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What ARE we entitled to?

8/14/2012

There has been much talk lately about entitlements. Most of the talk seems to center around the cost of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. These are called entitlements; because the recipients are entitled to the cash. After all, recipients of Social Security and Medicare have paid into the system for most (if not all) of their working lives. Lately, we've heard that Healthcare, Collective bargaining, and a college education are also universal entitlements. It's time to look at what we really ARE entitled to from our federal government.

We are entitled to a clear separation of powers on the federal level. (Article 2 Section 2)

We are entitled to the separation of powers between the federal and state governments. (Amendment 10)

We are entitled to have the laws that affect us created by legislators elected by ñ and thus answerable to ñ the people. (Article 1 Section 1)

We are entitled to see our tax money spent in ways that we approve; for the benefit of ALL citizens. (Article 1 Section 8)

We are entitled to a common defense from foreign invasion and domestic violence (that the states cannot control). (Article 4 Section 4)

We are entitled to judges who are bound by the supreme law of the land. (Article 6)

We are entitled to vote, no matter who we are. (Amendment 19, 24, & 26)

You will notice that I didn't touch on any of the rights guaranteed (but not granted) by the constitution. These are rights, not entitlements. The difference? Rights are something you're born with. But you can be forgiven if you thought rights and entitlements are the same thing; according to Webster's 9th Collegiate dictionary, they became synonyms in 1944.

It's sad, really; the noble concepts of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness can now safely be lumped together with a monthly check from the government. Money taken from others to be redistributed to those more deserving of it.

Tim Fullerton

3 Comments

Who's the Fool?

3/27/2010

1 Comment

March 22, 2010
By Tim Fullerton

     Last night I watched as the House of Representitives voted to vote for ObamaCare.
This morning, I felt almost the same way I did on 9/11. Helplessly standing by while
great damage was done to my countrty.
     Strangly, at work the only thing anyone wanted to talk about was college basketball.
Don't those fools know aht's going on? Why don't they have the same feeling of being
punched in the gut while fingers and toes feel tingly and numb?
     Or am I the fool?

1 Comment

Call Mollohan TODAY! Say NO to the Current Health Care Legislation

3/19/2010

2 Comments

Congress and the president are still going against the views of the people by pushing a sweeping health care bill taking over 1/6 of our nation’s economy. Congressman Mollohan did not listen to us the first time. Let him know if this health care bill passes, we will hold him personally responsible. Please call or fax Congressman Mollohan’s office today and let your voice be heard.

Washington Office

Phone: (202) 225-4172
Fax: (202) 225-7564

CLARKSBURG

Phone: (304) 623-4422
Fax: (304) 623-0571

MORGANTOWN

Phone: (304) 292-3019
Fax: (304) 292-3027

PARKERSBURG

Phone: (304) 428-0493
Fax: (304) 428-5980

WHEELING

Phone: (304) 232-5390
Fax: (304) 232-5722

By: Laura Kennedy

2 Comments

Solutions for Health Care

9/4/2009

1 Comment

Our government is a federal democratic republic. We have levels of government and each level has certain responsibilities. We, the people, have certain responsibilities as well. This is how we have remained a free nation. There are solutions to the “health care crisis,” but the federal government taking over the health care industry is not the solution.

The federal government was never suppose to be in the business solving problems such as a “health care” crisis, but there are some ways to free up the health care industry and create competition.

1.       Allow interstate purchase of insurance.

2.       Allow groups of people (not just employers) get group plans.

3.       Same tax breaks for all purchases of insurance (not just plans purchased through employers).

4.       Allow individuals and groups to purchase catastrophic insurance and set up health savings accounts, not just employers.

Through the Tenth Amendment, which says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to people,” the Constitution allows for the states to bring solutions to problems such as health care. West Virginia does offer some solutions. The following is an excerpt from the AccessWV site:

AccessWV is a health plan created by West Virginia law to provide health insurance to West Virginians who have been unable to find health insurance in the private market because of a medical condition.
It also serves those who have guaranteed access to coverage ("portability rights") through the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as well as those who are eligible for the federal Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program.

