The state of congressional affairs is so bad that many older Americans are nostalgic for Harry Truman’s do-nothing Congress. What we have now is essentially a don’t-give-a-damn Congress.

A new Gallup Poll taken from March 4-7 reveals that 80% of Americans disapprove of of the job Congress is doing while only 16% approve. That’s only 2 points above the record 14% low gauged in July of 2008. Congress’ approval has plummeted some 10% just since January.

This portends something akin to an end-of-times scenario for Congress as it continues to do as it pleases and marches like lemmings toward this year’s midterm elections.

Read more: http://voices.kansascity.com/node/8207#ixzz0idzbQor8

Sen. Chuck Grassley tells Newsmax that the Democrats are “riding roughshod” over the will of the American people by employing “devious ways” to push healthcare reform through Congress.

The Iowa legislator — the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee — also says the tea party movement will expand greatly in response to the Democrats’ legislative maneuvering on the healthcare reform bill, which he maintains “has a lot to do with the redistribution of wealth in America.”

The five-term senator was asked if the Democrats now have the votes in the House to pass President Obama’s healthcare reform plan.

Editor’s Note: See the exclusive Newsmax.TV interview with Sen. Chuck Grassley below.

“If you ask 10 different people you might get 10 different answers,” he tells Newsmax.TV.

“I don’t know, but I believe that if they’re still 10 votes away they may not get the votes for passage. But if they’re three of four votes away right now, quite frankly, knowing how any president has the ability to twist arms or charm people, they will come up with the necessary votes, particularly when this president has made this such a personal drive of his own.

“I recently heard him say if this bill didn’t pass it would ruin his presidency. Well, if he’s worried about his presidency more than the country, you can understand why there would be so much pressure to get the votes to pass this bill.”

Grassley says if the healthcare bill is going to be defeated, it will have to be stopped in the House because in the Senate the Democrats can use reconciliation — which requires only 51 votes to pass a bill, not 60 to override a filibuster.

“But we’re going to have an opportunity to have a real debate about this and show the people we agree with them, that at the grassroots of America they don’t want this bill.”

About 55 percent of Americans now oppose the legislation, Grassley points out.

“So you have a case here of the majority party not listening to the American people, deciding on their own that they’ve got an opportunity, because they have the presidency and a majority, to do anything they want to do, and they don’t mind running roughshod over the American people. That’s exactly what they’re going to do.”

Click here to continue reading.

Des Moines, IA — American Future Fund launched a radio ad campaign on DC area radio stations called “Courage.” Last October, Americans spoke out against government-run health care legislation. Not only are they upset about a government takeover of health care, they are also infuriated because Congress didn’t even read the bill before voting on it because they knew if people actually read all 2,000 pages of the bill, Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies would not enough votes to pass the bad bill.

Fast forward to March 2010, Speaker Pelosi wants to vote on health care legislation without even voting on it! This proves again that liberals exhibit extreme arrogance, and proves they do not have the votes to pass government-run health care.
AFF President Sandy Greiner, “The arrogance of President Obama and Nancy Pelosi is astounding. They do not care who they take down with them in this fight, because in the end, no matter the means, they will have their socialized medicine.”

Greiner continued, “Our members will not allow their voices to be shut out of this debate again, we need openness and transparency in debating whether or not our government should takeover 1/6 of our national economy by “deeming” it necessary. Americans are begging you, Congress, slow down and get health care reform right.”

The radio ad will run on Washington DC area stations.

You can listen to the ad here.

AFF RADIO:60 – “COURAGE”

ANNCR:
President Obama, on trying to pass the liberal health care bill.

OBAMA:
“We need courage….That’s what we need.”

ANNCR:
Of course, it’s easier for President Obama to call for courage. The name “Obama” is not on any 2010 ballot.

Perhaps the President could have saluted the courage of Senator Martha Coakley and Governor Creigh Deeds.

61% of Americans want Congress to start over.

