Deadlines, Schmeadlines — No Breakthroughs, No Deals, No Health Care Bill
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl reports: With the health care bill languishing in the Senate and under fire in the House, Democratic leaders are quietly preparing for Plan B. Under the scenario now being discussed, bi-partisan talks would be aborted and parliamentary maneuvers used to force the bill through with a party-line vote. Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., still has time to try to work out a deal with his Republican counterpart Chuck Grassley, but fellow Democrats are growing restless. “There’s rising disgruntlement with how Baucus has handled this,” a senior Democratic aide tells ABC News. “We have to look at other options.” ABC’s Z. Byron Wolf was there last night when the Senate officially blew past yet another deadline for action. Senator Baucus declared that his committee would not, could not pass a bill before the Senate leaves for August recess next Friday. “The bill is not ready for prime time,” Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said. (When did Mike Enzi become one of the most quoted and quotable Senators?) “You folks keep looking for the news and there ain’t no news,” said Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Baucus’s primary Republican counterpart. This is a big deal. When Congress missed President Obama’s August deadline for passing bills out of the House and Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed to at least get the bill out of the Finance Committee to set up a Senate vote in early September. Not going to happen. Does this mean we’ll still be seeing live reports on bi-partisan talks from CNN’s Dana Bash outside Max Baucus’s office when Congress returns in September? Don’t count on it. Baucus has some time to work out a deal over the August break, but Democratic leaders are unlikely to allow talks with Republicans to drag on into September. FACTOID: The bi-partisan “Gang of Six” Senators involved in these negotiations represent six states with a total of less than three percent of the U.S. population (Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Maine, New Mexico and Iowa). Things are progressing better in the House, but not much better. Henry Waxman struck a deal with moderate Blue Dogs that should help him get a bill out of his Energy & Commerce committee today, but liberals aren’t happy; 57 of them sent Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi a letter warning that they would vote against a bill that looks like the Blue Dog deal. “We have compromised and we can compromise no more,” an angry Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif. “Although the leadership has more than a month to rally enough votes to pass healthcare bills when Congress returns in September, the latest unrest is raising a menacing specter for the president and his allies,” write Noam Levey and James Oliphant in the LA Times. “Some worry about a possible repeat of the healthcare debacles in the early 1970s and ’90s, when divisions within the party helped doom bids to create universal coverage.” Meanwhile, Speaker Pelosi yesterday offered a variation of Will Rogers’ line about belonging to no organized political party: “We have tremendous diversity, whether it is generational, geographic, philosophical, ethnic, gender, you name it,” she said. “It is a great kaleidoscope.” And as for that Blue Dog deal, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn suggested on ABC News’ Topline that it may not matter much because, “we have no idea” what will be in the final House bill.” Clyburn: “I don’t think that anyone can guarantee what the final document is going to be.” Surprise, surprise Power has been good for the Blue Dogs. Dan Eggen reports in the Washington Post that the Blue Dogs have seen their fundraising coffers swell as they have taken center stage in the fight over health care. “The group has set a record pace for fundraising this year through its political action committee, surpassing other congressional leadership PACs in collecting more than $1.1 million through June. More than half the money came from the health-care, insurance and financial services industries, marking a notable surge in donations from those sectors compared with earlier years, according to an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity.” War Front: Grim Trend The month of July has been the deadliest month, by far, of the Afghanistan war for Americans (41) and for the coalition (74). It has also been the least deadly month in Iraq since the invasion in March 2003 (four U.S. combat deaths). And this may be the most important article in the newspapers this morning: The Washington Post reports that the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, is preparing a new war plan that will include a request for a significant increase in U.S. troops. Such a request would likely put General McChrystal on a collision course with at least some members of the President’s national security team and Congressional Democrats who are wary of a further escalation of the war in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the NYTimes’ Michael Gordon highlights “an unusually blunt memo” from a U.S. colonel in Iraq saying it is “time for the U.S. to declare victory and go home.” It is not a view shared, however, by commanding General Ray Odierno. “As the old saying goes, ‘Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days,’ ” Colonel Reese wrote. “Since the signing of the 2009 Security Agreement, we are guests in Iraq, and after six years in Iraq, we now smell bad to the Iraqi nose.” Are the Iraqi’s capable of maintaining security on their own? Today five mosques in southwest Baghdad have been bombed. Iraqi police sources tell ABC News the death total from he attacks has already reached 27. For those keeping track, there are still 130,000 American troops in Iraq, more than twice as many as the nearly 60,000 in Afghanistan. Cash for Clunkers is Broke. The good news: the program, which gives new car buyers up to $4,500 in exchange for trashing gas guzzling junks, has been wildly popular. The bad news: after just 4 days, so many people have traded in their clunkers, the program is broke. “The speed with which it took off now puts it among the most successful stimulus packages to come out of Washington since the start of the recession,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “But the program’s unexpected success also will put Congress and the Obama administration in a bind. With deficits soaring, lawmakers are increasingly reluctant to spend additional billions they don’t have.” And scoop from Mike Allen in today’s Playbook, quoting a Democratic aide: “Before it passed, there was a big debate between the auto state lawmakers and the pro-enviro lawmakers over whether the bill should be stimulus for the auto industry or whether it should combat global warming by getting inefficient cars off the road. The auto-state senators won, cars of [many] varieties were made eligible, and the money got spent in a blink. For next round, there will probably be a renewed push to increase the mileage requirements of the new purchases.” Beer Summit
Jake Tapper finds the most interesting quotes following President Obama’s beer summit with Henry Louis Gates and Sgt. James Crowley, especially this one from Professor Gates: ”Sergeant Crowley and I, through an accident of time and place, have been cast together, inextricably, as characters – as metaphors, really – in a thousand narratives about race over which he and I have absolutely no control.” Helene Cooper found the addition of Joe Biden (drinking alcohol-free beer, by the way) at the table “interesting, for a number of reasons.” “The addition of Mr. Biden was interesting, for a number of reasons. Mr. Biden was able to draw on his credibility with blue-collar, labor union America and his roots in Scranton, Pa., to add balance to the photo op that the White House presented: two black guys, two white guys, sitting around a table.” Pork Watch: Senators Byrd and Kennedy may be sidelined with illnesses, but the two remain Senate powerhouses when it comes to funneling taxpayer money to their home states. “Byrd has secured 48 earmarks worth more than $109 million in eight funding bills that have cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee so far this year,” reports Abby Phillip and Manu Raju in Politico. “Kennedy has secured 26 more worth almost $8 million.” Palin Follies, continued Is Sara Palin stiffing the Reagan Library? A speech to the Reagan Library was to be her first big public event after quitting her job as Alaska’s governor. The library had even sent out invitations to the speech. But, reports Ben Smith, it’s not going to happen. Texas showdown The sniping has already begun. Mr. Perry is on a “quest to be governor for life,” a spokesman for Ms. Hutchison told the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday. The governor’s spokesman shot back, telling the paper that Ms. Hutchison should stay in the Senate because “even though she’s failed miserably at it, she was elected to serve that term.” SPOTTED: Phil Schiliro, the head of legislative affairs for the White House, at an afternoon performance of the “We Rock” puppet show at Chesterbrook Elementary School in McLean. It was far more entertaining than the Senate Finance Committee. Kicker “Sergeant Crowley and I, through an accident of time and place, have been cast together, inextricably, as characters – as metaphors, really – in a thousand narratives about race over which he and I have absolutely no control.”