Visit http://www.wvdhhr.org/ to find out about more services offered in the state of West Virginia.

Notice the Tenth amendment says, “…or to the people.” The most effective solution is to be the change you want to see. Many say, “I have insurance, but what about those who don’t?” What have you done for “those who don’t”? We can help out our neighbors when, we find out they need surgery. We can give to free clinics that provide health care to those who cannot afford health care and do not qualify for state assistance. See wvfreeclinics.org to find a list of free clinics in West Virginia. We can give to charitable specialty hospitals like St. Jude’s. We can give to churches and other charitable organizations that help people with medical expenses. How will our money be used more effectively? Sending it through the government bureaucrats in the form of tax dollars or through directly helping those in need and charities?

The federal government can have limited success in helping those in need, the states can offer solutions, but we, the American people, can do a lot more than the government. If we want to remain a free nation, we must stop pushing our responsibilities onto the government. We must take care of ourselves and personally help others. Providing health care for all is simply not the government’s job.

Please use the comment section to list charitable organizations that provide health care and/or help with medical expenses.

1 Comment

Health Care Reform

9/4/2009

0 Comments

President Obama will deliver a message concerning health care reform next Wednesday, a day after Congress resumes session. We must keep the conversation flowing. People need to know what this kind of reform will do to the finances of future generations. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the current House plan would increase the deficit by $239 billion over 10 years. The deficit is the amount added to the debt each year. When we already owe over $11,000,000,000,000 (not including unfunded mandates), why would we institute a program that would increase our spending by so much? Why would ask our children to pay for our responsibility?

This is not the federal government’s job. James Madison would not be able to point out a power in the Constitution that gives Congress this power, as evident by his statement, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” We can do a more effective job of helping the poor individually and through private charities than the federal government, as long as the federal government preserves an environment that fosters economic freedom.

We should be able to purchase insurance across state lines, buy group insurance for groups other than employers, and get the same tax treatment regardless of how we purchase our insurance.

Both of our senators and Congressman Mollohan have voiced support for this government takeover of health care. Please keep contacting them and keep the conversation flowing with your family and friends.

0 Comments

End of Life Counseling in HR 3200

9/4/2009

0 Comments

There has been much discussion about the end of life counseling in HR 3200. Under TITLE II—MEDICARE BENEFICIARY IMPROVEMENTS; Subtitle C—Miscellaneous Improvements there is a section called ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION. This section contains consultations, including advance directives and living wills (page 425 of HR 3200), and the practitioner would provide “a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning” (page 425 of HR 3200). The government will ask doctors to hand out material about living wills and advance directives. What kind of materials will the government hand out? You can see the materials former President Clinton handed out at this link: http://www.ethics.va.gov/YLYC/YLYC_First_edition_20001001.pdf.

I have read this booklet and it definitely seems to encourage people to write decisions about their care. However, some of the examples and questions they say people should ask themselves seem to devalue human life. Former President Bush stopped this book from being handed out and now President Obama is bringing it back with changes. As we put government in control of our health care, we are politicizing end of life care and the type of materials available could change every four years.

As we read further in this section, we find the bill asks for changes to the “Medicare and You Handbook.”

              (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the
               enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
               Services shall update the online version of the Medicare & You
               Handbook to include the following:

                        (i) An explanation of advance care planning and advance
                        directives, including--

                                       (I) living wills;

                                       (II) durable power of attorney;

                                      (III) orders of life-sustaining treatment; and

                                      (IV) health care proxies.

                     (ii) A description of Federal and State resources available to
                     assist individuals and their families with advance care
                     planning and advance directives, including--

                                      (I) available State legal service organizations to
                                       assist individuals with advance care planning,
                                       including those organizations that receive
                                       funding pursuant to the Older Americans Act of
                                      1965 (42 U.S.C. 93001 et seq.);

                                     (II) website links or addresses for State-specific
                                    advance directive forms; and

                                   (III) any additional information, as determined by
                                   the Secretary.

