This Florida Orthodontist Could Singlehandly Dismantle Obama's Use of Executive Orders on ACA

By Emily Hulsey
Dr. Larry Kawa, an orthodontist from Boca Raton, Florida, is suing President Obama for changing the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate without congressional approval. His case challenging the 29 executive orders that altered Obamacare is the only such case out there. It will be heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta.
Kawa spent $5,000 in legal fees last year to ensure that his business was in compliance with the law’s requirement that employers with 50 or more employees provide insurance to those employees after December 31, 2013. Obama then pushed the deadline back by two years, a move which Kawa claims was politically motivated and, more importantly, illegal.
However, Kawa says he doesn’t want the government to reimburse him. Instead, he wants the court to nullify Obama’s executive orders:

“I’m suing for the court to declare that the act of Congress (the Affordable Care Act) was real and not something the president can change at will,” he said.
Kawa says he’s trying to hold the government accountable to its own laws.
“This is a wave that’s washing over us, and a lot of people are just standing there waiting to get wet,” he said. “Some people just don’t appreciate what is happening.”

If the court rules in Kawa’s favor, the employer mandate will take effect. It would be an unfortunate situation for employers across the country, but it would likely be postponed by Congress almost immediately. The difference between this and the President’s delay of the mandate, however, is that Congress’s would be unquestionably legal.

Obama to OFA Volunteers: You Are Doing ‘God’s Work’

President Obama told Organizing for Action volunteers combating Republicans and enrolling people in Obamacare is “God’s work” Tuesday at an OFA event in Washington, D.C.:

PRESIDENT OBAMA: You reach out to your Republican friend who can’t stand Obama, but is basically a nice person, but you know, they watch the wrong newscast. [...] We’re going to make a big push these last few weeks. But as I said, I can talk, my team can talk here in Washington, but it’s not going to make as much of a difference as if you aren’t out there making the case. The work you’re doing is God’s work. It is hard work. You don’t have the prerogative to just go around and say no to everything. You don’t have the prerogative to just be cynical. You don’t think that the country moves forward just on its own. You understand that it happens because ordinary people come together to do some extraordinary things.

President Obama is working to push Congress to approve another stimulus package of $302 billion and a federal grant program of $600 million to create jobs rebuilding infrastructure. The new stimulus plan is being pushed as a means of creating jobs while siphoning revenue from corporate taxpayers.The White House, outlining President Obama’s newest push for legislative overhauls, explained, “This vision will show how we can invest in the things we need to grow and create jobs by closing unfair tax loopholes, lowering tax rates and making the system more fair.”
The Obama Administration claims that failure to approve a new stimulus package that focuses on infrastructure revitalization, as many as 700,000 jobs will be in jeopardy- a number that does not appear to correspond to any official figures generated through research.
Congress has had a tough time authorizing transportation bills in recent years as the country’s finances remain in disarray. From 2009 to 2012, Congress only passed one-year extensions to renew transportation bills. In 2012, Congress passed a two-year extension that pumped money into rebuilding and maintaining highways and other transportation projects.
Obama’s four-year plan calls for funding the costly legislation by overhauling the corporate tax structure and gaining additional revenue through tax hikes. President Obama mentioned his plan in his State of the Union Address, saying,
“We can take the money we save from this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes, because in today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure.”
While the president is likely to push this idea as a cost-effective measure, the realities of previously so-called “cost-effective” measures have fallen dramatically short.
- See more at: http://www.tpnn.com/2014/02/26/president-obama-pushes-for-new-300-billion-stimulus/#sthash.SOXSAsUr.dpuf

Greenpeace Founder: No Scientific Proof for Global Warming

By Robert Wilde
Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore told a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, “There is no scientific proof that human emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are the dominant cause of the minor warming of the Earth’s atmosphere over the past 100 years.”
Moreover, the Canadian ecologist, who was a member of Greenpeace from 1971-86, admitted that Greenpeace intentionally used faulty computer models and scare tactics in promoting claims man-made gases are heating up the planet. More told the Senate committee that he decided to leave Greenpeace because it was more concerned with politics than it was with the environment.
Moore also makes the same point that Danish writer and professor of environmental studies at the University of Copenhagen, Bjorn Lomborg, ascribes to; that even if the planet is warming up, it would not be calamitous for humanity, which Moore described as a “subtropical species.” Lomborg claims “economic models generally find that moderate global warming is a net global benefit. Worldwide and in almost all regions, many more people die from cold than heat. With increasing temperatures, avoided cold deaths will vastly outweigh extra heat deaths. By mid-century, researchers estimate 400,000 more heat deaths but 1.8 million fewer cold deaths.”

