Obamacare Waivers List Released Friday Afternoon -- No News Release -- Unions Benefit Most!

Doesn't take rocket science to figure out why the 111 companies who were granted waivers by the Obama Administration were not announced in a public press release. That is a lot of waivers to Obamacare which points out the fact it is an extremely flawed healthcare program that Nancy Pelosi rammed through saying it had to be passed to see what was in the bill. Most people do not like what is in the bill after they saw it but it helped prove in this election that Pelosi could care less about what was in a bill as long as it passed. Now she is running for Minority Leader since they lost so many seats and she will no longer be Speaker. Are the Democrats going to elect her and once again make her the face of Democrat House members?

Why did the Democrats under the leadership of Pelosi and Reid refuse to even consider the bicameral Patient's Choice Act bill submitted by Sen Coburn (R-OK) and Senator Burr (R-NC)in the Senate and Rep Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA)? In the Senate in addition to Coburn and Burr, it was co-sponsored by Senators Alexander (R-TN), Graham (R-SC), Isakson (R-GA), Bunning (R-KY), Chambliss (R-GA) and Inhofe (R-OK). In the House in addition to Ryan and Nunes, it was co-sponsored by Brady (R-TX), Campbell (R-CA), Linder (R-GA), Marchant (R-TX), Sessions (R-TX), Souder (R-IN), Calvert (R-CA), LaTourette (R-OH), Lungren (R0-CA), McClintock (CA-4), Rohrabacher (CA-46), and Shimkus (R-IL). The bill in both Houses was sent to Committee where it didn't even receive a hearing.

This site covered the Patient's Choice Act on August 22, 2010 at Patients Choice Act of 2009 and provided the details of their plan to fix healthcare. We suggest they bring it back in the next session of Congress because at least it will get a hearing in the House. Would make an excellent substitute bill for Obamacare but we would expect Obama to veto it because it makes common sense, and he had nothing to do with it.

Now we learn the waivers are favoring the unions which is no shock as they are in Obama's hip pocket. When looking at the list, it gives you an idea why the Democrats didn't want to publish the list and waited until Friday afternoon to post it on-line. Do Democrats seriously think that the information will be buried forever with this stunt? Sure seems they do.

Obamacare Waivers Prove Policy is a Jobs Killer, Unions Benefit Mostby Warner Todd Huston

111 companies and organizations were granted waivers by Obama’s Dept. of Health and Human Services so that they could get out of having to comply with Obamacare and unions were particularly well rewarded by the HHS with these waivers.

Interestingly, there was no great announcement of these waivers issued to the press. The HHS buried the waiver announcement six layers deep on its webpage and posted them on Friday when they imagined no one would notice. It’s a typical Friday evening document dump so common when an administration wants to avoid the prying eyes of the people. So much for the “most transparent administration in history,” eh?

One thing is sure about these waivers. Obama rewarded his union pals quite well. Som 15 unions and union healthcare or financial fund and insurance providers fill the list of companies and groups that will not have to operate under Obamacare’s destructive rules.

The Service Employees Benefit Fund
United Food and Commercial Workers Allied Trade Health & Welfare Trust Fund
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union No. 195
Asbestos Workers Local 53 Welfare Fund
Employees Security Funds
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 123 Welfare Fund
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 227
United Food and Commercial Workers Maximus Local 455
Service Employees International Union Local 25
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1262
Musicians Health Fund Local 802
Hospitality Benefit Fund Local 17
Transport Workers Union
United Federation of Teachers Welfare Fund
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (AFL-CIO)

Interestingly enough, Obama has waived the onerous Obamacare rules for quite a few healthcare providers, too. One wonders how good Obamacare could be if the rules are waived for actual healthcare providers?

Most outrageous addition to the waiver list is the exemption that New England Health Care got. Is NEHC a healthcare provider or insurance company, you ask? Nope. It’s a policy group that, according to its website, is “dedicated to transforming health care for the benefit of patients and their families.”

As Jazz Shaw notes the irony is rich.

So an institute dedicated to finding ways to reform the health care system had to apply for an exemption from the administration’s reforms to the health care system? Keep your eyes on the news next week, as I’m fairly sure that the heads of some immigration reform lobbying groups will be deported.

