Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/288630
By Josh Lederman The Associated Press WASHINGTON » Mocking his critics, President Barack Obama boasted Tuesday that 7.1 million people have signed up for his health care law, an unexpected come - back after a disastrous roll- out sent his poll numbers plummeting and stirred fears among Democrats fac- ing re-election this fall. "The debate over repeal- ing this law is over," he de- clared. It's "here to stay." But the late enrollment surge may do little to change the political dynamics head - ing into the midterm elec- tions, particularly for Dem- ocrats running in conserva- tive states where the health law and the president him- self remain deeply unpopu- lar. Even Obama's advisers acknowledge that the pub- lic's views on the law are unlikely to shift significantly between now and November. Still, with millions of peo - ple now receiving health ben- efits under the law, Demo- crats see an opportunity to undercut Republicans still pushing to repeal "Obam- acare." And GOP lawmak- ers, wary of overplaying their political hand, are in- deed grappling with whether to press forward with repeal or narrow their focus on re- placing the law with differ- ent health measures. In a preview of his party's midterm messaging, Obama declared Tuesday that while the health law isn't perfect, it is "here to stay." "Why are folks working so hard for people to not have health insurance? Why are they so mad about the idea of people having health insur - ance?" he asked a group of administration officials and supportive members of Con- gress in the White House Rose Garden. Underscoring his point, Obama quoted from letters he said he had received from people helped by the law. But Republicans responded in a new round of their own quotes from people com - plaining about rapidly ris- ing rates. "The band may be play- ing in the White House, but hearts aren't light for Amer- icans struggling to afford Obamacare's higher costs," said a release from the Sen- ate Republican Communica- tions Center. The president's remarks amounted to a victory lap for an administration that botched the start of the en - rollment period for the in- surance marketplaces at the center of the landmark law. The enrollment website was riddled with technical prob - lems, and a flurry of private policy cancellations forced Obama to recant his pledge that Americans who liked their health insurance plans could keep them. While the Congressional Budget Office had originally estimated that 7 million peo - ple would enroll in the health exchanges this year, the CBO lowered those expectations to 6 million due to the web - site woes. Even inside the White House, that first esti- mate looked out of reach un- til recently. A late wave of sign-ups pushed nationwide enroll- ment to 7.1 million. Still, the administration hasn't said how many of those people have closed the deal by pay - ing their first month's pre- miums. Also unclear is how many were previously un- insured — the real test of Obama's health care over- haul. The law also expanded coverage for low-income peo- ple through Medicaid, but only about half of the states have agreed to implement that option. The administration hasn't yet released an updated de - mographic breakdown of en- rollees, such as the number of younger people whose partic- ipation is critical to the law's success. Politically, the law has created huge headaches for some Democrats facing re- election in November, help - ing to wipe away the party's prospects for taking control of the House and putting its Senate majority in jeopardy. Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster, said the politics be - hind Obamacare will shift as more Americans feel per- sonally invested in the over- haul — either because they're getting care through the ex- changes, staying on their par- ents' plans or benefiting from patient protections. Still, he said the law is likely to remain unpopular in states where Democrats are fighting many of their tough - est races, including Louisi- ana, Arkansas and Alaska. White House officials have encouraged candidates from those states to emphasize their eagerness to fix parts of the law that aren't work - ing rather than shy away from the measure as a whole. One senator who appears to be following that blue - print is Mary Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat facing a difficult re-election fight. Landrieu said of the law: "I continue to push to make it work even