RNC Research

40 Percent Of Americans Say The “Country Will Be Worse Off Under ObamaCare Than Better.” (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

• The Second Highest Number Since Kaiser Began Tracking The Question In February 2009. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

33 Percent Of Americans Now Say Their Family Will Be Worse Off Under ObamaCare. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

• The Highest Since ObamaCare Was Enacted Into Law. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

38 Percent Of Americans Say That People That Get Health Insurance Through Their Employer Will Be Worse Off – Only 26 Percent Responded Better Off. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

43 Percent Of Americans Continue To Hold An Unfavorable View Of ObamaCare. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

• The Highest Unfavorable Rating Since November 2012. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

35 Percent Of Americans Hold A Favorable View Of ObamaCare. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

• The Lowest Favorable Rating Since October 2011. (Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013, 1,505 A, MoE 3%, 6/4-9/13)

In 2010, Obama Promised Americans That You Can “Keep Your Plan.” OBAMA: “If you like your doctor, you’re going to be able to keep your doctor. If you like your plan, keep your plan.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 3/19/10)

As ObamaCare Continues To Be Enacted, Aetna Announced That They Will Discontinue Individual Consumer Plans In The State. “Aetna Inc. will stop selling health insurance to individual consumers in California at the end of the year, withdrawing as the federal health law is expected to reshape the market in 2014.” (Anna Wilde Matthews, “Aetna To Leave California Individual Insurance Market,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/14/13)

• 49,000 Will Have To Find Health Care Coverage Elsewhere. “Aetna said it currently has about 49,000 individual policyholders in California. In 2011, when it had substantially bigger membership, it was the fourth-biggest player in the state’s consumer market, with about 5.2% of the plans sold that year, according to a report from Citigroup Inc.” (Anna Wilde Matthews, “Aetna To Leave California Individual Insurance Market,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/14/13)

Yesterday, The Washington Post Reported That Virginia State Senator Phillip Puckett Failed To Disclose That He Had A Conflict Of Interest When He Requested An Investigation Into A Legal Dispute Over Natural Gas Royalties. “Virginia Republicans say a Democratic state senator who called for the state’s Inspector General to investigate Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II’s handling of a complex legal dispute over mineral rights may have his own potential conflict of interest.  Sen. Phillip P. Puckett (D-Russell) should have disclosed that he is an official at the bank that manages an escrow account holding nearly $28 million in disputed natural gas royalties that are at the heart of the controversy, a GOP spokesman said Thursday.” (Fredrick Kunkle, “GOP Says Democratic Senator Who Called For Probe Of Cuccinelli Has His Own Conflict,” Washington Post, 6/13/13)

Puckett Works For A Bank That Makes More Money The Longer The Dispute Goes On. “Sen. Phillip P. Puckett (D-Russell) should have disclosed that he is an official at the bank that manages an escrow account holding nearly $28 million in disputed natural gas royalties that are at the heart of the controversy, a GOP spokesman said Thursday.  J. Garren Shipley, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Virginia, also suggested that by supporting a bid by southwest Virginia landowners to create a class action in federal court over the dispute — a legal maneuver that Shipley noted was led by out-of-state attorneys — the case could drag on even longer, allowing the bank to keep the escrow money on its books.” (Fredrick Kunkle, “GOP Says Democratic Senator Who Called For Probe Of Cuccinelli Has His Own Conflict,” Washington Post, 6/13/13)

Today, Puckett Admitted That Prolonging The Dispute Benefits Him Personally. PUCKETT: “My employer First Bank and Trust, and they’re the ones who hold the escrow in trust for the Gas and Oil board and he wanted to know if that was factual and I said yes it was factual and he wanted to know if I benefited from that and certainly the bank benefits in some way and I don’t even know what that is from a standpoint of money that they might earn from that but I benefit because I’m an employee, any time the bank has increased earnings from any kind of loan or account, then it helps them pay my salary.” (Senator Phil Puckett, WMJD-FM, 06/14/13)

Puckett: “I Benefit Because I’m An Employee, Any Time The Bank Has Increased Earnings From Any Kind Of Loan Or Account, Then It Helps Them Pay My Salary.” (Senator Phil Puckett, WMJD-FM, 06/14/13)

Polling In Two Swing States Won By Obama In 2012 Now Show His Approval Rating Far Underwater 