(pages 432-434 of HR 3200)

The “Medicare and You Handbook” can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.q1medicare.com/pics/ContentPics/MedicareAndYou2009_10050.pdf

It already contains information about advance directives and living wills. What changes are going to be made by the government?

As you write your living will, make sure you know the beliefs of the people supplying the information. There is a program that helps people have pro-life living wills. If you are interested, go to one of these sites http://www.nrlc.org/News_and_Views/April09/nv040709part2.html or http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/willtolive/Default.aspx.

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Abortion in HR 3200

9/4/2009

1 Comment

Listed below are two of the “essential benefits” for “qualified health plans.” Both the public option and the plans in the “health exchange,” which will get federal subsidies, must meet the requirements for qualified health plans.

          (2) Outpatient hospital and outpatient clinic services, including
          emergency department services.

        (3) Professional services of physicians and other health
professionals.

(pages 27-28 of HR 3200)

Unless specifically excluded, abortion can be included in the services mentioned above. All amendments to the bill that would specifically exclude abortion were struck down. Actually, the Capps amendment, which was added to the bill, clarifies the issue by making it clear that abortion will be included.

The public plan is funded by the premiums paid into it and taxpayer dollars. Federal subsidies will give taxpayer money to the plans in the health exchange. If this plan passes, we will all be paying for abortions, even if though many of us consider abortion murder.

Resources from the Family Research Council on Abortion in the Health Care bill

http://downloads.frcaction.org/EF/EF09H03.pdf

http://www.frc.org/pressrelease/frc-challenges-president-to-support-ban-on-all-federal-abortion-funding-in-health-reform

1 Comment

What does the Bible say about the debt from the health care bill?

9/4/2009

2 Comments

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the current House plan would increase the deficit by $239 billion over 10 years. The deficit is the amount added to the debt each year. We, as a country are already over $11,000,000,000,000 in debt. That does not include unfunded liabilities. The national debt is out of control. People are talking about a moral imperative to provided health care, but is it true and what does the Bible say about all this debt?

The Bible certainly speaks against debt. Romans 31:8 says “Owenoman anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

Furthermore, we will not be able to pay off this debt. We will leave an inheritance of debt for our children and grandchildren. I do not think this is the kind of inheritance mentioned in Proverbs 13:22, which says, “A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children.” We should leave an inheritance of prosperity for our children.

We should also leave an inheritance of freedom. God wants His people to be free. We are a Christian nation and God has many people in this country He wants to protect from oppression. “Who the Son has set free is free indeed.” As long as we are a nation of borrowers we cannot be completely free. Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

What about the rich poor dynamic? In a free market system everyone has a chance to be rich, instead of everyone being equally poor. In a society where people are free to be rich, God will bring money to those who do His will, which includes helping the poor.

The Bible does talk about giving to the poor. However, I do not remember Jesus saying, “Caesar, give others people’s money that you collected through taxes to the poor.” God’s people are charged with the responsibility of caring for the poor. We should not push this responsibility off onto the government. We could give to charities that provide medical care or help people pay medical bills. We could start a fund at church to help with medical expenses. We can help a neighbor who needs surgery. We should not ask the government to take care of the poor and force our children and taxpaying citizens to foot the bill.

2 Comments

Are Co-ops an Alternative to the Public Option?

8/18/2009

2 Comments

The President recently said he is willing to sign a bill that does not include a public option. He would support a bill with co-ops instead. That would be great, if his idea of co-ops was the same as what is described as a “real co-op” the article “Don’t Let Co-ops Become a Trojan Horse”.

            A real co-op is:
Run by its members, Funded by its members and other private sources, and Controlled by its members.
What would congress need to do for these “real co-ops”?   Congress needs to amend the tax laws to do two things: Allow mutual insurance companies to be
the foundation of non-profit insurance companies;
and give people the same tax breaks for getting
insurance from a co-op as from their employer.

