Decision Sets The Stakes For November’s Election

After liberal New York Democrat Bob Kerrey announced that he was supporting ObamaCare, the Supreme Court today has affirmed Kerrey’s support of President Obama’s agenda ahead of Nebraska seniors and small businesses.  In doing so, the Court has made clear what is at stake in November’s election.

“The Supreme Court’s decision makes clear that the only way to stop the massive tax increases, government spending, and cuts to Medicare contained in the healthcare law is to elect Republican State Senator Deb Fischer who will work to repeal ObamaCare,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today.

BACKGROUND….

Kerrey Supported The Individual Mandate

In March 2012, Kerrey Said He Supported The Individual Mandate In Obamacare. “Kerrey also has no comprehensive plan, although he opposes the repeal of the health care law and supports its individual mandate. He said the reality is that people without insurance can go to an emergency room knowing their costs will be covered by others. Those people should be required to pay for their care via mandated insurance coverage, Kerrey said.” (Robynn Tysver, “Senate Hopefuls Would Repeal Health Law,” Omaha World-Herald, 3/31/12)

But In January 2011, Kerrey Told A Greenwich Village Newspaper That The Federal Government Didn’t Have The Power To Mandate Insurance, And Predicted The Supreme Court Would Overturn The Individual Mandate. “As for the health bill, Kerrey noted, ‘The federal government can’t say you have to buy insurance.’ The Supreme Court will likely rule against that provision, he predicted.” (Lincoln Anderson, “Kerrey Pines For His Political Voice Post-School Presidency,” The Villager, 1/5/11)

• KERREY: “The Federal Government Can’t Say You Have To Buy Insurance.” (Lincoln Anderson, “Kerrey Pines For His Political Voice Post-School Presidency,” The Villager, 1/5/11)

And Kerrey Said He Would’ve Voted For ObamaCare If He Was In The Senate

Kerrey Said Ben Nelson Made The Right Decisions Voting For ObamaCare, And He Too Would Have Voted For It. KERREY: “It’s a huge problem. I think the Affordable Health Care Act makes things better, but it still isn’t done. There’s still plenty of work to be done. Anybody that says otherwise is ignoring the facts.” (WLKN-TV, 1/15/12)

“Kerrey Said He Would Have Voted For The 2010 Health Care Overhaul, Though He Wants Some Changes.” (Laura Litvan, “Kerrey Not Nebraska Favorite Son After Decade In New York,” Bloomberg, 6/5/12)

KERREY: “How Else Are You Going To Get Rid Of The Uninsured Problem Unless You Bring A Little More Government Into The Transaction?” (Fox Business Network’s, “Imus In The Morning,” 2/26/10)

In August 2009, Kerrey Said “I Still Believe The President Is Right, And That Doing Nothing Is Bad.” “‘It is one of those situations that you really can get damned if you do and damned if you don’t,’ said former Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., who made health care reform the centerpiece of his unsuccessful 1992 presidential campaign and later tried to push various proposals to overhaul the system. ‘It’s very, very difficult.’ ‘It is potentially lose-lose,’ Kerrey added. ‘That said, I still believe the president is right, and that doing nothing is bad. It will get worse. The system itself is rewarding the wrong thing. There is good reason to change the system.’” (Kirk Victor, “Are Dems Risking A Lose-Lose Situation?” The National Journal, 8/1/09)

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND… 

The Cost Of ObamaCare To Nebraska Alone

The Center For Medicare & Medicaid Studies (CMS) Estimates From 2014 To 2020 ObamaCare Will Cost Nebraska An Additional $95.3 Million. (Edmund Haislmaier and Brian Blasé, “Obamacare: Impact On States,” www.heritage.org, 7/1/10)

And It’s Killing Jobs In The Cornhusker State

Since ObamaCare Passed, “About A Hundred Tanning Businesses In Nebraska Have Had To Close And About 500 Jobs Were Lost.” “Bonn says that since the Federal Sales Tax was added back in 2010, about a hundred tanning businesses in Nebraska have had to close and about 500 jobs were lost.” (“Tanning Salons Getting Burned On Sales Tax,” KPTM, 2/1/12) 

“Unfair” Tax On Tanning Salons In Nebraska Has Some Considering Whether To Close Their Doors And Cut Their Losses. “The recent health care reform bill was meant to help the less fortunate. Some small businesses feel they are being ignored. One clause in the bill institutes a ten percent tax hike for indoor tanning services. It is to help pay for the health risks associated with tanning. Multiple salons in the Hastings area said they feel threatened. Paradise Tanning said they already felt a decrease in business due to the economy. The owner said they will have to reduce employees or worse. ‘It is just unfair to keep passing on more and more cost to our customers. There comes a time where you have to decide whether you should just close your door and cut your losses,’ said Nancy Bumgardner, Paradise Tanning.”  (“New Tax Weighs Heavy On Tanning Salons,” KHAS, 3/29/10)