Tuesday, February 28, 2017
These Successes Simply CANNOT Be Ignored!
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie delivered his final Budget Address today.
No matter how you look at it, his many successes cannot be ignored. Take a clear look at the important success of the last seven years:
GETTING OUR RESIDENTS BACK TO WORK
· The Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was broke, hitting a $2.1 billion deficit, and businesses were shutting their doors
· Under the Christie Administration, New Jersey has created 282,000 new private sector jobs since February 2010
· We have had seven consecutive years of private sector job growth
· Today, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported New Jersey’s unemployment rate is down to 4.7 percent, below the current national rate of 4.8 percent
· Our Labor Participation rate continues to outpace the nation, 63.4 percent to 62.7 percent
· Our Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was brought back into solvency two years ahead of predictions allowing taxes on New Jersey businesses, who pay into the fund, to be cut by nearly $400 million last year
GROWING OUR ECONOMY
· Wages and salaries paid by New Jersey employers reached a new all-time high during the third quarter of 2016 at just over $260 billion
· Economic activity, as measured by The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia through its Coincident Index, increased by 2.4% in New Jersey over the course of 2016.
· More businesses are starting up in New Jersey than any time in history
o A new record was set in 2015, when more than 97,800 new businesses filed with our Department of the Treasury
o In 2016, a new record was set when more than 103,000 new businesses filed to start operations in the Garden State
· Bi-partisan efforts to adopt the Economic Opportunity Act resulted in more than $7.3 billion in private business investment in the state, creating and retaining more than 61,000 jobs
· Existing home sales rose more than 15 percent in 2016 and townhouse-condo sales were 8.8% higher.
HOLDING THE LINE ON TAXES AND PROVIDING TAX FAIRNESS
· For residents, Governor Christie pushed through a property tax cap, and annual increases have averaged 2.04 percent _ far below the astounding 7 percent-per-year tax growth New Jersey averaged during the decade preceding his arrival in office
· New Jersey residents received their first broad-based tax cut since 1994:
o Sales Tax Cut: As of January 1, 2017, from 7 percent to 6.875 percent
o Tax Savings for Retirees: The New Jersey gross income tax exclusion on pension and retirement income will increase to $100,000 for joint filers, $75,000 for individuals and $50,000 for married/filing separately in 2020.
o This tax cut will benefit more than 67,000 taxpayers, with an average tax reduction of almost $2,000 per year. When this is fully implemented, 90 percent of senior citizens will receive a state income tax reduction, with eight out of every 10 senior citizens paying ZERO income tax on their retirement income
o Estate Tax Elimination: The estate tax is being phased out over the next 15 months, replacing the current $675,000 threshold with a $2 million exclusion after January 1, 2017, eliminating the estate tax altogether as of January 1, 2018
o Tax Savings for Veterans: New Jersey is home to approximately 428,000 veterans. Those who have been honorably discharged from active service in the military or the National Guard are now eligible for a $3,000 exclusion on their gross income tax return
o Tax Savings for the Working Poor: The Earned Income Tax Credit is being increased for the working poor from 30 percent to 35 percent of the federal benefit amount beginning in Tax Year 2016. In 2016, about 620,000 recipients will receive benefits averaging $1,241 and ranging as high as $2,194
Preview: A World Of Wonder And Whimsy! WOW!
March 4 - May 21 at the Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington.
EXHIBITION-RELATED EVENTS
TALKS & TOURS
From Bag-Bird to Blue-Beard: W. Heath Robinson and the Trans-Atlantic Gift Book Craze, 1902–1921
Saturday, March 4 | 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 4 | 2:00 p.m.
Curator Conversations
Sundays, March 26, April 23, and May 7 | 2:00 p.m.
Sundays, March 26, April 23, and May 7 | 2:00 p.m.
Art is Tasty
Friday, April 7 | Noon
Friday, April 7 | Noon
PERFORMANCES
The Snow Queen: A Performance by the Delaware Arts Conservatory
Sunday, April 9 | 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 9 | 2:00 p.m.
