Decision Sets The Stakes For November’s Election

Two years after U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) provided the deciding vote to ram ObamaCare through Congress, the Supreme Court today has affirmed McCaskill’s decision to put President Obama’s agenda ahead of Missouri 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 in this election – the only way to stop the massive tax increases, government spending, and cuts to Medicare contained in ObamaCare is to replace liberal Claire McCaskill in Washington,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Lance Trover said today.  

BACKGROUND….

At Town Hall Forums In August 2009, McCaskill Promised Not To Vote For A Bill That Would Raise Taxes 

“McCaskill Also Vowed To Vote Against A Bill That Would Come With A Tax Hike, Saying ‘In This Economy The Last Thing We Want To Do Is Have A Tax Increase.’ ‘I’m Certainly Not Going To Vote For A Bill That Raises Your Taxes Unless You Make $2 Million A Year,’ She Said. McCaskill has been hosting similar forums across the state throughout the legislative recess. She said having the chance to hear from doctors, nurses and residents from Missouri has provided insight into concerns people have about the reform legislation.” (Matthew Steingraber, “Sen McCaskill Hosts Health Care Reform At Warrensburg,” McClatchy Tribune News, 8/27/09) 

McCaskill Said Of The Health Care Bill, “I Will Not Support A Tax Increase On Anyone Who Makes $250,000 A Year Or Less.” “In response to a question from a man who asked, ‘How do we pay without bankrupting the country?’ McCaskill said she would not vote for a bill that was not ‘revenue-neutral,’ meaning the program would have to pay for itself or be paid for with additional taxes. ‘I will not support a tax increase on anyone who makes $250,000 a year or less,’ she added.” (Terry Ganey, “Tempers flare at forum,” Columbia Daily Tribune, 8/27/09)

Claire McCaskill Proudly Voted For ObamaCare 

McCaskill Provided The 60th Vote To Invoke Cloture On The Senate Health Care Bill. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #395: Passed 60-39: R 0-39; D 58-0; I 2-0, 12/23/09, McCaskill Voted Yea)

But Missouri Voters Have Made Their Voices Heard

2010: Missourians Voted To Prohibit The Government From Requiring People To Buy Health Insurance

“Missouri Voters On Tuesday Overwhelmingly Approved A Measure Aimed At Nullifying The New Federal Health Care Law, becoming the first state in the nation where ordinary people made known their dismay over the issue at the ballot box.” (Monica Davey, “Missouri Voters Reject Health Law,” The New York Times, 8/3/10)

“About 71 Percent Of Missouri Voters Backed A Ballot Measure, Proposition C, That Would Prohibit The Government From Requiring People To Have Health Insurance Or From Penalizing Them For Not Having It.” (“Missouri Votes To Block Obama’s Health Insurance Mandate,” Fox News, 8/4/10)

McCaskill Blamed The Vote Results On Missourians Not Being “Fully Aware” Of ObamaCare’s “Positive Aspects” And Said “It Was Just About Political Posturing”

McCaskill “Said The Results Reflect The Fact That Voters Have Been Bombarded With Anti-Government Criticism Of The New Law And Aren’t Fully Aware Of Its Positive Aspects.” “Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, who backed the health care law, said the results reflect the fact that voters have been bombarded with anti-government criticism of the new law and aren’t fully aware of its positive aspects. ‘Big government, bad government, don’t trust ‘em’ is a pretty simple message,’ said McCaskill.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and David A. Lieb, “Missouri Vote Puts Health Care Back In Crosshairs,” The Associated Press, 8/5/10)

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND…. 

The Cost Of ObamaCare To Missouri Alone

Cost To State

The Heritage Foundation Estimates From 2014 To 2020 ObamaCare Will Cost Missouri An Additional $335.5 Million. (Edmund Haislmaier and Brian Blasé, “Obamacare: Impact On States,” The Heritage Foundation, 7/1/10)

The Missouri Department Of Services Projects Obamacare Will Cost Missouri $99.2 Million In 2017 And Rise 4.5 Percent Annually. “Yet even the Senate appropriations figures are greater than those cited by the Missouri Department of Services. Department projections provided last week to The Associated Press show the U.S. Senate bill would expand coverage to 255,000 adults at a cost to Missouri of $99.2 million in 2017, then would increase by 4.5 percent annually.” (David A. Lieb, “Analysis: State Republicans Oppose Federal Medicaid Expansion, Citing High Costs,” The Associated Press, 1/18/10)

