White House Challenges GOP to Offer One Consensus Health Care Proposal*

So nice of the democrats to post a plan more than 12 hours in advance of voting on it. Also if only democrats wrote the version they put up on the website it isn’t really partisan is it?
Also Republicans have written up their ideas for healthcare for awhile now. Just look at the website, which will mostly likely be deleted from this post, gop(dot)gov (slash)solutions (slash) healthcare. But I’m sure most people will never bother to check it and just keep repeating the same old tired “OH Republicans have no plan. They just keep saying no because they are racist,”

YES!!! It’s ABOUT TIME Obama took off the gloves and called this people OUT!!! Anyone can remember similar stories in school where there was a class project and everyone competed for the lead project manager role. Suddenly, when one of the bitter kids ends up NOT getting the lead role, they criticize ANY effort by the team lead to get the project completed. There’s a name for this hypocritical little kid who likes to point fingers but also sit on his ASS. His name is the G O P!!!! It may have taken Obama a year to understand what kind of little babies he’s having to deal with in Washington, but better late then never. Where’s the GOP Health Plan!?!?!? hahahahahaha! Check, and MATE!

There is nothing in obama’s plan that reduces cost. It is nothing but more entitlement and more taxes without any effort to improve efficiency or reduce fraud. No tort reform, no interstate sales but increase taxes. This is exactly what we don’t need.

It’s obvious the White House knows they need to smooth over the fact that they are prepared to bypass the GOP with their own HC plan even before this week’s summit. This is a bit of a backtrack, no?

Rylin25, Republican’s plans are solely to allow cross-state line sales, small business pooling, and malpractice reform.
None of these things will put the slightest dent in the fundamental problem – that >30 million people have no insurance, and many are denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
If they have a solution for THAT problem (the problem which is primarily being faced), let them bring it.
The reality is they don’t.

pure political theatre.

gop(dot)gov/solutions/healthcare
It’s been there for months. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous at best.

the GOP approach is now to position as “the protectors of Medicare” (Mitch McConnell’s latest mantra)….its just totally incredible – the man who ddrove the shrieking GOP masses against “socialized medicine”, and is about as believable as the idea that they “have a bill”….LOL

Ya the GOP is now the protector of Medicare… after they swore to privatize it. Many still do.
They don’t have a leg to stand on.

I think that we should start over, and list the goals of the insurance reform bill. We are not changing health care here. I dont think this is good for the nation in the long run, and hurts more Americans than it helps. I do believe we need something but this has been put together to quickly.

I think a Palestinian State will be declared before Americans have a health plan. The GOP oddly is resembling the Palestinian Authority, everytime something concrete is about to happen, they say “oh this looks like crap, lets start all over, so that when the next proposal comes along we can say it also looks like crap and put this into a never ending cycle of crap, because that’s what our Health Insurance lobbyist are paying us to do, make it all look like crap so everyone is too scared to have anything BUT commercial grade rip off health insurance”. You could tell the GOP that Bill Gates will donate his yearly salary to the healthcare system and they’ll still say “this looks like crap, let’s start all over can we”? idiots…

So Obama takes parts of the worst bills in history, combines them into … what??? — A monstrosity!!! —- Here you go America, a $1 Trillion dollar bill stuffed with new taxes!! —- Of course, it’s deficit nuetral after we take 10 years to pay for six years of services!! — LOL, what, does he think we’re stupid???

It’s not the Democrat’s healthcare. It’s not the Republican’s healthcare. It’s the people’s healthcare. It needs to stay in the hands of the people, not government.

good morning,
And, what is the definition of insanity…keep repeating the same act while expecting a different result?!
take care

If it looks like crap and smells like crap then there is a real possiblity that it is crap. Yes do it as many times as it takes to get it right. Rememmber this is for ever.

It will include tax cuts for insurance companies, free copays for the rich, and grants to pharmaceuticals. Oh for the real people of America losing jobs and having no insurance, you’ll have to wait until you spend yourself into the poorhouse even further before they offer you a scrap.

So already once again Barry is claiming the Republicans have offered up no ideas and/or suggestions. The meeting on Thursday is a sham. Only a liberal would believe Gov run health care would promote “choice and competetion”. So…like the US Government…if an Insurance company goes broke will they be allowed to print their own money also?

You can see the fingerprints of Obama’s “marketing czars” all over this latest re-gifting strategy. I can’t figure out if this is more insulting or irritating.

Funny. I always thought that when people wanted to get something done they sat around this big table and poured out their ideas, debated them, threw out the bad, kept the good and proceeded to implement an action.
What we do have is a bunch of grownups playing gotcha; “I am not going to play with you or lets have a game of baseball” (but I am going to put the bat someplace you won’t like) or “that guy over there, he took political donations from xyz insurance company or his wife is a lobbyist.
And please Mr. President ! I showed you mine now lets see yours? Most of us stopped playing those games before we turned 5 or 6.
Do we have any grownups in Washington? Do we have any man or woman who was ever told no as a child, that didn’t get their way and got their rears warmed up for throwing snit fits? We are being led by a bunch of spoiled brats. We deserve better.

And please Mr. President ! I showed you mine now lets see yours? Most of us stopped playing those games before we turned 5 or 6.Do we have any grownups in Washington? We deserve better. david
????? I agree.

” thanks to the Republican tax cuts for the wealthy, causing the loss of a third of our night nurses”……………
Please explain this. How did the Republican Tax Cut (ah, which was across the board) cause the loss of nurses????

YOu know, this whole entire Health Care bill isn’t right. Health care is NOT a right, its a privledge. If you don’t have health care, then yes, you have to pay full price for health services. clincis and hospitals will work with you for payments. If you want Health Care, get up off your butt and work hard to get it. Thats what I did. A year ago I was homeless. I got sick of failing, so I got up off my butt and worked my butt off to get where I am now. Now I make 13.50 an hour and have awesome health insurance. You gott EARN your health care.

Hey ADAM, do you remember the Bush years or are you too young? For 8 years you lib’s obstructed EVERYTHING he tried. We aren’t trying to stop this because Obama made it we’re trying to stop this BECAUSE IT’S CRAP!!! NO ONE wants this Adam. Have you not seen the polls. And keep basking in the glory of winning ONE election. Apparently all that matters to you is getting into office, not what you actually accomplish once you get there. Hope you enjoyed the ride. The gig is up. Obama is a MASSIVE failure.

SHAWNA, AWESOME POINT. The left thinks they’re entitled to everything.

Obabble just doesnt no when to quit does he. All this is is a way he can say see the republicans dont have a plan so he will then try and ram their plan through reconcelation. What a joke Obabble has become. You have not been listing to the republican ideas for a year now and then all of the sudden you want to know where their plan is. Obabble know what the Republicans want very well, he just isnt going to impliment those ideas.

WE CAN’T AFFORD IT. There’s too many people living off of the system. And GUESS WHAT…
MOST OF THEM VOTED FOR OBAMA.
Posted by: Ryan |
I heard that out of the 64 million people who voted for Obama that 12 of them had to take off work. LOL.

The next headline should read:
GOP to Dems — You call that health-care reform? Pfft!
This is yet another unsustainable Big Gov program doomed for failure a generation or two from now just like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are already doing. This is all about universal coverage at the expense of income generating Americans. Just another in a long line of wealth redistribution programs this administration supports.

That should read… Dems to GOP–”Here’s our socialist wealth redistribution plan and we don’t care what you have to offer.”

Wow, this President really IS a slow coach! Doesn’t he realize that he just threw his entire party under the bus?
This bill has no chance of passage, even through reconcilliation. Now, Democrats must move as far away from Obama as possible to keep thier jobs.
It is too late for Dodd, Reid, and most of the other liberal left wingers (possibly even Frank and Pelosi). Unfortunately, many of the moderate or conservative Democrats will be tossed out of office just for associating with this socialistic President.

Tort Reform, Open Insurance Purchases, No Special Union Deals and no special buy-outs to states for there votes.

“In a Washington Post-ABC News poll this month, 80 percent said insurance companies should be required to sell coverage to people regardless of preexisting conditions; 67 percent said so “strongly.”………………….
In my State and pretty much all I have researched, Insurance Companies ALREADY sell coverage to “people regardless of preexisting conditions”. IT IS JUST MORE EXPENSIVE. From what I read in this BILL, IT DOES NOT CHANGE THAT!!! They can still charge you whatever they want.

Where are Demint and Graham? Either they put up or shut up. Their failure to provide a plan for the American people to see should show the world once and for all that they are obstructionist who don’t give a darn about this country or the people most in need.

Ajax, that seems to be a state thing. In California they can just deny you. My mother has an inner-ear problem and all but one major insurer turned her down. The one she has now just raised her premium from $610 to $840 a MONTH. She hasn’t had any problems in years. Is that the CHANGE you kooks voted for??

I heard that out of the 64 million people who voted for Obama that 12 of them had to take off work. LOL.
I didn’t realize that A.C.O.R.N. employed 12 FULL-TIMERS!

“”"”"Health reform will do the same. reconcile,pass it, make it work and the issue will take care of itself.”"”"
Posted by: don
Have you seen ANY cost control measures for health care costs? This is an insurance program and nothing more. Health care costs drive insurance premiums. With no cost control, it is doomed for failure.

Health CARE Reform would hurt too many wealthy people to get Republican support. JUST ASK BOEHNER THE POSTER CHILD FOR THE WEALTHY

charlesRN – I also live in Michigan and my wife works at a hospital. i would be interested in seeing where you got your numbers from. Interesting enough, they don’t appear to have the same issues as you…they can still save lives without any issues.

Yes Mr President we have seen your plan and only about 30% of the nation wants to have any part of it.

The vast majority of people on welfare don’t vote republican either. What’s your point METHODS?

Health care costs drive insurance premiums. With no cost control, it is doomed for failure.
Posted by: lfrichar | Feb 23, 2010 9:19:25 AM
There are good pilot programs in the Senate bill, which get at cost controls. Atul Gawande, a well-respected medical writer for the New Yorker, wrote an article called Testing, Testing a couple months ago which covers the pilot programs and discussed how some of the best ideas come out of them (e.g., agriculture.) Its worth a read.
In addition, it would be useful for Republicans to actually negotiate on tort reform, opening up their narrow view of it to actually pursue it in the bill.

