A Time for Choosing: Pelosi to Iron Out Differences on Health Care Among House Democrats
EmailABC News' Teddy Davis reports: It's time to iron out differences in the House.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is "accelerating efforts" to develop a consensus health-care bill that would meld three committee versions passed during the summer, and "has hopes" of nailing down details late next week. She will be begin this process with a Friday meeting in her office that will include the House Democratic leadership, the chair of the Rules Committee (Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y.) and the chairs of the three committees which have produced health-care bills (Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif.). The purpose of the meeting is to resolve differences among House Democrats. On the table will be the shape of the public option, how to pay for the bill, regional disparities, how to structure restrictions on abortion funding, and whether to strengthen measures to prevent illegal immigrants from benefiting from a health-care overhaul. It is unclear what will be decided today. When it comes to the public option, Pelosi and other progressives would like to use Medicare rates, believing such an approach would save the government money. The Speaker, however, is getting pushback from moderate and conservative Democrats, many of whom worry that health-care providers are already being squeezed by Medicare's below-market rates. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, a leader of the Blue Dogs, a coalition of 52 moderate Democrats, told the Wall Street Journal that tying payment rates to Medicare would "tilt the ‘playing field' toward the public option, and ‘very few Blue Dogs' support the idea." Rep. Slaughter, the head of the Rules Committee, tells Politico that the goal is to have a bill on the House floor in mid-October. While Democratic lawmakers try to iron out differences in the House, the fight over a public option is bubbling up in the Senate. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., are planning to force a roll-call vote in the Senate Finance Committee on two amendments that would create a government-run insurance program – a top priority for liberal Democrats that was left out of the bill drafted by Finance Chairman Max Baucus. Originally, Schumer and Rockefeller were planning to push this amendment today. It has now been pushed back to next week because the mark-up is only going until noon. The amendments are not likely to pass, according to ABC's Jonathan Karl, because they will be opposed by all Republicans, and at least four Democrats on the committee are cool to the idea of a public option (Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Tom Carper of Delaware, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, and Bill Nelson of Florida), but Schumer has been trying to negotiate with those Democrats to craft a version of the public option they could support. If the amendments fail, it would appear that a pure public option is all but dead in the Senate (although liberals will try to resurrect it when the full Senate takes up the bill). U.S. Accuses Iran of Concealing Nuclear Site: On Friday morning, President Obama, French President Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown accused Iran of building a clandestine underground nuclear fuel manufacturing plant, which Iran's leaders have hidden from weapons inspectors. "Iran's decision to build yet another nuclear facility without notifying the IAEA represents a direct challenge to the basic compact at the center of the non-proliferation regime," said Obama. Appearing Friday morning on "Good Morning America," ABC's George Stephanopoulos said that White House officials are confident that intelligence proving that Iran has concealed a second nuclear enrichment site will galvanize the international sanctions effort. The Rest of Obama's Friday: President Obama is in Pittsburgh today for the G-20. He began his day with an 8:30 am ET statement accusing Iran of concealing a nuclear site.
Other highlights on his schedule include plans to attend a 9:30 am ET plenary session of the G-20 at the Pittsburgh Convention Center followed by a press conference at 4:40 pm ET.
President Obama returns to the White House at 7:20 pm ET.
The G-20 is replacing the G-8 as the primary international economic summit, reports ABC's Jake Tapper. The change will be officially announced by the G-20 later today.
White House Regroups on Guantanamo:
"With four months left to meet its self-imposed deadline for closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba," White House Counsel Gregory B. Craig is "no longer in charge of the project," reports the Washington Post.
