It is pretty clear that politicians don't like Obama's managerial style. I'm amazed they don't seem to know what it is. His management style is what I imagine that of Warren Buffet's is. Buffet buys good companies and keeps the management in place and let's them continue to run their companies. So if Obama is the CEO of a conglomerate (sounds reasonable), he lets his CEOs run the ball. In this case it is Senator Harry Reid, leader of the Senate, and Representative Nancy Pelosi, now minority leader of the House. He let them run the ball on what is called Obamacare (actually the PPACA), it was the same with Dodd-Frank, and also with the recent government shutdown and near disaster of the debt limit. I haven't followed other victories as closely so I don't know how much they were involved in getting of other successes such as of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Though the PPACA is much more conservative than I like, it is a beginning
The problem with this managerial style with politicians is that they all have egos that won't quit. They all think they are God's gift to humanity. They all want to talk to the Big Boss and are frustrated when they have to settle for talking to their CEOs. This is true of Democrats of the President's party as well as the opposition Republicans. And it is also true of the media. Somehow the media can't get enough access though it seems to me they have a lot. At least after the fact, they like the former President Bill Clinton style better (My memory is that when he was president, the Republicans did everything in their power to screw him.). The glad handing, good ol' boy, type of politician. The thoughtful, introspective type of politician is not as much fun.
The Republicans rolled him so often because he is by nature a compromiser, but finally he caught on and said, "No more!" He didn't realize for a long time that the current crew that controls the House, in particular, views compromise as a sign of weakness.
Showing posts with label PPACA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PPACA. Show all posts
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS IN THE PPACA HEALTH LAW
Here we are in another manufactured crisis. Unfortunately, it has developed into a situation where neither side can budge, it appears. The Republicans could have done some good if instead of trying to destroy Obamacare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or PPACA or just ACA), they tired to fix parts of it.
I would have suggested they propose elimination of the Employer Mandate that liberal economists like Paul Krugman thinks shouldn't have been in the bill in the first place. Among other things, it only applies to companies with more than 50 full-time employees and even then only those that work more than 30 hrs a week. Most restaurants need a lot of employees during rush hours, say two hours at lunch and two hours at supper which is 28 hrs a week. I suspect the Republicans could have gotten this elimination. A lot of companies will provide health care even if the Employer Mandate is repealed because it is in their interests to do so. It provides for a more stable workforce, and they can eliminate the expenses by laying off employees. Also they will probably have to pay employees more if they discontinue health coverage as there is less reason to stay in a low paying job.
I think Republicans could have gotten elimination of the Employer Mandate because Obama has already pushed implementation off for a year (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/05/white-house-releases-proposed-new-rules-for-obamacare-employer-mandate-after/). this delay is estimated to cost the government $12 billion (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578638282900414410.html). The administration wants to ease the reporting requirements and the IRS has recently released reporting rules (http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/healthcare/320565-irs-issues-reporting-regs-for-obamacares-employer-mandate). Something employers are not taking into account will be that the employer mandate will be a level playing field which is something companies have always said they want. If one chain will have to raise prices, other chains will have to also. Only mom and pop places will not have to pay it. There are big restaurant chains that provide health plans now, Cracker Barrel is one (and they also provide for paid vacations). I believe Olive Garden doesn't and they have trouble filling positions that leave a whole dining room vacant while maybe 30 customers wait to be seated. I, for one, will not go there because of this though I like their menu.
They feel more concerned about the Medical Device Tax (2.3% on hip replacement pieces, heart stents, etc., but not eyeglasses or hearing aids). the Congressional Budget Office estimates that this tax will raise only $29 billion over a decade (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/28/how-obamacares-medical-device-tax-became-a-top-repeal-target/). The tax will apply to medical device imports but not exports which should discourage some importation of devices but encourage exports. Some 260 co-sponsors in congress have signed on to a bill eliminating the tax, and the industry has spent $150 million lobbying against the tax. But with all the screwing around, Harry Reid now has said that eliminating the tax will not be considered in the Senate.
So I think the Republicans have missed doing some good on the PPACA, but , who knows, maybe in the end one or both of these proposals might be implemented.
I would have suggested they propose elimination of the Employer Mandate that liberal economists like Paul Krugman thinks shouldn't have been in the bill in the first place. Among other things, it only applies to companies with more than 50 full-time employees and even then only those that work more than 30 hrs a week. Most restaurants need a lot of employees during rush hours, say two hours at lunch and two hours at supper which is 28 hrs a week. I suspect the Republicans could have gotten this elimination. A lot of companies will provide health care even if the Employer Mandate is repealed because it is in their interests to do so. It provides for a more stable workforce, and they can eliminate the expenses by laying off employees. Also they will probably have to pay employees more if they discontinue health coverage as there is less reason to stay in a low paying job.
I think Republicans could have gotten elimination of the Employer Mandate because Obama has already pushed implementation off for a year (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/05/white-house-releases-proposed-new-rules-for-obamacare-employer-mandate-after/). this delay is estimated to cost the government $12 billion (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578638282900414410.html). The administration wants to ease the reporting requirements and the IRS has recently released reporting rules (http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/healthcare/320565-irs-issues-reporting-regs-for-obamacares-employer-mandate). Something employers are not taking into account will be that the employer mandate will be a level playing field which is something companies have always said they want. If one chain will have to raise prices, other chains will have to also. Only mom and pop places will not have to pay it. There are big restaurant chains that provide health plans now, Cracker Barrel is one (and they also provide for paid vacations). I believe Olive Garden doesn't and they have trouble filling positions that leave a whole dining room vacant while maybe 30 customers wait to be seated. I, for one, will not go there because of this though I like their menu.
They feel more concerned about the Medical Device Tax (2.3% on hip replacement pieces, heart stents, etc., but not eyeglasses or hearing aids). the Congressional Budget Office estimates that this tax will raise only $29 billion over a decade (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/28/how-obamacares-medical-device-tax-became-a-top-repeal-target/). The tax will apply to medical device imports but not exports which should discourage some importation of devices but encourage exports. Some 260 co-sponsors in congress have signed on to a bill eliminating the tax, and the industry has spent $150 million lobbying against the tax. But with all the screwing around, Harry Reid now has said that eliminating the tax will not be considered in the Senate.
So I think the Republicans have missed doing some good on the PPACA, but , who knows, maybe in the end one or both of these proposals might be implemented.
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