– Henry Louis Gates “You folks keep looking for the news and there ain’t no news,”
– Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. Today on the “Top Line” political Webcast, live at noon ET: Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; and This Weeks’ George Stephanopoulos. Follow The Note on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
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The press may try todistort the facts, but the delay on a health care bill shows that the president and Democrats were willing to negotiate with Republicans and a craft a bipartisan bill. That Republicans cling to ideology over progress is unfortunate.
Posted by: matt | July 31, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am
They need to get this right, and push for a national health plan that has the power to combat the insurance and pharmaceuatical industries’ outrageous profit games. Missing an artificial deadline? A minor issue. Backing away from urgently pushing to get this done? Unexcusable. Keep working, legislators, and give us a national government-run health plan that takes us in the right direction, and not more loopholes, red tape and bandaids.
Posted by: iamwomaninMI | July 31, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am
matt its not just the republicans look a little closer stop it its the blue dogs to and thank god for the blue dogs they work for the people not the party and its about time all hail the blue dogs hang in their.
Posted by: natale from mass. | July 31, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am
Wait a minute! I distinctly remember Nanny Pelosi saying………..
Posted by: LongT | July 31, 2009, 9:36 am 9:36 am
Matt (8:48 AM) said; “the delay on a health care bill shows that the president and Democrats were willing to negotiate with Republicans and a craft a bipartisan bill.” FUNNY! Hillarious actually. The ‘delay’ is because the Democrats don’t have the votes to ram it through. Matt, this is the same political ‘spin’ Harry Reid came up with.
Posted by: LongT | July 31, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Only the Senate has tried to pass a bipartisan healthcare bill. For the patisians that whine about the GOP blocking healthcare…..the Democrats have a significant majority, and can pass the healthcare bill with no Republican votes. I suspect that the Democrats will pay a very heavy price come next election, if they ram thru healthcare.
Posted by: thecentrist | July 31, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
nancy pelosi is nothing but a mouth piece for the far left that a majority dont agree with.
Posted by: natale from mass. | July 31, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am
I watched Sgt Crowley’s press conference and I was very moved by his remarks. The Note, as ususual, just doesn’t get it: this was a lesson to the whole world on how disagreements can be resolved peacefully, how a democracy handles differences, how America is rebulding its moral leadership. I was very proud of my country, proud of the men at the table, and proud of President Obama for highlighting this process.
Posted by: Amy B Maine | July 31, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Do most americans know that on page 425 it advocates counselling sessions for those that are sick, or up in age to learn how to end their lives early. Did anyone read the whole bill where the government is allowed to withold treatment because of date of birth, type of illness or that the government might deem the person not productive enough of a citizen to warrant healthcare. Let’s not call this a healthcare bill but rather a healthscare bill which neither congress or the President will personally have any part of and neither their families. So while they get old feeble and have conditions they will continue to have healthcare that you can only dream of but the rest of the United States will be lead to their end.
Posted by: TinaV | July 31, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
amy b maine take it easy your one of those people who think oh look were all loving each other get real crowley said the only thing obama did was supply the beer.
Posted by: natale from mass. | July 31, 2009, 10:02 am 10:02 am
natale from mass.
Try watching Sgt Crowley’s conference without your right wing filter on: he said he respected the President and he and Gates are going to be working together on future projects to educate the public. I call that a giant leap forward compared to the usual hatefest fostered by FOX News and right wing radio, and yeah, it happened in the Rose Garden.
Posted by: Amy B Maine | July 31, 2009, 10:13 am 10:13 am
The Democrats are trying for a Bi-Partisan bill but once again the Party of NO Well says NO!The Republicans will NEVER WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATS NEVER!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 10:13 am 10:13 am
Anyone else glad we don’t live in a Democratic dictatorship?
Posted by: LongT | July 31, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am
Good post, Amy B Maine. Thank god for the “blue dog” democrats. I’ll vote for one of those any day than a left-leaning republican. For you folks who haven’t read this bill, READ IT. Just a few lines here: Look at page 85 line 7 where the government rations based on their cost/benefit: and all AARP members benefits will be rationed:
Page 50 section 152 healthcare will be provided to all non U.S. citizens illegal or otherwise:
Page 59 Government will have direct access to your bank account for direct funds transfer:
Page 170 lines 1-3 Any non-resident alien is exempt from individual taxes. Page 203 line 14-15 the Tax imposed in this section shall not be treated as tax. (my fello citizens, you won’t get it back. It’s gone baby!)
Page 239 line 14-24 Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid, seniors, low income and poor. (sorry all you poor folks who voted for your democratic representative)
Page 425 line 4-12 Govt will instruc and consult regarding living wills and assume power of attorney of all enrollees. Mandatory! (you want the govenment to tell your family what it’s going to do with your estate?)
That’s just a smidgeon of this 1018-page junk bill. And the liberal dems want to push this through as quickly as possible? What’s on their agenda? Folks, the more you read this the more you will hate it. That’s why obama and the lib dems wanted this to go through so quickly. Please read this and let you state congresmen/womem and senators know what you think. I know we need some sort of health reform, but keep the government out of it.
Posted by: Holycow | July 31, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am
LONG T
But most are happy as He– The Republicans arent in power look at the mess they caused when they held power for 16 years!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am
If the healthcare bill is passed as it stands, the very wealthy and for-profit corporate healthcare will make less profit.
United Health CEO brought home $1 billion as salary this year.
believe me, the insurer lobbyists are en mass outside the senators offices.
This is not so much a healthcare war, as it is a class warfare. The extremely wealthy in this country owns the government, thanks to the help of the leadership under the GOP, as well
as the democrats in the pockets of these
corporations as well.
The bottom 95% of us deserve to have access to healthcare. period. This is not the Roman Empire. The wealth needs to be distributed.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 31, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
In regards to MORE troops in Afghanistan: When will we learn? Pouring more personnel into Iraq did not work; the “surge” took the credit when we began paying former enemies not to shoot at us; hence “Awakening”. Who awoke? It is time there was an awakening in that country where the bad guys wear no uniforms, the central government is corrupt and unpopular, the local populace would like to have us OUT and we continue to believe that we have a winning strategy with no firm goals in mind of when we will see victory! Didn’t we go through all this in the 60′s and 70′s and learn from that foreign policy debacle? Let us declare victory in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring our personnel home.