In 2010, Healthcare Spending In Missouri Accounted For $21.9 Billion, Or 8.97 Percent Of The State’s GDP. (“Gross Domestic Product By State (GDP By State) Interactive Maps,” Bureau Of Economic Analysis, Accessed 5/20/12)

Missourians Are Losing Their Insurance Policies

Missouri One Of 34 States To Lose A Child Only Insurance Policy Since ObamaCare Was Signed Into Law. (US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Minority Oversight and Investigations Staff Phone and Email Preliminary Survey, Politico, 1/27/11)

According To Health Insurers, New Limits On Health Insurance Due To ObamaCare Will Require Higher Premiums That Colleges And Students Worry They Won’t Be Able To Afford. “Insurers said the new limits will require higher premiums that colleges and students, particularly at smaller schools, are worried they can’t afford. And while there’s a chance the U.S. Supreme Court will throw out the law later this month — making the new limits irrelevant — college administrators said they’ve had to finalize their coverage plans for the coming semesters assuming the law remains intact.” (Brianne Pfannenstiel, “Health Care Reform Law Dictates Changes For Student Insurance Coverage,” Kansas City Star, 6/13/12)

Douglas Penner Of The Kansas Independent College Association: Colleges Are Trying To Figure Out If They Can “Provide Anything Close To The Kind Of Coverage That’s Required And Is Economically Feasible For Students.” “‘We’ve had a lot of discussion among the chief financial officers about the dilemma,’ said Douglas Penner of the Kansas Independent College Association. ‘I think they were all grappling with the implications of the new minimums for coverage and trying to figure out whether they could provide anything close to the kind of coverage that’s required and is economically feasible for students.’” (Brianne Pfannenstiel, “Health Care Reform Law Dictates Changes For Student Insurance Coverage,” Kansas City Star, 6/13/12)

• Avila University And Bethany College, Both In Kansas, Have Decided To Opt Out Of Health Coverage – Leaving More Than 100 Students Uninsured, After Premiums Were Expected To Rise From $450 To $2,500 A Year. “This year, for the first time in decades, Avila University will not offer health insurance plans for domestic students. Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., also opted out of health coverage — leaving more than 100 students potentially uncovered — after premiums were projected to rise from $450 a year to $2,500.” (Brianne Pfannenstiel, “Health Care Reform Law Dictates Changes For Student Insurance Coverage,” Kansas City Star, 6/13/12)
• Bob Schmoll, Bethany’s Vice President For Finance: “It’s Going To Be Scary Given The Number Of Students Who Were Participating In Those Plans.” “‘It’s going to be scary given the number of students who were participating in those plans,’ said Bob Schmoll, Bethany’s vice president for finance. ‘It’s going to be a lot of people who aren’t covered.’” (Brianne Pfannenstiel, “Health Care Reform Law Dictates Changes For Student Insurance Coverage,” Kansas City Star, 6/13/12)

Students Within The University Of Missouri System Will See Health Care Prices Increase 7 Percent. “For schools within the University of Missouri system, prices for students will increase by about 7 percent.” (Brianne Pfannenstiel, “Health Care Reform Law Dictates Changes For Student Insurance Coverage,” Kansas City Star, 6/13/12)

Taxes/Effect On Businesses & Jobs

Missouri Tanning Salon Owner Called The Tax “A Hurdle” That “Doesn’t Help” Small Business Owners Who Are Already Struggling. “Tina Burger, owner of Sun-Sations in Jackson, hopes businesses like the mom-and-pop salons don’t shut their doors because of the tax. … ‘Being a small-business owner, you’re already trying to turn a profit during hard economic times,’ Burger said. ‘And then when you hit a hurdle like this, it doesn’t help.’“ (Brian Blackwell, “Area Tanning Salons Oppose 10 Percent Tax That Takes Effect July 1,” Southeast Missourian, 4/30/10)

• Another Missouri Tanning Salon Owner Said ObamaCare’s Tanning Tax “Is Just Another Blow To Small Business.” “Angela DeProw, owner of Under the Sun in Cape Girardeau, believes the tax on her industry couldn’t come at a worse time, when the nation’s estimated 18,000 tanning salons are falling on hard times. ‘The indoor tanning industry as well as other industries have been negatively affected by the economy,’ DeProw said. ‘The added 10 percent tax on indoor tanning is just another blow to small business and will negatively affect the consumers’ buying decisions.’“ (Brian Blackwell, “Area Tanning Salons Oppose 10 Percent Tax That Takes Effect July 1,” Southeast Missourian, 4/30/10)