Concerts on Kentmere: Illustrating the Genius of W. Heath Robinson
Thursday, April 27 | Curator talk: 7:30 p.m.; Concert: 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 27 | Curator talk: 7:30 p.m.; Concert: 8:00 p.m.
Shakespeare Shorts: A Performance by the Delaware Shakespeare Festival
Thursday, May 11 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 11 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
Glory of Stories
Fridays, March 10 and April 7 | 10:30 a.m.
Fridays, March 10 and April 7 | 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Studio: Storybook Illustration
Sunday, March 12 | Noon – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 12 | Noon – 3:00 p.m.
Mother’s Day Weekend Fairy Tea
Saturday, May 13 | 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 13 | 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
STUDIO WORKSHOPS
Art Nouveau Inspired Pen-and-Ink Drawings
Saturday, April 22 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 22 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
ORGANIZER & SPONSORS
Wonder and Whimsy: The Illustrations of W. Heath Robinson features over 65 illustrations, designs, and drawings created by W. Heath Robinson from the collection of the William Heath Robinson Trust (UK). This exhibition is made possible in Delaware by the Emily du Pont Memorial Exhibition Fund. Additional support was provided, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.An Historic Moment For Historic Institutions
From President Trump: Thank you to the great presidents of our #HBCUs (historically black universities and colleges) for their commitment to higher education. Read more here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/27/icymi-president-trump-seeks-outdo-obama-backing-black-colleges …
Blog Scores .666 Bating Average On Oscars!
Here is the complete list of Oscar winners.
Those highlighted in green are the ones we predicted. Hey, two our of three ain't bad. And, in the major categories we scored four out of five!
Best film
Moonlight . . . or was it really La La Land? :)
Best actress
Emma Stone (La La Land)
Best actor
Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea)
Best director
Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
Best supporting actress
Viola Davis (Fences)
Best supporting actor
Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
Best original screenplay
Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By The Sea)
Best adapted screenplay
Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight)
Best cinematography
Linus Sandgren (La La Land)
Best original score
Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)
Best original song
Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land)
Best sound editing
Sylvain Bellemare (Arrival)
Best foreign language film
Asghar Farhadi (The Salesman)
Asghar Farhadi (The Salesman)
Best film editing
John Gilbert (Hacksaw Ridge)
John Gilbert (Hacksaw Ridge)
Best visual effects
Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon (The Jungle Book)
Best production design
David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds Wasco (La La Land)
Best sound mixing
Kevin O'Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace (Hacksaw Ridge)
Best documentary Feature
Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow (O.J.: Made in America)
Best animated film
Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer (Zootopia)
Best animated short film
Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer (Piper)
Best documentary short subject
Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara (The White Helmets)
Best live action short film
Kristof Deak and Anna Udvardy (Sing)
Best make-up
Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson (Suicide Squad)
Best costume design
Colleen Atwood (Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them)
Monday, February 27, 2017
Big Event: Everything You Need To Know About It
President Donald J. Trump will be delivering his first address to a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Be sure to tune in as the President will be sharing his vision for the country.
When: Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at 9 p.m.
Who: The President will address Members of both the House of Representatives and Senate in his first address to a Joint Session of Congress.
How to participate: Follow along live on Twitter @WhiteHouse and @POTUS for real-time information before, during and after the speech. The speech will also be live streamed at facebook.com/WhiteHouse.
During his first Joint Address to Congress, the President will communicate his vision for the future of the country directly to the American people as he moves forward with his plans to take on the many challenges facing this nation. Building on his inaugural address, President Trump will continue to lay out his agenda to Make America Great Again.
In just one month, President Trump's Administration has already accomplished so much, including the following:
- Reviving key job-creating energy projects such as the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
- Eliminating costly Obama-era regulations such as the “Stream Protection Rule.”
- Minimizing the economic burden of Obamacare while clearing the path toward repeal and replace.
- Directing the Department of Defense to develop a plan to defeat ISIS.
