Facts were sometimes used as blunt instruments as the four remaining GOP presidential candidates hammered away at each other in the last debate before Saturday’s South Carolina primary.

• Santorum and Romney tangled on the Massachusetts health care law. Santorum wrongly claimed it was a “government-run” program. Romney erred when he said everybody was covered by private insurance, ignoring Medicare and his own expansion of Medicaid.
• Santorum also fouled up when he claimed the state has “the highest health insurance premiums of any state in the country.” Seven states and Washington, D.C., were higher in 2010, the most recent year for which figures are available.
• Gingrich claimed Romney appointees “funded” an abortion clinic. The truth is that an autonomous state agency approved a tax-exempt loan — not direct taxpayer funding — and Romney said he wasn’t aware until after he left office.
• Gingrich, slamming Jimmy Carter, said “unemployment went to 10.8 percent.” It did — nearly two years after Ronald Reagan took office. But it never exceeded 7.8 percent under Carter.
• Gingrich claimed that “none” of the ideas on the website of his Center for Health Transformation resemble Obama’s program. Actually, we found a call there for an individual mandate, which Gingrich himself repeated as recently as last May.
• Romney slammed Gingrich’s claim to have “helped” Reagan create jobs, saying Reagan mentioned Gingrich only once in his published diaries. That’s true. Reagan wrote that the young congressman’s 1983 suggestion to freeze spending “would cripple our defense program,” and he rejected it.
• Ron Paul, a physician, claimed medicine “worked rather well” in the early 1960′s. That was before Medicare, when in fact rising health care costs were forcing many of the elderly onto public assistance or charity care.

Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed on the FactCheck Web site:

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The conventional wisdom is that the biggest hurdle to President Barack Obama’s reelection is a dispirited and disappointed base.

But judging by the 100 people who showed up Thursday night for the opening of a Henderson campaign office for Obama, the president still has a lot of ardent supporters willing to campaign on his behalf.

The group reflected the young and minority voters who were key to Obama’s historic victory in 2008.

Organizing for America, the group that opened the office, formed shortly after Obama was inaugurated in 2009 to preserve the grassroots organization that help elect Obama and lay the groundwork for a second term.

Delray Gjestvang, a robotics programmer and car builder, admitted he doesn’t like the way things are going in Washington, but “it’s not Obama’s fault. Republicans won’t work with him.”

While some people in attendance said organizers received 300 RSVPs from people invited to the opening, Michael Campbell, press secretary of Organizing for America-Nevada, could not immediately confirm that number.

Aside from rank-and-file citizens and volunteers, some elected leaders showed up, including State Sen. Shirley Breeden, D-Henderson, said the presidential election will be a battle to protect Social Security and Medicare.

She briefly recounted what everyone in the office knows — that Nevada has been devastated by the recession, a situation that she believes has led to an increase in “lots of folks … committing suicide.”

“I don’t know how Republicans feel, but (the economic problems) do not just affect Democrats,” she added.

Nick Di Archangel, who lives near the office and is also a spokesman for the Service International Employees Union, called it “inspiring to see so many people so early showing up and getting into the campaign.”

“There was a lot of energy around his campaign the first time, and this shows he hasn’t lost any of that,” said Di Archangel, who added that he views Obama as the only candidate “who has an eye toward improvement for the middle class.”

Organizers took advantage of the large crowd. When the speeches ended, they handed out sheets with the names and phone numbers of people who had volunteered for Obama’s first presidential campaign. They urged volunteers to call and urge them to show up at the Jan. 21 caucus and come to other events.

In a news release, Organizing for America-Nevada boasted that its volunteers have already made more than 282,000 phone calls to supporters, held more than 2,500 one-on-one meetings and hosted more than 490 house parties and meetings.

They could add at least one more phone call, made by Audrey Martinelli, who sat on the sidewalk outside the office Thursday with her list of names and numbers and started making calls.

A 26-year-old UNLV student, Martinelli said Obama’s health care law touched her personally because its provision requiring insurance companies to cover those with pre-existing health problems aided a relative. Obama also increased Pell Grant funding for college students.

“I’m a student at UNLV and extending Pell Grants is what’s paying for me to be at school right now,” she said, then turned to her sheet and started punching another number into her cell phone.

