The Independent

This past Wednesday marked the three month anniversary of ObamaCare being rushed through Congress and signed into law. As Speaker Pelosi famously stated that “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,” Americans are beginning to dislike the health care law more and more as its harrowing details are unveiled. Although the Majority claimed the health care law would reduce premiums by $2,500, in actuality it is expected to raise premiums by as much as $2,100, according to the Congressional Budget Office. In addition, during debate of the bill, Democrats claimed their government takeover of the health care sector would create millions of new jobs. However, according to a study by the National Federation of Independent Business, the health care law’s employer mandate could eliminate 1.6 million jobs through 2014, with 66 percent of those coming from small businesses. Because the health care law raises health care costs and kills jobs, among other atrocities, Con...

This week, President Obama embarked on a public relations offensive hoping to convince skeptical Americans that the Democrats’ health care overhaul is good for them.  First up, the President held a nationally televised question-and-answer session with seniors to highlight the one-time, $250 rebate check that relatively few seniors will receive if they reach the Medicare Part D donut hole this year.  In fact, more than 9 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries will never receive one of these checks. Despite the PR campaign, the problem remains in the policy.  According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the $250 one-time check pales in comparison to the $8,980 per senior cut in Medicare spending under the law over the next ten years.  Because the new health care law harms seniors by slashing Medicare, Congressman Miller and his Republican colleagues will continue to fight to repeal the law.   

California single-payer plan advances Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Friday, January 22, 2010 (01-22) 04:00 PST Sacramento - As national health care reform grew more uncertain, the California Legislature on Thursday pushed forward a controversial proposal to create a single-payer health system in the state. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 6-3 along party lines, with Democrats in favor of the proposal, which will be considered by the full Senate next week. The vote came two days after Massachusetts voters elected a Republican U.S. senator to fill the seat long held by Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy - putting President Obama's national health bill in jeopardy. Backers of the California plan said the timing was coincidental and due to legislative timelines. But political observers said the vote could come back to hurt state Democrats in November and viewed the move as motivated by the turmoil in Washington, D.C. Similar incarnations of the Cali...

John North More: Bio , abc7.com News Team    SACRAMENTO (KABC) -- When you pay money to your insurance company, you could be financing investments in the government of Iran. California insurance companies admit they have $12 billion in investments in Iran. The insurance commissioner wants them to divest. And he's threatening to revoke their licenses to operate in California. The legislature outlawed investments in Iran but left a big loophole. Scenes of protests in Iran are familiar to international viewing audiences. So are the allegations that Iran continues to violate its citizen's civil rights as it moves toward a nuclear capability. California Insurance commissioner Steve Poizner has been trying to enforce a new law designed to pressure Iran into changing its ways. The law prohibits insurance companies from investing in Iran. Poizner says there is a huge loophole. ...

UPDATE: US House Panel Approves Broader Auditing Of Fed (Updates with vote count, details on the amendment, comments by Rep. Frank) By Fawn Johnson and Sarah N. Lynch Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- A key House panel on Thursday attached to a broad financial overhaul bill language that would give federal watchdogs massive new authority to audit the Federal Reserve. The House Financial Services Committee's 43-26 vote on the Fed auditing amendment, introduced by Rep. Ron Paul (R, Texas), concluded weeks of debate on a bill to create a new council of regulators to wind down large institutions that pose a risk to the economy. The committee has postponed a final vote on the bill until after the Thanksgiving holiday. For more than 20 years, Paul has championed significantly neutering the Fed. His amendment removes restrictions on the Government Accountability Office's auditing authority, giving it access to every item on the Fed's balance sheet. Paul...

Dear Friend: I am pleased to let you know that I have joined a bipartisan effort to create a nationwide network for locating missing adults and senior citizens. The Silver Alert Act ( S.557 ) would create a national alert system, modeled after the Amber Alert, providing federal coordination and assistance across state lines to locate missing seniors. The need for this legislation is clear. With an aging population, and a growing number of people who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, thousands of adults go missing every year. Thus, while local law enforcement officials continue to work hard to locate missing seniors, a coordinated national effort makes sense.  The Amber Alert program has proven to be successful in many cases involving missing children. It provides a good model to provide law enforcement agencies with the added resources they need to locate loved ones.  The Silver Alert Act specifically encourages states to develop Silver Alert plans and provides funding t...

Thank you for writing me about AB 1288. I appreciate your suggestions on proposed legislation affecting our state. I generally do not take a position on legislation until a bill has reached my desk because it can change significantly from the time it is introduced until the time it is finalized. For the current session, the California Legislature has until September 11, 2009 to pass legislation, and I have until October 11, 2009 to sign or veto proposed bills. You may continue to follow this and any other bill under consideration by lawmakers at the Official California Legislative website: www.leginfo.ca.gov . You may also read my legislative messages at www.gov.ca.gov . Again, I appreciate your interest in California's future. An informed and engaged public is important for effective government in our state. Sincerely, Arnold Schwarzenegger

The approved measures provide a variety of home loan protections for consumers, including a ban on so-called negative-amortization loans. By Marc Lifsher October 12, 2009 | 6:47 p.m. Reporting from Sacramento - In a flurry of end-of-session bill signings, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approved seven new laws that provide a range of consumer protections to home-mortgage holders and may allow some to hold on to their houses. Late Sunday night, the governor signed AB 260 by Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance). The measure, which takes effect Jan. 1, tightens restrictions on mortgage brokers so they cannot steer borrowers to riskier, higher-interest loans when they qualify for less-expensive ones. The new law also bans so-called negative-amortization loans, which offer monthly payments that cover no principal and don't even cover all the monthly accrued interest. Such loans amounts can actually grow larger over time. The law also limits prepayment penalties to no more than 2% of th...