Seniors Cannot Afford Republican Medicare Plan

Out-of-Pocket Medicare Cost$ Double Under Republican Plan
by James Parks, May 20, 2011

Click link below for state by state breakdown :

http://jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=0d00ca30-ba73-4f5d-a19d-8ec918f76d30

More details out today on how the Republican move to balance the federal budget by ending Medicare would cost seniors a lot. A new state-by-state analysis by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) finds that annual out-of-pocket Medicare health care costs will more than double in every state for seniors turning 65 in 2022 under the Republican budget plan. Seniors living in Florida would be the hardest hit with a $7,383 jump in medical costs, the JEC estimates.
The report also shows that current Medicare beneficiaries will be harmed by the Republican budget, immediately losing preventive services such as mammograms and facing higher prescription drug costs. The Republican plan also would reopen the donut hole, the gap in Medicare Part D that had forced beneficiaries to pay 100 percent of their drug costs after they exceeded an initial coverage limit and until they qualified for catastrophic coverage.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), chairman of the JEC, says:

If Republicans have their way, traditional Medicare will no longer exist in 2022. Instead, our elderly will get a voucher to purchase private insurance, but the voucher won’t keep pace with health care costs. The result would be a staggering increase in out-of-pocket costs beginning in 2022. Our elderly Americans cannot afford to have their health care expenses double, but that’s exactly what the Republican plan delivers.

Click here for state by state breakdown:

http://jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=0d00ca30-ba73-4f5d-a19d-8ec918f76d30

Tennessee Senators Join Big Oil Team

Tell the Senator$ from Tennessee & All States Big Oil... Does Not Need Our Tax Money

See How All Senators Voted, click link below !
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/oil_subsidy_vote/?r=7861&id=21175-3026155-ZNVoaIx

Stop putting Big Oil profits ahead of the American people.

On Tuesday night, 48 Senators, including three Democrats and all but two Republicans, put Big Oil before the American people and helped defeat a bill that would have ended tax breaks for the five biggest oil companies. How could anyone vote against a bill that would have kept $21 billion of American taxpayers' money out of the pockets of cash-rich oil companies ? One big reason is oil money in our political process. A lot of it. Oil and gas companies spent $39.5 million lobbying congress in just the first quarter of this year, and have donated nearly $18 million to the 48 Senators who voted to protect oil subsidies - five times more than to Senators who supported ending them. But make no mistake. Even though we didn't get the 60 votes required for passage, our pressure to end oil subsidies is already working. More and more legislators are acting defensive about their support of Big Oil over the American people. In February, similar legislation to repeal some oil subsidies got only 44 votes. Yesterday, we got 52 votes. That comes after CREDO Action members sent more than 225,000 petitions to the Senate and made more than 1,000 calls yesterday to 11 key Senators, six of whom flipped their position and voted to end tax breaks to Big Oil. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid said yesterday that despite this defeat, he will continue to push for ending oil subsides as part of negotiations on the budget and to raise the debt ceiling. We need to keep the pressure on. And one key to breaking Big Oil's grasp on our legislators is letting Congress know that we know about the millions of dollars that Big Oil has given them. Let's make sure that our Senators' votes to protect oil company profits don't go unanswered by those of us who actually pay the price.

1. "Senators Opposing End of Oil Subsidies Received Five Times More in Big Oil Campaign Cash," Oil Change International, May 17, 2011

2. "Senate rejects bill to cut oil tax breaks," The Hill, May 17, 2011

Here are the 48 Senators who voted against ending Big Oil subsidies: Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Ayotte (R-NH), Barrasso (R-WY), Begich (D-AK), Blunt (R-MO), Boozman (R-AR), Brown (R-MA), Burr (R-NC), Chambliss (R-GA), Coats (R-IN), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Bob Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Hatch (R-UT), Heller (R-NV), Hoeven (R-ND), Hutchison (R-TX), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Johanns (R-NE), Johnson (R-WI), Kirk (R-IL), Kyl (R-AZ), Landrieu (D-LA), Lee (R-UT), Lugar (R-IN), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Moran (R-KS), Murkowski (R-AK), Nelson (D-NE), Paul (R-KY), Portman (R-OH), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Rubio (R-FL), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Thune (R-SD), Toomey (R-PA), Vitter (R-LA), Wicker (R-MS)

