Christmas Eve Eve thoughts…
First, may you all have a very Merry Christmas, and please find some time to consider why we celebrate this day. And, FYI, I will be filling in for Sean Hannity next Monday, December 28, on the radio.
The Senate will vote on their health care reform bill tomorrow. It will pass, but then must go to conference to be reconciled with the House version, passed 220-215. There are some significant differences and the reconciliation process will not be easy. Your House member needs to hear from you again, and again and again. If they oppose this bill, they also need to hear your thanks.
Politico reported today that the White House may push conference consideration of the two bills off until February, after the State of the Union address in late January. Apparently, the One has decided he needs to emphasize job creation in early 2010, and dealing with the deficit. House Democrats are reportedly concerned with delaying consideration, since the longer the bill remains unpassed, the longer their numbers can go down in the polls.
Some of the taxes included in the Senate bill to pay for it include a $2.7 billion tax on indoor tanning salons ( adopted after objections to the Botox tax caused it to be dropped. ), a 40% $150 billion tax on Cadillac health plans, which the CBO said would be passed along in higher premiums ( hey, wait a minute, I thought this bill was going to lower premiums? ), a $60 billion tax on health insurance companies, paid for by passing this cost along ( hey, wait a minute, I thought this bill was going to lower premiums?), a $19.2 billion tax on medical devices, like hearing aids, stents and artificial limbs, paid for by passing this cost along ( hey, wait a minute, I thought this bill was going to lower medical costs? ),and a $22 billion tax on drug companies ( hey, wait a minute, I thought this bill was going to lower medical costs? ).
BTW, did you hear that Medicare has a HIGHER claim denial rate than the private sector? It does, according to the AMA’s National Health Insurer Report Card for 2008.
In economic news, new housing sales fell 11% in November, the lowest level since April. You may have heard sales were up in November, but those were sales of existing, not new homes. The key difference in new sales versus resales: resales includes all sales closed in November, reflecting contracts signed in previous months; new sales reflect sales agreements signed in November.
A new study of happiness, of people expressing satisfaction with their lives, is out. Of the top 15 states, 13 are red ( McCain ) states, if you will. Of the bottom 15, 13 are blue ( Obama ) states. Maybe there is something to the idea that conservatives are happier people in general, that a lot of liberals are cranky and angry. Prominent states in the top 15: Alaska, Alabama, Louisiana, Wyoming, Tennessee and Texas. Prominent states in the bottom 15 include Michigan, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, Connecticut and Washington.
17 Responses to “Christmas Eve Eve thoughts…”
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Susan Schmidt says:
Thanks for that info Kirby.I sure miss not listening to you in the mornings. You kept us informed of the local news and all the other news worthy items and there is no one to really tune in to that has the local news without the liberal bend. You and your family have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Bohica_Bob says:
Washington in the bottom 15..what a surprise. I guess its because King County(Seattle predominately) and Olympia have the liberal mentality. Maybe with lower housing prices in Southern California some of them will see oppourtunity and move back to the roots. One could only hope
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Beth says:
You must know, tampons and toothbrushes are MEDICAL DEVICES, as defined by the FDA. We will keep pressuring our house members to listen to us, and we will vote out all those that are stickin’ it to us today. However, nothing is stronger than the promise offered by the very first Christmas, when our Savior was born. HE is HOPE we can believe in, and will cling to as we celebrate Christmas. Can’t wait for Dec 28- thanks for the heads-up.
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Gregg Weber says:
The problem with reconciliation is that, if the Senate bill has A, and the House bill has B, that doesn’t mean that the reconciliation will have A, B, or even some combination of them. It could have C which the liberals only need 50%+1 to pass as compared to over 60% to stop debate.
That is how I see it. -
Susan says:
Thanks for keeping in touch with us. We look to you for leadership as yours is always a voice of reason and insight. I’ll be listening on Monday. Merry CHristmas to you and your family. Susan
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Shirley Burrows says:
Chirstmas Blessings to you and your family Kirby..Will be listening on Monday
God Bless
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Jan says:
Merry Christmas, Kirby! We miss your voice on the radio, but hope to hear you again soon. Health, happiness, and prosperity to you and your family in the coming year.
Jan
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Jeff Yonek says:
Merry Christmas Kirby, to you and your family. Jeff Yonek
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Philip Morgan says:
I will be listening for you as you sub for Sean and will continue to pray for just the right position for you so that we can share with you on the air (and thumb a virtual nose at Fisher Communications).
Kirby, I highly recomment that you read “The Manhattan Declaration”, if you havn’t done so yet; we will be presenting it at our adult Sunsay school this coming Sunday.
Merry Christmas and God’s bountiful blessings on you and your family.
Phil Morgan -
James Morris says:
Itis time we recognize as fact, that WE Republicans can no longer keep the country from sliding further left…the country is left and we need to fight against the socialists. We need to stop placing our votes on moderate candidates who are no more conservative than the socialists.
Second, our rights do not come from our government or our constitution!! They were given to us by God!!! No man or government has the right to take it away!
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Macabe says:
Kirby once again you hit this nail square on the head. My biggest problem is i am represented by one of the biggest liberal house members in the state under jim McDermatt. Merry Christmas Kirby and i will be listening to you on Monday.
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maureen bernardy says:
We miss you Kirby. We will be listening on Monday the 28th for you on the Sean Hannity Show. That will be a real Christmas treat for us!
We have faith that the good Lord will lead you soon to where He wants you to be. I sure hope it is Seattle…Heaven knows we need you “right” here!
Christmas blessings to you and your family. -
Jerome D. Pickard says:
Kirby,
I’ll be listening for you Monday! It will be great to have you back on the air even if it is only one show.
In the mean time Merry Christmas! May you and your family have a wonderful day and may Christ’s blessings be upon you all. -
i would like to see a bigger tax on smoke stack emissions…. but how can we get our government to understand that by taxing any industry to raise money for health care, that WE THE PEOPLE will be forced to pay an even HIGHER price in the long run for health and services, then if we were to just pay out of pocket at time of service…??
how about tax incentives {breaks} for the working class for being and staying HEALTHY and not needing expensive care..
merry CHRISTmas Kirby
Darryl
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Cammy says:
Merry Christmas, Kirby! Wishing you and all your loved ones a blessed Christmas and may the New Year bring you many blessings.
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Bob says:
Kirby,
If conservatives are happier, and a happier person is a healthier person, shouldn’t the new national health care program declare that premiums will be higher on liberals because being a liberal puts you at a health risk?And that brings me to another point that no one has mentioned. If a homosexual lifestyle puts a person at greater risk of contracting certain diseases, then shouldn’t homosexuals be on the same list as obese people – and pay a higher insurance premium? Just asking.
Almost every day I expect you to announce you are going back on the air. I hope you are working on it.
Blessings, Larry