Obama has been pitching his health care initiatives like he was on the campaign trail again, as in 2008. He has been pitching it like an insurance sales man (joking).

In the above posted speech, Obama lays out his point of view and the highlights of his health care initiatives, stating it will NOT add $1 dollar to the national deficit. How much will it add, then? $1 trillion dollars? Just kidding, don't get mad.

It would be wonderful if everyone was covered and it is possible, but this is something that must be undertaken with great care and when the time is right, as America is buckling under the weight of a massive amount of debt and financial loss. Nonetheless, I wish you well in this endeavor.

Obama's Insurance War

Video: Insurance Winners? - Bloomberg

U.S. President Barack Obama has been in a battle with insurance companies regarding his health care initiatives. He is determined to reform and revamp U.S. health care, but has encountered massive opposition from all sides.

In the above posted video it is stated, "Insurance companies are fighting some of the president's health care provisions." They are actively lobbing against items from said provisions, creating additional problems regarding the President's plans.

Most Disapprove Of Obama Health Care Plans

Video: Poll: Most Disapprove of Obama on Health Care - The Associated Press

According to a national poll, most Americans disapprove of President Barack Obama’s healthcare plans. Many are concerned it is going to further bankrupt America.

Representatives for both major national political parties state they have enough votes to sway the issue in their direction. However, no definitive numbers have been released.

GOP Gaining On The Democrats

President Barack Obama

According to reports released today, the Republican Party has gained in the polls, due to recent controversy swirling around U.S. President Barack Obama's health care initiatives and stimulus packages.

The Democratic Party still leads in the polls, but the GOP is gaining ground. Many are already looking to the mid-term elections.

Obama "Public Option" In Question

There is talk around Washington the "Public Option" of President Barack Obama's healthcare bill has been dropped. Thus far, the White House has not confirmed it.

This issue has been one of the most challenging of his young presidency, as it has brought out a lot of emotions in people.

Obama's Economy

The Wall Street Journal published a video, going over some of the talking points of the economic crisis, such as the role former President Bush played in creating it and the part President Obama currently holds.

The Journal expressed something I've asserted as well. The fact President Obama inherited an economy in severe decline, does not mean history will exempt him for blame, if he fails to curb its descent, by reining in spending.

As I've stated before, increased spending poses a threat to Obama's legacy, if his plans do not pan out. Reformation in the form of cost cuts, wherever they can be made, is critical to national recovery.

Obama Seeks Promo Assistance From Docs

U.S. President Barack Obama has been urging doctors to promote his health care initiatives, which have come under intense scrutiny from conservatives, due to the price tag.

I am of the belief, President Obama's first step should be health care reform, in reducing costs as much as possible, across the board, from pharmaceutical companies to hospitals to doctors to insurance companies.

The problem is there are well funded entities in America that like things the way they are, in the currently broken system, because they are making a fortune from overcharging everyday people.

Drug companies often cannot justify the expensive prices of their products. However, as they are in a sense, holding sick people ransom, in exchange for massive revenues, they are allowed to name their price.

Another area of significant cost is hospital imaging (MRIs, CT Scans, EMGs, EKGs). I speak from experience.

For technology that has been around for some time, it is still very expensive. The government would do well to find a way to alleviate costs associated with imaging, which would save paying patients, Medicare and Medicaid significant sums of money.

Obama asks docs to promote health care fix

WASHINGTON — The White House is asking doctors to help promote its drive to overhaul health care, marking an effort by President Barack Obama to regain momentum on the issue.

White House health advisers held an hourlong conference call Tuesday night with close to 3,000 physicians and officials of their professional groups in which they tried drumming up support by answering questions and describing the administration's goals, participants said.

Before the call, the White House e-mailed a 12-page booklet to medical associations titled "Doctors for Health Insurance Reform." The brochure stated the administration's case for revamping the nation's health care system and suggested ways doctors could call attention to the issue.

Among the suggestions: Hosting local events on health care, giving tours of hospitals or designating a "Health Insurance Reform Week" during which events could be staged around the country....

