Sunday Open Thread [10.12.14]
The affect of Obamacare in Delaware:
DHHS says that taken together, premiums for Medicare Part B and D will be more than $125 lower in 2015 than initially projected in 2009. That translates into a total of $2.9 million in savings in the First State.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell attributed the savings to a slower rise in healthcare costs since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. In a statement, Burwell said the ACA is “working to improve affordability and access to quality care for seniors and people with disabilities.”
Meanwhile, remember that Libertarian Propaganda Institute that gave Governor Markell an “F” for fiscal responsibility?
Moody’s Investor Services, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services all gave Delaware a AAA credit rating this week. The agencies noted the state’s significant financial reserves and the strength of its labor market in their analysis.
I may disagree with Governor Markell’s PRIORITIES when it comes to economic policy, and his tax policy, but you can’t say he has been irresponsible fiscally. If he was, then the credit ratings agencies would have downgraded Delaware long ago, which is what the Libertarian hit piece was pure bullshit.
“Democrats are swimming against the prevailing cynicism as they attempt to retain the Senate this year. Across the South, their candidates are placing a heavy bet on women’s issues, especially equal pay, and education. In some places, like North Carolina, where a traditional emphasis on education spending has been violated by the Republican state legislature, they have a chance to win….The hurdle is Barack Obama, about whom the crazy rumors are–still!–thick, and the ads are constant…”
“There is also an undercurrent of fear–about ISIS and Ebola–that does not help the Democrats. Most of the people I talked with don’t think this federal government is competent to handle anything. And there is an undercurrent of exhaustion, especially among Democrats who have talked themselves silly trying to dispel the rumor fog that has engulfed political discourse. These are stories that stick in the mind and rot the body politic. They are a dominant political currency, and not just in the South.”
GOVERNOR RACES:
AK-Gov (Fox News): Gov. Sean Parnell (R) 42, Bill Walker (I) 37
AR-Gov (Fox News): Asa Hutchinson (R) 46, Mike Ross (D) 37
AR-Gov (Opinion Research Associates–D): Mike Ross (D) 45, Asa Hutchinson (R) 41
CO-Gov (Fox News): Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) 42, Bob Beauprez (R) 42
CT-Gov (Quinnipiac): Gov. Dan Malloy (D) 43, Tom Foley (R) 43, Joe Visconti (I) 9
FL-Gov (Øptimus–R): Charlie Crist (D) 40, Gov. Rick Scott (R) 39, Adrian Wyllie (L) 13
FL-Gov (PPP–D): Charlie Crist (D) 45, Gov. Rick Scott (R) 43, Adrian Wyllie (L) 8
FL-Gov (SurveyUSA): Charlie Crist (D) 44, Gov. Rick Scott (R) 42, Adrian Wyllie (L) 6
FL-Gov (Univ. of North Florida): Charlie Crist (D) 43, Gov. Rick Scott (R) 38, Adrian Wyllie (L) 10
GA-Gov (PPP–D): Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 46, Jason Carter (D) 41, Andrew Hunt (L) 4
GA-Gov (SurveyUSA): Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 46, Jason Carter (D) 44, Andrew Hunt (L) 4
IA-Gov (Loras College): Gov. Terry Branstad (R) 56, Jack Hatch (D) 33
IL-Gov (We Ask America–R): Gov. Pat Quinn (D) 44, Bruce Rauner (R) 40
KS-Gov (CNN/ORC): Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 49, Paul Davis (D) 49
KS-Gov (Fox News): Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 46, Paul Davis (D) 40
KS-Gov (SurveyUSA): Paul Davis (D) 47, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 42
MA-Gov (Emerson College Polling Society): Charlie Baker (R) 45, Martha Coakley (D) 40, Others 8
MA-Gov (MassINC): Martha Coakley (D) 41, Charlie Baker (R) 39, Others 5
MA-Gov (SocialSphere/Boston Globe): Martha Coakley (D) 39, Charlie Baker (R) 34, Others 7
ME-Gov (Greenberg Quinlan Rosner–D): Michael Michaud (D) 43, Gov. Paul LePage (R) 39, Eliot Cutler (I) 15
ME-Gov (Pan Atlantic/SMS Group): Gov. Paul LePage (R) 39, Michael Michaud (D) 34, Eliot Cutler (I) 20
MI-Gov (Marketing Resource Group–R): Gov. Rick Snyder (R) 46, Mark Schauer (D) 41
MI-Gov (Glengariff Group): Gov. Rick Snyder (R) 45, Mark Schauer (D) 37
NH-Gov (New England College): Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) 51, Walt Havenstein (R) 41
NY-Gov (Quinnipiac): Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) 51, Rob Astorino (R) 31, Howie Hawkins (G) 9
PA-Gov (Quinnipiac): Tom Wolf (D) 55, Gov. Tom Corbett (R) 37
SD-Gov (SurveyUSA): Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) 59, Susan Wismer (D) 30, Michael Myers (I) 7
If you’re talking about the Caesar Rodney Institute, give me a break: there’s nothing vaguely “libertarian” about them. They’re straight Charlie Copeland GOP all the way.
If you’re talking about something else, I’d love to see the link.
No, Cato Institute.
OK I’ll give you the point: Cato claims and is generally accepted at a “libertarian think tank.” I’m in the minority on that: I’d far prefer the work of the Center for a Stateless Society, which–despite the apparent anarchism of its title–does some excellent work from a left-libertarian point of view.
As for your statement I may disagree with Governor Markell’s PRIORITIES when it comes to economic policy, and his tax policy, but you can’t say he has been irresponsible fiscally. I would generally concur.
“you can’t say he’s been irresponsible fiscally”. REALLY!!
Fisker:How much money was lost to Fisker?? Given an unproven company the whole loaf, instead of letting them prove themselves?
Bloom Energy: Again, giving money to an unproven company, with no RTI!
Hiding the money each Delmarva customer pays in our bill. We know how much we pay for gas, electric, why not how much goes to Bloom Energy? Why is it hidden in our bills?? Isn’t honesty the best policy, apparently NOT with this administration. If this was SO good for Delaware, let people vote on it. Oh, that is why we have elected officials. I know one of our elected officials say; “if I knew what this was all about, I would not have voted for it”.
Better than a governor whose who vision is to limit reproductive rights and assuring the 1% does’t pay any tax: See Kansas