Editorial : In Tennessee, both of our Senators Alexander and Corker voted against Tennesseans once again ! Oil companies are only making 390 million dollars a day profit. That is more than some companies make in a year ! They need our Tax-Money. When pigs fly ! Wake up Tennesseans ! If your Senator voted for BIG OIL, click on below or above or title of this article, to let them know, what you think. The list of Senators and how they voted is there !

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/oil_subsidy_vote/?r=7861&id=21175-3026155-ZNVoaIx

Those Poor Oil Company`s !

KEEPING $CORE ON EXXON
Thursday, May 12, 2011 Posted by Jim Hightower

Now, let's check today's sports scores: 4, 10.7 and 21-and-a-half.

Those tallies are from the oil league, and the winner, of course, is the league's powerhouse, ExxonMobil. Four, as you might have guessed, is the $4 that Exxon is siphoning out of your wallet these days for one gallon of its petrol. Next comes 10.7. That's the $10.7 billion in profits that this oil giant has soaked up in just the first three months of this year – a new record, not achieved by any managerial genius, increased productivity, or improvement in consumer service, but solely by the jack-up in gasoline prices. Finally 21-and-a-half. This is the big score made by Rex Tillerson, Exxon's CEO. The chief pulled down $21.5 million last year in personal compensation, making him the highest paid executive in the oil league and one of the most richly paid CEOs in the entire country. Wait... this late-breaking score is just in: 0. That's from the special tax game that Exxon Mobil consistently wins in Washington. Last year, ExxonMobil powered through loopholes created by its slick lobbying team to pay an income tax of zero on the $19 billion it had racked up in profits the year before, making it one of America's most flagrant tax avoiders. But wait again, here's a surprising update on that score – Exxon's taxes were actually less than zero! How's that possible? Because Big Oil's lobbyists have so skewed the tax system that Exxon got a $156 million rebate from us taxpayers last year. So Exxon is soaking us at the gas pump and sacking our public treasury to gain record profits for itself, while bestowing a royal fortune on its CEO. Oh, one more score: 14 million. That's the average dollar amount that Exxon spends on campaign donations and lobbyists every year.

"Exxon Profit Up 69 Percent as Gas and Oil Prices Boos Top Five Oil Companies," http://www.abcnews.com/, April 28, 2011.

"Sen. Bernie Sanders: The Top Ten Worst Corporate Income Tax Avoiders," http://www.truth-out.org/, April 1, 2011.

"The Drought Is Over (at Least for C.E.O.'s)," http://www.nytimes.com/, April 9, 2011.

Editorial : I know, lets pass the hat for Big Oil, they need it ! When Pigs Fly.

Do You Need to Exercise, with Pulmonary Hypertension

Exercise & Pulmonary Hypertension
http://www.phassociation.org/

It’s well-known that exercise is very beneficial for healthy individuals, increasing cardiovascular and muscular fitness, improving mood, controlling weight and lowering the risk of systemic hypertension and heart disease. Exercise may help lower the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes. There have also been several published articles showing increased walk distance in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) patients undergoing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs. However, relatively little is known about the risks and benefits of exercise for pulmonary hypertension patients. Exercise is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but the symptoms of PH under exertion make it difficult for many patients to find the right type of activity. Many PH patients become short of breath under mild to moderate exertion, but feel fine at rest. Those who experience shortness of breath at rest or very mild exertion must be very closely monitored, as exercise can induce fainting, excess stress to the right side of the heart, and other problems. Because of the varying severity of PH from patient to patient (and other health-related factors), recommendations on exercise for PH patients are different for each individual, and may change over time depending on symptoms and response to treatment. Your PH specialist can help you create an exercise program that works for you. Always speak with your PH doctor before performing strenuous labor or beginning an exercise regimen.
Healthy exercise programs might include:

