IRS Hired For Millions The Same Canadian Company That Botched The Obamacare Website

Here's one for the WTH file.

Remember the Canadian company CGI Federal that messed up, big time, HealthCare.gov, the Obamacare website? They were eventually fired, with good reason, but apparently the IRS has now hired the IT company for the Obamacare tax program for a whopping $4.46 million!

CGI is a $10.5 billion Montreal-based company that has forever been etched into the public’s mind as the company behind the bungled Obamacare main website.

After facing a year of embarrassing failures, federal officials finally pulled the plug on the company and terminated CGI’s contract in January 2014.

Yet on Aug. 11, seven months later, IRS officials signed a new contract with CGI to provide “critical functions” and “management support” for its Obamacare tax program, according to the Federal Procurement Data System, a federal government procurement database.

The rest on Daily Caller, which lists all the various failures with the HealthCare.gov website.

And what are we doing hiring a Canadian company? No offense to my Canuck buddies, but don't we have a competent IT company that can handle the job?

Stupid Voters and Lack of Transparency Helped Pass Obamacare Claims Architect of Obamacare- On Video

Remember how Barack Obama promised to create the most transparent and open government ever:

"My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government." - 

It turns out that Jonathan Gruber, an economist who helped cobble together Obamacare, claims that "lack of transparency" was what enabled Obama and his Democratic congressional minions to pass the Affordable Care Act.  Lack of transparency, and the stupidity of the low information voter.

“Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage." “And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical for the thing to pass.”

Obamacare's "War Against Doctor's"

Alabama Republican congressman Mo Brooks reads a letter from a Decatur, Alabama family practitioner Dr. Marlin Gill who exposes Obamacare's "war against doctors" and the subsequent damage being done to our healthcare system.

Doctors are leaving practices, switching to administrative jobs, or starting concierge practices- like my parents' internist, because of cumbersome regulations that add cost, raise overhead and ""gum up the works."   These new rules and regulations create a slower and less efficient practice, forcing doctors to spend more time on administrative tasks than treating patients. As part of Obamacare, there are new electronic medical records requirements,  including a new coding system. The current system has 13,000, Obamacare now has 70,000 new codes.  The cost to Gill's practice $80,000.  He now sees fewer patients, and many doctors fear non-payment by patients with Obamacare, since many are not paying their premiums.

Video on YouTube here.

Stephen Lynch (D-MA)- The Worst Part Of Obamacare To "Hit The Fan"

Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch from Massachusetts claims that the worst part of Obamacare is about to "hit the fan." Granted, he voted against it in 2010- the only one of his fellow Democrats to do so.

“There are parts of Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, that were postponed because they are unpalatable." “As these provisions come into effect, the administration thus far is saying, ‘Gee, we really can’t handle this right now so we’re going to delay it.’”

“These obligations keep piling up." “Any individual with an individual healthcare plan that exceeds $10,200 is in a Cadillac plan situation. They’re going to have to pay — that employer, if they provide that, and many do today let alone in 2018 — will have to pay a 40 percent tax on the amount over the minimum established — excuse me, the maximum established under the Affordable Care Act.”

“That is a huge tax. It’s the first time in this country’s history that we have actually taxed health care." “We used to treat it like food, that people would die without it. Well, we’re in a new day now.”

[snip]

“We will lose seats in the House." [snip] “I am fairly certain of that based on the poll numbers that are coming out from the more experienced pollsters down there. And I think we may lose the Senate.”

More here.

Video of Lynch.

Hopefully this is good news for the Republicans in mid-terms.

Jimmy Fallon Mocks Obama's Obamacare "Victory Lap"

Jimmy Fallon was at it again on the "Tonight Show" this time mocking Obama's "victory lap" speech regarding the whopping 7 plus million people who have allegedly signed up for Obamacare.  To put that into perspective, the USA has a population of between 315 and  317 million people. This is what he said:

“That’s right, the White House said that it surpassed its goal for people enrolled in ObamaCare,” Fallon said. “It’s amazing what you can achieve when you make something mandatory and fine people if they don’t do it. And then keep extending the deadline for months. It’s like a Cinderella story. It’s just a beautiful thing. You make everyone do it. Isn’t it great how many people do it? But if you still haven’t enrolled, you might have to pay a penalty called the individual shared responsibility payment, which is 1% of your salary. Then Americans said, ‘Man, good thing I don’t have a job.’”