A June 5-10 Quinnipiac Poll Of Colorado Registered Voters Shows Obama’s Approval Rating In The Swing State Is Now Negative 11 Points – 43% Approve Vs. 54% Disapprove. (Quinnipiac University Poll, 1065 RV, MoE 3%, 6/5-6/10)

Obama Won Colorado In The 2012 Presidential Election With 51.5% Of The Vote. (2012 General Election Results, Colorado Secretary of State)

Earlier This Week, The Des Moines Register Reported That 54% Of Iowans Disapprove Of His Job Performance, A Record High In The State. “Iowans dislike the work President Barack Obama is doing, a new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll shows….Seven months after Iowans rallied behind Obama to help ensure his re-election, 54 percent disapprove of the job he’s doing as president. That’s his worst rating in Iowa in his 4½ years in office.” (Jennifer Jacobs, “Iowa Poll: Scandals hurt Obama in Iowa,” Des Moines Register, 6/11/13)

• “‘That Says To Me The Scandals Are Taking A Hit,’ Said J. Ann Selzer, The Iowa Poll’s Director.” (Jennifer Jacobs, “Iowa Poll: Scandals Hurt Obama In Iowa,” Des Moines Register, 6/11/13) 

• Obama Won Iowa In The 2012 Presidential Election With 52% Of The Vote. (2012 General Election Results, Iowa Secretary of State)

Obama’s Sliding Approval Ratings Are Hurting Other Democratic Candidates

Democratic Senate Candidate Ed Markey Has Seen His Lead Shrink Considerably. “President Obama’s multiple, ongoing scandals are hurting U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey just as the president is due to fly in to rally for Markey Wednesday, with a new poll finding shaky approval for Obama has shrunk Markey’s lead over Republican Gabriel Gomez to 7 percent.” (Hillary Chabot, “Suffolk Poll: Obama Scandals Are Hurting Markey,” Boston Herald, 6/10/13)

• Suffolk Showed A Loss Of 10 Points For Markey Compared To Its May Poll Taken Before Obama’s Scandals. (Suffolk University Poll, 500 LV, MoE 4.4%, 5/4-5/7)

The Obama Administration Scandals “Are Resonating, Especially With Independents.” “The Suffolk University poll, coming only two weeks before the June 25 election, shows Markey losing his grip on independent voters, said pollster David Paleologos.  ‘Independents seem to be further away from the Obama administration,” said Paleologos, adding that the scandals “are resonating, especially with independents.’  (Hillary Chabot, “Suffolk Poll: Obama Scandals Are Hurting Markey,” Boston Herald, 6/10/13)

49 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of ObamaCare, While 43 Percent Approve. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

• 41 Percent Of Americans “Strongly” Disapprove Of ObamaCare, While 8 Percent “Strongly” Approve. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

41 Percent Of Americans Think That ObamaCare Will Be Bad For Them And Their Families, While 23 Percent Said The Law Will Make Things Better. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

• 33 Percent Of Americans Think ObamaCare Will Make Them And Their Families “A Lot Worse.” (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

48 Percent Of Americans Think That ObamaCare Will Make Their Health Care Costs More Expensive, While 15 Percent Said ObamaCare Will Make It Less Expensive. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

• 29 Percent Of Americans Think ObamaCare Will Make Their Health Care Costs  “Much More Expensive,” While 19 Percent Said “Somewhat More Expensive.” (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

34 Percent Of Americans Think ObamaCare Will Make Health Care Access “Less Available,” While Only 18 Percent Said “More Available.” (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

62 Percent Oppose ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate, While 33 Percent Favor The Mandate. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

53 Percent Of Americans Call ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate A “Bad Idea.” (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

50 Percent Of Americans Oppose Taxing Insurance Companies To Pay For Expanded Health Care Coverage While Only 36 Percent Favored The Tax. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

50 Percent Of Americans Oppose ObamaCare’s Medical Device Tax, While 38 Percent Favored The Tax. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

• 35 Percent Strongly Oppose The Medical Device Tax. (The Morning Consult, 1,000 LV, MoE 3%, 5/22-26/13)

