Buy Partisan Support

Last year at this time, I wrote the tongue-in-cheek article entitled: All I Want for Christmas is a Senate Seat. I was inspired by then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s alleged entrepreneurial efforts to sell a Senate seat on the open market. Back then, I thought it was just a one-time opportunity to whimsically explore the possibility of buying one’s way into our Federal government. A year later, I see that the concept has been taken to new levels of audacity.

Witness the recent dealings surrounding the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” as passed by the United States Senate … or should I say “as marketed” within the United States Senate. In a grand display of bipartisanism (i.e., cooperation between Democrats who voted for the bill based on principle … and Democrats who voted for the bill based on economic inducements), new evidence has surfaced as to how much a seat in our government may be worth. While my original guess in All I Want for Christmas is a Senate Seat was $8.5 million, I’m beginning to rethink the math. It appears to be taking $100 million or more just to buy a Senator’s vote these days! Of course, as “trillions” have now replaced “billions“ as the standard political metric, I guess this type of inflation is reasonable to expect. For example:

In return for her support, Senator Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana secured $300 million to fund the mandated expansion of Medicaid within her state, while most other states will be required to add enrollees to their Medicaid programs without any Federal funds to pay for the additional costs.

Similarly, Senator Patrick Leahy (D) of Vermont negotiated $250 million in favorable Medicaid payment treatment for his state over a six-year period, and Massachusetts will receive a temporary “stay” of Medicaid payments as well. This latter benefit may have been orchestrated to honor the recently departed Senator Ted Kennedy (D), “The Lion of the Senate,” who worked so diligently throughout his career to drive for such legislation ... even though “driving” was never really his core competency.

An appropriation of $100 million was made in the bill to fund construction of a health care facility “at a public research university in the United States that contains a state’s sole public academic medical and dental school.” Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd is pursuing this appropriation vigorously since his state is one of the few that qualifies under the definition. If the Health and Human Services Department (which controls the appropriation) fails to award it to the University of Connecticut, no worries … I’m sure Senator Dodd can probably get a favorable loan for the project from Countrywide Financial.

Montana Senator Max Baucus (D) successfully lobbied for Medicare coverage for every miner exposed to asbestos poisoning … as long as they worked at a mine in Libby, Montana. But hey, expansive social change has to start somewhere! Additionally, there are formulae in the bill that allow doctors and hospitals in Montana (as well as North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming) to get paid more than doctors and hospitals in other states. Then again, from a population standpoint, there probably aren’t enough doctors and hospitals in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah or Wyoming to make the disparity too significant.

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson (D) is projected to have earned $100 million for his constituency in return for his willingness to cast the deciding vote. As a result, Nebraska will be exempt from the cost of mandatory Medicaid expansion. Instead, the Federal government will be picking up 100 percent of the tab … in perpetuity. Personally, if medical costs rise as expected in the future, I think the “perpetuity” aspect of this deal makes it worth a lot more than $100 million.

Besides, Senator Nelson also fashioned an exemption from the insurance tax on non-profit insurers. His exemption only applies to the Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company in (you guessed it) Nebraska and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Non-Profit Plan in Michigan. Michigan was a “throw in” since Michigan Senator Carl Levin (D) couldn’t get the job done on his own. Does anyone want to bet on whether Senator Levin will return the favor sometime in the near future?

Big Ben also “clocked” the bill for one other special benefit that pertains to the small number of physician-owned hospitals that are being built around the country; one of which is being built in Bellevue, Nebraska. Senator Nelson was able to have certain deadlines extended in the bill that will allow the physician-owned hospital in Nebraska to circumvent a future Senate ban against receiving referrals from the doctors who own them.

Not to get your “Nelsons” confused: Florida Senator Bill Nelson (D) was able to have the Medicare Advantage benefits of the hundreds of thousands of seniors in Florida who participate these plans “grandfathered in” under the bill. While this also impacts seniors in other states, their numbers are insignificant as compared to the number of seniors receiving such preferential treatment in Florida.

Maybe it’s just me, but the Ben and Bill Nelson duo reminds me of another famous pair in American history: Frank and Jesse James. First, we had the James Gang, and now we have the Nelson Gang. In their own unique way, they somewhat share the same profession. The James Gang just didn’t have the skill set of the Nelson Gang, so their “transactions” were of a much smaller scale.

While we’re on the subject, this brings to mind another well known desperado: Willie Sutton. Also known as “The Actor” and “Slick Willie” (no relation to Bill Clinton), Willie Sutton was once asked why he robbed banks … to which he replied, “Because that's where the money is." So, if you’re at all confused as to why politicians take money from the American taxpayers, don’t be. It’s because “that’s where the money is.”

Whatever happened to “equal protection” under the 14th Amendment rather than fashioning legislation in a way that features more carve-outs than a Thanksgiving turkey? Maybe this is just reflective of the “Change” we were all promised. The Senate and the House of Representatives have certainly “changed” … moving more toward the direction of traditional Chicago politics: backroom deals; brokered favors; all at the expense of our Nation at-large.

If you’re waiting for those publicly televised health care debates on C-SPAN that were repeatedly promised during the Presidential campaign, you can stop waiting. It’s tough to be “transparent” behind closed doors in the proverbial “smoked-filled rooms” where the real “legislating” is taking place. Perhaps the “smoke” is diffusing the light in the room too much to afford our government the opportunity to operate with “transparency.” Perhaps “translucency” should be its goal. That would at least beat the opaque approach that has been in effect during the framing of health care reform.