- Standing with American workers by withdrawing from the disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership.
- Enacting common sense regulatory reform by ordering any new regulations be offset by the repeal of two other regulations.
- Building his Cabinet and Administration with the highest quality individuals to help implement the President's vision for the country.
- Establishing new ethics commitments for all executive branch appointees to enforce a five-year lobbying ban and a permanent ban on lobbying for foreign governments.
Amazing! More Relevant Today Than Ever Before . . .
An article by Reuven Brenner (The 'Longshoreman Philosopher' Saw Trump Coming in 1970) in today's Wall Street Journal reintroduced us to Eric Hoffer, the blue-collar philosopher who authored the classic "The True Believer: Thoughts on the nature of Mass Movements" in 1951 and followed that up with numerous articles and essays into the 1970s. We studied Hoffer in college but then he seemed to have faded from view as liberals (who never liked him in the first place) deemed him out of fashion.
But in his article today, Brenner shows how incredibly relevant Hoffer's observations are to what is happening in our own country right now.
For example, in a 1970 essay in the New York Times, Hoffer concluded: We must deflate the pretensions of self-appointed elites. These elites will hate us no matter what we do, and it is legitimate for us to help dump them into the dustbin of history."
Here are some other pertinent quotes from Hoffer's many writings:
"The explosive component in the contemporary scene is not the clamor of the masses but the self-righteous claims of a multitude of graduates from schools and universities. This army of scribes is clamoring for a society in which planning, regulation, and supervision are paramount and the prerogative of the educated. They hanker for the scribe's golden age, for a return to something like the scribe-dominated societies of ancient Egypt, China, and Europe of the Middle Ages. There is little doubt that the present trend in the new and renovated countries toward social regimentation stems partly from the need to create adequate employment for a large number of scribes. And since the tempo of the production of the literate is continually increasing, the prospect is of ever-swelling bureaucracies."
"The attitude of the intellectual community toward America is shaped not by the creative few but by the many who for one reason or another cannot transmute their dissatisfaction into a creative impulse, and cannot acquire a sense of uniqueness and of growth by developing and expressing their capacities and talents. There is nothing in contemporary America that can cure or alleviate their chronic frustration. They want power, lordship, and opportunities for imposing action. Even if we should banish poverty from the land, lift up the Negro to true equality, withdraw from Vietnam, and give half of the national income as foreign aid, they will still see America as an air-conditioned nightmare unfit for them to live in."
"There is, for instance, the fact that there is a greater readiness to work in a society with a high standard of living than in one with a low standard. We are more ready to strive and work for superfluities than for necessities. People who are clear-sighted, undeluded, and sober-minded will not go on working once their reasonable needs are satisfied. A society that refuses to strive for superfluities is likely to end up lacking in necessities. The readiness to work springs from trivial, questionable motives. … A vigorous society is a society made up of people who set their hearts on toys, and who would work for superfluities than for necessities. The self-righteous moralists decry such a society, yet it is well to keep in mind that both children and artists need luxuries more than they need necessities."
"Man is a luxury-loving animal. Take away play, fancies, and luxuries, and you will turn man into a dull, sluggish creature, barely energetic enough to obtain a bare subsistence. A society becomes stagnant when its people are too rational or too serious to be tempted by baubles."
"The history of this country was made largely by people who wanted to be left alone. Those who could not thrive when left to themselves never felt at ease in America."
"One wonders whether a generation that demands instant satisfaction of all its needs and instant solution of the world's problems will produce anything of lasting value. Such a generation, even when equipped with the most modern technology, will be essentially primitive — it will stand in awe of nature, and submit to the tutelage of medicine men."
"The monstrous evils of the twentieth century have shown us that the greediest money grubbers are gentle doves compared with money-hating wolves like Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler, who in less than three decades killed or maimed nearly a hundred million men, women, and children and brought untold suffering to a large portion of mankind."