Watch video on Top Right News.

However, not everyone believes the numbers are true. Some claim that of those 7 million people only 858,000 or so were uninsured, and have actually paid their premiums. Many others lost their insurance because of Obamacare and were forced to enroll, often with lesser coverage.

Obamacare Could Prompt 10,000 Las Vegas Union Workers To Strike

Unions were instrumental in getting Barack Obama elected, but now many members are squawking about his prized Obamacare because it isn't turning out to be quite what they expected.

One of those unions (that was probably pushing hard for its membership to vote for Obama - both times)  represents Las Vegas workers, and about 10,000 of those unhappy campers are poised to strike because they want to keep the benefits they have, including no-cost health coverage, and that 'aint gonna happen under Obamacare.

The Culinary Union Local 226 - representing a slew of Las Vegas workers including maids, porters, cooks etc. -  has curtailed negotiations with management and ended a contract extension because they don't want to pay a penny for their health insurance, and don't want any changes to their pension and guaranteed 40 work hours per week.  Obamacare would change all that.

According to BuzzFeed, union honcho Donald "D" Taylor said:

“The biggest hurdle to reaching settlements in Vegas is the new costs imposed on our health plan by Obamacare," “Even though the president and Congress promised we could keep our health plan, the reality is, unless the law is fixed, that won’t be true.”

Oops.  Fools for believing the oh-so obvious lies.

BuzzFeed explains the reason unions are balking:

Union leaders have long voiced concern over the health care law’s effect on their Taft-Hartley plans, which are collectively bargained plans maintained by multiple employers and a labor union. Under the Affordable Care Act, Taft-Hartley plan recipients (like the members of CU 226) are not eligible for tax subsidies. That makes some union employees more expensive for employers who provide health care, making employers less agreeable when it comes time to foot the bill.

Taylor is so pissed about the situation he actually approached a Republican: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The Washington Post quoted Taylor as saying:

“You can’t just order people to do stuff." “If their health plan gets wrecked, why would they then go campaign for the folks responsible for wrecking their health care?”

The CU Local 226 has made some leeway with MGM Resorts, Caesars and Tropicana, all of which have said members will continue to receive free health insurance. But others are still pending.

More info on Buzzfeed.

More on how union members will be hurt.

Granted, there are some happy campers who have benefited from the ACA, but many more people haven't, and this straight from the lips of  Democrat friends who voted for Obama.

Video: Jimmy Kimmel Skewers Obamacare

Jimmy Kimmel skewers Obamacare.

Spanish Website To Sign Up For Obamacare A Mess

According to a post by Andrew Sullivan in his Daily Dish, besides young people, for Obamacare to work it needs the almost 15 million uninsured Hispanics to sign up (many of whom are young), and yet the Spanish language ACA website CuidadoDeSalud.gov  is a mess. Apparently, there are links to English forms, translations that appear to be "computer-generated", or more than likely from one of those on-line free translation sites.


Sullivan says:

It is hard to believe that the same team that won two elections is so hampered by federal contracting rules that it can produce something like this. There are worse examples of how government cannot do many things right – but this one, run by technocrats, with plenty of time to prep, will loom large in the public’s imagination for some time. 

Sullivan, who considers himself a conservative, actually voted for Barack Obama.

Oops.

Why It's Important For Millenials To Sign Up For Obamacare- Video

Revealing Politics has put together a little video explaining just why it's so important for the young 'uns to sign up for Obamacare.

In the words of Patty Fontneau of Connect for Colorado we see why the Millenials are needed, and Revealing Politics shows the marketing strategy to get those young working kids to sign on. It's "cool" to sign up, but they leave out some very important information that will impact them.

Pajama Boy Touts Obamacare

Maybe not everyone knows, but for Obamacare to work the government needs as many to sign on to the programme, especially the young ones. They have been somewhat reluctant to do so, and even if they were interested, it's been pretty dang hard to accomplish that feat.  So step in team-Obama with 'pajama boy', an ad attempting to appeal to the young 'uns.

A photo that was posted on Twitter, and has subsequently become the laughing stock of social media and the media itself, you see a nerdy, metro-sexual model wearing a onesie, hot chocolate in hand, encouraging people to wear their jammies, drink some hot chocolate and "talk about getting health insurance."

Even MSNBC ridiculed it.

