Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Still not gonna be any open public town halls in the district, are there?

24 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

4th Congressional District, ACA, AHCA, facebook, missouri, Obamacare, repeal, social media, Trumpcare, Vicky Hartzler

“…You and your Trump horrify me.”

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

Today via Facebook, from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler
Today, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City announced they are pulling out of all ACA individual exchanges by the end of the year. This is a direct result of burdensome Obamacare mandates that made it nearly impossible for insurers to provide affordable plans. Requiring certain benefits from insurers, even if they were unnecessary and unwanted, is just one example of how the law made the health insurance business extremely expensive. Obamacare broke the healthcare system, and state by state, the system is collapsing.
This time, the continued failure of Obamacare will personally impact thousands of people across the state.
Today, Obamacare’s collapse hits home. I urge the Senate to pass the AHCA as quickly as possible to remove the burdens that are forcing insurers out of the market. We need to get lower premiums, more insurers and better coverage to Missouri. Now.

That’s real chutzpah.

Some of the replies:

Too bad you won’t be around to fix it. You tried replacing it with something worse and you will be gone because of it. We will finally get a Congress person that will be able to do something other than distract and blame everyone else. You are pitiful and we all know it

I believe your statement is full of mistruths. It was sabotaged and continues to be by GOP.

You cannot actively advocate for the failure of a system and then lay blame for that failure elsewhere, Mrs. Hartzler. Society and the citizens of this state will remember your words and actions and history will not judge you kindly.

Too bad your plan will do none of the things you stated in your last sentence.`

Obamacare did NOT “break the healthcare system” Ms. Vicki Hartzler. I think you know that very well. So to say it, knowing it to be untrue is a lie you’re telling directly to your constituents iin order to manipulate them to your will. Is that your job? To manipulate the American people and lie to their faces? You should be ashamed of yourself. The problems with healthcare have been caused by greed and the entitlement of the rich. Explain to me how EVERY INDUSTRIALISED NATION is capable of providing universal healthcare to their people and we are not. Since I’m assuming you don’t give a rat’s hind end what I’m writing and will never respond (why would you right? I don’t have millions of dollars for you request for fundraising so I don’t matter right?) The answer is that people like you, politicians who care more about money than they do about representing the people who put them in office I mean, lie to us. Give us half truths. Play upon our fears and manipulate us into thinking the way you want. The way that puts the most money in your pocket (in a manner of speaking). Remember me Vicky Hartzler. I’ll be the one who is working against you in Nov 2018. I’ll be the one reminding everyone what a self serving liar you are. The American people deserve better than this Vicky. We deserve to be represented by people who aren’t liars and thieves. I wish I could believe you would even take the time to read this, but I know you won’t. I wish that you would have a conscience and stop being a coward! Stand up for the American people.

Obama did not “break” the healthcare system. The GOP’s unprecedented obstruction of anything Obama, “broke” the intentions of the ACA. Stop lining your pockets with big pharma and insurance company money, and do what is right for the American people. We want universal healthcare, we the PEOPLE voted for it. You had ample opportunities to “better” the ACA and create a bipartisan plan for all, but you voted along your party line and for the lobbyists rather than your constituents’ and community’s needs. When is your next town hall? I’d love to hear you answer to your US, YOUR PEOPLE.

Come explain to us how the AHCA is going to lower premiums and make healthcare more accessible for your constituents. Because all the evidence, including the CBO’s analysis, says otherwise. We are waiting for you to divulge the magic solution nobody else has shown [….]

As insurance companies are pulling in record profits?!?! GOP is fooling no one any longer!! It will be single payer within 10 years.

Yes, because it will be SOOO much easier for their Big Business when they don’t have to insure all of those sick people… That isn’t a bad program, it’s sick priorities.

heartless republican plutocrat

CBO score expected to be out for AHCA with in hours which will more than likely prove you are lying in your last sentence.

Too bad! To bad that healthcare is a business. Too bad you support the runaway train of exorbitant costs of healthcare, Insurance companies and big pharma. You are their voice for corruption . even though its legal, its unethical. And its a bigly too bad. Too bad you don’t see the link between their ceos making ungodly sums of money while your citizens are paying the price. You are the reason the costs go up, protecting the assets of trump, and his unfettered war machine. You have no merits in my view. Single payer countries work. But then their reps listen to the people. You don’t. You probably don’t even read these comments.

Let’s see the CBO report for the Wealthcare you voted on.

Give it up, Vicky. Nobody believes anything you say in so desperately trying to justify a health care bill that will deprive 24 million people of coverage.

