.
Feedback

Obamacare is Bad News for Suffolk County

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Obamacare is awful news for the vast majority of Suffolk County residents.

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Obamacare is awful news for the vast majority of Suffolk County residents – specifically given our already struggling economy and the excessive burden already shoulder by the taxpayers who live here.

Despite repeated promises from President Obama and Congressman Tim Bishop to the contrary, the so-called “Affordable Care Act” they forced down our throats via backroom deals in Washington, DC has made healthcare LESS affordable for Suffolk County’s working families, seniors and small businesses.

What good is healthcare reform if it doesn’t lower the cost of healthcare?

As I campaign around the district, I repeatedly point to Congressman Bishop’s record of supporting higher taxes, more spending and irresponsible debt during his nearly 10 years in Washington, and explain how those policies have driven more than 30,000 jobs from Long Island. 

One of the most unfortunate consequences of this job exodus is that many of our young people are following the jobs to other parts of the country.  We are literally losing our future due to horrendous policy-making in Washington by Congressman Bishop and the rest of the politicians.

Unfortunately, the more than $500 billion in tax increases and $500 billion diverted from Medicare that we will be asked to endure will only exacerbate this problem, further cripple our economy and slow job creation.  Tim Bishop said Obamacare would be a panacea to our problems, when the reality is that it will only make our problems worse.

Are you as a fed up with business as usual in Washington, DC as I am?  Then let’s work together to do something about it.

If we want to change Congress, we need to start by changing the people in Congress – and that includes Congressman Bishop.

With your support, I will fight to repeal Obamacare and replace it with common sense reforms that are outlined in my 10-point jobs plan for Long Island, like lowering the cost of care by enabling insurance companies to compete across state lines and allowing small businesses to pool together to purchase healthcare for their employees; enacting comprehensive tort reform; putting medical decisions back in the hands of doctors and patients, not bureaucrats; and ensuring that we still protect those with pre-existing conditions.

I encourage you to read more about my 10-point jobs plan at www.Randy2012.com/jobsplan and join my campaign to change Washington today.

