US 'Economic Stimulus' Budget Review

[Husar]

"Bottom line" is the key. Wait for it, and all will be revealed.

I often do the same with long reviews, often all the info you need is in the conclusion.

Concerning windows vs doors, the actual door seems quite big for a door and looks more like a window to me, I might have made the same mistake(does that mean I can run for POTUS now? ).

It's also great to have a big recession now, I hope it continues for a while, we can have a big boom afterwards, it's best if they wait with that until I am done studying.

[Crazed Rabbit]

It gets worse:
A new bureaucracy will be formed:

One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.

New Penalties

Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will face penalties. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)

What penalties will deter your doctor from going beyond the electronically delivered protocols when your condition is atypical or you need an experimental treatment? The vagueness is intentional. In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.

The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.

Elderly Hardest Hit

Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt.

Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost- effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council (464).

And to think, this is only the first month of Obama's presidency.

CR

[Husar]

That actually sounds worse than our system, though i think for experimental treatments you may have to pay here as well, it seeme to be mostly decided by the insurance you have, which would be the same with a private insurance system, or can you currently get a 1 million dollar experimental treatment for free in the US when you don't have any insurance or do all insurance companies just pay anything?
Because the article sure makes it sound like currently you get any treatment for free, no matter how much it costs, but the way I always understood it you currently have to pay for every plaster you get from the doctor.

[Xiahou]

It gets worse:
A new bureaucracy will be formed:


And to think, this is only the first month of Obama's presidency.

CR

Don't forget the disturbingly protectionist, "Buy American" provisions:

As if the $900 billion stimulus package wasn't controversial enough, provisions requiring purchase of U.S.-made iron and steel for government contracts that were slipped into the House version, and of all manufactured goods in the Senate's, have annoyed more people than expected — across the world.

Last week, leaders from Canada, Brazil, China, the U.K., India, Mexico, Germany and the Czech Republic, among others, spoke out against such "Buy American" provisions as protectionist. Some threatened retaliation.

The most assertive voice came from the European Union, our top overseas market, which last year engaged in two-way trade with the U.S. totaling $709 billion.

EU ambassador to the U.S. John Bruton warned Congress that the "Buy American" provisions will damage the U.S. as well as world trade by building protectionist sentiment around the world.

Let's hope that gets let on the cutting room floor in the final version of the bill.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Don't forget the disturbingly protectionist, "Buy American" provisions:Let's hope that gets let on the cutting room floor in the final version of the bill.

I thought Obama wanted to redo FDR's approach, not that of Hoover?

[Spino]

The abominable snowjob bill just passed the Senate, 61 to 37. Three Republicans voted for it; Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (both from Maine) and Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania).

[Don Corleone]

The abominable snowjob bill just passed the Senate, 61 to 37. Three Republicans voted for it; Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (both from Maine) and Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania).

I think Maine gets the highest return on the stimulus bill, in terms of money in-money out. Good for them. Senators represent their states, not their national party.

As for Specter, I think the time has come to refuse him the right to caucus with with the party. He's more loyal to the Democatic party, and has been for at least the past decade, than at least half the Democratic senate caucus. If he's unwilling to make the letter change (R-> D), perhaps Senator McConnell should do it for him.

[drone]

As for Specter, I think the time has come to refuse him the right to caucus with with the party. He's more loyal to the Democatic party, and has been for at least the past decade, than at least half the Democratic senate caucus. If he's unwilling to make the letter change (R-> D), perhaps Senator McConnell should do it for him.

For what it's worth, here is Specter's justification for his vote.

I'm still a little surprised that the bill is almost $20B more than the House's version, I would have thought the opposition could have carved out a little more of the pork. So if the House approves $819B, and the Senate approves $838B, any bets on the final bill? I'm guessing a nice compromise at $850B.

[seireikhaan]

I thought Obama wanted to redo FDR's approach, not that of Hoover?

It appears this is more of the House's work(not surprising given who leads it :). However, I really wish Obama would make a more concerted effort to nix this thing in the bud. I really can't stand these "buy *insert country*" things.

[Husar]

How about, when you talk of final costs, you factor in the interest that needs to be paid until the resulting national debt has been paid off?

[LittleGrizzly]

I think almost every economist agree's protectionism is bad... but when did something like expert opinion ever bother politicians...

[Don Corleone]

Judd Gregg;
Jeanne Shaheen;
Paul Hodes;
and Carol Shea-Porter

are teh SUCK as a congressional delegation. . Utter I mean, they have their head up their . They really, really suck. They're so inept and lazy, it should be criminal. We should impeach all 4 of them.

Want to know what portion of the ~$1 Trillion, that's trillion with a "T" is going to New Hampshire? 10 billion? 1 billion? 100 million? Try ZERO!!! John Lynch announced that he had requested 300 million in state medicaid/medicare payments as part of the stimulus, and 200million in infrastructure improvements. I'm not certain, but I believe both technically are unfunded mandates, so it's not like Congress didn't force NH to spend the money in the first place. And this morning, on the news, I heard that Lynch will not be entering any federal stimulus money into the expected revenue, as none of what he requested was approved. NONE!

I can understand Gregg, being out in the wilderness, not being able to represent... but our Democrats are so abysmal at representing our state, it's criminal. Snowe and Collins, who represent Maine of all places, are bringing home about 15billion. NH? Not one penny. ARRRRGGGGGH!!!!! (I'm having a Howard Dean moment...)

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Judd Gregg;
Jeanne Shaheen;
Paul Hodes;
and Carol Shea-Porter

are teh SUCK as a congressional delegation. . Utter I mean, they have their head up their . They really, really suck. They're so inept and lazy, it should be criminal. We should impeach all 4 of them.
...specifics.... ARRRRGGGGGH!!!!! (I'm having a Howard Dean moment...)

Stop sugar-coating things Don, tell us what your really feel.