NC-02: “Saving Jobs” via federal mandate
Next time you are commiserating over the high cost of medical care, be sure to think of Renee Ellmers. The 2nd district congresswoman is celebrating her efforts to help kill a bill that would have removed a costly federal mandate from the pharmaceutical industry — all in the name of “saving” some jobs in Lee County.
The House had been considering a bill to kill a mandate requiring those paper inserts that go along with each and every one of your prescriptions when you pick them up at the pharmacy. Somebody has to pay to print those things up. Usually its the drug companies or the pharmacies. And the cost gets passed along — of course — to the consumer.
The Challenge Printing Company of Sanford’s business model is heavily dependent on printing those paper inserts that accompany prescriptions. The company employs 200 people right in the heart of Ellmers’ district. Company leaders suggested publicly that, if the legislation passed, they would have to close their Sanford plant and layoff all of those employees. Local politicos hollered and moaned about the bill, but at least one local leader exercised some common sense:
[…] Lee County Economic Development Corporation Interim Director Crystal Morphis said she recently met with Challenge Printing officials and urged EDC Board members to contact their federal representatives.
“The EDC did meet with Challenge Printing about House Bill 1919 and how it would effect their company,” she said. “[If the bill passes] it will negatively impact their business significantly. The EDC asked its members to reach out to the federal delegation to show support for Challenge Printing.”
Several members asked questions about the proposed federal law, she said, and at least one person said they felt the legislation was a good bill.
Lee County Commissioner Jim Womack said he’s consulted with pharmacists, medical care providers and at least one federal legislator who all said it was a good bill that eliminated unnecessary federal regulation.
“We support all of our local businesses,” Womack said, “and we want to see them thrive.”
However, he said, he couldn’t advocate against a bill if it eliminates unnecessary federal regulation and bureaucracy.
“As much as I want to see Challenge Printing survive and do well, I am not against the principle of ending unnecessary federal regulations,” Womack said. […]
Crony capitalism. Fascism. Socialism. Those are some of the terms that come to my mind when I think of this kind of arrangement. We’ve got a company whose very survival depends on a federal mandate. The government is making people purchase Challenge’s product. That requirement is adding cost to a system that is already overwhelmed with regulation and costs. We had a solution here that could have shaved some cost from health care delivery.
It’s not government’s job to “create” busy work or employment. Plain and simple. THIS development in Lee County is nothing to celebrate.
She’s worried about those printing jobs in Lee County, but not so much about the exponentially higher job killing impacts of ObamaCare, Dodd-Frank, and the most recent farm bill. It’s another example of her pandering to certain groups while otherwise voting with the progressives or studiously avoiding any meaningful action in “controversial” cases.
I’m weary of this woman’s failure to represent us properly and to do the right thing, all the while telling us that “we just don’t understand…..”
There are also a heck of a lot more citizens, black and white, who have had their jobs taken by illegal aliens, such as in the construction industry. Yet, Senora Ellmers is a big amigo of the illegal aliens and wants to give them amnesty so they can keep those jobs they have snaked from Americans.
Ellmers needs to go!
Ellmers apparently hasn’t figured out that a lot of Republicans would rather withhold their vote or vote for the Dem than see her get another term.
Renee went to DC as a one-issue candidate. Since selling out on that issue, she is fast becoming a much sought after “expert” on many other issues. Can’t help but wonder who is “schooling” her, as her views get further detached from those of her supposed “conservatism” ? ?
It appears as though “Frank Roche For Congress” is a very good alternative!