Posted on 01/12/2010 9:30:52 AM PST by MsLady
Sorry, I'm so late in posting this.
Me and my hubby went to see Bart Stupak at MTU Thursday. It was standing room only, glad we got there early. For the U.P. that would be 200+ people. I wished I'd taken notes but, I didn't. So from my memory, this is what happened.
It started at 5:30, Bart was about 10 minutes early, seems that's what he does, a plus for him. Then he said he would talk for a short time, 45 minutes and then there was 45 minutes of questions, of which he did most of the talking. The crowd was very civil, except for a couple of men. One I couldn't hear what he was saying but, Bart sure didn't take to kindly to it, told the man off real fast. I actually thought the man was going to burst into tears, he looked very upset. And then the other man stood up with a picture of an aborted baby.
You could tell most people weren't to happy. There was quite a bit of mumbling at times, not the good kind of mumbling, clapping at others(clapping when someone confronted Bart), and head shaking. Most looked like it was either in disgust or disagreement.
Most of the time was taken up by health care. Bart was showing us all these charts and grafts about health care. How Florida gets $16,000 from Medicare and Michigan gets around $5,000 for the same thing. Why the discrepancy? To be honest at first I thought, this is class warfare but, after thinking about it, yea, why does Florida get so much more? Is this another pay off back room deal. Which to Barts credit he did talk about those backroom deals and how they couldn't do that. Then again, I'm wondering if ol' Bart isn't holding out for Michigan to get a back room deal.
He talked about a poor man who got kicked out of his healthcare plan all because the mean insurance sales person told him to lie about his weight, so he did. When the insurance company found out he'd lied about his weight, he was dropped. I'm thinking, wait a minute, but, he did lie. If that's the best Bart can do, that's pretty sad.
Then he went on about how wonderful the healthcare bill would be. Except he was against the abortion part. At first I thought it was because of his religious convictions. But, after listening to the rest of what he had to say, I'm not so sure. He was asked once if he would continue voting against the bill, if paying for abortions stayed in the bill. He wouldn't give a straight answer. That got the crowd pretty fired up, some were laughing and saying, yes or no Bart. He never did give a straight answer. What he did say was, as of right now, there is a law on the books, the federal government can not pay for abortions. I'm thinking, then why is it even in the bill? And if it stays in the bill could a lawyer take it to court and have the whole bill thrown out?
Another thing, maybe it's true I'm not sure. He said that a family making $38,000 a year would be paying $13,000 a year for health care. Of course he conviently left out what plan that would be, maybe it's a cadillac plan and how big this family was. One woman stood up and said, that's how much she made and at that level she could get her kids on the state health care plan.
I never got a chance to ask my questions, just about everyone had them. Hands were consistently being raised. Afterwards he stayed to answer more questions, there were a lot of people around him. So we left and that was about it.
The one thing that stands out to me is, as bad off as Michigan is, people were more concerned with the health care then with jobs. There was very little said about anything else.
In a nutshell, typical politician.
Thanks for taking the time to share this information with us.
Bottom line folks, no pussy-footin’ around anymore. Any politician in the Dem’Rat party has got to go. All blue dogs are really lapdogs. Vote them ALL out no matter what they say because they cannot be trusted.
nice review...here’s another issue about the guy who lied about his weight...I could only assume he lied because he’s overweight- someone should ask why he doesn’t have to pay more than someone who is a normal weight...
Amish families exempt from insurance mandate
HEALTH REFORM: People with religious objections can opt out
We’re ALL Amish now!
Thanks for reporting.
I don’t think most young people realize what a massive transfer of weath this healthcare takeover will be. Places like Florida have lots of retired folks, most of whom pay very little in the way of taxes to the federal govt.(maybe that explains why so much more money is going there?). Younger people who might otherise choose to opt out of paying for healthcare insurance will be forced into it or pay a fine. I don’t even know if I would bother trying to ask Stupak or any other congress critter about the details of 0bamacare - just tell them to explain how it is constitutional and why they continue to shove this down our throats when we don’t want it.