A White House official tells ABC's George Stephanopoulos that "not every" detainee will be out of Guantanamo by the president's January 22nd deadline for closing the prison. Obama is still committed to closing the facility and hopes the population will "dwindle substantially" by the January, but the official told Stephanopoulos that "the President's not going to sacrifice national security for the sake of the deadline." White House officials add that White House Counsel Greg Craig has not been asked by Obama to resign, but it's likely that he would take an attractive diplomatic post if "one were to come open." GOP to Block Health Nominees Over ‘Gag Order':
The Senate's top Republicans are vowing to block President Obama from filling health posts until his administration stops barring insurers from telling seniors how they could be impacted by cuts to Medicare Advantage. Here is how this maneuver would work: Republicans won't give Democrats consent to move Obama's HHS nominees quickly. In effect, Republicans will require Democrats to file cloture and use all the time available for debate, rather than yielding it back under an agreement.
Pending the health of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., Democrats will have 60 votes when Paul Kirk is sworn in as the junior senator from Massachusetts later today. Because they will have 60 votes, Democrats will eventually be able to get the nominations through. But each nominee will take a long time to process. Rather than bow to GOP pressure, Sen. Baucus, the Finance chairman, dug in late Thursday and scheduled a confirmation hearing for two HHS nominees: Jim Esquea, to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation, and Bryan Samuels to be Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families, reports ABC's Z. Byron Wolf.
NYT/CBS Poll: "President Obama is confronting declining support for his handling of the war in Afghanistan and an electorate confused and anxious about the proposed health care overhaul as he prepares for pivotal battles over both issues, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll." Kirk for Kennedy: Senator-designate Paul Kirk will be sworn in on the Senate floor today at 3:30 pm ET. He will then attend a 3:45 pm mock swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber. On Thursday, Kirk asked Sen. Kennedy's staff to stay onboard. McChrystal Talks to "60 Minutes": In an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" which is set to air on Sunday, Gen. Stanley McChrystal says that "the breadth" and "geographic spread" of violence in Afghanistan is "a little more than I would have gathered." The increased violence has resulted in 265 civilians killed in U.S. or coalition action in the past 12 months the general says, a situation that must stop if victory is to be attained. "This civilian casualty issue is much more important than I even realized. It is literally how we lose the war, or in many ways how we win it." VPOTUS to Survey Flood Damage in Georgia: Vice President Biden travels to Georgia today to survey the flood damage and to discuss the federal government's commitment to helping the region. The vice president will also visit with families affected by the floods.
Justice Ginsburg Released from Hospital: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stayed overnight at Washington Hospital Center as a precautionary measure. The 76-year old Supreme Court justice fell ill at work on Thursday after receiving iron sucrose infusions as a treatment for anemia. She was released from the hospital Friday morning and plans to be back at the Supreme Court Friday afternoon, reports ABC's Jan Crawford Greenburg. Earlier this year, Ginsburg underwent pancreatic cancer surgery.
Obama's Deal with Drug Firms Survives: President Obama "scored a big victory on Thursday as the Senate Finance Committee rejected a proposal to require pharmaceutical companies to give bigger discounts to Medicare on drugs dispensed to older Americans with low incomes," reports the New York Times. "The victory came at the expense of senators in Mr. Obama's own party who had championed the proposal."
Unions Criticize Obama's School Proposals as ‘Bush III': "To the surprise of many educators who campaigned last year for change in the White House, the Obama administration's first recipe for school reform relies heavily on Bush-era ingredients and adds others that make unions gag," reports the Washington Post. "It looks like the only strategies they have are charter schools and measurement," said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. "That's Bush III." During his Wednesday appearance on "Charlie Rose," White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel seemed to wear the opposition from unions like a badge of honor. He pointed to President Obama's clash with teachers unions as a sign that the president is willing to "challenge allies when it comes to America's interests." "He's taking on ‘the teachers' union' in his pursuit of charter schools and teacher testing and student testing and accountability," said Emanuel. 2009: Virginia: "Spurning pleas from the president and the leader of his party," former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder refused to endorse fellow Democrat Creigh Deeds, "taking issue with the candidate's willingness to raise taxes in a weak economy," reports the Washington Times. 2009: New Jersey: "While President Obama's political team seeks to nudge David A. Paterson out of the New York governorship, they are fully engaged in trying to get Jon S. Corzine re-elected" in New Jersey," reports the New York Times. 2010: Democratic Money Woes: "Democrats Are Jarred by Drop In Fundraising," blares the front page of the Washington Post.
