Fwd: Obamacare: A Hard Pill to Swallow for Physicians

Obamacare: A Hard Pill to Swallow for Physicians   The negative effects of Obamacare will impact every American. However, it is those who are the very backbone of the United States' high-quality health care system who will be most severely affected: physicians. In a recent paper, Heritage's health policy expert Robert Moffit, Ph.D., details the changes American doctors can expect to see in the way they practice medicine as a result of the recently-passed law. Moffit outlines the following as being most detrimental to the practice of medicine: The Scoop Side Effects: What's a Medical Expense?    What Americans Really Think about ObamaCare    The Road to Repeal is Well Under Way   Congressional Budget Office Analysis of Cost of Obamacare   National Debt Set to Skyrocket Medicaid Expansion and Payment. As it is, doctors receive heavily reduced pay for treating Medicare patients, and reimbursement for Medicaid is even lower. In many areas, doctors who accept Medicaid do so at their own loss, as reimbursement rates do not even cover the expense of seeing the patient. Writes Moffit, "Medicare payment has resulted in sporadic access problems for Medicare patients, and the lower Medicaid payments have already contributed to serious access problems for low-income persons and worsened hospital emergency room overcrowding." By adding an estimated 18 million people to this system, Obamacare will aggravate these existing dilemmas. The Sustainable Growth Formula. Physician payment formulas under Medicare are tied to growth in the general economy, rather than medical inflation. This means every year, the law requires cuts in doctors' reimbursement rates. However, each year Congress votes to suspend these cuts to avoid the unquestionable impact they would have on access to physicians for Medicare beneficiaries. According to Moffit, "The new law provides no SGR fix. Moreover, Congress has shown no inclination to fix the broken SGR formula without adding to the federal deficit rather than embracing fiscal discipline and embarking upon a genuine reform of the Medicare program." Under Obamacare, doctors will continue to face the threat of this broken payment system undermining their ability to treat senior citizens. More Bureaucracy. Government regulation and oversight of medicine will reach new levels. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute will conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research on treatments—the way in which this information is used will determine its effect on the practice of medicine. The new Independent Payment Advisory Board will be charged with reducing growth in spending in Medicare—though their options are limited mainly to imposing further price controls. And the extension of the Physician Quality Reporting Program will mean more time-consuming paperwork for doctors. The effects of these provisions on the practice of medicine are serious. Writes Moffit, "…ominously, with America already facing a shortage of physicians, particularly in geriatrics and primary care, many physicians also say they would leave the profession." To protect the quality of the U.S. health care system and access to its physicians, Congress should repeal Obamacare and start again with health care reform that strengthens—not dissipates—the doctor-patient relationship. forward message   or visit our website   The White House has launched a taxpayer-funded Web site to "reality check" credible criticisms and arguments. Problem is the Obama administration's videos "debunking" each "myth" are low on facts. Click here to see our response.   Facebook Twitter YouTube The Heritage Foundation - 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC Call us at 202 546 4400

Fwd: Kagan Says ?Governmental Motive? is Proper Focus in First Amendment Cases, Backs Limits on Speech That Can ?Harm?

