Quoted from Shadow

Obama Administration Makes Emergency Funding Request for Teachers
By Stephen Clark
- FOXNews.com

Despite President Obama's pledge for honest budgeting and billions of dollars in stimulus money spent to save teachers' jobs, the Education Department is asking for off-the-books emergency funding to keep local districts from laying off school teachers next school year.

President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan stand with 35-year-old Johnston High School teacher Sarah Brown Wessling of Iowa, the 2010 National Teacher of the Year, during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, April 29, 2010. (AP)
Despite President Obama's pledge for honest budgeting and billions of dollars in stimulus money spent to save teachers' jobs, the Education Department is asking for off-the-books emergency funding to keep local districts from laying off school teachers next school year.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan sent Democratic lawmakers a request Thursday to pass a $26 billion emergency supplemental to fund up to 300,000 teachers' jobs that he says will otherwise be lost in the fall.

Administration officials want to add the teacher funding to a $60 billion supplemental request sent to Congress to pay for ongoing military operations in Afghanistan as well as Haiti relief and money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed that measure on Thursday but Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, has said he is reluctant to load the bill with additional spending goodies.

The request comes just a year after an unprecedented $100 billion in federal stimulus money was allocated to school districts as part of the $863 billion recovery act. Of that amount, $48 billion was designated for saving teachers' jobs and investing in educational programs. Another $31 billion in stimulus funds were sent to states for Pell grants, competitive funds and programs helping disadvantaged students.

An additional $21 billion in stimulus money is still available but not yet obligated for district expenses, according to the U.S. Education Department.

Ok, firstly it says they are asking for it, not whether or not Obama would accept. And povide less biased sources from now on...

I hope he does help out education, and I'm fine with cutting elsewhere to do it.

But one thing to keep in mind is that all through the Bush years, the cost of prosecuting the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions and occupations was kept "off budget" and these colossal expenses were funded through supplemental appropriations. With the new administration, in order to present a fairer picture of the actual outlays by the government, Obama included the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan in the federal budget. So just be aware that when you locate some numbers, you are probably going to be looking at and comparing apples and oranges.


So Bush spent it all on war...Obama is spending it on health care for all.  I will choose healthcare.

When we really find out someday all the ridiculous things that our hard earned tax money was blown on it will make you sick. We have built turtle tunnels in Fla, a number of parks, bike racks a preserve to protect the harvest marsh mouse in the bay area and it sickens me to think that money should have been used to create jobs and put people back to work and truly stimulate the economy. I'm not defending Bush he did his share of blowing money when he was President but Obama is Bush on steroids.

Quoted from Shadow

When we really find out someday all the ridiculous things that our hard earned tax money was blown on it will make you sick. We have built turtle tunnels in Fla, a number of parks, bike racks a preserve to protect the harvest marsh mouse in the bay area and it sickens me to think that money should have been used to create jobs and put people back to work and truly stimulate the economy. I'm not defending Bush he did his share of blowing money when he was President but Obama is Bush on steroids.

I will agree that I will likely be sick by all the pork barrel projects as well.  That was another issue I stood with McCain on during the election.

Here is more of the taxpayer's money at work...........Pelosi fails to also mention that after these people quit their jobs to 'develop their talent', the taxpayers will not only pay for their health care but also for their housing, food and heat! Not to mention less money to help the tax base! THIS WOMAN IS BEYOND NUTS!!!
Gee....I think I feel and 'undeveloped talent' starting to emerge in myself that I need to focus on. I mean what the hell...let's all quit our jobs!


Pelosi to Aspiring Musicians: Quit Your Job, Taxpayers Will Cover Your Health Care
Friday, May 14, 2010
By Nicholas Ballasy, Video Reporter

(CNSNews.com) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said this week that thanks to the new health-care reform law musicians and other creative types could quit their jobs and focus on developing their talents because the taxpayers would fund their health care coverage.

“We see it as an entrepreneurial bill,” Pelosi said, “a bill that says to someone, if you want to be creative and be a musician or whatever, you can leave your work, focus on your talent, your skill, your passion, your aspirations because you will have health care.”

I am for the health care bill, but really? That is a dumb comment to make.

