Other People’s Money: The Baucus “Healthcare” Proposal

By now most of the country has heard about Senator Baucus’ proposal for ending the troubled “healthcare system” in this country. My first response to the “Baucus” proposal is: start using correct terminology. I, for one, have become very weary of pundits and politicians alike who use the term “healthcare” to discuss “health insurance.” Nowhere in the Baucus proposal is there a plan for getting more primary care providers to see actual patients! The proposal expands local, state and federal government programs and government’s regulatory authority. It does not provide essential healthcare to anyone. But, I digress! These are topics for another day; as is the topic of why it took so long for our esteemed Senator to get to this particular problem.

The topic for today’s edition of “Other People’s Money” is the insignificant little detail contained within the proposal regarding taxation of Health Care Benefits provided by employers to their employees. That’s right, as an employee, your benefits package might now be taxed to ensure there is a sufficient amount of money to pay for the Senator’s Proposal. Can anyone out there say, Disincentive? Can anyone say, Hypocrisy? If you can, I hope you are shouting out loud within the confines of your abode!

First, Hypocrisy: the election not far behind us, is there one soul out there who did not see or hear the various advertisements by Senators Obama, Baucus, and Tester (in some print materials), accusing John McCain of wanting to tax YOUR healthcare benefits package? Do you think these guys believed they could get away with the accusations meant to undermine McCain by making the statement during the heat of the campaign when “nobody is paying attention?” If you’re not certain of the answer, get back to me.

Second, Disincentive: what happens on the playground when one child is repeatedly punished for being thoughtful and respectful of another child? You don’t need a psychology degree to figure out the answer. Say it with me: reinforced negative behavior and mistrust. The Proposal is no more than a “big boy’s” version of childish games which reinforces negative rather than positive behaviors. Business can’t trust employees! Employees can’t trust employers! Everybody needs to look to the ever growing “Big Daddy!” Let us hope there is a great deal of Montana All-American Introspection associated with this new Proposal!

Wishing you a good day, Justitia!

OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY: IT’S TIME FOR SOME ALL-AMERICAN INTROSPECTION

I am following with interest the recent decision by the Federal Reserve to guarantee loans made by “rich Arabs” to America’s Citigroup. You remember Citigroup, the company with truly bad accounting, investing, and lending practices. The same company which teetered on the edge of insolvency until investors from Saudi Arabia and other UAE countries decided to loan money to our American enterprise to help it meet its obligations. Well now, in what appears to be an extension of the great American bailout, our Treasury Department is providing taxpayer backed guarantees for the loans made to our friendly neighborhood Citigroup executives.

Personally, I do not take issue with the Treasury Department’s decision; though I am concerned with the lack of public disclosure and participation. It is one of the responsibilities of our federal government to protect outsiders against those of us who would otherwise use fraudulent means to achieve their self-interested goals in violation of U.S. and International Laws. This includes assuring American laws which regulate securities and other investments apply equally to everyone regardless of the “national origin” of the money being invested. And, whether you and I like it or not, in the absence of providing these guarantees, our country’s inhabitants might well be subjected to all manner of manipulation and/or retaliation. Yes, my friends, if the federal government fails to protect investments by foreign nationals in our institutions we lose more credibility than we do for waging war.

This latest decision by the Treasury Department is no more than an extension of our federal government’s policies of bailing out poorly run enterprises, individuals, and state and local governments. Unfortunately, in this and many other instances, it is the bad behavior of individuals that necessitates the federal government’s stepping in to protect our system of government; including, our legal system (our laws). The “FEDS” are taking responsibility for protecting our system of government because some of our citizens feel the inherent need spend more than they earn or to somehow increase their inflated sense of self-worth by getting one over on the “other” guy. The FEDS, via the great American Taxpayer revenue stream, are covering up for the ill-informed, under-educated, and/or otherwise unacceptable, personal decisions and behaviors of US: you and me.

This latest decision also further reinforces the need for government intervention in the personal decision making processes. [Lest we forget, government programs are self-perpetuating only in the absence of personal responsibility.] By covering-up our self-serving behaviors, the FEDS are taking responsibility for the actions of American citizens. The FEDS are also doing what unchecked government does best: spreading the costs and risks associated with personal actions across the spectrum to every citizen. Finally, the FEDS are ensuring that more programs and more dollars for oversight are necessary. I can see it now: a new 12-step program for American citizens who overspend; American citizens who invest their retirement dollars unwisely; and, of course, for financial planners and investors who simply have no self-control. Because we as individuals refuse to accept responsibility for our own decision making processes, the FEDS will once again redefine personal accountability and make everyone else pay for the bad behavior of a few.

