9/15 – The New, New Health Care Deadline
EmailABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: Senate Finance Committee negotiations for a bipartisan health reform bill got back underway this afternoon with a new deadline. When things reached a perilous moment last Thursday and the six negotiators met alone, no staff, in a cramped office in the Capitol building to find a way forward, they agreed to work through the summer recess to find middle ground. Congress has until September 15. Waiting any longer would put Democrats in danger of not being able to use their ace in the hole – the procedural tactic in the budget process known as reconciliation – to pass a more piecemeal health reform overhaul without Republican support. The Sept. 15 date is written in pencil and not officially announced, it would seem, but hard to move. And this newest deadline is already causing new obstacles among the negotiators. The Democrats seem to realize that September 15 is the date beyond which they cannot continue to negotiate. As Kent Conrad told ABC’s David Chalian and Jon Karl on "Top Line" Friday, “My anticipation is that we will produce a package in September — in the first part of September, the first half of September, and if we don’t we’ll have to go in a different direction." Republican Mike Enzi, however, fired back Monday in a paper statement that he agreed to no such deadline. Said Enzi: “I have not and will not agree to an artificial deadline because I am committed to getting health care reform right, not finishing a bill by some arbitrary date. Improving access to quality, affordable health care for American families is too important to do hastily… We’re making progress, but we still have several significant, outstanding items to work on. I won’t be moved by partisan threats to misuse the budget reconciliation process. I am committed to getting health care reform right,” he said. But it seems like after that date, Democrats, if they want to pass something, will have to fall back on the partisan approach. So Enzi could keep negotiating after that date, but it might be in a very lonely room.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Good to see that Dems realize they’ll have to pull the plug at some point.
Posted by: Matt | August 3, 2009, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
The Borgen Project has some good information on the cost of addressing global poverty.
It only takes $30 billion annually to end world hunger!
Yet… we are spending $550 billion annually on the defense budget.
Posted by: Serena M | August 3, 2009, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
Like anything will really change during the month off. Blue Digs will still be hard to please, Republicans still blowing off kooky rhetoric…
Posted by: matt | August 3, 2009, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program.” (applause) “I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that’s what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House.”
Obama speaking to the Illinois AFL-CIO, June 30, 2003.
Posted by: ConstantineXI | August 3, 2009, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
Obama couldn’t care less about the elderly. His Health Care plan will lead to cuts in Medicare and denial of care to the elderly(his lies to the contrary notwithstanding). If any of you Obama supporters have grandparents who are alive, you are supporting rationing and denial of your grandparents health care if you support Obama’s stupid health care program.
Posted by: ConstantineXI | August 3, 2009, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
Drip…drip….drip. Your daily info
on this turkey of a bill seems to
change hourly. What is happening to
these profligate Dem legislators
is that people are chewing up their
“bills” and spitting them out as they
are being written. August will be
a bloody month, with major retreat
on the Left, come fall. Obama, we
know your playbook.
Posted by: Trajan | August 3, 2009, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
We have the lowest post-partum infant survival rate of any technologically advanced nation according to the CDC. We need to take the politics out of the process and pass meaningful reform now.
Posted by: Mark from atlanta | August 3, 2009, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
Do not believe anything Obama says. Everything he wants is not in our best interest. I do not want the government telling me I have to have insurance and fine me if I don’t. Don’t be fooled. This man has his own agenda. None of the senators will agree to going on government health care.
Posted by: irishrose | August 3, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
The only reason we don’t have universal healthcare like every other industrialized nation is because of the corruption of special interest groups from insurance companies etc.
When you combine the average the most people currently pay in insurance premiums with taxes, it is THE SAME as Europeans. The only difference is when we get sick the insurance companies try everything they can not to cover us, whereas if they get sick, they get covered.
Posted by: DK | August 3, 2009, 11:42 pm 11:42 pm
we should learn from our mistakes…we rushes into Iraq. Anything worth doing takes time.
Posted by: Tina | August 4, 2009, 12:26 am 12:26 am
When the Dems start watching their parents and kids die from lack of health-care under their worker’s paradise of “free’ care, it’s going to be a wake-up call that Socialism doesn’t work. Meanwhile, real Americans will be saying “I told you so” to the apple-dumpling gang who think everything needs the government to fix it.
Posted by: Jon | August 4, 2009, 12:35 am 12:35 am
The System is broken and needs to be fixed. Republicans favor private insurance (those who can well afford it finacially). Democrats favor health care for ALL. Hummmmm, enough of the greedy insurance companies, pharmaceuticals and hospitals/doctors stripping medicare for all its worth. Can you say, MEDICARE IS BANKRUPT?
