House of Representatives
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Dennis Kucinich
U.S. House: Representative
Democratic
Next Election Year: 2010
Education:
MA, Speech Communications, Case Western Reserve University, 1974
BA, Speech Communications, Case Western Reserve University, 1973
Profession:
Consultant, Publicly Owned Electric Systems, 1979-present
President, Marketing and Communications Firm, 1985-1995
Instructor, Communications and Political Science, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University, 1991-1994
Professor, Political Science, Case Western Reserve University, 1982-1992
Communications Entrepreneur, Software and Public Relations, 1982-1992
Clerk of Courts, Cleveland Municipal Court, 1976-1977
Sportswriter
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(2009) HR 3961 Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO
Outcome: Bill Passed (243/183)
Summary: -Updates the single conversion factor for 2010 to equal 1.2 percent, equal to the percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) (Sec. 2).
-Rebases the Sustainable Growth Rate for 2011 and later years by making 2009 allowed expenditures equal to the amount of actual expenditures for physician's services for 2009 and by using 2009 (or, if later, the first day of the fifth year before the year involved) for future update adjustments (Sec. 2).
-Separates physician services into two general general categories, (1) evaluation, management, and preventive services and (2) all other services, and applies separate conversion factors for each service category (Sec. 2).
-Reinstates the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) budget rule, a rule that applies to bills or joint resolutions that affect direct spending or revenue relative to the baseline and that requires such bills to be budget-neutral (Sec. 102, 103).
-Requires PAYGO legislation to make reference to the bill's estimated budgetary effects, as shall be provided by the Congressional Budget Office, before it is voted on (Sec. 104).
-Requires the Office of Management and Budget to maintain and make public on every piece of PAYGO legislation two sets of scorecards, which shall measure the budgetary effects of such legislation over 5 years and over 10 years (Sec. 104).
-Requires the Office of Management and Budget at the end of every Congressional session to publish and make public a PAYGO report, which shall include the following (Sec. 105):-Current PAYGO scorecards on all PAYGO legislation;
-Any current policy adjustments;
-Information about any emergency legislation;
-Sequestration orders that show how direct spending will be adjusted to offset any costs shown on PAYGO scorecards; and
-Other data that would "enhance public understanding" of the above items. -Requires the Office of Management and Budget to calculate the uniform percentage of funds that are to be seized in order to balance spending, and specifies that any uniform percentage exceeding 4 percent shall result in Medicare spending reductions of 4 percent, as well as spending reductions in other nonexempt direct spending programs (Sec. 106).
-Resolves that unique PAYGO scoring rules will apply to one of the four budget areas (Sec. 107):-Legislation that amends or supersedes Medicare physician fee schedules;
-Legislation that amends portions of the United States Tax Code governing estate and gift taxes;
-Legislation that affects the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT); and
-Legislation affecting certain provisions of the Economic Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 or the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, as well as certain provisions of later statutes amending the aforementioned Acts. -Lists several other federal programs and activities that would be exempt from payment reductions, including Social Security Benefits and Tier I Railroad Retirement Benefits, Veterans Programs, and Refundable Income Tax Credits (Sec. 111). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 6331 Medicare Bill
Outcome: Veto Override Passed (383/41)
Summary: -Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102).
-Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103).
-Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111).
-Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113).
-Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individual’s income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116).
-Allocates $7.5 million in federal funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs based on the number of eligible individuals and the number of rural beneficiaries to be used for Medicare and Medicaid services and to implement outreach programs to enroll eligible low-income individuals(Sec. 119).
-Authorizes $210 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to states to increase mental health and other health services to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas (Sec. 121).
-Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs for increasing health care access and quality in rural areas (Sec. 123).
-Extends payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients at a higher rate than would otherwise be used until 2010 (Sec. 131).
-Delays the beginning of competitive acquisition programs for durable medical supplies until 2011(Sec. 154).
-Extends the deadline for Medicare coverage of ambulance services until 2010 (Sec. 146).
-Establishes the Medicare Improvement Fund to make improvements to Medicare fee-for-service programs and authorizes $19.9 billion during fiscal years 2014 through 2017 (Sec. 188). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 6331 Medicare Bill
Outcome: Bill Passed (355/59)
Summary: -Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102).
-Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103).
-Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111).
-Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113).
-Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individuals income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116).
-Allocates $7.5 million in federal funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs based on the number of eligible individuals and the number of rural beneficiaries to be used for Medicare and Medicaid services and to implement outreach programs to enroll eligible low-income individuals(Sec. 119).
-Authorizes $210 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to states to increase mental health and other health services to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas (Sec. 121).
-Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs for increasing health care access and quality in rural areas (Sec. 123).
-Extends payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients at a higher rate than would otherwise be used until 2010 (Sec. 131).
-Delays the beginning of competitive acquisition programs for durable medical supplies until 2011(Sec. 154).
-Extends the deadline for Medicare coverage of ambulance services until 2010 (Sec. 146).
-Establishes the Medicare Improvement Fund to make improvements to Medicare fee-for-service programs and authorizes $19.9 billion during fiscal years 2014 through 2017 (Sec. 188). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 2642 G.I. Bill Expansion and Other Domestic Provisions
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (256/166)
Summary: -Designates differing amounts of payments to be made to fund the higher education of individuals who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces beginning on or after September 11, 2001 based on factors such as length of active duty service and disabilities accrued, and specifies that these payments shall not exceed the cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state in which the individual is enrolled (Sec. 3003).
