Single-Payer Healthcare Moves Forward in California, India Embraces Solar, and Republicans Still Haven't Repealed Obamacare: P.M. Links

• Senate Republicans continue to shrug their shoulders at the idea of taking action on Obamacare repeal.

• India tries desperately to catch up to the West in terrible renewable energy policy.

• The California State Senate passes a massive single-payer health care bill. The bill now moves on to the state assembly, but prospects of it becoming law remain uncertain.

• Cato's Christopher Preble says that America's relationship with its European allies is overrated.

Comments

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

...Dicks out for Rico? What's going on?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Christian is the new Roberto.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

The student has become the master.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

"When you can snatch this piece of fruit sushi from my hand, you are ready to post the PM links."

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

XD

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ready to eventually post the PM links.

[Princess Trigger]

He has disappointing hair.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

In comparison to Robby? Well... Duh.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

But he does have the same air of childlike innocence about him.

[Meh.]

Aww!

[Careless]

ha, how did I miss that story when it was new?

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Backtiming your post?

Lying is not very Christian, Britschgi.

[Meh.]

I wondered if I was going crazy... maybe it was technical difficulties though?

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Something tells me he back-timed his birth certificate as well.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

Who is this Christian?

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

I liked him a lot in the beginning when I misread the name as Christina; now I've adjusted to a neutral perspective... Which says a lot about me.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

He's our new enemy.

I mean, being late is one thing, but the lack of alt text is monstrous.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Senate Republicans continue to shrug their shoulders at the idea of taking action on Obamacare repeal.

Shoulder spasms are a preexisting condition.

[Ken Shultz]

"A [California] Senate committee analysis released last week, however, estimated that the state would have to raise $200 billion in revenue each year, which it said could be done through a 15 percent payroll tax."

Dumber than creationism.

[Brandybuck]

So at my current salary I would need to pay around 18,000 a year for healthcare. It's hard to figure out what I pay for my current plan through my employer because most of it is hidden. But I can pay a private individual plan for around 300-$400 a month. Which works out to $3,600 to $4,800 a year.

So this warm and fuzzy government-knows-best plan would be FOUR TO FIVE TIMES AS COSTLY as a private plan!!!

We could give out 100% vouchers for private plan premiums and be one quarter of the cost! We could means test it and be even cheaper!

Okay, granted, that's for a single person. But still this is an age where both parents works and have an average of less that two children per family. Double the private plan cost and we still save BILLIONS!

[Square = Circle]

And unfortunately, I think these are the same people who swore up and down that the choo-choo wouldn't cost a dime over $68B.

[Ken Shultz]

And let's start talking about layoffs.

The employment of unskilled workers is more sensitive to cost than anything else. Increase the cost of employing them bu 15%--on top of the increasing minimum wage in California?

This is just unbelievably stupid.

[Agammamon]

Imagine how happy people will be when they find out that their mythical $15/hr 'living wage' is only going to net them $10 once all the deductions are done.

[Marty Feldman's Eyes]

Senate Bill 562, by Sens. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, and Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, passed 23-14 and will now advance to the Assembly, where it will likely be amended to include taxes. And that would mean the measure would require two-thirds votes in both chambers.

So glad they are wasting the time we are paying them for with this nonsense that won't go anywhere once the price tag/taxes get worked out.

The California Nurses Association, the bill's lead sponsor, has pushed the proposal hard, organizing demonstrations at the California Democratic Convention last month and promising to "primary" incumbent Democrats who don't jump on board. On Wednesday, a study commissioned by the nurses concluded that Californians could save tens of billions of dollars annually under such a system through lowering of drug prices and elimination of administrative overhead.

Only drug prices and administrative overhead? Add in a 20% paycut for nurses pay (only the union ones) and I'm in.

[Square = Circle]

Californians could save tens of billions of dollars annually under such a system through lowering of drug prices and elimination of administrative overhead

Yes, because we all know that when the government takes over providing something, the result is lower supply costs and an elimination of administrative overhead.

Just look at the public school system!

[GamerFromJump]

Watching them try to cover basically the entire population of Mexico plus Nortemexico off whatever they can squeeze out of the few productive people who haven't run for the hills yet is going to be hilarious.

