Moving Susquehanna Valley Forward

Defend…not Defund: Urge Congress to Fix The Affordable Care Act – Not Dismantle It

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What will happen if Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act? Millions of Pennsylvanians will lose their health care coverage. Millions more, including those on employer-based plans, will lose benefits and improved coverage.

According to a recent poll released by Kaiser Foundation, 75% of Americans DO NOT want Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act at all–or until we have a better proposal. Not surprising…over 20 million Americans have benefited from the ACA.

Yet the Republicans, who have voted to repeal the ACA over 60 times in the last four years are determined to dismantle the landmark legislation that gave hope to so many who longed for access to affordable healthcare.

The ACA has had tremendous impact here in Pennsylvania. Most of us know someone who has benefited. Nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians gained comprehensive coverage that doesn’t discriminate or require higher premiums based on sex, age or pre-existing conditions.

The ACA has also improved health care services for the 2.9 million Pennsylvanians covered through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and has allowed the state to expand these programs to an additional 261,000 people.

Over 5 million Pennsylvanians suffer from pre-existing conditions. Before the ACA, it was impossible or prohibitively expensive for individuals with prior conditions to acquire healthcare. Now, health care companies cannot deny coverage or charge more based on diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, depression, or any other physical or mental health issue.

An estimated 90,000 young Pennsylvania residents have benefited from the ACA provision that allows them to stay on their parent’s insurance until the age of 26.

Before the ACA, over 4.5 million Pennsylvanians had healthcare coverage (acquired through their employer or as an individual) that was subject to annual or lifetime limits. These caps, often hidden in fine print, would cut off coverage after reaching a maximum payout amount in a given year or over the life of the policy. As a result, people were losing their healthcare while undergoing cancer treatments or hospital stays after a catastrophic accident. Then, because pre-existing conditions precluded them entirely or made coverage financially unfeasible, severely ill individuals would find it impossible to acquire additional coverage.

It’s true premiums have continued to rise but at a slower rate than what was occurring prior to the ACA. This is remarkable considering that the ACA:
• ended annual and lifetime limits;
• provides free preventative care;
• allows young adults to stay on their parent’s plan;
• improved mental health coverage;
• ended discrimination based on pre-existing conditions; and
• required more comprehensive care, including emergency room services.

The ACA limits how much insurance companies can spend on overhead; therefore, they re-invest more money in paying healthcare claims that benefit their customers.

Think about it: before the ACA, health care premiums were rising exponentially despite the fact that so many had limited coverage or were excluded altogether. These higher premiums did not result in better healthcare services, just higher profits for the corporations.

The ACA strengthened coverage for many who were already insured but it’s not perfect; there were those who did not fair as well. Some people could no longer stay on their preferred plan (because it didn’t quality per the minimum ACA requirements) some who lost superb healthcare because the ACA penalized employers for providing what’s called “Cadillac” policies.

Republicans should look at opportunities to improve and extend the Affordable Care Act; they should not dismantle it, leaving tens of millions adrift without coverage. If Republican legislators want change, then they need to propose a better plan for the American people.

Even the American Medical Association, the largest association of physicians in the US, warned Congress this week to not rush to repeal but instead provide a detailed plan for ACA’s replacement and let Americans decide whether it is a step in the right direction.

Join us on January 15 in front of Congressman Lou Barletta’s Sunbury office at noon to stand up for affordable health care. If you can’t come out, call Congressman Barletta (570.988.7801) and tell him to maintain and improve the ACA.

We cannot go back to denied coverage, lifetime limits and health insurance driven solely by profit motives.

The ACA must not be repealed. Too many Pennsylvanians have too much to lose.

Fair Taxation & Representation

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There is a lie persistently propagated by politicians and businessmen suggesting the rich are unfairly taxed in this country. The truth is that the rest of us are unfairly taxed to make up for what the “well-to-do” do not pay.

Recently, we learned that Donald Trump likely used a nearly $1 billion business loss in 1995 to get out of paying federal taxes for 18 years. Mr. Trump notes that he is simply using existing regulations and laws to his greatest benefit and fulfilling his fiduciary responsibility to his company. It is true…he, along with countless businessmen, did nothing illegal, or even unethical, by taking these breaks.

