Biggest 'October surprise' in U.S. political history set to go off if Obama is re-elected

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
4/23/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

President shaving $8.3 billion from popular Medicare program

If U.S. President Barack Obama is re-elected in this coming autumn, millions of seniors stand to lose their benefits under the Medicare Advantage program. This wouldn't sit well with senior voters, who dutifully go to the polls without fail and are keenly aware of medical benefits due to be cut. So - the Obama administration has an $8.3 billion plan - taken from taxpayer dollars to deliberately muddy the issue.

'ObamaCare' won't kick in until after the 2012 election, when the president will no longer be answerable to voters.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The current administration has devised a way to get past this hurdle at this forthcoming presidential election. The White House plans to spend $8 billion to temporarily restore Medicare Advantage funds so that seniors in key markets don't lose their trusted insurance program in the middle of Obama's re-election bid.

The funds will arrive from funds that Health and Human Services is allowed to use for "demonstration projects." In order to make it pass, HHS has to pretend that it's doing an "experiment" to study the effect of this money on the insurance market.

In short, "study" is what happens when the government doesn't change anything but merely continues a program that's been going on for years.

Twelve million U.S. seniors have relied on Medicare Advantage, a more market-oriented alternative to traditional Medicare, without the aggravating gaps in coverage.

But as part of its hundreds of billions in Medicare cuts under so-called "ObamaCare," the Obama one-size-fits-all plan slashes reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage starting next year, which will send many seniors back into the government-run program.

Under federal "open-enrollment" guidelines, seniors must pick their Medicare coverage program for next year by the end of this year - which means they should be finding out before Election Day.

Making matters even more disadvantageous for Obama is that open enrollment begins Oct. 15, less than three weeks before voters go to the polls.

For the time being, Obama can temporarily prop up Medicare Advantage long enough to get re-elected by exploiting an obscure bit of federal law. Under a 1967 statute, the HHS secretary can spend money without specific approval by Congress on "experiments" directly aimed at "increasing the efficiency and economy of health services."

The point is to find ways to lower the costs of Medicare by allowing medical technocrats to make efficient decisions without interference from vested interests.

"ObamaCare" won't kick in until after the 2012 election, when the president will no longer be answerable to voters.

Many feel that Congress should immediately launch an investigation into this unprecedented misuse of taxpayer money and violation of the public trust, which certainly presses the boundaries of legality and very well may breach them.

If he's not stopped, the president will spend $8 billion in taxpayer funds for a scheme to mask the debilitating effects on seniors of his signature piece of legislation just long enough to get himself re-elected.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: President Barack Obama, Medicare Advantage, ObamaCare, study

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 6 of 6 Comments

Scott M
1 year ago
It is partisan articles like this that leads to agree with those who believe that churches should be taxed too. Oh sure, and just like big corporations the churches would find their loopholes too. It really is time to shatter the illution of separation between church and state.
Sandy
1 year ago
I would love to forward this article, but can't figure out how.....
Rob
1 year ago
Misuse of tax payer dollars aside (seems you could spend all day talking about that and our government), it seems odd to me that folks would be so upset by this. Why not discuss what the Ryan plan does to care for seniors? I know, I know, those over 55 are held harmless so that voting block isn't impacted. Who cares about future seniors right? But I think the conversation we should be having is why are cuts being proposed, by both sides to a program that the country clearly wants. Why not just figure out a way to pay for it? I don't support the game Obama is trying to play, I sure as heck don't support the Ryan plan (which is why I'm probably writing in a candidate this year) and I won't support any plan that holds an entire generation harmless at the expense of the younger generations. If I hear one more politican say we can't leave our country in a mess for our children and grandchildren, I'm going to puke. I agree! How about paying our darn bills and delivering on promises made? I have dutifully paid into social security and medicare my entire adult working life. Figure out how to make it work for me too as you are for those over 55 (I know it's all about the votes) or refund my money and stop taking it. Pretty simple. I do not accept a plan that takes my money and provides no benefit which seems to be what both parties are striving for. Or are we that stupid to accept that plan?
Esther M Ventura Ferencz
1 year ago
The lengths satan will go to be re-elected. ALL Seniors should be made aware of this mans macinations and VOTE HIM OUT.