•Cardiovascular activities such as walking, biking and swimming. Walking on an incline or exercising both arms and legs simultaneously can produce a greater increase in blood pressure than lighter exercise, and so these exercises should be avoided or attempted conservatively.
•Activities focusing on muscle tone, such as stretching or arm and leg lifts. Light functional resistance exercises may be considered for some individuals, but should be done below shoulder or heart height and with frequent breaks.
If approved to perform an exercise regimen, follow these guidelines to have a safe and enjoyable workout.
•Do not over-exert. Activity should be stopped at the first sign of symptoms such as lightheadedness, fatigue, chest pressure, palpitations or excessive shortness of breath.
•Use a recovery time of five to ten minutes, without exhaustion or worsening of symptoms, to help you measure how much activity is appropriate.
•Avoid activity in outdoor temperature extremes. Generally, cold, heat, humidity, high elevation or a concomitant illness will worsen your exercise tolerance and warrants additional caution.

Editorial : My Physicians at Vanderbilt Pulmonary Clinic, Dr. Anna Hemnes (upper left) and Dr. Ivan Robbins (upper right) have recommended an exercise program. It is not Olympic, but, it is exercise. I walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes, a tad over 1/4 mile.then ride my stationary bike for fifteen minutes, a tad over 1 and 3/4 miles. Perhaps, you do not think that much ? At times it is like Mt. Kilimanjaro !

It`s Good Jobs ~ Stupid !

Richard Trumka : Create Good Jobs to Strengthen
Medicare, Social Security

by James Parks, May 13, 2011

Creating good jobs is the key to rebuilding the economy and improving the long-term financial health of Social Security, Medicare and our entire safety net, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a statement today.

The trustees for the two programs separately reported today that the financial condition of the programs worsened last year, a situation Trumka says was caused by slow economic growth and a lack of new job creation. But the Medicare Trust Fund is in better shape now than it was before health reform was passed and the Social Security Trust Fund can still pay full benefits for the next 25 years, he said. Trumka added that “reckless and unpopular” Republican proposals to privatize Medicare and Social Security “will do nothing to create jobs or jump start the economy.” We can all agree that we must do more to make our entire health care system—not just Medicare and Medicaid—more cost-effective, but shifting more health care costs onto working families does not accomplish that goal.

Editorial : All I keep hearing from the Republicans is balance the budget...Ban Unions, privatize Social Security and cut Medicare ! Sounds good to me, if your rich. Funny, they never mention good jobs anymore ! I know... we can give more tax-breaks to billionaires and millionares ! That`ll fix everything ! When pigs fly !

Medicare Must Not Be Cut !

Medicare Must Not Be Cut !
by: Underdog = Don Jones
5/15/11

Recently, our elected representatives, especially Rep. Stephen Fincher(R), District#8-Tennessee, have voted to end Medicare as we know it. All the while preserving Tax-Cut$ for the RICH ! As a Senior, please do not leave my well being to an insurance company. Our Republican elected officials, seem to have lost touch with reality. In our community, jobs are as scarce as hens teeth. The Republican plan is worse than bad policy. It is immoral. Please do not balance the budget on the backs of Seniors, "Hey Thats Me" ! Now, Republicans are talking spending caps. Spending caps, would actually trigger massive cuts in a few years. This should not be a partisan discussion. Senior`s/My life is at stake. Congressman Fincher, find another way ! Let me suggest, that you e-mail, call or write Congressman Stephen Fincher(R)Tennessee and inform him of your total displeasure. Below are his contact information ! The life you save, may be your own !

> http://fincher.house.gov/office/washington-dc <

You must go to his site, if you e-mail him !

Or Click on the title of this article.

