Schlafly: Health care vote set to exposethe myth of the 'pro-life Democrat'

WASHINGTON, March 21/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Phyllis Schlafly, president and founder of the conservative grassroots public policy organization Eagle Forum, made the following remarks after the public announcement that formerly pro-life Democrat Bart Stupak (D-MI) will cast a "yes" vote for the Senate health care bill today in the House:

"It is naive for any elected official, especially one who describes himself as 'pro-life,' to expect that a promise to issue an Executive Order that reasserts the intentions of the Hyde Amendment will be fulfilled by the most pro-abortion president to ever sit in the White House. Perhaps Mr. Stupak and his fellow pro-life Democrats forget that President Obama's first Executive Order was the repeal of the Mexico City Policy to allow for international funding of abortion."

"Not only would an Executive Order be rendered meaningless in the face of Congress passing legislation which actively provides for the massive expansion and funding of abortion services, but anyone who doubts the abortion tsunami which awaits this bill becoming law lives in a fantasy world."

"Barack Obama has lined every existing federal agency with the most dedicated pro-abortion ideologues, and we know that he will continue this pattern of pro-abortion appointments when it comes time for him to fill the over-100 bureaucracies created to administer his socialized health care program."

"Any formerly pro-life Democrat who casts a 'Yes' vote for this Senate health care bill tonight will be forever remembered as being among the deciding votes which facilitated the largest expansion of abortion services since Roe v. Wade."

"Mr. Stupak and his Democrat followers have now clarified that you cannot be pro-life and be a Democrat. If abortion was truly their biggest issue, they wouldn't willfully align themselves with the Party of Death."

"This vote will expose the myth of the 'pro-life Democrat.' With this single vote, the Democratic Party will divide our nation into the Party of Death and the Party of Life, and future elections will never be the same."

CONTACT: Suzanne Bibby, (610) 608-6303

SOURCE Phyllis Schlafly

It's here: Obamacare

From David Espo, special correspondent for The Associated Press:

WASHINGTON – Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.

Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote, with Republicans unanimous in opposition.

Congressional officials said they expected Obama to sign the bill as early as Tuesday.

A second measure — making changes in the first — was lined up for passage later in the evening. That measure would go to the Senate, where Democratic leaders said they had the votes to pass it.

Crowds of protesters outside the Capitol shouted "just vote no" in a futile attempt to stop the historic vote taking place inside a House packed with lawmakers and ringed with spectators in the galleries above.

Across hours of debate, House Democrats predicted the central bill, costing $940 billion over a decade, would rank with other great social legislation of recent decades.

"We will be joining those who established Social Security, Medicare and now, tonight, health care for all Americans, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, partner to Obama and in the grueling campaign to pass the legislation.

"This is the civil rights act of the 21st century," added Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the top-ranking black member of the House.

This is worth every minute. Please watch and be proud:

Rep. Alcee Hastings invokes Thomas Edison: ‘No rules around here — we’re trying to accomplish something’

From George Bennett of The Palm Beach Post's Post on Politics on March 20:

South Florida’s own U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, is taking heat in the conservative blogosphere today for remarks at a Rules Committee hearing in which he defended a controversial “deem and pass” strategy for approving health care overhaul that Democratic leaders ended up abandoning.

(Click here to see Hastings' entire statement, which begins at 4:44 on the C-SPAN video.)

Hastings said Republicans often used the same tactic when they were in charge of the House from 1995 to 2007. Hastings said it was time to “stop all of the rhetoric and get to the business of what’s at hand. The fact of the matter is that a lot of our fellow Americans are hurting and they don’t have affordable health care and for the life of me I cannot understand why we all should not be willing to share in order to help the least of them.”

Hastings then added:

“I wish that I had been there when Thomas Edison made the remark that I think applies here: ‘There ain’t no rules around here — we’re trying to accomplish something.’ And therefore, when the deal goes down, all this talk about rules, we make ‘em up as we go along, and I’m here now 18 years, and a significant amount of that time here on this committee under the leadership of the Republicans…”

Edison is widely quoted as saying “Hell, there are no rules here—we’re trying to accomplish something.”

Report: Health care bill expands IRS' power

From the House Ways and Means Committee on March 18:

Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Republicans released a new report detailing how the Democrats’ health care bill vastly expands the responsibilities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and strengthens the heavy hand of the IRS in dealing with taxpayers.

“If the Democrats’ health care bill becomes law, the IRS could have to hire more than 16,000 additional agents, auditors and other workers just to enforce all the new taxes and penalties,” said Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI). “It is a dangerous expansion of the IRS’s power and reach into the lives of virtually every American.”

Highlights of report, which is entitled “The Wrong Prescription: Democrats’ Health Overhaul Dangerously Expands IRS Authority,” include

• IRS agents verify if you have “acceptable” health care coverage;
• IRS has the authority to fine you up to $2,250 or 2 percent of your income (whichever is greater) for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential coverage;
• IRS can confiscate your tax refund;
• IRS audits are likely to increase;
• IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program this decade;
• IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans; and
• Nearly half of all these new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans earning less than 300 percent of poverty ($66,150 for a family of four.)

