Featured Quote

In 1913, Henry Ford wrote the following as the directors had been reaping the rewards of profits - "The wages we pay are too small in comparison with our profits. I think we should raise our minimum pay rate".

Friday, October 25, 2013

You can't have Obamacare

This is another futile effort to make people less stupid.

"Obamacare" is a set of Policies, Requirements and Regulations affecting the Health Insurance industry.  It is impossible to enroll in Obamacare.  It is impossible to not be affected by Obamacare.  It is impossible to "Opt Out" of Obamacare - you can't "Opt In" either.

You can't "have Obamacare."

You can have Health Insurance as provided by a variety of Private Insurance companies - as you always have.  Those insurance companies now have to adhere to a new set of regulations that do a better job of protecting YOUR interests.

  1. You can't be dropped from coverage when you get sick 
  2. You can't be dropped from coverage if you made an honest mistake on your application. 
  3. You also can't be denied coverage or treatment for being sick
  4. You can't be charged more for getting sick. 
  5. You can't be charged more for just being a woman.
  6. Most insurers must spend at least 80 percent (85 percent for insurers covering large employers) of the premiums you pay on medical care and quality improvements. If insurers spend too much on overhead, such as salaries, bonuses, or administrative costs, as opposed to health care, they must issue premium rebates to you each summer.
There are pros and cons as with any policy adjustment.

Most of the conversations I hear about Obamacare are full of misinformation and outright lies.

You can use a Health Insurance Exchange that was set up by the policies of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - also known as "Obamacare" or the ACA.  If you don't have insurance provided by your employer or you are not happy with that insurance, you can go to a State HIE or the Federal HIE if your state is too stupid to have one set up (like Mississippi, even though we spent the money to set one up, the Guv blocked it being implemented).  This allows you to shop around for all the Private Insurance offered through the exchange.  It is like if you were employed by a mega corporation who offered various insurance plans through various insurance companies.  The effect this has is to lower overall insurance premiums by spreading the risk pool - just like what large companies offer.  The reason single or single family plans are so expensive is that there is no risk pool, its just that one, small group. 

You can opt to not get health insurance and be charged a tax penalty instead of get health insurance for yourself.  Not the most shining example of "Personal Responsibility," but you could choose to do that.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Sharing the Sacrifice Act



Sharing the Sacrifice Act

To repeal the provision of law that provides automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress, tie congressional compensation to Median Income and make adjustments for smaller government.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ELIMINATION OF AUTOMATIC PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

(a)          In General- Paragraph (2) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) is repealed.
(b)          Technical and Conforming Amendments- Section 601(a)(1) of such Act is amended—
(1)          by striking `(a)(1)' and inserting `(a)';
(2)          by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; and
(3)          by striking `as adjusted by paragraph (2) of this subsection' and inserting `adjusted as provided by law'.
(c)           Effective Date – This section shall take effect 30 days after the Act is signed into law.


SECTION 2. TYING COMPENSATION TO MEDIAN INCOME.

(a)                   Median Income shall be as calculated by the Congressional Budget Office on a yearly basis.
(b)                   The compensation for all members of Congress shall be tied to the Median Personal Income of the state they represent.
(c)                   Compensation shall be set at 2.5 times the Median Personal Income of the state.
(d)                   Compensation shall be limited to 3 times the National Median Household Income.
(e)                   Effective Date – This Section shall take effect the next fiscal year after the Act is signed into law.

SECTION 3. STAFFING AND STAFF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.

(a)                   Staff shall be limited to 9 staff members per Representative in the House.
(b)                   Compensation for each staff member of a Representative shall be limited to 1.5 times the Median Personal Income of the state of the Representative.
(c)                   Compensation for each staff member of a Senator shall be limited to 1.5 times the Median Personal Income of the state of the Senator.
(d)                   Total Compensation for a Senator’s staff shall not exceed 15 times the Median Personal Income of the state of the Senator.
(e)                   Effective Date – This Section shall take effect the next fiscal year after the Act is signed into law.

SECTION 4. LEADERSHIP SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.

(a)          Majority and Minority Leaders in the House will be paid 1.15 times the Median salary of all other Representatives – leaving out the other Majority or Minority Leader and the Speaker of the House.
(b)          Majority and Minority Leaders in the Senate will be paid 1.15 times the Median salary of all other Senators – leaving out the other Majority or Minority Leader.
(c)           The Speaker of the House will be paid 1.25 times the Median salary of all other Representatives – leaving out the salaries of Majority and Minority Leaders.
(d)          Effective Date – This Section shall take effect the next fiscal year after the Act is signed into law.