Today's Headlines Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Kagan Says 'Governmental Motive' is Proper Focus in First Amendment Cases, Backs Limits on Speech That Can 'Harm' (CNSNews.com) – Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan said the high court should be focused on ferreting out improper governmental motives when deciding First Amendment cases. She has argued that the government's reasons for restricting free speech are what matters most and not necessarily the effect of those restrictions on speech. Sensenbrenner: Judicial Action Necessary to Repeal New Health Care Law Washington (CNSNews.com) – Because repeal of the new health care law is unlikely -- even if Republicans take back Congress in November -- the courts may be the only way to defeat it, said Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) on Tuesday."So, we have to put all of our eggs in the judicial basket," he concluded. Obama Administration Wants to Prevent Drug Use in Communities, As 'Medical Marijuana' Outlets Multiply in Communities (CNSNews.com) - The Obama administration says it remains "firmly" opposed to the legalization of marijuana. In a new drug strategy report released on Tuesday, the White House also said it wants to "strengthen efforts to prevent drug use in communities," even as a growing number of states sanction "medical marijuana" outlets, which have boosted the availability of the drug. Obama's Nat'l Drug Control Strategy Says Borders 'Must Be Secured,' But Plan Focuses on Prevention and Treatment (CNSNews.com) – In the newly released 2010 National Drug Control Strategy, the Obama administration says protecting America's borders is a primary responsibility of federal agencies, the borders "must be secured" and that succeeding in that goal will require a "close partnership" with state and local law enforcement personnel. In announcing the strategy, however, President Obama did not mention securing U.S. borders or cooperating with state and local officials to meet that goal. Venezuela Slams Arizona's Illegal Immigration Law, Says America Must Overcome 'Old Habits of Racism' (CNSNews.com) – Immigrants in the United States, according to Venezuela's foreign minister, are treated in a way that is 'inconsistent with human rights … a perennial violation against our fellow Latin Americans.' CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Pelosi Tells Catholic Bishops to Speak 'From the Pulpit' About Immigration Reform; This Is 'Living the Gospels' (CNSNews.com) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she has advised some Catholic bishops who want her to pass immigration reform to "speak about it from the pulpit," and for those who oppose reform, "to tell them that this is a 'manifestation of our living the gospels.'" OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES Voters' Anti-Establishment Mood Bites Both Parties Senators: Better Terror Screening Needed Iran, Syria, North Korea Form New 'Axis of Evil,' Says Israel's Foreign Minister More Schoolchildren Attacked in China; Fifth Attack Since March UK Awakens to A New Political Era; Tory PM Pairs With Liberal Democrat Deputy Arizona Governor Signs Bill Targeting Ethnic Studies Spain Outlines Plan to Cut Deficit Senators to Query Kagan, but Don't Expect Answers Mistrial Declared Beating Death of Immigrant Muhammad Cartoonist Attacked During Lecture Donate Today! Please help CNSNews.com keep bringing you 'The Right News - Right Now!' Make a contribution to CNSNews.com today. It's fast, simple and secure. Help CNSNews.com and Donate Today!  NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP: Democrats plot fee hike on oil Congressional Budget Office ups health care cost projections Security planters slowed, but did not stop, truck that hit D.C. museum 27 public schools in Chicago will drop foreign language classes Yemen refuses to let U.S. try cleric; Will not extradite al-Awlaki Republican wins state Senate seat vacated by U.S. Sen. Scott Brown Gov. Schwarzenegger "afraid" of deportation from Arizona Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick blasts immigration crackdowns, Arizona law S.F. supervisors call for Arizona boycott; Nonbinding resolution approved 10-1 U.S. risks China's ire by deciding to fund software maker tied to Falun Gong FEMA director says emergency relief funds are running low Republican blasts big, fat Greek bailout Project examines impact of racial inequity; Seeks opportunity for impoverished Home prices expected to fall now that homebuyer tax credit has expired Bill would make it harder for FCC to create new broadband rules House committee considers 'potty parity' bill on Wednesday Missouri to vote in August on health insurance mandate COMMENTARY Kagan's Defense of Censorship By Terence P. Jeffrey Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee must press Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan to explain why she believes the government can shut people up. Why Obama Wanted Times Square Bomber to be a Lone Nut By Ben Shapiro In Barack Obama's mind, Islamic terrorism isn't fundamentally Islamic—it's fundamentally Marxist. It's all about class struggle. And the liberal media buys into President Obama's worldview, which suggests that all crime springs from social circumstance. Michelle Obama: Food Profiteer Turned Food Cop By Michelle Malkin While Michelle Obama crusades for organic foods and puts government pressure on corporations to stop marketing fast food and junk food to children, Mrs. Obama herself profited from the very same processed food industry she now demonizes. She, like her husband, has an uncanny knack for wrapping her self-interests in the mantle of self-sacrifice and public service. Reagan-Hating Kagan By L. Brent Bozell III The same liberal media that has touted every liberal Supreme Court justice as a moderate or even a conservative is now touting Elena Kagan as a centrist. Yeah, right. An Anti-Establishment Night By Rich Galen Democrat Alan Mollohan has represented the 1st District of West Virginia since he was first elected in 1982, but on Tuesday night, the Mollohan Hereditary Congressional seat was lost in a primary election. On both sides of the Pond, incumbents are feeling the effects of political global warming: They're feeling the heat.

