George Radanovich RSS Articles

Democrats Use Doctors as Political Pawns in Passing Irresponsible ‘Doc Fix’

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the ‘doc fix’ legislation that will add over $200 billion to the federal deficit.

“Today, Speaker Pelosi used doctors as political pawns to add over $200 billion dollars to our federal deficit. The need to permanently remove the Sustainable Growth Rate that makes it difficult for our hardworking doctors to provide care to the elderly should not be used for political posturing—we need to work together to fix the SGR problem once and for all.

“While this Democrat majority continues to pile debt onto the back of our children and grandchildren, Republicans have a better way to address the current problems with the Medicare payment rate. I hope doctors around the country will see the bill that passed today for what it is: reckless government spending fueled by political gamesmanship.”

NOTE: Following is a summary of Republicans’ better solution to reimburse physicians fairly and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the health care they need in a fiscally responsible way:

• Provide physicians with a two percent Medicare payment rate increase in each of the next four years. This would erase the scheduled 21 percent cut in 2010 and the roughly five percent cuts in 2011, 2012, and 2013. The remaining savings ($26.3 billion) generated by the reforms included in the GOP alternative will be used to address future cuts. At a cost of $210 billion, the Democrats’ bill would provide for a 0.8 percent payment rate increase in 2010, but physicians could see their rates cut as early as 2011.

• Avert the scheduled Medicare physician cuts in a fiscally responsible way by including reforms that would fully offset the cost of the bill. These reforms would:

Implement comprehensive, meaningful medical liability reform, ending junk lawsuits and costly defensive medicine by protecting doctors from overzealous trial lawyers who are looking to get rich quick (savings of $54 billion; H.R. 1086 introduced by Rep. Gingrey);

Use existing resources available to the HHS Secretary contained in the “Medicare Improvement Fund,” which is designed to improve physician payments (savings of $22.3 billion);

Create an approval process at FDA for biosimilar products with appropriate patent and market protections that continue to encourage innovation, providing Americans with access to affordable biologics and reducing the cost of health insurance (savings of $5.7 billion; nearly identical to H.R. 1548 introduced by Reps. Eshoo and Barton); and

Enact health insurance administrative simplification policies, eliminating inefficiencies that unnecessarily drive up health care costs, by creating greater standardization in health care forms and transactions (savings of $19 billion.)

Unlike the Democrats’ bill, the GOP proposal would not increase the deficit.

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$5,740,757 in 9 Phantom CA Congressional Districts = 24.2 Phantom Jobs

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today welcomed the addition of nine new, phantom California Congressional Districts created by President Obama’s Recovery.gov. Shockingly, of the nine new districts (one of which is without a number), the Obama Administration has spent over $5.7 million to create 24.2 fake jobs—in the “64th Congressional District”, the Democrats’ failed Stimulus spent $1,350,000 to create one tenth of a job.

“I am pleased to welcome the nine new congressional districts to the California delegation,” said Radanovich. “I can only hope that President Obama recognized the disparity between Democrat and Republican districts in California and had the foresight to designate the new districts as ‘Republican.’”

“All kidding aside, this is exactly the kind of waste, fraud and abuse that my Republican colleagues and I warned about before voting against the Stimulus,” said Radanovich. “You can guarantee that this same irresponsible government spending will happen with a new government run healthcare plan or a cap and tax energy scheme.

“So far, the Democrats’ failed $787 ‘stimulus’ has resulted in 10.2 percent unemployment and over 3 million jobs lost,” said Radanovich.

A state-by-state breakdown of the phony congressional districts can be found here.

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Radanovich Rebukes Democrats’ Massive Generational Theft in form of Government Run Healthcare

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement after he voted against the Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare. The bill passed the House of Representatives 220-215.

“The facts are striking—Speaker Pelosi’s bill will cost up to 5.5 million American jobs, cut Medicare by 500 billion dollars, increase taxes by 750 billion dollars and comes with a frightening price tag of 1.3 trillion dollars all to give the government responsibility that it has already shown it cannot handle. It is utterly irresponsible to inflict this type of pain on small businesses and the middle class in a healthy economy—to do so in our current economy requires an arrogant disregard for the good of the American people.

“Following in the footsteps of another Democrat bent on cradle to grave government intrusion, the bill that I voted against today is the single biggest expansion of government since FDR’s New Deal. The Democrats government takeover of healthcare is nothing more than endless generational theft in the form of a new entitlement program that will actually harm healthcare in America.

“For at least 90 million of those currently enjoying their private health insurance, the passage of this bill means they will be forced into the government run ‘public option’—a plan that inherently demands rationing of care by denying patients outright, or pricing them out of healthcare they need.