The Republicans noted that despite all these new mandates on Americans, the Democrats prohibit the IRS from imposing these same taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.

The full report can be viewed here.

2 'click' and easy ways to contact Congress

Two more click-'n-go ways to urge legislators not to vote for the health care reform bill:

Send a virtual postcard: I should first tell you that this link is sponsored by the Republican National Committee, so only proceed if you don't mind being associated with the RNC. You'll be able to send a message to as many as 43 Democratic leaders. No registration is necessary, not even your e-mail address, but you must enter your name and select an image for your postcard: an American flag, the Republican elephant or the "Don't Tread On Me" flag. (I suggest not selecting the DTOM flag, because it is a common symbol of Tea Parties, and it's best to separate the Tea Party movement and Republicans.)

The message says:

Dear Representatives,

I'm writing to remind you that you, as a government official, are in government to serve the people, not make the people serve your government.

I respectfully ask that you do the right thing by voting against Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid's health care "reform" experiment and heed the clear will of the majority of Americans to start over with step-by-step reform.

Please don't sacrifice American democracy on the altar of partisan arrogance and greed.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Send a virtual letter: This link allows to to contact your representative and the 58 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. Here, you must provide your name, address and e-mail, partly so the Web site can look up your representative. Click the "Take Action" button, and a virtual letter with your signature is ready for you to send or edit:

I write to encourage you to oppose government-run health care and any legislation which might broaden the federal government's control over my health care.

Current health care legislation will result in lost health insurance and lost jobs for the American people and will push us deeper into recession.

I hope that you fight against health care legislation that would drive up costs, diminish quality and limit access. Please know that I'll be looking to see how you vote this march so that I know how I should vote this November.

Just click and go!

Illinois, Florida fight against health care takeover

Illinois is starting a health care trail of victory.

From John Miller of The Associated Press on March 17:

Idaho first to sign law aimed at health care plan

BOISE, Idaho -- Idaho took the lead in a growing, nationwide fight against health care overhaul Wednesday when its governor became the first to sign a measure requiring the state attorney general to sue the federal government if residents are forced to buy health insurance.

Similar legislation is pending in 37 other states.

Constitutional law experts say the movement is mostly symbolic because federal laws supersede those of the states.

But the state measures reflect a growing frustration with President President [sic] Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The proposal would cover some 30 million uninsured people, end insurance practices such as denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, require almost all Americans to get coverage by law, and try to slow the cost of medical care nationwide.

Democratic leaders hope to vote on it this weekend.

Read more.

I've got a reason to be happy in Florida, because my state is one of the 37 that has similar legislation pending, as mentioned in the article. S.R. 72 seeks to amend Florida's Constitution "to preserve the freedom of Florida residents to provide for their own health care by:

Ensuring that any person, employer, or health care provider is not compelled to participate in any health care system;

Authorizing a person or employer to pay directly, without using a third party such as an insurer or employer, for health care services without incurring penalties or fines; and

Authorizing a health care provider to accept direct payment for health care services without incurring penalties or fines.

The joint resolution also prohibits a law or rule from prohibiting the purchase or sale of health insurance in private health care systems and specifies certain aspects of health care that are not affected by this constitutional amendment. The joint resolution also defines terms that are used within the proposed constitutional amendment. The joint resolution includes the statement that is to be placed on the ballot for the upcoming statewide election."

Click here to read an analysis of the bill.

However, before Floridians get their hopes up, there's something everyone should know:

No hearings have been scheduled for this bill.

You know what this means, right? Call Tallahassee and tell the Senate to take up the proposal! Click here for a list of representatives to contact.

Ann Coulter's health care plan

From Ann Coulter on Human Events:

Liberals keep complaining that Republicans don't have a plan for reforming health care in America. I have a plan!

It's a one-page bill creating a free market in health insurance. Let's all pause here for a moment so liberals can Google the term "free market."

Nearly every problem with health care in this country -- apart from trial lawyers and out-of-date magazines in doctors' waiting rooms -- would be solved by my plan.

Read more.

Details on D.C. Tax Day Tea Party --with hotel discount!

Tea Party groups are gearing up to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the nation's biggest Tea Party next month. While rallies will be held across the country once again April 15, Patriots nationwide will also unite in Washington, D.C.

The Tax Day Tea Party at the nation's capitol will be April 15 at the Washington Monument. The daylong rally begins at 7 a.m., and thousands are expected to attend.

To help with transportation costs, Comfort Inn is offering an $89 discount rate on rooms for Tea Party Patriots. To make a reservation, contact Gerry at (703) 448-8020 ext. 1507 or 766sm_tysons@snbhotels.com. Plus, you'll receive a free gift!

Gear up for Round Two!

Health care reform: Easily contact the 'Firm Yes'

The Hill is tracking House Democrats' positions on health care reform legislation. According to the list developed by Hill staff, 37 staff members are a "Firm No, Leaning No, Likely No"; five are a "Firm Yes"; 17 are "Leaning Yes or Likely Yes; and 55 are undecided.

According to The Hill:

House Democrats not on this list are expected to vote yes. However, some members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who are not mentioned below have threatened to vote no unless the Senate's immigration-related provisions are changed.