 

Fwd: Enterprise Update: No-More-Bailouts Bill Springs a Leak: Fannie and Freddie Ask for More

Enterprise Update Eliminating barriers to enterprise and innovation Recent Updates Fannie and Freddie Failure Forever FCC on Broadband Regulation: "No, Wait, It Is a Duck After All" Video of the Week: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's Ode to Orwell How Smart Growth Policies Helped Paulson and Goldman Sachs Short Housing Labor Secretary Rewards Former Staff With Big Raises Heritage Employment Report: Labor Market Springs Ahead in April Featured Research No-More-Bailouts Bill Springs a Leak: Fannie and Freddie Ask for More By James Gattuso Supporters of Sen. Chris Dodd's financial regulation bill say it will end financial bailouts. In fact, the Senate — anxious to reassure Americans on that fact — even added an amendment last week with a stated purpose "[t]o prohibit taxpayers from ever having to bail out the financial sector." But someone forgot to tell the folks across town at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Freddie last week announced it had lost $8 billion in the first quarter of the year, and would be asking for another $10.6 in taxpayer help. And today, its twin Fannie announced a $11.5 billion loss, and asked for a further $8.4 billion in aid from taxpayers. That's in addition to the nearly $145 billion in aid to Fannie and Freddie have already received. >> Click here to read the full report For more information, visit Heritage's Enterprise and Free Markets webpage, which features research, commentary, blog posts, charts and additional policy resources. Red Tape Rising The regulatory burden on Americans continued to surge during 2009, with record increases in costs thanks to both the Bush and Obama Administrations. Given ongoing regulatory initiatives at several agencies, it is very likely that this surge will continue. Click here for more information About The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400

Fwd: MRC Alert: Matthews Desperately Pleas for Republicans to Come on Hardball to Denounce Limbaugh

 

A daily compilation edited by Brent H. Baker, CyberAlert items are drawn from daily BiasAlert posts and distributed by the Media Research Center's News Analysis Division, the leader since 1987 in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.

 

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Wednesday May 12, 2010 @ 10:51 AM EDT

1. Matthews Desperately Pleas for Republicans to Come on Hardball to Denounce Limbaugh
A desperate-sounding Chris Matthews, on Tuesday's Hardball, put out a call to a Republican, any Republican, to come on his airwaves to denounce Rush Limbaugh as a liar. At the top of the show the MSNBC host issued the following challenge: "And out on a Limbaugh! We're issuing a challenge tonight and every night to elected Republicans. Come on Hardball please sir and madam and tell us you disagree with Rush on anything! Tell us you've had it with his distortions, his misrepresentations, his outright falsehoods. We invite you to tell us he's not the leader of the Republican Party. It's our standing offer. Come on Hardball and tell us Rush isn't telling the truth."

2. CBS 'Early Show' Sees Kagan As Not Liberal Enough, Maybe on the Right
In an interview with Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith lamented President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court: "Liberals feel let down because she would be filling a seat left by John Paul Stevens, they don't feel like she's enough – has enough gravitas to fill his shoes." In his first question to Biden, Smith fretted: "Some people have said she's a person so careful as to leave no footprint. Do you really know what you're getting? Do the American people know what they're getting?"

3. MSNBC Plays Up Talking Point That Kagan May Not Be 'Liberal Enough'
Twice in the span of ten minutes, MSNBC on Tuesday ran segments touting left-wing complaints that Elena Kagan may not be "liberal enough." News Live host Peter Alexander seriously speculated of the Supreme Court pick: "...But who is really most frustrated with the pick? It seems as many liberal groups are upset by this as are conservatives."

4. To NY Times, Obama Pick Elena Kagan a 'Liberal,' But Only 'in Moderation'
The New York Times' Peter Baker wonders if Obama's pick Elena Kagan is liberal enough to battle with the staunch conservatives on the Supreme Court, while other Times reporters fawn over Kagan the "opera-loving, poker-playing, glass-ceiling-shattering" product of New York's Upper West Side.

5. CBS's Lesley Stahl Gushes: Obama Picked a 'Mediator' 'in His Own Image' for the Supreme Court
60 Minutes journalist Lesley Stahl on Monday appeared on Morning Joe and touted Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick as a "mediator" who was chosen "in his image." The CBS correspondent enthused that a conciliator is "what [Obama] was."