Apparently METHODS speaks for all scientists now+++Nah, just the ones that cook data to prove there point on global warming, er I mean climate change.

Pathedic Man…

I cannot remember a worse time in partisan politics. No matter the plan or program, the other party will not agree. The business of the American people is on hold until these guys start talking.

I am very disappointed in how the Dems are apporaching this. It’s fine to see their plan on the web, but I thought this meeting was to discuss and find consensus. This can’t be done by throwing a 2000 page bill from each side onto a table and see what happens. Let’s keep both bills off the table and discuss IDEAS first. Everyone should come prepared to express and defend their top ten priorities in round table fashion. Once a consensus of ideas is found, then the details can be put into a bill that everyone can agree to.

“Liberty and Justice for ALL”.
Posted by: peeples_prez | Feb 23, 2010 9:27:23 AM
———–
So in your mind “Liberty and Justice for All” equates to forcing some citizens to pay the bills of others? That’s just plain weird.
——-
And here lyes the problem with most Republican. It all about “U” and no one else. To hell with your neighbor, right? Guess what, our country will never succeed if we don’t help the weakest in our amongst us. I have worked my entire life, paid my share of taxes and never entertained the thought that someone is getting over on me just because he or she requires assistance from social programs. Just remember, what goes around comes around. We you find yourself in a sorry state don’t go calling on your government for unemployment benefits or social security or medicade benefits because that would make you the same as those you seem to dispise.

It’s time to give back, I’ve paid taxes, medicare, medicaid, and social security. Just because there is a recession doesn’t give the government the right to refuse to pay me back. Health care reform is a necessary step in fulfilling their final obligations. What is the Republican solution. PS- If the origional Obama-care had been seriously looked at, it would have paid for itself before “crisis-time”.

progressive mama —- The bill dabbles in cost control for insurance, but nothing actuially visits cost controls for health care.

The republicans do have a plan – just no plan for the majority of americans. The plan is to stall, lie, create fear and get another republican dicator into office. They had 22 years to come up with a health plan but all they can do is say throw this one out and start over.
Since the repubs were in charge the previous 8 years they were responsible for: 9/11, unemployment doubling, US debt tripled, grew the size of government, almost tripled the price of gas, invaded and occupied Iraq at a cost of over $200 billion/year and on and on.

The GOP plan is to make more money for their Constituents ( Big Pharma, Insurance etc.) They fought Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Seat belts in Cars etc. All they can whine about is Socialist takeover— If the Dems are Socialists the GOP are Fascists!!!!

People. WAKE UP! Brilliant of the DEMS to shift the target, but LOOK at the DEM plan. YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT. IT’s not what the people want. Yes, we would like to see more people covered, BUT DO YOU WANT YOUR RATES AND TAXES TO SKYROCKET TO DO THIS? We need to control COSTS.

Where is the fiscal responsibility in having families/citizens continue to struggle under the rising and often financially crushing expense of health care and thereby create an even greater demand for government services and resources?

When is Obama going to understand that the republicans will never work with him.. They have to be reelected and their hatefilled base wants nothing but for this President not to succeed even if it costs them and their family their lives. The republicans can write out a healthcare plan but as soon as Obama endorses it, they will have to turn against it and call it socialism to make their base happy. This has nothing to do with healthcare as it has to do with seeing Obama fail. The politicians will be alright because they are rich its the regular guy that hurting himself in the long run.

Obama’s health care plan would not reduce the national deficit. All the American people get are lies and more lies from Obama. This presidency is broken.

Where is the Republican plan?? That’s right republicans we want to see your plan…so we can work together to get Healthcare reform. If the democrates is working with you, you should work with them too. This is a joint effort and the American people want to see a Health reform plan!!!

It’s a good tactical move that makes excellent theater, but will serve only to make clearer the status quo. Why don’t they post the little pamphlet they were waving around at the retreat? Cold feet? Anyway, the corporate interests will predominate and the corporate faithful will receive their bribes, on either side, and so shall the voice of the American people be silenced, again.

“”"”"”"When is Obama going to understand that the republicans will never work with him.. “”"”"
Posted by: cupidsrevenge
Have you seen any of the GOP plans? You know why? The supermajority meant Pelosi didn’t have to bring them to the Congress floor because she didn’t need it. Now, without that supermajority, the Prez thinks he’s going to bring the same tired bill to the GOP. The GOP wants insurance across state lines, it’s not in there. They want tort reform, it’s not in there. Pelosi shut the GOP out when they crafted their backroom deals and bribes. So who is not working with who? Open your eyes.

ChicagBob – It seems that Republicans do give damn about their fellow American but they sure where quick to spend taxpayers dollars liberating foreigners in Iraq. What’s wrong with that picture?

Tanya >>> You know your statement of where is your plan is a stupid as Obama’s statement. There are several BILLS out made by the republicans and YOU and Obama are TOO stupid to look them up? Gee they were waving them at HIM at the state of the UNION. And yet the press repeats what the dummy in chief says without a retort.. FINE..
ONE of many you can find on the internet and this is in 2009.
SO LIES character assassination democrats what else is new,

justanotheropinion123 >>>> You know what is outrageous? Is all the bribes and kick backs and special treatments. If this bill is so good then you dont need any of that do you? Or if these democrats are so interested in serving the people you dont need that do you? Democrats have are all about bribes and back room deals and lets not forget the graft like in Chicago. We are all democratic and we are one of the most corrupt states in the UNION. WOW we are sure proud. Obama learned form the best the Chicago MOB

The Republicans have placed all their hopes on President Obama failing. That’s why one Republican congressman boasted yesterday that they prefer gridlock opposed to actually passing legislation. They know that their hand will be exposed come Thursday. If they join in and help pass Healthcare reform and our country continue on the road to recovery then the 2010 elections will go the way of the Democrats. If they continue to play the part of obstructionist and the president get Healthcare reform through without their support and the country continues to recover, then the Democrats win in 2010. Either way Republicans have screwed themselves because of their obsession with toppling the first African American president.

The GOP plan already is posted–and has been posted for a while.
This plan offers common sense REFORMS–not the drastic OVERHAUL (that people don’t want).
Remember roughly 85% of the people with health insurance are satisfied with their current coverage and see no need for major reforms of their current coverage. So why completely overhaul a system that is essentially working? We just need to “tweak” the system a little and cover more people. The Republican plan does that.

Really.
It is hilarious. The Democrats don’t have a consensus bill. Nobody but Obama has supported his bill. The CBO can’t even score it.
They are cheeky, this White House.

Another excample of fair and balanced reporting. Literally every paragraph in this article quotes and talks about the White House’s point of view. A good journalist would have had the Republican response. They have posted and given their ideas of Health Care Reform. ABCnews, do your job.

So who is not working with who? Open your eyes.
posted by ifrichar
My eyes are open to the repubs not wanting to work with this President and even if they wrote out the bill they wouldnt support it if Obama endorses it.

I am a Brit living in Germany and I can assure you that everyone I know is looking on this health care debate in pure amazement. Public funding for health care and restrictions on insurance costs and opt outs are totally uncontroversial and non-ideological. Divested of ideological wrappers and political witcly bizarreh-huntery they are just plain sensible and lead to high quality health care and lower costs. From where I sit, the political divide in the USA is becoming increasing bizarre and deeply unattractive.

Jon – No Jon — you’re wrong, the majority of the american people want healthcare reform. You’re one in a million! You’re an exception to the rule.

“”"Where’s the republican plan!”"”"
Posted by: Tanya
I posted one of eight of GOP plans. It would appear you are as interested in reading it as the Democrats are. I am an independent and to read partisan rants such as yours amazes me. Have you read Tom Colburns plan? Have you read any of their plans? Hmmm, that’s what I thought.

“”"peeples_prez – WONDERFULLY STATED! You hit it right on the nail. One addition— the republicans will lose the american people support if they do not work with the democrates”"”
Posted by: Tanya
Hey partisan people, this bill was crafted while not even allowing the GOP in the room. DO you just see what you want? The CBO can’t even give an estimate on this yet eventhough the Dems have put a $1 trillion price tag on it already. Nothing like going into this blind!

“”"”"”"Halliburtion scandal “”"”
Posted by: peeples_prez
What scandal Einstein? Put your post where your mouth is or quit lying.

lfrichar – Guess you did not read the article…. if there is one, why don’t the republicans work with the democrates and post it with obama’s on the website…

Everyone loves a challenge. Republicans could save face if they come up with something workable. They should step up to the plate and also, the democrats need to shore up their idea’s as well.

Joe White – What? Go write a dictionary.. answer we did not get YOU! :)))

Jon – We did not ask “you” to post. We asked the “republicans” to post. Guess you did not read the article! OMG…Tell me, tell me.. you did not type this up. Maybe the reason it’s being erased is because it’s fake. Will the real Republicans please STAND UP! Please post the plan on the website Obama is suggesting. Thanks

The majority wants a healthcare reform bill… you even said it yourself! :)))

Hmm,One year ago a sinking economy, one year later a recovering economy… why do you think that is?

Ifrichar – Halliburton/Cheney corruption right here.

President Obama’s health care bill he released yesterday can not even be scored by the CBO because of it’s lack of details, and he has the nerve to point fingers – lol. Obama is clueless!

The majority wants a healthcare reform bill… you even said it yourself! :)))”"”"
Posted by: Tanya
My last post to partisan hacks. I said the majority of Americans want health care reform. But, the majority of Americans do not want THIS bill. As I said, you are only reqading what you want. Partisanship blocks you from 50% of what people are saying. Please show me where I said the majority of Americans want this bill. I will wait.

lfrichar – No need to post links. Did you not read the article. The American people want the “Republicans” to post their plan on the website Obama suggested so THE AMERICAN PEOPLE can read it. The Republicans are spreading confusion and the people are not having it no more! and want it to stop. WE WANT TO SEE THE REAL PLAN. Nuff said.

