Wednesday, July 11, 2012

IPAB, Obamacare's Super-Legislature | Michael F. Cannon and Diane Cohen | Cato Institute: Commentary

IPAB, Obamacare's Super-Legislature | Michael F. Cannon and Diane Cohen | Cato Institute: Commentary: "[ Independent Payment Advisory Boarb] consists of up to 15 unelected government "experts." Its stated purpose is to restrain Medicare spending. If projected spending exceeds certain targets, Obamacare requires IPAB to issue "legislative proposals" to reduce future spending. Those proposals could include drastic cuts that jeopardize seniors' access to care, leading some critics to label IPAB a "death panel.""

"That makes IPAB more than an advisory board. It's a super-legislature whose members are more powerful than members of Congress."

"Under Obamacare, after 2017 Congress could repeal Medicare, but not the board it created to run Medicare. Congress and the states could repeal the Bill of Rights — but not IPAB."

"if Congress fails to repeal IPAB in 2017, the secretary must implement IPAB's edicts even if Congress votes to block them."

"Fortunately, one Congress cannot bind future Congresses by statute."

Ky. woman fights porn companies' anti-piracy suits | Fox News

Ky. woman fights porn companies' anti-piracy suits | Fox News: ""It is no more likely that the subscriber to an IP address carried out a particular computer function — here the purported illegal downloading of a single pornographic film — than to say an individual who pays the telephone bill made a specific telephone call.""