The Kicker: "Pure self-interest, Jay. If it fails, I'm dead." –Vice President Biden to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) after he told the vice president he couldn't express how much he and his fellow governors appreciate Biden's interest."I would have beaten him like a rented mule." –Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., to ABC's "Top Line" when asked how he would have fared if he had gotten into the race against New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
67 PERCENT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION
Dont we have a right to choose? Dont we have a right to choose and make our OWN decesions about our Health Insurance? Instead of being forced by the Goverment or our employers Well thats what the Public Option is
OPTION= CHOICE YOU CHOOSE!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | September 25, 2009, 10:05 am 10:05 am
Pelosi the great uniter??? She is also
the one who does not want the bill online for 72 hours so people can read
it prior to the vote being taken. What
are they afraid of? She is a joke.
Posted by: wis134 | September 25, 2009, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Hold on Angie, where did you get that figure. Your not going to throw something like that out without providing a source
as to where it came from.
Posted by: hkdakota | September 25, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
wow I wish this person would just go away. Russia could use her or even China. Please do not let her lead us into destruction of a great country with her california nut job politics.
Posted by: Jim Rod | September 25, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am
67 PERCENT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION
Posted by: Angie in Pa
If only you good get that same support for THIS bill!
Posted by: lfrichar | September 25, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Nut case!
Posted by: LongT | September 25, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
2 days ago Senate Democrats in the Finance Committee rejected a
Republican move to require that the full text of the Baucus
government-controlled healthcare bill be posted for 72 hours
prior to a vote. More of that “transparency”?
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Most people DO support a public option…why shouldn’t we have a right to choose?
I can’t wait to see what the outcome is because if this bill fails I want to see the swaking of people when their health care goes so high that no one can afford it..then we will hear: why didn’t they do something?
Posted by: Barb | September 25, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Is this what Angie referred to?
Among the Uninsured, 58% Favor President’s Health Care Plan
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am
We are paying way to much for health care. The medicare rates are to high. The medical industry look at the government like a bottomless barrel of money. We need a strong public option and renegotiate all medical pricing. No more 75 thousand dollar prosthetic limbs or 10 thousand a day for an ICU.
Posted by: rightbehind | September 25, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am
Sorry, but I don’t see Pelosi being capable of much of anything.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | September 25, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am
Barb, If the Dems and Obama will sit down and have an HONEST discussion with ALL of the DOCTORS who are in the House and Senate, then those DOCTORS will offer acceptible REFORMS to the EXISTING healthcare programs that will slow the cost escalation (among other things).
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
2 days ago Senate Democrats in the Finance Committee rejected a
Republican move to require that the full text of the Baucus
government-controlled health care bill be posted for 72 hours
prior to a vote. More of that “transparency”?
Every bill I’ve ever looked for has been available in pdf format for public review. I think what your looking to do is give the nut cases a chance to overload congressional offices with staged stooge comments. These people have proven themselves to be a small minority by the tea party attendance. We should thank d army.
Posted by: rightbehind | September 25, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am
“”"”"renegotiate all medical pricing. No more 75 thousand dollar prosthetic limbs or 10 thousand a day for an ICU.”"”"”
Posted by: rightbehind
Right. Health care costs and insurance are 2 different things. Pharmaceuticals, procedures, hospital stays, mal-practice suits all affect our costs and will drive insurance premiums higher, not the other way around. I agree with you on seeking to lower actual costs, then we hope premiums will follow.