6. Surprise! Lauer to Biden: Isn't Job of Justice Only to Interpret Constitution?
In what may be a sign of the media's confidence that Elena Kagan will be easily confirmed to the Supreme Court, NBC's Matt Lauer, on Tuesday's Today show, didn't feel the need to sell Kagan to viewers and actually asked somewhat tough questions to Vice President Joe Biden. Lauer even hit Biden from the right when he asked the following: "When we say maybe does she or does she not understand the plight of ordinary people, is that even important? Isn't the job of a Supreme Court justice to understand the Constitution only and interpret it?"

7. Dan Rather Repeats His Stale Sophistries About 'Tight Money' and 'Fierce Independence'
Dan Rather just won't go away nor update his obstinate refusal to acknowledge liberal media bias. Confronted with MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski's observation that the mainstream media lack "balance" and convey "a liberal world view," Rather rejected the premise and offered up a banal defense: "What is the definition of liberal? I myself favor strong military, tight money, and clean water." That's the very same obfuscating silliness he put forward as an argument as far back as 1999 in an appearance on CNN's Crossfire. In an interview for Julie Menin's Give & Take program for WNBC-TV's "New York Nonstop" digital channel, which will run this weekend and which TVNewser.com posted Wednesday night to highlight Rather's take on a CNN-CBS News merger, Rather, making a parody of himself, declared his 2004 discredited hit piece of George W. Bush was "true" and insisted "I'm independent, fiercely independent," maintaining: "I'm independent, I'm going to play no favorites, pull no punches. When I go down the street and knock out windows on one side, I'll knock them out on the other side. I think my record shows that."

8. CBS's Rodriguez Praises Girl Who Wants to Be President: 'You Sound Like President Obama'
Late in Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez interviewed 9-year-old actress Fatima Ptacek and wondered: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Ptacek replied: "I definitely want to be the first female president. But I also want to be a lawyer, so I can protect those innocent people." Rodriguez gushed: "Oh, that's good. You sound like President Obama." Rodriguez then remarked: "So he [Obama] went to Harvard. Where do you want to go to college?" Ptacek predictably responded: "Harvard."

Fwd: Morning Bell: The Road to Repeal is Well Under Way

05/12/2010 The Road to Repeal is Well Under Way "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it," Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told us just weeks before Congress passed President Barack Obama's health care plan. Well, the nation's post-passage Obamacare education continued yesterday when the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed that the federal government will have to spend an additional $115 billion implementing the law, bringing the total estimated cost to over $1 trillion. The estimate had been requested before passage of the bill by Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), but the CBO was too overwhelmed with the Democrats' other constant revisions to the law to get back to Lewis before the final vote. This is by far not the only nasty little surprise that has come back to bite Obamacare after passage. Shortly after it became law, U.S. employers began reporting hundreds of millions if dollars in losses thanks to tax changes in the bill. AT&T and Verizon alone pegged their Obamacare tax losses at around $1 billion each. At first, Democrats in Congress were outraged by the announcements and threatened to hold hearings persecuting these companies. But then the Democrats not only found out the companies were obligated by law to report their Obamacare related losses, but that the losses were a signal these companies might have to dump their employees' and retirees' health care coverage all together. Then the Obama administration's own Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final cost projections for Obamacare, finding that, contrary to White House claims, the legislation will increase national health care spending by $311 billion over the next decade. The CMS report also revealed that: 1) 18 million Americans will pay $33 billion in penalties for failing to comply with Obamacare's individual mandate and still receive no health care; 2) U.S. employers will pay $87 billion in employer mandate penalties; 3) 14 million Americans will lose their current employer-based health coverage; 4) 7.4 million seniors will lose their current Medicare Advantage benefits; 5) 15% of all Medicare providers will be made unprofitable, thus "jeopardizing access to care for beneficiaries."

Fwd: Conservative Examiner: Explosive report shows Kagan supports censorship of TV, radio, posters, and pamphlets

Subject: Conservative Examiner: Explosive report shows Kagan supports censorship of TV, radio, posters, and pamphlets

Explosive report shows Kagan supports censorship of TV, radio, posters, and pamphlets Tuesday, May 11, 2010 According to an explosive special report on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's views on the First Amendment right to free speech, in September of 2009 Kagan encouraged the Court to adhere to a new philosophy on the First Amendment that would allow the... Read more » Conservative Examiner, Anthony G. Martin As an original foot-soldier in 'the Reagan Revolution' that led to the election of Ronald Reagan, Anthony G. Martin is no stranger to politics, particularly in the state of his birth, South Carolina.		Advertisement

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Fwd: Kagan Likely to Face Scrutiny for Views on Socialism, Military Recruitment on Campus, Senate Review of Judicial Candidates

Today's Headlines Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Kagan Likely to Face Scrutiny for Views on Socialism, Military Recruitment on Campus, Senate Review of Judicial Candidates Washington (CNSNews.com) – Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan wrote more than a decade ago that the Senate should subject judicial nominees to more scrutiny. She also opposed military recruiters on the Harvard campus and wrote positively about the Socialist Party in America. Kagan Called 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' A 'Moral Injustice of the First Order' (CNSNews.com) – Solicitor General Elena Kagan, nominated by President Obama to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, has called the military's ban on homosexuals "a profound wrong" and "a moral injustice of the first order." Kagan made the comments while serving as dean of Harvard Law School during the 2005 controversy over whether Congress could withhold federal funding from universities that discriminate against the military. Elena Kagan: Government Can Ban Political Pamphlets (CNSNews.com) - Solicitor General Elena Kagan, nominated Monday to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Barack Obama, told that court in September that Congress could constitutionally prohibit corporations from engaging in political speech such as publishing pamphlets that advocate the election or defeat of a candidate for federal office. Kagan's argument was rejected by a 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court. President Obama Discussed the Music on His iPod in July, But Now Says He Can't Work an iPod (CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama told Hampton University's graduating class on Sunday that he does not "know how to work" an iPod. Last July, however, after pop-star Michael Jackson's death, Obama told the Associated Press that he had Jackson's music on his iPod. Inspector General: Computer Problems Still Put Accuracy of Census at Risk (CNSNews.com) – The accuracy of the 2010 Census count is at risk because of computer problems at the Census Bureau, according to a report released on May 5 by the Commerce Department's Inspector General. The Government Accountability Office told CNSNews.com the OIG's report "is consistent with what GAO has been saying." Most Americans Think That Being a Mother Remains Woman's Most Prominent Role (CNSNews.com) – A Rasmussen poll released on Mother's Day shows that 64 percent of American adults think that being a mother is "the most important role for a woman to fill in today's world." CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Pelosi Tells Catholic Bishops to Speak 'From the Pulpit' About Immigration Reform; This Is 'Living the Gospels' (CNSNews.com) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she has advised some Catholic bishops who want her to pass immigration reform to "speak about it from the pulpit," and for those who oppose reform, "to tell them that this is a 'manifestation of our living the gospels.'" OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES Senators Want Pakistani Taliban on Terror List Treasury Department Blasted for Sloppy Record-Keeping on Bailed-Out Banks No Roadblocks Anticipated for Elena Kagan's Confirmation American Missile Barrage Hits Taliban Target in Pakistan Tribal Area Deadly Attacks in Iraq Seen As Effort to Destabilize Country Amid Political Uncertainty Many American Students Entering College Need Remedial Courses Toyota Posts Quarterly Profit of $1.2 Billion As Sales Recover Pope to Discuss the Remedy for Financial Hardship on Trip to Portugal Kagan Urged President Bill Clinton to Ban Late-Term Abortions in '97 White House Shifting Its Strategy on Drug Abuse Expanded Insurance Coverage for Young Adults Will Raise Premiums, Government Says Senate Hearings on Oil Spill Ramp Up Blame Game AP Casts Sen. Jim DeMint As 'Conservative Kingmaker' Interior Secretary Salazar Wants to Split Energy Agency UK's Nick Clegg Faces Difficult Choice in Forming Coalition Hillary Clinton Says U.S. 'Will Not Abandon the Afghan People' Donate Today! Please help CNSNews.com keep bringing you 'The Right News - Right Now!' Make a contribution to CNSNews.com today. It's fast, simple and secure. Help CNSNews.com and Donate Today!  NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP: World Health Organization moving ahead on Internet and other taxes Sen. Coburn wants to certify that congressional bills are read Obama wants federal agencies to ease, speed up hiring process Lawsuit wants SEC to identify porn snoopers Iran's meddling in Afghanistan 'not significant' Sen. Arlen Specter his loses lead week before primary Medical pot dispensaries firebombed in Montana; 'Not in our town' L.A.'s gun buy-back program collects more than 2,500 weapons Referendum drives targeting Arizona's new immigration law dropped Welfare system could cause Israel to collapse, economist warns Democrats poised to vote on bills with high price tags New Washington State candy tax is a grab bag of exceptions Home-schooling is so popular in Texas, some getting suspicious Professors giving less weight to final exams COMMENTARY Is the War Coming Home? By Patrick J. Buchanan Faisal Shahzad, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Nidal Malik Hasan: Why did these men attempt the mass murder of Americans who did no harm to them? What impelled them to seek martyrdom amid a pile of American corpses? American's toxic culture may be a reason devout Muslims detest us. It is not why they come here to kill us. An Ever-Evolving Enemy By Ed Feulner There was a time when Americans could easily identify their enemies. Things aren't as straightforward today. As the Times Square bombing attempt shows, to win the long war on terrorism, our government must constantly adapt to ever-changing threats. And there are several steps we should take right away.