“There is no question that America’s healthcare system is overdue for reform but the reform being chosen for the nation by President Obama and Nancy Pelosi is not what the people want or need. There are ways to increase access to care and lower cost without overrunning the private market with government programs and mandates. I support supplying states with high risk pools, real medical liability reform, allowing the interstate purchase of health insurance, allowing businesses to pool together to negotiate better rates, and a number of other common sense reform measures.

“We are standing on the precipice of a major shift in this country’s history. In less than a year, the Obama Administration, working with the Pelosi Congress, has recklessly spent taxpayer funds to expand government to a level never before seen in history. The leadership of this Congress has chosen to ignore the will of the people and say to America, “You are wrong. We know what’s best for you.”

“There is no question in my mind that history will look back on this day as a blight on our representative Democracy.”

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Radanovich Applauds State Legislature for Passage of Water Bond

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement on the historic $11.14 billion water bond and legislative package passed by the California state legislature early yesterday morning.

“I commend the work of the legislature, particularly Senator Cogdill and Assemblyman Villines, as well as Governor Schwarzenegger for their tireless efforts on this historic and vital water bond. Our state’s economy is absolutely dependent on a certain and steady supply of water to San Joaquin Valley farmers. Agriculture is one of the state’s largest economic engines, an engine that runs on water and is currently sputtering due to an aging water infrastructure and overzealous environmental regulations.

“The water bond that the state legislature passed is an enormous step in the right direction when it comes to providing water certainty to San Joaquin Valley growers and farmers. While I would have liked to have seen explicit language for Temperance Flat Dam included in the three billion dollar surface storage provision, any new surface storage is a positive development.

“One of the most encouraging aspects of the measure is the long term ability to build a conveyance system around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that will help ease many of the pumping restrictions currently holding water from the Valley. I have been saying for years that the combination needed to dramatically improve California’s water delivery and infrastructure is Temperance Flat Dam, a peripheral canal around the Delta, and Sites Reservoir—it seems as if Sacramento has finally woken up and started moving in that direction.

“The last few years have been extremely difficult for families in the Valley. Environmental restrictions on water, coupled with low rainfall and a struggling state and national economy have created a perfect storm that has brought devastating unemployment levels to our communities. While this water bond provides hope for long term solutions to California’s broken water system, we must keep fighting for the short term fixes to get water back to our Valley.”

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Radanovich Teams up on Bill to Demand Comprehensive Re-consultation of all Delta Stressors

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich, joined Reps. Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and Jim Costa (D-Fresno) to introduced bipartisan legislation today that calls for a review of the federal biological opinions that have significantly reduced the amount of water flowing to San Joaquin Valley farmers.

Specifically, the legislation calls for a “re-consultation” of the biological opinions on Salmon and Delta Smelt that have resulted in curtailments of water deliveries to the Valley. The biological opinions place unfair blame on Valley farmers and the pumps that deliver their water as the cause for declines in the Delta fish populations. The Congressmen’s legislation would require a review of all factors affecting the survival of endangered species in the Delta, rather than simply focusing on cutting back water deliveries to the Valley.

“For almost two years, we have seen environmentalists use questionable science and a tunnel-vision approach to understanding the Delta ecosystem in an effort to curtail San Joaquin Valley agriculture production — something this legislation seeks to fix.” said Congressman Radanovich. “The harsh realities of prioritizing the rights of fish above the rights of people have brought farmers to the brink of extinction during an already difficult economic environment. I’m proud to join my colleagues in an effort to try to correct some of the many fallacies promoted by the current biological opinions that are dramatically reducing Delta water deliveries to hard working Valley families.”

“I have consistently maintained that the pumps are not the problem. It is both unfair and illogical to blame our farmers for all of the environmental problems facing the Delta ecosystem,” said Congressman Cardoza. “The simple fact is that there are likely multiple factors contributing to these species’ decline, including pollution and invasive species of predatory fish. It is in the best interest of all of California that we determine what these causes are and establish a comprehensive approach to addressing these issues.”

Under the legislation, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation would be required to conduct an analysis of the Delta that would identify and analyze waste water discharges, toxic urban runoff, industrial discharge, major power plant water diversions and discharges, private water diversions and discharges, and invasive species.

The legislation further requires that each of the identified factors be quantified and ranked in order of its impact on the survival of the protected Delta fish.

“The decision to focus solely on the export of water to the San Joaquin Valley was a wrong and shortsighted decision, and it has devastated the livelihoods of thousands of my constituents,” Congressman Costa said. “For the last 18 months, I have repeatedly said that there is not one single cause for the decline in overall Delta health or the decline in the fisheries. It was a costly failure with no definable benefit toward improving species recovery. This legislation will ensure all environmental factors are taken into account when dealing with species recovery, and not simply put the blame on my farmers, farm workers and the farm communities in our Valley.”

