The LuLac Edition #3444, March 5th, 2017

REPUBLICANS RELEASE ALTERNATIVE TO OBAMA CARE----

ONLY GOOD IF YOU ARE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY

Donald Trump said his plan would be better than Obama care. Wanna bet?

The GOP released their "alternative" plan. Here are a few choice bits.

1. A draft of the House Republicans' bill to repeal Obamacare would replace its subsidies with less generous tax credits, increase the amount insurers could charge older Americans and effectively eliminate Medicaid for low-income adults. 

Where do the low income people go without Medicaid? On the streets, more homeless.

2. Replaces income-based subsidies with age-based tax credits: Instead of getting a subsidy based on your income and the premiums in your area, you'd receive a refundable tax credit based on your age. The credits would range from $2,000 for those under 30 to $4,000 for those between age 60 and 64. (It does not apply to those on Medicare.)
While these credits are more generous than those laid out in a plan proposed in 2015 by former Representative Tom Price, now the health secretary, they still may not be enough to make coverage affordable for everyone, particularly for older folks, lower-income Americans or those living in areas with high medical costs.

Lower income Americans living in areas with high medical cost. Translation: LULAC LAND!!!!!!

That's because the GOP tax credit doesn't take into account income or the price of insurance plans in a certain area like the Obamacare subsidies do. And it would not provide as large a subsidy for older enrollees, who pay up to three times as much for coverage as younger ones. 

To those Seniors who voted for Trump because they thought he'd shake things up, hey grandpa and grandma, they are tearing YOUR SAFETY NET down!  But you didn't like Hillary Clinton. You didn't care for her!!!! Hah! The joke is on you!

3. It is freeing insurers from the federal requirement to provide certain benefits, such as maternity and prescription drugs, would let them offer less expensive plans. Republicans argue that giving consumers more choice of benefits packages would make coverage more affordable.

More choice for less!!!! No maternity, no prescription drugs? I hope those Republican woman who voted for these fools read this. 

4.Allows insurers to charge more to those who let coverage lapse, but protects those with pre-existing conditions: The Republicans would eliminate the individual mandate as of last year -- so those who didn't have coverage wouldn't have to pay the penalty. And there'd be no requirement to get insurance going forward.
But to encourage Americans to maintain coverage, lawmakers would allow insurers to charge those who had lapsed up to 130% of the premium for the first year once they re-enroll.

How the hell can they do that if they can't enroll? 

5. Eliminates Medicaid expansion funds and caps federal spending: The draft legislation doesn't repeal Medicaid expansion for low-income adults, but it eliminates the enhanced federal reimbursement for new enrollees starting in 2020. Without an enhanced reimbursement, few states would be able to cover adults eligible for expansion.

One in five Pennsylvanians are rely on Medicaid programs. 43% are CHILDREN, 32% are SENIORS and INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.  So if the funding enhancement is gone, you know what happens to your state taxes Trump voters? THEY GO UP!  
TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS THE REPUBLICAN PLAN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER!!!!!!!!

 (CNN Money, LuLac) 

HE SAID WHAT ABOUT ME????

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN BARLETTA ENDORSES TRUMP’S NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER

Congressman Lou Barletta (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Lou Barletta applauded President Trump’s latest executive order, which pauses the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days. It also suspends the issuance of new visas for 90 days for individuals from six countries that either are designated as state sponsors of terrorism, or have become terrorist hotbeds. The six countries are Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
Additionally, President Trump ordered a review of the screening, or vetting, process of refugees until it can be determined that refugee applicants are indeed the individuals they claim to be. The order will become effective on March 16, 2017.
Barletta issued the following statement:
“I commend President Trump for acting decisively to protect the American people. This order, like previous orders, is lawful and within the president’s existing authority.
“In hearings before my House Homeland Security Committee, we have had numerous national security experts testify that we simply cannot accurately screen refugees because we have no information from their home countries to verify their identities. In many cases, we simply have no idea who we are admitting into the country. President Trump’s executive order allows for the proper review and establishment of standards to prevent terrorist and criminal infiltration by foreign nationals.
“It is the president’s job to protect the American people. And it is important to recognize that citizens of foreign nations simply do not have the right to unfettered admission into the United States. I applaud the president’s continued efforts to improve vetting standards and ensure we have the time and capability to accurately determine the background of people seeking access to this country.
“I am in full support of President Trump’s actions to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. I believe such actions are prudent, while we work on a system that allows us to verify the identity and background of applicants.”