Washington DC Office
1118 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4714
Fax: (202) 225-1765

Dyersburg Office
100 South Main
Dyersburg, TN 38024
Phone: (731) 285-0910
Fax: (731) 285-5008

Martin Office
406 Lindell Street
The Reed Center
Martin, TN 38237
Phone: (731) 588-5190

Jackson Office
109 South Highland
Room #B-7
Jackson,TN 38301
Phone: (731) 423-4848
Fax: (731) 427-1537

Millington Office
7965 Veterans Parkway, Suite 101B
Millington, TN 38053

Social Security & Medicare Trust Fund Reports

Social Security, Medicare Trust Fund Reports Released
5/12/11

http://wwwsecondchance.blogspot.com/2011/03/social-security-answers-youve-always.html

The Social Security trust fund report came out today and found that Social Security will remain solvent through 2036, a year earlier than was forecast in 2010.

“Social Security is doing exactly what it is supposed to do – assuring full payment to beneficiaries, without delay. However, we cannot afford to keep the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans,” The Medicare trustees report was also issued today, saying Medicare will be able to completely pay its bills until 2024, five years sooner than last year's projection of 2029. “The Affordable Care Act will save nearly $120 billion for Medicare over the next five years. Imagine where we would be without that,” “We must do more to create high-quality American jobs, which will lead to more people paying into the system.” If you have not read my blog, "Social Security ~ The Answers You`ve Always Wanted", I suggest you do ! Link below. http://wwwsecondchance.blogspot.com/2011/03/social-security-answers-youve-always.html or click on the title of this article.

Fincher Votes Against Healthcare Bill !

Letter from Congressman Stephen Fincher(R), District#8 ~Tennessee

e-mail >; http://www.house.gov/office/washington-dc

Rep. Fincher Voted Against the (PPACA) or as he likes to call it (Obamacare)The problem is, he does`nt have an alternate plan. That is a Vote Against Middle Class Tennesseans. Shame on you Stephen !

Dear Mr. Jones,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your support for Public Law 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordability (PPACA). Your comments and ideas are always appreciated. The PPACA enacted into law in 2010, was intended to provide health care to those people who currently do not have access to health insurance. While I support the idea of inexpensive and efficient health care delivery for everyone, I do not support the PPACA. I believe this law fails to improve our health care delivery system and simply raises taxes on small businesses and takes health care decisions away from patients and doctors and gives it to Washington bureaucrats. Access, affordability, and quality of care will be the focus of my reforms to health care. To be clear, I support reforms that put the individual, not the government or their insurance company, in control over their healthcare spending and decision making. Although I support the repeal of PPACA, I also support H.Res. 9. This resolution instructs various committees in the House of Representatives to look at alternatives to the PPACA. In this regard, we must consider options that:

Provide people with pre-existing conditions the opportunity to purchase health insurance

Enable market solutions over government mandates.

Allow insurance companies to sell health insurance across state lines, which will increase competition and lower health insurance costs.

Prohibit insurance companies from excluding people who have pre-existing conditions.

Provide tax credits for small businesses and the self-employed to buy insurance.

Making insurance and health care costs fully deductible.

Ensuring a patient's ability to keep his or her doctor and health plan if he or she likes it preserving the sanctity and privacy of the doctor-patient relationship.

Finally, we must keep our promises to our seniors and ensure all Medicare benefits, including the prescription drug plan, continue to be available.
On the campaign trail I pledged not to take the Congressional health insurance. I am keeping my promise and continuing to have insurance with Farm Bureau.
Thank you giving me the opportunity to share with you some of my ideas for improving health care in this country and bringing true market based reforms that increase access, affordability, and quality of care. If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at anytime.


Editorial : Your campaign promise not to accept congressional health insurance, does not impress me. With your farm subsidies, you can well afford it. Most Tennesseans do not have those government resources, that you do ! Like most Republicans, I`m sad to say, You love the rich and despise the poor ! You have no plan to implement Healthcare. I would suggest that you read about Tommy Douglas, Baptist Preacher from Canada and what he had to say. I will continue to pray for you !