PresidentObama Pushes for New $300 Billion Stimulus

By Greg Campbell

The White House, outlining President Obama’s newest push for legislative overhauls, explained, “This vision will show how we can invest in the things we need to grow and create jobs by closing unfair tax loopholes, lowering tax rates and making the system more fair.”

The Obama Administration claims that failure to approve a new stimulus package that focuses on infrastructure revitalization, as many as 700,000 jobs will be in jeopardy- a number that does not appear to correspond to any official figures generated through research.

Congress has had a tough time authorizing transportation bills in recent years as the country’s finances remain in disarray. From 2009 to 2012, Congress only passed one-year extensions to renew transportation bills. In 2012, Congress passed a two-year extension that pumped money into rebuilding and maintaining highways and other transportation projects.

Obama’s four-year plan calls for funding the costly legislation by overhauling the corporate tax structure and gaining additional revenue through tax hikes. President Obama mentioned his plan in his State of the Union Address, saying,

“We can take the money we save from this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes, because in today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure.”

While the president is likely to push this idea as a cost-effective measure, the realities of previously so-called “cost-effective” measures have fallen dramatically short.

Liberal Professor Warns that Obama Administration Taking Us to 'Constitutional Tipping Point'

By Emily HulseyJonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor known for his liberal views, gave a grim warning of the danger of the President’s use of power while testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.
It would be hard to disagree with Turley’s logic in this case: While he blames President Obama and his administration for abusing the power granted to the executive branch by the Constitution, he also blames the legislative and judicial branches for letting it happen. He completely dismisses the White House’s excuse that Obama has to go around Congress because we live in different times now and Congress refuses to work with him, reminding us that hatred among parties stems from our earliest history. Thomas Jefferson even described his opposition’s rule as the “reign of the witches.”
On top of all that, Turley makes a solid point that just because he might agree with much of the work Obama is doing doesn’t mean he should tolerate the President’s unconstitutional means of doing so:

“The fact that I happen to think the president is right on many of these policies does not alter the fact that I believe the means he is doing is wrong, and that this can be a dangerous change in our system. And our system is changing in a very fundamental way. And it’s changing without a whimper of regret or opposition.”

Many who agree with the President politically feel that they have no right to speak out about his breach of power, even if they feel it is wrong. However, when it comes to preserving the Constitution and the balance of powers which it mandates, it shouldn’t matter which party we’re in. As Turley points out, the system has “served us well” for the past 200+ years, and if we want it to continue doing so, it is our responsibility to make sure that it is respected.

Jay Carney’s Ironic Statement on Executive Action: The ‘Job of the Executive Branch Is To…’

Just a day after a congressional panel was warned of a “constitutional tipping point” resulting from President Barack Obama’s use of executive powers, White House press secretary Jay Carney asserted “the job of the executive branch is to carry out the laws that are passed by Congress.
Carney was specifically responding to a question from liberal talk radio host Bill Press, who asked why Obama won’t sign an executive order to prevent deportations of illegal immigrants.
“These are people who would qualify for citizenship under the president’s plan but they’re now being deported by [the Department of Homeland Security]. Is there any plan for the president to sign such an executive order?” Press asked, noting that the AFL-CIO and National Association of Latino Elected Officials both advocated executive action.
Carney said the administration wants a “permanent solution” in the form of Congress passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
...Carney again said, “The executive branch, as the president has made clear, has as its job carrying out the laws that are passed by Congress and it is simply not accurate to suggest there is a way around Congress to find a solution to the broader problem.”

