Pudding Together: Momentum on Health Care — But a Messy Finish Ahead
EmailBy Rick Klein Stick around a while — you wouldn’t want to miss this show anyway. Not that it’s going to be pretty. It’s the weekend to determine a presidency, and we know what we need to about the health care bill. It’s got a price tag, it’s got its details, and it even has a fresh set of special deals to keep process at the forefront right through the Rules Committee and onto the House floor. (And it might even have a deal with the Stupak group — if there is a group to speak of by Sunday.) Passage isn’t inevitable at this point. But with the countdown comes momentum, for all it’s worth politically. (Are Republicans more excited at this point when a Democrat announces a “no” or a “yes”?) President Obama’s decision to cancel his foreign trip leaves him in place for the final lobbying and deal-making — and it leaves the focus exactly where it was going to be anywhere. And so the health care bill moves toward a final vote much like it’s spent the past year — in a chaotic, politically explosive march where the end is actually the beginning. “They’re going to get a reward for this — they’re going to be rewarded,” Vice President Joe Biden told ABC’s Jake Tapper Thursday, summing up his argument to wavering Democrats. “The proof of the pudding’s in the eating.” It’s all over but the talking — and the voting: One final presidential rally Friday at George Mason University in Virginia, and it’s on to Sunday’s (or early Monday’s) showdown. Almost time to swallow (hard): “The CBO number may persuade some lawmakers because it puts the ten-year cost of the bill below $1 trillion, a symbolic threshold many Democrats didn’t want to cross. Perhaps more important is the estimate of how much the bill would cut the deficit,” Greg Hitt and Janet Adamy write in The Wall Street Journal. “The focus Thursday was on eight to ten fiscal conservatives who voted against the House version of the health overhaul in November but have been targeted as possible supporters as Democrats struggle to build the 216-vote majority needed for passage.” “Democrats are just seven votes away from getting the votes they need,” ABC’s Jonathan Karl reported on “Good Morning America” Friday. “But looking at it another way — it means that the people trying to defeat this bill, another six votes and it goes down.” Could Rep. Joseph Cao, R-La., be a “yes” again? “We have tried to directly ask that — we haven’t gotten an answer from his office. But Republican vote-counters say that Cao is rock-solid,” Karl said. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., to George Stephanopoulos on “GMA”: “There’s still no change — my group is holding firm.” But a separate vote to reaffirm the House-passed abortion language is still possible: “There is renewed interest in that piece of legislation that I and a number of us are prepared to introduce … That’s one way maybe — but we still have to deal with the Senate.” Meet the new deals, in case you were sick of the old deals: “Bye bye, Cornhusker Kickback. Hello, special treatment for Tennessee and North Dakota,” the AP’s Alan Fram and David Espo report. “Democrats unveiling revisions Thursday to their health care overhaul bill decided to kill the extra $100 million in Medicaid funds for Nebraska that has become a symbol of backdoor deal making.” “But the 153 pages of changes to the massive health care package include extra money for hospitals in Tennessee that serve large numbers of low-income patients. And though the bill would revamp the nation’s student loan system to make the government the only lender, one bank — the state-owned Bank of North Dakota — would be allowed to continue making student loans.” The RNC calls it the “Pomeroy Payoff” — but it may get refunded: “I just told them take it out,” said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. “We negotiated this in good faith months ago. But it’s not worth it. It’s not right that it be used to misrepresent this package.” On that other counting: “Leaders got two pieces of good news, with retiring Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) and freshman Rep. Betsy Markey (D-Colo.), who voted ‘no’ on the original House bill, announcing they would back reform this time around,” Roll Call’s Tory Newmyer writes.”But those gains were offset by the losses of Reps. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.) and Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) who flipped their previous support to opposition. Lynch, in particular, was a blow to reform supporters, since the former union president had not been on any watch lists of potential vote flippers.” Rep. John Boccieri, D-Ohio, a “no” last fall, holds a 10:40 a.m. ET press conference at the Capitol Friday to announce his vote. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., still undecided (maybe): “It meets most of my requirements,” he said, per Bloomberg’s Laura Litvan and Kristin Jensen. Critically, perhaps: “At this point, I’m confident the Senate language upholds my pro-life values,” said Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-Ohio, per Linda Feldmann of the Christian Science Monitor. “The question now is whether these last-minute conversions will be enough to offset a collection of wavering Democrats who could trade their ‘yes’ votes for ‘no’ votes in the final round of a yearlong fight,” Politico’s Patrick O’Connor writes. “With the clock ticking down to a scheduled Sunday vote, Capitol Hill was enmeshed in frantic, emotional lobbying by supporters and opponents alike. Obama worked the phone and hosted fence-sitters at the White House, talking in person or on the phone to more than three dozen lawmakers this week,” The Boston Globe’s Susan Milligan writes. “But Pelosi has a proven record of pushing controversial measures such as climate change, financial regulation, and the stimulus package through the chamber.” On the other side — still some confidence: “I like our chances,” Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., said on ABC’s “Top Line” Thursday. “If they want to have a showdown on the House floor this weekend, let’s bring it, because you about can’t get a phone line through on the floor here.” To look a little beyond that … “If we gain the majority and I am Speaker, I’m going to run the House differently than it’s being run today and I’m going to run it differently than my Republican predecessors ran it,” House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, tells The Hill’s Molly K. Hooper and Bob Cusack. Who gets a pass? “There are, of course, very few votes to spare. Yet there are some,” Jeff Zeleny writes in The New York Times. “And even most Republican leaders concede that the mystery is not so much whether Democrats will reach the magic number of 216, but rather whose names will be included as yes votes in the final count.” And who wants to be famous? “Call it the Drama Queen Caucus — members of Congress who labor mostly in obscurity, lucky to get a daytime cable hit, let alone a Sunday talk show invitation, until the big vote nears,” Politico’s Jonathan Martin writes. “And then they engage in an oh-so-public exercise deliberating over how they will vote or go to extraordinary ends demonstrating how strongly they feel about the way they have already decided to vote.” For better, or not: “The grueling health care struggle, now nearing a decisive vote in the House, has filled in a picture of Obama that remained stubbornly unfinished through his first year. Most immediately, it has shattered the image of him as a passionless president, too cool to fully commit to any cause,” National Journal’s Ron Brownstein writes. “Win or lose, Obama has pursued health care reform as tenaciously as any president has pursued any domestic initiative in decades.” Eugene Robinson, in his Washington Post column: “If health-care reform finally staggers across the finish line, it will be because President Obama and congressional Democrats recognized — at long last — the truth that has been staring them in the face for more than a year: They’ll be better off politically if they just try their best to do the right thing.” Peter Orszag, at the Office of Management and Budget blog: “By paying for itself and more, this legislation represents an important break from the way Washington has done business recently.” New from Organizing for America: Personalizing the fight. A full-page ad in USA Today urges people to put themselves in photos they send Congress. “Tell Congress why you’re standing up for health reform.” What matters about the numbers: “Building the health care legislation was not some wild shopping spree in Macy’s, running through the store grabbing whatever looked nice off the racks and then heading to the cash register with credit card and a bunch of coupons in hand, only to let the cash register render its verdict,” David M. Herszenhorn writes in The New York Times. “Rather, it was more like a trip to the local fruit stand with a set amount of money in hand, and every item clearly marked with a price per pound. The precise mix of apples, oranges, pears and grapes could be adjusted — a little more of this, or a little less of that — so there would be just the right amount of ingredients to make a fruit salad, without blowing the budget.” Adding up: “For the first time, the Medicare payroll tax would be applied to investment income, beginning in 2013. A new 3.8 percent tax would be imposed on interest, dividends, capital gains and other investment income for individuals making more than $200,000 a year and couples making more than $250,000,” the AP’s Steven Ohlemacher reports. “And it would slice an additional $60 billion from Medicare, with the privately run program known as Medicare Advantage targeted for particularly deep cuts, bringing the total reduction in projected spending on the program to more than $500 billion over the next decade,” The Washington Post’s Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane report. That was fast: “A Democratic plan for new federal power over health insurance rates was dropped Thursday from the final health care bill, squeezed out by the way the Democrats are pushing the bill through Congress,” McClatchy’s Steven Thomma reports. “Rolled out with fanfare just weeks ago, the Democratic plan was a response to double-digit rate increases proposed by health insurance companies in California and elsewhere … A White House aide said Thursday that the Senate parliamentarian had ruled that the new insurance-rate regulation proposal didn’t qualify to be included in that bill under rules for reconciliation.” The Washington Post editorial: “So moving ahead with health reform is fraught with risk. The question is whether the measure carves out enough of a toehold on cost containment to justify that risk. We think it does.” Next steps, already: “Republicans are looking beyond Sunday’s expected vote on the Democrats’ health-care overhaul to focus on