Posted by: lfrichar | September 25, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
All private medical insurance companies are MIDDLEMAN – they take in premiums – take 30% or more off the top to pay for million dollar CEO and executive salaries, administrative costs, marketing and PROFIT – then they pay doctors negotiated rates… MEDICARE does the exact thing but with only a 4% cost to cover running the program… WHICH IS A BETTER BARGAIN FOR AMERICANS??? A government run medical insurance program!!!!
Posted by: Melanie | September 25, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
Today’s New York Times poll shows 65% of those polled favor a public option. The only way to reign in costs and limit abuses is to allow people the alternative of a public option.
The very opposition of the billion-dollar health care and insurance corporations and their bonus-rich CEOs to the public option shows how effective the public option would be in changing the present terrible situation.
Posted by: JAB | September 25, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am
Pelosi should just shut up and fade into the distance. She is the second biggest problem we have in politics today.
Posted by: Oreisha | September 25, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am
I think we should start a “Caption Contest” for the photo of Pelosi. How about: “You Honor, I swear it was this big”.
Posted by: jrh512 | September 25, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Its telling and sad to think that even with a majority of Americans supporting the public option… that the business of insurers have a stronger voice than its citizens…
If the aim is at big government…
Shouldn’t we also be looking at the hold that big corporations have over the people.
Should business be allowed to get so big that for them to fail, disrupts the whole economic structure felt not only here but, world wide???
Should corporations be allowed to get so big that their voice is heard louder than the American voter…???
Some want to shout “Socialism” when government intervenes…
But what about Big Corporations that have grown so big, so powerful and even the government can’t seem to win over them.
Now that’s pretty scary to me… Cuz as a citizen, I can’t vote them out…
Posted by: theafalcon200 | September 25, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
In 2010 and 2012 you “people” will see just how many people agree with the tea party goers as you call them. We will not put up with the BS in the White House…….you will see!
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | September 25, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Pelosi,nor Baucus want their health care bills posted on the internet so the American Tax Payers can read and try to understand,what they are really up to. Sounds like a conspiracy to me,One that does not have the American people’s best interest in mind.
Posted by: marion | September 25, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
I think they posted the wrong picture of Nancy Pelosi-they should have shown her flipping the bird because that’s what they are doing to the American people.No one denies we need health reform- whats the rush? If you make a large purchase don’t you research the product?
Posted by: justamomof3 | September 25, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
Mrs. Pelosi needs to slow down with this Healthcare stuff. This is very serious and will hurt many people if not done slowly and with care. We are talking about peoples lives here. Not just her taking one of her trips to San Francisco for a botox injection.
Posted by: MJ Bruce | September 25, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
67 PERCENT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION
Dont we have a right to choose? Dont we have a right to choose and make our OWN decesions about our Health Insurance? Instead of being forced by the Goverment or our employers Well thats what the Public Option is
OPTION= CHOICE YOU CHOOSE!
Posted by: Angie in Pa
67% ?……Hmmmm…..care to back that up? Or is that the usual Liberal BS where a general question is asked & then when the REAL story is revealed, the people say then say NO!!!!
“tilt” is an appropriate description for what people like Pelosi want to do. They want to enter the market well under what the current market level is right now and then watch as the private companies pull out or go under.
Interesting use of the word choice Angie, since Obama is proposing NO choice, but a mandate that people MUST purchase insurance or pay a TAX if they don’t.
by the way, they party that is just dying to shove a public option down our throats is apparently not so concerned about the LIVES, & JOBS of the people in the Huron, CA area. They continue to let a prime food growth area in California turn to dust while protecting a foolish 2″ fish.
Yeah, Its these kinds of insane choices and lack of solutions that Americans are REALLY worried about when we talk about the gov’t running any more of the healthcare system.
Can’t wait to see how much foos prices move up do this stupid choice by the DUMBOCRATS!
Wake Up America!!!! Hope & Change is not helping anyone!
Posted by: Mike_C | September 25, 2009, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
JAB said: “Today’s New York Times poll shows…”
Congratulations on discrediting yourself in six words!
