Senator Lamar Alexander compares the latest Obama administration scandal to Iran-Contra … he says it’s “even bigger.”
One hates to continually harp on the president and his scandals, but he and his big government keep producing them. So here we go again!
Obamacare was supposed to save money. It hasn’t. And it should be no shock to learn that the plan has already overshot its budget. Its implementation budget. And Congress balked at throwing more money at the “Affordable Care Act,” perhaps on the grounds that we can’t afford it.
So Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius passed around the hat to the major players in the managed medical insurance industry — the folks previously demonized by Democrats as the greedy bloodsuckers who singlehandedly caused industry price inflation — to push the plan through on a “shoestring budget.”
Trouble is, it’s not obvious that this is legal. Sen. Orrin G. Hatch called Sebelius’s private fundraising effort “absurd,” and promised to inquire about conflicts of interest.
It’s easy to see why the Republicans in the House and Senate are suspicious. Such a move rubs up against the grain of what a republic is. But I’m sure Democrats are shrugging. It is just another business-government partnership, after all.
Well, it’s not “just another.” It might end up being the biggest ever. And you have to draw the line somewhere. Ancient Romans drew the line to protect their republic at the Rubicon — which Caesar crossed, ushering in empire.
It’s not just armies that cross important boundaries.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
4 replies on “Sebelius Crosses the Rubicon”
Big government with big business was termed in the 20th century “fascism”, how did it work out for the world then?
This government is neither out of control or off target, rather it is in control and very pointed in pursuit of its targets. The IRS, Justice, and foriegn affairs scandals and this are all of the same genesis.
I worry about biggest ever, and crossing the to the point of ending the republic.
This is the most incredible story of yet another unelected, unaccountable agency acting to set domestic policy.
Yet there is much that is right here also — let me explain. The House voted to repeal Obamacare over 30 times. These Reps were re-elected and went back to Washington, refusing to fund this outrageously expensive and oppressive new Bill. Even now they are voting to repeal it. This is in contrast to the Republican Pres. nominee, who ran on keeping key components of the bill. So the House is doing the right thing, and is remaining committed to the voters. That is a good thing.
Next, there are many states who have refused to fund, set up, or take part in the Exchanges — government panels directing doctors and insurance cos on what could and could not be covered. So many governors have remained committed to the voters, and that is a good thing.
Now the IRS has been exposed as an out of control agency used to punish political enemies and reward friends, so to force people to enroll through coercion is going to look even worse. This has to look voluntary, and yet it is not voluntary. So Sebelius is now exposed as the unelected, unaccountable head of yet another agency imposing its legislation outside of representative government, even to the point of taking money from those who are legislated by the new bill as “donations” to “nonprofits.” And we are here talking about it, so that is a good thing. Beyond this, there be monsters.
The Russians actually have a very interesting approach to “nonprofits” and environmental lobbies, often funded by NGOs (nongovernmental organizations). NGOs have to file as FOREIGN AGENTS in Russia. (:
These groups are by definition funded by governments (see Wiki entry on NGOs) and constantly present themselves as “nonprofits” and educational groups. None of the 3 articles from the WPOst on Sebelius’ fundraising for “nonprofits” and Enroll America discuss who these “nonprofit” groups are. May I suggest this may be NGOs and the Russians are right about registering “nonprofit” NGOs as foreign agents and about the flat tax.