strategies for striking back should it pass, ranging from challenges to the measure by individual states to a national repeal campaign,” Naftali Bendavid writes for The Wall Street Journal. More from Jake Tapper’s interview with the vice president … On his comfort level with the boss: “I think the thing that was hardest to figure out, the comfort zone,” Biden said. “I mean, being a guy who’s been around for 36 years and 20 years older than him. You know, it was like, OK look, I’m here.” “And we’re very different characters. The thing that works is if you look at the primary race and you compare us on the issues, he and I are almost the exact same on all the issues. So ideologically it worked, but I think it took a while for him to, I think, maybe get comfortable with my style. But I think we’re there. He’s accepted me, warts and all.” And on Israel — Biden said he “never said” to Binyamin Netanyahu that Israel’s position on settlements was putting US troops at risk. What he did tell him: “The truth of the matter is that the status quo does impact on our interest, with not only between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but in the Arab world and beyond. Because we are a great nation supporting Israel and when we look like we’re not trying to do anything to get this … it makes us — it puts in jeopardy, not the lives of Americans, but, OK, United States, you say you really care about this, what are you doing? What are you doing?” And: “This administration will condemn anything that is designed to reinforce the distrust and prevent the peace process from going forward, no matter who does it, Palestinian or Israel.” Smoothing ruffled feathers: “Israeli Prime Minister [Netanyahu] called Secretary of State Hillary Clinton late [Thursday], finally providing a response to their nearly 45 minute conversation last Friday, according to a US official,” ABC’s Kirit Radia reports. “Clinton is currently in Moscow where she will attend a meeting of the so-called ‘Quartet’ of Middle East peace mediators — the US, EU, UN, and Russia — on Friday.” Elsewhere — a big splash from gay-rights supporters, on the day of “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal hearings: “A pair of Iraq war veterans who were dismissed, or soon will be, from the military under the Pentagon’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, were arrested by police officers today after chaining themselves to the front gate of the White House, as part of a protest of that policy,” ABC’s Steven Portnoy and Sunlen Miller report. “The pair were identified as Lt. Dan Choi, and former Army Capt. James Pietrangelo, whose appeal of his dismissal was turned down by the Supreme Court last year.” Plus: “Activists have staged a sit-in at Nancy Pelosi’s district and Capitol Hill offices. The groups are fighting for her to take the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the floor for a vote,” Even Conant reports for Newsweek. Know what the agenda really needs right now? “President Obama gave a thumbs up Thursday to the outline of a plan to legalize illegal immigrants and create a flow of low-skilled foreign workers for the future, saying the immigration bill being worked on by a Republican and a Democrat is ‘promising,’ ” Stephen Dinan reports in the Washington Times. “In their broad blueprint, Sens. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, and Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, call for illegal immigrants to be put on a path to citizenship, offer green cards to keep high-skilled foreign university graduates and would create a temporary program for low-skilled workers, with some also getting the chance to become citizens.” Some context surrounding the palace intrigue: “Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel supported the idea of a government-run program that would compete with private health insurers but wasn’t sure there were enough votes in the Senate to pass it. Senior advisor David Axelrod pointed out that abandoning the ‘public option’ would alienate some in Congress and the liberal voters who made Obama’s 2008 victory possible,” Tribune Co.’s Christi Parsons and Peter Nicholas report. “In meeting after meeting, the two longtime and strong-willed friends debated, sometimes even switching sides — but remained committed to the same overall goal. The story of how the two interacted during the fight to pass the healthcare bill is a window not only on their relationship but also on the administration’s process of governing, which has the historic legislation at the brink of passage.” In New York: “The entrance of Steve Levy, a Democrat turning Republican, into the New York governor’s race threw the contest for the Republican nomination into flux, with some calling the Suffolk County executive the GOP’s best hope for victory and others fearing he will splinter the party,” Michael Howard Saul reports in The Wall Street Journal. “Mr. Levy, a 50-year-old lifelong Democrat, on Friday will formally launch his gubernatorial campaign and announce he is becoming a Republican, setting the stage for a battle with Rick Lazio for the nomination.” Coming Sunday — hard to beat this match-up: David Plouffe debates Karl Rove on ABC’s “This Week,” with guest host Jonathan Karl. The roundtable: Tom Daschle, Trent Lott, George Will, and Sam Donaldson. And a warm welcome to Christiane Amanpour, set to take the “This Week” anchor chair in August. Jake Tapper will be the regular interim anchor until then.
