Posted on 04/12/2016 6:55:33 AM PDT by Kaslin
Ronald Reagan famously said that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help. As Obamacare has demonstrated all too clearly, any such declaration from a federal official is indeed cause for alarm. Nearly as scary for conservatives is the word, bipartisan, when uttered by a Republican candidate for office or one of his close advisers. This is why conservatives of all stripes should be unnerved that Sam Clovis, chief policy adviser to Donald Trump, told the New York Times last Friday that any replacement for Obamacare must be bipartisan.
Bipartisan, when used by a GOP candidate, is usually a signal to the Democrats that many of his ostensible principles are negotiable. It is particularly worrisome when deployed by an adviser to Trump, who has been on all sides of the health care debate, depending on the political exigencies of the moment. The Donald has, of course, often lavished praise on the government-run health care systems of countries like Canada and Scotland yet now pledges to replace Obamacare with a bilious admixture of its worst elements and even dumber proposals long advocated by the Democrats.
In other words, because it contains a wide variety of bad Democrat ideas, Trumps plan is already bipartisan. Thus, when we find one of his closest advisers throwing this term around during an interview with the Times, one cant help but wonder what else the Donald will give away in the unlikely event that he wins the presidency. Compounding the queasy feeling induced by that question is the reality that Clovis himself apparently has rather flexible principles. Before he joined the Trump campaign last summer, he was one of the real estate magnates most frequent and vociferous critics.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
This is Trump’s healthcare plan from his own website:
Healthcare Reform to Make America Great Again
Since March of 2010, the American people have had to suffer under the incredible economic burden of the Affordable Care ActObamacare. This legislation, passed by totally partisan votes in the House and Senate and signed into law by the most divisive and partisan President in American history, has tragically but predictably resulted in runaway costs, websites that dont work, greater rationing of care, higher premiums, less competition and fewer choices. Obamacare has raised the economic uncertainty of every single person residing in this country. As it appears Obamacare is certain to collapse of its own weight, the damage done by the Democrats and President Obama, and abetted by the Supreme Court, will be difficult to repair unless the next President and a Republican congress lead the effort to bring much-needed free market reforms to the healthcare industry.
But none of these positive reforms can be accomplished without Obamacare repeal. On day one of the Trump Administration, we will ask Congress to immediately deliver a full repeal of Obamacare.
However, it is not enough to simply repeal this terrible legislation. We will work with Congress to make sure we have a series of reforms ready for implementation that follow free market principles and that will restore economic freedom and certainty to everyone in this country. By following free market principles and working together to create sound public policy that will broaden healthcare access, make healthcare more affordable and improve the quality of the care available to all Americans.
Any reform effort must begin with Congress. Since Obamacare became law, conservative Republicans have been offering reforms that can be delivered individually or as part of more comprehensive reform efforts. In the remaining sections of this policy paper, several reforms will be offered that should be considered by Congress so that on the first day of the Trump Administration, we can start the process of restoring faith in government and economic liberty to the people.
Congress must act. Our elected representatives in the House and Senate must:
1.Completely repeal Obamacare. Our elected representatives must eliminate the individual mandate. No person should be required to buy insurance unless he or she wants to.
2.Modify existing law that inhibits the sale of health insurance across state lines. As long as the plan purchased complies with state requirements, any vendor ought to be able to offer insurance in any state. By allowing full competition in this market, insurance costs will go down and consumer satisfaction will go up.
3.Allow individuals to fully deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns under the current tax system. Businesses are allowed to take these deductions so why wouldnt Congress allow individuals the same exemptions? As we allow the free market to provide insurance coverage opportunities to companies and individuals, we must also make sure that no one slips through the cracks simply because they cannot afford insurance. We must review basic options for Medicaid and work with states to ensure that those who want healthcare coverage can have it.
4.Allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Contributions into HSAs should be tax-free and should be allowed to accumulate. These accounts would become part of the estate of the individual and could be passed on to heirs without fear of any death penalty. These plans should be particularly attractive to young people who are healthy and can afford high-deductible insurance plans. These funds can be used by any member of a family without penalty. The flexibility and security provided by HSAs will be of great benefit to all who participate.