Rick July 4, 2012 at 09:39 pm
Mary Beth: could it be that the two events correlated ("..at its strongest when..")
for reasons other than the causality you suggest, i.e. linking tax rates to prosperity. Seems like an awful lot has changed the overall economic picture since then: all the US led wars, emerge of China as an economic force, same for Japan, Korea, etc. Not saying "can't", just challenging you to explain why prosperity and performance of the economy is linked to overall tax burden. Counter example: China and Germany both have strong manufacturing economies, yet lower corporate tax rates.
Rick July 4, 2012 at 09:45 pm
Jean: is it the case that the all the unemployed are willingly sitting around on
"their buffs"? That's a pretty broad statement, one that demands a "show me the data". Could it be that the available jobs pay less than the benefits being paid by unemployment, or the skills don't match? The easy answer is laziness, but I find it really hard to believe that mankind changed overnight to prefer unemployment, when historically the unemployment rates were much lower (which suggests a work ethic that runs counter to your point). Was there a mass "I love unemployment" virus that went around in 2008-2009 that I didn't see in the medical journals? :-)
highhatsize July 4, 2012 at 11:14 pm
to Rick:
There's an online store called "e4hats.com" that sells reasonably priced chapeaus up to size XXXL (8&1/4.)
Preliator July 5, 2012 at 01:02 am
For a year and half Barack Obama has argued that the penalty in the ACA was not a tax. It is one now so either the President lied to the public or is incompetent and does not understand the law he championed. This abortion of a law (sorry forget liberals love abortions)..this joke of a law will add at least 21 new taxes to the tune of over $650 billion dollars over the next 10 years onto the backs of Americans and will be mostly born by those of middle income. The rich can afford it, the poor won't have to pay for it leaving John and Jane Public holding the bag...again.
Thank you Tim Bishop, tax us some more please.
Doug Charles July 6, 2012 at 11:23 am
Absolute BS. You drank the Tea Party Kool-aid and now all you can do is spread lies.
JH July 6, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Isn't that interesting? Once again... let's penalize those who work harder and build more. We were once known as the 'land of opportunity'... people were rewarded for working harder and building more. Now all that's happening is the more you earn the more our overgrown "government" will steal from you and share it with many of those who are less 'fortunate'.... well, believe it or not, good fortune in many cases came from hard work and the ability to build from opportunity.
JH July 6, 2012 at 12:44 pm
DaddyGuru if you think you have all the answers why aren't you running for 'office' instead of crucifying someone who at the very least has the guts to put himself and his ideas out there. Randy may not be 'perfect' in some eyes, but he, as well as anyone else who is brave enough to try to make a difference... deserves a little more respect than your rude comments.
robkoz July 6, 2012 at 01:00 pm
I don't see what the big deal is about Randy's blog. Tim Bishop sold the Long Island middle class out these past 10 years. But I guess you like high taxes that has been forcing the middle class off of Long Island and killing the economy so I'm sure TIm Bishop will be appreciating your vote.
robkoz July 6, 2012 at 01:02 pm
@ highhatsize, no you're not a socialist, not at all....................
BTW, who's "We?"
robkoz July 6, 2012 at 01:06 pm
A lot of amendments have been bastardized and abused mainly to the benefit of the Democratic party. Our forefathers would be ashamed to see what this country has become. This might as well be our new symbol for the United States instead of the American Flag:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cjuQGH_tOvg/T8-KXXmD9oI/AAAAAAAABv4/3ZUOl_YGyXo/s1600/OBAMAMARXISTSEALOFDEMOCRATPARTY.jpg
highhatsize July 6, 2012 at 04:06 pm
to robkoz:
"We" are the compassionate, cooperative citizens who think that psychopathy is a BAD thing; who empathize with the uninsured; and who are willing to pay higher taxes (should this eventuate) to assure their care.
Jaguar-Guy July 6, 2012 at 04:50 pm
I'm compassionate, so I agree, let's penalize the rich because they can afford to pay more.
DaddyGuru July 7, 2012 at 12:13 am
JH Welcome to my world, as an independent I am insulted by political party lines they cater to small groups of narrow interest, to pray upon and herd them for there vote, mind or money or business, or souls, I want people to run who do not want a career in party politics, but individuals who can reason, free thinkers with real ideas, thru hard work debate and compromise. thinking with room for of all our citizens , we don’t need small groups to force we the people to live their narrow minded ways ,but representatives to make decisions with room for all of us to pursue a meaningful, fruitful , healthy and happy life ,as long as money and party’s are part of this it will not happen,
Emily R July 7, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I like Obamacare Randy and I like seeing everyone have coverage or pay a free loader fee if they don't want it. You will never get my vote. I support Tim Bishop who stands up for everyone not just the top 1%. And whiule we're at it Randy I'm also for getting rid of the Bush tax cuts for the top 1%. I'm for the 99% Randy. You republicans are about one thing taking care of number 1. Grow up. It's not about you. It's about the 99%. The Supreme Court has spoken.
Kev July 8, 2012 at 04:22 am
Have you actually read the affordable care act? Where are you getting these figures from? They are blatantly false. Most of the Affordable Care Act doesn't kick in until 2014 so how can you make this statement: “Affordable Care Act” they forced down our throats via backroom deals in Washington, DC 'has made" healthcare LESS affordable for Suffolk County’s working families, seniors and small businesses." How can it be that Affordable Health Care "has made' anything when it hasn't even taken effect yet? Do you have a time machine Randy? And how dare you suggest you give a flying f about Medicare, when the leader of your ticket wants to gut it if he's elected? You're not speaking to Leming Teabaggers anymore, You're being heard by the citizens now and we're not stupid idiots who believe every falsehood the right and or Fox news spews out.
Richard Blumenthal July 8, 2012 at 02:59 pm
I have two big thoughts for you. Good intentions don't always translate into good outcomes. Nothing is free. Government telling insurance companies to cover your daughter will be paid for with rate increases. When rates increase, job-creating business pays more and hires less; government employee coverage also increases so taxes go up. Another job-killer. Obamacare will cost taxpayers a trillion dollars according his own accountants, for starters. He says he'll get 500 billion from medicare. Where will that shortfall come from. With the new mandate you will see millions lose their employer paid health insurance because they won't be able to afford it. We have yet to even try what we are so good at - the free market - for health insurance. When you want to shop for auto insurance, or home insurance, or life insurance, companies knock themselves out trying to cater to your needs and beat the other companies' rates. Why? Because those you can buy accross state lines. It's called competition. Health insurance is a quasi monopoly within a state. Maybe you've noticed how few companies there are to choose from in NYS. No competition means higher rates. Randy is right. We have to open up health insuance to nationwide competition and you'll see more varieties of programs - including coverage for your daughter and lower rates.