There is not ONE redemable quality in this man. He is amazing in his abilty to show off that big toothed grin and have 'evil' waiting in store.

I stand by all I have written in regards to this man, obama. AND again wish to give THANKSGIVING to all the wonderful CATHOLICS at 60% who voted for a baby killer via fiat ... I will never cease being blown away that ANYONE Catholic could have done this. PUT their money interests above the lifes of 'holy innocents'... I am so ashamed. I would say 'Lord they did not know what they were doing'. But THEY DID KNOW and still voted him in, God have mercy. I dont think God crosses off his memory card these types of actions by 'HIS CHILDREN'
Lonny D'Agostini
1 year ago
Once a society legalizes: murder/abortion, sodomy, the defrauding of wages and the exploitation of widows and orphans - the four sins which cry out to Heaven for vengeance - then its fate is sealed. ..............................................

Last night the people of Alberta voted for "change" - for a leader who is bent on dethroning parents as the '"primary educators" of their children (schools being given a "share" in that responsibility), who believes that strangers should be paid to look after our children in daycares instead of giving that money directly to the family, who is frightened at the prospect of granting conscience rights to public servants who do not wish to participate in immoral practices, who thinks judges should have more power to redistribute the estates of the deceased in ways which they deem to be more fair than those laid out in wills, I could go on. And what does all of this show? That we have in Alberta a mis-educated public who thinks they're much smarter than they actually are. ...........................

Yes. The problem in this province, is not simply that people are irreligious, they have lost the ability to reason and think. As one person put it, "Sound economies follow morality, morality does not follow sound economies." Unfortunately, the average Albertan, like the average citizen anywhere, is too mentally challenged to be able to grasp this simple point. And so time and time again they find themselves being intellectually outmaneuvered by sweet talking politicians who promise them the world when they can’t even deliver on themselves. Such people "feel" their way through important policy issues rather than "think" their way. Concepts such as "natural law", "the common good" are basically unintelligible to them. All they care about is their own vile self interest. And because they do not read their history they are condemned to repeat it. Therefore, what has happened to every ancient civilization is going to happen to us. The frustrating part of it all is that I and many others are forced to sit and watch all of this stupidity unfold - both of the voters and those they vote for. .........................................

It is just as our Lady prophesied at La Salette, "All civil governments will have one and the same plan: abolish and do away with every religious principal to make way for materialism, atheism, spiritualism and vice of all kinds..." ....................................

Contrary to what many non-believers think Christians do not have a agenda. Agendas are for those who live in the dark and who peddle darkness. Only idiots and devils would try and characterize the push for a more moral and family-based society as something sinister and evil. .......................................

It should be pointed out that in this election there was to be found no real leadership among the ranks of men. For whatever reasons they decided to sit this one out and hand the reigns of power over to a "sharp clawed treacherous little peacock." Can there be a sadder time then this? O yes and we will see it. Albertans have sowed the wind and now they're going to reap the whirlwind. ..........................................

"A day will come when the enemies of Christ will boast of having conquered the whole world. They will say “Christians cannot escape now!" But a great King will arise to fight the enemies of God. He will defeat them and peace will be given to the world, and the Church freed from her anxieties." - St. Methodius
techwreck
1 year ago
Obama is spending $8.3 billion on a program not authorized by Congress in order to protect his reelection chances. He is spending unauthorized tax dollars because he mistakenly cut the funding on a Medicare program that is a favorite of senior citizens and fears a backlash in the November election. The expenditure would be an impeachable offense if the Democrats did not control the Senate, which must try a president after he is impeached by the House of Representatives.

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment