A great caller on Rush Limbaugh show today. Rush lets her go uninterrupted, listen to Susan and watch Rush on YouTube;

• Susan from Glendale Part 1
• Susan from Glendale Part 2
• Susan from Glendale Part 3
• Or listen to the audio stream on Rush Limbaugh.com

Current HealthCare  plans have some features that must give one pause. Such as;

• Taxes and cuts in Medicare start immediately
• Benefits begin in 2013

Why would they do this? Well it allows them to declare the cost to be less; Ten years of taxes would cover six years of coverage. Higher taxes are what the Democrats seek. Of course in the real world the monies will not be saved for the time the plan actually kicks in. Like Social Security the money will be spent by the general fund, and IOU's issued for the plan, which will require even more taxes downstream.

• Medicare Advantage programs would be cut immediately

Medicare Advantage plans are insurance plans where all administration is done by private insurance companies. For this the companies get an extra payment to cover there administration costs, which are considered lower than Medicare doing the same thing. However the current administration is very much against any profits for private enterprise.

• There would be two election cycles, 2010 and 2012 before benefits kick in. Plenty of time for politicians to seek cover, and assign blame elsewhere.

One big benefit of not having the plan kick in until 2013 is it provides the next Congress an opportunity to recind the whole plan.

The menu for mnsd56.com has been revised slightly to change Officials which was a set of links to our elected officials to Politicans which in addtion to elected officials now includes Candidates to various offices.  If you are a GOP candidate and your name / website is not listed please send an email to the webmaster . You can view the page by clicking on the menu above, or here.

"Unless you've been stuck in the Gobi Desert, you've read the headlines about the scandal at ACORN -- the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Earlier this month, ACORN staffers in four states were caught giving not-so-sage advice to two journalists, posing as a pimp and a prostitute, on how to defraud the government, cheat on taxes and wangle a mortgage for a home-based brothel."

...

"But ACORN does have a special place in its heart for at least one prominent Minnesota politician. Last year, it showered praise on Al Franken, endorsing his run for the U.S. Senate. Franken returned the esteem: "I'm thrilled and honored to receive this endorsement," he gushed in a press release. He added that he was "more motivated than ever to work with ACORN.""

...

"Here in Minnesota, ACORN has boasted of playing a major role in the 2008 elections. It claims to have registered 43,000 new voters, which it describes as 75 percent of the state's new registrations. Franken's margin of victory in the Senate race was razor-thin: 312 votes out of about 3 million cast. And Minnesota's laws on proof of voter eligibility are notoriously loose. Did ACORN folks pull some fast ones to help get their favorite son Franken elected -- a win that handed Democrats the 60-vote, veto-proof majority that they needed to enact their liberal agenda?"

Read the whole article in the Strib

Wow, I was amazed when I read this.  Chicago has been seeking to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. This decision is to be made on Friday Oct 2. Lo and behold the President of the United States is going to fly to Copenhagen Denmark to plead the case for Chicago.

Apparently Obama has nothing better to do than be involved with the Olympic site selection. We are fortunate that there are no wars, economic problems, or other issues of importance to prevent his intervention.  More likely it is the "Chicago Way". If Chicago were to be chosen for the Olympics there would be huge amounts of money to be spent on facilities, and union jobs bribes to get the work done on time.

Chicago is one of four finalists in the selection of the site for the 2016 Olympics, the other cities are Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.

See article on it here

Sorted using weighting of 1 point for H, 0.5 points M, and 0.25 point L.

It seems that limiting the size of government was the overwhelming priority. The poll seems to indicate that if government's size and scope is limited, the rest will take care of itself.

Reps. Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann fired up a crowd of 2,000 Friday night at Northrop Auditorium with a forum running the gamut from foreign policy and health care to the Federal Reserve and education.

The Republican members of Congress shared a theme: Federal spending is running out of control.

"You are the generation that will inherit increasing debt from out-of-control spending," Bachmann said, addressing the crowd filled with students. "At the rate your government is spending, your future is already spoken for."

Read the article here.

UPDATE: Ron Paul's speech at this forum

UPDATE 2: Michele Bachmann's Introduction to Ron Paul

Read this report from Cato on the ways Obamacare will likely ration your health care.

The report is here (455 KB PDF)

Michele Bachmann wrote this op-ed piece for Investors Business Daily;

In an alleged effort to protect against a recurrence of the financial collapse of 2008, Congress is considering a slew of new mandates, regulations and agencies.

At the top of the list is an expansion of the very government mandate that is at the heart of the financial collapse, the Community Reinvestment Act.

It appears that rather than learning from mistakes of the past, Congress is taking steps that could exacerbate the problems in the future.

The CRA has been credited by many experts as a key contributor to the financial meltdown of 2008. Originally introduced in 1977, it was established to ensure that low-income individuals and minorities were receiving fair and equal access to credit.

A laudable goal, but like many well-intentioned government mandates, many unintended consequences have resulted.

Read the full article here

Conservative outpost have posted an article on why Obama opposes malpractice reform; 

Obama and his colleagues claimed in the suit that Citibank had had rejected loan applications by the plaintiffs simply because they were black, or because they lived in predominantly black neighborhoods. In short, the suit was one of thousands filed during the 1990s claiming racial bigotry, not poor credit histories, explained high rejection rates among minorities applying for mortgages.

Whatever you think on that issue, here's what struck me: After four years of haggling, Citibank settled with Buyck, a Chicago woman, out of court.  She received $60,000. Obama and the other lawyers on the plaintiff side got $950,000.

Read the article here.

See Michele Bachmann's remarks and questions during this hearing today;  YouTube

The October 2009 Newsletter for SD56 is available for download. Topics covered include;

• Welcome Newcomers
• Movie "Not Evil Just Wrong"
• Health Care Reform
• Website of the month hotair.com
• Yes you can write a letter to the editor - And get it published, by Craig Westover
• Upcoming events

This and previous newsletters are also available at Newsletters

• Call to Order
  • Pledge of allegiance
  • Invocation
• New Business: 
  • Movie – Not Evil, Just Wrong
  • Discussion about State Convention 
  • LEA 2009
• Speakers:
  • Andy Cilek – Instant Runoff Voting 
  • Kourosh Motalebi – Iran Update 
  • Senator David Hann – Candidate for Governor 2010
  • Zack and Jack – Voter ID and Volunteers
• Old business: 
  • Voter Questionaire – review
  • Committee Updates
• Adjourn

Washington (CNSNews.com) – Although both the House and Senate have voted to de-fund the liberal activist group ACORN, it’s unlikely such a proposal will be enacted any time soon, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told CNSNews.com.

If House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid really wanted to defund ACORN, “we could have done it yesterday,” Bachmann told CNSNews.com. “It isn’t that I’m saying these votes won’t result in ultimately defunding ACORN, but right now you’ve got a vote on a housing bill and a vote on an education bill. How’s that going to come together?”

Read the whole article...

The New York Times article on Obama's appearance on 5 different Sunday news talk shows questions the logic of such an enterprise.  This resulted a number of interesting quotes; David Axelrod - “We’re essentially roadblocking the time by appearing on each station,”  That is if Obama is on, no one else can be.  Karl Rove - “Mr. Obama will appear on five news shows on Sunday. His time might be better spent praying for more public support.” Ken Spain (NRSC) - “People are beginning to tune the president out.”

The NYT article

A short video of Chris Wallace describing his interactions with the White House under Obama. 

YouTube - Video

House Republicans have introduced the "Defund ACORN Act", HR3571. The bill was introduced by John Boehner, and at introduction had 144 co-sponsors, including our own Michele Bachmann.  The text of the bill is here:  HR3571.  Call your legislators and get this bill passed.

The chairman’s health care proposal (known as the "chairman's mark") that was released by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) in advance of next week’s Finance Committee Markup is just more of the same big government policies that have been proposed by this Congress and this administration for months. The chairman’s rehashed proposal does nothing to increase Americans’ access to affordable health care coverage. In fact, the Baucus plan includes several devastating provisions that hurt the ability of millions of Americans to keep the coverage they currently have (and like).

1. Creates FANNIE MED Health Insurance Entities That Will Lead to Government Takeover:
2. Could DOUBLE Health Insurance Premiums for Millions of Americans:
3. Regulates EVERY Americans’ Health Coverage, by PENALIZING Anyone Without a Government Approved Plan:
4. Does Little to Improve Competition Across State Lines:
5. Expands a Broken, Bankrupt Entitlement Program:
6. Taxes Health Care Benefits for Millions of Middle-Income Americans:
7. Increases Taxes on Small Businesses:
8. Creates a New Government ‘Institute’ Similar to Bureaucracies in Other Nations Used to RATION Care:
9. Contains NO Tort Reform, Protecting Trial Lawyers While Costing Patients Hundreds of Billions Each Year:
10. Negatively Impacts Seniors’ Ability to Access Medicare Advantage Programs:
11. Creates New Government Bureaucracy to Oversee Medicare Reimbursements:

Read Jim DeMint's Blog

SD32 hosted a Governor Candidates Forum on Thursday Sept 10th. Here are the five minute speeches of each of the candidates which have been posted on Rockets Red Glare;

Leslie Davis, David Hann, Bill Haas

Pat Anderson, Marty Seifert, and Mike Jungbauer

Tom Emmer, Phil Herwig, and Paul Kohls

John Boehner: As a candidate, President Obama declared that; "Everyone deserves access to reproductive health care that includes abortion, and vowed that this 'right' would be at the heart of his health care reform plan if elected president."

Read the rest at PolitFact

Part I of Jason Lewis's speech at Denver's 912 event on Saturday;   Part II,  Part III, Part IV

... a spokesman for the National Park Service, Dan Bana, is quoted as saying, "It is a record.... We believe it is the largest event held in Washington, D.C., ever."

Read the story on American Thinker

And from the Daily Mail (UK)

The time is 7:15 at the Machine Shed on Tuesday September 29th.  Tom has sent the following itinerary. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Among other topics, the Activist Training Program provides information on:

• How to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) state and local government bodies.
• How to build a coalition for a cause.
• How legislative and executive bodies work.
• How to utilize new media.
• Much, much more!

All participants will be given complimentary take-home materials that supplement the training program. In addition, all participants will be provided information on how to continue their training and interact with other liberty-minded individuals through the American Majority Online Community.

Sign up with Joe Salmon

The combination of the eleven ACORN officials being arrested in Florida for election fraud, and the expose by BigGovernment.com has caused the US Census Bureau to sever ties to the organization.  Michele Bachmann, Member of Congress has renewed her demand that Congress defund the obviously corrupt organization. Just maybe Congress will be forced to do something now. Just maybe! Andrew Breitbart's new website was launched on Sept 10 with a big-bang.

Senator Max Baucus (D) MT, has his own plan for healthcare. The plan can be read here. There is actually a lot of humor in the plan, if it weren't so sad at the same time. Many new taxes, many reduced tax deductions and benefits. Read it and weep.

A message to all members of Minnesota Tea Party Patriots

Ride to DC from Fly-over Country DC Bus Trip - DEADLINE NOON THURSDAY 9/10

Due to good bids from the bus companies and the westerners driving farther to shorten our routes, we have set the price of all tickets for all Midwestern buses at $175 per seat, roundtrip.

We must each phone in our money by credit, or debit, card directly to the bus company.

If you want to take the 24 hour Red-eye Express to DC, you must get your $175 to: Lorenz Bus Service, Blaine MN, by 12 Noon, on 9/10. Call them at: 763-201-8870, or phone 763-784-1809.

First come, first served!

The Route the bus will be taking:

• This bus is leaving from Kelly Inn, 161 St Anthony Ave. W, St Paul MN, at 6 AM, Friday, Sept. 11,
• with stops at: Madison (WI) Travel Center, exit 132 (Hwy 51, Deforest WI), at 10 AM to 10:30 AM; then:
• Petro (Stopping Center) I 39, exit 99 (Rte 38), Rochelle IL, at 12 PM to 1 PM; then:
• Flying J Travel Plaza, I 80/I 94, exit 15b (Ripley St), Lake Station, Lake IN, at 3 PM to 3:30 PM;
• then, at Flying J Travel Plaza, I 80, exit 71 (I 280), Perrysburg OH, at 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM; then,
• arriving at our campsite at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, in Reston VA, at 6 AM Saturday, Sept. 12, where we will breakfast together,
• then, at 8 AM, we will head down to the National Mall to see the monuments, before the March.
• At 6 PM, Saturday, our buses will pick us up, and take us back to our campsite for a light supper.
• By 10 PM, the Red-eye Express Bus will leave to return to:
• Perrysburg OH, about 10 AM, Sunday, September 13;
• Lake IN, about 1 PM;
• Rochelle IL, about 4 PM;
• Deforest WI, about 6 PM; and,
• St. Paul MN, by 11 PM.

Do not miss making history, if this ride in to DC will work for you!

Call them to pay your $175 ticket price, by Noon on Thursday, and send an e-mail to me upon confirmation of your seat with your choice of pick up point. Everyone plan to be at your chosen pick up point, early, ready to jump on board. This operation must run with military precision. Larry

Note: MN Contact is Elaine 763-389-5915

Visit the Minnesota Tea Party Patriots

While we debate the pros and cons of a trillion-dollar-plus health care overhaul here in the House, it's important to come to terms with the rising financial commitment already facing our nation and future generations.

For instance, according to a report just released by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Social Security is broke.

The CBO now projects that Social Security’s costs will exceed tax income in 2010 (next year!)...

Read the full article at Townhall.com / blog

In an attempt to help you stay tuned in to the updates on our web site, I have added a couple new features. First is the addition of RSS (real simple syndication). With the RSS feed system updates come to you through your RSS reader. Users can subscribe to the RSS feed and stay up to date. If your browser is Firefox you should see a RSS Feed icon in the web address field. You can click on that to add live feeds.

The second new feature is an automatic Twitter updater.  When a new article is posted to the website, a Twitter message will also go out on the twitter account  mnsd56 .   Just 'follow' mnsd56 and you will be kept informed.

Currently these two features only update when new news articles are posted. Eventually I hope to also send out updates when Upcoming Events or Alerts are posted.  That takes a little more code, and I want to test out these features better before attempting that.

The Minnesota Tea Party Patriots are planning a bus trip to DC for the 9/12 National Tea Party.  They currently have 23 signed up, they would like to have 49 people to help keep costs down.  If you are interested in taking a trip to DC to participate in the protest here is an opportunity for you to share the experience with other like minded people on a trip to DC.

Read more here

With little more than a week before the primary election, incumbent mayor Chris Coleman is vastly outstripping his nearest competitor's fundraising in the 2009 St. Paul mayor's race.

Read more...

I was thinking about what the cost of Universal Health Care would be if Obama got his way.  Analyzing Medicare might provide some answers. There are about 40 million people on Medicare. The Medicare budget is $420 billion, or about $10,500 per recipient.  Persons on Medicare pay about $97 a month in premiums taken from their Social Security checks. The net Medicare budget is then $420 billion - $46 billion (from premiums) = $374 billion in Medicare taxes.

In 2006 there were 138 million people who filed income tax. They each paid 2.9 percent of their earned income (1.45 x 2) for Medicare tax. $374 billion / 138 million = $2700 per tax filer for Medicare taxes. 

Now if health care were expanded to cover everyone the 40 million being covered would expand to 306 million.  The health care sector represents about $2.5 trillion dollars per year.  $2.5 trillion divided by 306 million = $8169 / person, or $18,115 per tax filer.  To pay for that the health care tax would increase from 2.9 percent to 19.4 percent, on all income, not adjusted income like income tax.

Ignoring the fact that health care is not a Constitutional right, it would also be very expensive.  On top of  the health care tax  of 19.4 percent add in your income tax, and other taxes it would become quite oppressive indeed.

Senator Barbara Boxer recently said that the evil health care insurance companies had profits of $80 billion. That in a sector that is $2.5 trillion in size, means that those evil insurance companies profit margin was about 3 percent.  It appears that the insurance companies are not really the problem.  Maybe the problem lies elsewhere.

UPDATE: Part D of Medicare, the prescription drug portion, is funded 75 percent from the general fund, and 25 percent from premiums to Part D insurance providers. Not sure if the 75 percent funding is counted in the 420 billion Medicare budget or not.

Glenn Beck and Patrick Courrielche contributor to Big Hollywood are breaking news on the WH directing the NEA ( National Endowment for the Arts) to produce propaganda artwork, posters, music, or other art to push the agenda of the President.  Here are links to a series of articles and updates on this;

The National Endowment for the Art of Persuasion? (Big Hollywood)

UPDATE: What the NEA Says Vs. Documented Facts (Big Hollywood)

Official dishonesty from the National Endowment for the Arts (Washington Times)