http://www.google.com

Obama's Conundrums

As U.S. President Barack Obama's poll numbers continue to slide, he has found an unlikely ally in former Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. He attributes the opposition to Obama's ideas to racism from the right wing, who dislike the President for being black. Certainly, there are right wing hate groups making active threats on Obama's life, while others utter slurs every chance they get. There are also some Republicans who are racists and unable to adapt to the idea of a black President (hey, be happy he is not using pseudo-words like "misunderestimate"). However, to be fair, as a black person, while he has done some good, I have to state, some of Obama's ideas make me somewhat uneasy for the simple reason I do not believe they will work: 1) $1 trillion in government spending to boost the economy is too much. 2) Health care ideas in their current form need to be redone. 3) Approving the stem cell bill was not a good moral choice. 4.) There are too many troops in the Middle East and it is going to be messy and financially costly. 5.) The public and some sectors of the government, does not know America's true financial books, which bars proper financial planning. As the first black President, I do not wish for him to fail, but I'd be a real hypocrite if I stated I approve of all his ideas, knowing full well the aforementioned five are going to be far more trouble than they are worth. A lot of his ideas also suffer from bad economic timing, based on what he walked into as President - it was like stepping into a pile of doodoo Bush left behind (bad economy, bad war, bad diplomacy). Respectfully, you will look back and see what I'm stating is not unsound, as it is simple economics. By God's grace, I have been right before. However, on Obama's current path, he has not gone astray like Bush did, who plumbed the lowest depths of immorality, liked it and stayed there. Fidel Castro says racist right-wingers fight Obama Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:06am EDT - HAVANA (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is trying to make positive changes in the United States, but is being fought at every turn by right-wingers who hate him because he is black, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday. In an unusually conciliatory column in the state-run media, Castro said Obama had inherited many problems from his predecessor, George W. Bush, and was trying to resolve them. But the "powerful extreme right won't be happy with anything that diminishes their prerogatives in the slightest way." Obama does not want to change the U.S. political and economic system, but "in spite of that, the extreme right hates him for being African-American and fights what the president does to improve the deteriorated image of that country," Castro wrote. "I don't have the slightest doubt that the racist right will do everything possible to wear him down, blocking his program to get him out of the game one way or another, at the least political cost," he said... http://www.reuters.com White House projects bigger deficits, bigger debt Tuesday Aug 25, 9:44 am ET - WASHINGTON – The federal government faces exploding deficits and mounting debt over the next decade, White House officials predicted Tuesday in a fiscal assessment far bleaker than what the Obama administration had estimated just a few months ago. Figures released by the White House budget office foresee a cumulative $9 trillion deficit from 2010-2019, $2 trillion more than the administration estimated in May. Moreover, the figures show the public debt doubling by 2019 and reaching three-quarters the size of the entire national economy. Obama economic adviser Christina Romer predicted unemployment could reach 10 percent this year and begin a slow decline next year. Still, she said, the average unemployment will be 9.3 in 2009 and 9.8 percent in 2010... http://news.yahoo.com

John McCain Opposes Public Option

Video: Controversial "Reconciliation" - Bloomberg

Senator John McCain and other high profile Republicans, oppose U.S. President Barack Obama's "Public Option" feature of his controversial health care plans.

Senator McCain, spoke on television yesterday, urging President Obama to abandon the "Public Option" clearing the way for Republicans in Congress to talk business with him, regarding their vote on health care.

Currently, there is talk of "budget reconciliation" due to lack of support on the health care bill. Bloomberg News reported, "Leading senate Democrats think of reconciliation, because of having no support from Republicans and moderates."

Obama To Vacation In Martha’s Vineyard

Trouble Brews In Washington

The Obamas

U.S. President Barack Obama and his family, are scheduled to vacation in Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts next week.

The past week has been racked with problems regarding health care and the controversial public option.

The GOP has declared victory, regarding opposing Obama’s health care initiatives, they refer to as wasteful, but some believe they "misunderestimate" his "strategery" (Yes, that was a Bushism).

Holiday unlikely to be restful for President Obama

Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:09am EDT - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - His healthcare reform plan is stumbling, the economy is still sputtering and violence is up in Iraq and Afghanistan. Who wouldn't want a break?

President Barack Obama is officially taking one next week when he heads to Martha's Vineyard. But his long "to do" list -- two wars, worldwide recession and a host of legislative battles in store when he gets back, most notably the struggle over reforming the U.S. health system -- will make it hard for him to relax and disconnect.

Obama is the best salesman for healthcare reform, economic stimulus and other domestic agenda items, and his absence could hurt, analysts said...

Some critics have questioned whether the president should take a vacation at all, especially given the country's stubborn economic problems and the vehemence of opposition to the $1 trillion healthcare plan.

Others have slammed him for heading to a Massachusetts resort island known as a haven for the rich and famous...

http://www.reuters.com

Obama Insists Health Care Bill Is Bipartisan

President Obama

President Obama’s Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, insists the commander in chief’s health care bill is bipartisan and fair to all.

However, critics still rage that the bill is going to prove very costly to US taxpayers and drastically increase the national deficit.

Gibbs: Obama wants bi-partisan bill (no matter what the media says)

Aug 19, 2009 - AUBURN The White House says President Obama still wants a bi-partisan health care bill, despite news reports that congressional Democrats are thinking of using their House and Senate majorities to push through a bill on their own terms.

"The president has said countless times he will work with anybody in any party," said press secretary Robert Gibbs.

Gibbs pushed back on reports that some officials in the White House agree that Republican opposition may block any health care bill, so they are also starting to think about a Democratic-only initiative.

The press secretary told reporters that the parties agree on about 80 percent of health care reform. But that last 20 percent is tough, including the ongoing kerfuffle over a publicly financed health insurance option...

http://content.usatoday.com