SOUTHERN ARIZONA – Senator Arlen Specter is apparently under the impression that critics of the government health care “reform” package are not representative of America, but believes that their views “have to be taken into account.”
Specter listened to 90-minutes of verbal jabs over health care and strong opposition to government involvement in the business of medicine during a town hall meeting at a Penn State University conference hall earlier in the week. Many opponents accused Specter and others of rushing the health care package through Congress, and some voiced concern about the timing of this bill during a period when the economy is lagging.
“Traditionally people who come to town meetings have objections,” Specter said after the event. “They may not be representative of America, but they are significant, and their views have to be taken into account,” Specter said after the meeting.
Specter’s words flies in the face of new polling data released Tuesday from Rasmussen that only 42 percent of those surveyed now approve of the health care plan, which is down 5 percentage points since late July, and 8 percentage points since late June.
“A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that opposition to the plan has increased to 53%, up nine points since late June,” the polling organization reported.
“More significantly, 44% of voters strongly oppose the health care reform effort versus 26% who strongly favor it. Intensity has been stronger among opponents of the plan since the debate began.”
If they aren’t representative, then it is only because they haven’t been told what the bill does.
Here is one fine example. Many people make more then 400% of poverty or more and can hardly pay taxes, and bills, and the what we need to pay to make the money we do we make. There is no way I could pay 11% of my income to health care premiums. Our family of three try to keep our health care costs low, and now the government says I can pay 11% of my income to a health care premium? So others can pay less, or get it for free?
This just does not work. It isn’t worth working hard to be middle class if the government is just going to take it so I can’t afford my bills anyhow.
Congressional Record July 20, 2009
Ms. Fudge
“Financial assistance will limit individual and family spending on premiums from a minimum of 1.5 percent of income for those with the lowest income and maxing out at 11 percent of income for those at 400 percent of poverty or more. Also effective 2013, people with incomes at or below 133 percent of poverty
will all be eligible for Medicaid”
This gives people an idea of where they fit into the scheme. Obviously people at 400 percent of the poverty level are not making oodles of cash. A whole lot of the middle class cannot afford this.
The 2009 Poverty Guidelines for the
48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia Persons in family Poverty guideline
1 $10,830
2 14,570
3 18,310
4 22,050
5 25,790
6 29,530
7 33,270
8 37,010
For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740 for each additional person.
2009 Poverty Guidelines for
Alaska Persons in family Poverty guideline
1 $13,530
2 18,210
3 22,890
4 27,570
5 32,250
6 36,930
7 41,610
8 46,290
For families with more than 8 persons, add $4,680 for each additional person.
2009 Poverty Guidelines for
Hawaii Persons in family Poverty guideline
1 $12,460
2 16,760
3 21,060
4 25,360
5 29,660
6 33,960
7 38,260
8 42,560
For families with more than 8 persons, add $4,300 for each additional person.