"Ours is a golden age of minorities. At no time in the past have dissident minorities felt so much at home and had so much room to throw their weight around. They speak and act as if they were "the people," and what they abominate most is the dissent of the majority."
"The beginning of thought is in disagreement — not only with others but also with ourselves."
"The sick in soul insist that it is humanity that is sick, and they are the surgeons to operate on it. They want to turn the world into a sickroom. And once they get humanity strapped to the operating table, they operate on it with an ax."
"Those who see their lives as spoiled and wasted crave equality and fraternity more than they do freedom. If they clamor for freedom, it is but freedom to establish equality and uniformity. The passion for equality is partly a passion for anonymity: to be one thread of the many which make up a tunic; one thread not distinguishable from the others. No one can then point us out, measure us against others and expose our inferiority.
"They who clamor loudest for freedom are often the ones least likely to be happy in a free society. The frustrated, oppressed by their shortcomings, blame their failure on existing restraints. Actually, their innermost desire is for an end to the 'free for all.' They want to eliminate free competition and the ruthless testing to which the individual is continually subjected in a free society."
But in his article today, Brenner shows how incredibly relevant Hoffer's observations are to what is happening in our own country right now.
For example, in a 1970 essay in the New York Times, Hoffer concluded: We must deflate the pretensions of self-appointed elites. These elites will hate us no matter what we do, and it is legitimate for us to help dump them into the dustbin of history."
Here are some other pertinent quotes from Hoffer's many writings:
"The explosive component in the contemporary scene is not the clamor of the masses but the self-righteous claims of a multitude of graduates from schools and universities. This army of scribes is clamoring for a society in which planning, regulation, and supervision are paramount and the prerogative of the educated. They hanker for the scribe's golden age, for a return to something like the scribe-dominated societies of ancient Egypt, China, and Europe of the Middle Ages. There is little doubt that the present trend in the new and renovated countries toward social regimentation stems partly from the need to create adequate employment for a large number of scribes. And since the tempo of the production of the literate is continually increasing, the prospect is of ever-swelling bureaucracies."
"The attitude of the intellectual community toward America is shaped not by the creative few but by the many who for one reason or another cannot transmute their dissatisfaction into a creative impulse, and cannot acquire a sense of uniqueness and of growth by developing and expressing their capacities and talents. There is nothing in contemporary America that can cure or alleviate their chronic frustration. They want power, lordship, and opportunities for imposing action. Even if we should banish poverty from the land, lift up the Negro to true equality, withdraw from Vietnam, and give half of the national income as foreign aid, they will still see America as an air-conditioned nightmare unfit for them to live in.""They who clamor loudest for freedom are often the ones least likely to be happy in a free society. The frustrated, oppressed by their shortcomings, blame their failure on existing restraints. Actually, their innermost desire is for an end to the 'free for all.' They want to eliminate free competition and the ruthless testing to which the individual is continually subjected in a free society."
WOW! You Won't Believe This Great Lineup!
Lots of new and exciting shows on the way at one of the nation's most-honored venues!
Was It A Conspiracy? Was It Rigged? What Happened?
Excerpts from Entertainment (ew.com):
Accountants from PricewaterhouseCoopers keep two sets of envelopes during the ceremony. “From a security perspective, we double up everything. That’s why there’s two of us. We have two briefcases, that are identical, and we have two entire sets of winning envelopes,” accountant Brian Cullinan said before the show to Wall Street Journal’s Marketwatch.Click here for the whole story.
In the chaos of the moment, a number of conspiracy theories flooded the internet to explain what happened — including that Beatty had picked up the best actress envelope, which had listed La La Land star Emma Stone as the winner, after prior presenter Leonardo DiCaprio placed it down backstage. After the show, however, Stone told reporters backstage that she hadn’t lost track of her envelope.