The Kicker: “Axelrod shot three-pointers … Rahm called a lot of fouls.” — Gov. Pat Quinn, D-Ill., recalling basketball games of yore. “The individual who first made it clear that there had been a conversation was myself.” — Gov. David Paterson, D-N.Y., perhaps perplexing even himself in identifying himself as the leaker of politically damaging information to The New York Times.
For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
I think I am going to be sick if the thing passes.
Posted by: Jaye | March 19, 2010, 9:11 am 9:11 am
Wouldnt it be funny if the next congress uses “reconciliation” or “deem and pass” to impeach and recall this president? The military would have to respond, and the military has taken an oath to protect and defend the constitution against all threats both foreign AND DOMESTIC.
Posted by: glcars | March 19, 2010, 9:28 am 9:28 am
These dictatorial procedures need to be banned. No administration, of any party, should be able to get away with these kinds of tactics. I hope the bill is found unconstitutional.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | March 19, 2010, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Just bribe the 7 votes. It’s that simple…
Posted by: freedom | March 19, 2010, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Fear – Doom and Gloom — That’s all the GOP have to offer— In Case anyone didn’t notice The Republicants Marched in lockstep against almost everything the Dems have Proposed — The GOP remind me of the Brownshirts in 1939—- Goose stepping their way over everything — The Dems at least are not always backing the Party line– Most of the Time there is dissent in the democratic Party — one must wonder why the GOP have very few Minorities, and why they rarely buck the Parties current talking Points — They rail in doubletalk, Fear, misinformation/Disinformation– Spin Spin Spin. and the goebbell’s book of propaganda— They tout Fiscal Responsibility only when they are out of power— They tout smaller Govt. only when they are out of power — The rest of the Time they too spend like drunken sailors – The Dems may not be Perfect , but at least there is diversity — The GOP, on the other hand are not only the party of no but also the party of exclusion!!! I don’t believe a word their spindoctors spew on Faux News or from the Senate floor !!! They are puppets on a string!!!!
Posted by: brian | March 19, 2010, 9:30 am 9:30 am
stupuck is hiding behind the unborn to protect health care insurance companies. There are a lot of people that will be helped by this bill. stupuck is done. No real democrat will vote for him.
Posted by: rightbehind | March 19, 2010, 9:34 am 9:34 am
More slease and corruption from Obama. If the democrats had any morality , they would be ashamed of themselves. Most americans are certianly ashamed of the dmeocrats in congress.
Posted by: jonny | March 19, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Jaye- At least if you get sick you’ll be covered now. There is a reason every president since the mid 50′s hads wanted to get health care reform done- it is a huge drag on the economy. It use to be 5% of our economy then 10% now it’s 20%, with population growth do we really want to let it get to 50% before we fix it?
Posted by: DSchles | March 19, 2010, 9:39 am 9:39 am
16,000 new IRS agents to patrol the streets of America knocking down doors for the insurance dollar. Can you hear the hobnail boots as we learn to march in lockstep with Pelosi? Is Congress truly this desperate to save this Presidency?
Posted by: salty dog | March 19, 2010, 9:43 am 9:43 am
Who would be support a bill that will spend 10 billion dollars to hire at least 12,000 new IRS agents to enforce it???? I dont know if I have ever met anyone that dumb?