Posted by: clever bob | July 31, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO to national health care. It will destroy the medical industry, bankrupt the country and rob citizens of basic human rights (right to life, for example).
Posted by: KC | July 31, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am
@Holycow
Just so that no one gets confused: Holycow doesn’t know what’s in the bill. He copied and pasted those lines from a World Net Daily article.
As they do with most things, World Net Daily invented those passages from thin air so that the easily outraged would run with it and assume it was fact.
It’s sad that outright fabrications are treated as fact in this debate.
Posted by: sugarfree | July 31, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
On health care reform: A recent poll indicated that 80% of Americans are very pleased with their present plans. I’ll wager that none of this group ever experienced having their premiums raised sky-high, had an agent tell them that a claim would not be honored because of a preexisting condition, was denied coverage at any price or had a policy cancelled without prior warning. Any economist will tell you that unregulated insurance does not work well in the market place; the government has been pursuing regulation but loses at the whims and special interests of the empowered. The President will have to take a much stronger stand if he is to be successful in bringing much needed reform. Right wing opponents have the herd scared and stampeeding!
Posted by: clever bob | July 31, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am
natle from mass
The Republicans held congress during Clintons 8 Years, and During Bushes 8 Years and 8+8= 16 and no Blue Dog Democrats do not work for the People they are just like Republicans they work for the Insurance companies and Special interest!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am
The government cant be trusted to run anything. Especially if partnered with big business. Look at the ‘cash for clunkers’ basically a trick to get people to buy new cars from a car dealer (that is government owned) and then yank the rug out from under you and shaft you for the $4500 they promised. This had to be the plan all along. Its called bait and switch and its the oldest trick in the book. To trust government with anything is foolhardy especially if you consider who they are in bed with these days: car dealers, big corporate, wall street, ceo’s, insurance, health and drug companies etc.
Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 31, 2009, 10:50 am 10:50 am
From the Wall Street Journal, yesterday. Even many Democrats are revolting against Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 5.4% income surtax to finance ObamaCare, but another tax in her House bill isn’t getting enough attention. To wit, the up to 10-percentage point payroll tax increase on workers and businesses that don’t provide health insurance. This should put to rest the illusion that no one making less than $250,000 in income will pay higher taxes.
To understand why, consider how the Pelosi jobs tax works. Under the House bill, firms with employee payroll of above $250,000 without a company health plan would pay a tax starting at 2% of wages per employee. That rate would quickly rise to 8% on firms with total payroll of $400,000 or more. A tax credit would help very small businesses adjust to the new costs, but even a firm with a handful of workers is likely to be subject to this payroll levy. As we went to press, Blue Dogs were taking credit for pushing those payroll amounts up to $500,000 and $750,000, but those are still small employers.
So who bears the burden of this tax? The economic research is close to unanimous that a payroll tax is a tax on labor and is thus shouldered mostly if not entirely by workers. Employers merely collect the tax and then pass along its costs in lower wages or benefits. This is the view of the Democratic-controlled Congressional Budget Office, which advised on July 13: “If employers who did not offer health insurance were required to pay a fee, employee’s wages and other forms of compensation would generally decline by the amount of that fee from what they otherwise would have been.”
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Associated Press
To put this in actual dollars, a worker earning, say, $70,000 a year could lose some $5,600 in take home pay to cover the costs of ObamaCare. And, by the way, this is in addition to the 2.5% tax that the individual worker would have to pay on gross income, if he doesn’t buy the high-priced health insurance that the government will mandate. In sum, that’s a near 10-percentage point tax on wages and salaries on top of the 15% that already hits workers to finance Medicare and Social Security.
Even Democrats are aware that his tax would come out of the wallets of the very workers they pretend to be helping, so they inserted a provision on page 147 of the bill prohibiting firms from cutting salaries to pay the tax. Thus they figure they can decree that wages cannot fall even as costs rise. Of course, all this means is that businesses would lay off some workers, or hire fewer new ones, or pay lower starting salaries or other benefits to the workers they do hire.
Cornell economists Richard Burkhauser and Kosali Simon predicted in a 2007 National Bureau of Economic Research study that a payroll tax increase of about this magnitude plus the recent minimum wage increase will translate into hundreds of thousands of lost jobs for those with low wages. Pay or play schemes, says Mr. Burkauser, “wind up hurting the very low-wage workers they are supposed to help.” The CBO agrees, arguing that play or pay policies “could reduce the hiring of low-wage workers, whose wages could not fall by the full cost of health insurance or a substantial play-or-pay fee if they were close to the minimum wage.”
To make matters worse, many workers and firms would have to pay the Pelosi tax even if the employer already provides health insurance. That’s because the House bill requires firms to pay at least 72.5% of health-insurance premiums for individual workers and 65% for families in order to avoid the tax. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in 2008 found that about three in five small businesses fail to meet the Pelosi test and will have to pay the tax. In these instances, the businesses will have every incentive simply to drop their coverage.
A new study by Sageworks, Inc., a financial consulting firm, runs the numbers on the income statements of actual companies. It looks at three types of firms with at least $5 million in sales: a retailer, a construction company and a small manufacturer. The companies each have total payroll of between $750,000 and $1 million a year. Assuming the firms absorb the cost of the payroll tax, their net profits fall by one-third on average. That is on top of the 45% income tax and surtax that many small business owners would pay as part of the House tax scheme, so the total reduction in some small business profits would climb to nearly 80%. These lower after-tax profits would mean fewer jobs.
To put it another way, the workers who will gain health insurance from ObamaCare will pay the steepest price for it in either a shrinking pay check, or no job at all
Posted by: Holycow | July 31, 2009, 10:51 am 10:51 am
angie in pa getting a little worried?the independent moderates or the moderate dem. or rep. will win this one hail the blue dogs hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahha
Posted by: natale from mass. | July 31, 2009, 10:52 am 10:52 am
I have Health Insurance through my Job and In Jan of this year They have taken more out of my paycheck and switched my Insurance company to the most crappiest i get $1000 for Dental a year, and $3500 a year for medical, $1000 what a joke that doesnt even cover a root canal lol
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 10:52 am 10:52 am
Angie, Yeah, but the Democrats apparently aren’t able to destroy this great country with their extreme left socialist agenda and I’m loving it!!! Always the same argument from you guys. It goes something like this; “Oh yeah! Well, those Republicans were worse! So there! Take that you neocons”. Ridiculous!
Posted by: LongT | July 31, 2009, 10:52 am 10:52 am
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO to national health care. It will destroy the medical industry, bankrupt the country and rob citizens of basic human rights (right to life, for example).
Posted by: KC | Jul 31, 2009 10:32:53 AM
______________________
..getting the government involved in health care wouldn’t be a radical step: the government is already deeply involved, even in private insurance.
