Posted on 05/30/2013 2:50:04 PM PDT by yoe
A little-noticed part of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act channels some $12.5 billion into a vaguely defined “Prevention and Public Health Fund” over the next decade–and some of that money is going for everything from massage therapists who offer “calming techniques,” to groups advocating higher state and local taxes on tobacco and soda, and stricter zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants.
The program, which is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has raised alarms among congressional critics, who call it a “slush fund,” because the department can spend the money as it sees fit and without going through the congressional appropriations process. The sums involved are vast. By 2022, the department will be able to spend $2 billion per year at its sole discretion. In perpetuity.
What makes the Prevention and Public Health Fund controversial is its multibillion-dollar size, its unending nature (the fund never expires), and its vague spending mandate: any program designed “to improve health and help restrain the rate of, growth” of health-care costs. That can include anything from “pickleball” (a racquet sport) in Carteret County, N.C. to Zumba (a dance fitness program), kayaking and kickboxing in Waco, TX.
“It’s totally crazy to give the executive branch $2 billion a year ad infinitum to spend as they wish,” said budget expert Jim Capretta of the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. “Congress has the power of the purse, the purpose of which is to insure that the Executive branch is using taxpayer resources as Congress specified.”
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Close it down!
It is long past time for the Republicans in the House to get serious about the power of the purse.
Pelosi was right. Every day since Obamacare was passed we learn more about what’s in it.
Hmmmm...
I think I’m going to start a TEA Party and Constitutional Education based non-profit group and apply for some of these government funds.
Do you think the IRS and HHS will fast-track my applications?
Everywhere you look there's a sham to be found in 0bamacare.
Institutionalized corruption.
So, will Zero give us a "Checkers Speech"? Will we believe him? Will the "news" media compare the slush fund, etc. of Zero to Nixon's? Ha ha! That last one is funny.
Would it be far fetched to think ? that Obama’s people, liberal politicians could use this very Obamacare slush fund to fund their own political agendas, political campaigns ? to dip and take at will when ever they need the money ?
Another NIXON type operation. Only way worse. But he’s the first black president, and isn’t that wonderful. Said with a lipst.
Do you think the IRS and HHS will fast-track my applications?
Two words: uh..., no.
Oh wait! Your implied sarcasm tag just got through the "special" review process reserved especially for conservatives. I can see it now.
So, never mind my "uh..., no." reply above. Cheers.
Yeah I noticed that when Obama speaks, he has a lipst in his speech.
That fool whistles like a teapot.
Two clichés: "Follow the money" and "Connect the Dots"
Of course, when the dots are so close together that they darn-near form a line, I think we can be excused for concluding that this was the plan all along. Statists/Progressives/Liberals/Leftists/Democrats hate conservatives far, far more than they love their country and the founding principles upon which it was based. Thus they derive sick pleasure in knowing that we know this slush fund will be used against us.
That our tax dollars--moneys confiscated from our pockets--will be at their complete disposal, and will be used in ways to advance their liberty-destroying collectivist agendas, gives them almost demonic delight.
But then, you already know this. I'm saying nothing new or profoundly insightful. It's so manifestly obvious it hurts.
I’d love to see it shut down . . . however, personally I think we’re fu*ked. Plain and simple we’ve been had. Thank you low info voters and the a$$wipes that thought this clown was a good idea.
“It is long past time for the Republicans in the House to get serious about the power of the purse.
Acquiescence is the same as agreement.
A little-noticed part of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act channels some $12.5 billion into a vaguely defined "Prevention and Public Health Fund” over the next decade–and some of that money is going for everything from massage therapists who offer “calming techniques,” to groups advocating higher state and local taxes on tobacco and soda, and stricter zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants.
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