Log Cabin Republicans Blast Gay Stereotypes In Obamacare Ad

Log Cabin Republicans (our gay conservative brothers and sisters) are appalled at a pro-Obamacare ad by gay organization Out2Enroll which they feel uses gay stereotypes to try to get gays to enroll in Obamacare.

A statement from their website:

“This cynical ad betrays the depths Obamacare advocates will sink to in order to pad their pathetic enrollment numbers,” Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Gregory T. Angelo declared. “As a self-proclaimed ‘fierce advocate’ of gay equality, President Obama would do well to distance himself from this nonsense and denounce it immediately. This ad is also an example of the left promoting harmful stereotypes that gay men are nothing more than sex-crazed lechers. If anyone on the right made such a comparison, liberals would be apoplectic. At a time when left-wing propagandists are decrying Duck Dynasty‘s Phil Robertson for equating homosexuality with promiscuity and deviance, Out2Enroll and others should take a look in the mirror and ask if the truth is that they are the ones responsible for promoting such harmful stereotypes.”

H/T: Newsmax

Spirit Airlines Takes Dig At Obamacare In Latest Ad Campaign

Spirit Airlines, the only airline (that I know of) to charge for carry-on baggage, has added the Obamacare fiasco to its ad campaign arsenal titled the Affordable Fare Act. Making fun of the website woes and Barack Obama's failed promises regarding keeping your insurance, Spirit Airlines sent an email touting its latest low prices featuring the following:

“If you like your low fares, you can keep your low fares … because our website actually works!”  “Take advantage of our Affordable Fare Act with this deal!”

Sure the prices seem low- $19.90 one way for Spirit members and $29.90 for non-members- but who knows where those flights will take you, and then you have to factor in all your baggage fees. I refuse to fly Spirit, but I admire the rather gutsy ad campaign.

According to Fox, Spirit cleverly uses breaking news to fashion its ad campaigns, including one called "We're Not Smoking Crack" in honor of, yes- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

Obamacare Gets Mocked At CMAs By Hosts Paisley and Underwood

Carrie Underwood (in a very bizarre outfit) and Brad Paisley hosted the 2013 Country Music Awards (CMA) and the opening 'dialogue' between the two was quite a doozy. Poking fun at everything from feuding stars, to Miley Cyrus, to Obamacare it's quite entertaining. Check out the reaction in the audience to Paisley and Underwood mocking Obamacare starting at around 3.50, some look a tad shocked that they would dare broach that subject. Although the country music industry has many conservatives in its midst, there are many liberals, as well.

Obama Argued Against Healthcare Mandate In 2008 In Debate With Clinton

In his own words- during a presidential debate in 2008 with Hillary Clinton in Ohio- then Senator Barack Obama argues against the healthcare mandate Clinton was pushing whereby individuals were to be fined for not purchasing insurance. This, as we know, is now part of Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Speaking of Clinton's mandate-which Obama claimed was the main difference between their healthcare plans:

"... she would force, in some fashion, individuals to purchase healthcare. If it was not affordable, she would still, presumably, force them to have it unless there is a hardship exemption as they have done in Massatusetts [sic]..."

Yes, he pronounced the "ch" in Massachusetts with a "t". And no, I'm not being petty, but the left skewered George W. Bush for mispronouncing nuclear, so fair is fair.



H/T BlackAndRight

NBC's Lester Holt Discusses "Unintended Consequences" Of Obamacare

NBC's Lester Holt talks about some of the "unintended consequences" of  Obamacare.

Promise: Insurance for all.

Truth: No insurance and paycuts for many working for small businesses. So good luck getting the funds to pay for insurance or the fines if you don't.

From Subway fast food workers and professors at universities, people are starting to experience those unintended consequences.

Of course, the Obama administration is in total denial.

Even unions (die-hard liberals) admit there are problems.

Way to go.

Charitable Hospitals To Be Fined For Treating Uninsured Under Obamacare

60 percent of American hospitals are apparently nonprofit, many of those charitable- which means if you are poor and uninsured they won't kick you out the door if you are sick and in need.  Under Obamacare that might change.  Since they are nonprofit, they could be subject to hefty fines, and special scrutiny if they continue to treat those without insurance, so they might be forced to switch to for-profit status. 

Why would the feds do this?  No incentive for those patients who get treated for free to buy health insurance.

