Update on Obamacare Libraries - Granite Grok

Update on Obamacare Libraries

As I reported yesterday:   “May I suggest a good book today – and a GREAT Obamacare healthcare insurance plan??”

Remember when the Patriot Act first came out and the hysteria that ensued from the Nation’s Librarians when they found out that the Feds could come in and demand what books had been taken out by their patrons?  My GOSH, you’d think that the antagonists from Red Dawn movie had come in with guns blazing:  ” SHHHHHH, be quiet!  And we’re gonna burn all the registration cards!  NO – I will NOT turn over my card catalog!  But for Obamacare??

Well as a former budget committee member in town, I know that lots of time is spent in crafting a budget and lots of time is spent examining each line item.  Why?  While monies can be moved around from line item to line item in a NH municipal budget, monies canNOT be expended for a purpose not covered by a line item.  So, if there is no “Obamacare outreach” or some such thing similar, those monies cannot be expended.  So what, you ask?  Like I believed yesterday, local property taxes would have to be used for local public libraries to support the socialized healthcare known as Obamacare.  And no, there is no “free money from the Feds to offset time taken away from their real duties (emphasis mine):

As if the corruption of the library’s time-honored purpose is not enough, the institution won’t even receive a reward for its self-betrayal. Susan Hildreth, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services [a Federal entity -Skip], has stated that “there are no federal funds to support this program.” As libraries already face devastating budget cuts and declines in funding, the initiative to serve as Obamacare’s cheerleader in communities could spell disaster. In addition to spending money to train librarians in their new capacity as healthcare experts, the alliance could alienate patrons who disapprove of the healthcare legislation and cause them to reconsider much-needed donations to their local library as it converts into something like “Obamacare Enrollment Station #1234.”

Finally, we start to see a bankrupt nation running out of money “for all” things. Here in NH, we hear a lot of complaining and wailing about “downshifting of costs” from one level of government down to lower levels – isn’t this the same thing only from a higher level? So if you DO ask your local authorities if your library is going to be a shill salesdudes information providers for Obamacare  and they say “don’t worry, we’ll get reimbursed”?  Let that gleam begin to shine in your eye and ask “Really?”

Continue: “Where did you get that datum – SHOW ME!”.  Make them live up to their own rule book.  And also remember what the NH Constitution Article 28A says (our “bigger” rulebook):

 The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision.

and shouldn’t the philosophy still apply – no higher level of Government should be able to impose unfunded costs on a lower one.  Now admittedly, it would not be the State that is handing down an unfunded mandate but the Feds – and it is worse.  In effect, it is a trade group / association that has signed a pact with the Federal Government that has said your local Librarian (that belongs to the ALA) has the authority to expend local funds as your Librarian (in said group) will serve the Feds.

However, there is Article 28:

No subsidy, charge, tax, impost, or duty, shall be established, fixed, laid, or levied, under any pretext whatsoever, without the consent of the people, or their representatives in the legislature, or authority derived from that body

After all, if your Librarian has signed on for this this, has that promise to expend funds (for time is money) been done by a lawful authority?  I think not.  This should be enough, IF your elected and appointed leaders put any stock in either the NH or US Constitutions (past mere lip service, that is).   If not, well, that’s the time for a different round of questions, isn’t it?

(H/T: The Corner)

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