Nov 25, 2019
Happy early Thanksgiving from The Heritage Foundation! Even with the rush of the holiday season rapidly approaching, we are still fighting to save health care in America. In our new report, Heritage experts estimate what would happen if “Medicare for All” was made the law of the land—and the consequences are severe. Read the findings of the report to understand why a single-payer system will leave Americans worse off. Also in today’s Agenda, we share some good news about our recently launched Feulner Institute, which is already hosting programs to train new community leaders. Lastly, with Congress having extended its budget deadline with yet another continuing resolution, Heritage policy analyst Justin Bogie explains why lawmakers shouldn’t get paid until it does its job.
Heritage Experts Show How ‘Medicare for All’ Would Harm Americans <[link removed]>
The Heritage Foundation has
released a new report in which health care policy expert Edmund Haislmaier and quantitative analyst Jamie Hall demonstrate that a single-payer health care system would leave most households financially worse off. “After accounting for both the tax increases and the reductions in private spending for health insurance and medical care, we find that average annual household disposable income would decline by $5,671 (or 11 percent) under a new government-run health care program. Among households with employer-sponsored health benefits, 87.2 percent would be worse off financially under a new government-run health care program, and their annual disposable income would be $10,554 lower, on average,” Haislmaier and Hall write. Learn more about how Medicare for All would affect you <[link removed]>.
Community Leaders Praise Heritage’s Citizenship Project <[link removed]>
Heritage’s Edwin J. Feulner Institute recently hosted its inaugural Citizenship Project, a training program designed to cultivate local leaders. The Citizenship Project aims to counter the attack on America’s founding principles by the media and school systems. More than 20 community leaders from eight different states attended, and gave glowing reviews. “You have been a true example of what our country must be like and, as always, it is because of our fearless leader, Mrs. Kay Coles James, who sets the example and makes her words become reality.” Read more about the success of the Citizenship Project. <[link removed]>
As Congress Procrastinates, Heritage Supports Reform to Budget Process <[link removed]>
Congress passed a
short-term spending bill Thursday to fund the government and prevent a shutdown for at least the next few weeks. But all the bill really accomplishes is to kick the can down the road yet again. What Congress should do instead, according to Justin Bogie, a senior policy analyst in Heritage's Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, is fix two major aspects of our broken budgetary process with the Budget Process Enhancement Act. The bill would first remove from the Congressional Budget Office’s baseline the assumption that federal programs grow at the rate of inflation. Second, it would institute a “no budget, no pay” policy that would mandate that lawmakers would receive no pay until they pass a budget resolution if they miss the April 15 deadline. “Now is the time for Congress to implement reforms to reduce spending and create a better functioning budget process. The ideas represented in the Budget Process Enhancement Act are a welcome first step,” writes Bogie. Keep reading Bogie’s commentary on how to fix our broken budgetary process <[link removed]>.
Make a Gift to Heritage. Receive Income. Save America. <[link removed]>
Americans who are concerned about our government’s wasteful and corrupt spending have a compelling reason to keep their tax dollars from going to Washington. They want to stop the liberal assault on America, not contribute to it with their hard-earned savings. A Charitable Gift Annuity with The Heritage Foundation can provide you or a loved one fixed income for life in addition to significant tax savings. Hundreds of Heritage members are currently enjoying the income and tax benefits of a Charitable Gift Annuity with Heritage, and they have the satisfaction of knowing their gift’s remaining principal will be used to keep America strong, free, and prosperous. With a few simple steps, you too can leave a legacy of freedom for future generations. Click here, and let us show you how <[link removed]>.
HAPPENING AT HERITAGE
National Journal is celebrating its 50th year and just unveiled the NJ50 list—“honoring 50 individuals who are driving positive impact and conversation in Washington through their work.” Heritage President Kay Coles James is recognized on the list of distinguished leaders. She tells National Journal that her goal is to “take our message to places where we haven’t been before and invite people in.” Read the full profile <[link removed]>.
Marie Fishpaw, director of domestic policy studies at Heritage, was named one of Business Insider’s health care “power players.” The list features “people making and shaping health care legislation and regulation,” and includes doctors, lawyers, CEOs, and policy experts. Of Fishpaw, Business Insider writes, “She's helped conservatives craft health care reforms with the objective of lowering healthcare costs and increasing choices.” Read more <[link removed]>.
HERITAGE EVENTS
Confederate memorials toppled, Columbus statues attacked with red paint. They started with slave-owning Confederate generals, but they’re not stopping there. Heritage recently hosted an event to discuss the war on history with Jarrett Stepman, contributor to The Daily Signal and host of "The Right Side of History" podcast. Watch the event <[link removed]>.
Does Christianity have a future in America? Ross Douthat, a columnist for the New York Times, recently discussed the various worldviews currently competing to claim the religious center, and sketched out scenarios for our religious future. Watch the event <[link removed]>.
HERITAGE PODCASTS
This week on “Heritage Explains,” Tommy Binion, Heritage’s vice president of government relations, explains a new report that breaks down exactly how much a government-run health care system would cost Americans. Listen to the podcast <[link removed]>.
On “Millennial Myths,” host Tiffany Roberts, talks to Joel Griffith, a research fellow in Heritage’s Roe Institute for Economic Freedom, about why the cost of rent is so high. Listen to the podcast <[link removed]>.
On “SCOTUS 101,” Heritage legal expert and host Elizabeth Slattery discusses the House subpoena of President Trump’s tax returns. Listen to the podcast <[link removed]>.
HERITAGE IN THE NEWS
Kay Coles James, president of the The Heritage Foundation, has advice on how to talk with liberals at the Thanksgiving dinner table. “The mix of political views at holiday gatherings can create some tense moments. However, there’s no need to dread conflict during dinner. In fact, a conversation handled the right way may actually show your family that they have more in common than they think,” writes James. Read more of her advice for your Thanksgiving gathering <[link removed]>.
Here are the highlights from interviews on Fox Business, Fox News, Yahoo Finance and more featuring Heritage experts. This week, they touched on hot topics like impeachment, Medicare for All, crony capitalism, Hong Kong and more. Watch the video <[link removed]>.
POLICY PICTURE
Check out more charts and graphics <[link removed]> that illustrate how Medicare for All would make most families poorer.

Would you be willing to give up more of your paycheck for government-run health care? Email us at [email protected] <[link removed]>.

-