Does any of this sound familiar? Are you beginning to understand why our country is certain difficulties? Do any of us have a family structure anymore? The Federal Government is not a proper paternal or maternal figure. And, despite what some in our country believe – ie., “it doesn’t matter, those rich Arabs can afford to absorb a little loss” – it simply is not good business to seek investors for a failing institution with no intention of repaying those investors. Citigroup was fully cognizant of this reality when it sought and accepted the loans from UAE. Citigroup was also fully cognizant that the FEDS could not (not would not, but COULD NOT) allow Citigroup to default on those same loans.

Wake up Montanans, it is time for some All-American Introspection. If there is anyone out there who does not understand these very basic principles, send me a message and we’ll have a more in-depth discussion.

Justitia will be a regular Contributor to Right In The Rockies. Today’s entry is the first in the series “Other People’s Money.” My appreciation to Rocky for providing this forum, let us please keep our dialogue civil, even in times of heated disagreement.

Brian Schweitzer election night 2006!!!!!

Just found the news cast of Brian Schweitzer explaining how dumb the voters in Kalispell are.  After reviewing the video it just reminded me that Brian Schweitzer thinks the voters in Montana are just a bunch of idiots.

Brian Schweitzer “Don’t ask Don’t tell” policy

“Schweitzer remained thin on detailed promises for a second term, saying his administration would “continue” to invest in the same priorities established during the first four years.”

Of course, Brian Schweitzer doesn’t want to tell you his future plans.  Let’s just take a look at what he actually accomplished during the past 4 yrs.  Case in point was the 2007 session, which was totally controlled by Brian Schweitzer.

All of the agencies listed below are directly control by “Commandant” Schweitzer:

Department of Administration- 21 Bills

Department of Commerce-  10 Bills

Department of Corrections- 5 Bills

Department of Environmental Quality- 24 Bills

Fish Wildlife and Parks- 11 bills

Department of Labor and Industry- 13 bills

Department of Livestock- 1 bill

Department of Military affairs- 13 bills

Department of Natural Resource and Conservation- 14 Bills

Department of Public Health and Human Resources- 25 Bills

Department of Revenue (everyone’s Favorite)- 23 Bills

Department of Transportation- 9 Bills

Governors Office- 2 Bills

Office of Budget Programming and Planning- 3 Bills

Now that we know how many… I’m going to pick it apart and just look at the Department of Revenue:

LC0503: Restrict abusive tax avoidance transactions – Lets hire 100 new Tax Auditors

LC0505: Provide tax withholding for nonresident sales of Montana real estate – Increase taxes and get the dirty buggers even though no other state does this.

HB0074: Tax withholding for nonresident mineral, oil, and gas royalty payments – Lets encourage oil and gas companies to develop in Montana – Tax increase $18 million

SB0120: Revise tax treatment of income and dividends of real estate investment trusts – Lets go after those greedy investors and land developers including Plum Creek even though they provide over 13,000 jobs for Montanans – Tax increase $33 million

HB0100: Improve management of DOR collection responsibilities – Lets have better ways to beat up the taxpayer – Tax increase $6 Million

SB0138: Tax increase $9 Million

SB0099:Five year statute of limitations for corporation license tax – Tax increase $6 million

HB0147: Revise and clarify application of bed tax and sales and use tax – Tax $2.4 million

So does Brian Schweitzer really need to tell us what he wants to accomplish during his next 4 years in office? Just look at the 2007 Session if you need to see for yourself.

Energy Double Speak

Here’s just one of many tedious speeches from Governor Schweitzer detailing his view on energy development:

Part one of Schweitzer’s speech (above) on CSpan is mostly talking about conservation and the 12 steps to curing our addiction to energy. You can easily find part 2 if you can stomach it.

Schweitzer is two faced when speaking about Montana’s resources- on one hand he details how he has promoted energy development, then turns the other way to cheer his base and discourage development:

…he wants to give those oil companies another $4 billion in tax breaks, Four billion in tax breaks? That’s a lot of change, but not the change we need. -Gov. Schweitzer speaking about McCain

Among other lies, Schweitzer goes on about our country’s lack of oil reserves, how he has increased Montana’s oil production and improved Montana’s economy. He also addresses the urgency of the energy crisis… and yet Governor Brian Schweitzer is one of the largest barriers to domestic energy production here in our own backyard. Just south of us, Wyoming is safely utilizing their resources, and their economy and education funding is reflecting that. Here in Montana, crude oil production is down all while reserves are consistently going up.

