If Obama took even 30 seconds to look at the supply-chain of medical care he would quickly realize he’s thinking backwards and that insurance premiums have absolutely nothing to do with the cost of healthcare.  Insurance premiums are the conduit for insurance companies to pay our bills in a profitable way.  Based on the profitability of the insurance industry the accusations of price gouging are not credible and I don’t give heed to team Obama’s claimed frequency in which gouging occurs.

Instead of focusing on the real costs, they maliciously attack insurance companies to sway American voters in the voting booth.  Starting out with manufacturers of healthcare technology and pharmaceuticals, the costs are already out of control.  These manufacturers incur costs doing pre-clinical trial research.  They then go through three clinical trials and move on to final FDA approval.  After which, post-trial marketing and distribution adds even more to these costs.  While there is a lack of global competition in terms of pharmaceuticals, in the US their patents are so short that after testing they often have less than a decade to recoup the costs of hundreds of millions of dollars and more.

Then we move on to the facilities that deliver the care and utilize this technology and pharmaceuticals in treatments.  These facilities are forced to treat millions of illegal immigrants every year costing billions.  The healthcare practitioners are only a lawsuit or two away from going bankrupt so they spend millions on defensive, unnecessary medical treatments on top of their incredibly expensive malpractice insurance.  They have to do this AND make a profit so the US can continue to offer the best healthcare in the world.

Now we arrive at the insurance companies.  They now have to pay for our healthcare consumption and turn a profit so they stay in business.  These companies have some great HSA high deductible plans and then they have “pre-paid” medical expense plans.  As Americans consume more and more healthcare, these companies have to try to cover our costs while still making a profit.  Yet, we are the ones increasing demand, not the insurance companies – so who is to blame for increased healthcare costs?  We are.

When you look at the supply-chain and delivery of healthcare in our country, attacking premiums is NOT the way to fix healthcare.  The New York Times had an article March 8th talking about this very thing.  Obama wants to block excessive premiums as defined by a government agency.

“Federal officials will focus on holding down premiums while state officials focus on the solvency of insurers, the ultimate consumer protection.

Economists say that holding down premiums does not necessarily hold down the cost of care, which reflects the prices charged by doctors and hospitals and the volume of services.”

All team Obama will do here is undermine the solvency of insurance companies.  I don’t think Obama is a stupid person, in fact, he’s very educated.  So I can only assume he fully understands that blocking premium hikes as demand for services increase will be the defining moment for the demise of health insurance companies.  Leaving no one but the government to carry the burden and power.  While I don’t allege to know Obama’s reasoning or plans behind this obviously negligent choice, I do know he is completely disregarding the foundation of our economy, the constitution and our Republic.

Don’t be manipulated by these malicious attacks. Nothing they propose will either control costs or improve care.  On the contrary, they will increase costs and decrease care.  We cannot afford to let them win.

Confirmed participants include:

• Dave Funk of Runnells
• Pat Bertroche of Clive
• Jim Gibbons of Des Moines
• Mark Rees of West Des Moines
• Sen. Brad Zaun of Urbandale

IowaPolitics.com Des Moines Bureau Chief Lynn Campbell will moderate the program, and questions will be accepted from audience members. The event later will be broadcast on the Mediacom Connections channel statewide and will be available for On Demand viewing on Mediacom Channel 1.

The forum is part of the “Cookies and Conversation” series presented by Drake, IowaPolitics.com and Mediacom.

Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and taping of the show will be from 1-2 p.m. Free parking will be available in Drake lots at 26th Street and University Avenue and at 25th Street and Carpenter Avenue.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Three registration options are available:

• Online: http://www.esurveycentral.com/TakeSurvey.asp?SurveyID=33H6835H5834G
• Phone: 515-309-2941
• E-mail: info@Iowapolitics.com

IowaPolitics.com is an independent, nonpartisan news operation offering a free Web site at www.IowaPolitics.com and paid subscriber products. For more information, contact Jim Greer at greer@iowapolitics.com or 515-309-2941.

When: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 7pm – 8pm

Where: Marengo Hospital

When: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 – 5pm – 7pm

Where: Dos Rios Restaurant, 316 Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA

When: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 – 4pm – 9pm

Where: Walnut Creek Community Church, 900 64th St, Des Moines, IA

It’s time we all give Congressman Boswell a call and let him know we don’t approve of his vote with Pelosi and his vote against Iowa.  We need to flood his phone lines and fax line to make sure he knows where Iowa stands.