However, at least one good thing has come from all of this. Congress has finally made great progress toward the President’s campaign pledge to achieve “bipartisan support.” What … you say the vote was strictly along party lines? Well, sure it was! The President never suggested it wouldn’t be. I’m sure Press Secretary Gibbs would be quick to point out that what the President meant to say was that, under his Administration, you would be able to “buy” partisan support for almost anything.

Happy New Year!

2009 © Dr. Terrance J. O’Hara. All Rights Reserved.

Cash for Congress (a new Economic Stimulus Idea)

Just the other day, I listened intently as our President addressed the Nation from the hallowed halls of Home Depot. He spoke (without Teleprompters I might add) about a new program that he endorses, which has since been dubbed “Cash for Caulkers.”

Similar to the now famous (or is that infamous … I always get them confused) “Cash for Clunkers” program, this is in effect a “retirement” program. Basically, President Obama called upon Congress to approve a bill that would encourage Americans to “retire” inefficient energy systems within their homes and replace them with newer, more efficient systems. New doors, windows, insulation, attic fans, HVAC … the possibilities are endless.

While the President stated that the "idea may not be very glamorous," he admitted that he thinks “insulation is sexy." The First Lady, who was reported to be meeting with Elin Woods’ attorney, has been unavailable for comment, but there’s a possibility that the President did not intend his comment to be taken literally. In my opinion, he clarified that he was using the phrase in a metaphorical sense when he said, "Here's what's sexy about it: saving money." Now, that’s something Congressional Members can wrap their minds around since money has often been tied to sex in Washington, D.C.

I’m not so cynical as to believe that this was just an attempt to stage a “common man” press conference as a precursor to the Copenhagen Climate Conference in which the President will participate later this week. To the contrary: under a current proposal being drafted behind closed doors by the transparent Democratic Members of Congress, the “Cash for Caulkers” program is only expected to cost about $20 billion. The cost associated with the Presidents triumphant return to Copenhagen (where he lobbied so effectively on behalf of Chicago for the Olympic Games) are rumored to be closer to $100 billion in taxpayer money.

The good news is that the $20 billion would be used to offer incentives of $1,000 to $3,000 (or more) to people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Supporters of the bill (who’ve never been right before) project that 5 million homes could be retrofitted under the program, which would result in a savings of $3.3 billion in home energy bills each year. So far, so good! Even better: proponents believe that the majority of the products would be made in the United States and 100% of the associated labor would be local. Thus, the program will create real jobs. Hooray!

Not to rain on a leaky roof that might need to be replaced … but to really pull this off, we’ll need new government agencies established throughout the country to monitor the process to make sure that fraud doesn’t creep into the equation: contractors will have to be licensed, materials will have to be certified, installations will have to be confirmed, etc. On the plus side, this will create thousands of new jobs just to keep track of the rebates; jobs that can be paid for with your tax dollars. If we don’t put the controls in place, the program will at least provide jobs to countless illegal aliens who will end up doing the work in the southwest.

Between this and the Copenhagen Climate Conference, I’m proud we have our first “Green” President (can I say that?). His rhetoric inspires me. As a matter of fact, his Home Depot speech gave me a great idea. It came when he said, "If you saw $20 bills just sort of floating through the window up into the atmosphere, you'd try to figure out how you were going to keep that. But that's exactly what's happening because of the lack of efficiency in our buildings." It was then that it hit me. I look at Congress the exact same way. It’s like seeing $20 billion “just sort of floating through the window up into the atmosphere,” and I’d like to “try to figure out how (we) were going to keep that” because that’s exactly what’s happening due to the “lack of efficiency” (or should I say “integrity”) in Congress.

So, here’s my idea: let’s create a “Cash for Congress” program. Send me a minimum contribution of $10 (but as much as you’d like to donate). I’ll set up a separate bank account for the “Cash for Congress” program so that it will be easy to audit. In the spirit of transparency, I will keep 10% for administrative costs. After next November’s elections, I will distribute the other 90% on a pro rata basis to a Veterans’ program in each State in which one or more Senator or Congressperson is “retired” and replaced with someone more “efficient” … preferably someone who is at least familiar with the Constitution and has an understanding of the value of money. If 50 States each replace one representative, they’ll each get 1/50 of the residual pool. If one State replaces 2 representatives and the rest replace just one, it will get 2/51 of the pool and the other 49 will get 1/51. Get it? The math is easy. So is the concept: just turn in your Congressional “Clunker” and invest your vote in someone new who understands that their role is to serve you as civil servant … rather than as a demigod. Talk about an economic stimulus program; this one could save trillions of dollars.

Why make the donation to a Veterans’ program in each State? Because, more than any other group, veterans understand what this country stands for and have demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice their self interests to protect and preserve the ideals of this great Nation. If you disagree, just keep your money. Maybe you can buy some subsidized insulation with it … or apply it to your taxes to support all of the new federal agencies.

*****

“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.”

– Thomas Jefferson

2009 © Dr. T.J. O’Hara

A Christmas Wish

Please join me in thanking our troops this holiday season for their gallant service. They stand in harms way so that we may live our lives in freedom and help others move toward that same goal. It should not matter whether you support any related political policies. It should only matter that these dedicated individuals represent us all in the most pure and unselfish way.

Each year, Xerox gives us a way to reach out and thank our troops for their service. It only takes a few minutes of your time (three mouse clicks) to share your thoughts and prayers with a member of our armed forces. Please take a moment to reach out to these brave men and women to let them know you care by going to www.LetsSayThanks.com.

Thank you!