How despotic. No speech unless approved by his authority.
Posted on 09/23/2009 11:33:05 AM PDT by 2nd amendment mama
Jonathan Blum, an acting director at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is apparently responsible for issuing a gag order against Humana, Inc., on Monday evening. Blum is a former staffer to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee currently in markup of their own chopped salad version of the health care bill.
Baucus has taken credit in the media for demanding CMS issue the unprecedented order. CMS also changed their mailing guidelines to include a ban on any Medicare Advantage (MA) provider sending information or placing information on their websites regarding the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office findings that their Medicare Advantage plans would be gutted if the Democrats pass their government-run healthcare schemes.
From a CMS press release today:
“We are concerned that the materials Humana sent to our beneficiaries may violate Medicare rules by appearing to contain Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefit information, which must be submitted to CMS for review” said Jonathan Blum, acting director of CMS’ Center for Drug and Health Plan Choices. “We also are asking that no other plan sponsors are mailing similar materials while we investigate whether a potential violation has occurred.”
Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee with oversight responsibility for CMS, informed CMS that, in fact, the largest MA provider, the AARP, has for months been mailing their customers with pro-Obamacare information, running television ads and has pro-Obamacare information still posted on their website.
Now it turns out that Blum, the “acting director” who apparently made the call to place the gag order only on those entities who oppose the drastic cuts to Medicare, is a former member of Sen. Baucus’ staff.
From the CMS senior leadership appointments announcement:
“Blum most recently served on the professional staff of the Senate Finance Committee as an advisor to Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and other Finance Committee members on prescription drug and Medicare Advantage policies during the development of the Medicare Modernization Act.”
This raises a few serious questions. Why did Baucus and Blum leave the AARP out of their gag order? Is there a quid pro quo involved? Is Baucus now running the CMS and its policies through a former staffer who takes orders directly from the senator?
Paging the Senate Ethics Committee.
If you haven’t seen the following, I recommend you take the time to listen. The following is not from me but I copied it and put it here. I believe it is that important..........
This is the text of an email that I just received from my cousin in Houston, Texas. I’m not sure where he got it. Please watch the videos and share with others.
This is one of the best things we have seen on Obamacare
The YouTube links below are Part 1 and 2 of a tape made by a cousin of friends of mine. He and his wife made the tape from their ranch in south central Texas .
At their own expense, they made 1000 copies and sent one to every single congressman and senator and some media outlets.
Let’s hope that each and every one of them watched and LISTENED!!!
Part 1 www.YouTube.com/watch?v=j7sQHunYdN8
Part 2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MJsF11PsnQ
Any Christians anywhere in the Obama administration?
WHAT CONSTITUTION????
we don’t need no steeenking constituion.
HIs title is going to be changed soon to “Your Excellency”.
IMHO
Maybe Rev. Wright??????
Paging Glenn Beck, Matt Drudge, and Andrew Breitbart.
bookmark.
Just when did the Democrats decide to make common cause with the fascists? This is getting so ridiculous. Makes me wonder who won the war!
How despotic. No speech unless approved by his authority.
Obama to ALL PRESSl
As my memo has been publicized by those G*d Damned Republikkkans, we need to employ Plan B: “A rogue staffer undertook a completelyh unauthorized action. No one in our or any connected organization vetted this idea, letter or activity.” As always, stand by for additional updates if the great, unwashed do not believe or resume their complacancy.
Your President,
Barry
This is a disgrace. Dear Mitchie...where are you, Mitchie? Nothing to say? Still hiding under your desk, or looking for “bipartisanship” along with McCain and Grahamnesty?
Are these parasites incapable of going out and finding a legitimate job?
Smells like a cover-up for BO and Rahm. Baucus is being a good little soldier. Surely Montana can do better than this weakling.
You don't need a quid pro quo when two organizations are working for the same team and running from the same play book. AARP is just another wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party.
so now even unelected underling staffers can trample on our First Amendment rights? Outrageous!
Humana and all other insurers should tell the government that it may not abridge the freedom of speech, and therefore can stuff their gag order. Then see if the Feds want to openly violate the U.S. Constitution.
Life will be much simpler when Our Glorious Leader gets rid of that pesky free speech/free press thingy once and for all and all news is released through the government run press.
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