Posted by: Trixie | August 4, 2009, 2:01 am 2:01 am
irishrose wrote: ” I do not want the government telling me I have to have insurance and fine me if I don’t.”
And I don’t want to have any more gifted and talented high school students who don’t go to college because they need a job with good insurance so they can get the shoulder operation that kept them in pain and out of sports and dancing their entire senior year because their parents didn’t want anyone telling them they needed decent insurance.
And I don’t want cheapskates clogging up the emergency rooms, not paying, and causing my premiums to rise because hospitals have to charge paying patients more to break even.
And I don’t want to have to seat kids in the front row and still have them learn poorly because they don’t have glasses and can’t see.
There are thing we all don’t want, aren’t there?
Posted by: The_Mick | August 4, 2009, 2:20 am 2:20 am
Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill – YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!
Pg 42 of HC Bill – The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your
HC benefits for you. You have no choice!
Pg 50 Section 152 in HC bill – HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise
Pg 58HC Bill – Govt will have real-time access to individuals’ finances and a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks’ accounts for election funds transfer
Pg 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill – Govt mandates linguistic-appropriate services. Example: Translation for illegal aliens
Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups (i.e., ACORN & Americorps) to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan
Pg 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill – Medicaid-eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.
pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.
Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for health care for part-time employees AND their families.
pg 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill – Doctors/ #AMA – The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.
Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST automatically enroll employees into pub opt plan. NO CHOICE
Pg 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Pg 195 HC Bill – Officers and employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans’ financial and personal records.
Pg 203 Line 14-15 HC – “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that.
Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected
Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill – Doctors will all be paid the same, regardless of what specialty you have.
Pg 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of doctor’s time, professional judgment, etc. Literally value of humans.
Pg 298 Lines 9-11 Doctors who treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission will be penalized by the Govt.
Pg 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells doctors what/how much they can own. (No private practice)
Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand
Pg 354 Sec 1177 – Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of special needs people.! Sounds like post birth abortion.
Pg 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life
Pg 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory!
Pg 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death
Posted by: James Morris | August 4, 2009, 3:03 am 3:03 am
Once again it is the haves vs the have nots. Those with health insurance don’t want the uninsured clogging up doctor’s waiting rooms (according to Michelle Bachmann, Republican of Minnesota) Let the uninsured die in the alley or on the street as long as those lucky enough to have insurance don’t have to worry about their own coverage. Republicans really know how to drive a debate – as usual they spread lies, greed, shelfishness, ignorance and fear and then brag about what great Americans they are.
Posted by: Kate1149 | August 4, 2009, 4:37 am 4:37 am
I would like to see the AMA come up with suggestions on how to reform health care. It’s been amazing to me that for years, doctors have been allowing politicians and lawyers to regulate their profession. If Obama gets this passed, it will be a train wreck and then goodbye Obama-his “Waterloo”. He’s a liar who says whatever is expedient.
Posted by: Jennifer, NY | August 4, 2009, 6:29 am 6:29 am
You can really tell whose best interests are protected when it comes to actually getting things done. They (both parties) sure rescued big banks in no time. But when it comes to helping the average to poor American get basic and affordable health insurance, they sure know how to tie things up in knots. They sure are masters of delay games. If a decent bill isn’t arrived at this will be a shining example how the ‘system’ doesn’t work for the people but only for a relative few and don’t think the rest of the world isn’t watching. Is there no wonder people in other lands hate us and our self-serving ‘money talks’ system of government.
Posted by: Bill | August 4, 2009, 7:51 am 7:51 am
Lets say this passes and we have health care for everyone, what changes? The big thing is you have just told 40 million plus people that they now have free health care. Did we increase the number of doctors? No. Did we build more facilities to treat these people? No. Are you going to have to wait longer to see a doctor? Yes. Is your Doctor going to be over worked? Yes. Is your health care going to suffer? Yes, how could it not?
Posted by: billy bob | August 4, 2009, 8:23 am 8:23 am
This Bill and It’s Universal System is Nothing More than the Govnm’t trying to get more control over the people & every aspect of their lives, especially when they are demanding access to Anyone’s Personal Bank Acct. and Personal Health and Financial Information. This Bill is NOT the way to do Health Care Reform. As always, the Bill Pushers care NOT to pass any effective control and regulation measures, they’re only pleasing their Lobbyists and Constituents. They aren’t making Health Care Costs reasonable instead they’re trying to take over an Industry that they know NOTHING about just to get more votes and be able to say “Look what all we fixed in 1 yr”. It’s NOT Universal when the Insurance is ONLY being offered to Illegals and Poor w/in the first 5 yrs. At present, Anyone without Insurance is considered Indigient and gets Free Health Care Already per each State Taxpayers’.
