Despite Republican Criticism and Misinformation, Health Care Cost Rose Only Modestly In 2016.

In a report carried by the Huffington Post of 2/15/17  the Independent Office Of The Actuary At The Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that the cost of health care (paid by business, individuals and government) for the year 2016 rose 4.8%, 1% lower than the previous year to $3.4 trillion.  And that health care cost will rise 5.8% a year from 2016 thru 2025.

The report also said:  (1)   These reports are also consistent with earlier findings and projections from the federal actuaries, but are subject to a great deal of uncertainty because President Donald Trump and the republican controlled congress plan to make major changes to the health care system that make accurately predicting the future next to impossible.  (2)  Despite the uptick in spending growth that began three years ago, national health care expenditures are on track to rise at a considerably slower rate than in previous decades.  (3)  Health care spending grew at an average of 4.4% a year from 2008 to 2014, lower than the 5.6% percent projected for the next 10 years, but much lower than the nearly 8% annual rate during the two decades before 2007.  (this writers note:  Obamacare was no where around during those two decades.)  (4) What ever the causes, national health care spending is actually lower than the federal actuaries projected in 2010, before the Affordable Care Act became law.  Between 2014 and 2019 the U.S. is projected to spend $2.6 trillion less on health care than the actuaries previously predicted, despite the added costs associated with the Affordable Care Act's coverage expansion.

This report is in line with the projections given by the Centers in 2016 that was the subject of this writers commentary at the time.  The latest report also contradicts the lies and misinformation given out by President Trump and the republicans in congress that the Affordable Care Act is bankrupting the U.S. with massive increases in health care cost.  In fact as the report shows health care cost increased almost 8% annually for the two decades prior to 2008 and the ACA was not even a thought.

Twenty million Americans have been insured by the ACA and the percentage of the uninsured is at a historic low.  The republican party has a track record about misinforming the people that they have a better plan when they do not.  In fact they are now talking about not replacing the ACA any more, they changed it to repairing the ACA because they can not come up with a plan.

Those 20 million newly insured will help bring health care cost down in the future because they will be able to practice preventive medicine and stay healthier.  The reports bottom line is that health care costs are rising at a moderate rate and is projected to do so for the next ten years.

But America beware, the Republican party is known for its huge increase in federal spending and its record of record deficit spending.  And President Trump has also made it known his intentions of an increase in federal spending.  So be prepared for more lies and misinformation coming out of the administration.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

FAKE NEWS: It Comes In All Sizes, Shapes and Forms

And one form comes from President Trumps elimination of rules governing the oil and gas industry.  Trump's FAKE NEWS is this will unleash the industry to drill more, produce more and sell more, but it won't happen on his watch.  The increase in drilling and production happened on President Obama's watch and vaulted the United States as the top oil producer in the world.  And it happened while regulations were in effect.

But guess what?  The U.S. oil industry has been laying off people for the last two years because of an over supply on the market, economic forces and the production and use of other energy sources. In fact when the over supply came about the price of a barrel of oil had been selling in the $90 range for several years and dropped to the mid $40 range the last few years.   Recently the price of a barrel of oil has been going up and the OPEC producers have agreed to cut their production.

The industry had been making tons of money on those record high prices.  So much so that BP was able to pay billions of dollars to those harmed in their gulf of Mexico blow out.  That was a time of FAKE NEWS when many of Louisiana's representatives in congress opposed the President's moratorium and gave out FAKE NEWS as to how the industry would be damaged.  The Bush-Cheney administration was the author of FAKE NEWS concerning the run up to war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.

And now the present author again of FAKE NEWS  is President Trump and several members of his administration every time they get caught in their own lies and misinformation.  The news media now realizes how Trump and his people have used FAKE NEWS by the news media is a blind recognition of his own practice.  And he showed his worst side on Thursday's rambling press conference when he tried to pass the buck of FAKE NEWS and said he inherited a mess from the Obama administration.  He then went on a rant of blame everyone but himself for the trouble caused by his lack of political understanding and reckless behavior.  His press conference was a troubling episode for our country and confirmed what Hillary Clinton said all along, that Trump did not have the temperament to be President.  And to think our young children have to be exposed to a President that has stooped so low.

