The Debt Ceiling Deal

Image via WikipediaThe American political system was put to the test during the recent debt ceiling crisis. This crisis exposed to the entire world the willingness of some American Republicans (Tea Party) to bring the world to the brink of financial disaster by defaulting on government bonds and other government commitments in order to avoid eliminating the Bush tax cuts or any form of increased taxation for the rich which would have provided a balanced approach to deficit-reduction.

The Deal,in summary form , over the next decade increases the debt ceiling by $900 billion along with spending cuts of $917 billion for a net $17 million. $1.5 trillion in further deficit reductions must be approved by Congress before December 23rd. These reductions are to come from a 12-member congressional committee, equally composed of Republicans and Democrats. However, there will be a similar-sized increase in the debt ceiling. If the committee fails to reach agreement or its proposal is rejected, $1.2 trillion in spending cuts will be triggered.

Let’s look at the reality, the likelihood of the committee of 12 Republicans and Democrats coming up with a deal that will be supported by both parties is almost nonexistent. The Republicans will remain adamant against any tax increases and the Democrats will protect their social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. All that has really happened is a possible two year delay before the debt ceiling war is renewed. The American political system remains as partisan and dysfunctional as before this crisis began
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Speaker Boehner Won't Play Ball

The Hoss has been in the stable since Sept. 2010 due to heart problems. This is why there have been no postings to Hoss Cents Free Financial Money Magazine. The good news is the two stents placed in the old ticker seem to have resolved the Issue
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Can anyone out there believe the nonsense going on in Washington D.C.? What is with these politicians? They seem more interested in running for re-election rather than running the country. The GOP lead by House Speaker Boehner decided to walk out on negotiations designed at cutting the US federal deficit. This reminds me of the little boy who comes to play a game, brings his own baseball and when things are not going the way he wants them to, he takes his ball and goes home. Childish is the word that best describes Speaker Boehner. Does he not realize the serious financial implications that could befall the American people if some sort of agreement is not reached?  At least President Obama is willing to negotiate and offer real comprises towards a solution to the US Financial problem.

Let’s hope that this financial mess is straightened out before America is trust into a default position. The ramifications of a US default will be felt world wide and could precipitate a world wide recession or even depression. Why? Because speaker Boehner took his ball and went home. Time for the GOP to grow up.


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Obama to Stimulate Economy

Image via WikipediaThe United States job data report showed that private sector employers increased new jobs by 67000 during the past month. In addition the figures for July and August were revised in an upwards direction, however the overall unemployment continues to rise and now sits at 9.6 percent.

Next week President Barack Obama will announce his administrations plans to stimulate the economy. He made the announcement in the White House Rose Garden and stated the report was “positive news, and it reflects the steps we've already taken to break the back of this recession. But it's not nearly good enough.”

“That's why we need to take further steps to create jobs and keep the economy growing including extending tax cuts for the middle class and investing in the areas of our economy where the potential for job growth is greatest,”

President Obama continues his quest to have the Senate support and pass his bill that contains tax breaks for small business in the amount of about twelve billion dollars and the creation of a thirty billion dollar fund to finance lending. The Republicans as is the nature (the party of no) is opposed to the bill on the grounds it is similar to the bailout of the financial industry.
Lawmakers are not scheduled to return to work until mid September therefore do not expect much to happen before the November elections.

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Job Creation Number One Focus in 2010 Obama

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In his weekly address to the nation President Obama promised that job creation will be his administrations number one focus in 2010. He stated that even though during the last quarter the economy grew more than at any time in the previous six years, one in ten Americans is unemployed. Therefore, more must be done to provide jobs for …"folks who want them". To this end President Obama has proposed the following incentives:

• Tax credits for business who hire new workers, raise wages, and invest in new plants and equipment

• Eliminate capital gains on small business investment

• Assist small business in obtaining loans

In addition President Obama pointed out that "it is critical that we rein in the budget deficits we’ve been accumulating for far too long". Therefore he has proposed a spending freeze that will cut spending on programs that are redundant, obsolete or ineffective. He also indicated his pleasure that the Senate has restored the pay-as-you-go law.

Last but not least he has called for a bi-partisan Fiscal Commission – a panel of Democrats and Republicans who would sit down and hammer out concrete deficit-reduction proposals by a certain deadline. He pointed out 53 Democrats and Republicans voted for this commission in the Senate. But it failed when seven Republicans who had co-sponsored this idea in the first place suddenly decided to vote against it.

The Hoss believes this move by the Republicans was strictly political and is a clear indication of their unwillingness to work together with the Democrats for the benefit of all Americans. They would rather do what ever it takes to score political points than be creative and work as a team for the benefit of all.

They are indeed the party of no "no cooperation".