Your callous disregard for people who need this in order to become functional members of society disgusts me. I am an abuse survivor with PTSD and dissociative disorder. After the ACA came into effect, and after they managed to work around Missouri representatives block of the subsidies for its people, I finally got treatment for the first time in over a decade. Now I’m staring down the barrel of going back to before I had that. I have two children who need me whole. I have a loving and devoted husband who will wear himself out caring for me on the bad days, which are less now thanks to the ACA. You and your Trump horrify me.

You lie, just like all the GOP. Can hardly wait until Nov 2018. Hope we all survive what you and your Repugnancy do between now and then.

No, it’s because all the uncertainty about what will happen plus delay in subsidy payments and other subversive activities taken by the current Congress (this means YOU) and administration have weakened the ACA probably beyond repair. Congratulations. Now you want to enact a measure which is horribly detrimental to your constituency. Feeling proud of yourself, are you?

Interesting to see companies making record profits from a piece of legislation they helped craft whine about it, but I guess when your greed is endless nothing is good enough

More lies

What incentive does any insurance company have for providing coverage when the administration has threatened to stop subsidies that help pay for it? If the GOP had worked with the program instead of doing everything it could to obstruct the bill resulting in the current program, things might be different. The no-work-with policy continues as the GOP worked privately and refused to consider amendments. The Republicans share the blame for tbe current system’s problems and carry the blame for the inadequacies of their new program.

You lie Vicky.

I lived and worked in Canada for a year. We can do better than the awful plan proposed by Republicans. Fix the ACA instead of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Much of the ACA works, I know from first hand experiences.

I cannot believe you made that false statement. If you know what’s wrong with ACA, fix it, don’t support new legislation that has no intent of ensuring coverage for the majority of Americans. Your lack of understanding of health insurance and lack of empathy for those less fortunate is grossly astounding

True, so true, Vicky, my heart bleeds for companies who don’t make money insuring the sick, the poor, the marginalized. I feel deeply for the struggles and suffering of Blue Cross. Let’s all volunteer our time to make this profit generating company Great Again!

Uh, that be sarcasm?

Please be honest about this Ms. Hartzler. States that expanded Medicaid have much lower premium increases than those that didn’t. They also have less problems with insurer’s pulling out. The Republicans made things worse by refusing to expand Medicaid, a deliberate move to sabotage Obamacare. [….]

Fix the ACA, it’s easier than voting to pass a damaged and dangerous bill. AHCA is going to hurt rape victims, ptsd patients, pregnancies and anyone with a uterus. Is that really want you want for our nation? More money in the pockets of wealthy insurance companies while mothers are forced to choose dying of cancer or putting their family in debt for chemo so she can live? Is that what America is about? Taking away the opportunity of life?

I disagree with your analysis of the problems the ACA is having. Yes, the ACA requires insurers to provide specific coverage. The fact that the new Republican plan removes that requirement is what the insurers are reacting to. YOU are killing the ACA and we all know it. You had 8 years to help shape changes to make the ACA better – and you refused to do anything. As long as there are no protections for patients – insurance companies will continue to jack up premiums. Your new plan will not stop that. Stop the partisan bickering and do something positive for your constituents.

This is exactly what you wanted and what you worked to achieve. The GOP does NOT have the best interest of Missouri families.

After my son became ill and had multiple hospitalizations Obamacare was our salvation. He was given a choice of 6 plans all including deductible were affordable. I am very concerned about the future.

You should listen to what your constituents have to say and put what’s best for the people ahead of what is best for the Republican Party. Read what these people have to say while you still have a say in Washington and can make a positive difference for people here. You don’t want to continue to be known as Heartless Hartzler…or do you?

A rhetorical question.

When will you have a town hall to defend your vote to gut Medicaid($880B in cuts to fund $900B in tax cuts for top 5%), bring ban pre-existing condition discrimination, and make health care impossible for anyone born without a silverspoon to afford?

You voted to kill your constituents and you refuse to even look them in their eyes.

You are dishonest.

This is a direct result of your defunding of the ACA. Your party did everything possible to make the law fail, and did nothing to fix the things that you did to it. What did you exptect? If you had left it alone, it would be doing just fine.

Vicky, You’ve lost your credibility with me. It should be people first party second but you don’t act that way at all.

That’s rich, Vicky. Insurers are fleeing the market not because they have to provide real insurance, but because they have no idea what to charge since the leader of YOUR party keeps everyone in the dark about ACA subsidies. You broke it, you buy the consequences.

You’re so full of it Vicky Hartzler! If you actually believe your own words then you’re dumber than a box of rocks!

It’s a direct result of GOP failure to pay the premiums as promised. They have done everything they can to sabotage the program. And now say its a disaster, It seems all the GOP agenda is to hurt ordinary Americans as much as they can while giving more tax breaks to the wealthy. The GOP needs to GO. OUT. SOON!