“I f—ing loved Moonlight. God, I love Moonlight so much! I’m so excited for Moonlight! And of course, it was an amazing thing to hear La La Land. I think we all would have loved to win best picture. But we are so excited for Moonlight,” she said. “I think it’s one of the best films of all time. So I was pretty beside myself. I also was holding my Best Actress in a Leading Role card that entire time. So whatever story… I don’t mean to start stuff, but whatever story that was, I had that card. So I’m not sure that happened. And I really wanted to talk to you guys first.”
He Wants To Hear From You; Tell Him Now!
In just two days, President Donald J. Trump will deliver his highly anticipated first Address to a Joint Session of Congress.
There is an incredible spirit of optimism sweeping across the Nation, and in preparation for this address, the President has hosted numerous listening sessions at the White House. During these meetings he has heard from men and women from all over the country about issues that are impacting American families, communities, and workers.
Now is your chance to give your input. We want to know what issues you want President Trump to focus on and your ideas for the future of our country.
It will only take a couple minutes to complete the survey.
The President is checking off the promises he made to the American people, and he won’t stop until the job is done.
The forgotten men and women of this great Nation will be forgotten no longer. That is the heart of this movement. As President Trump has made clear, this is your country and this is your Government, and now we want to hear from you.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
WINNERS HERE NOW: You Needn't Watch!
You don't have to watch the Oscars tonight.
It's bound to be a Trump-bashing fest.
And, besides we'll actually tell you who will win right here. Yes, we've got the winners. Here they are:
Picture: La La Land
Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land
Actor: Denzel Washington, Fences
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences
Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Adapted Screeplay: Moonlight
Original Screenplay: Manchester by the Sea
Cinematography: La La Land
Costumes: Jackie
Film Editing: La La Land
Makeup/Hairstyling: Star Trek Beyond
Production Design: La La Land
Score: La La Land
Song: City of Stars, La La Land
Sound Editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Sound Mixing: La La Land
Visual Effects: The Jungle Book
Animated Feature: Zootopia
Documentary: OJ: Made in America
Foreign Language Film: The Salesman
Animated Short: Piper
Documentary Short: Joe's Violin
Live Action Short: Enemies Interieurs
It will be a Very Big night for La La Land but the film (which we predict to take home NINE Oscars) will not tie or break the record for Oscars which is 11.
It's bound to be a Trump-bashing fest.
And, besides we'll actually tell you who will win right here. Yes, we've got the winners. Here they are:
Picture: La La Land
Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land
Actor: Denzel Washington, Fences
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences
Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Adapted Screeplay: Moonlight
Original Screenplay: Manchester by the Sea
Cinematography: La La Land
Costumes: Jackie
Film Editing: La La Land
Makeup/Hairstyling: Star Trek Beyond
Production Design: La La Land
Score: La La Land
Song: City of Stars, La La Land
Sound Editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Sound Mixing: La La Land
Visual Effects: The Jungle Book
Animated Feature: Zootopia
Documentary: OJ: Made in America
Foreign Language Film: The Salesman
Animated Short: Piper
Documentary Short: Joe's Violin
Live Action Short: Enemies Interieurs
It will be a Very Big night for La La Land but the film (which we predict to take home NINE Oscars) will not tie or break the record for Oscars which is 11.
Big Week: US, France, Germany Top Blog Visits!
Pageviews by Countries - Week of 2/19
WOW!
A record week.
Thank you for more than
22,000 pageviews!
Saturday, February 25, 2017
OMG! This Is Beyond Daring - WOW!
This Is An Exclusive - Don't Miss It, Sunday AM!
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be on CNN's State of the Union with Jake Tapper at 9:00 AM ET tomorrow, Sunday, February 26, 2017.
Yes, The Time Is Upon Us . . . Prepare!
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the main celebrant and homilist at the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Wednesday March 1, 2017.This Mass will be streamed live in its entirety on the Archdiocesan website (www.archphila.org).