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We have stopped our economic freefall - President Obama

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In his weekly address to the nation, President Obama gave credit to all nations for taking measures which he believes have stopped the economic free-fall. However, there is still much work to be done and he believes the G20- Summit in Pittsburgh September 24-25 will provide an opportunity for "a five-month checkup to review the steps each nation has taken – separately and together – to break the back of this economic crisis."

President Obama pointed to the Recovery Act, which was enacted in February, as an example of action his administration has undertaken to spur economic growth. He also stated that they have worked hard to free up the credit market to put more money into the hands of the consumer.

At the G20 conference the United States is going to "discuss some of the steps that are required to safeguard our global financial system and close gaps in regulation around the world – gaps that permitted the kinds of reckless risk-taking and irresponsibility that led to the crisis".

To this end President Obama is pushing his Consumer Financial Protection Agency proposal (currently before Congress). This agency will have clearly defined rules aimed at preventing shady lending practices such as:

• Loan contracts written to confuse

• Hidden fees

• Financial penalties issued without warning

President Obama gives his assurance that this agency will both establish clear rules and enforce those rules.

He recognizes that Wall Street banks would rather maintain the status quo and have hired lobbyist to work at stopping the bill currently before Congress, but this does not deter his determination to stop the business as usual mentality which this time could result in total financial collapse.

We have all seen how quickly many financial institutions have decided to pay back the government loans rather than abide by the strict rules applied to those loans.

Money Magazine Hoss agrees with the President's philosophy and sincerely hopes that he sticks to his guns and does not succumb to the pressure that will undoubtedly be put on him and his administration to withdraw their proposal for a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

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Half of Americans under 65 to lose their health care?

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A brand new report from the Treasury Department indicates that at some point over the next ten years approximately half of Americans under age 65 will lose their health care coverage.

In his weekly White House address, President Obama assured the American people that he would not let this happen. "In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they’ll go without health insurance – not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. And once I sign my health reform plan into law – they won’t."

President Obama took this opportunity to tell those Americans already with health insurance that nothing in his plan would require them to change their doctor or the coverage they have. Rather, his plan would make sure their insurance would be improved. "We’ll make it illegal for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition, drop your coverage when you get sick, or water it down when you need it most. They’ll no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or over a lifetime, and we will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses – because no one should go broke just because they get sick."

In addition, those currently without coverage will be able (under his plan) to get quality plans at affordable prices.

He reaffirmed his commitment that any plan he signs will not to add one dime to the United States deficits. He actually predicted a deficit reduction of $4 trillion over the long term. How? By successfully slowing the growth of health care cost by a mere one-tenth of one percent.

President Obama stated the time for action is now.

Money Magazine Hoss agrees with the President. Enough debating. What is currently in place is not working. It's time to try something new. In a country as abundant as America, it is a travesty, an international embarrassment, that so many are without the means to get health care.

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Health Care Public Vs Private

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From the Hoss's Mouth

Why does health care cost so much? Forget all you hear about the high cost of developing new equipment and drugs, over-utilization, increased salaries for health care professionals, and an aging population. Money Magazine Hoss can give you the answer for the high cost of health care in one word: GREED.

Greed by health insurance companies who are in the business for the sole purpose of generating a profit. They could care less about providing affordable health care insurance for companies and individuals.

How does Money Magazine Hoss come to this conclusion? He does so by reading private for profit insurance horror stories posted all over the Internet and by reading private insurance whistle blower testimony given before Congress.

Health insurance companies are notorious for denying valid claims, using excuses such as claimant had a pre-existing condition, claimant provided false information on their application form (even if it was an honest mistake). Testimony before Congress indicated for-profit insurance companies employ the following strategies:

• Regular meetings to identify high cost areas and how to redesign benefits to control them.

• Multiple exclusion clauses which are unknown to doctor or patient until used by the insurance company to deny a claim.

• Pre-existing condition exclusions which enable the plan to take steps to link a patient’s current diagnosis with some prior diagnosis and thus deny the claim

• Misleading advertising which only highlights the benefits of the plan with no mention of the plans restrictions.

• Denials on the grounds the treatment is not medically necessary--this is the insurance companies' ultimate cost control tool.

The above examples are by no means a complete list of all the methods used by insurance companies to reduce their costs.

For more info, see the testimony of LINDA PEENO, M.D.

Perhaps the most disturbing tactic Money Magazine Hoss has come across is when a terminally ill patient’s health care claim is denied. The health insurance company knows full well that the claimant will die before s/he can process an appeal, and thus they avoid paying for any treatment prior to death. Of course they always claim they had legitimate reasons for denying the claim.

Money Magazine Hoss resides in Canada, and we have a public health care system which, although not perfect, does take the profit incentive out of health care. The premiums are minimal and provisions are made for those with no or very little income. We do experience some delays but emergency cases are given priority.

Money Magazine Hoss supports President Obama’s public health care option, in fact he would like to see health care totally removed from for-profit companies.

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