Real health reform road show starts Monday

Two weeks ago, the Beshear administration tried to sneak a bogus "public" hearing on ObamaCare past the people of Kentucky.

It failed.

Monday night, May 21st, a different kind of public hearing will be held. Please join a public discussion at the Jeffersontown Public Library at 10635 Watterson Trail in Louisville.

We will talk about what the Beshear administration is doing to us, how it is more important to fight the battle on the state level than to wait for a favorable U.S. Supreme Court ruling next month. We will talk about what you can do to help protect the state from another brush with socialized medicine and why Frankfort Republicans are fighting for the wrong team.

We will talk about real free market solutions. Hope to see you there.

Republican Party of Kentucky attacks conservative

On Thursday afternoon, a recorded telephone call from Republican Party of Kentucky headquarters defended incumbent moderate Senator David Givens for his bad votes on taxes, spending and healthcare. The call urged Republicans to ignore criticism of Givens' record and to re-elect him anyway.

Givens faces conservative Tea Party Republican challenger Don Butler in the primary election on Tuesday, May 22.

Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson said the call went out to approximately 2000 voters in the 9th Senate district, according to a local party official.

The call in support of Givens represents a new low for the Republican Party of Kentucky, which continues to unnecessarily prolong the battle between establishment moderates and conservative Tea Partiers.

Chris Christie shows Republicans how to sell out

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be in Lexington on Saturday to address Kentucky Republicans. He will surely talk about his May 10 veto of a bill to set up an ObamaCare health insurance exchange in his state.

What he won't tell us is that his veto was just for show and that he was already -- and still is -- setting his state on the path to socialized medicine.

As always, the trick is to follow the money.

Governor Christie applied for and received a $7.6 million Affordable Care Act Establishment grant and is spending it readying his state for ObamaCare. The law explicitly allows states to forgo this activity and, in fact, returning the federal money forcing the federal government to set up the exchange is the only way to go.

Like several other Republicans, Christie appears to have fallen for the idea that a state-run exchange is either required or somehow allows states to maintain a form of local control.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has expressed the same position. Both the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute have urged states to return Establishment grant money as the surest way out of ObamaCare's clutches.

Why this message hasn't gotten more traction would be a real mystery if politicians in both parties had not so clearly displayed their addiction to federal money, with or without strings attached.

And make no mistake, the strings attached to the federal money already accepted by many states will become very heavy ropes before 2015 when states will be responsible for all the costs of exchanges regardless of who is "running" them.

At best the states are being set up as scapegoats for when ObamaCare fares poorly. Worse, opponents banking on a favorable Supreme Court ruling will be surprised at how much of ObamaCare will survive in states that have cooperated and have accepted federal money.

States like New Jersey and Kentucky. 

 

Funniest Kentucky political ad ever

Tea Party Republican Don Butler is running a radio ad against his incumbent opponent David Givens that has people talking down around Glasgow, Kentucky. Click the link below to listen to it.

Funny political ad

David Givens suffers 40-point ObamaCare swoon

Powerful incumbent Senate Republican David Givens, chairman of the Senate Agriculture committee, was cruising to a 20-point win two weeks ago. In the past week, though, Givens got skewered by the Kentucky Club for Growth for raising taxes and then lying about it in a newspaper ad.

Also last week, his opponent, Tea Party Republican Don Butler, started running a radio ad pointing out Givens' support of ObamaCare in the state legislature.

Now two different sources who have polled the race tell Kentucky Progress that Givens is losing by twenty. And Butler reportedly has an even harder-hitting ad in the can for the final week.

If you haven't already joined the movement to stop Frankfort's quiet effort to implement ObamaCare, please do so now.

Is Steve Beshear lying or just lazy and stupid?

Last week when Governor Steve Beshear came clean about quietly setting up ObamaCare in Kentucky he repeated a canard that apparently still needs to be debunked. Beshear wants you to believe that if Kentucky sets up its own ObamaCare health insurance exchange, that we will maintain some kind of local control.