Politicians, however, are purposefully misleading the American people when they continue to claim that the U.S. tax code is somehow unfair to the wealthy and corporations. They constantly site the official tax rate as the basis to reduce taxes; yet it is the effective tax rate (what is actually paid) that must be considered.

The United States has a regressive tax structure. A complicated system of federal deductions, loopholes, off shore tax shelters and government incentives that result in considerable tax breaks for the rich and leave a significant portion of the tax burden to the working class.

And it is not just individuals. According to the Government Accountability Office, 20% of large U.S. corporations pay no taxes. In 2015, 25 large corporations (listed on Standards & Poor’s 500) reported paying no income tax despite declaring a profit.

Big business contends that these incentives and breaks are fair considering the amount of investment corporations make in job creation. Yet, corporations receive tax deductions when they invest in automation, which clearly reduces the work force. Even more egregious is how corporations may claim deductions when outsourcing and moving operations overseas.

There is no evidence to suggest that these deductions have resulted in more jobs or higher wages. In fact, as corporate profits have increased over the decades, wages have remained stagnate or decreased and high-paying manufacturing jobs have continued to move overseas.

According to Americans for Fairness, the amount corporations contribute to our federal tax revenue has dropped 60% in the past 60 years. This while corporate profits have increased exponentially in the same time period. In recent years, corporate profits reached their highest percentage of the total economy since the government began recording such data in 1929.

So, yes, American corporations, and those who get wealthy off these corporations, are doing very well. Yet they are contributing minimally (if at all) to the federal government that provides necessary programs and services to ensure a functional society. That leaves the rest of us to pay for the military, veterans’ programs, regulatory agencies, road and infrastructure projects, etc. These services often benefit industry as much or more as individuals.

Many argue that while corporations may pay limited or zero federal taxes they do contribute at the state and local levels.

Here in Pennsylvania, corporations are expected to pay the Corporate Net Income tax and capital franchise tax, the latter of which is being phased out as of 2016.

As for the former, large corporations often take advantage of the “Delaware loophole”. The loophole allows subsidiaries of national companies to deduct from their state taxes the royalty payments that they pay to parent companies. Subsequently, these companies pay little or no business tax to the state.

Pennsylvania’s small businesses cannot take advantage of this loophole and therefore often shoulder a larger portion of the state’s tax burden.

In addition, Pennsylvania offers corporate subsidies, state and local tax abatements and special incentives intended to lure large companies to the state. These programs offer minimal oversight, no tangible obligations and zero guarantees that jobs will be created.

Is it fair for billionaires and prosperous corporations to pay zero dollars in taxes? Is it fair for workers and small businesses to bear the financial burden to maintain our society? I say enough is enough. Let’s demand fairness and honesty.

We must strive for a fair tax system that does not overburden the working class. This requires that politicians stop perpetuating the myth that the wealthy are overburdened so that we can have an honest discussion and seek real solutions.

Vacation: Americans Have to Get Away

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You can’t deny it. Anytime the song “Vacation” by the Go Go’s comes on the radio, you sing along. Same thing with “Holiday Road” featured in the classic film National Lampoon’s Vacation. Vacation themes are well represented in American pop culture; unfortunately, they do not abound in the American lifestyle.

When it comes to vacation, Americans are left behind by the rest of the world–at the office, in the factory, behind the counter. Americans workers not only receive far less time off than their counterparts in other countries, but are also less likely to take advantage of the leisure time they do receive.

In every European country, workers enjoy at least four weeks of paid vacation. It is the law. Scandinavian countries and the United Kingdom require a minimum of 5 weeks of annual paid leave. This is in addition to paid sick leave, parental leave and holidays.

In America, there is no minimum requirement set by the government in terms of paid vacation (or paid sick or parental leave, for that matter). In fact, the United States is almost the only country that does not guarantee paid vacation time. Even China, Mexico and Nigeria mandate a minimum of paid vacation days.

Full-time American workers, on average, receive two weeks of paid vacation after a year of employment. However, more than half of those in the lowest wage bracket receive no paid vacation or holidays.

Americans that do receive vacation time are not fully taking advantage of the time off they do receive. According to Fortune Magazine, nearly 500 million paid vacation days go unused by American workers each year. In many cases, these days cannot be rolled over to the next year and are automatically forfeited.