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent for Christians throughout the world. Lent is a 40-day penitential time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving from Ash Wednesday through Holy Thursday in preparation for the Easter celebration.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent for Christians throughout the world. Lent is a 40-day penitential time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving from Ash Wednesday through Holy Thursday in preparation for the Easter celebration.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
12:05 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Catholics in 217 parishes across the five-county Archdiocese will attend Mass or a Liturgy of the Word and receive blessed ashes on their foreheads, marked in the sign of a cross, reminding them to repent and believe in the Gospel as the 2017 Lenten Season begins.
The Cathedral Parish offers the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation on weekdays beginning at 11:30 a.m. for the Lenten Season in addition to other scheduled times. Likewise, individual parishes throughout the Archdiocese may have alternative dates and times for this Sacrament in addition to already scheduled times.
The Bishops of the United States prescribe, as a minimal obligation, that all persons who are fourteen years of age and older are bound to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. Further, all persons eighteen years of age and older, up to and including their fifty-ninth birthday, are bound to fast by limiting themselves to a single full meal on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, while the other two meals on those days are to be light.
In addition to the Lenten Season, the Holy Father has invited dioceses and parishes to join with him in participating in the 24 Hours for the Lord initiative. It calls for parishes to open the doors of their Church for a period of 24 hours preceding the Fourth Week of Lent.
During this time, clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will have the opportunity to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Friday, March 24, 2017 and Saturday, March 25, 2017. For more information and for parishes participating in 24 Hours for the Lord, please visit http://archphila.org/24hours/
12:05 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Catholics in 217 parishes across the five-county Archdiocese will attend Mass or a Liturgy of the Word and receive blessed ashes on their foreheads, marked in the sign of a cross, reminding them to repent and believe in the Gospel as the 2017 Lenten Season begins.
The Cathedral Parish offers the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation on weekdays beginning at 11:30 a.m. for the Lenten Season in addition to other scheduled times. Likewise, individual parishes throughout the Archdiocese may have alternative dates and times for this Sacrament in addition to already scheduled times.
The Bishops of the United States prescribe, as a minimal obligation, that all persons who are fourteen years of age and older are bound to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. Further, all persons eighteen years of age and older, up to and including their fifty-ninth birthday, are bound to fast by limiting themselves to a single full meal on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, while the other two meals on those days are to be light.
In addition to the Lenten Season, the Holy Father has invited dioceses and parishes to join with him in participating in the 24 Hours for the Lord initiative. It calls for parishes to open the doors of their Church for a period of 24 hours preceding the Fourth Week of Lent.
During this time, clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will have the opportunity to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Friday, March 24, 2017 and Saturday, March 25, 2017. For more information and for parishes participating in 24 Hours for the Lord, please visit http://archphila.org/24hours/
This Is 'A Serious Business' That Demands Attention
| ||||
Time and time again, it’s a small number of Catholic schools and colleges that have stood strong to defend their Catholic identity and religious freedom.
They Willingly And Wantonly 'Abuse The Law'
Sensible? Could Be A Plan We Could All Live With
The Association of Mature American Citizens has unveiled a plan to enable a replacement for the Affordable Care Act. AMAC president Dan Weber said “it is designed to swap out many of the most difficult, inefficient and unfair elements of Obamacare with a new, expanded Health Savings Account option that provides tax free coverage for all Americans.”
Under the AMAC proposal an individual or group would obtain a complete package including medical care as well as insurance policies of their choice. “If you are a young man of 27 you won’t have to purchase maternity coverage as required under the Affordable Care Act.”
Employers who choose the HSA for their employees would receive a tax deduction as an incentive. Employees would use pre-tax dollars to pay for their costs, including premium payments, under the plan as would individuals who purchase HSAs. Coverage would be sold by qualified agents from the private sector who would counsel each person individually as to the choices available to them, thus assuring a smooth transition.
Under Obamacare most people pay a co-pay and a large deductible for medical services in addition to high premiums. However, the proposed HSA would provide for visits to a local doctor with no additional costs. All deductibles would be paid for with pre-tax dollars out of the savings portion of the HSA, eliminating a financial burden in the event of a major operation.