“”"”"Halliburton/Cheney corruption right here.”"”"”
Posted by: peeples_prez
And what was Cheney’s involvment? He was not working for them? Now, have you heard of the advertisement of the health care bill being given in an no bid contract to a company Rahm Emanuel worked for and they still owe him $2 million? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Go barbaque on the front lawn Obama dude….most of America has already figured you out now….

IE – I guess this stands for Insufficient Education!

LongT – Hey LongT…Guess it’s been a “Long time” since you’ve had a barbaque. The majority of the people are for Obama, so take your head out of the grass dude!

So, the Republicans have been caught out…their bluff has been called by the POTUS, and they still have three different bills, and cannot seem to consolidate them to bring to the meeting….
and now they inexplicably have started to say that they “are the protectors of Medicare”…..a popular “socialized medicine” program (thought you all wanted to kill that?)
wow, you may think the Dems are all over the place….but this is just insanity.

“”"”"”So, the Republicans have been caught out…their bluff has been called by the POTUS, and they still have three different bills, and cannot seem to consolidate them to bring to the meeting….”"”"”"”"
Posted by: indithinker
Normally your posts are more intelligent. What of all the Democrats on this forum saying the GOP has nothing? Now you say they have 3 different bills? Hmmm, sounds like the Democrats aren’t on the same page (which is exactly why you no longer have a supermajority).

If you cant pass this bill w/ the majority then you sure cant blame the reps when it doesnt pass again! What do you think the american people are stupid? Get a job Obama you sure arent doing us any favors. Also quit blaming Bush. You have some goofballs in your party that threw you under the bus. Thanks Pelosi,Reed, Frank & Dodd. If you would have helped w/ the first health bill instead of letting them have free reign you may have something. A leader does this!

I have heard the republicans. This guy this morning admitted they got nothing. All they say is across state line sales of insurance. What good is that going to do. They will still get together and have a bottom ceiling. We can see by toyota and Walmart that once big companies get powerful they will stop at nothing to get more and more money. Why do we need insurance companies again. Arn’t they just a middle man? What service do they provide? Really? They take your money and when you get sick they drop you. Obama and the Dem’s totally caved to all their demands and that is why this bill is for —-. Public OPtion is the only answer here. People governing people with out profit. NOt Blue Cross Blue Shield.

lfrichar – “Normally your posts are more intelligent. What of all the Democrats on this forum saying the GOP has nothing? Now you say they have 3 different bills?”…..
Let me clarify, they have nothing COHERENT…they have three plans on the web, and can’t (or won’t)say which one is their actual plan.
The POTUS has put down what he sees as the Dems consolidated plan, (which includes some GOP ideas – hopefully more to be added on Thursday)….
And I am sorry, there is NO coherence in the GOP suddenly being “the protectors of Medicare”, when for 42 years, they have been openly and proudly trying to kill it…
Can you help me understand that?

The passing of the Health Care Reform means:
Insurance companies can No longer drop patients because of sudden serious incurable illness.
Insurance companies can No Longer Deny Life Saving Procedures for patients.
Thus the Insurance companies will No longer allow patients to die while the patients and families fight the insurance companies for those same Life Safing Procedures.
Insurance companies can No longer deny people insurance because of pre-existing conditions, Like being diagnosed with Heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, just to name a few. Which is good news for those of us who lost jobs due to outsourcing or recent layoffs and lost our medical coverage in the process.

“”"”The POTUS has put down what he sees as the Dems consolidated plan, (which includes some GOP ideas – hopefully more to be added on Thursday).”"”"”
Posted by: indithinker
I read it and I didn’t see any different ideas. Why are they so against crossing state lines? Does Obama say he wants to create competition? Well, let’s create it. The Dems have had a yearto consolidate and instead they have squandered a supermajority because of their in party fighting. Right now, the main agreeing point is elimination of pre-existing conditions, but there are absolutely no cost controls on health care costs. This is a “Government Subsidized Insurance Program” and nothing more. To require someone to pay a private insurer or go to jail is not a bill I can live with.

THE PROBLEM WITH OBAMA IS THAT HE IS NOT LISTENING!!
If Obama is serious on reform, then do the following:
As a minimum, the following elements should be included:
* TORT reform – a real driver of costs!
* Health Savings Accounts to allow individuals to at least be partially responsible for their OWN health care.
* Inter-border health insurance sales
* Targeted language for fraud, waste and abuse of MEDICARE and MEDICAID.
* New initiatives to provide scholarships for doctors and nurses to pursue medicine to preclude a further shortage of doctors and nurses. Folks, there is no need to develop a ‘Health Care System’ if you do not have a viable delivery system.
* Language that will permit government funds for health care be only expended for US CITIZENS.
If he is not serious, then update his resume for 2013, for he will be looking for new employment!!
This has been suggested by members of congress previously, but disregarded by Pelosi, Reid and the White House. How did that work for them?? Where are they now?? It was Obama that wanted to deal strictly with the democrats!!
For Pete’s sake! The population has turned against Obama’s policies!! If he is not willing to change, then why would ANY POLITICIAN side with a LOSER??

When will the Democrats present us with their plan? Right now we have three…
Let’s see: one year ago, unemployment at 7.5%, today at 9.7%. Why do you suppose that is?
The economy is recovering because the economy has recovered from every recession in history. Unemployment has gone up because Obama has increased the cost of hiring, and has created uncertainty in the businss community.
Twenty-three percent strongly approve of this president; 42% strongly disapprove.
One term. Jimmy Carter. Hopey-changey.

Obama is insulting the intelligence of the American people ……. AGAIN!!!
HOW MUCH IS THIS TURKEY GOING TO COST??
It would be irresponsible for any member of Congress of either party to agree to a White House proposal, and commit the American people to a long term financial obligation without knowing the cost!! HOW TOTALLY ARROGANT OF OBAMA — and his gang from Chicago!!
NO WONDER FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC are in such dire straights. (REMEMBER FOLKS, PELOSI HAS HAD THE PURSE STRINGS SINCE 2006!!) How has that worked for us?? We do not need for Obama, Pelosi, and Reid to take over our health care!!

Attacks on Republicans, historic or present-day, at a time when the engine of power is completely in the Leftists’ hands, is a completely off-the-point diversion.
Obama has created this latest deflection-fest to steer us from dissecting his own failure to govern. His health bill is the same heavy-handed sludge the nation has been rejecting since this summer, only worse, as it expands even further the intrusions of the federal government into our right to choose.
Give me ANY president ever instead of this stiff-necked, mean little man. Give me Carter. Give me Nixon. None have squandered the nation’s good will with such malice as this.
Kill this bill.

OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT BEEN BIPARTISAN FROM THE BEGINNING. NOW AMERICAN PEOPLE SAID NO TO ALL HIS CORRUPT WAYS. SO OBAMA IS BULLYING AMERICANS INTO SOMETHING THEY DONT WANT.BECAUSE NOONE IS RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE. EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH THEIR OWN BILLS AND THEIR OWN DECISIONS. BUT NO HES FORCING EVERYONE TO TAKE THIS HEALTH REFORM. OBAMA IS TAKING OUR CHOICES FROM US OUR FREEEDOM. ITS SIMPLE HE WILL FAIL. LET IT FAIL ON HIS CLOCK. REPUBLICANS SHOULDNT GIVE ANY BIPARTISAN

indithinker — I do hope you are correct. I predict this Thursday is nothing more than a show and do not see the bill changing anywhere near 50/50. To me, true bipartisanship meets in or near the middle. There is absolutely no way Pelosi or Reid will allow any bill to pass with anywhere near a 50/50 agreement. We will see.

AHHH REALLY REALLY REALLY IS ALL YOU CAN SAY BECAUSE AMERICANS DONT WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR BIG DEBT

I personally fell safer that the country is in President Obama hands with a mix congress.

In 2004 there was an investigation of Acceleration and Pedials getting stuck causing many injuries and fatalities during the years of 2002 and 2003 in some Toyota’s models back then.
That news article was in the Washington Post.
Toyota’s problems go way back when Cheney and Bush Administration called off the investigation, claiming that Toyota was dealing with it. And now here we are 6 years later with same problem in different models.
Republicans have always backed Corporations over the Average citizen.

The Presidents a winner in my book, the Republicans and whine and cry all day long and our President is still a winner.