And that government involvement is the only reason our system works at all.
health care depends crucially on insurance. You don’t know when or whether you’ll need treatment — but if you do, treatment can be extremely expensive, well beyond what most people can pay out of pocket. Triple coronary bypasses, not routine doctor’s visits, are where the real money is, so insurance is essential.
Yet private markets for health insurance, left to their own devices, work very badly: insurers deny as many claims as possible, and they also try to avoid covering people who are likely to need care.
And in their efforts to avoid “medical losses,” the industry term for paying medical bills, insurers spend much of the money taken in through premiums not on medical treatment, but on “underwriting” — screening out people likely to make insurance claims. In the individual insurance market, where people buy insurance directly rather than getting it through their employers, so much money goes into underwriting and other expenses that only around 70 cents of each premium dollar actually goes to care.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 31, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
natale from mass
Everybody thinks they’re a “moderate independent”!
Blue Dogs have been showered with contributions from the health insurance industry as payment for stalling healthcare reform. Ain’t that special?
If it weren’t for the “far left wing” as you call them, there wouldn’t BE any pressure to get the uninsured covered and reduce costs.
Every political system has a left wing to come up with new ideas and a right wing to shoot them down. Moderates don’t hate either side, they just hold onto their helmets and sometimes back, and sometimes squash, the plans of either side.
At least the fight is now out in the open and the public is getting educated as to why costs are so high and who is making all the money in our system. Thank you left wingers!
Posted by: Amy B Maine | July 31, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
LONG T
And thanks to the Republicans and Bush far right extreme agenda for the last 8 years lets see we ended up with almost a Depression,a unjustified war, that cost Trillons and Killed 1000s,And unemployment highest in history. yeah we really need the Republicans back in power NOT! Been there done that and it wasnt pretty!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am
You Libs…..zanier than ever.
Posted by: Trajan | July 31, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Nat in Mass
There is no such thing as a Moderate in the Republican party, the Far Right lunaticts have taken over that party if any dare to be Moderate leader Limbaugh will get them!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
So go ahead right wingers praise the Blue Dog so called Democrats they dont give a damn about you or your Healthcare. all they care about is which Insurance company is going to throw the most money at them! MONEY MONEY MONEY!So go ahead keep thinking their working for the People just like you right wingers thought Bush was a good president you people are good for a few laughs!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
the government directly provides insurance via Medicare and other programs. Before Medicare was established, more than 40 percent of elderly Americans lacked any kind of health insurance. Today, Medicare — which is, by the way, one of those “single payer” systems conservatives love to demonize — covers everyone 65 and older. And surveys show that Medicare recipients are much more satisfied with their coverage than Americans with private insurance.”
Posted by: gus amaral | July 31, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Bottom line: No matter how “Blue” or “Yellow” your dog is Mr and Mrs D you need to understand where you are going. I look back to years spent in England where to birth a child cost in US Currency .26. Yes twenty six cents! BUT at 0400 no doctors were available at the HOSPITAL. I had to deliver my own child. Open your eyes America, we can do better than what is in print today. Our message needs to be collective and strong.
Posted by: Franka | July 31, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Vote public health care straight up or down. You really want republican ideas in a health care bill? They brought us the credit default swap, derivatives, hedge funds, speculators and speculation. More than 70% of this nation want public health care. Get rid of the worthless republican created HMOs. They eat up almost half the money we spend on health care. Their only product is pushing billing.
Posted by: rightbehind | July 31, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am
Nat from Mass
When i started my Job I had good Benefits like i said they just switched because of the rising cost now compaines are forced to raise the cost to the employee or do away with the benefits all together.Nat i dont take handouts i work and my husband works 60 hours a week but i see nothing wrong with a public option.
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 11:07 am 11:07 am
This is the United States of America the greatest country on earth, People should not have to choose in keepin theirselves or their loved ones alive or risk losing their house or Bank account due to Healthcare its a disgrace!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am
Dear Natale:
yes, unfortunately those at the top of the white collar strata take advantage of the blue collar principles you speak of.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 31, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am
per Paul Krugman:
“Right-wing opponents of reform would have you believe that President Obama is a wild-eyed socialist, attacking the free market. But unregulated markets don’t work for health care — never have, never will. To the extent we have a working health care system at all right now it’s only because the government covers the elderly, while a combination of regulation and tax subsidies makes it possible for many, but not all, nonelderly Americans to get decent private coverage.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 31, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am
KC: YES to national health care. It’s a must. Look at our healthcare now. My friend had a procedure and they are billing her $10,000 for the operating room. My other friend is 60 and needs a heart transplant in the future…she is worried sick…they may not give her the ok for one. If there is national healthcare there is competition. If you listened to the president’s speech you would know there are a bunch of scare tactics by the Repubs. You can go to your own doctor, you can choose another private plan. And they MUST cover you for pre-existing conditions and if you loose your job.
Posted by: Barb | July 31, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am
gus amaral my whole familys blue collar husband self employed plumber and hes partner brother self employed carpenter cousins all self employed carpenters.one thing we all learned is to save dont live beyond your means worked out perfectly for all of us money in the bank small bank of course we can survive for a long time we have are toys because we worked for them have land in good ole maine have great insurance not great dental but really who does we deal with it were regular middle class but we all agree on one thing goverment should stay out of our lives do it yourself learn capitalism we love it go blue dogs
Posted by: natale from mass. | July 31, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am
Sugarfree, yes i did get that and many other lines from the internet and then i downloaded all 1018 pages of the bill to see if they were true, and do you know what, they were all correct. By the way, I am perfectly happy with my insurance, are you with yours? Assuming you have insurance.
Posted by: Holycow | July 31, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
MIKE C
Wasnt President Bush the king of VETO?
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 11:30 am 11:30 am
This is the United States of America the greatest country on earth, People should not have to choose in keepin theirselves or their loved ones alive or risk losing their house or Bank account due to Healthcare its a disgrace!
————————————-
Angie in Pa,
What is a true disgrace is that Congress is not working on a healthcare plan at all. Everything they have created has been a guideline creating a healthcare plan. Not a plan at all!
All this absurd “the sky is falling” rhetoric meant nothing. IF…IF Obama had gotten his way and HR3200 was signed …TODAY…it provides for 18 months to generate just the initial set of benefits…
So…we rush, rush, rush yet again to pass a bill full of more loopholes and unknown consequences….JUST SO WE CAN WAIT. Wait for the REAL details to be worked out not by the representatives of the peole, but some foolish group that is as yet undetermined.
We commit billions upon billions more for a set of “promises” that we know can’t be kept.
(i.e. I wont sign a bill that adds one dime to the deficit…and I MEAN IT)
Posted by: Mike_C | July 31, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am
I think a number of posters on this site have been brainwashed by “community organizers” to believe their wants are the same thing as rights. Goodness folks, the constitution doesn’t even suggest the government should provide our needs. The government exists for the purpose of protecting us from internal and external enemies. Ideally we earn what we want and need according to what we contribute to the prosperity of this country. It’s not the government’s job to produce shiny happy people. It’s up to us to satisfy ourselves. The opportunity is there for each person’s pursuit.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | July 31, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
MikeC
What do you mean Congress is not working on a Plan according to the right wingers there is a bill already and its the End of the world its going to kill you hahah lolol so what is your point?