This is what happens stein when the government is in control of things they shouldn't be. Did I mention that the woman is NUTS?

Perhaps, but I would rather not have the private sector in charge of health care more.  I am scheduled for surgery at the end of July and my inpatient copay is $500!.  Not to mention the specialists I need to see before that...my biggest fear right now is that I can't afford the co-pays...never mind the 2 weeks of disability.

I have a $500 co-pay also. We put a few bucks away in an account, 'just in case'. And if we don't have the money up front.....it's monthly payments. But at least 'WE' will be in charge of our health care. Not a government bureaucracy.

We needed health INSURANCE reform.....not health CARE reform. We clearly did not need a government take over of our health care system.

In about 4 years when you make the same request, the new health-care advisory board may tell you no or come back in 2 years we're a little backed up.

Not to mention the COST of this health care beast! Look at social security....it has already gone bust! Look at freddie/fannie mae...it brought down an entire global economy!

Stein....wake up and smell the coffee here.

Quoted from Shadow

In about 4 years when you make the same request, the new health-care advisory board may tell you no or come back in 2 years we're a little backed up.

There is no health care advisory board.

And we are not in control now, the insurance companies are.  And they keep raising costs.

Stein you are so naive, the health-care bill states that there will be an advisory board that will approve some procedures that it deems unnecessary or too expensive and can tell the doctors what procedures they want them to follow. Is this the advisory board that's not in the health-care bill.

Posted on May 5, 2010 by McDermott Will & Emery
As part of the health care reform legislation, and in an effort to help restrain growth in Medicare expenditures, Congress has created the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which has the authority to develop proposals that will become law if Congress fails to enact alternative proposals.
Click here to read the full article.
Medicare Payment Authority Would Shift to New Board Under Senate Bill

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Emily J. Cook
The Facts
The Senate health reform bill would establish a 15-member Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) with significant authority with respect to Medicare payment rates. Beginning in 2014, in any year in which the Medicare per capita growth rate exceeded a target growth rate, the IPAB would be required to recommend Medicare spending reductions.  The recommendations would become law unless Congress passed an alternative proposal that achieved the same level of budgetary savings. Subject to some limitations—hospitals, for example, would be exempt until 2020—the IPAB could recommend spending reductions affecting Medicare providers and suppliers, as well as Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans.  In years in which the IPAB would not be required to make recommendations, it would be required to submit an advisory report.  Every two years, the IPAB would make recommendations on slowing the growth of private health expenditures.
The proposed IPAB has drawn significant criticism from advocacy groups, and a similar provision is not included in the House bill. However, the Senate’s IPAB proposal has strong support from President Obama and is expected to emerge in some form in any final comprehensive health reform package.
What’s at Stake
Medicare providers and suppliers could be subject to significant payment cuts if the proposed IPAB is enacted and overall Medicare spending continues to increase at its current rate.  A group of providers and advocacy groups, including the American Hospital Association, joined in a January 11, 2010, letter opposing the IPAB, noting that it would not be accountable to anyone but the president (who appoints its members). Shifting payment authority from Congress to an independent commission would be a significant change, and is viewed as one of the most meaningful measures in health reform legislation with respect to bending the cost curve in health spending.
Steps to Consider
Understand the broad and significant powers granted to the IPAB. For example, achieving coverage of new procedures and technologies could be impeded significantly if the role of Congress is minimized.
Keep informed about the Medicare per capita growth rate and the IPAB’s authority to make recommendations for payment reductions.
Should the IPAB be enacted, work to identify individuals for nomination. t in the Bill Stein.  

Look....obama took over the banks, the auto industry, the housing industry, student loans and controls the salaries of CEO's. He couldn't reform HEALTH INSURANCE? paleezzzeee!!

Instead he creates a financial government take over of the entire system! A system we will pay more for and will get less from!

And you don't see a problem with this?

"could be impeded significantly if the role of Congress is minimized."


Yes and if we have a millitary coup we could also see a disruption in services to the elderly. Sorry I don't buy into the scare tactics.  Just screaming death panels doesn't do anything to convince me it will happen.

The IAPB will trim funding to drugs and procedures that are over funded or where there is waste.  This is a cost saving measure and you reps are against this? Your insurance company is cutting a lot more then the government.