[Glide]

Jesus Christ. I pay less than 2% of my paycheck for my health plan right now. Granted my employer has their portion of the cost but it sure isn't an extra 13% of salary.

Thank the heavens I don't live in that ridiculous state.

[Glide]

(less than 2% of my after-tax paycheck, even)

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Swing and a miss rookie.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Swing and a miss rookie.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Cato's Christopher Preble says that America's relationship with its European allies is overrated.

As long as the State Department has a checkbook, all is good.

[Brandybuck]

I can't be overdrawn, I still have checks in my checkbook!

[Kwix]

California's budget deficit is back, Gov. Jerry Brown says...

The most consequential of those is the $16.1-billion subsidy for Medi-Cal, the program offering healthcare to the state's most needy, provided through the Affordable Care Act. Those funds have helped the state add more than 3.8 million people to the Medi-Cal system, a network of providers that reaches one in every three Californians.

http://www.latimes.com/politic.....story.html

The California State Senate passes a massive single-payer health care bill.

Bwahahahahahaha.

[Fuck You - Cut Spending]

When a third of your population is needy, you've fucked up your economy. With good intentions, of course.

[Square = Circle]

Either that or you've made the bar for being "needy" somewhat low . . .

[XM]

The deficit never left. It was always there. Brown didn't count pension cost and infrastructure spending that just about ensured that CA would never have a balanced budget.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

White House/Wikimedia Commons
Senate Republicans continue to shrug their shoulders at the idea of taking action on Obamacare repeal.

I shrug my shoulders at reports of their shrugged shoulders.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The bill now moves on to the state assembly, but prospects of it becoming law remain uncertain.

Those Republicans again?

[Square = Circle]

They ruin everything in CA.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

India tries desperately to catch up to the West in terrible, renewable energy policy.

What are they going to gang rape the oil boys?

[The Last American Hero]

If they really want to help the climate, they can start by eliminating all that unused cattle.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

The California State Senate passes a massive single-payer health care bill. The bill now moves on to the state assembly, but prospects of it becoming law remain uncertain.

You know what, bless the states as laboratories notion; let's see what happens. But my money is still on California falling into the ocean.

[Careless]

Except for the part where the feds bail them out. Of course, I live in Illinois, so it's not like I can complain about that

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Cato's Christopher Preble says that America's relationship with its European allies is overrated.

Pretty sure that feeling is mutual.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Scarborough: Steve Bannon is the real president

"Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough repeatedly called Steve Bannon "President Bannon" on his show Friday: "TIME magazine was right: Steve Bannon is the president of the United States."
"He has gone in. Donald Trump doesn't know anything about policy. Donald Trump doesn't know anything about politics. Donald Trump doesn't know anything about anything. He can get up and give a good speech. You listen to him talk about any topic and he wanders from sentence to sentence to sentence. So Steve Bannon is now the President of the United States. And that was more clear yesterday than ever before."

Scarborough also suggested that "President Bannon" was the source behind the negative leaks on Jared Kushner and his ties to Russia, noting that Bannon bragged about having damaging information on Trump's son-in-law in the days leading up to the reports that Kushner was being looked at by the FBI.

Back in my day Karl Rove and Dick Cheney ran the presidency, and not much has changed!!

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

So now Bannon's back on top? A couple weeks ago he was being shut out in favor of the military guys. Now he's worked his way back in, in part by leaking info about Trump's son-in-law?

Get your narratives straight, guys!

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

The military coup failed...for now.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

That was just a Russian Red Herring.

[Libertarian]

What's Edith Wilson, chopped liver?

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Apparently the Crusty links weren't good enough for you freaks, so I shall repost: 'There's a bunch of old white guys trying to silence me!' Kathy Griffin breaks down in tears claiming Trump family ruined her life - as her lawyer scoffs at report Barron was upset over severed head video

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Lena Dunham or GTFO

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

This kinda reminds me of people who make dumb and passion-fueled mistakes then break down in a courtroom after sentencing.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Lawyer: Attack white people. It's your only play.

[Meh.]

Exactly. This really feels like a last-ditch effort to get everyone who was supposed to applaud this stunt back on her side... but I guess it's hard to look like a sympathetic victim when you're holding a human's severed head (even if it's fake).