“Low income individuals and families would be covered under the HSA utilizing government subsidies. The difference between their coverage under the ACA and their coverage under the HSA is that they would not have any copays and would have funds they can use for deductibles,” Weber explained.
As for catastrophic coverage, under Obamacare there is a $6,000.00 deductible that must be paid out of pocket. “The savings feature in our HSA would be used to pay deductibles. Users would put in roughly $150.00 or more each month in order to accumulate funds in their accounts. At that rate, you would have about $6,000.00 saved in about three years.”
What if you have the plan for only about a year and you need the $6,000 but only have $1,000 in your account? Weber said AMAC spoke with officials at American Bankers Association, which has a division called the HSA Counsel. And, he said, banks would be willing to write short-term loan built into the new HSA. Payments for the loan would be made each month automatically with a portion of your pre-tax HSA deposits.
“As for those who can’t afford to pay for an HSA, our proposal calls for the establishment of what we call Pro Bono Care under which doctors would treat needy patients for free. We conducted a survey and found that some 350,000 doctors and nurse practitioners would be willing to participate in the Pro Bono Care program. If each one took 20 patients, that’s 7 million needy people who would be covered.”
The AMAC plan provides for doctor visits as needed with no copays, according to Weber. No one can be denied coverage. The cash portion of the plan is owned by the policyholder and may be used for retirement when they become eligible for Medicare. The loan provision guarantees funds to cover deductibles. Sons and daughters of those insured under the HSA would be eligible for coverage under their parents’ plans until the age of 26. Individuals with pre-existing conditions would be covered. And, the Pro Bono Care feature ensures that all Americans would have access to healthcare, even the poorest individuals and their families.
“Although Congress must first take advantage of the features we propose for an Obamacare replacement and President Trump would have to sign the law itself, we are calling our proposal The Trump HSA to honor the 45th President of the United States. We did not seek his approval, but we felt compelled to give credit where credit is due for the prospect of a sea change for the better in the way we provide coverage for our citizens,” Weber concluded.
ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [http://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at http://amac.us/join-amac.
Under the AMAC proposal an individual or group would obtain a complete package including medical care as well as insurance policies of their choice. “If you are a young man of 27 you won’t have to purchase maternity coverage as required under the Affordable Care Act.”
Employers who choose the HSA for their employees would receive a tax deduction as an incentive. Employees would use pre-tax dollars to pay for their costs, including premium payments, under the plan as would individuals who purchase HSAs. Coverage would be sold by qualified agents from the private sector who would counsel each person individually as to the choices available to them, thus assuring a smooth transition.
Under Obamacare most people pay a co-pay and a large deductible for medical services in addition to high premiums. However, the proposed HSA would provide for visits to a local doctor with no additional costs. All deductibles would be paid for with pre-tax dollars out of the savings portion of the HSA, eliminating a financial burden in the event of a major operation.
“Low income individuals and families would be covered under the HSA utilizing government subsidies. The difference between their coverage under the ACA and their coverage under the HSA is that they would not have any copays and would have funds they can use for deductibles,” Weber explained.
As for catastrophic coverage, under Obamacare there is a $6,000.00 deductible that must be paid out of pocket. “The savings feature in our HSA would be used to pay deductibles. Users would put in roughly $150.00 or more each month in order to accumulate funds in their accounts. At that rate, you would have about $6,000.00 saved in about three years.”
What if you have the plan for only about a year and you need the $6,000 but only have $1,000 in your account? Weber said AMAC spoke with officials at American Bankers Association, which has a division called the HSA Counsel. And, he said, banks would be willing to write short-term loan built into the new HSA. Payments for the loan would be made each month automatically with a portion of your pre-tax HSA deposits.
“As for those who can’t afford to pay for an HSA, our proposal calls for the establishment of what we call Pro Bono Care under which doctors would treat needy patients for free. We conducted a survey and found that some 350,000 doctors and nurse practitioners would be willing to participate in the Pro Bono Care program. If each one took 20 patients, that’s 7 million needy people who would be covered.”