“Time and time again our Valley farmers have been forced to bear the brunt of environmental policies and regulations,” said Congressman Cardoza. “The fact is they are responsible for feeding our nation and we have a responsibility to work with them, not against them. This legislation requires the federal government to finally take a realistic and complete look at the entire Delta ecosystem and provide a legitimate means of addressing these issues. Valley growers and farmers have suffered long enough.”

To read the complete text of the bill click here.

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After Gov Waives Environmental Restrictions for NFL Stadium, Radanovich Seeks Parity for Farmers

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today, after learning that Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill to exempt a new NFL stadium from California environmental regulations, sent the following letter to the Governor requesting that he ask President Obama to convene the God Squad and exempt the Delta Pumps from the Endangered Species Act. A copy of the signed letter is attached.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

As you are well aware, the San Joaquin Valley is currently suffering from a man-made drought, brought on by overzealous environmental regulations that place the rights of fish above the rights of people. Agriculture production makes the Valley one of California’s largest economic contributors—literally feeding our economy as we feed the rest of the nation with our bountiful produce. However, due to Endangered Species Act restrictions on the Delta Pumps, the economic engine that is California agriculture is about to come to a grinding halt. This does not have to be the case.

As my colleagues and I have asked you to do many times, you, as governor of California can request the convening of the God Squad—a cadre of federal officials who have the authority to waive the Endangered Species Act if the restrictions are found to cause excessive destruction to jobs and the economy. The protection of the Delta Smelt—the three inch minnow that is responsible for the Delta Pumps being shut down during planting season and thereby killing California agriculture—certainly meets this qualification. The silence of your response has been deafening.

Today you signed a bill exempting the construction of a new National Football League (NFL) stadium in Los Angeles from California environmental regulations. While I support your efforts to override environmental regulations when it is necessary to do so, I do not understand why you have been unwilling to ask the President to do the same for our farmers. I am concerned that this sends the message that environmental protections are less important than football but more important than 40,000 jobless farmers and farm workers, towns with unemployment rates of 40 percent, rising crime rates and mile long food lines that would be ironic if they weren’t so depressing.

In your own words regarding the signing of this bill:

“This is the best kind of action state government can create: action that cuts red tape, generates jobs, is environmentally friendly and brings a continued economic boost to California.”

I agree with you, cutting environmental red tape will generate jobs and boost our economy in the case of the NFL stadium. That same red tape is preventing our farmers from planting crops this year, which will result in the loss of $2 billion of income—apparently enough to buy at least two football stadiums.

Mr. Governor, if waiving environmental regulations is good enough for the NFL fans of Los Angeles, why is it not good enough for the hard working farmers of the San Joaquin Valley?

Again, on behalf of my constituents whose livelihoods depend on water, and who want nothing more than to farm their land and feed our country, I urgently request that you ask President Obama to convene the God Squad for the purposes of examining the Endangered Species Acts restrictions as it applies to the Delta Smelt. We are eagerly awaiting your response.

Sincerely,
/s/
GEORGE RADANOVICH
Member of Congress

Valley water amendments fail

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

San Joaquin Valley lawmakers failed Wednesday in efforts to turn a San Francisco Bay Area water recycling bill toward the Valley's advantage.

Following heated debate and some political gamesmanship, a key House committee blocked Valley representatives from trying to add irrigation delivery provisions to the Bay Area bill.

The unadorned bill comes to the House floor today.

"If we're going to have a bill that affects the Bay Area, we ought to have a bill that helps the rest of the state, too," said Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia.

Nunes and Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, brought five separate amendments designed to increase irrigation deliveries or, at the least, send a political signal about the Valley's water shortages.

The proposals included suspending the Endangered Species Act and speeding construction of certain water-delivery projects.

The House Rules Committee blocked the proposed water-delivery amendments by a series of largely party-line 6-5 votes. Rep. Dennis Cardoza of Merced was the only Democrat to support bringing the amendments to the floor for a vote of the entire House.

The Rules Committee had previously blocked most other San Joaquin Valley water-delivery proposals, primarily written by Nunes.

Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, testified that the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act was an uncontroversial measure that enjoyed widespread state support and deserved routine approval without being burdened by unrelated Valley water provisions.

The legislation authorizes federal funding for water recycling work in Contra Costa County and the cities of Petaluma, Redwood City and Palo Alto.

On Sept. 30, Miller's bill came up for a vote under rules designed for noncontroversial measures. Led by Nunes, House Republicans blocked it from securing the two-thirds vote necessary.