[B.P.]

Holy shit, what a fabulous disaster, in the words of John Lydon. It's got to be the funniest thing she's done in years though.

On that picture that got everyone riled up though -- which head is supposed to be the severed one?

[Fuck You - Cut Spending]

She's the Hilary Clinton of comedy.

[MarkLastname]

I was inclined to say 'who cares, let's all move on,' but since she decided to take the opportunity to go on a tirade against white males, I'd say I'm firmly in the 'she can go fuck herself' camp. What a hateful bitch.

[RAHeinlein]

Al Franken was on Squakbox yesterday preaching "forgiveness" for Kathy Griffin. Apparently, he has an upcoming book tour with her.

[Cyto]

Word has it that he has now cancelled.

When you start claiming victimhood status for being "bullied" by Melania Trump because she said her 11 year old son was disturbed by seeing a photo of you holding his dad's severed head, you've gone too far for even Al Franken to associate with you.

In a world that has an unending supply of Derp, we have reached yet another "peak derp" moment.

[pan fried wylie]

ok, I think there might be another meaning to "peak derp" that's unrelated to the supply. it's more about the derp per unit volume/time, I'm not sure on the maths. Like a highly focused femtosecond laser pulse. The quantity of derp is compressed into an incredibly dense spatial and/or temporal state, and that's what's "peak" about it?

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

1 in 10 of your coworkers are having sex at work, according to a survey

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

I don't have 10 coworkers, so what does that mean?

[chemjeff]

Maybe you have to include the farm animals in that tally.

[Ecoli]

It sounds like you are gonna have to fuck yourself. Statistics are cruel that way.

[chemjeff]

Yay, I'm in the majority on something...? *sobs*

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Sobbing after sex is nothing to be ashamed of.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

She would say stuff like, "Sometimes I want to just come over to your cubicle and sit in your lap."

I gently turned her down and so she sent me some choice selfies if you catch my drift; said nobody had ever turned her down, and that made her so hot.

This just kinda made me want to back out more.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

I never thought this would happen to me...

[B.P.]

"Please leave my office"
"Oh my God this is such a turn-on!"
"No, really, you need to go"
"You just don't stop, do you?!"
"Get out!"
"You're insatiable!"

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Nothing says crazy like a girl that makes the first move. Those are some hard-earned words of wisdom people, and you better listen.

[Meh.]

I think it depends. Some guys are incredibly oblivious and need an obvious sign.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Nothing says crazy like a girl that makes the first move

This is true. Most of my girlfriends (and ex-wife) all made the first move.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

1 in 10 of your coworkers are having sex at work, according to a survey

I'm workin' on it.

[chemjeff]

Worst alt-text evah!

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Better alt-text:

OK, brain, remember, don't say "acorn with headphones"!

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

The headphones make one wonder why Hilary even bothered with secretive ear pieces.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Everything You Need to Know to Throw the Perfect Impeachment Party

Q: Isn't it odd to throw a party on such a sad day in American history?
A: Come on, buddy. Haven't we earned this? We've already collectively suffered through daily news nightmares and been depressed as hell for months now and worried, time and time again, that this hapless fucker was going to get us all killed at any minute. (And yes, this is how black people feel in this country every day of their lives. Take that to heart.) It's not relaxing to fear for your life and the lives of everyone you love dearly for three months straight, let alone a lifetime. I think we all deserve to drink and dance and feel good about the world for a few hours at least.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Well, I had to click to see if the author is black. Heather Havrilesky. Nnnope.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Fun fact: She is a humorist and an advice columnist.

[B.P.]

It's recently come to my attention that humor ain't what it used to be.

[MarkLastname]

Allegedly.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

She looks like Elizabeth Reaser.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

I get the feeling in a few months it'll be called thecutyourwrists.com.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

(And yes, this is how black people feel in this country every day of their lives. Take that to heart.)

