Tag: Obamacare

by Lowell Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, March 16. Trump’s budget seeks deep cuts ("Plan calls...

Key points by Sen. Kaine include: 1) "TrumpCare" doesn't fix health care, but is just one big tax cut for the wealthiest Americans; 2)...

by Lowell Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, January 13. In one night, the GOP voted to...

by Lowell Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, January 6. Also check out the "Liberal Redneck" thanking...

by Lowell Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, January 5. Also check out Stephen Colbert on calling...

by Josh Chernila First they came for ObamaCare and the VA, But they said they were failing anyway, So, I said nothing. Then they came for Medicare, Medicaid,...

A week ago this morning I visited with a film crew from South Korea working just outside of Jonesville, Virginia. No, they weren't casting a movie. They were filming a video appeal to Samsung's worldwide employees for contributions to help Americans without access to health care. Thankful, Virginia Delegates?

The day prior, a German television news team was on set at this Remote Area Medical clinic capturing the essence of what American political arrogance delivers our least fortunate. So the young South Korean and I traded our stories. I knew a Korea he had never experienced, him being born after my first foray to outposts along a tense Demilitarized Zone. He knows an America that can't exist in his own nation where there is universal health care; an America you won't hear honestly debated by Virginia Republicans or their Presidential pretenders.

Incumbent Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Scott), running for reelection unopposed with over a quarter million dollars in his campaign coffers, failed to drop by to thank his constituents' benefactors for delivering the health care that his Party's policies have denied them. Maybe he is saving the funds to pay for a flight to Inchon so he can meet the Samsung executives personally.

The sparsely used and essentially vacant Lee County Airport terminal had been transformed the Friday prior into a health facility; every nook and cranny was claimed. The expeditionary nature of the organization Stan Brock leads leverages volunteers to construct tents, unload and arrange equipment, and prepare for two days of service. Last year, players from the Lee High School football team provided the bulk of muscle required. But this year the Generals had a game on set up day; local churches rounded up some help. A group of students from James Madison University's (JMU) Department of Social Work, led by their mentor, Dr. Laura Hunt Trull, pitched in both days of the clinic. And there were the cats and dogs like me.  

Though intended to serve at least two purposes, the $450 million spent on anti-Affordable Care Act (ACA) ads have failed their purpose(s) and may have unintentionally informed the uninsured that they have a path to healthcare coverage. The other intent, to support Republican candidates by inference, may also backfire.

The correlation of negative ad spending to enrollment is not direct and is affected by demographics, but research prepared by Brookings Institution fellow Niam Yaraghi provides some very interesting data. The chart for the television markets that encompass Virginia shows raw spending data from 2013 (national TV market map and data). This is not per capita data, so cannot be used for an accurate correlation, but it is informative. And Yaraghi does point out that the market where the highest per capita spending occurred, Washington, D.C., had the highest Obamacare enrollment rate, 11%.

In the states where more anti-ACA ads are aired, residents were on average more likely to believe that Congress will repeal the ACA in the near future. People who believe that subsidized health insurance may soon disappear could have a greater willingness to take advantage of this one time opportunity.

What is also clear from the spending data is that this advertising is aimed at assisting Republicans in states with the most competitive mid-term Senate races: Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina. The aim is probably as much voter suppression as it is support for the Republican candidates. In Virginia, these ads may influence the outcome of two Congressional races (7th and 10th) more than the U.S. Senate race not only because Senator Warner has a nuanced position on the ACA but also because his opponent is a cold fish.  

. . . results probably NOT what he wanted to hear.

Check out the answers when Ted Cruz asked what people think about Obamacare.  
https://www.facebook.com/Senat...

My Congressperson, term limit posterchild, Bob Goodlatte (R-Va 6th) has a poll on his website asking "Do you support Obamacare?" It is smack in the middle of the page, just to the left of "The Gross National Debt" counter. Great to see he has his thumb on "constituency" hot buttons.

I hope you will visit his site to provide a more balanced survey for his staff of researchers. As you probably know, Bob panders to the Tea Party at every turn. These kinds of "scientific" ploys provide the cover that allow him and others like him to fabricate the façade of representation.

By the way, a Roanoke Zip code is 24017; one for Staunton is 24401.