Setting up a state-run exchange, Beshear said, "also guarantees we don't have the federal government running our insurance market."


But page 8 of a federal Health and Human Services ObamaCare document summarizing the law on Kentucky's Department of Insurance web site clearly explains that if the HHS Secretary isn't happy with the state's activities, then the feds can step in and take control.

There are lots of myths, distortions and outright lies surrounding the ObamaCare mess. It would be great if more of Kentucky's Republican officials got on board with the effort to fight this nonsense back. Those sitting on the sidelines now are just going to look sillier and sillier as this goes along.

KY Club for Growth blasts David Givens

The Kentucky Club for Growth today ruled a campaign ad for incumbent state Senator David Givens "blatantly false" just as Givens prepares to face tea party challenger Don Butler in the May 22 Republican primary.

The Club's statement mentioned and linked to a post from Kentucky Progress.

During Sen. Givens four years in the Senate, there has really only been one significant tax increase brought to the Senate floor - 2009's HB 144, a $160 million annual tax increase.  While Thayer and eleven other Senators opposed it, Sen. Givens voted for it.  HB 144 increased tobacco taxes and created a new tax on alcohol, double-taxing the industry and giving Kentucky one of the highest alcohol taxes in the country! (Don't try to argue that 'families' are unaffected by these taxes.  Families throughout the Commonwealth are involved in growing, producing, distributing, retailing and consuming these products.)
Additionally that year, Givens voted to create a tax on "Internet Protocol Television (HB 236), create new taxes on digital property (HB 347) and hike the gas tax by $0.04 (HB 374).

Club Executive Director Andy Hightower concludes his dressing down of Givens by referring to Givens' advertising claim that he supports "open and honest government."

This probably also puts to lie his claim of 'Honest Government.'

Bob Damron, closet ObamaCare supporter

Less than two weeks after Kentucky House Democratic Caucus Chairman Bob Damron lied to voters through the Campaign for Liberty survey about his position on ObamaCare, he has now publicly stated his support for Obama's federal healthcare takeover.

On his Facebook page, Damron expressed support for keeping the more than $60 million in federal grant money we have received so far, which obligates Kentucky to set up an ObamaCare bureaucracy in state government. He has since removed that post from his page, though this image was captured:

A self-styled pro-business conservative, Damron should have to explain how his sneakiness and prevarication on this issue squares with his desire to be re-elected to represent increasingly-conservative Jessamine County.

In the November election, Damron faces Republican Matt Lockett, who has consistently opposed ObamaCare and supports forcing state government to return the federal ObamaCare money.

Did you see this establishment scam?

An unidentified Washington D.C. organization has mailed to Kentucky very conservative-looking flyers touting establishment candidates who have refused to be pinned down specifically on key issues. I'm not nearly as concerned about any possible campaign finance violation (mailing organizations should identify identify themselves) as I am curious to know why the secrecy was thought to be necessary.

Slippery establishment types posing as rock-ribbed conservatives have damaged the Republican brand enough. If you have seen a mailer like this touting your local establishment politician, please let me know.

Where are our Republicans on BeshearCare?

The most striking aspect of Kentucky's self-destructive dalliance with ObamaCare is the silence of the state's Republicans.

Are we so addicted to federal grant money (more than $60 million so far for health "reform," and counting) that even our elected Republicans can't see the strings attached?

Talk to your Republican officeholders at the state and federal levels about this. With very little effort, Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell could capture the attention of the overwhelming majority of Kentucky voters who oppose ObamaCare. It will take that to force corrective action out of Governor Beshear and the lethargic Republican leadership in the state Senate.

All of our U.S. House members but Reps. John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler should be eager to come to our aid, as should the small army of Republican candidates running in the May elections.

Where are these people, now that we need them?

