[StBernard] Countdown To Obama Visit - Day 3

[Westley Annis]

Good Afternoon -

Columnist James Gill hits the nail on the head in this morning’s Times-Picayune <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=e56ac6a3b1&e=e293a5ac38>  saying that “as goodwill trips go, tomorrow's is not shaping up as a roaring success, and maybe fewer noses would be out of joint if Obama had just stayed in Washington. He has plenty to fill his time there, and it is hard to see the point of a making a trip that is universally panned as meaningless and perfunctory…”

On a programming note - if you missed Chairman Roger Villere on the the Garland Robinette show this morning you can catch him in the Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNN between 3pm and 6pm this afternoon.

What Louisiana Thinks Of The Democrats' Plans For Healthcare:

The latest Rasmussen Reports <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=079378b39e&e=e293a5ac38>  survey of likely voters in Louisiana reveals the challenges Obama faces to sell his reckless plan for government run-healthcare on Thursday.  61% of Louisiana voters oppose the health care plans proposed by Obama and Congressional Democrats.  If those plans pass, Louisiana voters predict that care will get worse (60%), costs will go up (58%), the deficit will increase (67%), and that taxes will be raised on the middle class (83%).  

LA Insurance Exec. Says Senate Plan Doesn't Lower Costs, Raises Taxes:

The Times-Picayune <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=17497c8487&e=e293a5ac38>  reports today that Brian Keller, senior vice president and marketing chief for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana told a luncheon just yesterday that the Baucus Bill "not lower costs and will yield higher taxes that insurance companies pass on to policyholders."  Keller spoke out against the public option and against co-ops while noting a possible "strategic" maneuver by the Obama to pass co-ops this year as part of a long term plan to achieve his goal of a public option.

Baucus Bill's Unfunded Mandates Threaten State Budgets:

Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee approved the Baucus Bill that fails to reduce costs, increases taxes, and perhaps most disturbingly creates massive unfunded mandates that are passed onto the states.  As Louisiana does everything possible to streamline government and live within our means, these mandates offload enormous expenses that threaten to bust our budget.  Earlier this month, Governor Jindal expressed his concern <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=c1ef05acd8&e=e293a5ac38>  with unfunded mandates being passed onto the states - and he's right.  The federal government should take responsibility for their policies and not force states to cut critical services or raises taxes.

Questions for The President On Health Care Reform:

Will you support efforts by Senator David Vitter <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=38e0765489&e=e293a5ac38>  and Representative John Fleming <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=7196d3e429&e=e293a5ac38>  to require every member of congress receive health insurance through the public option?

When will you meet with Representative Steve Scalise <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=ac5a87d21f&e=e293a5ac38> who has not once but twice written a letter to you to go "line by line" through the proposed health care legislation?

Every Republican member of Louisiana's delegation in the U.S. House has signed a discharge petition <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=1596850fbc&e=e293a5ac38>  to post the health care bill online for 72 hours before Congress votes on it.  In the name of transparency, do you support allowing the people to read the bill before it's voted on?

You have spoken many times about your desire for bipartisan health care reform.  Have you read Governor Jindal’s 7 ideas for health care reform published in the Wall Street Journal <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=844d205353&e=e293a5ac38>  or his 10 ideas to improve affordability and cost in the Washington Post <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=ae50e64250&e=e293a5ac38> ?  If yes, why have you not reached across the isle to pursue a health care package that all Americans could get behind?

How is the “public option” any different than “co-ops”?  Because of all the federal rules and regulations that will govern co-ops and put government bureaucrats between doctors and their patients, isn’t this just the public option by different name?

Today's Must Reads:

Times-Picayune: Obama visit to New Orleans stirs up strife <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=c704ef7cc5&e=e293a5ac38> 

Times-Picayune: Louisiana health insurance executive warns Senate plan won't cut costs <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=a2da679ae0&e=e293a5ac38> 

Advocate: La. faces big federal funds loss <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=b28500954b&e=e293a5ac38> 

Heritage: Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on How Baucus Bill Raises Costs
<http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=c66e3bd64f&e=e293a5ac38> 
Times-Picayune: Census Bureau knocks Sen. David Vitter's proposal to ask about immigration status <http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=fc78b37c84&e=e293a5ac38> 

<http://lagop.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=81f80dfae08a15f3629eabdeb&id=884000df29&e=e293a5ac38> 
Aaron Baer, Communications Director
Republican Party of Louisiana