Posted by: billy bob | March 19, 2010, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Limbaugh said on March 12 , according to a transcript his show. “And, I would say this to Marcelas Owens : ‘Well, your mom would still have died, because Obamacare doesn’t kick in until 2014.’”
And this are the guys you all are running with….
Posted by: emmett brown | March 19, 2010, 9:45 am 9:45 am
If it is so difficult to get a simple majority to pass this legislation, can it really be good for all America? The whole “Let’s make a deal” and “Trust me, we’ll fix it later” mentality is not only disheartening but scary. It’s not because I am one whose premiums will go up or will have significant changes in my insurance plan despite all the rhetoric, or who will have my hard earned nest egg jeopardized by new taxes. It’s because the chaos to try to pass this legislation is an embarrassment. And don’t the forget immigration plan that Obama likes: how can anyone embrace a plan to legalize an illegal “low skilled work force” when the national unemplyment rate is continuing to hover at 10%? No jobs = no income = foreclosures and defaults = business cutbacks/failures = no jobs. Plus no insurance coverage through an employer or money to self-insure or even pay a fine for not having insurance. (P.S. If the “Nebraska Cornhusker” and other deals are off the table, will Ben Nelson, et.al. change their votes? Or have they been quietly promised a “fix” down the road to keep them onboard??)
Posted by: OlderButWiser | March 19, 2010, 9:45 am 9:45 am
jonny, speak for yourself I am not ashamed of the democrats, I’m ashamed of our entire political system and the fact that the American people now put a party before their country. No one cares what is good for the country anymore, it’s what’s good for the party. If the republicans were looking to pass a bill the democrats would be doing the same things as the republicans are with this bill, it’s become a game and all about winning. Other countries view our government as a bunch of children who bicker, whine and cry. When 1 party isn’t in power that’s all they do and when the other party regains power they don’t do anything different, but because your party is in power it’s all ok, because all they have to do is lie and people believe these idiots in power for some reason.
Posted by: dcc | March 19, 2010, 9:47 am 9:47 am
If only we were out to make some more money from the health care dollars – Barnard MadeOff, Allan Stanford.
Posted by: freedom | March 19, 2010, 9:47 am 9:47 am
What a punk….
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
This should enable more Barnard MadeOff’s & Allan Standford’s in the making….
Posted by: freedom | March 19, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
The GOP can send billions on war ( Bush and the boys) but none on healthcare. How dare Obama and the Dem try to help 30 million people without insurance, the devils…….
Posted by: emmett brown | March 19, 2010, 9:51 am 9:51 am
Is Congress truly this desperate to save this Presidency?
PROBABLY, DEFENITLY, YES, THE LEADERS IN CONGRESS ARE STUPID WHEN IT COMES TO POOR.
Posted by: Joseph | March 19, 2010, 9:51 am 9:51 am
Don’t you want to grab him by his ear? Look here guy. You don’t have all the answers….I know you think you do, but you don’t…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 9:53 am 9:53 am
If anyone or Any Administration deserver to be Impeeched it’s Bush and his Republican Business first crooks that nearly destroyed our Economy with their Business favoring Deregulations.. Oh, lets not forget those two illegal Wars based on Fabrications and lies…
Posted by: MajorityRule | March 19, 2010, 9:54 am 9:54 am
Why is this bad? It is bad because it is so divides the nation deeply and Americans are losing confidence in its government. If you look at major legislation in history, there was still a bipartisan consensus to pass legislation that today is not happening. If this is modern day leadership, it is leading us back down the path of real Boston tea parties when states and people are going to say enough and lose confidence in its government. Look at the 1964 Civil rights Act and the bipartisan consensus to pass The Senate version, voted on by the House:
Democratic Party: 153-91 (63%-37%)
Republican Party: 136-35 (80%-20%)
The bipartisan consensus Social Security Act 1935 house vote:
Democratic Party: 284-15 (95%-5%) (Senate Dems 87%-2%)
Republican Party: 81-15 (84%-16%) (Senate Reps 64%-20%)
The sleeping giant, the American people are beginning to awaken.
Posted by: Joe | March 19, 2010, 9:55 am 9:55 am
One term…that’s all…..