During the campaign, thought that Obama was a bright guy. This constant reliance on ‘BLAME BUSH’ has totally WORN OUT!! WHY CAN’T THEY SEE IT?? Team Obama has to have other feasible plans rather than BLAME BUSH!!
Each time I hear Gibbs, Axelrod, Emanuel, Obama, Jarrett, and other Obama acolytes voice that EXCUSE, I ask myself the question: IS HE JUST NOT MAN ENOUGH TO DO THE JOB?? Increasingly, the answer comes back NO!
His track record for the first year is totally ABYSMAL!! If he gives us more “This is what the last eight years has brought,” then I want him to explain his FIRST YEAR!!
Look at everything else he has touched!!
*American automotive companies (now bankrupt!);
*Cash for Clunkers (look what that little jewel cost the tax payers!);
*Cabinet appointees who cannot even pay their taxes, and we are supposed to trust them??
*Eric Holder calling citizens ‘COWARDS’ for not addressing race in America;
*TARP (look at the number of bank failures and the limited loans they are making today!)..now up to 160 closed!!
*H1N1 vaccine shortage, (and short supplies going to special interest groups!), and now recalling 800,000 doses for little kids;
*Three dozen czars who create layering, and little else – the USA is not a dictatorship!
* The Professor Gates ‘teachable moment’ when the President jumped to a guilty conclusion before he even knew the facts – and should have kept his mouth shut!!!!
*consistent indecision on Afghanistan, and ultimately had to use West Point as a prop to announce a ‘muttled’ message
*the Olympic bid disaster;
*the Copenhagen junket that ended as a bust (thank God) – but was a nice vacation for ‘the ruling class and their family members at taxpayer’s expense!
*10% unemployment when the government plan was supposed to keep it below 8%;
*the GITMO goat ropin’ – know that the folks in Thomson, IL are real proud now;
*a government health care bill that appears to be making sausage with spoiled meat, but mandating – by law – that all citizens buy it at premium prices, but with reduced services;
*Special interests making public policies in the back rooms of the White House with ZERO transparency (i.e., unions)
*a standstill on international relations (Iran and north Korea as examples);
*.. and who can ever forget the underserved Nobel Peace Prize for NOTHING???
*Daily doses of arrogance from Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, et al, and the White House – especially Geithner, Orszag, Gibbs, Emanuel and Napolitono;
*unable to stop Pelosi Air at a time when 10% of the nation is out of work!
*Losses in New Jersey, Virginia, and even Ted Kennedy’s FORMER senate seat (bet few will be asking him for support in the future)!
*Serious concerns over the professionalism to secure the USA (to wit, the near airline bombing on Christmas Day) Testimony on Jan 20 was stunning! The DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON!! WHO WAS IN CHARGE THAT DAY? ERIC HOLDER??? He did not even advise the Intelligence community!! DO YOU FEEL SAFE??
*their ineptness in even conducting a secure State Dinner!!
*and to “change the tone in Washington”, Obama throws an inaccurate charge at the Supreme Court during the Jan 27th State of the Union Address. (NOT HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE!)
* And, for one who speaks of making ‘JOBS’ job one, wouldn’t you hate to live in Las Vegas? Obama singlehandedly is losing the senate seat for Harry Reid!! (His narcissist
character is showing again – think that whatever he says will come to pass!)
Can only imagine his trick to get the republicans in a room (Feb 25th); show case it on TV; tell the world that HE called all parties together for an “UNPRECEDENTED and HISTORIACAL, FIRST TIME EVER” Meeting at the White House; and then trash them as they leave for being ‘OBSTRUCTIONSITS’!! Glibb Gibbs might even be holding a press conference with the latter message as they depart the building!! This team is the MOST UNTRUSTWORTHY in memory, and this old person is 70+! BEWARE FOLKS! If he will throw his own party members under the bus, just think of what he will do to republicans.
No wonder members of the majority party are hesitant to follow Obama’s lead. He is the epitome of “DO AS I SAY DO, NOT AS I DO!” Obama is out for one person and one person only — OBAMA!
THAT IS WHY ‘HOPE’ is lost!!
THE REAL QUESTION IS TEAM OBAMA CAPABLE OF GOVERNING???????

The Government is broken because:
Republicans refused to work with Obama since the day he was inaugurated.
Republicans vowed to never pass any of Obama’s legislations “No Matter What!”
The Republicans pledge to Always Say “No!” to anything Obama.

Tonya, You are right I am paying for Your big debt now. Your war. Your big company tax brakes during war. As always the middle class is paying for the rich and everybody. Time to tax the rich. Call me a socialist all day. Their people are taking care of just look at that city Vancover. France #1 health care in the WORLD. When all the money is in to the top .5% in this country they will have no one to give them more. They will only get stupid people who vote aganist their interest to belive in them. I fear there will be another war in this country. Since when is being stupid and uneducated cool?

The GOP has been offering. Obama has his doors closed. This man is a liar and is trying to gain popularity by lying. Cannot wait till November when his croneys get kicked out.

“”"Republicans refused to work with Obama since the day he was inaugurated.
Republicans vowed to never pass any of Obama’s legislations “No Matter What!”
The Republicans pledge to Always Say “No!” to anything Obama.”"”"”
Posted by: Angie
When Pelosi locks the door, it makes it difficult to work together. As for your rant, please cite where, who, or anything that proves your claims. Otherwise, more lies from the party that can’t agree on anything is just rhetoric.

It looks like Obama is trying to justify passing this bill through reconcilation. If he does this he will see a backlash from the American public like none of us has seen before. This would be the worse gamble any president has ever tried to take and the Dems would pay a huge price for it.

Hey Happy Pappy, He had 140 Repulicans in the room and whiped the floor with every one of them. He is the smartest guy in the room and you haven’t said anything with your page long list. I will take anyone in his cabinet over Bushes all grads of the “Pat Robertson school of Law. Yes Pat Robertson has a law school and Bush’s admin was full of them. Only people who haven’t bothered to read and find out for themselves. You know the GOP the party that offers you freedom and then brings you the patriot act. Tell you the care will be no good in Public option and then says it will run the big money insurance companies out of business. Tells you if you don’t tax the rich it will create jobs and the money will trickle down. WEll they convinced everybody of that enough to be in charge for 12 years and hold the white house for 8. THis what we are living today is the result. I ask all of you How is that working for ya?

I am sick of the samo old line “The GOP is the party of no”. The GOP was not even invited to the party until Scott Brown and then all of the sudden Obama wants their plan. If you are so blind that you cannot see what the Dems have been doing for the past year than quite frankly, you are clueless.

@Billy Bob, what about the DEMOCRATS that WOULD NOT vote for this plan? The ones that had to BE PAID OFF??? What do you call them?? You Dems are not the brightest bulbs in the pack are you?? The Democrats had ENTIRE CONTROL of Congress and the White House AND they had a filabuster proof Senate, but YET, they could not PASS IT! BUT, now you want to sit here and believe this crap from the WH that is it SOMEHOW the REPUBLICANS fault and NOW the Republicans are going to have to pony up. BUT, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO have to pay the DEMS for their votes this time??? HUH??? WHY DON’T they ask THESE DEMOCRATS that DO NOT support it to put their plan out there??????

The GOP is the party of get off your @ss and take care of yourself

To continue on my point of GOP hurt feelings, anyone else remember Newt Gingrich shutting down the government because he got a bad seat on AF1?

But please…can you provide any truth?”
I realize right winger have amnesia but does this quote ring any bells.
HuffPo”In a speech that even he admitted was meant to be more about politics than policy, Steele issued a whole host of similar accusations, with the type of rhetorical flourishes for which he is well known. At the end of the address he was asked by the Huffington Post whether he agreed with Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-S.C.) assessment that health care reform could be Obama’s Waterloo — a chance for the Republican Party to break the president politically. “I think that’s a good way to put it,” he responded.”

@Ryan C, so what is your excuse before Ted Kennedy’s seat got taken by a Republican. The Democrats had a filabuster proof senate before that, so how did the Repiblicans stop the Dems before that?

I am sick of the samo old line “The GOP is the party of no”. The GOP was not even invited to the party until Scott Brown and then all of the sudden Obama wants their plan. If you are so blind that you cannot see what the Dems have been doing for the past year than quite frankly, you are clueless.
Posted by: Billy Bob | Feb 23, 2010 12:33:04 PM
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Billy Bob, I am sick of Republicans whining and saying that they had no opportunity to present their ideas. Republicans have been invited, they just choose not to participate. They think gullible people like you won’t question their lack of participation if they can make you believe the Democratic party has shut them out. Republicans want health care reform to be President Obama’s Waterloo, plain and simple. Republicans are not running the show, they don’t call the shots. They had that opportunity for eight years. The American people decided they did a horrible job and rewarded them by putting Democrats in charge. For the next four years at least, Republicans will have to deal with it. It is called compromise, something Republicans hate to do.
Oh, and by the way the clueless people are those who are fighting so hard against this administration and want to see our country fail.

The administration invalidated itself when it did a separate negotiation with Big Pharma and a discriminatory deal with the unions on the cadillac plan tax. From that point forward.. it was toast.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | Feb 23, 2010 12:18:46 PM
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
And Republicans invalidated themselves when Jim DeMint said they wanted health care reform to be President Obama’s Waterloo. Republicans have been working towards that every step of the way.

“@Ryan C, so what is your excuse before Ted Kennedy’s seat got taken by a Republican. The Democrats had a filabuster proof senate before that, so how did the Repiblicans stop the Dems before that?”
Well let’s see.
Specter switched parties in April.
The GOP and Norm Coleman dragged out court proceedings to prevent Al Franken being seated. He was sworn-in in July.
Plus Ted Kennedy was quite ill and unavailable to vote for much of the year before he passed away.
You could say the same for Byrd who missed a good deal of votes.
So you are looking at maybe 4 months when the Democrats actually had a supermajority.
Then of course because the Democrats are a big tent party, you have the blue dogs versus the progressives.
While the progressives outnumber the blue dogs, it only takes 1 senator (see Nelson) to muck it up.

“That is because everything that the Dems pass consists of spending big bucks and increasing the control of government on our lives!! — Kudos to Coburn.”
Yeah because the GOP is ok with gay marriage and showed what limited government could do in the Bush era by doubling the debt.

Macrose —- -OK, Lets assume you are correct that Obama was in the room with 140 Repulicans and “wiped the floor with every one of them” — Smart, or dumb, it is the CONTENT of what he says, and the INTENT of his legislation that matters!! — I don’t care how intelligent a person is, if he wants to pass an agenda that will hurt America, he doesn’t deserve our respect. — Go ahead and idolize him, but the bill he is trying to push on us doesn’t even accomplish the basic goals he spouts, and it costs $1Trillion!!

@Ryan C, actually there was more then just 1 Democrat that was paid off if I remember correctly. AND, if I remember there are a lot of House Dems that said they would not vote for the Senate Version and a bunch of Senate Dems that said they will not vote for the House version (I am in a State where that is true for my Rep and my Senator), so why don’t Obama get them to POST THEIR PLAN? Why is he pointing fingers at just the republicans?

will anyone yet ask the question WHY union members have cadillac health care plans in the first place?

“if I remember there are a lot of House Dems that said they would not vote for the Senate Version and a bunch of Senate Dems that said they will not vote for the House version (I am in a State where that is true for my Rep and my Senator), so why don’t Obama get them to POST THEIR PLAN?”
The House Dems and Senate Dems pass their own plans, making clear their intentions.
“Why is he pointing fingers at just the republicans?”
Because the GOP has no plan.
1 senator and 1 Congressman have offered up their vision of healthcare reform but GOP leadership have not endorsed either.
Why?