Why are American workers not taking time off? Some may worry that they will be replaced or demoted if they take too many days off. Others dread the idea of coming back to a pile of work. These days, workers are unlikely to have someone filling in for them while they’re off. This means employees tend to work twice as hard before they leave and twice as hard when they return, which makes taking a vacation pretty stressful. In many cases, companies have downsized to reduce overhead costs, leaving fewer workers to do the same amount of work or more.

As a result, U.S. productivity continues to increase, but at what cost?

Americans work more hours than nearly every other industrialized country and, as a result, experience more work-related stress. Left unchecked, this stress can contribute to serious health problems.

Even the majority of U.S. employers recognize workplace stress as a concern as it can reduce productivity as well as increase employee absence and turnover.

Employees in Switzerland, Germany and Finland work far fewer hours yet are more productive. Swiss workers are considered inefficient if they cannot complete their work in 37.5 hours a week. And in many countries, employers are forbidden to contact workers after hours.

U.S. employers should not only provide ample time off, they should establish a work culture that encourages employees to take advantage of vacation time. Not only is it good for employees and their families, it is good for the overall health of the company. Workers who feel safe taking time off will be more productive.

America needs to follow the example of other countries and start prioritizing workers above work. People need time with their families and friends, time to enjoy beautiful natural places and time to do the things they love. Having dedicated time off results in healthier, happier, and more productive and creative workers.

Vacation is a right of all workers and yet here in the United States (and really only in the United Stated) it is not treated as such. This needs to change. The American labor movement has brought us a great deal of advancements in the work place: paid holidays (such as Labor Day, which we just celebrated), 8-hour work-days, 5-day work weeks, improved occupational safety and a minimum wage. The labor movement, and American workers, must demand mandated vacation time.

So crank up the Go-Gos and get to work…in making paid vacation a reality for all American workers.

By Nicole Faraguna, co-founder of the Susquehanna Valley Progressives

TURKEY: Authoritarian Democracy Meets Democratizing Coup

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Last week’s (apparently failed) coup in Turkey highlights the failings of democracy there, and illustrates some pitfalls of democracy, here and elsewhere.

Ever since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk imposed secularization and the façade of democracy in the 1920s and 1930s, Turkey has had a prolonged struggle between a largely urban, educated, Western-oriented minority, centered in Istanbul, and a traditionalist, increasingly Islamist plurality, centered in the interior. Long after Ataturk’s death, the Western-oriented minority pushed Turkey’s modernizing turn, and the army intervened several times since 1960 to roll back electoral gains of the Islamists, in the name of the supposed secular essence of the Turkish republic. Turkey was a westernizing democracy led by a minority that was kept in power by the army.

But its democratic legitimacy depended on holding credible elections, which the Islamists kept winning. The current president, Erdogan, has been in power for over ten years and has increasingly resorted to heavy-handed repression against political opponents and the independent press. He is using his popular support as a mandate to concentrate ever more power in his own hands.

This is the context for the latest coup attempt. Because the army has always been a force for secularization, Erdogan’s accusation, that the coup was orchestrated by one of his Islamist rivals, is implausible. But Erdogan will nonetheless use it as justification to arrest any of his rival’s supporters he can catch.

Democracy as it has evolved in Europe and America, as it has been adapted elsewhere, balances two sometimes conflicting principles: popular sovereignty and limited power. Popular sovereignty means that no government is entitled to rule unless supported by an uncoerced popular vote. Limited power means that even with such a popular mandate, there are limits to what any government may do. Those limits may be embodied in constitutional provisions, or in the distribution of legitimate authority to institutions the government may not control, such as the courts. This model of popularly elected governments with limited authority is called liberal democracy.

In a liberal democracy the military may not take over the government in the name of saving democracy. The twentieth century Turkish model of democracy was thus fundamentally flawed. It was marked from its Kemalist birth with the goal of imposing democracy on the Turkish people, and transforming their culture over decades to make them fit for a proper democracy. We now witness its final failure.

But neither is the populist democratic model being developed by Erdogan a good fit for liberal democracy. Rather than accept limits on his authority, he is increasingly moving to concentrate power, to destroy or coopt any rival centers of power. The popular mandate justifies everything. This is Illiberal democracy: still democratic in the fundamental sense that the legitimacy of the
government derives from its popular electoral support (compare Saudi Arabia’s monarchy, or Iran’s theocracy), but without effective checks on the ruler.