Posted by: MPass86 | August 4, 2009, 8:27 am 8:27 am
“Obama couldn’t care less about the elderly. His Health Care plan will lead to cuts in Medicare and denial of care to the elderly(his lies to the contrary notwithstanding). If any of you Obama supporters have grandparents who are alive, you are supporting rationing and denial of your grandparents health care if you support Obama’s stupid health care program.
Posted by: ConstantineXI | Aug 3, 2009 10:33:53 PM
__________________________
This is pure propoganda. and simply not true. this type of crap is what the conservative radio shows/platform are pedaling.
Nasty “Swift boat-ing” ….
and we all know it.
Posted by: gus amaral | August 4, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am
Conservative/GOP propaganda review for the morning:
1. “This Bill and It’s Universal System is Nothing More than the Govnm’t trying to get more control over the people & every aspect of their lives..”
___________
WRONG.
WHY?
the healthcare reform proposal is to give more control to public access with fair, quality healthcare.
2. “Obama couldn’t care less about the elderly. His Health Care plan will lead to cuts in Medicare and denial of care to the elderly”
WRONG.
WHY? Coverage under Medicare to the elderly is not proposed to change. Inflated charges by mega-wealthy health care corporations is what is in question.
3. “Is your health care going to suffer? Yes, how could it not?”
WRONG.
WHY? The proposal focuses on the ill uninsured, underinsured to obtain safe healthcare without having to lose their houses, savings, cars as is currently happening.
Posted by: gus amaral | August 4, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am
“I would like to see the AMA come up with suggestions on how to reform health care. It’s been amazing to me that for years, doctors have been allowing politicians and lawyers to regulate their profession. If Obama gets this passed, it will be a train wreck and then goodbye Obama-his “Waterloo”. He’s a liar who says whatever is expedient.
Posted by: Jennifer, NY | Aug 4, 2009 6:29:55 AM
_______________________
The AMA endorsed the President’s plan already.
weeks ago.
This news was in headlines of all the major newspapers. get informed, and stay away from conservative radio.
Posted by: gus amaral | August 4, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
Let me tell you what this is really about. Some people have bad luck and I feel for them. Some people, lazy sobs , illegal immigrants and “victims” simply want to the people who work, pay taxes and make this country what it is to PAY for everything. I am not there yet, but am getting close to saying..”if you have not paid taxes in the last 5 years” you have no right to vote..
Posted by: Mark | August 13, 2009, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
Mr. Enzi,
I don’t expect you to be moved by either deadlines nor reason. Do us a favor and declare your opposition to providing health insurance to the millions of families who have none, and your opposition to reigning in the insurance companies that reward employees for denying coverage and rescending policies when people get sick. JUST TAKE YOUR BALL AND YOUR BAT AND GO HOME!
Posted by: Walter | August 13, 2009, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
Mr. Baucus,
POINT 1. If you want to hold down health insurance premiums (which DOUBLED during the last 10 years) the only way to achieve this is with the competition of THE PUBLIC OPTION.
Tell your colleages that I want the option of choosing my own doctor and I want the option of a STRONG PUBLIC OPTION for my family. Give me the option and GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY.
POINT 2. If you want to avoid having people jump on your car like poor Dan Rostenkoski, you better reject the ideas of the blue dogs, which are basicly that the middle class should be burdened with the cost of mandatory health insurance with no subsidy.
Posted by: Walter | August 13, 2009, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
James Morris ,
Most of your observations have already been looked into and revealed as BALD FACED LIES by reporters. And the Terminator movie was not reality either, not that you would know the difference.
Posted by: Walter | August 13, 2009, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Funny that those so suddenly silent on the costly bloodshed in Afghanistan are pushing for an even more costly government healthcare system. These same people backed the unstimulating stimulus fiasco.
Why not fix the current broken government systems like medicare and put enough aside to cover costs of the 15 million who need insurance. Why not allow cheaper meds from Canada instead of Obama’s new deal with the drug companies? As for covering non-residents and non-citizens that should a whole new bill.
Posted by: Katrina | August 17, 2009, 2:49 am 2:49 am