[Source: Las Vegas Sun]

So what can you do? Try this:

• Join the volunteers on BarackObama.com;
• Join your county’s Democratic Party. The Nye County’s is at Nye County Democratic Party;
• If you aren’t registered to vote yet and will be age 18 by election day in November 2012, then register.
• Be sure to participate in the Democratic Caucus on January 21, 2012;
• Get active. You don’t have to devote your entire life to politics, but get yourself informed. Join your local Democratic Party.

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Physicians for a National Health Program, is a single issue organization advocating a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health program. PNHP has more than 18,000 members and chapters across the United States. PNHP is also on Facebook.

Because there is some confusion about what a single-payer program is PNHP defines it as “Single-payer national health insurance is a system in which a single public or quasi-public agency organizes health financing, but delivery of care remains largely private.” In other words it is like Medicare only everyone can use it, not just those on Social Security.

“Currently, the U.S. health care system is outrageously expensive, yet inadequate. Despite spending more than twice as much as the rest of the industrialized nations ($8,160 per capita), the United States performs poorly in comparison on major health indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality and immunization rates. Moreover, the other advanced nations provide comprehensive coverage to their entire populations, while the U.S. leaves 51 million completely uninsured and millions more inadequately covered,” they state.

If you have ever encountered hospital bills costing $30,000, $60,000 or more, as I have, the cost of health care will catch your interest. My wife and I would have been bankrupt years ago had we not had Medicare. Makes one wonder how that 51 million that is completely uninsured and the millions more that are not adequately covered, make it, or will make it in the future.

PNHP says the reason health care in the United States is “outrageously expensive and inadequate” is:

“The reason we spend more and get less than the rest of the world is because we have a patchwork system of for-profit payers. Private insurers necessarily waste health dollars on things that have nothing to do with care: overhead, underwriting, billing, sales and marketing departments as well as huge profits and exorbitant executive pay. Doctors and hospitals must maintain costly administrative staffs to deal with the bureaucracy. Combined, this needless administration consumes one-third (31 percent) of Americans’ health dollars.”

I’d add another reason to PHNP’s reasoning, namely that too many Americans are just plain ignorant. Those Americans foolishly fight against single-payer health care, not because of the facts, but because they believe all the tripe put out by the GOP. A lot of those 51 million uninsured or inadequately insured people buy the nonsense about too much government, or crazy labels of socialism and the like. I would guess that the first time they get a $30,000 hospital bill they begin to wonder if they should have ignored the GOP propaganda and voted Democratic instead. Votes do have consequences.

“Single-payer financing is the only way to recapture this wasted money. The potential savings on paperwork, more than $400 billion per year, are enough to provide comprehensive coverage to everyone without paying any more than we already do.”

For a political party such as the GOP to disregard the preaching of the PHNP causes one to question their sanity when they dash about intent on repealing Health Care Reform passed last year without a single Republican voting for the reform.

Republican Paul Ryan, has proposed a budget plan which would terminate the reformed health care program returning it all back to the insurance companies “that waste health dollars on things that have nothing to do with care: overhead, underwriting, billing, sales and marketing departments as well as huge profits.”

Republican Michelle Bachmann, currently seeking the Republication nomination to run for President, vows to repeal the whole reformed system. She has her followers, principally members of the Tea-Party.

The Democratic Party, which pushed the Health Care Reform through Congress, and also President Obama, disappointed many progressive Democrats by their failure to push for single-payer. Whether they were too timid or not, I can’t say. But they backed off from single-payer. In doing so they failed the American people. I recall two Democratic Senators (forgot their names) who were instrumental in discarding the single-payer provisions for some reason.

According to PNHP:

“Under a single-payer system, all Americans would be covered for all medically necessary services, including: doctor, hospital, preventive, long-term care, mental health, reproductive health care, dental, vision, prescription drug and medical supply costs. Patients would regain free choice of doctor and hospital, and doctors would regain autonomy over patient care.

“Physicians would be paid fee-for-service according to a negotiated formulary or receive salary from a hospital or nonprofit HMO / group practice. Hospitals would receive a global budget for operating expenses. Health facilities and expensive equipment purchases would be managed by regional health planning boards.

“A single-payer system would be financed by eliminating private insurers and recapturing their administrative waste. Modest new taxes would replace premiums and out-of-pocket payments currently paid by individuals and business. Costs would be controlled through negotiated fees, global budgeting and bulk purchasing.”

The PNHP’s website has a plethora of information on single-payer health care. Anyone interested in the subject should visit that site and read and learn more than you ever know.