Such populist democracy is not limited to Turkey. We see it in countries as varied as contemporary Venezuela or Russia or Zimbabwe. And, actually, leaders everywhere can be tempted to use popular support to justify suppressing opposition. Populist democracy allows the popularly-supported ruler to push through whatever radical reforms may be desired, without having to worry about checks and balances.

But populist democracy is fundamentally unstable precisely because of this absence of checks on authority and balance of power within the government. Unlike liberal democracy, populist democracy allows for no way to stop or remove the government, except insurrection.

That is why liberal democracies endure and populist democracies do not. But we must remember that liberal democracies are always subject to the populist temptation, precisely because their rulers are limited. When political leaders choose paralysis (or worse, obstructionism) over collaborative problem solving, it is easy to think that the system is broken and we should just dispense with limited powers, in favor of taking quick action. But we can see from the situation in Turkey and from the short lifespan of other populist democracies that this will not lead to long-term solutions.

More than Prayers

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In the early morning of June 12th, a gunman opened fire at a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando, killing 49, wounding 53, and leaving a horrific mark on our nation. If 49 LGBT people were shot down and murdered in Pennsylvania – the State of Pennsylvania would NOT consider it a hate crime. Pennsylvania is the ONLY state in the Northeast that doesn’t address LGBT PEOPLE, LGBT PEOPLE, in its hate crime laws.

After a 2014 Philadelphia gay BASHING crime, a house bill was introduced which was aimed at restructuring Pennsylvania’s hate crime laws. The bill received a vote in committee but was never called for a vote on the House floor.

The fate of the bill lies with Rep. Ron Marsico, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary
Committee who has not allowed it to move. When asked by the press, Marsico does not comment on the bill.

A republican spokesman said, “obviously we don’t believe there should be any discrimination, and these bills are working through the committee process.” The bill has been in Marsico’s hands for nearly 17 months. 17 months and the bill hasn’t moved.

Since 2001, a LGBT equality bill, in one form or another, has been introduced in every session of the PA legislature.. Two state representatives are using a “last resort” measure to move forward a bill that offers anti-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Fairness Act would add people’s sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the state’s anti-discrimination law. It has been stalled in committee for the past 10 months.

There are currently no state laws protecting LGBT individuals from discriminatory practices in housing, health care, employment, education, adoption, foster care, insurance, credit or even jury selection. Last week there was movement in state senate for a bill covering housing and employment. It passed a vote in committee and may be brought to the floor of the senate. Wednesday there was a rally in Harrisburg for support of the bill.

Earlier this week, a municipal ordinance was passed in the borough of Dickson City to protect the LGBT community from discrimination. The city council voted for the ordinance unanimously. Not one person attending the meeting spoke out against the ordinance. Dickson City is a major hub for business, including dozens of retailers, chain stores, and restaurants. Now, all of its employees will be protected and LGBT people can receive services without fear of being denied.

Bloomsburg failed to act on its equality ordinance by just one vote. One vote. Other local communities including, Sunbury, Shamokin, Selinsgrove, have not taken any action on the issue.

The LGBT community is part of your community …we are your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors. We are Americans who deserve equal rights and opportunity.

We have been beaten for holding hands in Philadelphia. We have been murdered for gathering in Orlando. We have been refused service from local businesses. We have been fired for just being who we are. We have been attacked and punished for doing what so many take for granted each day.

For far too long the state of Pennsylvania has had a bull’s eye on our backs, on my back, and I’m tired of it.

After the tragic events in Orlando, I am more compelled than ever to stand up for LGBT rights and I hope that you are too.

What can you do?

1) Support the Pennsylvania Fairness Act. Contact Rep. Keller, Rep. Culver, Rep. Masser and Sen. Gordner and ask, no demand, that they take action on the Pennsylvania Fairness Act. Tell them to ask Rep. Marsico to put the bill to a vote, Tell them that in the year 2016 every Pennsylvanian deserves equal rights.

2) Register to vote and take your vote seriously. Be informed and encourage others around you to vote.

3) Support organizations like Equality PA and Equality Non-Discrimination (END).

4) Share your story. Your voice is powerful when you choose to use it. It is our stories that will enlighten and change the world.

Most of all, we need to be the voice of those 49 people. We must celebrate the music of their lives by speaking out. We NEED more than prayer.