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http://thune.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100058608.39984.92&gen=1Health Care Experts: Diagnosis of Higher Costs and Health Care Shortages Last month, the non-partisan Chief Actuary of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a report that predicts increased health care costs, increased federal spending, higher insurance premiums, and less access to care for seniors as a result of the new health care law. The report shows that national health care expenditures will increase under the new law even more than would have happened if Congress had done nothing.
The CMS report concluded that 14 million people will lose the health care coverage provided by their employers. In fact, several major employers have openly discussed dropping employee health plans and paying a fine for not providing coverage instead. This is the opposite of the claim made by the President and many members of Congress that anyone who is happy with the insurance they currently have would be able to keep it.
Additionally, on May 11, 2010, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an updated estimate on the cost of the health care laws. According to the CBO, the laws will reduce the deficit by $115 billion less than the original claim of $143 billion. This additional $115 billion in cost is partially due to the implementation of new programs at the Department of Health and Human Services and for the Internal Revenue Service to enforce the individual insurance mandate. The CBO estimated that these two agencies alone need as much as $20 billion between 2010 and 2019.
One of the major selling points that the Administration and Democrats in Congress used to promote the health care bill was that it would reduce the deficit. Even if that had been true, the current estimated budget savings of $25 billion is a mere drop in the bucket compared to our overall fiscal picture. In the first six months of Fiscal Year 2010, the government has racked up a deficit of $716.9 billion. The new health care laws will only make matters worse - especially as new programs come online in the future.
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Senator Thune Opposes New EPA Energy TaxAs expected, this month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved forward with its final rule for regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses emitted from stationary sources, such as power plants and ethanol plants, under the Clean Air Act.
Unfortunately, this action taken by the EPA without formal input from Congress will eventually result in what amounts to a backdoor tax on energy, with a disproportionate burden being carried by the Midwest. Energy intensive industries like power production will be hardest hit, but ethanol producers and agriculture will also face additional taxes, jeopardizing jobs and driving up energy prices for all consumers.
Under the final rule, EPA will begin implementing emissions permitting requirements for stationary sources in 2011 with additional industries and sectors of our economy being impacted in future years. Senator Thune is a cosponsor of a bipartisan Resolution of Disapproval (S.J.Res.26) that, if enacted, would stop the EPA from moving forward with their backdoor regulation of greenhouse gasses. This resolution is supported by numerous energy producers and agriculture groups in South Dakota and across the country. Senator Thune hopes that the Senate will prevent this damaging EPA over-reach when it votes on Senator Murkowski’s Resolution on June 10th.
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Senator Thune Introduces Bill to Provide Automatic Pay Increases for Disabled VetsThis month, Senator Thune introduced the Veterans Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act (S. 3359), which would automatically make annual cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for veterans’ disability benefits each year. Currently, Congress must enact the benefit each year, which leads to uncertainty that the increase will be made. The bill also provides for an annual automatic increase for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for eligible survivors of certain deceased veterans who had service-connected injuries. This measure is supported by both the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the American Veterans (AMVETS).
Senator Thune believes veterans should not have to depend on Congress adjusting their disability benefits each and every year. Social Security and Medicare have automatic COLA adjustments, and our veterans deserve that same security. Our disabled veterans deserve our gratitude for the tremendous sacrifices they have made, and enacting this legislation is a small way that we can show our appreciation as a nation. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and ranking member for the Committee’s Airland Subcommittee, Senator Thune believes we must do everything we can to ensure that veterans’ disability benefits reflect the changing financial needs our veterans face over time.
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Elena Kagan Nominated to the Supreme CourtThis month, President Obama announced the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court due to the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. In addition to serving as Solicitor General of the United States, Ms. Kagan was a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, worked as legal counsel to President Clinton, and served as the Dean of Harvard Law School until she was confirmed by the Senate in March of 2009 as Solicitor General.
The Supreme Court plays an essential role in our government. Federal judges have lifetime appointments, and therefore should be people of good character and high intellect, with a passionate commitment to applying the law as it is written, rather than legislating from the bench. The focus of a nominee’s confirmation should be on their qualifications and fitness to serve as a federal judge.
Ms. Kagan’s nomination is especially unique given that she does not have a judicial record. Due to this fact, it will be exceptionally important for Senators to inquire about her views on the Constitution and the role of the courts. Currently, the Judiciary Committee is planning consideration of Ms. Kagan’s nomination in late June and Senator Thune will be meeting with her soon thereafter.
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Thune Meets with South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Senator Thune with
representatives from the
Sioux Falls Police Department.
This month, Senator Thune met with representatives from the Sioux Falls Police Department. The officers traveled to Washington, D.C. for National Police Week, an annual event that honors law enforcement personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. Special services are held each year at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
In the meeting, Senator Thune expressed his appreciation for the sacrifices made by police departments and other law enforcement agencies across South Dakota. He also received a briefing on issues facing the Sioux Falls Police Department and other police departments across the state.
