eNews 10-24-2014

• White House Mishandles and Misjudges Ebola
• The Facts About Funding the Fight Against Ebola
• Frank Assessment of Our Middle East Strategy
• Affordable Care Act Policyholders Find Care Unaffordable
• The U.S. Must Help Ukraine Defend Itself
• Salute: New Jersey’s Manufacturers
• Salute: John A. Dean American Legion Post 154

 

White House Mishandles and Misjudges Ebola

Public health experts Scott Gottlieb and Tevi Troy wrote in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week that, “Much public skepticism about the government’s response to Ebola stems from the dogmatic pronouncements of Obama administration officials” – pronouncements that have too often proven to be wrong.

This lack of presidential leadership is unfortunately becoming “par for the course.” The President’s failure to lead America’s foreign policy has produced significant instability around the world. Similarly, his marshalling of Federal resources to contain Ebola is marred by the same uncertainty.

At times of national crisis presidential leadership is indispensable. Unfortunately, many of the crises we are facing, at home and abroad, are the result of his team’s inability to address challenges before they become crises.

The Facts About Funding the Fight Against Ebola

In all the loose talk about Ebola, some have charged that Congress has not adequately funded the fight against this deadly disease. The “fact checker” for the Washington Post recently wrote, “On many levels, this line of attack is absurd.”  This comprehensive fact sheet lays out the facts – it’s well worth a read!

Frank Assessment of Our Middle East Strategy

In an in-depth assessment of President Obama’s strategy to “degrade and destroy” ISIS, Anthony H. Cordesman asserts: “It is too early to say that the U.S. strategy against the Islamic State is imploding, but it is scarcely too soon to question whether this is possible.”  His response to that question is worth reading, despite its length!

And if Cordesman’s analysis isn’t sobering enough, the Washington Post reported earlier this week that, “The Syrian opposition force to be recruited by the U.S. military and its coalition partners will be trained to defend territory, rather than to seize it back from the Islamic State.” 

This “strategy” is beyond belief. How can we expect to “destroy” ISIS if these terrorists are left in control of the wide-swath of territory they have already seized?

Little wonder our enemies have the advantage in many respects, because the President is telegraphing his lack of a strategy to defeat terrorism. 

Affordable Care Act Policyholders Find Care Unaffordable

The New York Times reported on its front page this past Saturday that growing numbers of people who purchased insurance under the Affordable Care Act are finding the care they need unaffordable. 

High deductibles on Obamacare policies – many reaching as high as $5,000 – mean patients with coverage still cannot afford care because they don’t have the money to cover their deductible.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, an Arizona physiciandiscusses another “unintended” consequence of Obamacare: patients being forced off private insurance onto Medicaid.  These patients have lost their ability to keep their insurance and keep their doctors, and are suffering longer wait times and difficulty finding a new doctor.

And this doctor is not alone, as this report about a nationwide poll of physicians makes clear. 

The President promised the American people that Obamacare would make healthcare more affordable, but it is having the opposite effect.  With all the other negative consequences of the ACA, it’s not surprising that people are increasingly disenchanted with this ill-considered law.

The U.S. Must Help Ukraine Defend Itself

With the growing crisis in the Middle East, the ongoing threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence has dropped off the front page and apparently off the President’s list of “hot spots.”  But the threat posed by Russia continues to grow. 

I have repeatedly urged President Obama to grant Ukraine status as a Major Non-NATO Ally, making that country eligible for military assistance and equipment from the United States and other members of NATO.  The President has refused to do so.

I was pleased that the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the committee’s Ranking Member published a bipartisan call in Monday’s Washington Post for providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend itself from Russian aggression.

I have the honor to represent a substantial number of Ukrainian Americans in my Congressional District. I stand with Ukraine in its fight to retain its independence and its freedom.

Salute: New Jersey’s Manufacturers

I was honored on Tuesday to be given the National Association of Manufacturers Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence during a visit to the 500 employees of Siemens Industry Inc. in Florham Park! 

As much as I appreciate the recognition, I salute New Jersey’s manufacturers for their strong contribution to the health of New Jersey’s economy and the well-being of the hundreds of thousands of families whose bread winners who work for them.  New Jersey’s manufacturing firms contributed more than $38 billion to New Jersey’s economy in 2012. 

The total compensation for the average worker for a manufacturing company is $93,506. That is almost $42,000 more than the average annual compensation earned by workers in private non-farm sectors (2012).

The federal government must do more to encourage the growth of manufacturing in America. I will continue to strongly support measures that reduce the high taxes and excessive regulation that stifle that potential.

Salute: John A. Dean American Legion Post 154

Congratulations to the John A. Dean American Legion Post 154 in Butler, which recently celebrated its 95^th anniversary!

The Post is named in honor of John Dean, the first Butler resident to make the ultimate sacrifice in World War I. Dean was going to the aid of a wounded comrade when both he and the Marine he was helping were killed by a German shell.

Post 154 has a long record of service to the community, providing scholarships to students at Butler High School, attending veterans’ funerals, and decorating with flags the graves of about 1,750 veteran gravesites in Butler and Kinnelon.

I salute the members of Post 154 for their service to our nation and their commitment to their community and their fellow veterans.