Posted by: Angie in Pa | July 31, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am
Hey, i have a great idea, let’s all of us just sit down somewhere and have a beer together.
Posted by: Holycow | July 31, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
mmonroeliveson
The Constituition doesn’t say we have to have clean air, food and water, but the government inspects all three, don’t they? Should we dismantle the EPA and the Food and Drug Administration? Saftey is for woosies, right?
Posted by: Amy B Maine | July 31, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
Haste is waste. There was no viable single health care bill. Just a lot of confusion with several bills that would have left the tax payers with a trillions in bills. Why can the lawmakers get it. 85% of the Americans are happy with their insurance. Provide health care for the remaining 15% and heavily tax all products that contribute to cancers, heart diseases, STDs and obesity. How many times do I have to repeat Ask not what the country can do for your health care, ask what you can do for yourself.
Posted by: gjkotw01 | July 31, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
This president is going to turn the U.S. into a third world country.
Posted by: ed sales | July 31, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
ed sales …yeah! like Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Scandinavia, and all those “third world” countries whose citizens have health care coverage.
Posted by: Amy B Maine | July 31, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
1. No bill is going to be perfect because we are human and not omniscient – the best way is to do something and fix the problems as they become apparent. The whole point of stalling is to make the thing fail? There is nothing new going on here and there is no “rush” – what have these idiot congressmen and congresswomen been doing for the last 15 years?
2. Private health insurance stinks! Don’t be fooled – if most go under then it is a good thing! You are paying too much for basically no coverage! You are being cheated! This doesn’t mean the government will give a great plan either, but just don’t lament most of these private insurers.
3. Having health insurance does not make people healthier and does nothing to contain health care costs. In fact the opposite may occur. Don’t confuse any of the hyperbole as actually having any effect on bringing costs down. Something that would make a difference would be medical liability reform, but none of the Democrats seem to want to talk about that. Ask yourself why that is the case…
Something needs to change with our health system folks. It is too expensive and doesn’t cover enough people. The plans they are talking about now will probably solve the latter of the two problems. The hope, though, is that once you break the stranglehold that the insurance companies have (and pharmaceuticals and hospitals) then you might actually be able to tackle the first problem.
Posted by: doc | July 31, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
It’s the Republican’s fault??? Pardon me but the Dems control both houses of Congress by substantial margins 60 to 40 in the Senate and 256 to 178 in the Houses. They can pass anything they want; they have absolute majorities.
How can this be blamed on the Republicans – what are they doing using Vulcan mind-melds to cause confusion in the ranks of the Dems. No the chaos is all due to the ineptitude of Ms Pelosi and Mr Reid. As Will Rogers once quipped, “”I am a member of no organized political party-I am a Democrat.”
Posted by: EM Lord, Oxford UK | July 31, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
Yeah, let’s just pass it. Let’s just pass anything. We want change… hey, how ’bout we push legislation through that changes us from a democracy to a totalitarian form of Government? Yeah, change… let’s change for the sake of change, to hell which direction that change may take us… change… change… yes, we can… yes, we can…
Posted by: Laughing_All_The_Way | July 31, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
Republicans finally and very quietly released a proposal today for health reform. Their bill totals 700 billion dollars, and the only propose 120 billion in cuts to pay for it. They also proposed to deregulate the insurance market, cause that worked wonders for the economy. As part of that deregulation insurers would be able to sell across state lines and any state level restrictions on insurers would be disregarded. Private insurers would be subsidized for low income individuals and families, basically throwing more gov’t money into business.
Posted by: Ordermonger | July 31, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
So if 80% of Americans are satisfied with their current plans, why do we have to up end the entire country to cover the other 20%, and in the process agree to “Old age life termination”
Posted by: ZK | July 31, 2009, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
ZK
As Sarah Palin would say, “stop making stuff up!”
Healthcare reform is not about killing off old people. I can’t believe that has to be stated.
I myself have health insurance, but I never did when I worked at a call center for L.L.Bean, at
any of the restaurants, day cares or retail stores where I worked. My brother is a self employed carpenter, he is not insured. My niece’s husband just got laid off from a white collar job, they are no longer insured, my friend is self employed and he has a $5000 deductible. Why do right wingers have to lie and obfuscate about EVERYTHING?
Posted by: Amy B | July 31, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
Still trying to make Palin look bad? She NEVER said she would be attending at the Reagan Library.
Posted by: debra | July 31, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Ignorance and avoidance of the problem will not solve it. If you are happy with your plan now, trust me, it won’t last. If it is employer-subsidized, expect that to be capped or come to an end. Either way you should expect a 10-30% increase in your premiums each year and a deductible that will be $1500 or more.
Pick your poison. It’s hard to imagine anything worse than what is happening right now.
Posted by: doc | July 31, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
“we all agree on one thing goverment should stay out of our lives do it yourself learn capitalism we love it go blue dogs.”
Posted by: natale from mass. | Jul 31, 2009 11:27:51 AM
_________________
so natale, you don’t believe in the Constitution? [the framework of our government]
Posted by: gus amaral | July 31, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
ed sales …yeah! like Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Scandinavia, and all those “third world” countries whose citizens have health care coverage.
———————————-
Amy B Maine,
you should look intot he reality of those other countries, and not just buy into the claims from the left of healthcare utopia.
Take a look at the “WH on Beer Diplomacy: “We’re not here to mediate apologies” blog from yesterday & last night.
blogger KR has inlaws in Germany paying between $1000 and $1200 (In US dallars)/month for government run healthcare.
from KR “my Father-in-law has had back surgery, a few actually, one to fix a bad disc in his back, 2 others trying to fix the scar tissue from the first surgery. They found laser surgery in Munich but government insurance won’t pay for it.”
So …they pay as much if not more than us, and STILL have issues providing that imagined “heaven” of healthcare.
Only a fool can really beleive that if we turn over healthcare to the gov’t to run it, that these kinds of things wont get very common place. Especially with the large numbers of elderly we are going to have over the next 25+ yrs! Reemmber , the end of the baby boomers is still 5 years from 50.
Posted by: Mike_C | July 31, 2009, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Angie in Pa:
The Republicans haven’t held power for
16 years in recent memory!
That’s certainly not true of the
Presidency and I don’t believe that is
true regarding Congress.
Also the Republican Party is Not the
Party of No as you say!
The fact that they disagree with the
Democrats healthcare plan does not
make it so.
Not voting yes on bad bills such as
those proposed by the Democrats does
not make you the Party of No!
Everyones health insurance doesn’t need
to be changed in order to insure the
20-30 million people who don’t have
health insurance.