The regression on Trump's watch continues and there is no end in sight.  The American people deserve better.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Donald Trump: Still Passing the Buck

Business man Trump during the Presidential campaign turned out to be a small person who had to attack almost everyone he spoke about.  Then when he became President elect nothing changed.  Then come inauguration day on January 20 and President Trump is still the small person who finds reasons to pass the buck instead of stopping it at his Presidential desk.

The latest excuse and buck passing concerns the resignation of his National Security Adviser Michael Flynn who had to resign over his phone calls with a Russian representative before Trump took office.  Trump blamed his resignation on the news media and tried to even involve Hillary Clinton in the subject matter.  Trump also acted dishonest in not acknowledging he was warned two weeks before the story broke about the conversation.  Vice President Pence had to get into the act and said Flynn misled him about the Russian contact after he tried to defend Flynn's actions earlier.

Buck passing and blame has been Trumps calling card in the 27 days he has been President and many of his advisers have had to change the story line because of the lies that continue out of this White House.  What is unfolding now with the Flynn thing is another piece of evidence that Russia has Trump over a barrel and is willing to compromise the nations national security with back channel contact with Russia during a period of time President Obama was putting sanctions on Russia for their involvement in the U.S. Presidential elections.

This story of Trumps approved Russian contacts should not end with Flynn's resignation.  It should be investigated properly so the full story can be learned and told.  No one is above the law, especially a President who lacks good judgement and qualification for the job.  Bringing up Hillary Clinton concerning Flynn's resignation shows how ignorant and irresponsible President Trump acts.  And do not be or act surprised if more of Trump's inner circle resigns.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The United States Presidency: A Place Of America's Ideals

There can be no Presidency without a President but they are not one and the same.  The President is human and mortal but the Presidency is a place of high ideals for the common good, the people and the country and even the world.  Its a place that changes hands during elections but where the occupier swears to the same oath our forebearers  did over 200 years ago.

But the Presidency and what it stands for is in danger because of the person who now sits in the office, President Trump.  The statesmanship, wisdom, knowledge and character necessary to carry out the traditions of the Presidency have given way to egotism, slander, personal attacks, lie after lie and a disrespect for the law and people.  The President now puts himself first above all else and enjoys demonizing people who disagree with him.  His first duty is not the country or its people but his own self interest.

The President's latest remarks against the judges who stayed his executive order banning some immigrants speak of a vindictive President who tries to damage those who dare disagree with him.  The Presidency itself is being damaged on Trump's watch across the board and his conflict of interest continues unabated, even though he knows what the constitution requires from a President to separate himself from his business interest, he has refused to do so.  And this week he is in a running battle with a company who dropped his daughters clothing line.  A President using his office to try and influence a business over their decision that affects a Trump family business.  The Presidency is a place that is above all that.

President Trump has been in office 21 days as of this writing and his policies so far have been regressive and a far cry from President Obama's policies that moved the country forward.  The Presidency itself is at risk and our young generation must be wondering what is this self serving President all about.  It is also very noticeable that the President's supporters who flooded facebook with praise no longer are commenting on that social media.

Donald Trump, the candidate showed no respect for the Presidency during the campaign and now Donald Trump, the President shows no respect for the Presidency, the office that he now holds.  Will the President ever learn that respect has to be earned?  Will his corrupt business practice continue to be the driving force behind his administrations every move?  Is the President capable of bringing respect to the Presidency?  The record is building every day and time will be the judge.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Obama's Last Month In Office Ended On A High Economic Note As Job Creation Continues

The Labor Department announced today that the U.S. Economy created 227,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate was 4.8%.  It was 7.8% in January 2009 when President George W. Bush left office.  President Obama's job creation record ranks next to President Clinton's all time record and exceeds the job creation record of every past Republican President.

So how did the Trump administration react to the good January numbers?  Well, just like you would expect, the administration tried to take credit.  For an early Presidency and administration, dishonesty still rules in their attempt to fool the American people.  It followed them early in the week when the administration's Muslim ban was not a ban, but then again it was a ban.  The President himself could not even get it right and level with the people.

