Interesting reconciliation process. (Fun with Healthcare)

Interesting reconciliation process. (Fun with Healthcare)

Posted on by Jack

Assuming Mitch McConnell is able to twist enough arms in the weeks ahead, we may see an interesting reconciliation process. Of course it could be done in secret which would take most of the fun out of it. But we may be set for an interesting debate.

The House has already passed the American Health Care Act of 2017 which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would throw about 23 million off the healthcare insurance rolls by 2026.

The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 has not yet been passed. In present form the Congressional Budget Office estimates it will increase the number of people who are uninsured by 22 million in 2026.

If the Senate bill is passed, we will see the reconciliation process. Perhaps there will be an argument about whether it is better to increase the uninsured by 22 or 23 million.

Griese MacKenzie SC, VA, PA, Cape Breton

Griese MacKenzie SC, VA, PA, Cape Breton

Posted on by Jack

Griese Mackenzie … is kind of an odd title.  But it goes back to a book I was reading.  Let me explain.

Now that I know where my MacKenzie (or McKenzie) great grandfather came from (Middle River, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia), I decided to look at another MacKenzie from the same town.  The Griese comes from a Reverend Griese who is a descendant of Neil McKenzie and visited Middle River in 2001.
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Thomas Allingham of Glencar Leitrim and children

Thomas Allingham of Glencar Leitrim and children

Posted on by Jack

I’ve written a good bit about my line of descent from Thomas ALLINGHAM. Thomas Allingham (c1798-1883) was a farmer in Sracreeghan, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland. This part of the parish was called Glencar or Glenlough. Now I want to briefly fill-in what I know of the rest of the family.

First thing I don’t know the name of his wife or for that matter if the same wife was mother to all these children. On his daughter Ruth’s death certificate it is stated that her mother in Jane Allingham. So I do have a first name for at least 1 child.

So here are the children I know. At least I believe these are correct with varying degrees of certainty. I’ll add a few words about why I think these are correct.

Elizabeth Allingham, 1826–1909

The only record I have in Ireland is her marriage to John McBrien in 1856. This took place in Glenlough, Leitrim, Ireland and Thomas was name as her father. Since several children were born in Ireland, there are those records but they don’t add anything to a discussion of which family she was born into. The McBriens emigrated to Ontario. Her death record also confirms Thomas as her father. I’ve estimated her birth year from the death record.

Jane ALLINGHAM, 1830–

I have very little on her. She married William Algeo in Killasnet, Leitrim, Ireland. The record list her father as Thomas so I think she belongs with this family. She had a child named Ann Algeo. I am not very confident about this one and the birth year is just a wild guess.

Ruth ALLINGHAM, 1835–1887

This one I am very sure about. Ruth is my 2nd great-grandmother and I’ve written about her several times (see glencarleitrim.wordpress.com and this blog. The birth year is an estimate. She married Matthew Greer in Glenlough, Leitrim, Ireland in 1854. After Matthew’s death she emigrated to New York City with her younger children to meet her older children who were already there.

Anne ALLINGHAM, 1838–

She was named executor of her father’s will I have little else but she definitely belongs in this family. I don’t believe she everymarried and the year of birth is a guess without any real basis.

Margaret ALLINGHAM, 1840–

She married William Irwin in Killasnet, Leitrim, Ireland and the record listed her father as Thomas. I don’t know much after that.

Robert Allingham, 1855–1890

I know very little except he was named as Thomas’ brother on a military record (see below). I also know he was a member of The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). So I’m pretty confident he belong to this family.

John ALLINGHAM, 1861–1915

He married Sarah Martin in Dublin and named Thomas of Sracreeghan as his father. He was a member of the RIC and was present at the death of Thomas

Thomas ALLINGHAM, 1865–

Military record named John and Robert of RIC as brothers. And I am very sure about John. The record also gave year of birth and indicated he was from Leitrim.

So here is the list I said was coming.

Race for the Flash Stone by K. Patrick Donoghue

Race for the Flash Stone by K. Patrick Donoghue

Posted on by Jack

Race for the Flash Stone is the second of a series. I liked the first one Shadows of the Stone Benders much more than expected and reviewed it last year). It did not seem like the type of book I would enjoy. But the write-up I saw on Netgalley was interesting. So I thought I would give it a try.