Posted by: Ronnie Van Zant | September 25, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
a retired Constitutional lawyer,Michael Connelly of Carrollton, Texas, says “I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead, it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed. “
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
continuing……3 “out the original ten in the Bill of Rights that are effectively nullified by this law. It doesn’t stop there though. The 9th Amendment that provides: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” The 10th Amendment states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.”
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2009, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Melanie | Sep 25, 2009 11:12:32 AM…..Does it matter that Medicare has almost $40 trillion of UNFUNDED liabilities?
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Why can’t we just have a referendum vote by the people on health care? Look at Pelosi, do you really want her making the decision for you?
Posted by: lfrichar | September 25, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
theafalcon; Where are you getting your figures for this majority the liberal democratic party? I’ve seen no published reports that Americans want a forced healthcare only comments from liberals who think they know best when it only serves THEM best. Trash republicans and conservatives all you want but you and other liberals in this country are no better. You really need to come off of your high moral horses. Again, I ask, would the government be forced to have the same plan (notice the different sound forced government plan/is the government forced?)? Will Nancy Pelosi be seeing the same doctor as you in the same clinic, if you live in the same area? My mother-in-law is now being allowed to be part of a test plan for a cancer treatment that she wouldn’t be allowed to be a part of in Europe because it’s not allowed to be tested in Europed because of socialized medicine. People are so consumed with convience that this is how socialists are able to get in power. It’s always easier to let the government handle it so I can do my own thing. Funny thing is, it wouldn’t be convenient if these same people have to wait eight weeks for a CT Scan that they could get in a couple of days now. This is a reality. The medical and mental health community is overworked and underpaid as it is and the government just keeps piling the work on people. I deal with it so I know and it would only get worse but I guess well, well too bad. It would be too bad when the healthcare industry shuts down because a bunch of self-focused people don’t want to take any responsiblity for their lives.
Posted by: john | September 25, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
In 2010 and 2012 you “people” will see just how many people agree with the tea party goers as you call them. We will not put up with the BS in the White House…….you will see!
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | Sep 25, 2009 12:14:03 PM
“YOU people” (like you) are either racist or uneducated GOP drones who want to destroy this country as you tried to do during the Bush administration. Decent AMERICANS will get out the vote and make sure all GOP pigs are gone… they only care about the RICH, the POWERFUL and who lines their personnel bank accounts – CORRUPT WALL STREET EXECUTIVES WHO ALMOST BROUGHT DOWN THIS COUNTRY AND THE ECONOMY WORLDWIDE FOR SHORT-TERM PROFITS – INTENSE GREED AND A SOUTH HAMPTON’S HOUSES.
Posted by: Melanie | September 25, 2009, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Melanie | Sep 25, 2009 11:12:32 AM…..Does it matter that Medicare has almost $40 trillion of UNFUNDED liabilities?
Posted by: deanbob | Sep 25, 2009 1:23:37 PM
Pulling numbers out of your backslide??? Prove it!!!
Posted by: Melanie | September 25, 2009, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
Posted by: Mike_C | Sep 25, 2009 12:55:05 PM
Hey Mike – you are listerning to FIXNews again – water was actually turn back on in June….
Posted by: Melanie | September 25, 2009, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Mike_C | Sep 25, 2009 12:55:05 PM
Your last post read;
Posted by: Angie in Pa
“67% ?……Hmmmm…..care to back that up? Or is that the usual Liberal BS where a general question is asked & then when the REAL story is revealed, the people say then say NO!!!!…”
_________________
Survey USA – Arguably one of the top Opinion Survey organizations in the country. Reported Aug. 21, 2009 the following regarding the HEALTH CARE PUBLIC OPTION. The survey was conducted for AARP and was a broad base, random national survey, NO AARP members were designated to be surveyed. The survey results;
77% FAVOR THE PUBLIC OPTION
In a separate survey of Medical Doctors – their view on the PUBLIC OPTION. The survey results;
63% of Doctors FAVOR THE PUBLIC OPTION
-vs- 27% UNFAVORABLE
Posted by: bobj72 | September 25, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
So far the house version of health care reform do not include verification of immigration status. If Pelosi is able to block inclusion of such a provision in conference and Obama signs the legislation, that would seem to establish Obama as a liar.
