Democrats threaten companies hit hard by health care bill

Washington Examiner ^ | 3/28/10 | Byron York

[Nachum]

Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has summoned some of the nation's top executives to Capitol Hill to defend their assessment that the new national health care reform law will cost their companies hundreds of millions of dollars in health insurance expenses. Waxman is also demanding that the executives give lawmakers internal company documents related to health care finances -- a move one committee Republicans describes as "an attempt to intimidate and silence opponents of the Democrats' flawed health care reform legislation."

On Thursday and Friday, the companies -- so far, they include AT&T, Verizon, Caterpillar, Deere, Valero Energy, AK Steel and 3M -- said a tax provision in the new health care law will make it far more expensive to provide prescription drug coverage to their retired employees. Now, both retirees and current employees of those companies are wondering whether the new law could mean reduced or canceled benefits for them in the future.

[Nachum]

Waxman has ordered the executives to explain themselves at an April 21 hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee's investigative subcommittee. That subcommittee just happens to be chaired by Rep. Bart Stupak

Control

[FlingWingFlyer]

I always hated the old Soviet Union. I hate is twice as much now that WE are the Soviet Union.

[jnsun]

Leftism

[popdonnelly]

Democrats are challenged by the truth. After practicing lying for so long, the truth escapes them.

[lowbridge]

bump

[alancarp]

The corporate answer SHOULD be: “Congressman, we did our homework. We needed to know what this was going to cost, and so we read the bill and found out. Don’t you dare blame us for this since YOU wrote it and voted for it.”

[Soothesayer]

I’m hoping the Democrats piss off a lot of very powerful people. Unfortunately, they will be held afloat by a near unending supply of illegal and retard voters.

[bullfeather]

The dems can claim ignorance, of these truths, because they didn’t read the bill!!!

[G Larry]

I hope that some of these CEO’s have the courage to tell the Senate to POUND SAND!

“Senator, we’re going to spend another $100 MILLION to unseat every one of you communist bastards!”

[FlingWingFlyer]

Any government that threatens the people is not a GOOD government.

[MizSterious]

It’s a thugocracy, that’s certain.

[Maine Mariner]

Don’t you dare blame us for this since YOU wrote it and voted for it.” Don’t forget to add “and did not read it.”

[FrankR]

DEMOCRATS THREATEN...

I don't know about everyone else, but I am tired of being "threatened" by these weasels.

They have us mixed up with their union cronies who threaten and bully their way through workers, extorting dues via threats and intimidation.

Well, I am in no union, and will never join one...they are little pods of socialism, promoting mediocrity and the only ones who benefit are the union "leaders", and now, obama.

Is this what we have in store for the rest of our lives...to be bullied and intimidated by government, which now thinks it's a big labor union?

They are going to chase us over that final hill, and they may find armageddon waiting for them on the other side. We abhor violence, and we especially abhor it when it is DONE TO US.

Sooner or later the final domino will fall and the people will rise up...we will not be pushed into communism, or even socialism.

Even a mouse can cast a large shadow on the wall when the light is just right...but we must remember to not be afraid of the shadow...go after the mouse.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Isn't fascism wonderful?

Especially when the management of the private companies have been very preoccupied running their companies and haven't quite realised the nazi's have accomplished their putsch. They'll realise it pretty soon.

[Oceander]

Yup.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Aren’t public companies REQUIRED to calculate and file new numbers pretty much as soon as they uncover new situations or circumstances that affest their financials?

If so, my answer to Waxman is: Stuff It Up Your Nostrils! We were complying with federal law or SEC rules!

The Dems were surprised because THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S IN THEIR (UNCONSTITUTIONAL) BILL OR WHAT ITS EFFECTS WILL BE.

[sijay]

“Don’t you dare blame us for this since YOU wrote it and voted for it.” Don’t forget to add “and did not read it.””

They read enough to exempt themselves from the legislation. Execs should ask Waxman & Co. to explain that. They won’t get an answer, but the question would be on the table.

[Nonstatist]

They could have spoke up before this passed, but the cowardly sh%ts are complicit in this takeover. Asswipes.

[mvpel]

[mort56]

Leftists Progressives. There fixed it