The Democrats are challenging the Voters not the repubs. Only 32% want their socialism health care system,

The GOP was not even invited to the party Posted by: Billy Bob
well, at some point you have to account for when Republicans ran the government and did nothing to address health care reform., they never do, when Dems are elected and try to do something about it, that’s when you hear from Republicans who immediately say HCR a threat to America….. without any basis in fact
You seem to miss that Repubs have signed on to various policy initiatives that they want, only to back out of them when Obama supports it ..
want to be ‘invited to the party’? don’t say NO and trash it before you receive the invitation

catmom —- One simple question. Did Pelosi not lock the GOP out from the insurance bill debates?

TheLoyalOpposition – “Ryan —– Coburn (R-OK) said. “I think we’re better off when we’re gridlocked because we’re not passing things.” — That is because everything that the Dems pass consists of spending big bucks and increasing the control of government on our lives!! — Kudos to Coburn.”
And while the GOP stop solutions we need to be able to compete, China moves up steadily behind us (moving from the 7th largest economy to the 2nd largest, in 4 years)…..
The REAL Marxists are eating our lunch while we get nothing done, and lose our standing as the biggest economy in the world…
I wonder what it feels like to be number 2? never had it in my lifetime, but in 3 years we will all get to find out.
NICE.

Ryan C —- Lame excuses! I seem to remember Kennedy making an appearance several days before he passed. Maybe, for the good of his own party, he should have given up his seat a long time ago. Maybe, just maybe, when he was diagnosed as terminal. Just a thought.

“”"”"”"”1 senator and 1 Congressman have offered up their vision of healthcare reform but GOP leadership have not endorsed either……Why? “”"”
Posted by: Ryan C
Maybe Pelosi wouldn’t even give it a first look???? You’re a brilliant guy. Come on, you can’t figure that out?

indithinker — you wrote “The REAL Marxists are eating our lunch while we get nothing done” — Just stopping the relentless and arrogant agenda of the left is progress!! — Just look how a grass-roots movement across the country STOPPED a supermajority liberal congress from passing their takeover of healthcare in America!! — Remember January 20th, 2008, the Dems had TOTAL control and furiously started writing bills to pass their liberal agenda!!! — KNOWING that the GOP couldn’t stop them —- Ha-ha-ha!

Funny, you have the righties here complaining about the Repubs being “locked out” blah, blah, blah! But not one of them saying the Republican plan is better! Why, the Repubs don’t have one to post! They demanded the President do it, & instead of answering with their own plan, they do what they do best complain, whine & attack. But no bill! LOL

“Ryan C —– It has taken the Dems over 1 year, loss of seats and a President who’s ratings are dropping like bird droppings to even ask for a plan.”
Total nonsense.
The Democrats have been asking for a GOP plan since June.
In Oct the GOP leadership presented a brief outline that was more philosophical than policy.
We’re now into Feb 2010.
What is the GOP consensus plan for health care reform?

Ryan — Ifrichar is correct! — Back two weeks ago the GOP gave Obama a list of 10 GOP suggestions. — It was written by GINGRICH and GOODMAN.

It’s nothing less than amazing that Obama and crud are playing the same game they played well over a year ago when the majority of Americans said, no thanks.
Rather than go at this reasonably, we have the liberals who say “my way or no way.”
I choose “no way.”

“I seem to remember Kennedy making an appearance several days before he passed.”
Yes, he did. After a long absence he mustered so of his last bits of strength hoping to galvanize the Democrats into passing healthcare reform.
“Maybe, for the good of his own party, he should have given up his seat a long time ago.”
Strom Thurmond served for several years after he was dead.
What annoyed me was the MA legislature which first changed succession in 2004 then tried to change it again when Kennedy passed away.
A lesson never to pass laws that are temporarily beneficial to your party.

Ryan C —- Now you reject Gingrich because he cheated on his wife? Over 50% of Americans cheat which puts him in the majority. Lame excuse, he was actually an intelligent guy. Wonder what you thought of Clinton when he cheated in the very office we voted him to?

Hey Ryan C, why dont you do some research if wou want to know what the republicans have been proposing for healthcare reform. Do some homework.

Once again, all Americans can see that the loony-left d-crat socialists DO NOT WANT REAL REFORM; they want ONLY NATIONALIZATION of the American healthcare industry and full federal government control of OUR healthcare.
KILL THE D-CRAT SOCIALIST HEATHCARE RATIONING BILL AND START OVER.

Try the truth —- Have you not read the GOP bill? It has some very good ideas in it that could be included in the next version of the insurance reform bill (if Obama actually does changes he says he will).

“Ryan C —- Now you reject Gingrich because he cheated on his wife? Over 50% of Americans cheat which puts him in the majority”
First off, perhaps 25% of marriages experience infidelity.
Now right wingers are reduced to defending adultery as ok?
You’re kidding right?
Sorry, cheating on your spouse is a low thing to do.
Cheating on a spouse fighting cancer is even lower.
“Lame excuse, he was actually an intelligent guy.”
Plenty of intelligent people are morally worthless.
“Wonder what you thought of Clinton when he cheated in the very office we voted him to?”
I thought he was a good President but a lousy husband.

I open up the page and the first thing I read is a lie . ..
“The American people have spoken. They oppose government-run health care. Republicans are on the side of the American people.”
That is nonsense, the public option polls favourably with Americans.
Why is it the Republicans base so much on lies?

Ryan C–Yes have you????

“”"”"The Republicans don’t have a coherent health care plan, simple as that. Let’s hope they finally bring something constructive to the table.”"”"
Posted by: tierra
They’ve had a plan for as long as the Dems have. That is now besides the point. The Prez himself took several of the GOP ideas from their meeting over a week ago. The Dems are playing stupid if they are trying to say there is no coherent plan. Any bill the GOP puts out there has most of the very similar main GOP components and I will say this again, if Democrats are going to blame the GOP for not having any ideas, they are stupid and deserve to continue losing seats….and most likely will.

“They’ve had a plan for as long as the Dems have.”
Wrong.
The plan on the GOP Solutions website went up in December.

I open up the page and the first thing I read is a lie . ..
“The American people have spoken. They oppose government-run health care. Republicans are on the side of the American people.”
That is nonsense, the public option polls favourably with Americans.
Why is it the Republicans base so much on lies?
Why?

“If you believe that boy do I have a deal on some swamp land for you”.
Posted by: Billy Bob | Feb 23, 2010 1:50:47 PM
__________________________________
Lewinsky’s testimony to FBI is they never had sexual intercourse – ever.

Btw, have we found the WMD’s in Iraq yet?
Posted by: Ryan C
Apples and oranges. I am pretty sure Clinton did not have intellegence officials from several countries telling Bill that Monica was a threat and he needed to do the cigar thing to her.

Please show us the polls that show that Americans are in favor of the dems healthcare proposals? We are waiting.
Thanks BillyBob!

I find it interesting the right wing is so interested in other people’s sexual habits. Cute.

Lewinsky’s testimony to FBI is they never had sexual intercourse – ever.
Posted by: tierra
Big deal, everyone knew he was guilty of whatever you want to call it and he lied about it, end of story. let me guess, you think OJ was innocent???

“”"”Lewinsky’s testimony to FBI is they never had sexual intercourse – ever.”"”
Posted by: tierra
If lying didn’t bother the Prez, why would it bother anout of work intern?

tierra — You said “the public option polls favourably with Americans” — Ha-ha-ha! — Maybe in YOUR neighborhood, but not with a cross-section of America! — Why do you think that was one of the first “big” items to be DOA in the bills? — Even before the gov’t payout for abortions!! — Obama kept talking about it because there was a segment of the liberal Dems (led by Pelosi) who insisted it would be in the bill —- but they knew as soon as the Blue Dogs balked that it wouldn’t fly!

Ryan C Read ajax post. This is reality, sorry no spin.

I open up the Republican healthcare page and the first thing I read is a lie . ..
“The American people have spoken. They oppose government-run health care. Republicans are on the side of the American people.”
That is nonsense, the public option polls favourably with Americans.
Why is it the Republicans base so much on lies?
Why?

“You do realize the Democrats in the house and senate STILL do not have one single plan and yet you expect, just because Obama cuts and pastes one together last Friday, the GOP has to consolidate in a week? Why couldn’t the Dems consolidate in a year? Hypocritical?”
ROFLMAO!
Its moved from the GOP doesn’t need a plan to the GOP has a plan to its unfair that the GOP only has a week to consolidate their plans.
Someone is mighty worried that the GOP is gonna get their but kicked on national TV on Thursday night.

@Ryan C, Newsweek!!!! Are you joking?? You are believing a POLL done by a News company? That is like believing an ABC poll. No wonder we are so screwed up in this Country. Like I said, for everyone you show me in favor, I will show you 1 that shows Against! LOL, ####, Newsweek! HAHAHA

But perhaps you can explain why Clinton’s dalliance with an intern was worse than Newt Gingrich cheating on his cancer stricken wife?
Posted by: Ryan C
Because he held the office of President of the United States. He was our leader and then not only did he let millions of people doen, he lied about it which is criminal. This is like comparing Tigers infedelity to someone who you have never heard of. Leaders are supposed to lead by example.

“Ryan C Read ajax post. This is reality, sorry no spin.”
Perhaps you should try reading the article that ajax based the post on.
I know that may take some effort on your part and that may be too much to ask.

Nothing the GOP has laid out as their plan – just that one House bill – is a viable piece of legislation. The costs add up less than even ObamaCare.

@Ryan C, Maybe YOU should read the report again.

“Posted by: US Citizen | Feb 23, 2010 2:07:29 PM”
Those polls are a little older though the public option still polls well.

“The Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus bill created up to 2.1 million jobs during the final three months of last year, according to a new report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.
“During the fourth quarter of 2009, the stimulus added “between 1.0 million and 2.1 million to the number of workers employed in the United States,” the CBO said.
“The stimulus also boosted the country’s economic growth by 1.5 to 3.5 percent during the time period and lowered the nation’s unemployment rate by between 0.5 and 1.1 percentage points.
“The effects of the stimulus bill are expected to increase as the year goes on . . . ”
More ‘bad’ news for the Republicans.

@Ryan C, I will say this again, for everyone you show me in favor, I will show you one against. It comes down to the report that came out yesterday.. Americans DO NOT TRUST our Government. PERIOD. Americans DO NOT want BIGGER Government. PERIOD.

