TOP

DJP Update 9-30-2010 WSJ Lead Editorial 9-30-2010 re: The Repeal Pledge and the Independent Women’s Forum; Lagniappe

DJP Update 9-30-2010 WSJ Lead Editorial 9-30-2010 re: The Repeal Pledge and the Independent Women’s Forum; Lagniappe

DJP Comment:  The November elections will be an exciting time for America.  Try to get some rest that day and stay up late for the final returns.  Americans are getting more and more frustrated with the happenings in Washington, DC.  And that frustration is felt by citizens of all political parties.  The apathy of many voters in the past is turning to activism.

Here is one example of citizens offering an alternative to grousing around the coffee pot.  This is a good way to give politicians their moment of truth:  Action, not words of platitude.
—–
The Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2010

The Repeal Pledge

Holding politicians to their promise to replace ObamaCare.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704116004575522381254724778.html

Republicans are promising to “repeal and replace” ObamaCare, and more than a few Democrats seem to be running on—or at least from—the same issue. And it’s a good campaign platform given the rising unpopularity and toxic side effects of one of the worst pieces of legislation Congress has ever passed.

But with a few notable exceptions, the wider GOP doesn’t seem to comprehend how difficult it will be to pursue this agenda in practice, even if the party does return to the majority in the House and Senate. Which is why we want to underscore a new campaign to ensure that “repeal and replace” is something more than a political slogan.

The “repeal pledge” is a project modeled after the famous taxpayer-protection pledge of Americans for Tax Reform, under which incumbents and candidates make a public promise to vote against tax increases. The tax pledge debuted in 1986 with the endorsement of Ronald Reagan and has helped to steel opposition to antigrowth policies. The repeal pledge aims to do the same for ObamaCare.

Efforts like these can be gimmicks, though when well done they educate the public and encourage politicians to commit to specific policy goals while drawing bright-line contrasts with their opponents. Pledges also help define electoral mandates. The 2010 campaign is already a referendum on the Obama Presidency, but if the repeal pledge gains currency it would allow voters to remonstrate this bill in particular and add momentum to the “repeal and replace” movement.

Launched a week ago by the nonprofit outfits Independent Women’s Voice and American Majority Action, the repeal pledge has been signed so far by 43 Republicans. Its sponsors are about to name a board of outside policy experts to evaluate all votes and let the public track how Members shake out on health care. The pledge applies beyond repeal per se to interim steps like discharge petitions to allow certain up-or-down votes in Congress on partial repeal, stripping funding from some ObamaCare subsidy or enforcement programs, and repealing certain regulations.

Dismembering ObamaCare limb by limb is probably the best, and perhaps the only, political strategy for at least the next two years. Meanwhile, many Republicans may figure that the path of least political resistance will be to hold a symbolic vote on repeal and claim victory, even if it is filibustered in the Senate or vetoed by President Obama. Republicans are also notoriously fractious on health policy and will need outside pressure if they ever do get around to the “replace” part.

The hard political slog ahead could use an accountability tool like the repeal pledge. Realistically, the health-care bill won’t be unwound as long as Mr. Obama is in office, so the Republican goal should be to do some modest good in the meantime and keep the issue a running controversy through 2012 and beyond. Democrats are determined to defend every part of ObamaCare no matter how destructive—witness their recent safe-harbor for the 1099 business reporting mandate—and they’re banking on Republican inertia.

Republicans should recognize the opportunity they’ve been handed. According to this week’s Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll, 40% of the public strongly supports repeal, and another 11% is generally in favor. CNN also found this week that 47% believes “Congress should repeal most of the major provisions in that bill and replace them with a completely different set of proposals,” a view that has held steady since Democrats passed the bill in March.

The larger GOP opportunity is to pursue genuine health-care reform now that the public has so decisively rejected the entitlement model that Democrats have favored for several political generations. That begins with unraveling ObamaCare, and we hope the repeal pledge will help the cause.

—-

Here is the link to The Repeal Pledge http://www.TheRepealPledge.com/

and the incumbent version of the pledge is at:  http://www.TheRepealPledge.com/the-repeal-pledge-incumbent-version/

Here is one of the advocates of this pledge:  the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF).  The Website is:  http://www.iwf.org/
——
Lagniappe: Gave a speech today with President of Louisiana State Medical Society, Dr. Pat Breaux, to the first and second year students at LSU Medical School.  Lots of fun.
Some recent tweets at www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS
  1. DJPNEWS

    Politicians: moment of truth; See #TheRepealPledge http://tinyurl.com/37phs7a#WSJ editorial http://tinyurl.com/256qllg #hcr2 minutes ago via web

  1. Interesting analysis RT @nprpolitics #Republicans Improve Chances For Senate Control http://n.pr/bbBv8o #politics#tcot #dems8:18 PM Sep 28th via Echofon
  2. + sales if ext HD via USB RT @macTweeter Analyst: Apple Planning Thinner iPad with Camera, Mini USBhttp://bit.ly/a8XzG9 #apple #iPad10:15 AM Sep 28th via Echofon

  3. What! RT @macTweeter Senior Advisor Plays Pac Man on his iPad during White House Meetings http://bit.ly/bSTTv6#politics #tcot9:35 PM Sep 27th via Echofon

Stay well,
Donald
P.S. Stop by http://twitter.com/DJPNEWS and sign up for DJPNEWS to get tweet alerts that may not make it into DJP Updates.  Twitter is free and takes minutes to join.  Put email in and pick password.  Great source of breaking news and you don’t flood your email with it.  You can get free app for BlackBerry or IPhone etc and you check on tweets when you want.
Also, recent selected DJP Updates can be found at:  http://donaldpalmisano.com/djp_update/
Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD
Intrepid Resources® / The Medical Risk Manager Company
5000 West Esplanade Ave., #432
Metairie, Louisiana USA 70006
504-455-5895 office
504-455-9392 fax
This DJP Update goes to 2309 leaders in Medicine representing all of the State Medical Associations and over 100 Specialty Societies plus some other friends.
You can share it with your members and it has the potential to reach 800,000 physicians.
To join the list, send me an  email stating “Join DJP Update”
To get off the list, state ” Remove DJP Update” in subject line.

Comments are closed.