Posted by: merchantilist | September 25, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Those who don’t choose health care will be jailed and made sure they have their health taken care thereof.
Posted by: Freedom | September 25, 2009, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Nowhere in the US COnstitution is there any language which gives the federal government the power to provide/fund health care or health care insurance.
Posted by: Sandcrab1612 | September 25, 2009, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Pelosi is a fake and a fraud. If she
truly wanted people to know and understand what this healthcare reform
is all about, she would insist it be
online for everyone to read. Instead
she does not want that. There is no
good excuse for that other than she
is trying to hide things. If she won’t
put it online, then lets see if
Mr. Transparency Obama will insist on
it. We will know their true motives
by their response to that.
Posted by: wis134 | September 25, 2009, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
bobj72; I wonder what those surveys would be if they re-did the study today? I wonder what the public opinion would be if we actually got to read what’s being proposed by the government? People you really need to get over yourselves. If you have think private insurance and sitting in doctor’s offices is bad now, I can guarantee that you and your liberal buds who sit on your high moral thrones and look down your noses, insulting the rest of us will be the loudest and earliest complainers. What would be even more typical would be (just like in the Clinton years) to be seeing it the healthcare system fall apart and tout it as great. I have to deal with Medicaid and I can tell you that if you and the liberals in government who whine about private insurance rules, it ain’t nothing compared to government program rules. You can go UM! all you want to but you DON’T know what you’re talking about.
Posted by: john | September 25, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
How about we get rid of all you representatives who are better than us. when you give us a health care program that is good enough for yourselves (being OUR representatives) then it will be good enough for us. how can you represent us when you place yourselves above us???
Posted by: Gary | September 25, 2009, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm
67% ?? Where did you get that?? MSNBC
Check you facts. Talk about disinformation!!
Posted by: FoundingFathers | September 25, 2009, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
what we really need is price regulation, like we do with our food industry.my mother-in-law spent night in hospital and asked for two tylenol when she got her itemized statement those two tylenol cost her $7.50. now if teh milk industry tryed to raise milk to lets say $10 a gallon teh government would step and and say no way. why cant we have that with medical industry set rates nation wide set medical and insurance cost with no ability to turn soemone down for pre existing.
Posted by: tom | September 25, 2009, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
The Democratic Party (i.e., the Obama administration) wants to censor the mailings sent out by private insurance companies warning of benefit cuts in Obamacare(i.e., gov’t-run HC.”reform” plan.) The Obama administration’s Center for Medcare & Medicaid Ser. issued a gag order late Monday. They are planning on cutting over 600 Billion from the seniors. Everyone needs to write or e-mail your senators, telling them not to vote for this. This bill is a nightmare for everyone.
Posted by: cathy | September 25, 2009, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
I’ve been in managed care, and I’ve been in the private sector, and the health care mess won’t be solved by the government riding in on a big white horse. This fiction that it has to be handled by end of business tomorrow just underscores the naivete of our Washington bureacrats. I’ve put together all the components of the problem that I could think of (including us) and possible solutions and welcome others’ input at http://www.heartheaded.wordpress.com. Fighting disease will never be cheap, and I don’t think we’ll ever be able to pay for it all, but I think it could be a hell of a sight cheaper.
Posted by: davecor | September 26, 2009, 1:35 am 1:35 am
All this health care talk is making a lot of people sick just trying to understand it. What is it going to be like when the government tries to implement it? What a headache.