Below is a summary of the Republican plan. In short, the amendment shifts the costs and risks of insurance onto individuals and divides the market into low-cost plans for the healthy and high-cost insurance for the sick:
Access to coverage:
- Establishes high risk pools for sicker individuals: State are required to establish high risk pools for Americans who cannot purchase insurance in the individual market due to pre-existing conditions, but nothing in the legislation prohibits the state pools from excluding coverage for the very condition that makes an individual eligible in the first place (as they do today.) The bill abolishes waiting lists and specifies that the pools must provide at least two coverage options, one of which must be a high deductible plan with HSA. Premiums can be set at no higher than 150% of (state) average. The federal government will provide $15 billion in funding.
- Healthier Americans can purchase coverage on the individual market: For Americans moving from group to individual coverage, the legislation eliminates the HIPAA requirement of having creditable coverage in the past 18 months to receive individual insurance market insurance. Annual or life time spending caps are also eliminated. However, the bill will allow insures to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and charge very different rates based on gender and age.
- Health insurers can sell policies across state lines: The insurer only has to follow the rules of the state it declares to be its “primary” state, not of secondary states in which it can also sell policies. As a result, all policies will have a ‘buyer beware’ label warning consumers that the plan is “not subject to all of the consumer protection laws or restrictions on rate changes of the state.”
- Businesses can form association health care plans: The legislation creates rules for governing association health plans, which will allow small businesses to come together, by industry or trade, and form health plan through which they can purchase coverage for their employees. Association health care plans have sole discretion in selecting specific items and services that can be included as benefits (i.e. no minimum guaranteed benefit package, or minimum costs etc). The plans are to be operated by Board of Trustees who appoint the actuary to determine financial status and viability.
- Young adults can stay on their parents’ coverage: Dependent adults can stay on their parents’ plan until they are at least 25, although the language would allow a plan to increase that age.
Lowering health care costs:
- Offers bonuses for states that lower premiums, number of uninsured: Establishes state innovation program grants to reward states for lowering the cost of their premiums. Includes bonus for reducing the number of uninsured.
- Establishes a plan finder website: States contract with private entities to create a health “plan finder” website which do not directly enroll individuals in insurance plans.
- Malpractice reform: Specifies that claims must be filed within three years, and caps non-economic damages at $250,000.
Miscellaneous:
- Enhances Health Savings Accounts: Enrollees can build their credit by contributing to their HSA and can use HSAs to pay for high deductible plan premiums. The bill extends the definition of a qualified medical expense.
- Employer wellness programs: Allows group and individual health plans to vary premiums and cost-sharing by up to 50% of value of benefits based on participation or lack of participation in a standards-based wellness program.
- Federal dollars can’t touch plans that offer abortion coverage: The bill does not allow federal funds to go to any insurance plan that offers abortion coverage. This means that a woman who wants to purchase a comprehensive health insurance plan would have to pay for the entire cost of the policy, even if she qualifies for subsidies and uses private premiums to pay for her abortion.

“The effects of the stimulus bill are expected to increase as the year goes on . . . “Posted by: tierra —How much land do you want to buy????

In today’s WSJ from Harvard econ Prof Barro – “The projected effect on other parts of GDP (consumer expenditure, private investment, net exports) is minus 180, minus 120, +60, minus 330, minus 330, which adds up to minus 900. Thus, viewed over five years, the fiscal stimulus package is a way to get an extra $600 billion of public spending at the cost of $900 billion in private expenditure. This is a bad deal.
The fiscal stimulus package of 2009 was a mistake. It follows that an additional stimulus package in 2010 would be another mistake.” This is the conclusion. Read the whole thing to see how he calculates the net affect on the entire economy. Interesting and scary because I don’t think the administration really sees the whole picture.

Lets keep it real, I searched this information out and so can you. This is FACT not fiction like other that enjoy pointing fingers like to spread.
President Bush has presided over the largest overall increase in inflation-adjusted federal spending since Lyndon B. Johnson. Even after excluding spending on defense and homeland security, Bush is still the biggest-spending president in 30 years. His 2006 budget doesn’t cut enough spending to change his place in history, either.
Total government spending grew by 33 percent during Bush’s first term. The federal budget as a share of the economy grew from 18.5 percent of GDP on Clinton’s last day in office to 20.3 percent by the end of Bush’s first term.
Stephen Slivinski is director of budget studies at the Cato Institute.
The Republican Congress has enthusiastically assisted the budget bloat. Inflation-adjusted spending on the combined budgets of the 101 largest programs they vowed to eliminate in 1995 has grown by 27 percent.
The GOP was once effective at controlling nondefense spending. The final nondefense budgets under Clinton were a combined $57 billion smaller than what he proposed from 1996 to 2001. Under Bush, Congress passed budgets that spent a total of $91 billion more than the president requested for domestic programs. Bush signed every one of those bills during his first term. Even if Congress passes Bush’s new budget exactly as proposed, not a single cabinet-level agency will be smaller than when Bush assumed office.
Republicans could reform the budget rules that stack the deck in favor of more spending. Unfortunately, senior House Republicans are fighting the changes. The GOP establishment in Washington today has become a defender of big government.

As is usual, good news for Americans is ‘bad’ news for the Republicans. Note the comments posted on this blog.
The Republican motto: Get Re-elected First. Country Second.
“The Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus bill created up to 2.1 million jobs during the final three months of last year, according to a new report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.
“During the fourth quarter of 2009, the stimulus added “between 1.0 million and 2.1 million to the number of workers employed in the United States,” the CBO said.
“The stimulus also boosted the country’s economic growth by 1.5 to 3.5 percent during the time period and lowered the nation’s unemployment rate by between 0.5 and 1.1 percentage points.
“The effects of the stimulus bill are expected to increase as the year goes on . . . ”
More ‘bad’ news for the Republicans.

“@Ryan C, I will say this again, for everyone you show me in favor, I will show you one against.”
So show me a poll against the public option.

The Dems talking about a “circle of accountability”? LOL … now that’s about as funny as Robert DeNiro’s “circle of trust” in the movie “Meet the Parents”. But seriously, who do they think they’re kidding by stating “they have to take ownership of actual plans and not just opposition to what the Democrats are proposing”? The republicans have been fairly consistent in their insistence on tort reform, caps on medical lawsuits, limiting care for illegal aliens, allowing more competition by enabling people to purchase insurance across state lines, mandatory copayments — ALL COMMON SENSE INITIATIVES to drive down prices and improve service for the average American, but the Dems won’t even look twice at these type of reforms.

@Ryan C, This NEW combined House and Senate bill DOES NOT HAVE a Publicly funded plan:
“One thing the plan does not include: A publicly funded health insurance option, which the House included in its bill but the Senate did not. Debates over the “public option” slowed down the legislative process in both chambers. ”
So, I would have to go back and pull polls from mid – late,2009 when they were initially voting on one.
Most cases I am sure will show higher support being that is WHAT MOST DEMS wanted. But, you lost about all of that support because Dems were ticked it was taken out. Most DEMS wanted a Public Option. Again, being the DEMS had the MAJORITY in the House and the Senate and the WH, why could they not pass it??

“were you talking about john edwards cheating on his wife while battling cancer?”
His name did in fact come up earlier though I was likely speaking of Newt in my more recent posts.
What I said was I was glad that Edwards did not become President.

@gdguynbalt, Well, I am one of the people also, and he pretty much tells it like it is when it comes to me.

“The effects of the stimulus bill are expected to increase as the year goes on . . . ”
Posted by: tierra
Tierra, read up on the advisor to Obama on stimulus. Government spending does not pull us out, small business and consumer confidence/spending does.
Dr. Christina Romer’s testimony before the Joint Economic Committee. Citing economic analysts she says the fiscal stimulus will have its greatest impact on growth in the second and third quarters of 2009. (Editors note – those quarters are now behind us). By mid-2010, according to her testimony submitted to the committee, the “fiscal stimulus will likely be contributing little to growth.”

Tea Party = GOP = Party of No = Jim Crow Party (see first Tea Party Convention). They had power and did NOTHING for health care reform and did NOTHING about the economy. NOW, they have ideas to fix these problems?!?!?!? Pres. Obama 2012.

“Dr. Christina Romer’s testimony before the Joint Economic Committee. Citing economic analysts she says the fiscal stimulus will have its greatest impact on growth in the second and third quarters of 2009.”
I realize we are on ABC’s blog but you should still credit the writer.
“Government spending does not pull us out, small business and consumer confidence/spending does.”
Stimulus was meant to prime the pump of the economy and stave off disaster.
It has done so.
But it will always be up to the private sector to be the main player in our economy.

The polls supporting the Public Option BEFORE that recess in August are showing high support. After the House went home and got caught up with the Town Halls from hell, it is showing a little drop in support. But, we will have to see if they add the public option back, then I guess we will see were the American Public Support is.
I have no LOVE for Dems OR Repubs.. I think that ALL politicians lie, cheat and are playing us like a fine tuned banjo. I DO NOT trust the Government. If they pass this BILL, our Healthcare will GO UP AND DOWN depending on WHO IS in office and what they append to it to get OUT vote.
Is what we have perfect, NO, but the Government running it, is NOT EITHER.

OOPS, sorry… “append to it to get OUT vote.” should have been “append to it to get OUR vote.”

“i have no use for clinton newt and any scum bag who cheats on his spouse while being paid by me. if you will cheat on your spouse you will certainly cheat on me.”
Agreed.
Now if you don’t mind I need to grab my camera as a pig flew by my window.

@Ryan C, I think you are correct, I think he is quoting that stupid website of transparency the Obama Team set up that was wrong, so they had to use more of our tax money to fix. :)
But, but in defense, you have to admit those jobs numbers are based on a quarter when there was more hiring for Christmas Workers.
I would think the first quarter of 2010 would be a better judge to see what the Job Market is doing, although you will have to take into affect, those same jobs being laid off.
I posted earlier about the Consumer confidence being down like crazy in February and you can read that on MSN MONEY. If confidence is down.. no one is spending.. if no one is spending.. no one is hiring.