A new provision in Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, which takes effect under Obamacare, sets new standards of review and installs new financial penalties for tax-exempt charitable hospitals, which devote a minimum amount of their expenses to treat uninsured poor people

[Snip]

“It requires tax-exempt hospitals to do a community needs survey and file additional paperwork with the IRS every three years. This is to prove that the charitable hospital is still needed in their geographical area — ‘needed’ as defined by Obamacare and overseen by IRS bureaucrats,” said John Kartch, spokesman for Americans for Tax Reform.

“Failure to comply, or to prove this continuing need, could result in the loss of the hospital’s tax-exempt status. The hospital would then become a for-profit venture, paying income tax — hence the positive revenue score” for the federal government, Kartch said. “Obamacare advocates turned over every rock to find as much tax money as possible.”

With more Americans insured, charitable hospitals might not meet the requirements for non-profit status. Of course, for-profit hospitals will create more tax revenue for the feds, so we know why they're pushing this forward.

Those 'poor' people will no longer have a free resource for emergency health care, they will be forced to buy health insurance (which will be costly, or at least much more than 'free') or face a huge fine. Well, they got what they voted for.

Watch for hospital costs to skyrocket.

More here.

No Health Benefits For Half The Employees At Obamacare Call Center

Companies that said they would need to cut workers' hours because of the prohibitive costs of health care if Obamacare was implemented were excoriated for that decision, and calls for boycotts forced many to reconsider.  So it's rather interesting that about half of the 200 or so people being trained to answer questions about Obamacare at a call center opening soon in Concord, California will be part time with no benefits. That's right, those poor individuals who aren't full time will have to pay anywhere from $600 to $1,200 per month if single, and $1,400 to $2,900 if married with a family, for the privilege of making a whopping $15.33 to $18.63 per hour. If a person is lucky enough to get 30 hours a week, you do the math. What's worse, it was understood that all those jobs would be full time, including those who were hired.

"The battle for the call center was over jobs with good working wages and benefits; I never dreamed they would be part-time," said Karen Mitchoff, who has heard from complaining constituents and expressed her "extreme displeasure with how it was handled" to call center supervisors.

One recent hire, who last week learned the job would be part-time, said the new "intermittent" employees feel like they've been used as a political tool, and many now regret applying for the positions.

"What's really ironic is working for a call center and trying to help people get health care, but we can't afford it ourselves," said the worker, who asked for anonymity out of fear of losing the job. The county says it had been telling the public and supervisors all along that some positions would be full-time and some part-time. However, portions of staff reports list all 204 jobs as full-time, and a job posting said the same.

It's the latest controversy involving the call center, one of three created statewide to help citizens enroll in various new health care options under President Obama's Affordable Care Act when it goes live at the start of next year.

The rest here.

Will the liberals be outraged? Nah.

Nancy Pelosi Forgets Her Promise Of Lower Insurance Rates For Everyone

Asked by a journalist about her promise back in 2012 of lower rates for everyone under Obamacare and how some people's premiums will actually go up, Nancy Pelosi's flip response: those who had no insurance will obviously have their premiums go up because they never had insurance in the first place. She then goes on to say that she doesn't remember ever having promised that everybody in the country would have a lower premium.

And yet in a Meet The Press interview on July 1, 2012 that's exactly what she said:  "..... and everybody will have lower rates, better quality care...."

Ooops.

Video: Obama Stumped Without His "Prepared Remarks" At Obamacare Speech

About to make a speech in California on the Affordable Care Act, Barack Obama was stumped when he discovered his "prepared remarks" were not at the podium. Shouting "people", twice,  he hemmed and hawed until an aide handed him his speech.

One would think he'd know enough about Obamacare to not need his notes, but I guess not.

While waiting he said:

"By Friday afternoon, things get a little challenged." "Oh, goodness. Oh, somebody's tripping. Folks, are, folks are sweating back there right now."

The poor man is lost without his Teleprompter or notes.

La Senator Refuses To Address Her Claims Of Republican Racism Over Obamacare

Democratic Senator Karen Carter Peterson from Louisiana claimed, on the Senate floor, that Republican opposition to Obamacare is because Barack Obama is black. But when a local TV station reporter tried to get her to talk about her accusations of racism, she refused to speak.

Sen. Elbert Guillory, who also happens to be black and a Democrat and also opposes Obamacare, said of Peterson's comments:

"some decks only have one card in it, and that's the race card. And I'm so sick of hearing it..."

I think we all are. But good for Guillory.