Janet July 9, 2012 at 02:37 am
So many lies and half-truths. Altschuer continues to mislead on the costs of the program. He fails to inform that by the Federal government paying 100% of the expanded Medicaid, Suffolk County, it's residents and the State of New York will save millions in it's share of funding Medicaid. In addition, Altschuer continues to deceive people when he talks 500 billion dollars that the program takes from Medicare as if that meant less patient services for it's recipients. The truth is that Obamacare has succeeded in reducing Medicare costs by that amount so the funds are not needed to be spent there. In addition, millions of Seniors including tens of thousands in Suffolk have already saved on average 600 dollars a year on their prescription drug costs by the closure of the doughnut hole. Finally Altschuler's claim that Obamacare is a jobs killer is patently false because as he well knows most jobs are created by small business and companies with less than 50 employees are exempt from providing coverage. In addition, there are generous tax incentives to these companies who do decide to do the right thing by their workers and provide them with healthcare. Unfortunately, Altschuler continues to demonstrate that like his Presidential party running mate he is so entrenched as a 1%er on Wall Street he has no concept of what really creates jobs, he only knows how to offshore them.
Janet July 9, 2012 at 02:39 am
Love your post!
JH July 9, 2012 at 03:15 am
Mary
So happy you received "free money". Try reading what Richard Blumenthal wrote above your post. If you would read it... listen to it... and try your best to understand it, you will clearly see Obama isn't doing ANYONE any favors! He is destroying this country and taking it apart piece by piece and he is being permitted to do this by people just like yourself! Yes, NOTHING comes for free... and at some point even you will be paying it back in one form or another. I agree with Randy as well, we MUST open up health insurance to nationwide competition! We DON'T need more 'Government' controlling our lives. When will you wake up? when he mandates you must go to sleep at 9 and get up at 6? The greatness of this country is FREEDOM not control by someone who believes he is above the constitution and above the law. It's time we show him he has NO RIGHT to do things on his own and no right to rewrite the laws everyone else must abide by!!!
JH July 9, 2012 at 03:24 am
Eliza... how about telling your daughter to go out and find a job and EARN medical coverage instead of 'Teaching' her she is to put her hand out and expect everyone to take care of her!!!
I'm also glad some districts have chosen to excess the teachers who are not turning out students with the proper tools! It's about time teachers are held accountable! Perhaps you weren't one of them, but I've never met a teacher who is more concerned with the quality of education they are affording their students ... than their 'retirement pensions' and medical benefits. The whole concept of not being able to fire some of these characters is pathetic. In my industry if you didn't produce the finest product you would be out of a job!
JH July 9, 2012 at 03:31 am
Highhatsize.... glad you NEED the money! Go out and earn it and stop grabbing it from those who do EARN it! What a PATHETIC excuse! ... and they can 'afford' it! How do you know what your neighbor can afford or what his expenses are????
Sounds like you would thrive in a socialist country. Why don't you try that?
JH July 9, 2012 at 03:33 am
Thank you Rick. Very well said
JH July 9, 2012 at 03:36 am
Highhatsize ... what you are suggesting goes totally against what this great country was built on.... hard work... being rewarded for success not penalized for it.
again... you really should consider moving to a socialist country. I think you would be much happier there. Then you would never have to be jealous of those who EARN more than yourself!
JH July 9, 2012 at 03:42 am
VT that's because the health insurance you must have is probably not nearly as good as the one the school teacher has given to her. I'd be curious to know what she pays for HER medical insurance....lol and in retirement... what do the teachers receive from our tax dollars for their lifetime pensions and medical.....
JH July 9, 2012 at 03:47 am
Emily
believe it or not you SHARE the same country with the republican's and anyone who disagrees with you! So therefore it is also not about YOU as #1 ! All Tim Bishop has done for me is raise my taxes to ridiculous numbers and annoy me with his political phone calls and wasted paper in my mailbox. It's time for NEW BLOOD, NEW IDEAS, and a NEW point of view whether you like it or not.
John from Kings Park July 9, 2012 at 03:47 am
Somebody needs to take Randy's crayon away before he writes himself another self-promoting commercial. I wonder if he gets black & blue from all that back-patting he does for himself...
Joanne Toresko July 9, 2012 at 03:58 am
The federal government does not continue to pay the full cost of the tremendous expansion in Medicaid. If it did, our Supreme Court wouldn't have found, by a 7-2 margin, that forcing states to pay for the now unprecedented growth of Medicaid is unconstitutional. There's no genuine way of knowing if NYS would or would not save any money, because we don't know how many more people would qualify for coverage.
The 500 billion dollar reductions in Medicare funding haven't been felt yet. They, like many of the less popular aspects of the new law, will not take affect until after the next election. Sadly, Congressman Bishop can offer no guarantees regarding Medicare promises. The healthcare law for which he voted includes the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which has the power to change Medicare policy without getting congressional approval first. He said he'd vote to repeal that board. He did not.
Walter Keenan July 9, 2012 at 03:59 am
Ummm, parts of the act began when the bill was signed, there have been a few phases that have already taken place. I believe there is another in August followed by (2) others which ends the entire "phasing" in part in 2014. The act doesn't jump into full gear in 2014 it will have been totally phased in by then...
Did you read the act?
Walter Keenan July 9, 2012 at 04:03 am
The best way to solve the problem of someone not purchasing something they don't want. Charge them a fee for not having it...
If only this made on small iota of sense. How do you purpose we make people pay a fee for something they don't want to purchase or can't afford to purchase in the first place?
Kev July 9, 2012 at 07:26 am
Yes I did read it Mr Keenan and I am fully aware of the "phasing in" that has taken place. I was just pointing out Mr Altschuer's false statement that AHC has made healthcare less affordable.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Riverhead Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something