Kulin Remailer wrote:
>
http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti... > OR
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/ygvghjg
> Owens Breaks 4 Campaign Promises in first hour in Congress
> Northern NY News
> Written by Nathan Barker
> Friday, 06 November 2009 12:04
> GOUVERNEUR, NY - Congressman-elect Bill Owens was sworn in at noon
> today.
> Owens indicated in a press release released shortly afterwards that
> he was now in favor of the the "Affordable Healthcare for America
> Act" bill in direct contrast to his earlier position during the
> election campaign.
> According to Politico.com, Mr. Owens assured voters that he felt the
> public option had no place in the health care reform bill. Contrary
> to that position, Mr. Owens now indicates that he intends to vote in
> favor of the bill even though it now contains a public option.
> UPDATED: A spokesman for Congressman Owens indicated correctly that
> Mr. Owens had recanted his solid position against public option later
> in the campaign, clarifying that he did not wish public option to be
> a 'litmus test' for the Health Reform bill and that on Oct. 30th,
> several days prior to the election, in a debate had stated that he
> generally supported the public option as it was now written (at that
> time.)
> Mr. Owens also indicated during his campaign that he was firmly
> opposed to cutting Medicare benefits, taxing health care benefits,
> and increased taxes on the middle class in any way as you can see
> clearly in the screenshot below, taken directly from Mr. Owens'
> campaign website.
> Click for larger image Click to enlarge image
> The House Health reform bill contains sections that cut Medicare
> benefits, tax existing health care benefits, and increases taxes on
> the middle class, yet Mr. Owens stated today that he will now vote in
> favor of those things contrary to what he had promised the voters of
> NY's 23rd Congressional District that he would vote against.
> Mr. Owens indicated in his press release today that "This legislation
> will reform the insurance industry and provide increased access to
> affordable healthcare without taxing healthcare benefits, cutting
> Medicare benefits or raising taxes on the middle class, and that is
> exactly the direction we need to go."
> When The Gouverneur Times attempted to contact Mr. Owens to clarify
> this information, we received no direct response to our phone or
> email inquiries. Both FactCheck.org and the Congressional Budget
> Office agree that HR 3962 contains potentially hundreds of billions
> of dollars in planned cuts to Medicare, yet Mr. Owens indicates that
> he supports this legislation and says that it does not cut Medicare
> benefits. Either Mr. Owens has been snowed or the public is about to
> be.
> HR 3962 also includes a range of various taxes on middle-class
> families as well as language to repeal tax relief already in place.
> Has Congressman Owens blindly followed Ms. Pelosi's rhetoric in
> believing that the end to a tax cut is not the same thing as an
> increase in taxes or is he hedging his bet with very carefully chosen
> words?
> HR 3962 now also contains language that allows illegal immigrants to
> be covered under the legislation. When The Gouverneur Times attempted
> to contact Mr. Owens for clarification of this language, we received
> no response other than the press release heretofore mentioned.
> Specifically, we asked if illegal immigrants would be forced to
> purchase healthcare insurance as citizens will be and whether or not
> they would be forced to do so at standard rates or if they would
> qualify for the public option subsidy.
> The Associated Press said this morning that: "House leaders said
> that, in keeping with the Hispanic Caucus' demands, there was not
> likely to be any prohibition added to the House bill against illegal
> immigrants shopping in the exchange."
> In a speech made to Congress a short time ago, President Obama had
> stated that the bill would not contain support for illegal immigrants
> - a statement for which he was called a "liar" by Rep. Joe Wilson.
> Rep. Wilson was severely chastised for his comment at the time though
> it would now seem to be true.
> The mixed-up mess that was the 23rd Congressional District Special
> Election was a close race between Democrat Bill Owens and
> Conservative Doug Hoffman. Many feel that it was unlikely Mr. Owens
> would have won those crucial few thousand votes if the voting public
> was aware of his intent with regard to the Health Care bill. The
> majority of residents in this district do not support the Health
> Reform bill as it is now written and many feel like they've become
> victims of a fraud perpetrated by their chosen candidate.
> Breaking campaign promises is not unusual for politicians... it's a
> cliche. This is almost certainly a record though. Mr. Owens broke no
> less than 4 promises in his first 24 hours in office.
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