This is another “power grab”(the banks,
auto industry) by the President and the
Democrats and We Do Say No To That!
Posted by: reaganfan | July 31, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
Amy B
Health care reform is about “Rationed Care” bases on age and are you worth anything after a lifetime of service and paying taxes, just like everyone else. So what you are saying is that we will keep the current level of payment and deduction for less care.
If your old you go. Peroid, not unless you are the president or a political figure. Let there be no mistake , this is grounded in social engineering. It has nothing to do with your plight, or correcting it. Nothing will change except long lines, little attention, and very high costs. The costs you are experiencing will still be there. What are you going to say to your mother when she is denied happiness and pain free quality of like?
Simple answer for you – Rightwingers are to blame.
Posted by: ZK | July 31, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Angie in PA: For some reason you dems think saying NO is a bad thing. To all republicans out there “Embrace the Power of NO”
No government take over of health care
No socialism
No redistribution of wealth
No more guilt over being wealthy or making a profit (this is still America right?)
No more democrats in the White House in 2012
Nobama
NO NO NO
Posted by: noguilt | July 31, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
I am for a health care bill that will help all Americans if it is done right. However, I do not like clauses that are tucked into a bill that we would not know. On Pg. 59 of the health care bill it states on lines 21-24 that the government will have direct access to your bank accounts for funds trnsfer. What is with that? I will close all my accounts before that will happen. On Pages 425 to 430 they talk about end-of-life. For instance, Seniors will be interviewed every five years for health issues and decisions made as to what they can or cannot receive. Also the government will decide what level of treatment you will have at the end of life. I have a living will and I will decide how I will die, not the government. I hope the Blue Dogs stand their ground because they seem to have the concern of the American people. I have listen to the Blue Dogs and they have said that it is not necessary to tax the rich because we need to cut the costs of the system that we have now. They have stated that we need a public option, but one that will compete with the private sector. I agree. They have said that we need to slow down and get it right. Totally agree. I want to see health care for all Americans, but let them get it done right without all the tucked in clauses that we will not know about until it is too late.
Posted by: ritzau | July 31, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Even through nearly 80 percent of the American public is for health care reform, the Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats want to delay, delay, delay…. I realize the GOP would be against anything President Obama proposes, because they are the party of no, but I also find it interesting that the Blue Dogs got a lot of new money from the health care industry. It seems that greed is more important than service the public. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same. Too bad, America had a chance….
Posted by: algwriter | July 31, 2009, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
Health care is not a “right”. The government should mind it’s own business and butt out of our lives. We’re handling our health care just fine.
Perhaps if the Congress was so motivated, it might fix the current system? That is too easy to suggest, isn’t it.
Let’s call this plan what it really is: A government sponsored rationed-care program with an eye to denying care to the elderly. It’s a national program for killing off the old and the weak. It’s about removing choice, control of your own destiny and “control” itself.
This is the truth of this ridiculous and offensive smelling plan that the Democrats so badly want you and I to become subject to.
Posted by: Jon | July 31, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
TinaV that was a very good post. I watched lastnight(07-30-09) as Representitive Blunt purposed an amendment to health care bil that Congress, the Senate, and the White House become, a part of the health care program as a lot of the people are asking why, they are exempt. You would have thought he was asking them to give up their 1st born. The “points of order were yelled out”. He was told he was that he could not bring this out in this meeting and further that the matter had to be tabled. Rep. Blunt ask if they would hold a verbal vote just to allow him to make further statements concerning consideration of the attachment. In no uncertain terms he was told to drop this matter all together at this meeting.Waxman told him he was completely out of lineThese people want nothing to do with the health care bill they are pushing for us “LOW LIFE AMERICANS”. They are far more important than to be strapped with the same plan they are pushing for us.
Posted by: Don Park | July 31, 2009, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
Another government managed program (now that’s an oxymoron). Just like SSA, USPS and defense spending. Current fiasco is the “Cash for Clunkers”
Posted by: Don | July 31, 2009, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
The profit making healthcare industry, like me, is a public enemy.
-Nero
Posted by: Nero | July 31, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
Cash for Clunkers mess should be a warning against the government taking over health care! The government messes up EVERYTHING it has ever done. There is nothing the government can do that the private sector can’t do better. The fact that Obama wants to ram it through in a matter of weeks is irresponsible! He spent 6 months picking out a puppy, but is carelessly pushing this on America???
Posted by: Michelle | July 31, 2009, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
Unfortunately we still have about 18 months before we can turn the house and senate around and 42 months to vote bozobama out of office. By then it will be too late to undo the damage that will be done by the liberals. We’re all depending on these blue dogs to at least force congress to use their heads to make decisions. What’s next after this, gun control?
Posted by: Holycow | July 31, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Seems in the conservative view there’s always money to spend on more wars and never any money available to spend on peace and the common good here in the states.
Morality died in America when fear and religion became a political tool used to exploit the uneducated for fun and profit.
Posted by: Michael | July 31, 2009, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
I don’t know what all the crying is about, when the democrats pass the natl. one payer health care ins, comp just get out of the healt ins business because the can’t compete. That means that all the senators and representatives loose their health ins. too, and they all get what they asked for.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 31, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
I don’t know what all the crying is about, when the democrats pass the natl. one payer health care ins, comp just get out of the healt ins business because the can’t compete. That means that all the senators and representatives loose their health ins. too, and they all get what they asked for.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 31, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
In order to pass an almost perfect health care bill, Congress and Federal employees need to be covered under it. Once Congress has a vested interest, as the Health Care reform bill would directly affect them, then and only then ,the best results can be obtained. What is good for the American people is good for Congress. We do not need a elitist exception to health care.
Posted by: Downwithsocialism | July 31, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Angie in Pa: you must be one frustrated individual. You can’t get your facts straight, the party of NO has been the democrats and always will be. Or have you forgotten all the NO votes for the past few years. Oh, no that really can’t be true. Dem. are liers, cheats and sell their vote to the highest bidder.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 31, 2009, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
“Health care reform is about “Rationed Care” bases on age and are you worth anything after a lifetime of service and paying taxes”
Where are you getting this misinformation? It’s a crock. Do you understand? How can you base your opinon on a complete lie and proudly spread that lie over the internet? How can you look yourself in the mirror? You can’t honestly think old people are going to be denied care under a Democratic/Obama healthcare system.
News Flash: people are dying now, with the system the way it is, because the unisured don’t go to the doctor when their illness first starts – by the time they do they are way too sick. People are racking up huge medical bills and declaring bankruptcy as a result, or are saddled with debt with years afterwards.
