Obamacare to Drive Costs Up

You didn’t actually believe that it was going to save you money, did you?

Caterpillar Inc. said the health-care overhaul legislation being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives would increase the company’s health-care costs by more than $100 million in the first year alone.

In a letter Thursday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, Caterpillar urged lawmakers to vote against the plan “because of the substantial cost burdens it would place on our shareholders, employees and retirees.”
Caterpillar, the world’s largest construction machinery manufacturer by sales, said it’s particularly opposed to provisions in the bill that would expand Medicare taxes and mandate insurance coverage. The legislation would require nearly all companies to provide health insurance for their employees or face large fines.

The Peoria-based company said these provisions would increase its insurance costs by at least 20 percent, or more than $100 million, just in the first year of the health-care overhaul program.

1. That is because they are evil and need to be put in their place.  Workers of the World unite for free health care. You only have your job to lose to an Asian company.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 1935 hrs




2. And that great sucking sound you hear is the last gasp of American industry as it moves overseas.

   Be prepared for 9-11% unemployment and even further depressed wages for a long time.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 1939 hrs




3. I think you’re being generous with the 9-11% unemployment.  With or without healthcare it’s probably going to go higher.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 2009 hrs




4. Well well well.  Gee, it sounds like something I’ve been saying for a while. The entire time I was doing so, one of the other, nameless, commenters here was saying I was wrong or didn’t know what I was talking about…

   Come on nameless commenter…come out and say something about me making this stuff up.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 2020 hrs




5. Looks like WellPoint is doing a pretty good of jacking up health care 39% all on its own without any help from the government.

   Things left on their own, which the GOP seems to favor, the price of health insurance goes up. Companies drop policies because of rising prices. The insurers have fewer policy holders and so they have to raise prices to make up for the lost revenue. Lather, rise, repeat.

   Having some control over the process brings a modicum of stability, which seems to make you all itchy.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 2148 hrs




6. Keith—-we don’t want to leave things alone.  We’d like market competition across state lines and tort reform.  And put the consumer in charge of things.  Require publication of all doctor and procedure fees.  Require every consumer to have some co-pay portion or HSA so they understand what this stuff really costs to use. 

   What we don’t want is Obamacare putting businesses and insurance companies under, while telling hard working Americans that they’ll have to wait two months for their heart procedure while Sally gets her free abortion and Hector who just came across from Mexico gets his vasectomy.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 2155 hrs




7. I think it’s all academic at this point. By hook or crook, they will institute Obamacare.

   On Sunday, the America I grew up in will disappear to be replaced by an economically weak socialist nation with a powerful central government and little world influence.

   It was a good run though… Welcome to France.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 2211 hrs




8. Things left on their own, which the GOP seems to favor

   Proof that you’re nothing but a Lefty Talking-Point Regurgitator.  There are a number of things that the GOP would like to do, and more specifically, that Conservatives would like to see happen.  But you can’t grasp that simple concept, can you?

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 19, 2010 at 2223 hrs




9. The Democrat answer to CAT:  “No it won’t.”

   I still don’t understand how people would rather be enslaved to the State than go without.  Once you take from the government, they OWN you.  Let us do this or we will take a way your healthcare (or in the case of Cali’s Central Valley, they’ll shut off your water).

   Torches and Pitchforks

   Posted by Steve on March 20, 2010 at 0242 hrs




10. Fun to see you all getting so needlessly worked up. But that is what you do.

    Sorry to spring math on you. The CBO puts the cost of the plan at one trillion. By no means cheap but when you break out the ten year bill comes to $100 billion. Health care now is at $2.4 trillion. You tell me how $100 billion of government money constitutes a “takeover” except among the hysterical.

    Yeah right the GOP has plans. Why the hell didn’t we hear about them over the eight years they were in power? Did we have to poke you or something, or don’t they really give a crap.

    Use your pitch forks and torches for your farm. We elected this guy Hussein to do this job. This is a democracy. You lost. Tough.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 0515 hrs




11. actually keith acorn elected him.
    explain to me how the government can do better?
    ever go to the dmv?
    did you see how long it took the state and federal government to clean up after katrina. very slow and no communication. you probably took shots at Pres Bush for that failior.
    Its the same ferderal government that will run healthcare.
    so you can sit back, relax, and smile that the government will take care of everything you need.
    me id rather rely on my own hard work. get my own hands dirty.
    i heard a report that 55 percent of dr visits are for reasons that the dr can do nothing for, ie colds can you imagine how many will go now that they have free health care. unbelivable.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 0557 hrs




12. The CBO numbers are nothing more than GI-GO.

    I don’t disagree that the GOP had an opportunity to act.  I didn’t want them to and don’t want them to now.

    If you knew anything about economics, Keith, it would be clear how this is a prelude to takeover.  If you listened to Pelosi, The Chosen One and a host of the other socialists, you would know that is what they want.  They have already taken over a good bit of the financial sector and two of three US automakers.