My questions, if I could have asked them were, where is all this money coming from? And how in the world can they think that a bill this massive won't have all kinds of unintended consequences that they haven't even thought of yet. And are you nuts? That was one I really wanted to ask...lol
I think you are correct when you say, just explain how it is constitutional. They gloss over and dance around everything else.
Here in Iron county (MI) Stupak stated the following regarding Healthcare - Everyone’s got to contribute. Regarding the tax penaltiy (2.5%) that is in the House. Median income First Congressional District is $38,771, cost of insurance for a family is $13,125 or 34% of the income.
The governemnet would have to issue affordability credits to the low income families.
Unemployment in his district is about 17.4% to 18.9%, depending on the county. Stupak did not answer the issue about fines
Regarding the conference bill. he did not answer whether or not he would vote yes or no. Stated that senate bill will have to change. ( Prevoiusly in Escanba in Novemebr Stupak stated that he would vote for the bill because on the whole the bill is good.) regarding abortion we have tried, but it may still be part of the bill regardless of the conference and most likely it will pass
talked about the Jobs for Main Street Act which passed the House awaiting Senate vote 27.5 billion in highway and bridge infrastructure every $1 billion invested in highways and bridges creates 27,800 jobs, according to Bart Stupak.
In Iron County he had a closed door meeting in the Iron River City Council chanmbers regarding monies available through the American Recovery and reinvestment Act.(I was unable to attend, but I will relate what has concurred earlier when asking the survey team)
Oddly enough in November the surveyors have been around Iron River, and marking the roads with the marks for work on the roads. The road in front of my home is only 5 years old, due to the annexation by the city. It is slated to be torn up and new curbs and gutters and asphalt. The tax roll will raise again for the area I reside again. Primarily this area is strongly known for Republicans, but in 2008 the area went purple Voter Precinct 2. Payback for votes received and encouragement for votes in 2010. Many of my neighbors are elderly and being encouraged already to vote for Stupak in November. Pay for Play again
My home is worth $56,000. I placed a new furnace in it and central air,hot water heater, floors, insulated it, new deck and a storage shed 12 X 16 related to business. Tax went up. Here in Michigan we pay tax in summer (tax) and in winter (tax). Oddly enough Iron County received a big grant from USDA - Rural Development for new sewer and water
regarding notes in the Townhall meeting if you were viewed as writing notes, your notebook was confiscated, the notes were removed and you were chastised by a Stupak employee. A few of us that attended consolidated what we heard and wrote out notes, later when one persons notebook was confiscated. At the door we were informed no cameras video tapes or tape recorders. Press were present but must have had their credentials readily noticed.
“$38,000 a year would be paying $13,000 a year for health care”
No that is what the government is going to take from a family making that for this bill and it gets more expensive the higher it goes. Basically we are going to be left with nothing after they raid us for income taxes and healthcare. Glad I don’t have a housepayment to worry about right now.
Thanks for posting this. I caught the rerun on C-Span last night. The set-up for tv was awful. They didn’t even have a mic for people asking questions, so all I could hear was Stupak’s replies. My general impression was he seemed like a nice enough guy, but he’s a typical lib as far as believing the government is okay in confiscating as much money as they want in order to put programs into place to micro-manage people’s lives. I did hear him claim, when asked why Congress wasn’t listening to the majority who are against Obamacare, that the calls and emails to his office are running 50-50 for and against. Could that possibly be true?! Also, when pressed on the abortion issue, I thought he mumbled something like he would “probably” vote against it if the abortion funding language remains. HA! I’ll believe that when I see it. As you said, I don’t remember hearing anything about the jobs/economy—amazing for the state of Michigan.
No one asked the obvious question in response to his illegal immigration assurance that no illegals will be allowed to benefit. That is, will people be required to show identification when registering? If not, how will the government know whether or not someone is a citizen?
In California no government official is allowed to ask about someone's legal status. Its all a con and Stupak is just another Leftist phony.
Yep, he's right in lock step with the leftist dems. Don't know why it's being reported that the dems are so mad at him and he's holding up the works. I think that's a lot of whooie. I tried going in with an open mind. Did real good until he started talking.
I saw it on C-SPAN and I wish you had gotten a chance to ask your question. That would have been worth my time.
I didn't know they took notebooks, that's pretty bad. I did see one young man taking notes. Not sure who he was, he looked like a college student. Probably a reporter for the college news paper(liberal).
The new road going in front of your home sounds like a huge waste of money. Since you mention the main street jobs program I do remember him talk about that. Something to do with not having enough money so they are borrowing from some other fund or from next year or something. Wish I could remember that part more clearly.
I lost total respect for him when it came to the abortion issue. He did dance around it. If push came to shove, my guess is, he'd cave.
I sure hope so. I’m sick of just about ALL politicians at this point. We need fresh blood in Washington, BAD.
Months ago he was promising that if the final conference report did not included the Hyde language, (no federal funding/appropriations for abortion, rape, incest, health of mother exceptions), he and the other pro-life Dems in the House would kill the bill outright. I have seen the footage linked from youtube where he goes back on this, telling constituents that in the end, even if abortion coverage is included, he would vote for final passage.
I have since reviewed the Stupak amendment, it does not protect those of us taxpayers with a conscience from funding abortion, it is typical political weasling. Money is fungible, you can't separate this dollar paid by a claimant from that dollar. He has already gone back on his word re: the Hyde language, at this point, I wouldn't trust him with my laundry, let alone his vote.
When a person stands for public office, it needs to be understood that he would be endowed with the Public Trust. The first obligation of the citizen/voter is to determine whether or not he is TRUSTWORTHY -- Stupak has demonstrated he is not. There are enough other pro-life Dems to encourage to vote Nay on final passage, I would put my effort into them.
Not because we "trust Stupak," ---quite the contrary ---- but because we need to hold their feet to the fire: every single one of them.
As the old saying has it, "If they don't see the light, let the feel the heat."
The names below are all of those who voted in favor of both measures on November 7 (Stupak Amendment + the BillfromHell itself), with an asterisk *next to those who were considered undecided on the morning of the vote. To be clear, many of these members would have supported the health care bill no matter what. However, given the 220-215 vote margin on the House vote, what it means is that when the pro-life language is stripped from the bill during negotiations with the Senate, if Pelosi loses the support of any three of these people below as a result -- without picking up anybody else's support -- the bill cannot pass the House.
(For your cut-and-paste convenience: following each name is a city and zip you can use (zip + any 4 digits) to get past their filter and into their constituent message system, and the local area code if the site requires it.)
Baca, Joe (CA-43)
http://www.house.gov/baca/zipauth.shtml
Bloomington CA 92316 (909)
Berry, Marion (AR-01) *
http://www.house.gov/berry/messageform.html
Jonesboro AR 72401 (870)
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02)
http://bishop.house.gov/display.cfm?section_id=13
Decatur GA 30032 404
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18) *
https://writerep.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep
Merced CA 95348 (209)
Carney, Christopher (PA-10) *
http://carney.house.gov/contact.shtml#email
Clarks Summit PA 18411
Cooper, Jim (TN-05) *
http://tinyurl.com/22cet4
Mt. Juliet TN 37122 (615)
Costa, Jim (CA-20) *
http://www.house.gov/formcosta/issue.htm
Coalinga CA 93210 (559)
Cao, Joseph (LA-2) *
http://josephcao.house.gov/Contact/
New Orleans LA 70119
Costello, Jerry (IL-12)
http://costello.house.gov/IMA/issue_subscribe.shtml
East St. Louis 62203
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28) *
http://cuellar.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm
Laredo TX 78043 (212)
Dahlkemper, Kathy (PA-03) *
https://forms.house.gov/dahlkemper/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
Meadville PA 16335 (814)
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02) *
http://donnelly.house.gov/contact/contact-us-form.shtml
Logansport IN 46947 (574)
Doyle, Mike (PA-14)
http://doyle.house.gov/email_mike.shtml
McKeesport 15132 (412)
Steve Driehaus (OH-1)*
https://forms.house.gov/driehaus/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
Cincinnati OH 45201 (513)
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08) *
http://www.ellsworth.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=325&Itemid=
Bicknell IN 47512 (812)
Etheridge, Bob*
http://etheridge.house.gov/Contact/
Lillington, NC 27546 (910)
Hill, Baron (IN-09)
https://forms.house.gov/baronhill/IMA/issue_subscribe.shtml
Bloomington IN 47401 (812)
Kanjorski, Paul (PA-11)*
http://kanjorski.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1479&Itemid=
Scranton, PA 18503 (570)
Kaptur, Marcy (OH-9)*
http://www.kaptur.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152
Toledo 43604 (419)
Kildee, Dale (MI-5)
http://www.house.gov/kildee/contact_form.shtml
Flint 48502 (810)
Langevin, Jim (RI-2)
http://langevin.house.gov/comments.shtml
Warwick, RI 02886 (401)
Lipinski, Daniel (IL-3)
http://www.house.gov/formlipinski/zipauth.html
Oak Lawn, IL 60453 (708)
Lynch, Stephen (MA-9)
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Brockton, MA 02301 (508)
Michaud, Mike (ME-02) *
https://forms.house.gov/michaud/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
Bangor ME 04401 (207)
Mollohan, Alan (WV-1)
E-mail at CongressmanMollohan@mail.house.gov Wheeling, WV 26003 (304)
Murtha, John
https://forms.house.gov/murtha/IMA/issue_subscribe.htm
Johnstown, PA 15901 (814)
Neal, Richard
http://www.house.gov/neal/write_neal.html
Springfield, MA 01105 (413)
Oberstar, James
http://wwwc.house.gov/oberstar/zipauth.htm
Duluth, MN 55802 (218)
Obey, David (WI-7)
http://forms.house.gov/obey/webforms/contact.htm
Superior, WI 54880 (715)
Ortiz, Solomon (TX-27)
http://www.house.gov/formortiz/issue.htm
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 (361)
Perriello, Tom (VA-5)*
http://perriello.house.gov/?sectionid=90
Danville, VA 24541 (434)
Pomeroy, Earl (ND)
http://www.house.gov/formpomeroy/zipauth.htm
Arnegard ND 58835 (701)
Rahall, Nick
http://www.rahall.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=9§iontree=9
Bluefield, WV 24701 (304)
Reyes, Silvestre (TX-16)
http://reyes.house.gov/Contact/vyo.htm
El Paso, TX 79901 (915)
Rodriguez, Ciro (TX-23)*
http://www.rodriguez.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=46
San Antonio, TX 78214 (210)
Ryan, Tim (OH-17)
http://timryan.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=42
Akron, OH 44310 (330)
Salazar, John (CO-03)
http://www.house.gov/salazar/contact.shtml
Grand Junction Colorado 81503 (970)
Synder, Vic (AR-2)
http://www.house.gov/snyder/contact.shtml
Little Rock, AR 72207 (501)
Space, Zack (OH-18)*
http://space.house.gov/?sectionid=61§iontree=26,61
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 (740)
Spratt, John (SC-5)
https://sprattforms.house.gov/spratt/forms/contact-form.shtml
Rock Hill, SC 29730 (803)
Stupak, Bart *
http://www.house.gov/stupak/IMA/issue2.htm
Marquette, MI 49855 (906)
Wilson, Charles (OH-06)
http://www.charliewilson.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=139
Wintersville OH 43953 (740)
There were 100+ in the bitter cold on Saturday in front of Lipinski-IL office. Surprisingly for Chicago, lots of honks and thumbs up from the passing cars. One guy even stopped and tied up traffic asking how he could find out when the next rally would be held, that he wanted to get involved and wanted to know how.
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