Democrats Deny Radanovich Amendments to Bring Water to San Joaquin Valley

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today offered two amendments to H.R. 2442, the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009, which altered the bill to ensure that it would have brought vital water to the San Joaquin Valley. H.R. 2442, authored by Rep. George Miller (D-CA), spends $38 million on water projects for the San Francisco Bay area while the San Joaquin Valley is left dry.

“H.R. 2442 is nothing more than another water giveaway to bay area environmentalists,” said Radanovich. “My two amendments would have guaranteed water flows to the San Joaquin Valley for our agriculture production that feeds the entire nation; but yet again, radical environmentalist out to destroy California agriculture prevented my amendments from even being allowed a vote on the House floor.”

The first Radanovich amendment would have inserted a provision that prevented any of the new water project authorizations in H.R. 2442 from being implemented until the Secretary of the Interior certifies that the Two Gates project in the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta is complete.

The second amendment would have inserted Rep. Radanovich’s previously introduced legislation, H.R. 856, the California Drought Alleviation Act (CDAA), to the end of H.R. 2442. The CDAA would temporarily suspend the Endangered Species Act restrictions on the Delta Pumps during times of drought emergency until such conditions are alleviated.

Both amendments were defeated in the House Committee on Rules.

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Radanovich hears residents' take on health-care reform

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

With both houses of Congress moving forward on health-care reform legislation, Rep. George Radanovich held a town hall meeting Monday afternoon in this west-side community to hear from constituents on the controversial issue.

In many ways, it was a kinder, gentler version of a town hall meeting held in August by Radanovich's congressional colleague, Visalia's Devin Nunes.

A few of the 100 or so attendees had questions, but most only had opinions.

Some even had written talking points, and sometimes the comments varied far from health reform -- to issues such as war or the role of government in people's lives.

Radanovich, a Mariposa Republican, didn't cut off anybody. The only sign of rancor was an occasional groan or a short barb -- mostly from conservatives in the crowd reacting to a comment in support of a government-run health-care option. The only commonality between the political left and right concerned the time and place for the meeting -- a Kerman warehouse on a Monday afternoon.

Fresno resident Camille Russell asked Radanovich to schedule another meeting -- in Fresno, and in the evening -- so more people could attend.

"Got the message about the time of day," Radanovich said at the end. His staffers said a Fresno town hall is in the works.

Still, some asked: Why now?

"It is kind of odd, because the big town hall meetings happened during the [August congressional] recess, when they were supposed to be happening," said Thomas Holyoke, an assistant professor of political science at California State University, Fresno.

Nunes' sometimes-raucous town hall was in mid-August, when angst was peaking and Republicans seemed to seize control of the debate.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is George Radanovich seems to be a couple of months behind everybody else," Holyoke said.

Though Holyoke questioned Radanovich's timing, he said having a meeting now might be more appropriate, because the legislation now being debated in Congress is more developed than what was on the table in August. After the meeting, Radanovich echoed that.

"Nothing is really settled yet," he said in an interview. The legislation "is changing all the time."

It was clear from Radanovich's opening statement that he opposed the legislation -- though he did say reform is needed.

A majority of those present Monday agreed with him.

"I don't think we should have a right to health care," said Fresno resident Jim Verner, who said he lived in the United Kingdom, where government programs "destroyed a sense of responsibility" in that country.

But not all felt that way.

Fresno resident Hank Dwyer said a government-run system is the best -- and would keep small businesses alive because they wouldn't lose quality workers to larger companies that offer health benefits.

In the end, the comments offered to Radanovich are likely moot, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.

"GOP House members have no influence on this bill," he said. "It's a 100% Democratic piece of legislation. The town halls were mainly Kabuki theater, and I'm not sure they did a lot of good, or swayed many members one way or the other. This will be a party vote in the end."

MEDIA ADVISORY: Rep. Radanovich Announces Healthcare Town Hall Meeting

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today announced that he will hold a healthcare town hall meeting for constituents of California’s 19th Congressional District in Kerman, CA.

Who: Congressman George Radanovich

What: Healthcare town hall meeting for constituents of California's 19th Congressional District.

Where: C-MEC Building
1401 S. Madera Ave.
Kerman, CA 93630

When: Monday, October 12, 2009
Doors open @ 3:00pm PST
Event @ 3:30-5:00pm PST

The purpose of the town hall meeting is to give Rep. Radanovich’s constituents an opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts about the current healthcare reform debate taking place in Congress. Rep. Radanovich will provide a brief outline of the reform proposals, share his ideas for responsible healthcare reform and answer constituent questions.

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