The Coalition Against Rate-Setting is getting bigger. I am happy to announce that we’ve expanded our outreach to state-based groups and we have four new members, the Rio Grande Foundation (New Mexico), the Idaho Freedom Foundation, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, and the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity. We are all united in opposing rate-setting as the “fix” to surprise medical bills. More government intrusion into healthcare means bigger bills and bigger headaches. Don’t forget to visit the Coalition’s website here.
The World Health Organization and the Coronavirus
There is considerable debate about the severity of the Coronavirus. And, even though I am a scientist, I am a political scientist not a “real” scinetist so I am not going to comment on the biological aspects of the virus. There is a lot of criticism to be shared about the handling of the outbreak of the Coronavirus. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control don’t have a stellar track record in dealing with emergencies and the Coronavirus is no different. But, a special spotlight of failed leadership needs to be shone on the World Health Organization (WHO) because they have an abysmal track record in dealing with world health emergencies. For the Ebola outbreak, it took WHO officials 50 weeks from the initial declaration of cases by the Democratic Republic of Congo Ministry of Health (on August 1, 2018) to deem the outbreak to be a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” Leaked emails revealed that the delay was due to fear of offending local politicians who were concerned about the impact on tourism. By the time WHO declared an international emergency, nearly 1,000 people were dead.
The WHO is supposedly getting tough on the rapidly spreading coronavirus, labeling the pandemic-to-be a “global health emergency” and even producing a nifty 23-page “strategic response plan.” But all of the white papers and photo ops in the world cannot make up for the WHO’s sheer amount of incompetence in responding to the coronavirus and facilitating the spread of the disease. Despite being “asked” to contribute half a billion dollars each year to the global bureaucracy, U.S. taxpayers have watched as the WHO kowtows to China amid the authoritarian regime’s missteps in containing the coronavirus. The American people, and the entire world, deserve better than a corrupt cabal of bureaucrats fiddling while the world burns (coughs). As the first responder, it was up to the Chinese government to acknowledge the problem and craft a comprehensive response that would keep the virus from leaving central China. But they did no such thing and resorted to coverups and jailing brave patients who sounded the alarm on the deadly disease. One of the first physicians to sound the alarm on coronavirus was late Chinese ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who told his medical colleagues in December about cases that seemed suspiciously similar to the 2002 SARS outbreak. Instead of heeding the doctor’s warning, the Chinese government hauled Wenliang and his “conspirators” before the Secret Police and forced them to confess to rumormongering. The WHO could have tried to hold China accountable for their bungled response, but instead the organization’s director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who offered sycophantic praise for Chinese President Xi Jinping, praising the strongman for his “transparency” and “political leadership” in combatting the coronavirus. As the WHO coddled China, President Xi waited two weeks to green-light an international advance team put together by the WHO to investigate the outbreak. U.S. journalists were understandably critical of China’s lackluster response, fielding tough questions for Dr. Ghebreyesus. But the WHO’s director-general carried on praising the People’s Republic, extolling, “the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak despite the severe social and economic impact that is having on China.”
Hard-earned U.S. taxpayer dollars are flowing to a paper tiger that unblinkingly praises China’s failed response to coronavirus. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for an organization that spends $200 million per year for travel and luxurious hotels, more than the combined budget for tuberculosis, AIDS, and Malaria.
USA Savings Accounts
Tax Day is just about a month away and many folks are anxiously looking over their tax bills and contemplating their financial futures. And, they’re increasingly turning to tax-free retirement accounts to offer a respite from Uncle Sam. Even though accounts such as Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Roth 401(k)s offer tax-free growth, Americans are more and more confused and intimidated by the labyrinth of different investment plans and the withdrawal restrictions and contribution minimums that come with them. A new vehicle for investments proposed by the Trump administration, Universal Savings Accounts (USAs), could be a fresh opportunity for Americans to save tax-free and serve as a simple, user-friendly investment account. These accounts would allow workers a respite from the taxman and the flexibility of withdrawing their hard-earned dollars (potentially tax-free) whenever they need to. USAs can make Tax Day just a little better for the millions of Americans agonizing over the IRS and tax planning.
The creation of USAs can make the investment process considerably easier. Americans would contribute to these plans with after-tax income, but Uncle Sam would get only one bite of the apple. Money could grow in investment accounts for years, with cash outs available whenever individuals or families need them penalty free. Gains wouldn’t be subject to capital gains taxation, which takes a 15% chunk out of investment income for middle-class Americans. This would be an unqualified boon to millions of working Americans hamstrung by current, confusing investment plans. By spurring more Americans to invest, USAs can provide the resources to keep the U.S. economy booming and benefiting all workers. Tax season needn’t be a time of cautious complication of complicated financial instruments. The Trump administration can, and should, work with Congress to deliver a simple, low-cost investment plan for stressed, over-taxed Americans. USAs can drive a better, more prosperous USA.
Blogs:
Media:
February 27, 2020: WBFF quoted TPA in their story, “Former Mayor Pugh Arrives in Court for Sentencing, Experts Weigh In.”
February 29, 2020: Issues & Insights ran TPA Senior Fellow Jeff Stier’s op-ed, “Nothing’s ‘Impossible’ When It Comes To Innovation.”
March 2, 2020: Issues & Insights ran TPA’s op-ed, “USA Investments Can Save The American Dream For Millions Of Workers.”
March 3, 2020: The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) ran TPA Senior Fellow Chip Batimore’s op-ed,”Use tax money to bring rural Iowans internet connectivity, not to duplicate services.”
March 3, 2020: The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Surprise billing 'solution' is simply stealth socialized medicine.”
March 4, 2020: Advisory Board mentioned TPA in their Daily Briefing, “Why is it so much cheaper to treat pets than humans?”
March 5, 2020: The Washington Examiner (Washington, D.C.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Medicare for All would cost patients an arm, a leg, and $32 trillion.”
March 5, 2020: I appeared on WBOB Radio (600 AM AND 101 FM Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about the high taxpayer cost of socialism.
March 5, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about the World Health Organization and the Coronavirus.
Have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for your continued support.
Best,
David Williams
President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
1401 K Street, NW
Suite 502
Washington, D.C. xxxxxx
www.protectingtaxpayers.org