Frankfort incumbent senator's ad tells the tale

Kentucky state Senator David Givens has voted to raise your taxes repeatedly in Frankfort. But in a newspaper ad he purchased for his re-election, he says he "consistently opposes tax increases." That's like Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who said he was personally opposed to abortion but voted for it anyway.

Then Givens said he is for open and honest government. He is probably talking there about his vote for Senate Bill 7 in 2011, a toothless "transparency" bill that hasn't changed anything in closed, secretive Frankfort. Voters may well conclude he "believes taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent," but only until they read and understand the next bullet point in the newspaper ad.

Givens' biggest whopper in the ad is his claim that he "has voted to cut billions in government spending." That only works if you can ignore the many billion more in spending that he voted for regardless of our state's ability to afford it. Givens voted to spend every dime of the $3.4 billion in Obama stimulus funds the federal government sent, the $2.4 billion in general fund appropriation-supported debt he voted for and the untold billions more in unfunded pension liabilities he will helped create by failing to properly fund the Kentucky Retirement Systems. Given these facts, the the slogan "A true conservative we can count on to protect our liberty" really doesn't make much sense, does it? David Givens had four years to come up with a better ad, but his sorry record dictates that he try to get by on subterfuge and slippery language.

Fortunately, Givens is opposed in the Republican primary by tea party candidate Don Butler, the former county judge in Metcalfe County. Butler has campaigned on a pledge to never vote for a tax increase, to never vote for an unbalanced budget and to refuse a legislative pension. Notice the difference between that and just stating that he opposes tax increases, debt and unbalanced budgets and our state's pension mess? 

Steve Beshear saw his shadow yesterday

Governor Steve Beshear yesterday called a halt to what was to be a series of open-to-the-public meetings on ObamaCare implementation in Kentucky. This came quickly after a team of his bureaucrats met substantial public resistance at a Frankfort meeting to discuss ObamaCare.

The Tea Party needs to step up and have them for him. Across the state and as soon as possible, we need to have citizen-run ObamaCare public hearings at which we seek to answer the following questions:

1- Do Kentucky citizens want ObamaCare or to participate in the excessively expensive federally controlled state-run exchanges when the law clearly makes participation optional? Why or why not?
2- Should Governor Beshear return the more than $60 million in federal grants for setting up a health insurance exchange?
3- Which legislators will demand that Governor send the money back? Do we need a special session of the General Assembly to address this issue?
4- What real solutions do we want to problems in the health care industry?

Setting up a public event is easy. Public libraries and schools have meeting rooms that can be used with little or no cost. A sponsoring organization is sometimes necessary and may be a good idea anyway. Teaming up with local civic groups can help spread the word about an event.

Lots of help is available if you are willing to get the ball rolling. Just ask.

Tea Party resurgence in Kentucky

The Tea Party came to prominence in the wake of ObamaCare, the federal takeover of American healthcare starting in 2009. State implementation of the federal law stirred up the movement again today.

It all started last week when a Kentucky ObamaCare official, Kris Hayslett quietly scheduled an auditorium in the state Transportation Cabinet building for a "public" meeting discussing state activity in setting up a health insurance exchange in the state.

A tea party activist uncovered the event and noted the almost eery lack of publicity behind it. With barely 72 hours notice, a Facebook event page was established. By Monday at 1pm, more than 100 tea partiers joined about three dozen state employees, contractors and lobbyists for what became a two hour long wake-up call for anyone who thought there would be no public resistance to socialized medicine.

"Unbelievable," said Candice Franklin of Lincoln County. "No one in Frankfort can answer where the money will come from to pay for this free stuff for everybody."

Kathy Linzy of Anderson County enjoyed watching the bureaucratic panel's shell-shocked reaction to public opposition to their scheme.

"Clearly their eyes were glazing over when the folks at the mic asked questions," Linzy said. "The panel did say these were not the questions they were looking for. What they were looking for was info and ideas on how to implement the health care exchange."