    Posted by Steve on March 20, 2010 at 0637 hrs




13. Again, you’re all getting your undies in a bundle.  Instead of running from this bill everyone should be embracing it. This will be the opportunity that the Republican party needs to regain control of the United States.  Because the majority of the population do not want Obamacare, the passing of this bill will be the torch that ignites the nation to take action and vote in every conservative that chooses to run. Once and for all, the Republic will be controlled by decent common sense conservatives. Conservatives will be able to fix this healthcare fiasco and reshape it in their own fashion. 

    On top of fixing healthcare, conservatives can undue every socialistic program that was ever shoved down our throats.  The best days are ahead of us, and the passage of the healthcare bill will be the trojan horse we need to take back control of our nation.  Thank you Nancy Pelosi!

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 0759 hrs




14. Tell me how a simple majority repeals these bills when it requires a 2/3 majority to override a presidential veto.

    Further, tell me what entitlement program has been repealed…..ever.

    Embrace?  No.  The stakes are way too high.

    Posted by Steve on March 20, 2010 at 0815 hrs




15. Steve, the republicans will control the house, senate, and presidency in a couple years.  The next couple years gives us nothing but opportunity to elect common sense conservatives.  Once we have control of the house, senate, and presidency, every socialized program ever created can be reversed.  Like I said, Obamacare will be the torch that ignites the nation to vote in true conservatives that can and will change everything back to what our founding fathers wanted.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 0843 hrs




16. I’ll try to be optimistic and go with Pat for the moment.

    a) If the GOP sweeps statewide races in November, think of all the things we can do.  Voter ID, Tabor, cuts in State pensions, consolidate UW campuses, repeal combined reporting.  Heck, won’t we be able to dump Badger care and all those costs since we’ll have the Feds paying for Obamacare with the Cornhusker kickback applied to all States for the next four years?

    b) Unlike other entitlement programs that haven’t been repealed, this is the first one that TAKES AWAY something from 75% of the population to provide the entitlement.  We’re going to lose our good healthcare in favor of government run crap. 

    For every person who gets a new benefit here, there will be benefits taken AWAY from others.  This is a very different situation than SS or Medicare where we essentially used the largess of the US government and prior robust health of the US economy to provide an entltlement.  Healthcare is a zero sum game or net negative game for most.  This is classic Obama Robin Hood policy but he’s robbing 75% of the country to give to 25%.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1018 hrs




17. Keith Said:

    Sorry to spring math on you

    AH the irony…...the architect of a bookstore co-op that lasts exactly 6 months ..... with Shorewood taxpayer money no less is lecturing US on the ability to do math?

    Excuse me if I am less than impressed with your math ability Mr Schmitz….

    Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on March 20, 2010 at 1018 hrs




18. I will give credit to those that are opposed to reform for sticking to theie guns. Everyone agrees that it needs to be reformed but can’t agree as to how.
    What will backfire in the current strategy to vote out the Democrats is that by November the average voter will have forgotten all this fire and will have accepted this new law.
    The election is going to be more about the topic of the day and HCR will be old news. Much of the election will depend on how the economy is doing in the Fall.
    The next debates will be about Immigration and Bank Regulations. If the Republicans stand up against regulating the big banks then they will lose in the election. The average Joe might not understand health care but they do understand that the big banks caused this recession and I would advise Republicans to favor regulating them so it doesn’t happen again.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1038 hrs




19. The healthcare bill is not about healthcare, it is about power and control of the people.

    Once the Fed’s have it they’ll never let it go. “We the people” will be gone forever.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1043 hrs




20. Totally disagree with you MF,  I think between the “stimulus” bill and the complete lack of listening on the part of Congress, the momentum will only increase between now and November.  Why do you think the Tea Party movement has continued to grow?

    Immigration is simply another motivator.  Face it, the Dems will lose total control.  Unfortunately for those of us who see confiscation by government control as almost complete, it will be an enormous task to repeal this disaster.

    And Schmitzy, please spare us your form of math.  In your bizarro world it’s okay to continue plunging the country into debt.  And if you think the final cost will “only” be $100bn per year, keep living in your la-la land.  Your team was the same bunch of liars claiming with stimulus that unemployment would be below 8%.  How’s that inconvenient truth working for you?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1050 hrs




21. It will take a controlled effort not to “jump the shark” on the tea party movement. The public may well agree with the sentiments of less taxes and less government control but they don’t want to see the conservative hatred. The signs that they wave will only hurt them and the movement if they continue to be hateful. At what point will they follow Glen Beck into the leave your church mentality. The brewing controversy over Sean Hannity and his “charity”. If these allegations prove to be true then Hannity will be thrown under the bus and the bus parked on top of him. hannity has not defended the allegations very well and we all know that is an appearance of guilt.
    I am just saying that it is a long way to election day, Hannity seems to be the self proclaimed spokesman of the conservative movement and if the allegations of charity abuse prove true then that is more powerful than his book and tour.
    Time will tell.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1213 hrs




22. MF…you need to stop reading PuffHo and Dem Underground.

    Seriously, dude.