-Requires the Secretary of Defense to match assistance given to members of the Armed Forces by institutions of higher learning to cover fees and expenses beyond what other provisions of this amendment provide (Sec. 3003).
-Finances payments to Armed Forces members receiving educational benefits under this amendment by levying a tax equal to 0.47 percent of income exceeding $500,000 for a single taxpayer other than a corporation or $1 million for a joint return (Sec. 7001).
-Qualifies unemployed individuals in participating states for emergency unemployment compensation if the individuals have exhausted all rights to regular compensation, have no rights to regular or extended compensation, or are not receiving compensation under the unemployment compensation law of Canada (Sec. 4001).
-Extends and expands moratoria relating to Medicaid through April 1, 2009, including cutting Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers, removing Medicaid reimbursements for graduate medical education programs, excluding certain social services related to families and children from being included in the Medicaid program, and restricting optional case management services, outpatient hospital services, or allowable provider taxes (Sec. 5001).
-Appropriates $25 million in 2009 and the same amount in each subsequent year for the purpose of reducing Medicaid fraud and abuse (Sec. 5001).
-Appropriates funds for military construction, veterans affairs, international affairs and other security-related matters, including $8.7 billion for the Department of State and foreign operations, $4.76 billion for military construction and veterans affairs, $1.25 billion for agriculture, and $229.3 million for commerce, justice, and science.
-Appropriates funds for domestic matters, including $5.76 billion for hurricane-related expenses for the greater New Orleans area, $210 million for periodic censuses and programs, $178 million for the federal prison system, and $110 million for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations. |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) H Amdt 972 Substitute Amendment for the House Budget Resolution
Outcome: Amendment Rejected (157/263)
Summary: -Sets the following new budget authorities for 2008 through 2013 in major funding categories:
- $3.56 trillion for National Defense
- $2.79 trillion for Medicare
- $2.48 trillion for Income Security
- $2.33 trillion for Net Interest
- $2.02 trillion for Health
- $803.43 billion for Allowances
- $584.75 billion for Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services
- $582.64 billion for Veteran's Benefits and Services
- $466.65 billion for Transportation
- $290.57 billion for Administration of Justice
- $216.63 billion for International Affairs
- $205.96 billion for Natural Resources and Environment
- $172.85 billion for General Science, Space and Technology
- $160.96 billion for General Government
- $155.31 billion for Social Security
- $132.48 billion for Agriculture
- $95.75 billion for Community and Regional Development
- $56.15 billion for Commerce and Housing Credit
- $23.11 billion for Energy
-Establishes a moratorium on the consideration of bills containing earmarks in the House of Representatives for the remainder of 2008. (Sec. 301).
-Establishes the Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform (composed of members appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, the House of Representatives and Senate Minority Leaders, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives) which will be charged with completing a study of the practices of the House, Senate, and executive branch regarding earmarks and providing a report of the findings of the study to the House of Representatives and Senate no later than six months after the adoption of H Con Res 312 (Sec. 302).
-Calls for the pursuit of medical liability reform as a means to endeavor towards domestic entitlement reform involving limiting the growth of Medicare and Medicaid "to ensure their long-term viability" (Sec. 413).
-Calls for the phasing out of the Alternative Minimum Tax (Sec. 416).
-Prohibits the consideration of any bill, joint resolution, or conference report that would increase the budget deficit (Sec. 701). |
Kucinich's Vote
N |
(2008) H Con Res 312 Concurrent Budget Resolution
Outcome: Resolution Passed (212/207)
Summary: -Recommends the following new budget authorities for specific departments in fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013:
-$3.38 trillion for National Defense
-$2.79 trillion for Medicare
-$2.49 trillion for Income Security
-$2.02 trillion for Health
-$581.64 billion for Veterans Benefits and Services
-$469.24 billion for Transportation
-$155.31 billion for Social Security
-Allows the chairman of the Committee on the Budget to increase appropriations for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), veterans and military personnel health care and disability benefits, renewable energy production, affordable housing, Medicare, and other programs, provided that they do not increase the budget deficit (Sec. 301-317).
-Allows the chairman of the House Committee on the Budget to revise budget levels for increases in tax reductions and credits for middle-income families and taxpayers, including extension of the child tax credit, reductions in the tax rate for married couples, and the elimination on most estate taxes and states that the policy of this resolution is to "minimize fiscal burdens on middle-income families" (Sec. 306, 501).
-States that overseas military operations funding should not be included in emergency supplemental requests, implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendation to fund nuclear nonproliferation programs should be a high priority, TRICARE fees should not be increased, missile defense should be funded at an "adequate but lower level," and the Department of Defense should address the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office and investigate money not accounted for (Sec. 502). |
Kucinich's Vote
N |
(2008) HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (380/34)
Summary: - Allows a tax credit in 2008 of an amount equal to an individual's net income tax liability or $600 (or $1,200 for a joint return), whichever is less (Sec. 101).
- Allows at least a $300 tax credit (or a $600 credit for a joint return) for taxpayers who have a qualified income of at least $3,000 (Sec. 101).
- Defines "qualified income" as earned income, social security benefits for seniors and tier 1 railroad retirees, and certain veterans' compensations and pensions (Sec. 101).
- Allows a $300 tax credit per child (Sec. 101).
- Denies eligibility to undocumented immigrants (Sec. 101).
- Appropriates an additional $266.31 million for the Department of Treasury, to remain available until September 30, 2009 (Sec. 101).
- Increases the limits on the maximum original principal obligation of mortgages for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and for the Federal Housing Administration (Sec. 201, 202). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
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