 

Fwd: Higher Premiums from Adult "Children" on Parents' Health Plans

May 11, 2010 Higher Premiums from "Adult" Children on Parents' Health Plans This week, the White House issued rules for health insurers to extend dependant coverage to "children" up to 26 years old. Beyond keeping the "Big Kids" dependent on Mommy and Daddy, it also directly undercuts the President's famous campaign promise that American families would see a $2,500 reduction in their annual premiums.   Now, we learn that family premiums will rise about 1 percent in 2012 just from this one provision of the new law. It will cost $3,380 for each dependent in 2011, according to an Associated Press report.    Really, this is just a little thing. But in terms of the coming collapse of health care cost control, it's just one more nick in our financial hides. More is coming; health insurance premiums will rise from Obamacare's new taxes on drugs, medical devices and new insurance fees, plus new insurance rating rules and the yet-to-be-determined health benefit levels that the imperial Feds say must be included an acceptable health insurance plan. Those will all be revealed in the fullness of time.    Some 1.2 million young adults are expected to sign up for coverage under the 26-year-old child provision. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius trumpets it as an immediate victory of ObamaCare. In reality, it's just the first, little step in a mind-numbing bureaucratic process that will raise health care costs for all Americans.   Oh, and don't forget that Presidential promise: a $2,500 annual reduction in your health insurance premiums.   RECENT ENTRIES Get Ready to Lose Your Doctor Physician-Owned Hospitals Face New Regulations, Limits on Growth Let the Employer Penalties Begin Stay Single and Save 15 Percent or More on Health Insurance  Share Today's Side Effects Facebook Myspace Digg Linkdin Twitter   Facebook Twitter YouTube Kindle Flickr Support our work by becoming a member with your gift of $25 or more. The Heritage Foundation 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002-4999 Call us at (202) 546-4400 Add newsletters@heritage.org to your address book to ensure that you receive emails from us.

Fwd: Morning Bell: What's Worse Than Energy Taxes? Renewable Electricity Standards

05/11/2010 What's Worse Than Energy Taxes? Renewable Electricity Standards On March 15th, appearing with labor and environmental leaders, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa unveiled a new alternative energy plan that he said would ensure the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would meet his goal of securing 20% of its energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar by December 31st. At the time, he claimed it would create 16,000 jobs and only raise consumer electric bills between 8.8% and 28.4%. But less than two weeks later those energy rate hike estimates had skyrocketed with the DWP saying it needed to raise rates by 37% in order to meet the renewable energy standards. Los Angeles' already shrinking business community revolted and by April Mayor Villaraigosa's plan had been soundly defeated. What played out in Los Angeles is now about to play out in Washington. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has been marshaling his American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACELA) through committee and is set to move it to the floor soon. The heart of Bingaman's plan is essentially the same as Mayor Villaraigosa's: a renewable electricity standard (RES) that mandates sellers of electricity to produce a growing percentage of their power from renewable energy sources every two years. And like Mayor Villaraigosa's plan, Sen. Bingaman's renewable energy standards would also mean higher electricity prices for all Americans. The inconvenient truth is this: nearly half of America's electricity is generated from coal. Natural gas and nuclear energy add about 20 percent each. Most of the rest is provided by renewable sources, primarily hydroelectric energy at 6 percent. Non-hydro renewables like wind, solar energy and biomass total only 3 percent. And this is after decades of existing generous renewable subsidies. If electricity created by wind and other renewables were cost competitive, consumers would use more of it without a federal law to force consumption. But renewable energy is not cost competitive, hence the need for government coercion to force the American people to buy it.