    And you might get to know some TEA Party folks.  We don’t wear white robes and pointy hats.  Some of us actually ARE non-Caucasian.

    Posted by Steve on March 20, 2010 at 1226 hrs




23. Ah, there’s the rub MF, you’re focusing on emotions - hate even - and thus your lack of understanding.

    This is about fiscal and personal responsibility.  You’re confusing “hate” for anger and frustration that leaders in Washington are not listening to their constituents.  I believe you’re intelligent enough to see the poll figures on the unpopularity of this bill. 

    Come November, those who failed to listen will hear the voices.  You’ve heard the saying, “hell hath no fury…”, well that’s going to be the sentiment of voters in November.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1257 hrs




24. And you might get to know some TEA Party folks.  We don’t wear white robes and pointy hats.  Some of us actually ARE non-Caucasian.

    I read and watch it all from both sides. I stated that I agree with much of the sentiment from the tea party. Have you noticed I don’t use the other name for them? I just think that they would fair much better if they would go around the rallies and ask people to take down the signs that are derogatory and demeaning. These signs actually hurt the cause. I never said anything about race.

    I believe you’re intelligent enough to see the poll figures on the unpopularity of this bill. 

    The bill is unpopular on both ends of the political spectrum for totally opposite reasons. The polls are reflecting the combined sentiment. Far left are now beginning to show the belief that at least something is happening to move reform in their direction. They will pass it for better or for worse.  I myself have always believed that the single payer system is the most fair. (Please spare the attack for supporting single payer, it would be much better than what will pass tomorrow).

    Come November, those who failed to listen will hear the voices.  You’ve heard the saying, “hell hath no fury…”, well that’s going to be the sentiment of voters in November.

    I cannot predict what will happen in November any more than the next guy. I was only saying that the public will focus on what is happening at that time. If they are debating bank regulations and the Republicans fight for the big banks, it will be closer than you think.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1350 hrs




25. Not sure I follow your point.  So what if both sides of the spectrum are against the bill?  This doesn’t bode well for Democrats, they’re running the show, albeit into the ground. 

    You may not be able to predict what will happen in November, but I’ll be willing to go out on a limb.  Come November, the Democrats will no longer be able to push though any garbage legislation on their own.  They will not retain full control of the House and the Senate.  It is as simple as that.

    Focusing on job killing health care burden for all, on top of cap and trade and ballooning the deficit while unemployment remains above 10% is precisely why. 

    As for your thoughts of single payer, my only response is, thank goodness you’re not calling the shots.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1430 hrs




26. Hutch:
    I am glad that you have your one sided Fox “News” talking points down.
    Single payer is the only fair way to proceed. I didn’t get my way either but I am not whining.
    You may be a little overconfident on the coming elections, I will take a wait and see approach. 10 more Senate seats and dozens of House seats is certainly an uphill battle. I don’t know if the Republicans have shown the people that they are any different (better) than the Democrats. Polls are not showing the Republicans very favorable either.

    Good luck!

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1438 hrs




27. Wow, Glad to know you don’t prognosticate, yet you sure seem to have figured me out. 

    Whether I watch Fox news or any other network has nothing to do with it either.  Why you should make such an observation demonstrates more of your substance.  That you stick to single payer as a solution, comrade, already spoke volumes.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1620 hrs




28. You are the one who has got the future all figured out. It sounds alot like hope and change to me.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1650 hrs




29. I suppose history has nothing to do with it in your book.

    In the meantime, enjoy the dreamworld of single party utopia, as hope and change has gotten us unfortunately this far… with what, 10 plus percent unemployment, and health care control over all.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 1903 hrs




30. Caterpillar needs to be more forthcoming with the math that produced their numbers.  Most calculations that are made on future events have assumptions built into them and without those assumptions being known the assertions don’t hold much weight.

    I imagine that Caterpillar has very good benefits right now and that they get the best people available because they offer the best benefits.  Equalizing the benefit market probably does not help Caterpillar and so there is a lot of motivation for them to trash more universal health care.  And modify their assumptions accordingly.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 2119 hrs




31. vic:  Are you asking congress to be more forthcoming with their numbers as well.  And their REAL intentions, too?  Or are you just another Statist tool?

    Posted by Steve on March 20, 2010 at 2231 hrs




32. Most calculations that are made on future events have assumptions built into them and without those assumptions being known the assertions don’t hold much weight.

    Don’t tell that to scott… he’ll decry you as a partisan hack, and then demand that you prove otherwise.  That’s the kind of fickle partisan hack that he is.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 20, 2010 at 2252 hrs




33. I am very sorry to read how Obama’s healthcare would drive up the cost.

    Posted by acai berry detox acai berry cleanse acai berry sid on March 22, 2010 at 1739 hrs