For those who are not familiar with Netgalley, it is a website for those who like to read an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of books and are willing to share an opinion of the book. In my case, I write reviews.
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New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons

New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons

Posted on by Jack

Mitch McConnell has devised a new legislative process. We’ll have to see how well it works but teachers of civics may want to think about updating their lesson plans. This could be the new normal or perhaps a political disaster which is never tried again. It’s a bit early to tell.

In the secret Republican plan to change our healthcare system which is currently being developed in the Senate, we may have a new model for legislation. We don’t know yet what the plan is or if this method will be successful. Continue reading “New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons”

Heathcare secret plan from Republican Senators

Heathcare secret plan from Republican Senators

Posted on by Jack

Do you want to know a secret? A big healthcare secret. Our Senate has one. Neither you, nor I, nor most Senators know the plan. As far as I know, no healthcare experts have seen it. I think the only people in the loop are Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell and 12 other Republican Senators.

The plan could have large economic effects. After all, health care is a big piece of our economy. As far as I know, no economists have seen it. Have the possible economic effects been considered?

If this works out well for the Republican party, will secrecy be the new model for legislating?

The secret plan for your healthcare

The secret plan for your healthcare

Posted on by Jack

It’s a secret plan. I don’t know anything about the Senate healthcare plan except that it is a closely held secret among Senator Mitch McConnell and and handful of other Republican Senators. I suspect a few other Republicans may know part of the plan, at least in broad outline. But I don’t think the majority of Republican Senators know much about it. It seem fairly certain that Democrats are not in on the big secret.

I suppose at some point the public may know about it but probably not until after (or maybe just before) the vote. Senators will probably be informed of the contents before voting. I think that is a rule but I could be wrong. The Senate under Mitch McConnell had surprised me before.

Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Posted on by Jack

I wrote about the Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland several times but the last time was late last year.

At that time I identified 4 children including my great grandmother. I think now I have information indicating 8 children and I expect there may be more that I have not yet found. In most cases the evidence is pretty good; in others it is not quite enough. So I’ll have to do another post to bring you up-to date on this.

The secret healthcare plan in the Senate

The secret healthcare plan in the Senate

Posted on by Jack

There is a secret healthcare plan somewhere in the Senate. I don’t know what is in it. You don’t know. In fact, most senators don’t know. Only a small group of Republican senators are drafting the bill. But the plan is to have a vote before the July 4 recess.

So it is coming soon with no hearings and no amendments.

Since the bill is unlikely to be made public much before the vote, there will be little (if any) time for comment and debate, even among the senators.

Distractions and the important stuff

Distractions and the important stuff

Posted on by Jack

Distractions keep our attention off the important stuff. The problem many of us have is we can’t tell which are the distractions in President Trump’s administration and what is important.

Certainly the Russian interference in our election is important. We do not know yet if the president or perhaps part of his administration or campaign helped the Russians in some way. But it is clearly important to learn this. The apparent cover-up and attempts to interfere with this investigation are suggestive but not proof. Continue reading “Distractions and the important stuff”

The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters

The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters

Posted on by Jack

I liked The Death of Expertise but I was a bit concerned. The full title is The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters and it is by Thomas M. Nichols, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College .
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Trump Tapes. Watergate redux

Trump Tapes. Watergate redux

Posted on by Jack

The Trump tapes. This sounds familiar but perhaps slightly different.

I was much younger when we wanted to hear the Nixon tapes. But is history repeating itself ?

President Trump tweeted

James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!

Are there tapes? Do we get to hear the unedited version? How much of what goes on in the Whitehouse is taped? President Nixon had tapes but I would have thought the following Presidents would have learned.

Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann

Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann

Posted on by Jack

The full title is Letters to a Young Writer: Some Practical and Philosophical Advice. And it is by Colum McCann one of the best writers around in my opinion.

I like Colum McCann’s writing and that is why I decided to read this book. My guess is it is not so much aimed at the young but at the new writer or anyone interested in improving their writing.
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Non-recusal recusal of Jeff Sessions

Non-recusal recusal of Jeff Sessions

Posted on by Jack

The non-recusal recusal of Jeff Sessions makes one wonder what recusal means. I thought it meant not participating in an official action. But that is apparently not what it means in the Trump administration.

About 2 months ago Jeff Sessions said
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The Tuesday afternoon ambush

The Tuesday afternoon ambush

Posted on by Jack

The Tuesday afternoon ambush was the firing of FBI Director James Comey who was conducting an investigation into the Russian interference in the 2016 elections and possible collusion by the Trump administration and campaign.

Why Watergate

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