Sincerely,

Stephen L. Fincher(R)

Member of Congress ~ District#8-Tennessee

Contact Information Below :

Washington DC Office
1118 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4714
Fax: (202) 225-1765

Dyersburg Office
100 South Main
Dyersburg, TN 38024
Phone: (731) 285-0910
Fax: (731) 285-5008

Martin Office
406 Lindell Street
The Reed Center
Martin, TN 38237
Phone: (731) 588-5190

Jackson Office
109 South Highland
Room #B-7
Jackson,TN 38301
Phone: (731) 423-4848
Fax: (731) 427-1537

UNIONS ~ The Real Thing !

The Strength of Unions in
Building Up the Middle Class

http://www.legacy.usw.org/usw/program/content/index.php

It is no mistake that where unions are strongest, workers earn more, work in safer conditions, send their children to better schools and live in safer neighborhoods. Consider these facts the next time you hear about an attack on unions in your state or elsewhere.

10 States Where Unions are Strongest 10 States Where Unions are Weakest ...Green numerals are Union...Red numerals are no Union !

Average Hourly Earnings (Manufacturing) $18.98 <> $16.35

Household Income $56,409 <> $43,913

Population without Health Insurance 10.0% <> 18.1%

Workplace Fatalities Rate per 100,000 Employees 2.4 <> 4.2

Public Education Spending per Pupil $12,673 <> $8,860

Eligible Voters who Voted for President 62.8% <> 60.0%

Crimes per 100,000 3,356 <> 4,152

Population in Poverty 12.5% <> 16.3%

Note: All figures are from 2009 unless indicated. The states with the greatest density in 2009 are AK, CA, CT, HI, IL, MI, NJ, NY, RI and WA. The least dense states are AR, GA, MS, NC, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX and VA (Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey). Additional data compiled from the following sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Bureau of Labor Statistics; AFL-CIO, "Death on the Job,” 2011; Center for Democracy & Election Management.

Tom Conway, (upper right) International Vice-President USWA !

This Could Have Been Union City TN.

Continental Tire gets Tax Break from Illinois
Associated Press - May 7, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation that could help
a southern Illinois tire manufacturer add as many as 350 jobs.
The bill signed Friday will provide a $19 million tax break to Continental Tire,
which operates a facility in Mount Vernon. The cost of the tax credits to the state will be spread over 15 years in exchange for Continental retaining at least 2,750 employees. Quinn announced the measure's signing in the Chicago suburb of Libertyville, where he touted Motorola Mobility's decision to stay in Illinois.
Continental will receive EDGE tax credits, which are equal to the amount of
state income taxes withheld from the salaries of employees in the newly created
jobs. Democratic state Rep. John Bradley of Marion calls the legislation a "big deal for southern Illinois."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Continental Plans New Plant in North America
April 29, 2011
Facing ever tightening inventories and fill rate problems, Continental AG will be building a new tire plant somewhere in North America in the near future.

CEO and chairman Elmar Degenhart made the statement toward the end of Continental AG’s annual shareholder meeting, held in Hanover, Germany, yesterday. In addressing Conti’s tire operations, Degenhart stated: “We also want to cover rising demand in the NAFTA region, including the large U.S. market, with local production – so there are plans for a new tire factory there, too.
“Incidentally, these plans are further proof for the depth of the turnaround that the Passenger and Light Truck Tires division has achieved in the Americas region by means of determination and perseverance. Back at the beginning of the new millennium, the passenger and light truck tire business incurred massive losses in this region. Today it is profitable and, at the same time, a growth area. This is due to the division’s impressive management performance and the dedicated teams in the Americas. And the investments we are planning demonstrate that we are convinced of more success.” Continental will review locations for a new Greenfield plant, and hopes to announce a location and construction timeline by the end of the third quarter. While the U.S. is in the running as location for the plant, based on the actual wording of Degenhart’s statement so are Canada and Mexico. Given Continental Tire the Americas’ past difficulties with the USW, some of which resulted directly in the closing of two tire plants in the U.S., the company will certainly consider its relationship with the union. CTA operates plants in Mt. Vernon, Ill., San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Camacari, Brazil, and Cuenca, Ecuador. Plans are in the works to add capacity at the Mt.Vernon plant, and CTA has already undertaken a $210 million expansion program at the Brazil plant.