*cough* White woman, whitesplains how all black people feel. *cough*

[Ron]

"The California State Senate passes a massive single-payer health care bill. The bill now moves on to the state assembly, but prospects of it becoming law remain uncertain"

Its California run by democrats it will pass and then working adults will have to pony up $10k a year in taxes for it

[Tony]

And healthcare was so free before. Hmph.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Well, before Medicare, Medicaid, EMTALA, and Obamacare, it was quite affordable.

[MarkLastname]

Uh no one said it was, nor should health care be free: there's a limited supply of it and it costs a lot to make. Wanna see a scarce resource pissed away frivolously? Make it free.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Lucky Logan looks hella fun.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Soderbergh's always great. But like I said, I don't like liars, so I'll have to sit this out.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Principles always getting in the way of base pleasures.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Look, that Erin thingy was a well directed film. Fake story, but the film was put together well.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

The trailer had me at "all the Twitters, I know 'em".

[Stormy Dragon]

The President holds forth:

At what point does America get demeaned? At what point do they start laughing at us as a country? We want fair treatment for its citizens, and we want fair treatment for our taxpayers. We don't want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore. And they won't be. They won't be.

Well, I have some bad news for you, Mr. President.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

They weren't laughing when Trump pulled us out of the Paris Agreement. They seemed to hoping for a little more of that good old world-cop, civilizing-the-hottentots in the jungly-bungly tree America.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

The California State Senate passes a massive single-payer health care bill. The bill now moves on to the state assembly, but prospects of it becoming law remain uncertain.

God Please Let It Pass.

[Hello Clarice]

Dang it Paul, you beat me to that comment. ^1000 this. I've basically made a small fortune from businesses leaving Cali-land!

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Do you need investors?

[Hello Clarice]

Lol, not exactly. But I'll let you know if we go that way ;D!

[Scarecrow Repair & Chippering]

I live in California and approve this message. It will be their ultimate overreach and I look forward to their screams of surprise and despair when reality betrays their dreams.

[Rich]

The California State Senate passes a massive single-payer health care bill.

Would that single payer by any chance be California's pension-fund creditor?

[Agammamon]

I'm confused how adding a 15% payroll tax will come out to a saving for *most people*?

15% of their wage income will, for most people, be as much or MORE than they're paying for insurance - even off the PPACA exchanges. For *government* level healthcare. And that's before the really stupid shit kicks in when every special interest group starts lobbying for their preferred medical (and I use the term 'medical' lightly here - homeopathy and chiropracty have way too much legitimacy) procedures to be included.

Soon the poor of CA will be paying premium prices for some idiot to drink purified water while sniffing candles as some other moron runs a massager over his feet.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Soon the poor of CA will be paying premium prices for some idiot to drink purified water while sniffing candles as some other moron runs a massager over his feet.

Universal wellness baby.

[Fuck You - Cut Spending]

Can't wait to see how California politicians define "wellness". It will probably be different for each ethnicity and income bracket.

[Square = Circle]

Income bracket?

In what world would a "California Wellness Initiative" not include doing away with income inequality?

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

The employer will pay the payroll tax. Duh!

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Correct. The employer will file the returns and remit payment from a business account. Of course the employees will have to earn the money and the customers will have to pay a price that includes the tax and compliance costs. But yes, the employer will pay the tax (if the employer still has any customers or employees) so, as long as your'e not an employer, you've got nothing to worry about. Free Fucking Healthcare!

[Square = Circle]

For *government* level healthcare.

And let there be no doubt that at no point will the government healthcare be "fully funded," no matter how much we wind up paying in taxes. It's just one more "basic service" that will have "significant budget shortfalls" every few years that will require "eensy weensy temporary taxes and fees."

I'm reminded of the Thomas Sowell parable about the Bureau of Medicine for Sick Children and Statues of Benedict Arnold.

[Fist of Etiquette]

100th Comment

[Sevo]

Keep in mind that the CA sick plan is "estimated" to cost $400Bn (per year, I'm assuming). So we have a gov't estimate on the cost of a gov't program.
The proper arithmetic procedure to use here is multiplication, not addition; start with whole numbers and don't be shy. It'll take some imagination to hit the real cost.

[latoyacastillo444]

Stay at home mom Kelly Richards from New York after resigning from her full time job managed to average from $6000-$8000 a month from freelancing at home... This is how she done it
.......
???USA~JOB-START