better." Most polling shows the law's opponents outnumber supporters, and nearly all surveys show it attracts few backers outside the ranks of the Democratic Party. For example, just 3 percent of Republicans and 12 percent of independents said they backed it in the latest AP- GfK poll. Democrats have also lost their advantage as the party more trusted to handle health care. However, polling also sug - gests that most Americans oppose repealing the law and instead favor changes. Dem- ocratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Was- serman Schultz of Florida said that offers Democrats an opportunity to paint Re- publicans as working to deny Americans something they already have. OBAmACAre Health care sign-ups surge to 7.1M Politically, the law has created huge headaches for some Democrats facing re- election in November. By John-Thor Dahlburg The Associated Press BrUSSeLS » NATO foreign ministers moved Tuesday to beef up the defenses of front-line alliance members feeling menaced by a more assertive Russia, with Sec - retary of State John Kerry proclaiming the U.S. com- mitment to their security is "unwavering." The ministers from NA- TO's 28 member nations also ordered suspension of all "practical civilian and military cooperation" with Vladimir Putin's Russia, though they made sure a line of communication with the Kremlin remains open at the ambassadorial level. The Nor th Atla ntic Treaty Organization, key - stone of U.S. and Euro- pean security since the end of World War II, is facing its most acute geopolitical crisis in years: the fallout from Moscow's unilateral annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, which the Obama administration and its allies condemn as a brazen, illegal land grab. On Tuesday, an esti - mated 35,000 to 40,000 Russian troops equipped with tanks, other armored vehicles and fixed and ro - tar y wing aircraft re- mained positioned near the border with Ukraine, a NATO military official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of an - onymity. The militar y off icial described the Russian buildup as "a complete com - bat force" that was highly threatening to Ukraine. Those troops have be- come a troubling concern for NATO countries, espe- cially the alliance's east- ern-most members — the Baltic states, Poland, and Romania, all of which were once in Moscow's orbit. To reassure those skit - tish allies, Kerry told a news conference, the U.S. has already sent six F-15 fighters to perform air pa - trols over the Baltic, de- ployed a dozen F-16s to Po- land and dispatched the USS Truxtun, a guided- missile destroyer, to the Black Sea. UkrAINe NATO allies pledge to beef up eastern defenses Lassen House 705 Luther Road, Red Bluff (530) 529-2900 www.Emeritus.com Respite Care There are serveral reasons to take advantage of short term respite care From Emeritus 100 Jackson Street, Red Bluff (530) 529-1220 First 50 new members $ 25 .00 month Call or Come In for details STOVE JUNCTION The The North State's premier supplier of stoves 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com Over 25 years of experience Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon Now Carrying! Green Mountain Grills & Accessories Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties We Do That 1375 Montgomery Rd. Red Bluff, CA 530 529-0797 RUNNINGS ROOFING Sheet Metal Roofing Residential Commercial • Composition • Shingle • Single Ply Membrane Owner is on site on every job Serving Tehama County 530-527-5789 530-209-5367 No Money Down! "No Job Too Steep" " No Job Too Flat" FREE ESTIMATES CA. LIC#829089 Now you can slash your heating bills with the newest EdenPURE ® Heaters at the lowest price ever. You can be ready to avoid high heating bills for the many cold win- ters predicted to come and the predicted higher energy costs. Today readers of this pa- per have the opportunity to receive the largest discount ever on the newest 2015 EdenPURE ® Portable In- frared Heaters. EdenPURE ® is offering a limited time Introductory S u p e r S a l e o n t h e n e w, a d vanced 2015 GEN7 and G E N 8 h e a t e r s w h e r e y o u c a n save $291.00. The new GEN7 and GEN8 are super reliable, super powerful and super portable. The GEN7 heats 750 square feet, which is a room size of 27 feet by 27 feet, and the GEN8 heats 1000 square feet. EdenPURE ® is one of the all-time best selling portable heaters in North America, with millions of satisfied cus- tomers who have saved big on their heating bills. Eden- PURE ® Heaters