Editorial ; What`ya bet, the new plant goes to South America ? Then ship back the tires, to the USA for sale ! Thanks to my friend Buddy M. for this one. As far as the USW causing two plants to close. Nope !

Republican Congress Votes for BIG OIL...NOT SENIORS !

GOP HOUSE CHOOSES BIG OIL OVER GRANNY
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 Posted by Jim Hightower

Republican congressional leaders don't seem to be the quickest bunnies in the litter.

Having taken their blunt budget ax to Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, EPA, NPR, and dozens of other popular and effective programs, they then scampered to save one of the least popular and least effective federal programs on the books: The annual taxpayer $ubsidy for Big Oil. As gasoline prices were rising to $4-a-gallon and higher, the House GOP voted unanimously to let the oil giants continue siphoning $4 billion a year out of our public treasury. All 241 of the Republican/tea party House members – with not even one dissenter in the bunch – declared that in this time of a supposed budget "crisis," the neediest among us are not the elderly and the poor, but the little waifs of Big Oil. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil just announced a 69 percent leap in profits this year, while Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and others are enjoying similar jumps in theirs. Guess what percentage of those enormous profits the corporations are likely to pay in taxes ? Zilch. Their lobbyists have punched such gaping loopholes in our tax code that they can escape paying anything for the privileges and benefits they get from America. Exxon, for one oily example, had a $19-billion profit in 2009, but not only did it pay exactly zero in federal income taxes, it manipulated the system to get a $156 million rebate from us. Likewise, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips had multi billion-dollar profits that year, paid not a dime in taxes, and also got refunds. Republican lawmakers had a clear choice in dealing with the deficit. So why did they choose to cut off your granny's health care, while helping these corporate billionaires make off like bandits? I guess it's a matter of who you really love.

"Oil company earnings skyrocket, taxpayer subsidies continue," http://www.dailykos.com/, April 25, 2011.

"The High Costs of Oil" http://www.thinkprogress.org/, April 25, 2011.

"Guess Which Oil Companies Aren't Paying Their Share," http://www.moveon.org/

Editorial : Ya Think we ought`a have a gate collection for BIG OIL ? Wake up Tennesseans...These Republican lawmakers are not in your corner !

Osama Has Been Killed...Does that Equate...WE WON ?

Osama Bin Laden Killed...We Win the War ?
by : Underdog = Don Jones

I stayed up last night to watch the President announce that we had killed Osama. Now, the media announced it before he did. What`s that all about ? Questions, I have for President Obama ? When are the troops coming home from Afghanistan ? Or for that matter the troops in Iraq, when are they coming home ? The killing of Osama, does that equate to, we won the war, oops conflict ? I saw Americans cheering that Osama Bin Laden was dead. Not too smart. Now, before you get your drawers in a wad, I am behind our troops whole heartily. They may be our best and most precious natural resource. Osama was America`s enemy. His followers will seek revenge. They will plot and connive, until they blow up Americans. I think it is OK to rejoice, just not so blatantly. All Muslim people are not jihad est ! But, some are. Osama was buried at sea. We are told so he could not be made a martyr. I`m just not sure, what to make of his death. I suppose we will just wait and see ? President Obama has kept another campaign promise. When the USA feels invincible, not a good thing. Mr. President, bring our sons and daughters home NOW ! Revenge is not a noble sentiment, but a very human one ! We should remember 9/11 and remember it always. The question is, who will take Osama Bin Laden`s place ?