Fascism Watch, March 7

Trump

Longtime Trump Adviser Calls Critic a “Stupid Ignorant Ugly B—-” which is no surprise to anyone who’s ever listened to a word that comes out of Roger Stone’s misogynist mouth.

Congress

Chaffetz: Americans May Have To Choose Between New Phone, Health Insurance

I mean, it's one cell phone, Michael. What could it cost, thirteen thousand dollars annually with a $200 per-visit deductible? pic.twitter.com/hkpqirQ12b

— 🌱 "hey, it's vonrosceau!" 🌦️ (@vonrosceau) March 7, 2017

Lol are you kidding me? Chaffetz also spent $738 of his campaign donor's money at the Apple Store. Hmm https://t.co/SNb7X7VNEz pic.twitter.com/LDLgKnivKK

— Lee Fang (@lhfang) March 7, 2017

The GOP health bill doesn’t know what problem it’s trying to solve

Little in politics shocks me. The process House Republicans want to use for their health care bill does. After literally years of complaining Obamacare was jammed down the American people’s throats with insufficient information or consideration, the GOP intends to hold committee votes on their bill two days after releasing it, and without a Congressional Budget Office report estimating either coverage or fiscal effects. It’s breathtaking.

Selling Health Insurance Across State Lines Won’t Save Money

The bigger challenge for this idea, though, is that almost all health care is delivered locally. To succeed, insurance companies need a significant toe-hold with hospitals and other providers in their local market; an out-of-state insurer would lack that and thus struggle in its negotiations to form a delivery network. This is why many new entrants to the health insurance market haven’t succeeded.

As the American Academy of Actuaries emphasizes, “For insurers to sell across state lines, they must develop provider networks by establishing reimbursement agreements with hospitals and physicians, or by purchasing access to an existing network. Any cost savings resulting from differences in benefit coverage requirements among states can be small compared to cost savings that can be accomplished through negotiating strong provider contracts.”

You know, a single-payer health care system would solve that problem. Just a thought, Congress. Don’t trip over yourselves rushing to embrace it.

“Purge leftists”: Trump supporter Rep. Steve King wants the president to root out those who oppose him

Missouri doesn’t need prescription drug monitoring. Overdoses remove people from the gene pool!

Leashes Come Off Wall Street, Gun Sellers, Polluters and More