Decision Sets The Stakes For November’s Election
Two years after Madison Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin provided a deciding vote to ram ObamaCare through Congress, the Supreme Court today has affirmed Baldwin’s decision to put President Obama’s agenda ahead of Wisconsin seniors and small businesses. In doing so, the Court has made clear what is at stake in November’s election.
In fact, Cong. Baldwin not only supported President Obama’s health care plan, she believed it didn’t go far enough saying she was for a single payer plan.
“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 ensure liberal Tammy Baldwin does not make it to the U.S. Senate,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Lance Trover said today.
BACKGROUND….
Baldwin Proudly Voted For ObamaCare
Baldwin Voted For The Health Care Overhaul Reconciliation. (H.R. 4872, CQ Vote #167: Passed 220-211: R 0-178; D 220-33, 3/21/10, Baldwin Voted Yea)
And Proclaimed That ObamaCare Didn’t Go Far Enough
Baldwin: “I Actually Was For A Government Takeover Of Medicine. I Was For A Single Payer Plan.” (9th Annual Fighting Bob Fest, www.youtube.com/, 8:00)
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND….
The Cost Of ObamaCare To Wisconsin Alone
Cost To State
In 2010, Healthcare Spending In Wisconsin Accounted For $22.8 Billion, Or 9.2 Percent Of The State’s GDP. (“Gross Domestic Product By State (GDP By State) Interactive Maps,” Bureau Of Economic Analysis, Accessed 5/20/12)
Insurance Premiums Increasing
In 2010, 13 Percent Of Wisconsin Adults Under 65 Did Not Seek Health Care Because Of The Cost. “Access to basic health care for adults declined in Wisconsin and nearly every state from 2000 to 2010, according to a study released Monday. An estimated 13% of the adults under 65 in Wisconsin reported not seeking health care because of the cost in 2010, according to the study. That was up from 8.5% in 2000.” (Guy Boulton, “Access To Health Care Declines In Wisconsin, Nationwide,” Journal Sentinel, 5/7/12)
- In 2010, 448,000 Adults In Wisconsin Did Not Seek Health Care Because Of The Cost. “The percentage of adults under 65 who reported not seeking health care because of the cost in 2010 works out to an estimated 448,000 people in Wisconsin.” (Guy Boulton, “Access To Health Care Declines In Wisconsin, Nationwide,” Journal Sentinel, 5/7/12)
NOTE: In 2010, 18.7 Percent Of Adults Nationwide Under 65 Had Unmet Health Needs Due To The Cost Of Health Care. “Nationally, 18.7% of all adults under 65 reported having unmet health care needs because of cost in 2010, compared with 12.7% in 2000.” (Guy Boulton, “Access To Health Care Declines In Wisconsin, Nationwide,” Journal Sentinel, 5/7/12)
Dennis Smith, Secretary Of The Wisconsin Secretary Of Department Of Health Services Cited Study Saying: “These Changes Described Here Represent Only The Effect Of The Law.” SMITH: “Analysis shows that 87 percent of individuals in the individual market, will see premiums that will be 41 percent higher under PPACA. These changes described here represent only the effect of the law. The changes in premiums do not include medical inflation, which is projected to continue to increase faster than wages each year.” (Dennis Smith, Op-Ed, “What Does Federal Health Care Reform Mean For Wisconsin?” WisBusiness.com, 8/26/11)
The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan “Isn’t Living Up To Expectations” Because Of Lagging Enrollment Numbers And High Premiums. “It’s a centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s health care remake, a lifeline available right now to vulnerable people whose medical problems have made them uninsurable. But the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan started this summer isn’t living up to expectations. Enrollment lags in many parts of the country. People who could benefit may not be able to afford the premiums. Some state officials who run their own ‘high-risk pools’ have pointed out potential problems. ‘The federal risk pool has definitely provided critical access, in some cases lifesaving access, to health insurance,’ said Amie Goldman, chair of a national association of state high-risk insurance pools. ‘That said, enrollment so far is lower than we would have expected.’ Goldman runs the Wisconsin state pool, as well as the federal plan in her state.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Growing Pains For A Centerpiece Of Health Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/3/10)
- “In Wisconsin, Goldman Said They’ve Received Fewer Than 300 Applications So Far, With Room For About 8,000 People In The Program.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Growing Pains For A Centerpiece Of Health Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/3/10)
Tanning Salon Owner In Wisconsin Says She May Have To Lay Off People As Result Of Tanning Tax. “Starting July 1, tanning salons will be required to slap a 10 percent tax on all ultra-violet tanning. At Bella Sole Tan, 2719 18th St., that’s going to hurt. ‘It could impact us in a lot of ways,’ says co-owner Travis Halvorsen. ‘Ninety-nine percent of our clients do UV tanning. We might lose clients. We might cut back on people’s hours. We might even have to lay people off.’” (Melinda Tichelaar, “Tanning Tax Clouds Horizons For Salons,” Kenosha News, 3/27/10)
“Dale Suslick Of Madison, Who Owns 9 Shops, Calls It A Death Sentence For Many Small Salons. He Said Some Were Just Barely Making It, And They’ll Now Try To Either Sell Or Close Their Businesses.” (“Wisconsin Tanning Salons Getting Burned By New HCR Law,” WTAQ Radio, 3/26/10)
Wisconsin State Journal: Obamacare “Looms Over” Small Businesses. “Small business people also would feel more confident if Obama and Congress did more to ease federal regulation and simplify the tax code. Instead, Obama’s health care changes continue to loom over long-term business decisions. Many small business people remain skeptical that health care reforms will actually control costs.” (Editorial, “Jobs Bill Misses Mark,” Wisconsin State Journal, 9/25/11)