If we lose this opportunity to reform healthcare I’m going to hold Lieberman personally responsible; in fact I think I’m going to move to Connecticut just so I can vote against him every chance I get.

The ONLY proposal I read from the GOP focused on 1, being allowed to go out of state for Healthcare insurance. (Only 2 staes made it illegal to go out of state, and there are no statistics showing whether that costs ANYTHING EXTRA), 2. Protecting Doctors from malpractice liabilities (So, a doctor could cut off the wrong leg, and tough crap, he doesn’t owe you a thing!)
Final thought, be careful not to agree just because it is what your party is proposing…VERY CAREFUL.

smartlillena —- Do we need to continue to label this bill as health care reform? This is nothing more than insurance reform and does not address the MAJOR health care issue in the USA…..health care costs. Just call this Government Subsidized Health Insurance Legislation.

“”"”Protecting Doctors from malpractice liabilities (So, a doctor could cut off the wrong leg, and tough crap, he doesn’t owe you a thing!)”"”"”
Posted by: able
You really believe that if a doctor cut off the wrong leg that he won’t be sued??????? Tort reform is against “frivolous” law suits.

smartlillena —- Do we need to continue to label this bill as health care reform?
—
Oh, I have a label for it.

WHY DO REPUBLICANS HARBOR SO MUCH HATE.WHO WAS THE LAST REPUBLCAN PRESIDENT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.AND BEFORE YOU SAY REAGEN”WRONG”.STUDY YOUR HISTORY AND BACK OFF.AND TAKE YOUR TEA PARTY WITH YOU.

And the lefties of the Democratic party challenge Obama to stand up for the Public Option. Obama never pushed for it at all even though 70% of the people want it and therefore he has lost his base. Between a pathetic healthcare bill that no on wants and doing nothing to stop the crimes coming from Wall Street – Obama has failed his own party base big time!

morris…my insurance for my company is with anthem blue cross and we are not seeing a 39% increase. in fact ours is a 7% increase. i think sebeulis cherry pick one policy and tried to exploit it.this is the most do nothing administration i have ever been around,pleae create an atmosphere in which the small business private sector can thrive and abandon this health care/ global warming hoax.

The only way prices will be driven down is by health care cost controls
—
Too many people are working the system.
Twenty bucks for a tylenol?
An unused monitor left in a patient’s room so it can be billed to their insurance?

mike if the democrat garbage is so great and they care so much about you then they should vote for their own stinking bill and the voting public should love them if they are so great. apparently there is a major disconnect. we need to quickly move away from the get something for nothing mentality. how about working harder smarter and faster than the next guy.

progressive mama…climate change bill while evryone is unemployed? more taxes?what planet is this? get real utopians there is NO MONEY. you wont work for free…why should anyone else. china and india are going to stomp us while we worry about illegal immigrants and their healthcare.

How many times do the Democrats have to be told the same things,Competetion across state lines,and tort reform. Surely they are not all that stupid,it is not rocket science,remembering 2 things. Not Government control,

progressive mama — The GOP favors “incentives” and the capitalist system that got us to where we are today. If the Dems could incorporate SOME of the government oversight needed, there could be something on the table. I noticed you didn’t mention Tom Colburns legislation. He is the only practicing physician that actually had a plan.

climate change bill while evryone is unemployed?
___
I paired it with energy independence because if our legislators would start working together (yes, I know– humor, har– but one can always keep pressing) I do think there are ways to combine nuclear power with other forms of clean energy– wind, solar– and limited drilling, exploring clean coal, improving the energy grid, and so on to create jobs and begin to not only catch up but innovate and lead in the field. Whether those on the right believe in climate change or not is getting to be beside the point since we’re in a global marketplace and the world does tend to believe in it and there’s a demand for alternate renewable energy.

Yes. If they don’t pass health care reform, and show they have guts and tenacity, they will be in trouble in the fall.
—
ROFLMAO! Obama isn’t down to 44% in Ohio either. This country feasts on bleeding hearts.

Just tried that little web app to tell you how health care reform would affect you.
I’d rate it at about the same as a spin ad.
You get a quick statement back on what the Administration thinks it will do for you, along with some fluff. I my case I was told the CBO says it will likely not raise premiums.
Actually what the CBO said, because I have read this report several times, is that it would likely raise or lower premiums, but by what magnitude or which they could not be sure.

progressive mama i agree new energy policy is needed. nukes and drill now then work on alternive energy. we can cut off the middle east influence NOW by drilling and nuke plants which would create enough jobs to get us out of this recession. we have to say no to san fransisco views of the world.

Rupublicans for Smaller Goverment???? What happened????????? Did someone not get the MEMO??????
President Bush has presided over the largest overall increase in inflation-adjusted federal spending since Lyndon B. Johnson. Even after excluding spending on defense and homeland security, Bush is still the biggest-spending president in 30 years. His 2006 budget doesn’t cut enough spending to change his place in history, either.
Total government spending grew by 33 percent during Bush’s first term. The federal budget as a share of the economy grew from 18.5 percent of GDP on Clinton’s last day in office to 20.3 percent by the end of Bush’s first term.
Stephen Slivinski is director of budget studies at the Cato Institute.
The Republican Congress has enthusiastically assisted the budget bloat. Inflation-adjusted spending on the combined budgets of the 101 largest programs they vowed to eliminate in 1995 has grown by 27 percent.
The GOP was once effective at controlling nondefense spending. The final nondefense budgets under Clinton were a combined $57 billion smaller than what he proposed from 1996 to 2001. Under Bush, Congress passed budgets that spent a total of $91 billion more than the president requested for domestic programs. Bush signed every one of those bills during his first term. Even if Congress passes Bush’s new budget exactly as proposed, not a single cabinet-level agency will be smaller than when Bush assumed office.
Republicans could reform the budget rules that stack the deck in favor of more spending. Unfortunately, senior House Republicans are fighting the changes. The GOP establishment in Washington today has become a defender of big government.

progressive mama I not sure the world accepts man made GW as you say. Phil Jones the head at angola where the climate gate scandel broke has admitted to the BBC that there has been no siginificant warming in the past 15 years and that he believes that it might have been warmer in midevil times than now. The UN announced that they were going to start over collecting data because what had been collected to date was unusable thanks to Phil Jones and his cronies.

US ——– Did you actually post on the wrong forum or are you here just to bash on the GOP?

@MORRIS, What are you talking about? 39%… I have a Private Insurance Policy, mine did not go up that much. My brother has a policy through his company and it did not go up that much. Where are you getting that from.. don’t quote numbers unless you can back them up.

smartlillena:
That’s NOT going to drive prices down. The money will go elsewhere and Joe Sixpak won’t feel it. 
—————-
Oh, I don’t know about that. Reports vary and depend upon how much it is reformed. Gallops recent poll on Doctors put defensive medicine at 26% of the overall health care costs in this country. Studies have shown that countries such as Canada have the same rate of malpractice, but cost the medical profession 10% of what they do in the US. I’d say it could have a very big impact.
There are quite a few other things we should do of course. For one we need to get away from using CPT codes, and we need to integrate ICT in our medical practices.

lfrichar you and the likes of you keep complaining about the Democrats big Goverment spending, on this post. So I had to set the record straight. The New Champion on Big Goverment is ….. Wait for it ……… Wait for it…….
TA DA The Republicans win Hands down…………..

Posted by: catman | Feb 23, 2010 5:00:53 PM
Ok its obvious that you dont understand how the senate in the country works so let me explain really quick. there are less than 60 democrats in the senate. There HAS ALWAYS BEEN LESS THAN 60 DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE. Just because there are only 40 republicans doesnt mean there are 60 democrats you forgot about the independents. Second it takes 60 votes for the democtacts to get a bill passed SO unless you have every democrat and the Independents voting for the bill all the republicans have to do is fillibuster. Now im going to assume you know what that means mean they vote against and block the legislation. Point is the republicans will vote against ANYTHING the democrats try to do. See they dont have to have any Ideas or try to do any good for the american people all they have to do is block the dems and say look they failed at everything they tryed vote for us we wont fail. Well unless you count not doing acomplishing anything as a win well you can see what im saying here. The republicans will do whatever it takes to win back there power even to the detriment of the american people.

“I was refering to Andrew Joseph Stack the republican tea partyer that was so mad that the government made him pay taxes that he flew a plane into the Austin TX IRS biulding last week.”
Not sure if you can cast Stack politically in that manner.
What you can do is show Steve King’s comments about Stack’s act of violence.
” TP: Do you think this attack, this terrorist attack, was motivated at all by a lot of the anti-tax rhetoric that’s popular in America right now?
KING: I think if we’d abolished the IRS back when I first advocated it, he wouldn’t have a target for his airplane. And I’m still for abolishing the IRS, I’ve been for it for thirty years and I’m for a national sales tax. [...] It’s sad the incident in Texas happened, but by the same token, it’s an agency that is unnecessary and when the day comes when that is over and we abolish the IRS, it’s going to be a happy day for America.
TP: So some of his grievances were legitimate?
KING: I don’t know if his grievances were legitimate, I’ve read part of the material. I can tell you I’ve been audited by the IRS and I’ve had the sense of ‘why is the IRS in my kitchen.’ Why do they have their thumb in the middle of my back. … It is intrusive and we can do a better job without them entirely.”
That’s right a Republican Congressman just did his best to rationalize and justify a violent attack on a government insitution that resulted in an innocent man’s death.
Of course this is nothing new with the Republicans
A few years ago here is John Cornyn regarding a spate of violence in which a judge was killed in 1 city and an judge’s family was killed in another.
“I don’t know if there is a cause-and-effect connection, but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country…And I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters, on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in, engage in violence.”
What was he so angry about? Terri Schiavo.

mike…its called reconciliation.thats how you get what you want. also you had the votes before scott brown.your leaders care about one thing and thats their own future employment. bama wants to blame this on others but the dems have the power to get it done…they just want be reelected.

ryanc proved a point to a fellow kool aid drinker about the gop. most of us are independents…just like in teddy kennedy country.