produce heat for 30% less energy. And, you can turn down the ther- mostat in your home, yet be toasty warm in the room you are in. This additionally and drastically cuts your heat- ing bills. Plus mill i o n s n o w swear by EdenPURE ® 's "bone-warming" infrared heat. They are completely safe around children and pets. EdenPURE ® 's unique infrared heat warms a room evenly from floor to ceiling. EdenPURE ® Heaters can- not start a fire and do not re- duce oxygen and humidity in a room like conventional heating. The infrared waves are beneficial to humans and animals. Your pets will be at- tracted to your EdenPURE ® Heater. EdenPURE ® is the origi- nal Infrared Heater. Beware of cheap, look-alike imita- tions. They do not perform o r l a s t l i k e E d e n P U R E ® Heaters. T h e n u m b e r o f G E N 7 a n d G E N 8 Heaters for this Introductory Super Sale is very limited. This sale ex- p i r e s i n 1 0 d a y s . D u r i n g this Super Sale offer, Eden- P U R E ® w i l l o f f e r F R E E shipping and handling any- where in the U.S. This totals $291.00 in discounts. Also, because of the an- ticipated heavy demand, EdenPURE ® is limiting each customer to a m a x i m u m o f 2 total heaters. The GEN7 and GEN8 are protected by EdenPURE ® 's famous 60- day money-back guarantee, 2-year warranty and their National Service Network. How to Order To take advantage of these amazing savings see the Spe- cial Reader's Authorized Dis- count Claim Form to the right. Media Services Special Report ©2014 Media Services S-0107 OF28335R-1 SPECIAL READER'S AUTHORIZED DISCOUNT CLAIM FORM The regular price of the EdenPURE ® GEN7 is $449.00 plus $39.00 shipping and handling for a total of $488.00. The GEN8 is $499.00 plus $39.00 shipping and handling for a to- tal of $538.00. Today readers can get a major discount of $291.00 off the regular price and shipping and handling. Therefore, readers who order in the next 10 days can get the EdenPURE ® GEN7 for only $197 delivered and the GEN8 for only $247 delivered. There is a 2-year warranty. There is also a 60-day unconditional satisfaction guarantee where you can return them for a full refund, return shipping paid and no questions asked. But there is a strict limit of 2 total heaters at this major discount with free shipping and han- dling – no exceptions please. Number of Heaters I want: GEN7: ____ GEN8: ____ ■ I am ordering within 10 days, therefore I get a $291.00 dis- count, and my price is only $197 for the EdenPURE ® GEN7 and $247 for the GEN8 delivered. ■ I am ordering past 10 days, therefore I pay full price of $488.00 for the EdenPURE ® GEN7 and $538.00 for the GEN8 delivered. • To claim your discount and order by phone: call toll-free 1- 800-254-2107. Operators are on duty Monday - Friday 6am - 3am, Saturday 7am - 12am and Sunday 7am - 11pm, EST. Give operator your Discount Code: EHS9308 • To claim your discount and order online: visit www.edenpure.com and enter Discount Code EHS9308. • To claim your discount and order by mail: fill out and mail in this Authorized Discount Claim Form. ____________________________________________________________ NAME ____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP CODE Enclosed is $______ in: ■ Check ■ Money Order (Make payable to EdenPURE) or charge my: ■ VISA ■ MasterCard ■ Am. Exp./Optima ■ Discover/Novus Account No. _____________________________ Exp. Date ___/___ Signature _______________________________________________ MAIL TO: EdenPURE ® Discount Code EHS9308 7800 Whipple Ave. N.W. Canton, OH 44767 The New 2015 GEN7 and GEN8 • Super Reliable • Super Portable • Super Powerful The GEN7 Heats 750 sq. ft., room size 27 ft. by 27 ft., and the GEN8 Heats 1,000 sq. ft. Made in the USA • 2 Year Warranty SLASH YOUR HEATING BILLS Introductory EdenPURE ® Heater Super Sale Save $291 on new, advanced 2015 heaters 530-366-3166 545 Adobe Rd. Red Bluff www.redbluffdodge.com Servicing your disposal needs in Tehama County, and the City of Red Bluff including Residential, Commercial, and Temporary bin services. GREEN WASTE OF TEHAMA A WASTE CONNECTIONS COMPANY 530-528-8500 1805 AIRPORT BLVD. RED BLUFF, CA GreenWaste is a proud supporter of local events. When it comes to finding the perfect home, make sure you have the right realtor on your side. Meet Your Dream Team Stromer Realty (530) 527-3100 590 Antelope Blvd. Bldg. A, Suites 10 & 20 Red Bluff ~ Specializing in residential to ranches ~ http://redbluff.stromerrealty.com Wednesday, april 2, 2014 redBlUFFdailyneWs.COM | NEWS | 5 B