The Cost Of Individual Health Care Coverage For Georgia Residents May Rise 45 Percent For A Middle-Aged Family Of Five. “If the example one Georgia insurance company offered is true of the others, coverage under the individual plans to be offered in October under federal health reform will be about 45 percent higher than what a middle-aged family of five could get today.” (Walter C. Jones, “Insurance Commissioner Is Reviewing Health Care Reform Rates,” Rome News-Tribune, 6/11/13)

• Another Insurer’s Proposed Rate For A Family Of Five With A Smoker Would Be 31.5 Percent Higher Or $505 More Costly Than A Plan Currently Offered. “One company, Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, included an example of the cheapest option under the federally prescribed plans. For the middle-aged couple living in Albany and their three children – including one who smokes – the monthly premium is $1,605, which is higher than what the company offers now for the same family, at $1,100, according to Georgia Health Coverage Inc., an independent insurance agency in Newnan.” (Walter C. Jones, “Insurance Commissioner Is Reviewing Health Care Reform Rates,” Rome News-Tribune, 6/11/13)

Bill Custer, Georgia State University’s Center For Health Service Research Director: “A Younger Person May Actually Pay More” For Their Health Care. “‘They’re not necessarily cheaper. It depends on who you are,” he said. ‘A younger person may actually pay more than they are now, and an older person will pay less.’” (Walter C. Jones, “Insurance Commissioner Is Reviewing Health Care Reform Rates,” Rome News-Tribune, 6/11/13)

To Comply With ObamaCare, Indiana Schools Are Having To Cut Employee Hours. “Schools across Indiana are cutting back the hours of teacher assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other aides to avoid having to offer them health insurance under the federal health care employer mandate that begins next year.” (Maureen Groppe, “Indiana Schools’ Dilemma: Offer Health Insurance To Part-Timers Or Cut Hours,” Courier-Journal, 6/8/13)

• Lafayette School Corporation Has Had To Cut The Hours Of 150 Non-Certified Employees. “‘We cannot go out and raise the price of our product to assist us covering this. We would have to go the taxpayers and ask for some type of increase and I just don’t see that happening,’ said Les Huddle, superintendent of the Lafayette School Corporation, where more than 150 of the schools approximately 600 non-certified employees have had their hours reduced to meet the federal definition of part-time.” (Maureen Groppe, “Indiana Schools’ Dilemma: Offer Health Insurance To Part-Timers Or Cut Hours,” Courier-Journal, 6/8/13)
• The Shelbyville Central School System Is Cutting Hours For Teacher Aides, Substitutes, Bus Drivers And Coaches. “The Shelbyville Central School System likewise is cutting back the hours of about 100 instructional aides as well as hours for some substitute teachers, bus drivers and coaches.” (Maureen Groppe, “Indiana Schools’ Dilemma: Offer Health Insurance To Part-Timers Or Cut Hours,” Courier-Journal, 6/8/13)

While Obama Touts ObamaCare Today, The Law’s New Requirements Are Causing Health Care Premiums In Ohio To “Jump Dramatically.” “President Barack Obama is heading to California to tout premiums for new health plans that will be sold on the state’s insurance exchange. Ahead of that visit, his officials are getting early incoming fire from officials in Ohio, who say that premiums for their state have jumped dramatically because of the health-care law’s new requirements for richer benefits.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Ohio Complains Of Higher Health-Insurance Premiums,” The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire, 6/6/13)

The Ohio Department Of Insurance Has Found That Insurers Participating In The ObamaCare Exchanges  Are Projecting Higher Premiums. “A state analysis finds that insurers planning to participate in the new health insurance exchange are projecting their costs to cover Ohioans to be significantly higher. Ohio’s Department of Insurance released preliminary details Thursday of the health plans seeking state approval to operate in the online marketplace created by the federal health care law.” (Ann Sanner, “State: Health Insurance Costs To Rise For Ohioans,” The Associated Press, 6/7/13)

• The Ohio Regulators Found That A Basic Plan Costing Just $29.62 A Month Will Increase To $198.64 A Month On The ObamaCare Exchanges. “The most basic plan that a 25-year-old male could buy in 2013 from one unnamed company cost $29.62 a month, and a 25-year-old female would pay $40.87 for the same plan, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance. That company is proposing to charge $198.64 for its most basic offering for 25-year-olds regardless of sex in 2014, the department said.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Ohio Complains Of Higher Health-Insurance Premiums,” The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire, 6/6/13)