Kentucky has already accepted more federal money to establish a state run health insurance exchange than any other state but New York. Last week, Governor Steve Beshear claimed that he had no choice but to prepare to set up a state run exchange should the U.S. Supreme Court find the law constitutional. The panel today repeated his claim, despite the fact that the law clearly says it is optional.

Further, common sense says that not getting the state involved in this nonsense is the cheaper way to go.

"This is the camel's nose, head and three-fourths of its body already in the tent," said Dan Blanchard of Jefferson County. "If centralized government imposes its will on us here, it sets all the precedent they need to go after any vestige of liberty in any other areas we have left. This is not about affordable health care. It's about a pseudo-intelligent elite trying to control 'We the People.'"

The strong showing of tea partiers clearly frustrated the bureaucrats, but left conservatives wondering what would come next.

"Other than a show of force, I wonder if we accomplished much," said Ann Prothro of Woodford County. "I found them very parental, patronizing. It felt like they thought we were all talking in study hall."

Indeed, what comes next is critical. A single, simple demand is necessary. Conservatives and tea partiers should call Governor Beshear and demand that he return the $60 million in federal grant money Kentucky has received to implement an ObamaCare. His number is (502)564-2611. Further, please call your state Senator and Representative and demand that they publicly call on Beshear to send the money back and discontinue all efforts to create an ObamaCare health insurance exchange in Kentucky.

Attend Beshear's public ObamaCare meeting

Kentucky has already budgeted more money for implementing ObamaCare than any other state but New York. Governor Beshear has been working behind the scenes to set up an ObamaCare health insurance exchange in Kentucky while most people are distracted by the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the ObamaCare mandate.

If he is not reversed quickly, Beshear will be able to run ObamaCare in Kentucky even if the federal law is overturned by the Supreme Court.

The legislature has failed to stop him. We must do it and the time is now.

On Monday, May 7 in Frankfort, the Beshear administration is holding a public meeting about the future of ObamaCare in Kentucky. As many of us as possible must attend. The Beshear Administration tried to keep this meeting quiet; the idea was to bus their people in and make it look like everyone loves ObamaCare. If you can make it at 1pm on Monday to 200 Mero Street in Frankfort (Transportation Cabinet Building Auditorium C105), please come. Even if you can't attend, please spread this invitation as widely as you can.

Printing (or cutting) what doesn't "fit"

From the Associated Press (Printed in the Bowling Green Daily News):

Beshear's announcement raised concerns in Kentucky among opponents of the federal care reforms.

Tea party activist David Adams said Kentucky shouldn't have accepted the federal grants, and that Kentuckians should be outraged that Beshear has been working behind the scenes to plan the health insurance exchange.
"This is the most important thing state government will do to us this year," he said.
It's noteworthy that the Lexington Herald Leader chopped this off the online version of this story.

And here is my original statement:

"If the legislature had any guts they would have prohibited Governor Beshear from spending even a penny setting up the enforcement bureaucracy for ObamaCare. They don't need to have meetings to discuss how great socialized medicine is going to be in Kentucky; they should have already sent the $60 million in federal funds back to Obama. The way the federal law is written, we can ignore ObamaCare mandates if we just refuse to set up an exchange. The purpose of the exchange is to blame the insurance companies and go straight to single-payer when the whole thing proves disastrous. They have to schedule this thing during the day so we can't get a crowd there, but this is the most important thing state government will do to us this year. If you thought the failed General Assemby session was bad, this is Armageddon." David Adams

Steve Beshear comes out of closet on May 7

Kentucky will be Ground Zero of the national battle against ObamaCare on Monday, May 7 in Frankfort when  Beshear administration officials forcing us into government-controlled healthcare will hold an open meeting in Frankfort to discuss their progress.

Though some reports have been online and the state budget gives Beshear free rein to ram ObamaCare down our throats, this is his first time publicly admitting his involvement in this disaster.