Soldier flagrantly avoids flag salute, sets off online outrage

By Tony Lombardo
A soldier who hid in her car to avoid saluting the flag — and then flaunted it on Instagram — is the latest service member to come under attack via social media and be accused of dishonoring her service.
Pfc. Tariqka Sheffey, whose Instagram handle is “sheffeynation,” posted a selfie with a caption that reads:
“This is me laying back in my car hiding so I don’t have to salute the 1700 flag, KEEP ALL YOUR ‘THATS SO DISRESPECTFUL/HOWRUDE/ETC.’ COMMENTS TO YOURSELF cuz, right now, IDGAFFFF.”
The image was distributed via Facebook and also sent to Army Times. Angry service members, Gold Star mothers and spouses have called for the soldier’s removal from service.
“Any soldier who refuses to salute the flag is in the military for the wrong reason, and should be removed by dishonorable discharge with loss of all benefits,” one Facebook commenter said. “If they won’t salute it, they damn sure won’t fight for it.”
Sheffey is a member of the 59th Quartermaster Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, at Fort Carson, Colo., post spokesman Dee McNutt confirmed Tuesday.

Congress Recalls IRS Official Who Took the Fifth: ‘If We Have to Hold Her in Contempt, So Be It’

By Beckett Adams
Congress has recalled a former Internal Revenue Service official at the heart of the agency’s targeting scandal even after she invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Former IRS offical Lois Lerner has been recalled by to testify on the alleged targeting of conservative groups (AP)

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) this week ordered Lois Lerner, the former head of the IRS’ tax-exempt division, to return before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee he chairs to testify on the alleged targeting of conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.
Lerner revealed the scandal last year when she admitted that the IRS had singled out dozens of conservative groups for additional review.
The former IRS official is being represented by William Taylor III of Zuckerman Spaeder LLP., who has asked that Congress reconsider its decision to recall Lerner, saying she fears for her life.
Taylor claims Lerner has received “numerous death threats,” according to Politico.
The FBI has reportedly investigated at least one threat against Lerner.
Taylor said Wednesday that his client would again invoke her right not to incriminate herself if Congress orders her to testify.
But Republicans insist that Lerner lost that privilege after she delivered an opening statement declaring her innocence at a hearing last year. Republican lawmakers contend that she is legally obligated to answer questions on her statement and are reportedly considering options to make her answer for it.
“There is talk about contempt,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told Politico. “We’ll see — we’ve got to give her a chance to answer our questions.”
Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) added: “If we have to hold her in contempt, so be it. I would vote to support that.”
Issa confirmed Wednesday that Republican lawmakers are indeed considering contempt charges for Lerner if she refuses to show up to the next hearing or refuses to answer questions

Restaurant Chain Charges Customers Obamacare Surcharge

By Katrina Trinko

A Florida group that that manages several restaurants is already banking money for when the Obamacare employer mandate takes effect in 2015, and is charging customers a 1 percent surcharge on food and drinks.
Currently only management employees of the eight Gator’s Dockside restaurants receive health insurance, but starting in December, in order to comply with the employer mandate, about 250 full-time employees will also receive health insurance, according to CNN Money.
Sandra Clark, director of operations for the Gator Group that manages the restaurants, “is not sure how much the company is spending on compliance, but estimates that it will cost $500,000 a year to extend insurance to its full-time hourly restaurant workers,” CNN Money reported. “The surcharge may bring in about $160,000 a year, she hopes.”
Gator’s Dockside isn’t the first restaurant to start charging an Obamacare fee. A Los Angeles restaurant has also implemented a surcharge.
Gator’s Dockside could choose to not give full-time employees coverage even once the mandate kicks in, and pay a fine. Or the chain could reduce its current full-time employees’ hours, so that they only work part-time – and thus don’t qualify for health coverage under the employee mandate.
But as the surcharge shows, Obamacare is no free lunch. Most businesses probably won’t opt to add a specific surcharge in order to cover their new health care costs, but some will certainly raise prices – or reduce quality of their products. Obamacare hasn’t driven down the costs of health insurance, or found a magical new source to cover those costs.