If I were a Republican I’d sure read it and not vote for any Republican who advocates abolishing the reformed Health Care Act.

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She, at a Tea Party Rally in 2009, said:

"Take off the mandates for coverage in the state of Nevada and all over the United States. You know what I’m talking about. You’re paying for things that you don’t even need. They just passed the latest one, is everything that they want to throw at us now is covered under ‘autism’."

She went on to say,

"So, that’s a mandate that you have to pay for. How about maternity leave? I’m not going to have anymore babies, but I sure get to pay for it on my insurance. Those are the kinds of things that we want to get rid of."

“Her comments regarding autism coverage refer to Assembly Bill 162, which passed with sweeping bipartisan support in the Nevada Legislature in 2009. Only two Nevada legislators voted no on the bill: Assemblyman Ed Goedhart, R-Amargosa, Churchill, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye counties, and Assemblyman Don Gustavson, R-Sparks, Humboldt, Lander, Washoe counties. The bill passed 60-2 in both houses with one legislator absent,” reported Huffington Post.

Angle is against reformation of health care coverage that went into effect yesterday. “She has said she will work to repeal it. requiring insurance companies to cover children with pre-existing conditions, removing life-time coverage caps and allowing young adults children to stay on their parents’ policies take effect this week.” Las Vegas Sun.

Angle is one cold-hearted woman. She has called “out-of-work Nevadans ‘spoiled’ by unemployment benefits and saying that rape victims should ‘make lemons into lemonade’ by having their attacker’s child, but mocking those suffering with autism – and in fact scapegoating their coverage for our nation’s current health care woes – is exceptionally cruel and represents a new low, even for Sharron Angle." Huffington Post.

Angle is obviously selfish. She doesn’t intend to spend a dime of her own money in aid of less fortunate Americans. She apparently doesn’t have a charitable bone in her body. She doesn’t even care about  raped children.

When she appeared on conservative talk show of Bill Manders a caller asked her about insurance companies being required to insure people with “pre-existing conditions” she said it was “an insurance problem, not a health care problem” and “that the insurance cost problem can be addressed very well by the free market.”

Nonsense! That insurance companies would not insure people with pre-existing conditions was one of the primary reasons Health Insurance Reform was passed by Congress.

In 2005, when the Congress was under Republican control she said she would not have provided relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Huffington Post.Huffington Post.

Angle has become infamous for her interpretation of the Second Amendment, which she has said is intended to ensure that the people have the means to engage in armed revolt "when our government becomes tyrannical," suggesting that the time to employ such "Second Amendment remedies" may arrive if politicians like Harry Reid are not voted out of office. "[T]he nation is arming," says Angle, because the people "are afraid they’ll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment kinds of ways." Huffington Post.

Even one of Angle’s Republican colleagues, Dawn Gibbons, says Angle should not be elected to the United States Senate. See video on Huffington Post.

Angle wants to abolish the Department of Education, withdraw from the United Nations, ban same-sex marriage, opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, favors privatization of Medicare, opposes fluoridating drinking water, wants to transition Social Security out, wants to abolish the IRS code, audit the Federal Reserve, abolish Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, opposes legalization of marijuana and alcohol, does not believe in global warming, wants to repeal regulations governing off-shore oil drilling, or drilling in ANWR, and supported three coal-fired plants in Ely, Nevada. See Wikipedia.

Ms. Angle is, just as Senator Harry Reid has alleged, too extreme, even in Nevada.

It is amazing to me that she seems to be polling enough support to beat Senator Reid. Democrats that want competent representation in the United States Senate had best turn out in droves on November 2nd and vote, else they may well find they have no representation at all. It is painfully obvious and clear that Mrs. Angle doesn’t care about people, just herself.

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It is interesting to note that Senator John Ensign voted NO on the bill the Senate passed to provide aid to the states, including Nevada, to help Nevada extend Medicaid, secure and retain the jobs of teachers. Notice also that Senator Harry Reid voted YES.

Wonder why Senator Ensign voted to ignore Nevada who desperately needs some financial assistance currently?

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The House is in recess and is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, September 14. The Senate is in session this week. Here are the most recent votes.

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Health Care

Health Projects USA has created the New Position of HealthCare Consultant. The HealthCare Consultants can earn $500 up to $2,500 or more continuous Passive Extra Income every month.

The HealthCare Consultant Position can be Part-Time, and all Education and Training is available Online.