Healthcare is a major issue facing the United States but this bill will do nothing but increase our healthcare costs while forcing our dependency on the Federal Government for care.  This bill isn’t even about healthcare.  It’s about more power and the Cornhusker Kickback and Louisiana Purchase is just more evidence of that fact.  There are better ways of reforming healthcare and President Obama and most Democrats have not just disregarded these ideas; they have fought against them.  This is a prime example of how team Obama will usurp control over our lives and it is unacceptable.

I would also invite our District’s other primary contenders to do the same and ask their supporters to fight this healthcare bill!

To contact Leonard Boswell call his office:

D.C office: (202) 225-3806
Des Moines office: (515) 282-1909
Toll Free: 1-888-432-1984

You can also fax Leonard your letters:

D.C Fax: (202) 225-5608
Des Moines Fax: (515) 282-1785

Don’t just stop there. After contacting Boswell contact the others that have agreed to vote yes and especially those who are still apparently undecided on the vote. Let them know they won’t continue to hold their seats if this bill is passed. Click here to visit the NRCC’s Code Red website and list of Congressional Reps we need to call!

I sat down a couple of weeks ago and started my taxes.  This is my second year with self-employment income so it takes a little more time totaling my business expenses and accurately reporting my income.  This past year however, I spent a good chunk of it self-employed so I noticed some things on my taxes I hadn’t noticed the year before and there was something there that has really infuriated me.

I recall very recently hearing some of the State Legislature (Democrats) claiming Iowa is a business friendly state.  In fact, a couple said that Iowa is one of the most business friendly states.  Well, I’m here to tell you that they are lying to our faces.

During a recession like this, it is those of us that are business owners that will move this country forward.  Small businesses employ half of this countries work force.  Small businesses drive the economy and innovation.  Without us, our economy would tank.

Now, the example I’m going to use is small but I know it affects a lot of other sole-proprietors in the state.  While I was doing my taxes, I was already expecting to pay the full FICA and other dependency benefits that most people only pay half of because their employer pays the other half.  Since I expected it I didn’t really care.  What got me, though small in comparison, was the self-employment tax imposed by the state of Iowa.  I have to pay an additional $800 to the state because I don’t work for anyone but myself.  WTH!

It’s the principle of the “self-employment” tax that makes me a frustrated Iowan.  I don’t care what the reasoning is for having a tax on those that work for themselves, the fact that they justify it tells me they don’t care about small business.  What it tells me is that Iowa wants to punish those that don’t work for someone by taking an extra $800 out of our pockets and sticking it in their coffers.

A business friendly state should be just that.  It’s one that encourages economic development through small businesses.  One that doesn’t impose unnecessary taxes on these businesses.  I’m not looking for a business tax credit or some hand out.  I’m looking for the elimination of unfair tax burdens.  This includes the corporate income tax.  This is a joke.  I don’t care if there are ways around it or it balances out with tax write-offs.

If Iowa would eliminate these useless taxes and be a place for businesses to come during hard economic times such as these, Iowa would flourish and wouldn’t have budget cuts because of the increased tax revenue from increased business activity.  Yes, that $800 may not be a lot of money in the grand scheme of things but the image it promotes and message it tells certainly is.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 4, 2010
Contact: Phil Kerpen or James Valvo (703) 224-3200

Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate Dave Funk

-Signs No Climate Tax Pledge-

Washington, DC—The free market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today applauded Iowa U.S. House candidate Dave Funk (3^rd District) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.” Funk joins more than 400 lawmakers and candidates on the federal, state and local levels pledging to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

“The one thing elected officials should be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses,” said AFP Vice President for Policy Phil Kerpen.  “We encourage all of Iowa’s elected officials and candidates for elected office to sign the pledge.”

Cap-and-trade took its first step toward enactment last year when the U.S. House narrowly passed the Waxman-Markey energy tax bill, which escaped the lower chamber by a scant seven votes despite significant bipartisan opposition.  The Senate has struggled to pass companion legislation, with key Democratic senators openly expressing opposition to attempting to pass the energy tax bill.