Posted by: Amy B Maine | July 31, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
My understanding that 72% of the people a few months ago wanted a health care plan. Where are they now? They should be writing and complaining to their representatives that nothing is happening. Everyone wants it but no one wants to pay for it. A health plan will reduce the number of people who are ininsured and are coming into the emergency rooms. We are paying for that so I would rather pay toward a better health plan and one where I could not be thrown off because of a pre-existing condition. We are controlled by the insurance companies who don’t care about us, they only care about making maney. They are a business not a medical association. I hope you “blue dogs” wake up and get something going and if nothing is done, I never want to hear another thing about health care. It is now or never, folks.
Posted by: talmag | July 31, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
Dear Amy B -
Read the proposed bill. It will utalize a “CARY” chart. What is the “CARY” chart? It’s based on 1.-How old you are. How long are you expected to live? If the year gap is to narrow, you and your older family members,will not have the opportunity to rack up huge hosipital bills, they will just be ignored and left to perish. I guess in some peoples eyes, this is acceptable. Why keep someone alive, when the money can be spent on much younger ones who can vote for 25+ years.
Play by the rules, serve your country & in later life get treated as a 3rd class citizen. Amy where did the generation of the 40′s & 50′s let you down?
Posted by: ZK | July 31, 2009, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
TinaV – you have misunderstood the section that you are referring to. It provides payment for an optional visit to one’s physician for a review of one’s living will. It does not make any recommendation as to what your living will should say, just that you are given all options and learn how to set up a living will, power of attorney, and other important documents. Who is against learning their options and preparing so that their families know what they want? So that you don’t pass along any more misinformation, you might want to read the bill or the summary.
And holycow, you are wrong on almost every point you are trying to make. I went and looked and the sections you point out don’t say what you say they do.
Page 59 – sets up the option of paying by electronic payment, and does not grant the government access to your accounts in any manner other than to conduct the electronic payment if you opt to do that.
Page 50 sec 152 – prohibits racial discrimination, and doesn’t mention illegals (Illegals are prohibited from receiving government funds in “SEC. 246. NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS.”)
Page 85 line 7 – sets up three tiers of health insurance: basic, enhanced, and premium, for you to choose from. It says nothing about rationing.
Page 203 line 14-15 – states that certain taxes won’t be considered in the determination of credit, not that it won’t be treated as a tax.
Page 239 line 14-24 – doesn’t say anything about Medicare, seniors, low income or poor. It talks about which physician services should be included in the target growth rate computation. Did you even read this one?
Page 425 line 4-12 – talks about being given the right to discuss your living will with your physician at an appointment that is covered by insurance. It does not “give” anyone the right to be your power of attorney…that is for you to decide.
I think people should actually read the bill and not rely on biased second-hand interpretations of what the bill says.
Posted by: mallory | July 31, 2009, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
We have a news story about an uninsured man who has called local ambulance services over 600 times for trips to the ER to get treatment for things like a cold. It seems like a good plan. No huge monthly insurance payments for care they won’t pay for anyway. I just might try it and save myself from being screwed by the insurance companies. Let those who oppose reform pay my bills.
Posted by: Disgusted | July 31, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
Well the democrats dont need republicans unless they need COVER for creating a disaster, which this BILL is. Has anybody noticed the Cash for Cars is a MESS and that was a SIMPLE idea can you imagine this rushed health care bill? HOW many oh by the way it will cost 6 trillion no we are sorry 9 trillion OH we have to disband the insurance companies OH we have to kill your grandparents they cost to much and giving council is cheaper. The LOVERS of this bill have not even read it. NOR do they offer any facts from it that support it. Has anyone noticed that?
Posted by: ChicagBob | July 31, 2009, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
What a ruse!!
*No TORT reform.
*No Health Savings Accounts to allow individuals to at least be partially responsible for their OWN health care.
*No intra-border health insurance sales
*No targeted language for fraud, waste and abuse of MEDICARE and MEDICAID.
This bill is nothing more than an uncontrollable cost entitlement program, masquerading as ‘REFORM’!
This reminds me of an outdated sausage factory with three week old meat, trying to dress up the product with colorful ‘casings’ to sell as ‘gourmet’!
HOW CAN YOU TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SAVING THEIR TAX DOLLARS WHEN THE PACKAGE WILL COST AT LEAST ONE TRILLION DOLLARS??
Team Obama is beginning to insult the intelligence of a lot of people who supported him. NOT GOOD!
Posted by: PappyHappy | July 31, 2009, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
The President will have to take a much stronger stand if he is to be successful in bringing much needed reform. Right wing opponents have the herd scared and stampeeding!>>>>>> Hmm I see what you are saying is the democratic majority cant just do any wreckless thing they want. Heck they may even need to read the bill. Is that a problem for you? That means the people may have time to read this as well. When they object you call that a problem? WOW Democrats run when the lights are turned on.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | August 1, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
So, if 80% are happy, let’s have Washinton work on the parts that are not working. We don’t need another Post Office, AMTRAK, or more broken Medicares.
Posted by: deanbob | August 1, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
Saw this the other day.
The Ten Commandments According to Obama
I. Thou shalt have no God in America, except for me. For we are no longer a Christian nation and, after all, I am the chosen One. (And like God, I do not have a birth certificate.)
II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, unless it is my face carved on Mt. Rushmore.
III. Thou shalt not utter my middle name in vain (or in public). Only I can say Barack Hussein Obama.
IV. Remember tax day, April 15th, to keep it holy.
V. Honour thy father and thy mother until they are too old and sick to care for. They will cost our public-funded health-care system too much money.
VI. Thou shalt not kill, unless you have an unwanted, unborn baby. For it would be an abomination to punish your daughter with a baby.
VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery if you are conservative or a Republican. Liberals and Democrats are hereby forgiven for all of their infidelity and immorality, but the careers of conservatives will be forever destroyed.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal, until you’ve been elected to public office. Only then is it acceptable to take money from hard-working, successful citizens and give it to those who do not work, illegal immigrants, or those who do not have the motivation to better their own lives.
IX. Thou shalt not discriminate against thy neighbor unless they are conservative, Caucasian, or Christian.
X. Thou shalt not covet because it is simply unnecessary. I will place such a heavy tax burden on those that have achieved the American Dream that, by the end of my term as President, nobody will have any wealth or material goods left for you to covet.
Posted by: sandcrab1612 | August 1, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
People, give it up..can go outside and get some sunshine…the GOP have become mostly an hysterical, unhinged dysfunctional “opposition party”…
their total lack of credibility as an effective opposition is hurting the country as they mostly refuse to enter into any sane debate…
instead, 42% of GOP voters believe the POTUS is an undocumented illegal (33% were not sure if we was legal) – despite all the evidence to the contrary,
38% of GOPers polled believe Sarah Palin is “presidential material”, despite her incredibly poor record of running a state smaller than Nashville TN
and 68% believe Glenn Beck is an “intellectual”, despite his not having a single academic qualification……this is the 2009 version of the GOP….when compared the the 1980 Reagan version of the GOP…..totally tragic…and we all pay the price for this incompetence.
