The Democratic Club of Claremont: News

Welcome to The Democratic Club of Claremont!

The Democratic Club of Claremont gives people in the Claremont area a chance to discuss issues, talk to candidates and office-holders, and work to elect Democrats to state and national offices. Even if you don't have the time or the inclination to run for office yourself, you can play a role in politics through the club.

Benefits of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act in the 26th Congressional District

Benefits of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act
In the 26th Congressional District of California
Committee on Energy and Commerce
July 2009

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act would provide significant benefits in the 26th Congressional District of California: up to 13,200 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees; 11,200 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D; 1,300 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs; health care providers would receive payment for $35 million in uncompensated care each year; and 71,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance. Congressman David Dreier represents the district.

Help for small businesses. Under the legislation, small businesses with 25 employees or less and average wages of less than $40,000 qualify for tax credits of up to 50% of the costs of providing health insurance. There are up to 13,200 small businesses in the district that could qualify for these credits.
Help for seniors with drug costs in the Part D donut hole. Each year, 11,200 seniors in the district hit the donut hole and are forced to pay their full drug costs, despite having Part D drug coverage. The legislation would provide them with immediate relief, cutting brand name drug costs in the donut hole by 50%, and ultimately eliminate the donut hole.
Health care and financial security. There were 1,300 health care-related bankruptcies in the district in 2008, caused primarily by the health care costs not covered by insurance. The bill provides health insurance for almost every American and caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $10,000 per year, ensuring that no citizen will have to face financial ruin because of high health care costs.
Relieving the burden of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers. In 2008, health care providers in the district provided $35 million worth of uncompensated care, care that was provided to individuals who lacked insurance coverage and were unable to pay their bills. Under the legislation, these costs of uncompensated care would be virtually eliminated.
Coverage of the uninsured. There are 92,000 uninsured individuals in the district, 13% of the district. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nationwide, 97% of all Americans will have insurance coverage when the bill takes effect. If this benchmark is reached in the district, 71,000 people who currently do not have health insurance will receive coverage.
No deficit spending. The cost of health care reform under the legislation is fully paid for: half through making the Medicare and Medicaid program more efficient and half through a surtax on the income of the wealthiest individuals. This surtax would affect only 6,750 households in the district. The surtax would not affect 97.8% of taxpayers in the district.

This analysis is based upon the following sources: the Gallup-Healthways Survey (data on the uninsured); the U.S. Census (data on small businesses); the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (data on the Part D donut hole, health care-related bankruptcies (based on analysis of PACER court records), and uncompensated care); and the House Committee on Ways and Means (data on the surtax).

The Claremont Manifesto is now Available

The Claremont Manifesto is designed to suggest a new vision and program to capture the hearts and minds of the American people.

It represents an appeal to Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike - to consider the renewal of the vision of the U.S. as a Commonwealth in which people of good will cooperate for the common good as well as for individual fulfillment. It asks them to consider a return to the view of our society first advocated by our nation's Founders: The view of America as a Commonwealth in which we all work together to create a better, more peaceful and just world for ourselves and for our children. Based upon a wide array of polls and other data, we are confident that this is a vision most Americans now share.

Too often, those of us engaged in trying to effect change focus only on one particular issue of immediate concern at a time. Too seldom do we lift our heads to look at the broader issue - just what sort of city or nation or world we really envision building for our children - and how our position on any specific issue fits into that larger, more comprehensive vision or narrative.

We have attempted in The Claremont Manifesto:

first, to articulate a clear vision,
then, to identify a series of critically important issues that need to be addressed to make that vision a reality, and
finally, to specify the fundamental principles upon which to base the specific programmatic policies needed to deal with each issue.

We hope that you will agree with us that this is a much needed and useful enterprise.

We offer it for your thoughtful reading and consideration. There are several format "flavors" of the document, any of which can be read on-line or printed. Just click on the line that suits your needs. Additionally, all versions begin with an executive summary which enables you to quickly get an overview of the document.

Microsoft Word (.doc) version for 8.5x11.0 paper
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) version for 8.5x11.0 paper
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) version in booklet format
HTML version for online viewing

We sincerely seek your counsel as to the merits of what we have written. We encourage you to use the response form reached via this link to share your thoughts with us. This form also may be used to request that a bound, printed version be sent to you.

Finally, we also hope that you will be inclined to assist us in promoting and distributing The Claremont Manifesto.