5.Require price transparency from all healthcare providers, especially doctors and healthcare organizations like clinics and hospitals. Individuals should be able to shop to find the best prices for procedures, exams or any other medical-related procedure.
6.Block-grant Medicaid to the states. Nearly every state already offers benefits beyond what is required in the current Medicaid structure. The state governments know their people best and can manage the administration of Medicaid far better without federal overhead. States will have the incentives to seek out and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse to preserve our precious resources.
7.Remove barriers to entry into free markets for drug providers that offer safe, reliable and cheaper products. Congress will need the courage to step away from the special interests and do what is right for America. Though the pharmaceutical industry is in the private sector, drug companies provide a public service. Allowing consumers access to imported, safe and dependable drugs from overseas will bring more options to consumers.
The reforms outlined above will lower healthcare costs for all Americans. They are simply a place to start. There are other reforms that might be considered if they serve to lower costs, remove uncertainty and provide financial security for all Americans. And we must also take actions in other policy areas to lower healthcare costs and burdens. Enforcing immigration laws, eliminating fraud and waste and energizing our economy will relieve the economic pressures felt by every American. It is the moral responsibility of a nations government to do what is best for the people and what is in the interest of securing the future of the nation.
Providing healthcare to illegal immigrants costs us some $11 billion annually. If we were to simply enforce the current immigration laws and restrict the unbridled granting of visas to this country, we could relieve healthcare cost pressures on state and local governments.
To reduce the number of individuals needing access to programs like Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program we will need to install programs that grow the economy and bring capital and jobs back to America. The best social program has always been a job and taking care of our economy will go a long way towards reducing our dependence on public health programs.
Finally, we need to reform our mental health programs and institutions in this country. Families, without the ability to get the information needed to help those who are ailing, are too often not given the tools to help their loved ones. There are promising reforms being developed in Congress that should receive bi-partisan support.
To reform healthcare in America, we need a President who has the leadership skills, will and courage to engage the American people and convince Congress to do what is best for the country. These straightforward reforms, along with many others I have proposed throughout my campaign, will ensure that together we will Make America Great Again.
Trump was indoctrinated into The Third Way by the Clintons.
See post #3.
Trump is the only one I want working to ensure that America wins every negotiation with the evil that comes our way.
“This is Trumps healthcare plan from his own website:”
Something his handers wrote for him after he stuck his foot in his mouth about single payer? Too late!
I don’t doubt it one bit
It’s so nice to see the same worn out old topics the Cruz folks have been lying about for ten months.
It has been interesting to see hoe these folks live their “Christianity”.
Thanks, I saved them into my bookmarks
Actually, he did not advocate single payer. He was in favor of taking care of the poor. Instead of having them come to emergency rooms and then HIDE those costs in OUR bills and the GOVERNMENT’S money, he would just have the government pay for it.
Everyone else with him was ALWAYS private insurance and health care accounts.
How would YOU pay for the poor?
Not one of those points means anything to people sitting on a porch waiting and voting for more handouts.
Where is Cruz's version of Obamacre?
**crickets**
Responsibility2nd, care to explain why you only presented 1/2 of Trumps's statement?
He wasn’t writing it for them.
For them, he was staging a WWE contest until recently. That got THEIR attention.
Now it looks like he has to go back to being a boring politician.
Bipartisan as opposed to what happened with Obamacare where they rammed it through with a party line vote, and congress hadn’t even read it, and the democrats had to bribe their own members to get it to pass.
Bipartisan as opposed to what happened with Obamacare where they rammed it through with a party line vote, and congress hadn’t even read it, and the democrats had to bribe their own members to get it to pass.
I’m all in favor of #5 and #7. The other stuff mostly ‘meh’, with the exception of #1 (ABSOLUTELY) and #2 (AWWW HELL NO!). #2 is somewhat subtle, but by allowing insurance companies to truly engage in “interstate commerce” that opens the door to making them federally regulated entities. We got enough of that s-—t going on...
There goes Lyin’ Donald Trump again!
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