Shame on you and this disingenuous post. The people you represent deserve better that a political mouthpiece only interested in herself and her party. You will be on the wrong side of history and we will not forget.

If you take peoples health insurance away I hope they take your job away. I know I’ll try.

Hey nice try Vicky. Judging by the tone of the replies here, I’d say your post blew up in your face! I hope you read all the comments posted here and maybe even take them to heart. I doubt that you will, but I’d gladly be pleasantly surprised.

“…Judging by the tone of the replies here, I’d say your post blew up in your face!…” You think?

Vicky you are a cruel horrible person, the reason insurance companies are pulling out is because Missouri would not extend Medicaid and the Federal Government pulled funds out of the ACA that would have subsidized the low income buyers of insurance. This is a classic Republican tactic of cutting funds from a program and then saying the program failed. Vicky how do you sleep at night? You bring harm and death to your constituents.

Ahhhh that’s is why you just spouted off all this. Tried to get a few minutes ahead of the CBO numbers of 23 million people being kicked off the roles. Honestly your politics game is so amateur.

They’re not buying it and they don’t sound happy.

Nope, definitely not, there won’t be any open public town halls.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Who’s that yonder, dressed in black? (May 4, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) – Columbia District Office – May 10, 2017 (May 10, 2017)

It’s no wonder Sen. Roy Blunt (r) doesn’t hold open town halls in Missouri

09 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

ACA, AHCA, facebook, missouri, Roy Blunt, social media, town halls, Trumpcare

Roy Blunt (r) [2016 file photo].

Senator Roy Blunt on Facebook today:

Senator Roy Blunt — US Senator for Missouri
Discussed the widespread failures of Obamacare this morning on Fox News’ Happening Now. With less access and higher premiums, it’s clear the current system is just not serving Americans well and it has to be changed.
[….]

Some of the responses:

“Less access” should be on your business card, Mr. I-Don’t-Hold-Town-Halls / ignore email and snail mail from constituents/ unplugged my fax machine so I can forget that I’m about to ruin the lives of the people who voted me into this position… as a public servant, you’re an utter disgrace and I wouldn’t trust you to tie my shoe, let alone decide how we should structure 1/6th of the US Economy.

Single payer. Now. Let’s join the rest of the world on this, shall we?

VOTE NO! Do not repeal ACA until there is something better than what is offered now!

#TrumpNoCare

And your plan of taking away insurance from the poor so you can give a tax break to the rich is better how? Why don’t you have a townhall so we can discuss. Worthless POS.

Blunt is a paid by insurance companies to raise our premiums !

We need a public option. #SinglePayerHealthcare

The current system has saved many lives already. If you’re truly pro-life, you will admit that Obamacare saves lives. And the bill from the House will cause the loss of many lives.

explain and give examples who in Missouri has less care under the ACA then before? As to the cost who had cost go up on the same policy in excess of inflation. Stories I heard the old policy was in name only. The “policy” did not cover much, no preventive care/ immunizations, lab test, any outpatient.

Blunt needs to be voted out. He votes strictly by party lines and cares nada for Missouri constituents.

We’ll have to wait until 2022.

Your new plan has even less access and even higher premiums! Repeal suddenly became Repeal/Replace after the election. Stop lying Senator Blunt. I urge all Missourians to vote against him in the future if he votes for this plan in any form.

Again, we’ll have to wait until 2022.

Way to twist things to fit your agenda Senator. You & your party help spread the uncertainy & fear of failure until you make it a reality. We all see right through your lies & deception. You should be ashamed of yourself Mr Blunt.

Universal health care is the answer.

There are very real and life ENDING/altering consequences for this! Look in your heart, examine your holy book, think! What would your religion ask of you when confronted with a child who’s life could be saved except that he can’t pay for medicine? What would you heart tell you to do if you saw someone being beaten by their spouse? Is your first thought to check their pockets for cash when you find someone who is weak, sick, poor? Then why in the name of everything good can you not see that YOU saying ANYTHING positive about this makes you culpable for it?

Smh….. You can talk to Fox but can’t answer phone, fax, or e-mail.

Or hold open public town halls in Missouri.

Single payer. Not tax cuts for the rich.

I have medical insurance! I won’t have if you decimate the ACA. I’m a small business owner. I want to stay in business. Stop doing this!

Please don’t be in a hurry to dismantle what has done so much for so many! Just fix it. Unfortunately, it could have been done years ago if the Republicans hadn’t been so stubborn!

This message is brought to you by the people who payed for it…multi-national insurance conglomerates

There are problems but those were and are recognized. A giant tax cut isn’t the solution for providing low income health care efficiently

#alternativefacts

The present ACA with a few changes would work well for the majority of Americans.The trump/Ryan version is a disaster.So very disappointed with your views on this crucial issue.It seems that you and many of your peers have no interest or intention of doing what would benefit the majority of Americans.