I see no problem to working towards renewable resources, but until those technologies are up to speed and lower in cost (and the free market is amazingly efficient in that), we need to use what we have. Montana has several hundred years of inexpensive, easily extractable energy resources just waiting to be used while we work on alternate fuel and energy technology. But instead of allowing the free market to work, Governor Schweitzer and his buddies in the environmental lobby** prefer to have Americans paying $4 a gallon gas and high heating costs all while throwing taxpayer money at those select few who can afford hybrids and solar panels.

I like to judge a man on his actions rather than his empty words… But Governor Schweitzer’s actions highlight just who his true constituency is. What about the rest of us trying to afford the bill at the pump? What about the rest of us trying to pay our utility bill? Governor Schweitzer, I ask again, what about the rest of us?

**Governor Schweitzer has placed many of these friends in key positions on the Climate Change Council- many of whom have a direct stake in seeing Green legislation and regulation. It’s detailed here at MTPolitics with a description here of the supposedly “objective” council:

On first blush, it seems like a reasonable list. Gary Perry and Sue Dickenson are identified by party, but others are not. Let’s look at the list a little bit, and fill in some blanks.

* Peggy Beltrone is a Democrat (although as a county commissioner, those elections are non-partisan) County elections are partisan. My mistake.
* Bob Raney, who is not only a Democrat, but serves on the PSC, which are partisan elections.
* Pat Judge, who, judging from his biography, certainly leans left, as does the MEIC.
* Dave Ryan works for NCAT, a group that is very big into the whole climate change hysteria.
* Gloria Flora, who heads up an advocacy group.
* Steve Loken, a Missoula builder affiliated with Center for Resourceful Building Technology, which seems to be down at this time, but his company bills itself as “providing quality workmanship that is environmentally responsible.”
* Mark Brandt, of the Teamsters
* Charles McGraw, of the National Resources Defense Council, yet another advocacy group.
* Trudi Peterson, practitioner of environmentally sound ranching.
* Mary Fitzpatrick, of the Montana Conservation Voters, another advocacy group
* Robert Boettcher, an organic farmer

Make of that what you will.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics!

There’s a whole load of “creativity” happening when it comes to Governor Schweitzer’s campaign ads. He brags that he and his brave sidekick “created the largest budget surplus and the most tax relief in state history.”  I suppose if you push the numbers around enough, you’ll get what you want. But let’s take a look at the facts:

1. Business taxes were increased $60 million a year due to the Governor and democrats passing SB 48.  According to the Legislative Fiscal Division, the trigger was hit and the Business equipment tax should have started to DECLINE Jan 1 2004.  This tax impacts consumers as well as making Montana less attractive to small businesses.
   
2. Fees increased: While working with a $500 million surplus in 2005, Governor Schweitzer led the democrats in raising vehicle registration fees by $9.9 million per year along with upping both the nursing home bed  and hospital tax by over $35 million per year.
   

We could make a game of finding inaccuracies in the Governor’s self promoting ads because this is just the beginning.   Why would hard working politicians like Democrat Brian Schweitzer and his counterpart (who is also a Democrat on the ballot) need to lie about their record?   Their ad just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, and it’s unfortunate that the media is too in love with Schweitzer to report it.

What moves the Rockies?

The Rockies have steadily moved left in the last few elections and with that shift, we have lost much our self-reliance, freedom and the western way of life.  The Left has succeeded thus far in pulling the wool over the vast majority of eyes in convincing us that we need our resources buried, our hands held, and our taxes raised in order to be happy.

In Colorado, we have been pressured to accept the creed pushed by hard core environmental extremists  which strangles energy production and keeps gas prices high.  Leaders and lawmakers on the left work towards an agenda that raises taxes and strangles freedom.  In Montana, Democrats have increased spending by over 40%, raised taxes by over $240 million on local businesses and increased fees by $300 million- all in just 4 years- making it almost impossible for average Montanans to make ends meet.

In other Rocky Mountain states, the story is much the same.  Bolstered by success, enviro-whackos have opened shop and are pushing radical changes to regulation- often through back channels.  Leftists use deceptive rhetoric to disguise their message and push their agenda on an unsuspecting populace.

We’re here to get the truth out… to make that deception harder and to work towards transparency so that we can be as our founders wanted- educated and informed.