President Obama has made no secret of his support for the bill, which would be the largest tax increase in American history.  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has scored the House plan as an $846 billion increase in federal revenue, a burden that will be borne by taxpayers and consumers for decades to come.

“Using the guise of climate change to transfer dollars from hard-working citizens to bureaucratic big government is unacceptable,” said Kerpen. “Regardless of their stance on global warming, this should be common ground for all of our elected officials at all levels of government.”

The pledge is available online at www.NoClimateTax.com.  AFP does not endorse candidates.  All elected officials and candidates are encouraged to sign the pledge and go on the record in opposition to using the climate change issue to increase taxes and grow the size of government.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best way to safeguard individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 975,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 30 state chapters and affiliates. More than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

###

Dave Funk is grateful for the acknowledgment and is proud to be one of more than 400 elected officials and candidates that have signed this pledge.  Fighting these taxes is vital for Iowa’s economic success.

Paid for by Funk for Congress

www.CongressNeedsFunk.com

Anyone that has heard my stump speech knows that I know in order for us to bring down healthcare costs we need skin in the game.  President Obama and Congressman Boswell have fought against this concept and Republicans have been scared to commit to it.  I read a great article this week arguing in favor of high deductible plans by Michael Tanner from the CATO Institute.  The point is this; Healthcare reform can’t occur by shifting more of the burden from the consumer to the government.  In his article, Tanner said this:

“Perhaps that is because in the long-run, the only way to spend less on health care is to consume less health care. Someone, sometime, has to say no. But the incentives under our current health care system perversely encourage everyone to say ‘yes.’”

Right now, the consumer only pays 13 cents of every dollar spent on healthcare.  That is not insurance, it’s a pre-paid medical plan.  Insurance is something you pay for in case of emergency.  Not when you have a flat tire, the sniffles or your screen door breaks.  The current healthcare bill will lower that consumer burden to only 10 cents of every dollar spent.

Tanner describes it perfectly.

“Think of it this way. If every time you went to the grocery store, someone else paid 87 percent of your bill, not only would you eat a lot more steak and a lot less hamburger – but so would your dog. And food costs would go up for everyone.”

The point is this.  If America wants to get healthcare costs under control than we need to spend less.  We will not do this if we do not place some of the cost burden back on the consumer and stop going to the doctor to hear them say “you’ll just have to wait a few days to get over your cold.”

That’s why Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Plans work.  You think twice before going in because you have a runny nose but will have coverage when you break your leg or need surgery.  We need to stop shifting responsibility from the government and our health insurance companies and start taking personal responsibility for our own healthcare.

It is not unreasonable to ask individual citizens to share the responsibility of healthcare.  If we actually did this, even with a lack of competition we currently have, prices would go down.  It’s basic economics.  As demand decreases for all of those small things few of us pay for right now they would be forced to drop the price otherwise no one would go to the doctor and they would go out of business.

Why we are under the impression that the health insurance companies control the prices is beyond me.  We as consumers control the prices.  It’s based on our demand.  If we stop consuming at the ridiculously high levels that current consumption is at, they will be forced to drop prices to try to get you back in their door.

We need to demand that President Obama, Congressman Boswell and even my fellow Republicans, start to focus on us, not them or insurance companies as the solution.  Rather than passing one 2,000-page bill, let’s start passing smaller bills that have solutions we know will work.  They aren’t trying to reform healthcare, they are trying to build our dependency on the government and based on the current plan, healthcare costs will only increase.

In case you haven’t followed the Charlie Rangel story, it comes down to this.  Last week the “House ethics panel that Representative Rangel violated House gift rules by accepting corporate funding for trips to the Caribbean.”

Many politicians who have received money from Rangel’s campaign or PAC have been donating the funds to charities rather than using the “dirty” money.  However, one of those recipients has yet to respond to any of our inquiries – Leonard Boswell.

Like the RPI said, Boswell has had ample time to respond to everyone’s inquiries and frankly, his silence does speak volumes on how he is aligned with the progressive left and not Iowa’s third district.  Boswell either doesn’t care about Rangel’s infractions and unethical behavior or he’s too scared about his chances to keep his seat in November and needs every dime.  Either way, we need to demand he donates this money to charities here in Iowa that could use it rather than spending “dirty” money in his campaign to be reelected.