Category Archives: Politics

Has Obamacare already been repealed?

Health care, Politics, U.S. Congress

By Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Remember last year when congressional Republicans failed to repeal Obamacare after talking about doing so for years? It turns out they may have succeeded, fully or partly, by acting indirectly.

In December, Congress passed the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, which all six members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation supported. The legislation ended Obamacare’s penalty for failing to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance. The penalty goes away at the end of this year.

To understand why that’s important, you have to look back to 2012, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare – was constitutional in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. The court ruled that Congress could not compel individuals to purchase insurance. However, it said the mandate’s penalty was a “tax,” which Congress can enact. Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush, wrote that opinion. That’s how the individual mandate survived.

Now that there’s no tax, a Texas-led coalition of 20 states, including Arkansas under Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, is suing the federal government in hopes of having the entire law declared unconstitutional. The lawsuit says that without the individual mandate, the law is now “an irrational regulatory regime governing an essential market.”  Continue reading Has Obamacare already been repealed? →

For GOP reps, Trump’s comments complicate things

Politics, U.S. Congress

Donald TrumpBy Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

For Arkansas’ congressional delegation, life was simpler when President Obama was in office. Not better, but simpler. This week was complicated.

As we all know by now, at a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump declined to take sides between his own intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in U.S. elections, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial of that interference. In response to press questions, Trump defaulted to his usual defenses: There was no collusion; the election was a great victory; Hillary’s emails. Both leaders said they had discussed the election issue privately with each other that day. Trump said U.S.-Russia relations were at their lowest point ever, and said both countries were at fault. Earlier in the day, he tweeted that the poor relationship was “thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!” – referring to the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The reaction was intense across the political spectrum. Democrats, of course, pounced, but even many Republicans were critical. Newt Gingrich, usually a Trump ally, called it “the most serious mistake of his presidency.” Ailing Sen. John McCain said, “No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant.”

The next day, Trump tried to walk back his statements, asserting that he trusted his own intelligence community and claiming that he had misspoken. His explanation: He meant to say, “I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.” Not “would.” Continue reading For GOP reps, Trump’s comments complicate things →

Student Council elections for grown-ups

Elections, Politics, State government

Alabama, blue wave, school boards, Hixson, Breanne, red tide, judicial electionsBy Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

For most Arkansans, their first exposure to electoral politics comes in Student Council elections. This year’s election will be a lot like those in one way. In another, quite different.

It will be like Student Council elections in that voters will mostly mark the names of their “friends” – their party’s candidates.

There was a time when many voters proudly asserted that they voted for the candidate, not the party. Today, while more people call themselves “independents,” dwindling numbers actually vote that way. We may not outwardly identifying with a party, but we do inwardly, and that’s how we vote. Continue reading Student Council elections for grown-ups →

No permanent ethics fix in part-time Legislature

Legislature, Politics, State government

Arkansas Legislature, Arkansas Works, Jeremy Hutchinson, Mickey GatesBy Steve Brawner, © 2018 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Sen. Larry Teague, D-Nashville, is an insurance agent who sits on the Insurance and Commerce Committee, so he’s able to offer insight and understanding when insurance legislation is considered. Also, he might be personally affected by it.

So which is more important: Expertise or objectivity? That’s a particularly tough question to answer in a part-time Legislature. Continue reading No permanent ethics fix in part-time Legislature →