The HealthCare Consultants Position is perfect for Pharmaceutical Representatives, Medical Equipment and Supply Representatives; HealthCare Professionals; HealthCare Students and recent Health Care Graduates.

The HealthCare Consultants provide Health Projects USA with referrals of Doctors, Clinics, and other HealthCare Providers who are interested in providing their Clients and Patients with a new, low-cost Medical Screening that will increase Revenues for the Doctors, Clinics or other HealthCare Providers.

HealthCare Consultants are needed Immediately in the following geographical areas: Southern Alabama; Kansas City KS & MO; Manhatten KS; New Jersey; Southern NV; Northeastern TN; Southwestern VA; Wichita KS.

Please send an eMail requesting additional information to:
Kenneth.Little@healthprojectsusa.com

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Recent Senate Votes

Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act – Vote Passed (99-0, 1 Not Voting) On Thursday, the Senate unanimously approved the conference report to this bill that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran. The House voted on the conference report later that day. Sen. John Ensign voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Harry Reid voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Motion to Invoke Cloture on Reid Amendment; American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 – Vote Rejected (57-41, 2 Not Voting) The Senate rejected the motion to end debate on this latest version of a bill to extend several expired tax provisions and unemployment benefits due to concerns about the federal deficit. After failing to agree on how to pay for the bill, Senate Democratic leaders have decided to move on to other legislation, and the bill’s future is unclear. Sen. John Ensign voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Harry Reid voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act – Vote Passed (219-206, 8 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would establish new reporting requirements for corporations, unions and other interest groups for campaign-related activities. The bill now goes to the Senate. Rep. Shelley Berkley voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act – Vote Passed (408-8, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting) The House approved the conference report to this legislation that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran, sending it to the White House. The president is expected to sign the bill. Rep. Shelley Berkley voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Recent House Votes Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act – Vote Passed (219-206, 8 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would establish new reporting requirements for corporations, unions and other interest groups for campaign-related activities. The bill now goes to the Senate. Rep. Dean Heller voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act – Vote Passed (408-8, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting) The House approved the conference report to this legislation that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran, sending it to the White House. The president is expected to sign the bill. Rep. Dean Heller voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Recent House Votes Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act – Vote Passed (219-206, 8 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would establish new reporting requirements for corporations, unions and other interest groups for campaign-related activities. The bill now goes to the Senate. Rep. Dina Titus voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act – Vote Passed (408-8, 1 Present, 16 Not Voting) The House approved the conference report to this legislation that would impose new sanctions on companies doing business with Iran, sending it to the White House. The president is expected to sign the bill. Rep. Dina Titus voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

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Sharron Angle still holds a slight lead over Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada’s U.S. Senate race. [Rasmussen Reports]

Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Nevada shows Angle earning 48% support, while Reid, the state’s longtime Democratic senator, picks up 41% of the vote. Eight percent (8%) like some other candidate in the race, while just two percent (2%) are undecided.

Angle gets 85% of the vote from those who consider themselves members of the Tea Party movement. Forty-three percent (43%) of Nevada voters believe the Tea Party movement is good for the country, but 37% say it’s bad.

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Recent Senate Votes

Motion to Invoke Cloture on Baucus Substitute Amendment; American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 – Vote Rejected (56-40, 4 Not Voting) The Senate rejected the motion to end debate and vote on this $118 billion version of the bill to extend tax cuts and unemployment benefits due to concerns about the federal deficit. The Senate is likely to continue its work on the bill this week. Sen. John Ensign voted NO……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Harry Reid voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 – Vote Passed (241-182, 9 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would establish a $30 billion lending fund administered by the Treasury Department to invest in financial institutions, like community banks, with the intention of expanding the availability of credit to small businesses. The bill now goes to the Senate. Rep. Shelley Berkley voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 – Vote Passed (241-182, 9 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would establish a $30 billion lending fund administered by the Treasury Department to invest in financial institutions, like community banks, with the intention of expanding the availability of credit to small businesses. The bill now goes to the Senate. Rep. Dean Heller voted NO……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 – Vote Passed (241-182, 9 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would establish a $30 billion lending fund administered by the Treasury Department to invest in financial institutions, like community banks, with the intention of expanding the availability of credit to small businesses. The bill now goes to the Senate. Rep. Dina Titus voted NO……send e-mail or see bio

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