But instead, liberals are crafting a secret health care bill behind closed doors.

In last fall’s rush to pass health care, the House passed a version without even reading it.

But Nancy Pelosi can top that. This time she wants to pass the bill without even voting on it.

Because the bill is still filled with sleazy deals that some call “corruption” – like the Cornhusker Kickback and the Louisiana Purchase.

It slashes Medicare—and raise taxes on small businesses.

Congress has one last chance this stop bad bill from becoming law.

It’s not too late – slow down and get health care right.

Paid for by American Future Fund

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Even one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s floor whips, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, says a proposed parliamentary move to pass health-care reform would be “disingenuous” and harm the credibility of Congress.

In a sign of how tough it’s been for Pelosi to round up votes for the massive bill, Lynch – a South Boston Democrat who supported a House reform package last year – said he’ll probably vote against a key Senate version of the legislation, unless unexpected major changes are made soon.

Lynch, who serves as one of Pelosi’s key vote counters, said he also can’t support a proposed “deem and pass” procedure that would allow Democrats to vote to strip out controversial portions of the Senate bill and then “deem” that the entire package has passed without a second, direct vote.

“It’s disingenuous,” said Lynch, who considers unfair a Senate provision to tack a surcharge on higher-end health plans. “It would really call into question the credibility of the House.”

Click here to continue reading.

If Americans are divided about how their congressman should vote on the health-care bill, the same can’t be said for their views on Congress.

According to the new NBC/WSJ poll, whose full results will be released beginning at 6:30 pm ET, only 17% approve of Congress’ job.

Click here to read more.

American Future Fund says it’s going up on national cable with this new ad, still harping on the “Cornhusker Kickback” and “Louisiana Purchase” and warning that Democrats will pass the bill “without even voting.”

Maybe I spent too much time reading Joel Benenson’s memo, but the degree to which attacks focus on this kind of legislative process does seem to offer Democrats an opportunity to fix some of the problems — as they already have with the Nebraska deal — and to redeem themselves later with some symbolic reform gestures.

Click here to read the rest of the story and see the video.

Help keep this ad on the air by making a contribution to AFF.

When an unscripted President says government – run health care is bad, Congress should listen

Des Moines, IA—American Future Fund ran a full-page color ad in USA Today and Politico today titled “Teleprompter.” The ad points out that even President Obama believes a number of provisions “got snuck in” to the health care bill that would essentially put the government between you and your doctor, contrary to the President’s other rhetoric.

Click here to view the ad (PDF)

AFF President Sandy Greiner stated, “The truth accidently slipped out during a speech where the President was NOT using a teleprompter. Evidently, that’s when the real truth comes out.”

Greiner continued, “AFF has been beating this drum since last year and 60% of the American people agree with the President when he is not using a teleprompter. When will members of Congress start listening?”

Greiner concluded, “Of course provisions “got snuck” into health care legislation. That is how Sen. Ben Nelson got the Cornhusker Kickback. That is how Sen. Mary Landrieu got the Louisiana Purchase. Americans oppose the potential for a government takeover of health care now more than ever. Members of Congress should listen to President Obama and start over on health care legislation NOW.”

The ad will run in USA Today and POLITICO

Click here to view the ad (PDF)

Ad Script: “Teleprompter”

What Happens When There’s No Teleprompter?

Sometimes the Truth Accidentally Slips Out

It’s one of President Obama’s favorite health care lines:

“…if you’ve got health insurance, you like your doctors, you like your plan, you can keep your doctor, you can keep your plan.”

The President has made that pledge hundreds of times. He is also fond of implying that other people are lying to the American people by saying:

“…no matter what you’ve heard, if you like your doctor or health care plan, you can keep it.”

But the President wasn’t using his ever-present teleprompter on January 29th. And then the truth accidentally slipped out:

“…we said from the start that it was going to be important for us to be consistent in saying to people if you can have your — if you want to keep the health insurance you got, you can keep it, that you’re not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision making. And I think that some of the provisions that got snuck in might have violated that pledge.”