The meeting will be held at 1pm ET in the auditorium (C105) at the Transportation Cabinet in Frankfort, 200 Mero Street. Beshear has continued to insist, despite the evidence, that he is not setting up an ObamaCare health insurance exchange -- the state enforcement bureaucracy for socialized medicine.

Kentucky has already budgeted more ObamaCare spending than any other state in the nation besides New York.

If you care about stopping ObamaCare and can make it on Monday, you won't want to miss this.

Who are Kentucky's Tea Party candidates?

In an email this morning, Louisville Courier Journal political writer Joe Gerth asked me who the Tea Party candidates are running in the state House and Senate this year. Below is my response. What's yours?

"Good question. I think it's a 'many are called, few are chosen' kind of thing. I hope they all wind up supporting tea party principles, but for now they are mostly running their own races. I hope voters ask the candidates where they all stand on tea party issues and why. Our state officials have underfunded state employee benefits for so long we have about three years left before we won't be able to pay benefits out of KRS funds. That's a tea party issue because taxpayers will be on the hook, but the establishment figures won't even talk about it. Our elected officials have left the door wide open for Obama and Beshear to destroy healthcare in Kentucky with a federally-controlled but state "run" health insurance exchange. Only a handful of candidates have pledged never to raise taxes. I think the candidates who will talk directly to these issues and keep talking about them will be the tea party candidates."

Bob Damron has a Campaign for Liberty problem

Kentucky state Representative Bob Damron (D-Nicholasville) is one of only two Democrats in the General Assembly who completed a Campaign for Liberty survey with 100% affirmative answers.

He might have a problem or two with that.

Interested voters who haven't already written off Damron for bad votes might want to ask him which federal official he wants to arrest first.

Question 4 on the survey asks if the candidate would support nullifying ObamaCare and "authorize state and local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement the unconstitutional health care scheme."

Damron answered that he would do these things. I would like to see him say that on camera.

While he could certainly claim that he would take this approach to stopping ObamaCare since the opportunity has never come up, question 7 is a different story.

Question 7 asks "Do you oppose taking federal money to create a state health insurance exchange?" Kentucky has taken more federal money for this purpose than any other state except for New York. Damron has been there through the entire ordeal and has never objected once.

Steve Beshear hiding latest ObamaCare plans

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services officials are sitting on at least two periodic reports detailing state implementation of ObamaCare.

The most recent Health Benefit Exchange Planning Grant quarter report made public on the state's Division of Certificate of Need is dated July 15, 2011.

Kentucky has budgeted more money for setting up the state bureaucracy for ObamaCare implementation than any state other than New York.

Kentucky paints itself into ObamaCare corner

A little-noticed provision in Kentucky's 2012 budget bill exposes a problem to be faced by states dumb enough to enact any part of ObamaCare.

Section 10 on page 296 of Kentucky's HB 265 would enable Kentucky to set up a state health insurance purchasing compact with contiguous states to allow for cross-border buys of health coverage.

Kentucky is actively setting up ObamaCare and is in the process of spending more than any other state in the nation other than New York on ObamaCare.

Kentucky has seven contiguous neighbors. Six of them have expressed an interest in a similar purchasing compact with their neighboring states. Of those six, five have taken specific legislative steps to protect themselves from at least one element of ObamaCare. They would have nothing to gain by combining with Kentucky on health insurance starting in 2014, when ObamaCare kicks in.

That leaves Kentucky and West Virginia, two ObamaCare states, to set up a multi-state health insurance purchasing compact. The way to avoid becoming an ObamaCare state is to avoid setting up a state-run health insurance exchange. Kentucky is too far into that process, with the legislature enabling and Governor Beshear expected to issue an executive order after the elections in November. Even a favorable U.S. Supreme Court ruling later this year may not prevent that from happening if the individual mandate is invalidated but the rest of the law survives.

Our fearless leaders should have at least tried to avoid the insurance exchange trap when they had the chance.