Republicans are going to disagree with anything that President Obama comes up with. Why are republicans so determined to only do what corporation exectives want? If President Obama said it was going to rain for a week, they would say no way and how dare you. Republicans better start doing their jobs which is to be working with what the President comes up with and then give their ideas. Their ideas are always and have always been considered from the beginning of his presidency.

mike the republicans ahve great ideas and they have been espoused ad nausem. tort reform, crossing state lines etc.why have they not been adopted.THE OBAMAS ARE LAWYERS. THE SEIU WILL NOT GO ALONG WITH ANYTHING THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR.
Posted by: catman | Feb 23, 2010 5:31:46 PM
Ok first off they are dead AGAINST tort reform. Second buying across state lines and all the rest are simply a distraction and wouldnt make a difference anyways even if they implimented it because the health insurance companies in this country enjoy federal anti-trust protection (just like the oil companies) so none of what the republicans are proposing will make any difference what so ever. Which is exacally what the insurance companies want. Keep you ignorent and poor so the can stay rich

progressive mama,
Although I favor the Ryan plan, there are parts I too would change.
For example, preferably the regulation and/or limits or coverage of plans in the state based exchanges should be up to the states. Require that states set up a rate structure, but the federal government doesn’t need to set a firm rate structure. I also tend to think states should have some leeway in requring coverage for certain condtions as long it is is justified. States should have more oversight and control then the federal government.
It sounds like any extra amount from the tax credit would go to a HSA, I could be wrong. As long as enough was in the HSA to cover cost sharing to a reasonable extent, perhaps it should be transferrable to another account that could be used for long term savings for education, buying a home, or such.

Republicans are obstructionists. They are proud of keeping the country from doing what will be beneficial for Americans. No one with integrity and honor would take revenge against them if they would cooperate with the President. But now there are so many rabid haters of President Obama just because he is the President and not a republican. These republican lawmakers are scared to vote as they would like because of the blow-back from their base. The republican leaders need to be replaced with honest and caring people.

Republicans are obstructionists. They are proud of keeping the country from doing what will be beneficial for Americans. No one with integrity and honor would take revenge against them if they would cooperate with the President. But now there are so many rabid haters of President Obama just because he is the President and not a republican. These republican lawmakers are scared to vote as they would like because of the blow-back from their base. The republican leaders need to be replaced with honest and caring people.
——————
Well, a start would be for us to stop the hating we do back and forth on this issue.
Another would be for all haters to be voted out of Congress, and our political system. Their party doesn’t matter as much as their hate, one would hope.
In any case, I do not look at them as haters, politicians tend to get to rhetorical and go for quick sound bites. I tend to think both parties try to do their jobs, and I wouldn’t want to have any of their positions.

Did you mean to say Canadians pay 10% of 26%? ($2.60 per $100 vs $26.00 per $100) I can’t see it being that simple. Different US doctors (fields) pay different rates. Does that 10%of26% comparison hold true throughout?
I haven’t a clue about ICT and CPT.
Posted by: smartlillena | Feb 23, 2010 6:29:11 PM
Acually it is that simple. The only people trying to make it complicated are the insuance companies and the republicans they have in there pockets.
Thats because they want to keep the american people as stupid and misinformed for as long as posisble so they can make as much money as possible off you.

Vicki: So are you saying dems are caring and compassionate? Have you read the bill? Read pages 148 and 149 and you will see how much they really care. This bill will give the ability to the government to ration medical care. So you want to face the potential to have to beg for medical attention after you are denied it. I dont want to have to face that or have my family being denied by obama or any politician. This is not compassionate this is dictatorship and inhumane! And for your nonsense talk about Canada simply ask yourself why their prime minister came here for medical care for his heart and not get treatment there. The answer is because we have the best medical care in the world and you libs and obama want to destroy it. Obama is a habitual liar and you trust him with running your health care is absurd. He has lied about wall street, deficit, jobs and unemployment, gitmo to just name a few.

US – You may be right about Bush being the biggest spender but if you take the rate that Dear Leader is spending money which we don’t have he will pass Bush before his first, and hopefully, first term is up. This spending is unsustainable and Dear Leader has said so on more than one occasion but just keeps on spending. His health care propsal is so scarry that the CBO has refused to rate it because there are so many loopholes in it which can drasticaly affect its ultimate cost. Best thing to do is scrap everything on the table now and start over with input from both sides and a requirement that the final bill me no more than 100 pages (including all ammendments) which should keep it simple and eliminate a large portion of the pork which we all know will try to be placed in it.

RyanC:::”This bill will give the ability to the government to ration medical care. So you want to face the potential to have to beg for medical attention after you are denied it.”
Pssst medical care is rATIONED now by your ability to pay for it.
—————–
Where I live there are several clinics that charge based on income. Since you do have the ability to pay in that case it is not longer rationed.
There are hospitals that charge on the same idea, sliding fees based on income.
I was under the impression these are fairly common, not just in my state but in most states.

Jobs. The shift was supposed to be towards jobs …
—-
Perhaps, you missed the news yesterday, or this morning:
(WaPo): “A month after being crowned the darling of national conservatives, Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts is being branded “Benedict Brown” for siding with Democrats in favor of a jobs bill endorsed by the Obama administration.
…Political observers said each of the five Republican senators had solid reasons locally for voting as they did, to cut off a potential Republican filibuster on the bill. The measure featured four provisions that enjoyed sweeping bipartisan support, including a measure exempting businesses hiring the unemployed from Social Security payroll taxes through December, and giving them a $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year.”

progressive mama:
(WaPo): The measure featured four provisions that enjoyed sweeping bipartisan support, including a measure exempting businesses hiring the unemployed from Social Security payroll taxes through December, and giving them a $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year.”
—————————-
Hopefully there will be more then that.

wyn. You must be on Medicaid thats why your health care is already rationed. The perfect example of rationed government run healthcare at its best.

Tammy::wyn. You must be on Medicaid thats why your health care is already rationed. The perfect example of rationed government run healthcare at its best.
————————-
Tammy, I have no idea what you are talking about. I am on a private plan through my private employer. I do know people on Medicaid, or rather SCHIP, and some on Medicare.
Personally, I’d rather have everyone on private plans that fit their needs and get rid of Medicare and Medicaid.
The government outsources the administration of the government plans anyhow. Either to private insurance companies here or agencies abroad such as in India or other. Private plans outsource some tasks as well. I am not of the opinion that government plans are better or cheaper.

GO GREEN: RECYCLE CONGRESS
Fight organized crime: Re-elect no one 2010.
“CLUNKER MATH”
Think of it this way:
A clunker that travels 12,000 miles a year at 15 mpg, uses 800 gallons of gas a year.
A vehicle that travels 12,000 miles a year at 25 mpg uses 480 gallons a year..
So, the average Cash for Clunkers transaction reduces US gasoline
Consumption by 320 gallons per year.
They claim 700,000 vehicles (in Clunker program) so that’s 224 million gallons saved per year.
That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.
Five million barrels is about 5 hours worth of US consumption.
More importantly, 5 million barrels of oil at $70 per barrel costs about $350 million dollars
So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $350 million.
We spent $8.57 for every dollar saved.
I’m pretty sure they will do a great job with health care, though.

“Stack was a registered Democrat that was FOR a healthcare bill. He was also a loony tune. MSM spinned him a “right winger.” And they continue to spin.”
Forgive the MSM. With right wing Republican Congressman like Steve King trying to make the act of murder as a legitimate grievance they must have been confused.

a requirement that the final bill me no more than 100 pages
Posted by: Sandcrab1612
so the efficacy of legislation is dependent on how many pages it has ? .. no small wonder why no one takes republicans or the ‘right’ seriously

Why we don’t want government run health care……
Recently, during research at Crystal Falls laboratory, they discovered the following element. They are reasonably confident that other like-minded individuals have uncovered this same truth, however they have been able to publish their findings ahead of the rest. You may all use your own capable scientific minds in applying simple logic to confirm our results.
“ This is the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium (Gv) has one neuron, 25 assistant neurons, 85 deputy neurons, and 198 assistant deputy neurons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to complete to expand from four days to four years. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2-6 years, it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neurons and deputy neurons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neurons, forming isadopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion suggests that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administration, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons

In 40 yrs, I have never seen such terrible partisanship by Dems or Repubs. The Republicans should not cooperate relative to the horrible bill that is on the table. Obama’s arrogance prevents him from getting a bi-partisan plan because he won’t start over. To do so will result in a bill this year. It has to include tort reform, competition across state lines, waste cuts in all phases of government. These things go against Obama’s basic ideology.

It does not matter whether I am a Democrat or a Republican, all that matters is that I am a proud American. However, right now, I am not proud of either side of the political parties. Everywhere you look and read all you see is fighting occurring between both sides of the political spectrum. Rather than making changes in legislature and in Congress, only bickering is occurring that creates deeper problems. Consequently, these feelings then seep into the minds of the American people creating a less stable atmosphere within our country making the dedicated voting citizens lose faith in the people governing our great country. Whatever party affiliation, I believe that most people believe that progress needs to be made concerning the topic of health care. Health care reform needs to be made, but not at the expense of American citizen’s checkbooks and not through corruption and deceit. Politics is supposed to be the promotion of the ideas and the thoughts of the people, politicians are supposed to be selfless public leaders, not greedy and selfish individuals willing to sacrifice reputation for a few extra dollars. While Democrats are paying off each other for votes, Republicans continue to stumble around each other not firm on a general consensus concerning the topic of health care. I believe that both political parties will never come to a clear decision concerning the topic of healthcare, but what I hope for is that compromise will occur, and reform can then be made amongst the squabble. Rather than worrying about which side gets the better press, politicians will finally come together stronger than before for the sole purpose of helping the greater good, rather than promoting their personal and political agendas. When people are dying without health care and services, people are going bankrupt because of the loss of jobs from the economy, and families are losing their houses and means of livelihood, it is time for both political parties to come to an agreement, before it is too late and our great country crumbles into shambles. It is time for peace in politics, so that for once, something can be accomplished in congress and in the White House.