Clearly the ACA served the majority of people who follow you on Facebook pretty well. When will you tell our stories? Here’s mine: I got great coverage for $75 a month when I lived in Columbia. That would have been impossible ten years ago. We are calling you and we are angry, listen to us or lose your job! Blindly following your party’s line to your constituents’ detriment goes against everything this country was founded for!

Easy thing to say when you don’t participate in the system and you’re too big of a coward to face your constituents.

Single payer.

Congress and insurance companies have spent all their effort to make it fail. Then act surprised or proud of themselves that they broke it.

Congress withheld money from the high risk pool which forced insurance companies to absorb more cost which forced them to drop out.

But some how there’s a lot more money for Trump’s high risk pools.

Except the way y’all are taking it looks like it’ll get worse

How you continue to be re-elected is beyond me.

It’s working better now than before there was a law, and with the tax break you want to give to your billionaire buddies will bankrupt us all!!!!!!!

How are you not hearing the American public who is crying out not to repeal and replace?? How are you going to sleep at night knowing how many people you are denying healthcare to?

I eagerly await your corporate talking points.

Interesting that you call ACA Obamacare. I called your office in Springfield yesterday, and when I called it Obamacare, they corrected me and said ACA.

Minor point to be sure, the major issue is that yes there are things about ACA that needs some fixing, however the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) numbers don’t support your claim that the ACHA would provide greater access and lower premiums BEFORE the Amendment that was tacked on and then pushed through on the House Bill. It’s clear that said amendment will decrease even further access to insurance as well as increase the cost, especially to those with pre-existing conditions as well as older American’s and lower income American’s.

Your constituants, as well as the entire nation will be watching what changes the Senate makes to the bill. Your office assured me they were rewriting. Whether the Senate version will be a good thing or not is yet to be seen. But be sure, you and the GOP will be judged on what the all male (where are the women?) committee comes up with.

Your years of obstruction, coupled with lack of cooperation by insurance companies are finally achieving your sick goal of killing ACA, regardless of who may be harmed. Instead of trying to help your constituents by improving the workable existing plan you continue to pursue the partisan goal of erasing any and all Obama legacy. And after all these years you don’t even have a skeleton of a workable plan? You are beneath contempt, unworthy even of the time I just spent writing this.

More like the widespread failure of Missouri to implement all the changes. I have Blue Cross insurance through my work (Tennessee) and the rates are less than half of what I was paying for the exact same Blue Cross plan here in Missouri. The difference is Tennessee did Obamacare the way it was supposed to be.

The simple, effective solution is to open Medicare to anyone, then set premiums and the existing tax to cover costs. Why not try to do the right thing for people, not just big corporations?

You lie. People will die!!!

ObamaCare is doing some really good things, though. I’m happy with several things in it.

The AHCA/TrumpCare, on the other hand, isn’t good at all. It doesn’t help people. And it’s going to harm many, many people. Including friends and family.

How about this novel idea….healthcare for everyone regardless of income…

Improving the House bill is gov speak for bigger giveaways to corporations and the rich. He knows where his campaign bribes come from.

How about you and your family stop taking so much lobby money and work for us for a change.

So far, it is serving me just fine. I get access to health care on my own despite my type 1 diabetes. Do you actually talk to people about their experience with the ACA or do you just assume that its a failure because Obama and the Democrats enacted it? Here’s a thought, talk to consumers, doctors, nurses, people who have chronic illnesses, those who might be able to educate you about something instead of pretending you know it all.

IS THIS A JOKE?! People are going to die because of this. In my opinion, any support for DONTcare (as a friend so aptly named it) makes you an accessory to murder. You should be ashamed!

Nah, Senator Blunt (r) isn’t going to be holding any public town halls in Missouri…ever.

Previously:

Where’s Roy Blunt (r)? (April 6, 2017)

Don’t count on Senators like Roy Blunt to do the right thing about healthcare (May 6, 2017)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): turn Trumpcare into a club and mercilessly beat them with it

13 Monday Mar 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

CBO score, Claire McCaskill, facebook, missouri, social media, Trumpcare

They handed it to her. She’d be crazy not to.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2016 file photo].

The Congressional Budget Office scored the cost and effects of Trumpcare today. It wasn’t pretty.

From Senator Claire McCaskill (D), via Facebook:

Senator Claire McCaskill
Raising a 64-year-old’s premiums 758% is not Claire’s idea of healthcare.
This plan is bad for Missouri, bad for the 24 million Americans who would lose their coverage, and especially bad for seniors, rural communities, and people with disabilities.