The over 600 page senate bill creates the co-op the president is talking about. It hardly seems like it would take 600 pages to accomplish that which is described above. The truth is the senate bill creates a co-op that is government controlled and government funded.

     “Don’t Let Co-ops Become a Trojan Horse” by Conn Carroll. http://fixhealthcarepolicy.com/in-the-news/dont-let-co-ops-become-a-trojan-horse/

2 Comments

Uphold the Constitution

8/18/2009

1 Comment

A man at Congressman Alan Mollohan’s Town Hall, on August 14, asked about the 10th Amendment, which says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to people.” What does this mean? The powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution are powers of the state or the people. Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States of America lists the powers of congress.

The man continued to ask the congressman what in the constitution gives congress the power to create this health care plan. Congressman Mollohan did not have an answer. It is not surprising he did not have an answer. James Madison would not be able to point out a power in the Constitution that gives congress this power, as evident by his statement, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” It would be good for everyone in the United States to have adequate Health Care; however it is neither the federal government’s responsibility nor it within the powers of the federal government to ensure we all have health care. We as individuals can help each other and states can create programs to help people. In fact, West Virginia has opportunities in place for place for people to get health care, such as Access West Virginia.

The Constitution is the law of the Untied States of America, and we should respect it as such. It is not just the duty of our elected officials to uphold the Constitution, but the duty of every American. We can do this by educating ourselves and others about the constitution and only electing officials who will uphold the Constitution. If an official does not uphold the Constitution, they need to be replaced by someone who will.

That being said, I encourage you to read the constitution. How can we uphold the Constitution if we do not know what it says? In fact, maybe we should send a copy to our elected officials. You can download a copy of the Constitution with the amendments below.

A man at Congressman Alan Mollohan’s Town Hall, on August 14, asked about the 10th Amendment, which says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to people.” What does this mean? The powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution are powers of the state or the people. Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States of America lists the powers of congress.

The man continued to ask the congressman what in the constitution gives congress the power to create this health care plan. Congressman Mollohan did not have an answer. It is not surprising he did not have an answer. James Madison would not be able to point out a power in the Constitution that gives congress this power, as evident by his statement, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” It would be good for everyone in the United States to have adequate Health Care; however it is neither the federal government’s responsibility nor it within the powers of the federal government to ensure we all have health care. We as individuals can help each other and states can create programs to help people. In fact, West Virginia has opportunities in place for place for people to get health care, such as Access West Virginia.

The Constitution is the law of the Untied States of America, and we should respect it as such. It is not just the duty of our elected officials to uphold the Constitution, but the duty of every American. We can do this by educating ourselves and others about the constitution and only electing officials who will uphold the Constitution. If an official does not uphold the Constitution, they need to be replaced by someone who will.

That being said, I encourage you to read the constitution. How can we uphold the Constitution if we do not know what it says? In fact, maybe we should send a copy to our elected officials. You can download a copy of the Constitution with the amendments below.

Congressman Alan Mollohan

E-Mail: CongressmanMollohan@mail.house.gov
Faxing is the most effective way to communicate with a congressman.

WASHINGTONPhone: (202) 225-4172Fax: (202) 225-7564Congressman Alan B. Mollohan2302 Rayburn House BuildingWashington, DC 20515

CLARKSBURGPhone: (304) 623-4422Fax: (304) 623-0571Congressman Alan B. MollohanRoom 209, Post Office BuildingPO Box 1400Clarksburg, WV 26302-1400

MORGANTOWNPhone: (304) 292-3019Fax: (304) 292-3027Congressman Alan B. MollohanMarina Tower, Suite 50448 Donley StreetPO Box 720Morgantown, WV 26507-0720

PARKERSBURGPhone: (304) 428-0493Fax: (304) 428-5980Congressman Alan B. MollohanRoom 2040, Federal Building425 Juliana StreetParkersburg, WV 26101

WHEELINGPhone: (304) 232-5390Fax: (304) 232-5722Congressman Alan B. MollohanFederal BuildingChapline StreetWheeling, WV 26003