— President Obama, Baltimore, MD, 1/29/10

The President made a slip…and spoke the truth. He admitted that his numerous prior assurances were wrong and that ObamaCare would make it impossible for millions of Americans to keep their current health care plans, even if they like them.

The President would have us believe that massive interlocking provisions virtually eliminating the ability to retain current insurance coverage and requiring hundreds of pages of documentation “got snuck in” by some unknown, nefarious operative. This explanation is beyond lame, it is preposterous.

According to non-partisan experts like the Congressional Budget Office and the Lewin Group, the liberal health care bills now being debated in Congress will cause millions of Americans to lose their current health care coverage, or be forced to find a new doctor.

Americans are already worried about other provisions that “got snuck” into the bills —the Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, and the special deals for unions.

Americans oppose $500 billion in Medicare cuts, new taxes on small businesses and medical supplies, and the potential for a government takeover of health care.

When even the President admits that his plan would cause Americans to lose their current coverage, it’s time to listen to the more than 60% of Americans who want Congress to start over and get health care right.

Tell Congress: Start Over and Get Health Care Right (202) 225-3121

# # #

Print ads serve as a reminder that AFF members will not give up until Congress starts over on health care

Des Moines, IA—Today, AFF is running a series of 5 conservative print ads in POLITICO speaking out against pending health care legislation and reminding Members what will happen to them if they vote for more tax and spend legislation. The ads include 4 that have previously run in POLITICO, and one new ad titled “Losers of 2010.”

AFF President Sandy Greiner stated, “Our ads tell a story. A story that did not end well for 54 members of Congress in 1994, and it will be the same ending for many liberal members if they continue to ignore the will of the American people by supporting government-run health care. A majority of Americans want Congress to start over on health care legislation and Members of Congress should start listening or else polish up their resumes.”

Greiner continued, “There are a number of Senators and Representatives facing eroding polling numbers and very tough re-elections this fall. Their position in the polls now and as they head toward this fall are because the American people do not support growing government, they are opposed to increased taxes, and wasteful spending.”

You can view all 5 prints ads here.

# # #

Paid for by American Future Fund

Congressman Adam Smith’s phones rang so much on Monday that one of his aides called it a “siege.” Almost all the calls were about health care, and most of his constituents’ opinions were the same. “In my case, it’s very one-sided,” says Smith, a Washington state Democrat. “It’s all been on the anti side.”

The reason for the calls is no secret. National business groups have blanketed Tacoma television stations with a 30-second spot that features depressing images of discouraged workers and a voice-over warning that health care reform will bring billions in new taxes, mandates on businesses and higher health care costs. At the end, Smith’s phone number flashes across the screen. “It’s a pretty thorough buy,” Smith admits, saying it has sometimes run three or four times on a single station in an hour.

The deluge is not limited to Smith’s district. Across the country, groups on all sides of the health care reform debate have been targeting swing members of Congress with costly ad campaigns. Over the coming week, as the House gears up to take a final, deciding vote on reform, issue-ad spending by corporations, trade groups, unions and advocacy organizations may top $24 million, adding to the estimated $200 million that has already been spent on health care advocacy ads. “We are going to be at parity with the other guys in spending for the week,” said one pro-reform organizer, who had been monitoring the antireform ad purchases. “I think our side will spend $12 million for the week.”

The ad running in Smith’s district, which was paid for by an offshoot of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is part of a 17-state campaign slated to cost between $4 million and $10 million. Another conservative group, the American Future Fund, is running ads in 18 House districts that compares health care reform to a pig wearing lipstick before flashing a phone number. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the industry trade group, has its own television campaign. Another secretive group called the League of American Voters, which works with former Clinton adviser Dick Morris, is running additional ads targeting Democrats who may support “Obama and Pelosi’s health care takeover.”

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1972364,00.html?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0iLl3kZne