Some of the responses:

Didn’t anybody do the math on a few scenarios??? It has been just vindictive, greedy policy for Republicans – who have lifetime free care. Thank goodness for the CBO or we might not known the full extent of the horror. We’ll have to scrutinize every last thing of any revised plan. No wonder they were fast-tracking it. ACA had 79 hearings and took 14 months to pass. We’ll need to insist they slow down and allow study of something that can cause people’s deaths if not done right.

It’s a republican product, they don’t do math.

If you voted for that piece of crap Drumpf, I don’t have one ounce of sympathy for you. You deserve what you get. But the millions of innocent people who had better sense than you are going to suffer, too. That truly pisses me off. Nice going, Republican idiots.

Well, yes.

Trumpcare is not good for anyone but the wealthy and the young (and they eventually grow old as well)

Well, yes.

They’ve shot their mouth off for the last eight years, they had to do something. Even if it’s wrong. Goes to show what the GOP thinks of the average voters intellect level.

They have a point there.

Someone please explain why its so hard for the GOP to think about Americans

Сделать Америку великой Снова!

Holy Toledo!! What actually is the point of this legislation? It certainly isn’t offering an option for healthcare.

That’s easy. Massive tax cut for the top 1%.

Thank you for the support and dedication to protect all families in Missouri. Perhaps our other esteemed Senator could learn what compassionate leadership is all about. Thank You!

Roy? Seriously? He’s not worried, he has a really nice mansion in Georgetown.

I was happy to get multiple, big glossy ads asking me to contact you and tell you it was time to repeal “Obamacare” and replace it with Trumpcare,” because that is one way I enjoy the Republicans wasting money. Give’em Hell, Claire.

They do that.

Death panels anyone?

No need if you don’t have insurance. That’s their brilliant plan.

Republican values. Why do so many people vote against their self-interest??

You must be new around this here country.

It looks like they just want older people to die from no health care.

Well, yes. Unless they’re in the top 1%.

Previously:

You think Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) has been smiling a lot this week? (February 23, 2017)

Well, you asked

15 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Constituents, Eric Greitens, facebook, governor, missouri, social media

Eric Greitens (r) [2016 file photo].

This afternoon Governor Eric Greitens (r) solicited constituent questions on Facebook. There were a lot.

Eric Greitens
We’re here in Jeff City to fight for you. That means listening to the people and answering your questions about what’s going on in your government.
This afternoon at 3:30, we’re going to take a few minutes and do a Facebook Live Q&A. If you have any questions about what we’re doing to take Missouri in a new direction, I’d love to answer them. Let us know in the comments section what you want to talk about, and join us at 3:30.

A few of the questions:

How will you fully fund education?

Who funded your inauguration parties?

Who donated the $1,900,000 to your campaign that you have not disclosed and why have you refused to say so far?

Missourians don’t want right to work. Why did you listen to your millionaire and billionaire backers and force it on us? Why don’t you listen to Missourians who don’t want it?

What is being done about the fact that our driver’s licenses will not be acceptable ID at airports & federal buildings in 2018? Missouri has had quite a while to fix this & has done nothing.

I would like to know why you’re trying to repeal prevailing wage which will put Missouri contractors and small businesses out of business? It allows out of town outfits to come in with illegal and unskilled labor which allows them to low ball work. Thus it then takes much needed revenue away from Missourians. Please explain real points besides it helps your billionaires who bought your way and use you as a puppet. Thanks

What is your idea of a decent working wage Eric Greitens? How do you figure people are forced to join unions? Who told you there is “union bosses”? I noticed you didn’t say anything about health care benefits or guaranteed pensions for retires, do you think or feel that companies will give those benefits to their employees?

I would like to know how you are going to protect and expand higher education in the state. Missouri used to be a leader in higher education and now lags badly behind. Not just short changing students, but we can no longer attract the best of the best in staff, faculty and research because of low pay scales and tiny to non-existent pay raises. Continuing to butcher funding to higher education hurts the entire state. Tuition hikes mean that fewer students can attend Missouri schools, locating elsewhere for their education then staying there. Critical infrastructure needs at MU have been ignored for decades due to poor funding.[….]

How about you discuss the large donations by David Humphreys to your “campaign” after you were elected…what is he buying?

I would like to know why you are talking about closing the Group Homes for the disabled kids? I have a son that has lived in one for 30 years, his dream when he graduated was to be able to live on his own just like everyone else. This would destroy him if he had to leave. I believe there are other area’s that can be cut besides taking the funds away from our disabled. They try to work and pay taxes in as well. There has to be a better solution.

If your goal is to protect k-12 classroom funding, then why did you cut transportation funding? This puts school districts in the position of having to cannabilize money from their budgets to cover that reduction. What good is a funded classroom if you can’t get the kids to the classroom?