History will now be the judge of President Obama's administration and Trump should be happy he did not have to follow the administration of President Bush 43.  Trump's first two weeks of trying to undo the progress made under Obama leaves a large question mark about his ability to govern.  And today, the President issued another executive order to undo the Dodd-Frank legislation that established regulations for the wall street banks to prevent another banking collapse like the one of 2008.  As a reminder, the three worst Banking failures took place on the watch of President's Hoover, Reagan and Bush 43.  All Republicans.

Time will catch up to the people one day despite the dishonesty of the President and his administration.  Until then, the best hope for the country is for the democrats in congress to stand up and be counted to oppose the extreme policy ideology, dishonesty and out right lies of this administration.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Atlanta Falcons and The New Orleans Saints

Both teams are rivals in the same division of the National Conference.  Atlanta will be playing for the world championship this Sunday in the Super Bowl while the Saints will only be spectators with another missed playoff season.  Prior to hiring a new head coach two years ago, Atlanta was a on again, off again football team for a number of years and the Saints did well against them at the time.  Management at Atlanta made the right decision when they hired their new coach.

On the other hand, the Saints have been a floundering football team the last five seasons and have only one winning season in that time span.  All four losing seasons ended in a record of 7-9 and no improvement.  So what did Saint's management do after this years third straight losing season?  Well, they fired five assistant coaches and head coach Sean Payton will be around another year.  What a contrast to the actions taken by Atlanta.  Make no mistake, the Saints organization is in denial of what is taking place.

Three defensive co-ordinators in the last five seasons is hardly a compliment for the Saints ability to choose the right people.  And Payton's return as head coach means "bounty gate" will continue to be the albatross around the Saint's neck.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

THE WALL: A Black Eye For America

For over two centuries the United States had leaders who were capable and committed to find the resources to protect our country and its borders without building Walls.  They even did so during the cold war and even now against terrorists.  And no WALL would have prevented the tragic attack on 9/11.  But the United States had leaders who learned from that attack and our homeland has been safe.  Wisdom puts a lot of things in proper order.

East Germany built the Berlin WALL that divided the people of East and West Berlin in order to stop the flow of East Berliners to the West who were seeking a better life for themselves and their family.  That WALL of division tore family and people apart.  The WALL no longer exists and served no purpose of progress or advancement for humankind.  The WALL did not stop the dreams of the people in East Berlin to seek a better life.

Now the United States has a new President in Washington who wants to build a WALL on American soil to keep people out.  Unlike past American Presidents who found a way to keep America safe, even during the nuclear age, President Trump does not have the wisdom or character to find a way to keep our southern border safe without building a WALL.  The self proclaimed greatness of Trump is no where to be found.  The truth of the matter is Trump and the republicans in congress do not want immigration reform because minorities usually vote democratic.  President George W. Bush wanted immigration reform during his term in office but his own party in congress blocked it.  They did the same during the Obama administration.  So after 16 years of do nothing on immigration reform, they found a brilliant idea, a WALL to no where.

Real immigration reform and the use of technology and other resources would protect America's borders and at the same time help our relationship with Mexico because they have a stake in the matter and input that would help the situation. WALLS that divide countries also divide people on both sides of the WALL and is unAmerican at its core.  Trump's threat to impose a tariff on Mexico to pay for the WALL is childish at best and shows no original thought.  Mexico could easily answer that threat by imposing their own tariff on every American manufacturing plant in Mexico.  And if that happens then the American taxpayer would pay for the WALL twice.

President Trump obviously is not a great thinker and lacks wisdom and understanding.  His corrupt practice in the business world can not be allowed from the White House.  As President he stated he was a great builder and he would build a great WALL.  A great WALL that past Presidents would never build because they understood what America the Beautiful was all about and they found ways to protect our country without building such WALLS.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

Who Will Be The Next Supreme Court Nominee?

The Trump administration and the President himself said he will announce his choice next week and described his nominee in glowing terms.  He also said the anti abortion people will be happy with the choice.  The republican party in general would like to see Roe vs. Wade overturned, not because their moral values are higher than others but because it translates into votes and one of their divisive tactics.

