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This past Friday, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) called health-care reform a “stupid, dumb-ass program.”
Today, he continued to use strong language to express his opposition to the law -- but didn’t go as far -- when talking about the White House's offer to expedite a waiver process that would allow states to opt out of parts of the act.
"The waivers fail to give relief to state newly burdened with billions of dollars in new Medicaid spending mandates. I was on public television yesterday, right after [HHS] Secretary Sebelius who was saying this change from 2017 to 2014 is going to give you all kinds of flexibility. I'll tell you that's BULL! There's no question about it," he said, avoiding profanity at the Federation of American Hospitals Conference this morning in Washington, D.C.
"As for the administrations claim that it has provided a needed flexibility to the states," Hatch continued, "I believe the technical legal term is bologna."
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour also addressed the group of medical administrators.
On the budget, Hatch and Cantor warned of tough choices as they attempt to “tighten the belt” of the government. And they expressed a willingness to take on entitlement reform -- under the right circumstances.
“We have serious problems ahead of us, and they require serious answers and some very tough conversations with the American people. We can’t have everything and choices need to be made. It’s just that simple,” Hatch said.
“What we need to do is to focus on jobs and the economy and make sure that we are dealing with our fiscal situation because many who we rely upon to drive this economy are waiting for the government to do what they are doing which is to tighten the belt and to find a way to do more with less,” Cantor added.
Echoing Cantor, Barbour emphasized the need for concentration on jobs and the economy. “Less spending clearly is our goal and our mandate, but it’s a means to an end. We want a bigger more vibrant economy that employs more people."
Cantor and Hatch say entitlement reform is necessary in order to truly reduce the government’s debt. “The budget, we have said, will contain a prescription or a vision as to how we expect to deal with the future of entitlement programs in this country,” Cantor promised.
While the continuing resolution may have a plan for entitlement programs, Hatch signals that it will take both chambers of Congress and the White House to get anywhere.
“We’re not going to make any headway on entitlement spending without presidential leadership. We all know that. Members of Congress know that if they do something about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, alone the president can demagogue that issue and use it for political purposes. No, we have to work together in these areas,” he explained.
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Orrin was such a hit yesterday with the bagger crowd - why NOT keep playing to the base?
'dumb-ass'?
Is that anyway for a fine upstanding mormon to talk? lol
This guy's gone so FAR right - he wouldn't be able to find the middle with both hands and a flashlight!
Aww, more fully thought out words of wisdom from Fiesty.
It almost rises to the level of poetry. What would we do without her?
So Fiesty, just what does his religion have to do with anything? Or do you just find it "rewarding" to use religion to cast dispersions?
Keep on Keeping on old gal, you are a real peach.
The mormon is critized by a poor old lady from IL that does not have the ability to articulate without a few unkind words about a person, and with her cut and paste ability. Spanky, when you don't have anything to sell that is believeable, try to confuse the other person. Don't you know by now that's is the basic premise of the Travelin' Democratic Party these days?
This is so sad, Obama has all ready given states the opportunity to change the health care law so they can make it better if they so choose. In other words he told them to put up or shut up.....
Orrin Hatch is afraid of the Tea Partiers within the GOP. Plain and simple. He is following the same path McCain took when McCain was running for senator in Arizona. As First Read said, Senator Hatch could show some bi-partisan tendencies. We won't see any more of that for the next 21 months.
Or he sees where this is heading and wants to get out in front and assert an affirmative position. Ron, do you happen to know the approval rating for Obamacare in Hatch's state?
You know, Ron, taking a stand - the opposite of voting present.
Hey Ron, you forgot to tell us yesterday what union you belong to. Say, speaking of voting present has Obama gotten those comfy shoes yet? When do you anticipate he'll be hitting the picket lines? What's that, he won't be because it's not in his political best interest? Huh? Perhaps that is some of that bi-partisanship of which you speak? Certainly not taking a stand.
Hey thanks Spanky, your post made me look at the voting record of President Big Ears......he was present a lot as a Senator.
In the morning paper today, Obie did make reference to the Governors NOT to balance their budgets on the backs of the public service union workers. Isn't that also an affirmation to his union folks?
"Hey Ron, you forgot to tell us yesterday what union you belong to. Say, speaking of voting present has Obama gotten those comfy shoes yet? When do you anticipate he'll be hitting the picket lines? What's that, he won't be because it's not in his political best interest? Huh? Perhaps that is some of that bi-partisanship of which you speak? Certainly not taking a stand."
Hey, ass-wiper: where did you get the idea Ron (or Feisty, or Bev Or myself or any one esle on here has to answer any of your endless strings of questions? Here's one for you, so you can get a feel for what I mean:
Hey, ass-wiper, why aren't you at work?
Demanding little pr!ck - isn't he? lol
Feisty, you do continue the nasty string of comments on everyone you disagree with. Why not for once, show your true intelligence by answering one of the string of queries?
Stupid little c*&% aren't you. Stupid, old and probably moldy.
Considering Utah's nomination process, Hatch will be defeated by the TeaBaggers whether he panders to them or not. So he can try to retain what remains of his credibility and be Leader. The choice is his.
And the downward spiral for Hatch is in full swing...or should I say full whargarbl?
This kind of 180 on just about everything only proves that after all these years, he really is just another politician - will say/do anything and switch any previous position to get re-elected.
Boy, Hatch is really running scared, pandering to the Tea Party, I thought he was a much better man.
One thing is becoming clear, the real threat to our country lies on the far right, these people must be stopped. All thinking Republicans, need to stand up to the Tea party and return them to the fringe where they came from.
Without question, the two main posters with suspected ties to MSNBC (connect the dots as Navy likes to say) post within seconds of each other. I have to take longer to read the opening op ed than it takes the other main posting machine to respond. Now the minions share their cut and paste comments, again shortly after the initial post.
I had been keeping a time log to support my thoughts, but it is not worth the diatribe to promote the theory that they all must be paid by MSN. But do look at the opening op ed, then check the times for yourself. Interesting.
I have an IT employee who once was involved in government work with an un-named intelligence gathering agency. I may see if his contacts at the former agency can utilize their Crays to connect the dots to identify these players. It would be interesting to see what they would do if outed.
Something to consider. either that, or pick a day when we all attempt to think and act like a libbie!
What kind of cheese would you like with your whine?
Because you're slow and stupid - it means WE work for MSNBC!
Always the victim aren't you? Thanks for the compliment though! ;o)
No problem......we will out you soon.
Good to hear they can support you body Feisty. All that imbibing must be difficult on the feet.
Come out our way, sit on the back deck, sip a good bottle of wine, and hope Nancy isn't at the vineyard sunning herself again. When she's out, the alert goes out so the guys don't happen to look and accidently go blind.
Why did the Republicans pass the Medicare Part D Pharma giveaway in 2003 that will cost more than the Bank Bailout, Obama's Stimulus and ObamaCare -- COMBINED!?
A full 20% of our population is not covered by health insurance. When I hear a Republican plan to address this travesty, then I will take their complaints about health seriously. And please don't tell me that the poor can go to emergency rooms. Yes, they can do that for a broken arm but not for cancer treatments or a pacemaker. The conservative/tea party (party of compassion?) plan is for them to go off and die.
Hatch is sucking up to the tea people.