Please discuss the intimidation tactics you used on members of the Senate regarding the salary vote and why after the vote you continued cyber-bullying the legislators via Twitter. You really don’t want to be like the Trumpster Fire in DC do you?

I’d like to hear why you won’t disclose the source of your inaugural donations? Don’t we have a right to know whom you’re really working for? Is it more Goguen money? Because we all know how much you like his dirty million(s)!

We know that thousands of low-income Missourians rely on Planned Parenthood health centers for vital preventive care like pelvic exams, & STI testing & treatment, along with contraceptive and safe abortion services. Will you work to ensure that low-income Missourians can continue to receive high-quality care at the provider of their choice, including Planned Parenthood?

What are you going to do to ensure that low-income Missourians can continue to access vital preventive health care like birth control, STI testing and treatment, and well woman exams at the provider of their choice, including Planned Parenthood?

How much money did Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, Centene, Enterprise, Express Scripts, Kansas City Power & Light, Kansas City Southern, Monsanto, Pfizer and Wal-Mart donate to your inauguration celebration? With that in mind, can you reassure us that you are representing and serving “our government,” for the people; as opposed to a corporate government, for the highest bidder?

“Our Government”? You mean “Your Government”, where you let the state corporations and big businesses run the state, collect their money, and you do as they say? A true puppet, this is what you get by voting in an “outsider” morons.

When was the last time you made under 50k a year and have to provide heath insurance for your family? Have you ever had to pay for your or your family’s health care? Have you ever worked a blue collar job? Have you ever worked for a minimum wage? Who paid for your collage education?

Gov. Greitens, this is Will Schmitt, state government and politics reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Can you say why your inaugural committee, which planned the installation of public officials, is acting like a private organization? Also, can you please say whether you plan to meet with Rod Chapel of the Missouri NAACP? Thank you!

This is Summer Ballentine, a reporter from The Associated Press. Gov. Greitens, you proposed a number of cuts in next year’s budget. Why did you propose cutting $52 million from a Missouri Medicaid program providing in-home care to elderly and disabled people too poor to pay for it themselves? Also, do you support legislative proposals to restrict discrimination lawsuits? Thank you.

Mo has the highest rate of toddler shootings in the country. Why do you not support requiring all gun owners to take a gun safety course? Plus, a three day waiting period and background check? There could be exemptions for active duty military and police. Common sense gun laws are helpful not harmful.

If these budget cuts are put in place…..how will we deal with the rising costs of ER visits and hospital stays for the disabled and elderly that lose their in-home services and how will that be effective at balancing our budget if one expense is replaced by another which costs Missouri twice as much?

Many Missouri women rely on Planned Parenthood for basic health services. Access to contraceptives and sex ed reduce abortion rates and poverty. What will you do to help ensure women have access to these services?

Why aren’t you allowing questions from the press? Why are you limiting access to portions of the capital building by the press and Missouri voters? I thought you were the transparent choice?

Hi Gov. Greitens, this is Celeste Bott, I’m a statehouse reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Curious, as others have asked, about your decision to make deep cuts for disabled and senior citizens in the Missouri Medicaid program? Also, do you think your cuts to higher education institutions will make tuition increases inevitable? Have you begun any efforts to tackle violence in cities like St. Louis, a priority you mentioned in your state of the state speech? How about for reducing recidivism? Thanks!

Why don’t you you come to St. Louis and answer questions, town hall style, to all the hard working union families. Explain to them how taking food off their tables and lowering the tax base effectively helps Missouri?

Mexico is the state’s 2nd largest trading partner. What impact do you think President Trump’s call for a 20 percent tariff on imports from Mexico will have on Missouri’s economy?

Why do you need a COO? What is your reason? Will you avoid daily governing and be a figure head? Who makes governor decisions, where is the divisions of responsibility defined?

How do I introduce a bill that forces Missouri to let Missouri residents have the option of paying their taxes? Missouri is part of the Union that is the United States therefore if we’re going to bust the Union I would like to be able to turn the same playing cards back on you and opt out of paying my taxes and still receive all the benefits of those who choose to pay their taxes.

When will you be in Kansas City to meet with voters, not just closed meetings with your supporters? I want you to have a town hall style meeting so we can ask you questions directly, please.

You say you’re prolife, but you have no plans to expand Medicaid in Missouri, saving 300,000 lives. Last year the state also redirected over $4million in federal TANF to so-called “crisis pregnancy centers,” instead of feeding hungry kids. Missouri is the 2nd hungriest state in the country. What are you going to do to help our most vulnerable, with a $456million budget hole?

What are we going to do to fully fund education? How can we expect Missouri’s economy to grow long term without allowing adequate access to education for our people?

Governor Greitens, I would like to know what more you plan to do about millionaires and billionaires buying our politicians and elections? [….]

Last night during the HJR18 debate, Rep. Mike Moon compared sperm to tadpoles. Do you believe sperm and tadpoles are the same thing? Would you outlaw abortion, most forms of birth control, IVF, and stem cell research?

In regards to education also, discussing why you chose to send a letter of support for Betsy DeVos along with 19 other governors, and since you so strongly support her initiative for providing vouchers and school choice, how do you see that affecting rural districts in Missouri that have no school choice?

And so on.

It was sad, maybe a little pathetic, and illustrative of their limited access reading the occasional questions from media/reporters interspersed with those from constituents. Welcome to Eric Greitens’ (r) Missouri.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Yes, about your vote to fund the government…

20 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

4th Congressional District, budget, facebook, missouri, social media, Twitter, Vicky Hartzler

Nothing seems to upset right wingnut constituents more than than the concept that government functions for somebody other than themselves.

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) on her vote on funding the government, via Twitter:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler ‏@RepHartzler
It’s not perfect, but today’s legislation gives America more conservative policies than the alternative. [….] 11:43 AM – 18 Dec 2015

From Representative Hartzler’s (r) press release, with some of the goodies she likes:

Hartzler Votes to Fund the Government, Turns Gaze to 2016

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) today voted to pass H.R. 2029, a bill to fund government activities through the end of the 2016 fiscal year.

“Missourians and Americans across the country want to focus on the holidays and spending time with their families,” Hartzler started. “They do not need to worry that the government isn’t going to be available when they need it. This package provides the certainty Americans need that their social security checks will go out on time, the Department of Homeland Security will have the resources it needs to keep them safe as they travel to see loved ones, and Congress will be able to focus on other American priorities as it goes forward.”

[….]

….does not fund the President’s climate change initiatives within Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Protection Programs Directorate (NPPD) within DHS.

[….]

….cuts EPA funding by $452 million below the President’s request, holding the agency to its lowest funding levels since 2008 and its lowest staffing levels since 1989;

….provides local schools increased relief from whole grain and sodium nutritional standards in school lunches.

[….]

….prohibits funding for the “light bulb” standard regulations, allowing Americans to continue buying affordable incandescent light bulbs.

[….]

….maintains existing protections that prohibit the use of federal funding for abortion….

….increases funding for abstinence education.

[….]

Because climate change isn’t happening? Because we all want to breathe crappy air and drink poisoned water? Because whole grains are bad for our children and more salt in their diet is so very good for them? Because incandescent light bulbs equal freedom! Because abstinence only education works so well?

Priorities.

Some of the social media replies, from unhappy right wingnuts:

Mitchell Cowan ‏@mackelby
@RepHartzler It was a complete disaster and you are to blame. Sickened by your progressive votes and attitude. 11:46 AM – 18 Dec 2015

Uh, that’s really not the definition of progressive. Just pointing that out for you. The same individual continues with their upset, promising action:

Mitchell Cowan ‏@mackelby
@RepHartzler I will vote dem next time so we can finish off America and start rebuilding. 11:46 AM – 18 Dec 2015

Uh, if you really want to finish off America vote to put another underachieving Bush in the White House. The last one damn near completed that job. Otherwise, I’m sure Hillary Clinton or Martin O’Malley or Bernie Sanders will appreciate your vote in 2016.

Farmstead Realty ‏@FarmsteadRealty Dec 18
@RepHartzler If it wasn’t perfect you don’t vote for it. You should be ashamed. It gives Obama everything he wanted. 11:49 AM – 18 Dec 2015

Apparently President Obama is really missing those incandescent light bulbs.

realbigstriper ‏@realbigstriper
@RepHartzler and we will remember your vote 11:56 AM – 18 Dec 2015

And everyone else is thinking: “The next election is eleven months away, nah…”

Amber Hartenbower ‏@AHartenbower
@RepHartzler If it’s not perfect, you vote no. Way to screw over Americans, but, hey, you keep your cushy job, right? 11:57 AM – 18 Dec 2015

Uh, technically, she did that when she (probably) supported George W. Bush for president. The screw over Americans part that is.

Jeff Wayman ‏@PetsandPucks
@RepHartzler by “not perfect”, I can only assume you mean an evil monstrosity. You should be ashamed of voting for it. 1:04 PM – 18 Dec 2015

It’s the light bulb part that upset you, isn’t it? But will you remember that in November 2016? Nah.

Larry Myers ‏@lmyersloz
@RepHartzler That is a cowardly and misleading statement. What essential functions would have stopped? None. You no longer have my support. 2:37 PM – 18 Dec 2015

Let’s hear it for whole grains!

The storm on Facebook is quite similar. A sampling of the responses:

[….] I’m sorry you supported the Obama Spending Bill Budget that provides funding for bringing in more Muslim terrorists, keeping Obamacare and Planned Parenthood. Democrats are gleeful and we the people (including unborn babies) are the losers again.

They didn’t notice all the anti-abortion stuff? There’s no pleasing some people.

[….] Et tu, Brutus?

Ah, a classicist.

[….] I am thinking when she holds town hall meetings we should attend, but not mouth at her, but instead stand and turn our backs to her when she begins speaking.

Yeah, that’ll certainly show her. While we’re at it, let’s put on a play!

[….] Thanks for selling us out again. You are not a conservative like you tried to say you were. You have lied and cheated to the people way to many times. We need someone who represents and will listen to the people not the establishment GOP. We are sick of this we want the person who will not bow to special interest groups. Enjoy your last time in Washington DC because if I can help it you won’t be going back next election.

Promises, promises…

[….] Explain just why you are different than a Democrat?

Heh.

We just love social media. It’s so Democratic.

One of two things

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bigotry, facebook, Mike Moon, missouri, religion

Pants wetters or cynical bigots. Maybe both?

From Representative Mike Moon (r) via Facebook:

Mike Moon 22 hrs

This is the right policy! Until our government officials can ensure immigrants entering our country are peaceful and are willing to assimilate, they must be prohibited from touching U.S. soil.

Missouri must take measures to ensure the safety of our residents, too. This is no time to sit back and take chances….

So, Donld J. Trump (r) said “all Muslims”.

Some of the responses are illuminating:

[….] When a religion advocates murder as part of the free exercise thereof, it fails the constitutional test.

Wow, just wow.

[….] When its a threat to our National Security I have a right as do all Americans to defend ourselves. You are not thinking as protecting me or my family and friends [….]. You let more of these un vetted Muslims that believe in Shariah law over what you just quoted then it is you that is ignorant and unlearned! You should know better! Dont you think that there are places over there to help these people and send them instead of bringing them to the USA? There is a lot we can do. Why is this president so hell bent on defending Islam and Muslims ? Have you studied their religion? I have! They consider shariah law higher then what our government laws are. So they want to rape or behead infidels they can. They can do what they want. How are you going to defend that once we get 100’s of thousands of them here ? We are at war sir!

In response to someone who took issue with the bigotry:

[….] your wanting Americans to give up our Liberty and Freedoms for who? What about our freedoms? Do you hear yourself talk? They consider you an infidel. Why dont you give up your freedom and liberty and go live among them? You would be lucky to last a week. Stop asking Americans( actually your not asking your forcing them on us) to give up our freedom and liberty! And your asking us to pay for it to ! Stop the madness!

[….] Your an idiot! Christians are under attack. 14 Jews and Christians just lost their lives. What about the Christians and Jews that are losing their lives and are being targeted in Syria and Iraq and other places now? Know your history! Know whats going on in the world now! Learn to make sentences for yourself instead of pulling one or two lines from history. Interpret history as a whole. Guess you want to take my guns too?

You’re wondering what that’s all about? Your guess is as good as mine.

And this:

[….] I agree, Mike Moon!! By the way, Muslim isn’t a religion….

And Representative Moon (r) replied:

Mike Moon You are correct, [….]. Thanks for chiming in.

Back to business, responding to the individual who took issue with their bigotry:

[….] You can lol! All you want [….]. You go live with them and see how accommodating they are. You tell me after a year how that goes.

Uh, we live with “them” now.

[….] You are completely correct Mike. I get so tired of the left be so willing to give the full benefits of our free society to non citizens!

Really? You mean like in the Constitution? Did we just stumble on to the set of Starship Troopers? Just asking.

And then, this:

[….]I disagree with you [….]..muslim countries should be taking them…we certainly did not accept all germans during world war 1 or 2 And we did not open our doors to imigrants from italy or japan during he war How would this be different?.

To the world’s eternal shame many nations in the world, including the United States, denied sanctuary to persecuted minorities. As a result millions lost their lives. Uh, we actually interned American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II, to our shame. I’m beginning to wonder about that last part.

[….] I just wonder, during WW11, how many German people were allowed to immigrate to this country??just asking..

And how many died?

[….] I agree. I think we might need to go one more and close our boarders.

“Trailer for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents.
No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain’t got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin’ broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room….”

Oh, wait…

[….] Their ideology doesn’t fit here, in fact, many of their “religious” beliefs and acts are illegal in the United States. Ending the war in their country or even keeping them in a country that practices that ideology is the best bet. I would however consider allowing Christians to come here, those people need protection.

Uh….

Previously:

HB 216: Agenda 21! (December 15, 2014)

HCR 54: derp, derp, derp, derp… (March 13, 2015)

Show Me Progress

~ covering government and politics in Missouri – since 2007

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