Besides, in the end, the votes will be there for Health care reform, and there is nothing the “lunatics” in the GOP can do about it…they had their 8 years and failed spectacularly.
Posted by: indithinker | August 2, 2009, 8:50 am 8:50 am
I’m not worried one little bit, health care reform will pass before this year ends.
Posted by: veronica | August 2, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
I would love to know just who are the people being asked to do a poll on health care reform. I bet ya it’s not the 50million people without insurance, lower middle class or poor.
Posted by: veronica | August 2, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
Ok…let’s all face facts here…this is ONLY a power move to control every thing we have and our health and lives as well…so far, this is all this empty suit, no nothing can do!
Posted by: Sue, throwingemover | August 3, 2009, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
Why the USA can no have a health care system like in Japan? People are paying way too much for hospitals, doctors and even do not know what they are paying for.
In Japan, everybody is covered by “National Health Insurance”. The monthly premium is according to the income of the family. Everybody only need to pay 20% of the hospital and dentist cost out of pocket.
I hope Mr. Obama and his government can do a good job and let the US citizens live in peace.
Posted by: Sue | August 3, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
To prove how hard it is to get a health care bill done, look to Sen. Kennedy. He has dedicated his life as a Senator to try to get things done. It almost killed Clinton and now Obama is paying for trying. I think he should be commended for attacking this problem. If the House and Senate could forget about themselves and their lobbyist and their ego’s, maybe we could get it done. While they are celebrating their hold up, let me tell them it will be short lived as if President Obama fails, it will reflect on all Democrats and when the voting time comes, they will not be elected in spite of what they think. It will prove that the in-house fighting of the democrats is so bad they could not get anything done even for a popular president. Put your ego’s away and work on this bill. I know it is not easy, but it is necessary. Saying that it will break us financially does not seem to work. I think that your health insurance should be revoked and you must get your insurance like the rest of us and deal with an insurance company who controls what they will pay in spite of the cost to you.
Posted by: talmag | August 3, 2009, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
We should use the same model for health insurance that we use for car insurance. If you want an oil change you pay for it out of your own pocket – no insurance involved. If you need a flu shot or have a cold, you pay for the visit no health insurance involved. That would greatly reduce health care costs as it would throttle the over use of the system and get market forces to keep costs low.
Emergency rooms should only be used as emergency rooms. They are not clinics. We need to have clinics for that sort of use. If one cannot afford a clinic, then a VA style clinic should be provided – possibly as an extension of the current VA system. California hospitals are bankrupt because they allow people to use ERs as clinics. That has to stop or we will have no emergency services left.
Insurance would cover things like cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. One can buy whatever insurance one wants on the open market. If one can prove they cannot afford insurance a system can be setup to provide insurance – similar to the way phone service is provided for those unable to pay full rate.
This would be an all American system, not a retread of failed systems from Europe. We should learn from other’s mistakes.
Posted by: welldirected | August 4, 2009, 12:17 am 12:17 am
The President will have to take a much stronger stand if he is to be successful in bringing much needed reform. >>>>>> What does the President want? He cant tell you I watched his speech. I can also tell you that he has not even read the current bill in the house. That was obvious as well. Nothing in the house plan is about reform. The House plan which the President is behind is all about take over. Its CRAZY.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | August 4, 2009, 7:25 am 7:25 am
Dear Federal Government: STOP SPENDING MONEY THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE! Stop the Deficit Spending. Stop Raising Taxes, costs or any other way you want to phrase it. STOP TAKING OUR MONEY. Nothing, again NOTHING, that the Federal Government has ran successfully for more than 20 years. Name 1 that has. And when I mean successful, I mean it is not bankrupt (or on the verge of), it does not have miles of red tape and does not require annual tax increases to support it.
Why should the Federal Government tell the States what to do? To make them bankrupt also?
Why should we allow the Federal Government spend more of our money when they are bankrupt? Why should we let the Federal Government spend a nickle more, when they are Trillions of Dollars (Trillion = $1,000,000,000 = $2,800 for every US citizen) in debt?
“You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” – Adrian Rogers, 1931
Posted by: Greg C | August 4, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
HEY ABC I DARE YOU TO LIST ALL THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
I saw a CNBC show this AM which really framed the issues clearly and shows why the current bill should be DESTROYED.
Bob
Posted by: ChicagBob | August 4, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
WE need real health care reform NOT takeover. Delete the house Takeover bill and make some meaningful changes that will really reform. Like TORT reform thats been asked for about a decade now. Pooling which will help individuals and small business to BUY health care.
Posted by: ChicagBob | August 4, 2009, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
Read the Bill and understand it. This bill should not pass.
Posted by: aforefreedom | August 4, 2009, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
Anyone who thinks Obamacare will be wonderful and we will forever live in utopia should read some of the stuff that they are trying to shove down our throats in a New York minute. You don’t have to find the entire proposal online, you can Google each page (below) of the proposal to see the gory details for yourself. If you don’t like…tell your representative before it is too late. This the wrong way to ‘reform’. Get the malpractice, ambulance chasing lawyers out of the picture and costs will go down. Doctors/hospitals prescribe too many expensive, often unneccesary tests to cover their butt. There are other fixes that can also be implemented without the federal govt. being involved.
Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure!!
Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill – THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!
Page 42 of HC Bill:The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens , illegal or otherwise
Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to you ur banks accounts for elective funds transfer.
Page 65 Sec 164: is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations: (ACORN).
Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange.
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!
Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example – Translation: illegal aliens.
Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. AARP members – your Health care WILL be rationed.
Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.
Page 124 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.
Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what you can make! (salary)
Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!
Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.
Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.
Page 150 Lines 9-13: Business’s with payroll btw 251k & 401k who doesn’t provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.
Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans finances /personal records.
Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that!
Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors, low income and poor are affected.
Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same!
Page 253 Line 10-18: Govt sets value of Doctor’s time, profession, judgment etc. Literally value of humans.
Page 265 Sec 1131: Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.
Page 268 Sec 1141: Federal Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!
Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever Govt deems preventable re-admissions.
Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission -Govt will penalize you.
Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Doctors what/how much they can own!
Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.
Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. Can u say ACORN?!!
Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.
Page 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan.
Page 354 Sec 1177: Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! Unbelievable!
Page 379 Sec 1191: Govt creates more bureaucracy – Tele-health Advisory Comittee. Can you say HC by phone?
Page 425 Lines 4-12: Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life patients.
Page 425 Lines 17-19: Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death. (assisted suicide)
Page 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt20has a say in how your life ends.
Page 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.
Page 429 Lines 10-12: “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOVT!
Page 429 Lines 13-25: The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life!
Page 469: Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!?
Page 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORIGINATION. 1 monthly payment 2 a community-based organization. Like ACORN?
Page 489 Sec 1308: The Gov’t will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Gov’t into your marriage.
Page 494-498: Gov’t will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.
What reasonably intelligent person can support such a socialist plan as this?
Posted by: Jim Scott | August 10, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am