After Pushing for Obamacare, Unions and AARP Receive Waivers

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

Crossroads GPS released an ad concerning Obama, unions, and health care reform waivers.

It seems awfully convenient that the same groups who spent millions to get Obama into office, then spent millions more to push government-run health care were quick to apply for waivers exempting them from the very health care plan they supported!

AARP, one of the major backers of health care reform (though they tried hard to claim otherwise), is the most recent donor recipient.

In March, Crossroads GPS filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after they failed to disclose any and all documents regarding their process for approving the waivers. The lawsuit is seeking judicial enforcement of the initial FOIA request Crossroads GPS filed.

Nancy Pelosi's district has the highest number of health care reform waivers approved in April - about 1 in 5. Thirty-one were for unions. (In the spirit of objectivity, 27 waivers were granted to health care/drug companies in Pelosi's district in April as well.)

There's a serious lack of transparency with this administration and this is just one more demonstration of it, not to mention the obvious payoff that's going on here. The whole health care reform plan was passed as something that was for everyone's benefit, but I guess for Obama's supporters, it's now a hard pill to swallow.

Comments

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Regardless of personal opinion on this, I would love to see something else than opinion pieces from right wing organs and blogs.
It's like a regular circle jerk when it comes to the (scarce)facts.

New American cites Hot Air and Town Hall.com which cites Hot Air all back again, which cites Crossroads (which don't provide a working link to their supposed "lawsuit"), the daily caller is cited, and they at least are honest with not having any sources, except for citing themselves, and the New American obviously blow numbers out their ass completely, or in some form of impressive burst of clairvoyance(again with no sources). And then there are a few sourceless blogs cited as cherries on top of this mess.

I mean come on! For all I know these opinions could be right, but the hell I'm going to respect something which can't put down sources for these pretty bluntly stated facts. I mean, these are supposed to be factual claims, right? Not opinion pieces.

[xforge.livejournal.com]

^^ That. Steve Law's pet 527, Michelle Malkin (::twitch::) and the JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY?? Really?

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

Agree with this 100%, thank you.

[adrunkencadence.livejournal.com]

Right. OP: Where are the actual sources outlining the actual issues?

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

In spite of mividaloca99's poor choice of sources this issue does deserve consideration.

Here are some slightly more reputable sources.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/161203-hhs-approves-200-more-new-healthcare-reform-waivers-

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/20/obamacare-waiver-corruption-must-stop/

List of approved waivers from Dept. of Health (http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/approved_applications_for_waiver.html)

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

I have every right to choose which sources I want to post. I certainly don't see you bitching about PAFT posting Media Matters For America videos or re-hashing her self-righteous tripe from her own blog.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

I'd need citations for this just like I'd need it if it was from DemocraticUnderground about GWB.

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

Hover your mouse over the links and you should see the address at the bottom of your browser window. If you don't think the site is trustworthy, then don't look at it and go Google a site that you wanna read about it from.

[udoswald.livejournal.com]

The waivers were given to all kinds of organizations (Republican and Democratic donors alike) in order to allow companies more time to come into compliance with the new rules. It's not some vast conspiracy, it's just that some companies weren't going to be able to come into compliance in time and so they got more time. They will all eventually have to change their policies to conform with the rules of the new system.

Kudos for citing Crossroads GPS, that took a lot of balls. You might as well just cite Karl Rove because he is the "brains" behind that organization. I wouldn't believe them if they told me the sky was blue.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Shush with your logic. It's more fun to believe in evil-doing.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Really. And to top it off, Dep. of Health is actually producing full transparency, with lists and numbers and pretty good explanations on what the waivers are and their rather strict time limit.

Really, do certain people not know that this is a really standard procedure with new laws, to give certain time reprieves so transgression runs smoother. It's been done everywhere for ages.

This makes me kind of agree with the people that accuse right wingers of shouting BIOLOGICAL WARFARE as soon as the president farts.

Nancy, Nancy, Nancy!

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

There's a serious lack of credibility with your sources.

Re: Nancy, Nancy, Nancy!

[existentme.livejournal.com]

lmao

Re: Nancy, Nancy, Nancy!

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

What's the Pope doing in a macro?

Re: Nancy, Nancy, Nancy!

[telemann.livejournal.com]

rofl :) TOooO funny.

Right-click-saved!!

Re: Nancy, Nancy, Nancy!

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

*cracks up*

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

Oh well, too bad we'll have to live with Obama for another 5 years.

[existentme.livejournal.com]

"Oh well, too bad we'll have to live with Obama a US president, any US president for another 5 years as long as the empire lasts."

There ya go, np.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Could we cross-reference this, please?

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

No.

[essentialsaltes.livejournal.com]

"House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/161673-hhs-pushes-back-as-gop-leaders-slam-health-reform-waivers-in-pelosis-district) (D-Calif.) had no influence on the healthcare waivers granted last month to a long list of businesses in her district, according to the company that managed the applications."

[xforge.livejournal.com]

Heh, also ::chk, chk, chk... FWOOMPH:: Hair on fire? Check. PELOSI PELOSI PELOSI AIIIEEEE!!!!

[mybodymycoffin.livejournal.com]

Jesus Christ, did the Republicans buy out Michael Bay or something? What an atrocious advertisement.

[root-fu.livejournal.com]

That's nothing.

You're being screwed MUCH, MUCH, worse than that on healthcare.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

you understand that in this context, "waiver" doesn't mean "will never have to comply" but instead means "will be given longer time to comply".

HOW DARE OBAMA WORK WITH VARIOUS COMPANIES AND BUSINESS CRITICAL ORGANIZATIONS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?

(http://s744.photobucket.com/albums/xx81/drewishdrewid/Macros/?action=view&current=f3d1f699-81b4-463a-9e97-d921cf4595c6.gif)

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Doh, I hope he has health insurance !!!

Too funny ;)

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

I just heard that Obama is a SECRET MUSLIM from KENYA. Here's my source: blogspot.com.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Feds to Mandate Black Box on all New Cars (http://www.prisonplanet.com/feds-to-mandate-black-box-on-all-new-cars.html)

Source? PrisonPlanet.

(Also yesterday a guy told me at the pub that the world is going to end last Saturday. I can't wait).

[jlc20thmaine.livejournal.com]

Dear President Obama and Secretary Sebelius,

Just as 1,040 businesses, five entire states, and powerful labor unions have received waivers from harmful provisions of ObamaCare, I also want to receive a waiver from those that harm ME! I respectfully request that you grant me a waiver from the law's:
-Effective elimination of consumer-driven plans like HSA\'s
-Taxpayer funding of abortion
-$1 trillion in Medicare cuts
-$500 billion in tax increases
-Employer mandate to provide health insurance
-Individual mandate to purchase health insurance

[underlankers.livejournal.com]