The AMAC plan provides for doctor visits as needed with no copays, according to Weber. No one can be denied coverage. The cash portion of the plan is owned by the policyholder and may be used for retirement when they become eligible for Medicare. The loan provision guarantees funds to cover deductibles. Sons and daughters of those insured under the HSA would be eligible for coverage under their parents’ plans until the age of 26. Individuals with pre-existing conditions would be covered. And, the Pro Bono Care feature ensures that all Americans would have access to healthcare, even the poorest individuals and their families.
“Although Congress must first take advantage of the features we propose for an Obamacare replacement and President Trump would have to sign the law itself, we are calling our proposal The Trump HSA to honor the 45th President of the United States. We did not seek his approval, but we felt compelled to give credit where credit is due for the prospect of a sea change for the better in the way we provide coverage for our citizens,” Weber concluded.
ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [http://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at http://amac.us/join-amac.
Friday, February 24, 2017
WOW! What A Week -- And So Much More To Come!
Here is a very special message from the Trump team:
With just over a month of presidency under his belt, you've seen what President Trump’s incredible work ethic has accomplished in a short period of time. The President is jump-starting job creation, saving taxpayers money, restoring public safety, draining the swamp, and keeping his promise to defend the Constitution.You want a government that serves the people -- not the donors and not the special interests. You want a Government that keeps its promises. A great spirit of optimism is sweeping all across the country. It is a new day in America and President Donald Trump is making us proud again.
Learn more about how the President and Vice President are achieving results for the American people below.
THIS WEEK
- Making America Great Again
President Trump held a rally on Saturday in Florida to talk to supporters about all the progress in Making America Great Again. It's important to the President to be among the people who he's working for every day. This past election was a great movement - a movement we've never seen before in our country. President Trump put it best when he said, "I want to be in a room filled with hardworking American patriots who love their country, who salute their flag, and who pray for a better future."
- Honoring The Millions Of African-Americans Who Built Our National Heritage
On Tuesday, President Trump visited the new National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, DC. President Trump toured the museum with Dr. Ben Carson and his family, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and Alveda King — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece. President Trump pledges to do everything he can to continue that promise of freedom for African Americans and for every American. He's proud that we now have a museum that honors the millions of African American men and women who built our national heritage, specifically emphasizing faith, culture, and the unbreakable American spirit.
- Cutting Waste In The Government's Budget
Our national debt has doubled over the last eight years. President Trump held a budget meeting this week that set the tone for cutting wasteful government spending and putting taxpayer dollars to good use. The President wants the American people to know that our budget will reflect the priorities of the American people and he will be directing all government departments and agencies to protect every last American and every last tax dollar starting with the first budget. No more wasted money. 
- Showing The World What America Is All About
Vice President Pence rolled up his sleeves on Thursday and showed the world what America is all about. After vandalism struck a Jewish cemetery in Missouri, VP Pence made a surprise visit to help with the clean-up effort. There's no place in America for hatred, or acts of violence, prejudice, or anti-semitism. That steadfast sentiment was proven this week in Missouri and under President Trump's leadership it is inspiring the nation.
- Supporting Small Businesses Across America
This week, Vice President Pence visited Fabick Cat Factory in Missouri, a true American success story of a family-owned business owned and operated since its founding in 1917. Today, Fabick Cat, a machinery manufacturer, has 1,100 employees at 37 locations throughout the Midwest. VP Pence wanted to let this company, all their workers, all the small business owners in attendance, and all small business owners across the country know that President Trump is the best friend America’s small businesses will ever have. Make no mistake about it, America finally has a President who’s going to support and fight for small businesses every single day.
As a quick reminder CPAC is this week in Washington, DC. If you're in DC, look for our booth and pick up Official Trump-Pence gear! Can't make it? Use this coupon code 'CPAC2017' to get 10% off your online order at our shop - visit now by clicking here shop.donaldjtrump.com.
We're in this together and we can't thank you enough for your continued support.
Team Trump-Pence