Posted by: greg | September 26, 2009, 2:44 am 2:44 am
Dear Angie. I hope that you see by now that 70% of the people do not believe your 67% number is valid. Your definition of what the public option is different than Congress or the Presidents ‘public option’. To clarify, freedom of choice is not a ‘public option’, it is an American right. Hope this clears things up for you Angie. Tell your mother Pelosi, we are considering another American option.
Posted by: James L. | September 26, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Why is it that so many believe that the right to choose is without consequence to others? Don’t get me wrong; I believe Social Security, Welfare, and other “State” managed “funds” are essential to assist people that are truly in need of assistance. The problem is that a legislative or executive body of any government cannot provide the kind of oversight to prevent abuse and corruption within the organization they create of sponsor. Recent examples are the banking bailout, ACORN, Housing, Cash for Clunkers, etc… Welfare Cadillacs, Banking Executive Bonuses for irresponsible management, and Community Organizations that become a Political wing are just a few reasons why government should not be a sponsor or executor of a program or an organization. So who are the “others” that this right to choose would impact? The “working” class will get taxed for private insurance. Private insurance does provide a level of assurance that quality care will be provided. This program will push the employers of the working class to withdraw subsidies for them. Thus pushing them onto the public plan. One plan proposal is to tax the working class that has private insurance. So if someone on a private plan is kicked down with illness they get kicked again with a tax. The public plan is not sustainable! Existing medical and social programs sponsored or organized by the government are in the “RED”! The public option will shrink the economic contribution of the “tax paying” public. Then where will the money to fund the public option come from? My friends, the answer is in reasonable, fair, and actionable legislation; not a bureaucratically controlled government program. Congress is overstepping its authority by forcing the people into choosing the government optoin. There is no choice in it?
Posted by: TX_MBell | September 26, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
All I want to know from Pelosi is was she born an idiot or has she just been working on it for the last 80 years!
Posted by: lovingpolitics | September 26, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Many assumes that government run health care reform will pay the bill when it comes to getting that surgery or treatment you need to save your life. Wrong!!!!
When government gets control over the people’s health care dollar the first in line for the money are not the people, it is the politicians, bureaucrats and special interests groups. Moreover, since government has the power to put you in jail if you don’t tow the line and do what they say, when they decide to cut your benefits, like they are doing now in Medicare, there will be no place to go to get that surgery you need to save your life.
So if government run Health Care Reform passes, get in line behind some Union boss who the government will kow tow to as they decide government worker higher wages and higher pensions are more important than that surgery or treatment you need to save your life.
Posted by: mary | September 26, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
Are you willing to pay to have the same coverage as the members of Congress as the government would not subsidize your premium as you are not a government employee and would thus have to pay the entire premium yourself. Although the members of Congress have good health insurance available to them it is not free and it does not pay 100% of all costs incurred during an illness. It is simply private insurance which is able to be offered to them due to the size of the employee pool (all federal employees with the exception of the military) to be covered.
When it comes to retirement the 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act (P.L. 98-21) required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required ALL Members of Congress (no matter when they were first elected) and all federal government employees hired after 1984 to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. These same people also participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) which is where they receive their retirement benefits when they retire. The employee has the Social Security (and Medicare) withheld from his check just like you do every pay period. Additionally they have an additional sum withheld which goes into the FERS retirement fund and if he chooses he can have an additional sum withheld and placed in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), The TSP operates similar to a 401k and has several funds which the employee can choose to have his money held in (many federal employees lost money when the economy collapsed as the TSP is mainly in stocks). The actual retirement for a Congressman is determined by a formula which looks at his salary for the highest three year period prior to retirement and then uses a formula which uses his age at retirement and number of years served. The initial retirement to a Congressman can be no greater than 80% of his final salary. Due to Cost of Living increases over the years and if the retired Congressman lives long enough it is possible that he will eventually reach a point where his retirement pays more than when he was in office, but this is the rare case not the normal case. To achieve retirement the employee/Congressman must have a minimum number of years (just like the rest of the world) and have a minimum number of years served (just like the rest of the world).