Over the years President Trump had no stand on the issue until he ran for President.  He choose the matter as a campaign issue like his party and catered to the religious right.  His extreme actions with women show he has no real claim on the issue and since the campaign, promised to nominate supreme court judges who would over turn the status quo on abortion.

This writer believes a so called conservative court may not even over turn Roe vs. Wade and for good reasons.  First the law is well established and prior to Scalia's death the court was conservative for a number of years and did not over turn the decision.  Also, it was a conservative court that made the decision possible and a conservative supreme court that upheld the challenge to the Affordable Care Act and chief justice John Roberts who was appointed to the court by former President George W. Bush, cast the deciding vote.

The big problem Trump and the republican party have today fall on the extreme ideology, and today most conservative judges do not use ideology from the bench as a whole.  And most people do not understand that cases that reach the supreme court are not cut and dry cases.  Also in the case of Roe vs. Wade, this writer is not aware of the testimony in that case to be refuted.

So after the announcement next week look for all the hype that will take place on both sides and for Trump to put his nominee up on a pedestal, because Trump does nothing but great things.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Trump's First Week In Office Was Pretty Sad

It started out with an inaugural address that was so divisive and self centered, no one will be willing to quote from it in a positive manner.  He then called the news media dishonest for reporting that the crowd at his inauguration was smaller than it was at Obama's inauguration.  That contradicted Trumps statement that his inauguration attendance would be a record.  It was not and his ego got bent out of shape.  The man hates the truth so his press secretary had to try and change Trump's lie by calling it "alternative facts."  Of course, any one of sound mind knows who the dishonest one really is.


Trump also met with auto industry executives and told them his tax cuts would bring manufacturing back to America.  Those executives must have laughed when Trump left the meeting because the industry had its most profitable years under the Obama administration and even sold a record amount of auto units.  And that happened even though the Bush tax cuts expired.  The Dow averages almost tripled during the Obama administration so Corporations and their stock holders did pretty well and that would never have happened if profits are not there.

Between all that, Trump issued executive orders that he boasted about but no one will know the ramifications until down the road.  And once again said Mexico will pay for the wall and Mexico's President said no way in response and cancelled his planned visit with Trump.  Mexico's decision illustrates that foreign nations, especially our allies have enough clout to deal with Trump's threats.

The republicans in congress and conservative journalists are going along with Trump's "alternative facts" all the way by shaking their heads but still supporting his lies.  But time is not on their side.  There is one suit against Trump for his conflict of interest with the Presidency and this writer believes there will be more from the women who said Trump sexually abused them.  Those are the same women who Trump said he would sue.

And to top if off, Trump's job approval rating was just 34%.  His popular vote in the November election was 46%.  The President also revealed his mental problems of not being able to cope with Hillary Clinton's victory in the popular vote.  First he said he would have won that vote if he had campaigned in those states where Hillary beat him.  Of course he did campaign in those states.  But this week he came up with a different reason he lost the popular vote.  Now its because there were between 3-5 million fraud votes cast by people who voted more than once and by dead people.  Wrong again with no factual proof but mentally, Trump has to lie to satisfy his ego.

It really was a sad first week for a President whose ego is so affected by the truth is willing to let it corrupt the Presidency.  And this is only the beginning.  And today the popular vote was still Clinton 65,844,610 votes for 48% and Trump 62,974.636 votes for 46%.  And mentally he still can not accept that Clinton beat him badly and Trump has no mandate from the voting public.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

An Irresponsible U.S. President

President Donald Trump was irresponsible when he spoke before the CIA on Monday, mentioned Iraq and said we should have taken the Oil.  That statement could put our troops stationed in Iraq and other middle east countries in danger of reprisals and terror attacks at a time when our troops are in a support position.  It is against international law to seize another country's assets.  That is why the U.S. and its allies removed Iraq from Kuwait during the Gulf War of 1991.

This is serious business especially since the President added something to the effect that maybe there is still the chance to take the oil, we will see.  That is a dangerous policy statement from a reckless President and the safety of our country and our men and women in uniform.  Five days in office and the President has learned very little.  He can issue all the executive orders he wants and continue to Pout because Clinton won the popular vote but he has yet learned how to be President.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio