Broadcaster Press 5 September 13, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Still Looking for “Affordable” in the Affordable Care Act By Sen. John Thune While President Obama is just a few short months away from leaving office, there are a few items he won’t be able to leave behind – like the legacy of his health care law. The president’s Democratic allies in Washington would still like to view this bill as President Obama’s top legislative achievement, but the truth is, this law has become a disaster. Thanks to Obamacare, South Dakotans have been saddled with higher premiums and fewer choices, and they’re still struggling to understand what happened to the president’s bold promise that Obamacare would be the cure-all for what ailed our nation’s health care system. South Dakotans have been feeling the Obamacare pain since the law was first implemented, and for many, 2017 offers no reprieve. Let’s say for example that an Obamacare silver plan for a non-smoking, 40-year-old male in South Dakota cost $4,000 in 2016. If that same person signs up for that same plan in 2017, he would have to pony up an additional $1,400 next year alone. And that’s just for his premiums. He may also be facing thousands of dollars in deductibles on top of that. I don’t know many South Dakotans who can afford a 36 percent increase in health care premiums for themselves, let alone a large increase for their entire family. The cost of health care has gotten so bad that I’ve heard from multiple South Dakotans whose health care payments were more than their mortgage payments. The increasingly high cost of care under Obamacare has become the law’s hallmark, but unfortunately the law’s problems don’t end there. Countless Americans this year are once again discovering the hollowness of the president’s “If you like your plan, you can keep it” promise. Health insurance companies are dropping out of the exchanges in droves, which means countless consumers around the country are facing the loss of their health plan. And they may have very few options for replacing it. Remember when the president promised that choosing a health insurance plan would be like buying a TV on Amazon? Well, for many people nowadays, going on healthcare.gov is like choosing a TV on Amazon – if Amazon only offered one or two TVs. According to a report released in August, one-third of the country – one-third – may have just one insurer to pick from on the exchanges for next year. Republicans, myself included, sounded the alarm for our Democrat colleagues in 2009 and 2010 about what we saw as the future of Obamacare. But this isn’t a matter of “I told you so” – far from it. This is a matter of acknowledging the reality of where we are, so that we can move forward. If we’re going to move toward a future with the high-quality, affordable health care that South Dakotans deserve, we’re going to have to start over, and Republicans are ready to go, with a lot of ideas to bring to the table. My hope is that Democrats and the next president will join us. Home Ideas for Cozy Fall Living Celebrity designer Taniya Nayak correctly predicted home design elements that incorporate typographic elements would be a key design trend in 2016. This trend is all about setting the tone for a space with inspirational quotes, personalization and warm greetings. Welcome guests by playing up the autumnal theme with phrases like, “Hello Fall” or “Give Thanks” on decorative wooden planks or burlap-textured fabric. Consider using various font types and sizes to achieve a different feel for each block of text. (StatePoint) With autumn comes crisp falling leaves, fresh brisk air and pumpkin spice aromas. It’s time to prepare your home to spend more time indoors, decorating it with warm, cozy accents to set the tone for the season. Make your home fall-ready with the following cozy ideas. 1. Freshen Up with Soothing Aromas. A little “me time” is good for the soul, and sometimes you need to pamper yourself after a long day. Whether the scent is apple cinnamon, pumpkin pie or maple leaf, lighting a candle with your favorite fall fragrance creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, enhancing your sense of calm. cozy factor with homemade hot cider and a crackling fireplace. 3. Refresh Interiors with Paint. Give rooms a refreshing update, add color and create contrast in a space with accent walls. Deep colors like navy blue help create a relaxing retreat. Or, take a cue from the changing leaves and opt for warm colors, like mustard yellow or burnt orange. To ensure a top-notch paint job, use a premium brand painter’s tape that will deliver sharp paint lines, like FrogTape. It’s the only painter’s tape that features patented PaintBlock Technology, which reacts with the water in latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape to help prevent paint bleed. 6. Deck Out Curb Appeal Nothing sets a good impression like an attractive entry way and front door. Greet guests with a festive hello by decking out the porch with pumpkins and planting seasonal floral arrangements along the pathway, or creating a fall-inspired wreath to hang on the door. You can even collect a handful of colorful leaves outside to string together and post along your porch fence for extra curb appeal. area for the entire family. With a little imagination and a few tools, you can create a vibrant and playful craft room, as did FrogTape Paintover Challenge winner KariAnne Wood from the blog “Thistlewood Farms.” Wood transformed an unused upstairs space in her home into a room for her children to craft, study and hang out with friends. An exciting, multi-functional space is a great way to avoid cabin fever Get started on your projects in the months ahead. now, so you can kick-back, relax and fully enjoy all that the 5. Give Guests a Warm season has to offer. Greeting. “The Line To Power” Design/Build • Fiber Cabling • Commercial • Residential Service Calls • Boom Truck with Auger • Trenching Serving the Beresford and Vermillion Areas 1-800-560-2518 1221 Cornell St., Vermillion, SD • 605-624-5642 201 NW 13th St., Ste. 3, Beresford, SD • 800-560-2518 The More You Buy... The More You Save! Customer Appreciation Sale Friday, Saturday, Sunday Additional! 5% Cash Discount* 69 Va $ 0% APR for Register 4 Years* *Some restrictions apply. See store for complete details. Not valid on prior purchases for Great As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, my job is to oversee federal agencies that promulgate some of the most egregious and harmful regulations. With more than 1 million regulations on the books today and a president who has issued more regulations than any previous administration, our subcommittee has highlighted the impact these regulations are having on everyday Americans. Recently, I chaired a field hearing in Rapid City which focused on how regulations coming from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are affecting private citizens’ ability to utilize and develop their land. During the hearing, we found that these agencies are not necessarily communicating with the public when they decide to issue new regulations, nor are they taking public comments into account when drafting new rules. At our field hearing, we heard from several witnesses about the difficulty and confusion landowners may face in complying with the Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS). In 2015, the EPA moved forward with finalizing WOTUS, which would greatly expand the definition of a ‘navigable waterway’ under the Clean Water Act, giving the EPA unprecedented authority over significant inland water bodies not currently subject to EPA jurisdiction. This rule creates significant hurdles to normal agricultural operations, yet the EPA appears to have ignored concerns of farmers, ranchers, agriculture groups, the Small Business Administration and numerous state governors and attorneys general who oppose it. Although the Sixth Circuit Court issued a nationwide stay on the rule, we have heard evidence that the U.S. Army Corps may be moving forward with implementing WOTUS. However, the U.S. court system should not be the primary backstop against overly-burdensome rules. If the EPA works more closely with landowners, states and agriculture groups throughout the rulemaking process, the end result would be better regulations that minimize the impact and costs on private landowners and American businesses. We also heard from FWS on the Endangered Species Act during our field hearing. There are currently 1,226 species listed as endangered and 367 listed as threatened in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, and approximately half of the listed species have 80 percent of their habitat on private land. While the FWS attempts to work with landowners to encourage voluntary species management and conservation, the Endangered Species Act continues to impede landowners’ abilities to utilize and develop their land by imposing significant restrictions on what landowners can do on their own property. Make no mistake, I understand that rules and regulations have a place in society. My concern lies with overbearing, burdensome rules and regulations that are promulgated by unelected bureaucrats who fail to fully consider local impacts before enacting rules. Each year, Americans pay nearly $1.9 trillion to comply with regulations, far more than the $1.4 trillion we pay in individual income taxes on April 15. As we heard during the field hearing in Rapid City, the high cost of complying with these regulations is hurting our economy and limiting the productivity of our farmers, ranchers and landowners who make a living on the land. I will continue working in my oversight capacity to identify and mitigate the negative effects of overly-burdensome regulations on our ag community. ELECTRIC SERVICE Yankton Slumberland Only! Free r y! elive lue D By Senator Mike Rounds TODD’S 2. Create a Living Room Sanctuary. Transform your living room into an at-home getaway by displaying seasonal throw 4. Innovate with Multipillows and blankets, and Functional Appeal. adorning the space with ele- Since you’ll be spending ments from nature, like a vase more time inside, transform filled with leaf stems and crab an empty space like a baseapple branches. Crank up the ment or attic into a useful 3 Day Sale Cost Of Regulations Impacts South Dakota Landowners Prizes it’s a good life.™ 920 Broadway, Yankton • 665-3719 Spend $499-$119 8 Save $100 d Spen 8 -$199 1199 $ Save $200 Spend Over $1999 Save $300 Vegetarian Shish Kabobs (adapted from Molly Katzen’s Moosewood Cookbook) These marinated vegetables can be broiled or barbecued. For 6 kabobs: 1 small eggplant, cut into 1 ½ inch chunks 24 cherry tomatoes Grace Freeman, RN 12 button mushrooms is owner and operator of a 2 medium sweet peppers small market garden farm 1 large onion cut in half, then each northwest of Vermillion. half quartered She sells herb plants, and 12 1 ½ inch chunks of fresh pineapple fresh herbs at the Vermillion or nectarines or mango Area Farmer’s Markets on Place above in similar order onto Thursday afternoons at the each BBQ skewer. Then lay in a Clay County Fairgrounds off baking dish. Cover with the following of Cherry St. in Vermillion. marinade for 2 hours prior to cooking: Marinade: 1 ½ cups olive oil 1 ½ cups red wine vinegar (or tarragon vinegar) 2 Tablespoons of red wine 2 cloves of crushed garlic 2 Tablespoons of diced fresh herbs: any combination of basil, oregano, chervil, parsley, chives, or dill Add salt and black or red pepper to taste. Broil on low for 5 minutes on each side, or until done. Barbecue over coals turning as needed, approximately 5 minutes per side. Rosemary Marinade for Chicken Mix together the marinade: 2 Tablespoons of your favorite mustard ¼ cup coarsely chopped rosemary ¼ cup lemon juice 1 tablespoon brown sugar 3 Tablespoons olive oil 4 cloves of finely chopped garlic ½ teaspoon of black pepper Thoroughly mix in 3-4 pounds of chicken which is cut into 8 servings, prepared for grilling. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Turning once. Pull out chicken to cook on grill or broil in oven 1015 minutes on each side, or until no pink is visible on inspection. Discard the marinade. If you or someone you know would like to be featured in Cook’s Corner please contact micki.schievelbein@yankton.net Let us improve your sleep quality! 50 % OFF ALL SHEETS, PILLOWS & PROTECTORS www.broadcasteronline.com | 605-624-4429 201 W. Cherry Street | Vermillion, SD