Bottom line is that the members of Congress DO NOT have Cadillac health care plans, they are similar to what most of us who work for large employers have available to us. Their retirement is based on age, years worked, and salary just like most of us who work for large employers; those Congressmen under the FERS program even get a portion of their retirement income from Social Security just like most American citizens and have a TSP account which is the same as we have with our 401k. So why are they so distant to the rest of the world? Its rather simple who in their right mind would spend millions of dollars to get elected to a job which pays less than $200,000.00 per year? They must be getting rich from someplace else, it’s time to throw them all out and institute term limits so that those who are supposed to be looking out for us don’t have the time to line their pockets with special interest money while letting our interests get lost in the shuffle.
Posted by: Sandcrab1612 | September 26, 2009, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
What the heck is a “Cadillac” health care plan? Where is the quality of service bar set for it to be considered a Cadillac? Will that bar start inching down as the cost of a government plan balloons? Robbing the taxpayers paycheck is bad enough. Now they want to kick’em when they’re down.
Posted by: TX_MBell | September 26, 2009, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Oh boy!! Pelosi is calling a meeting!!
They’re probably all wondering, “Should I wear my clown hat?”
Posted by: Namako_H3 | September 26, 2009, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
The problem with the bill is:
There really is no bill….yet! They keep remaking it over and over again. The other problem is…the dems refuse to disclose the facts of the bill. Every state that has tried socialistic medicene or health plan has failed because it costs too much and is difficult to manage. Those are the facts.
If your doctor doesn’t like it and 43% say they will quit or retire then think about it. It just won’t work. YOur doctor will join a union eventually for protection. Would you like your doctor to be unionized and dictated to by the government as his boss? To tell him what he can and should do because he won’t work for you. He will work for the government. And that is the pits. And oh by the way! You can’t fire him and he might be the only doctor you can see. Your choices will be limited.
Read the current bill. It is a pretty scary piece of legislation giving the government too much power over your life.
Health care is the ultimate power!
Posted by: Colette | September 26, 2009, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
If you think the government can give better service than the private sector you are wrong. Try going to DMV is Los Angeles. Those girls and guys are smacking gum and filing their nails. They are nasty. How about the post office in Los Angeles where everyone is on a break the busiest time of the day and the line is out the door. And Immigration office where they slam the window on your face after you have been waiting outside in the cold from 5 AM..What bout the IRS office? Wow just wait. It is going to be like one big free clinic with snotty nose kids and waiting in line for hours to see a doctor that is over worked overstressed and wants to get rid of you!
Good luck all you socialist that think you know better than everyone else!
It is a brand new world of share everything even a waiting room of hundreds of sick people.
Posted by: Colette | September 26, 2009, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
The so called “public option” is just a ruse to confiscate more money from the people so some despot in DC can can screw around with our money and our lives with the people being the last in line to get any of the payola.”
Bottom line, The government is turning into a bunch of legalized crime bosses who use force to get the peoples money so they can live high on the hog and redistribute their take to whoever is in the “family”, ie. Unions, corporate special interests groups and bureaucrats, while the rest of us are forced to fork over our money or pay the consequences.
Posted by: daniel | September 27, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
It is interesting to me that all the talk here is centered around health care when the article spoke on many issues. Is that because it is the “no-brainer” subject to talk about? Like slamming Pelosi? Where are the comments on Iran and Obama’s success in garnishing world support at the world leaders meeting in Pennsylvania? The fact that he faces two wars and the threat of a third. I think the biggest fault we Americans have is that “tunnel vision” when it comes to world affairs. We have “Super Bowl” mentality and completely ignore world affairs. A friend of mine in Belgium says our biggest fault is we know so little about what is happening in other contries even when it will, eventially, impact us. Just an observation after reading this board.
Posted by: mertzgm | September 28, 2009, 8:29 am 8:29 am