All House Republicans are expected to vote no.

If every member votes and all GOP lawmakers vote no, the maximum number of Democratic deflections to pass a bill is 37, which would result in a 216-215 tally.

FreedomWorks has made it easy to contact the Blue Dogs. Click here, enter your phone number and FreedomWorks will connect you with one of the 13 representatives listed (you pick which one you'd like to call). Then you can report at the bottom of the Web site how your phone call went and compare with others' reports.

FreedomWorks also offers this brief list of talking points:

• No Government Plan: Americans can't afford the trillions of dollars in new taxes that would be required to pay for Obamacare.
• No Individual Mandate: Forcing people to buy insurance and then fining them or even putting them in jail if they don't is wrong.
• No Tax Hikes: Tax increases to pay for a new government program will only slow economic recovery and keep unemployment high.

Click here for more talking points.

Yeah ... except for "NO!"

Tea Party involvement, good and bad

The Tea Party movement has gained a couple new supporters recently. One was welcomed with open arms. The other, not so much.

Virginia Thomas, the 52-year-old wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, formed in January a conservative activism group called Liberty Central. The nonprofit will be involved with the November elections and will produce score cards on members of Congress, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"I am an ordinary citizen from Omaha, Neb., who just may have the chance to preserve liberty along with you and other people like you," Thomas said at a recent panel discussion with Tea Party leaders in Washington,D.C., the Times reported. The newspaper said she counted herself among those energized into action by President Barack Obama's "hard-left agenda."

While Tea Party leaders embrace Thomas, the Republican National Committee hasn't received such a warm induction into the movement.

According to Alex Pappas of The Daily Caller:

The Republican National Committee is paying for signs and political buttons used by Tea Party groups -- despite widespread disagreement among the conservative, grassroots activists on whether the movement should work to elect candidates within the Republican party or steer clear from it.

The items, paid for by the RNC, were on full display at a Friday press conference of the Tea Party activists in Washington. At the afternoon event at the Capitol Hill Suites, activists in town for the "Take the Town Halls to Washington" project passed out the red-white-and-blue buttons and signs emblazoned with the words "Listen to Me!"

Text at the bottom of the sign reads: "Paid for by the Republican National Committee."

Michael Patrick Leahy, an organizer of the Take the Town Halls to Washington project that is bringing Tea Party activists to the capital to lobby Democrats on President Obama's health-care bill, admitted that the RNC "did provide the signage," but said he didn't know the details of the arrangement with Republicans and couldn't explain how the signs got there. "They just showed up," he said.

Read more.

This report outraged many Tea Party Patriots, who seek to separate themselves from the Republican Party and accuse the GOP of hijacking the movement.

Thus, they've started a petition calling for the GOP to stay out of the movement and are asking Patriots to send a letter to RNC Chairman Michael Steele, telling him to butt out.

The Tea Party movement is a grassroots, activist coalition that seeks to advance policy based on three core principles: fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets. So, how can we act as watchdogs and hold our elected officials accountable if they're trying to steer us?

Hmmm ... a tea pot with elephant features ... must be a Michael Steele work.

Watch 'The People's Surge' live online

FreedomWorks will host a live streaming of The People's Surge against Obamacare on March 16. You must register with FreedomWorks to watch the broadcast.

In the meantime, try to navigate your way to your doctor under the proposed plan (click to enlarge):

Post Party Summits: Organizing for a Free America

Smart Girl Politics, a grassroots, Web-based organization made up of conservative women (although men are welcome to join!), is partnering with American Majority, RedState and The John Hancock Committee for the States in hosting Post Party Summits: Organizing for a Free America.

The daylong summits, held in seven cities across the country in late April and early May, offer training sessions for conservatives to learn how to become politically active. The sessions cover topics such as media coaching, blogs and wikis, running for office and voter registration.

I'm a proud member of SGP, which is a great resource for networking and sharing ideas. I've even displayed The Real Polichick on the group's blogroll.

So, I support SPG's efforts to network and share ideas in person through these summits. (Although, I'm not crazy about the event name -- reminds me too much of President Barack Obama's Organizing for America.) One summit takes place in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 1, at the Embassy Suites. Click here for more information.

What: Post Party Summits: Organizing for a Free America.

When: Daylong sessions take place between April 23 and May 8, depending on the city.

Where: Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Denver; Indianapolis; Jacksonvilla, Fla.; Kansas City; and Pittsburgh.

For more information: Click here.

Honk against the health care takeover

Can't jump on a plane to D.C. for "The People's Surge" on March 16? Then hop in your car instead that day and honk your way to your representative.

Americans for Prosperity is hosting a nationwide Honk Against the Health Care Takeover rally March 16 at noon. The idea is for groups of Americans to drive to their local congressman's office in a car caravan, circling the office while honking.

Today was the last day to request a free bumper sticker for the event, but interested participants can still register to receive one, although it might not be received in time for the rally. But don't forget that you can always decorate your car with signs and washable car paint.

What: Honk Against the Health Care Takeover.

When: March 16 at noon.

Where: Your congressman's office.

For more information: Click here.