In any case, this list shows that HHS realizes how bad Obamacare is for the healthcare plans on a wide range of industries, so bad that the new rules had to be waived. And remember. Once Obama waives all these businesses from having to put up with Obamacare, that just puts more burden on the rest of us that aren’t big campaign donors to Obama’s warchest,

Excerpt: For a full list of waivers visit Big Government.com

The Patient's Choice Act of 2009 (Alternative to Obamacare)

How many Americans have heard of "The Patients' Choice Act of 2009" that was submitted in Congress by Senators Coburn and Burr and US Representatives Ryan and Nunes on May 20, 2009? Why are the Democrats ignoring these ideas from Republicans which make sense? Why 1,000 page Obamacare bills that also contain earmarks for things like bike trails? Why so long? Read the information provided on "The Patients' Choice Act of 2009" and tell us why this plan is not the way to go including ending Lawsuit Abuse (Tort Reform)

Why not listen to Senator Coburn who is also a Doctor? Instead Democrats continued to listen to the Trial Attorney lobby who certainly do not have the interests of doctors, hospitals, or patients. Patients are only a means for Trial Attorneys to line their pockets even more. This was submitted in May but has been largely ignored by the Mainstream Media who continue to carry the water for Obama/Pelosi/Reid on Obamacare. Read this plan for yourself at Patient's Choice Act and ask yourself why we are not hearing more about this plan.

May 20, 2009

Senators Coburn, Burr and Representatives Ryan, Nunes Offer A Better Path Forward on Health Care Reform

Bicameral Coalition of Reformers Unveil “The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009”

WASHINGTON – Earlier today, U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) and U.S. Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced health care reform legislation that delivers on the shared principles of promoting universal access to quality, affordable health care, and does so without adding billions of dollars in new debt or taxes.

“The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009,” transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans. “The Patients’ Choice Act” promotes innovative, State-based solutions, along with fundamental reforms in the tax code, to give every American, regardless of employment status, age, or health condition, the ability and the resources to purchase health insurance. The comprehensive legislation includes concrete prevention and transparency initiatives, long overdue reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, investments in wellness programs and health IT, and more.

“As a practicing physician, I have seen first-hand how giving government more control over health care has failed to make health care more affordable and accessible. The American people deserve health care reform that will work, not another round of so-called reform that repeats the same failed policies of the past. Congress and the administration have the opportunity to pursue bold reform and a fresh start. The Patients’ Choice Act will provide every American with access to affordable health care without a tax increase, more debt and waiting lines,” Dr. Coburn said.

“The American health care system needs a complete transformation,” Senator Burr said. “The Patients’ Choice Act will finally enable Americans to own their health care instead of being trapped in the current system, which leaves people either uninsured, dependent on their employer, or forced into a government program. With a focus on prevention and wellness and covering those with pre-existing conditions, the Patients’ Choice Act will make health care affordable and accessible to all Americans.”

“Both parties need to step up to the plate with specific solutions to our nation’s health care crisis,” added Ryan. “The Patients’ Choice Act represents a clear alternative to those who seek to empower Washington at the expense of the individual, and I am hopeful that our efforts can help push Congress to enact a more sensible health care reform bill this year. The Patients’ Choice Act proves that America can have universal health care coverage without the government running our health care system.”

Nunes stated, “The American people deserve a health care system that is centered on their individual needs. Our bill will allow us to achieve this goal, while improving health outcomes, lowering cost and guaranteeing access to health care for every single American.”

Watch the press conference here

Click here to view the entire bill text
Click here for the comprehensive summary.
Click here for the brief summary.
Click here for answers to common questions and myths.
Click here for a section-by-section summary.
Click here to read the Individual Auto-Enrollment Summary.

Compare Patients' Choice Act and Democrats' House Bill here.
Gingrich Statement on the Patients’ Choice Act
Read the sponsor's editorial on PCA 2009.
Coburn, Burr letter to Senator Reid regarding his recent remarks.
Read the Americans for Tax Reform's letter.
Coburn discusses health care on C-Span's Washington Journal
Related Resources:
Files:
Experts onTax Treatment of Health Insurance (298.5 KBs)
Jul 16, 2009
PCA Scenario Examples (June 13 2009) (404.8 KBs)
Jul 16, 2009