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 9:55 am 9:55 am
They really think we are all stupid. Passing this the way Pelosi wants still means the dems voted for it. If they allow her to get away with it then they may as well say they voted for it. November is around the corner dems and you will be in the unemployment line. But your health care will be unaffected. You have the best in the world so why are you worried.
Posted by: Jim Rod | March 19, 2010, 9:56 am 9:56 am
Ironic that Obama promised to “call out” those who misrepresented Healthcare, but it’s us “calling him out” for misrepresenting it!
Remember “doc fix” that Reid tried to slip through last year, seems that he and Pelosi missed it again and guess what? At $250 billion it makes Obama’s Rx for the deficit a lie and blows the cost of Obamacare out of the water!
It seems that Mr. TRANSPARENCY has a blind eye when it comes to being straightforward with the public!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | March 19, 2010, 9:56 am 9:56 am
It seems that the anti-abortionists had their big day in the sun during Roe vs. Wade. To bring it back to such a fervor now and imperil the chances of getting health reform through is absurd. They demonstrate such passion and compassion for the unborn and yet on the other hand join the party of destruction, namely the republicans in almost a concerted effort to bog things down. How about having the compassion for an unborn bill such as health care? An unborn bill that has the potential to save millions of lives both literally and financially.
Posted by: Walt | March 19, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
All you have to understand about why the Republicans have dug in their Heals against everything Obama and the Dems are trying achieve is the Republican War Cry! “Obama MUST Fail” in order for our Dying Party to Survive! at any cost regardless of how many suffer in the process” THIS WILL BE HIS WATERLOO who cares how many US citizens continue to die because of no Healthcare!!! Screw’em!
Posted by: MajorityRule | March 19, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
The problem with Obama is when he got to Washington…he liked it…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
Once Again, What part of Obama Ran on Health CARE REFORM! it was one of his Major Platforms! A MAJORITY of Americans chose him over your Republican Candidate to be our President, Leader in Chief! So why are you Sore losing Republicans so up in Arms over his fullfilling his Campaign Pledge to Reform Health Care? What a bunch of idiots…
Posted by: MajorityRule | March 19, 2010, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Amazing….just amazing…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 10:01 am 10:01 am
Come on you guys, you all know they’ll get the votes they need. They are after all democrats, and ALL democrats can be bought. Just dangle a shiny carrot.
Posted by: bo | March 19, 2010, 10:01 am 10:01 am
This is unconstitutional. They are raising taxes on all of us. Taxation without representation is unconstitutional. Cutting Medicare to the tune of $500 billion is a disaster in the making. New York State, doctors and doctor training programs would be big losers as well as patients. I have written to all my representatives, Senators and they have a tin ear – and do not address what I have written just more of their babble of lies.
Posted by: Jennifer NYC | March 19, 2010, 10:03 am 10:03 am
What you Republican Right Wing Lunatics fear more then anything Else is Obama and the Democrats succeeding! It means the End to the Republican Party! Everyone with a higher IQ than a hamster understands this! We all saw the Joy you all Expressed at our not getting the Olympics? Wha? Nothing worse then Sore losers….
Posted by: MajorityRule | March 19, 2010, 10:05 am 10:05 am
Don’t get me going on Chris Dodd (democrat from conneticutt…following in his daddy’s footsteps…pathetic man…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 10:06 am 10:06 am
I really hate to use this argument, but wars generate a lot of revenue and jobs.Yes, Bush and Co. should be in jail for starting a war based on lies, but fact is that it generates business – big business like what Eisenhower said he was afraid of. This boondoggle just takes from those of us who work, give to everyone else – redistributing our wealth like a socialist country.
Posted by: Jennifer NYC | March 19, 2010, 10:07 am 10:07 am
uncostitutinal was Bush and his Republican Crooks Ramming down the Patriot Act down our throats then using it to Wire tap US Civilians. that was uncostitutional.. The Dems aren’t doing anything that the Republicans haven’t done hundreds of times… They’ve used Reconciliation and Deeming as well as the Slaughter Rule.. So stop the Belly aching and go crawl into your cave and let the REst of us Civilized Americans try to Mop up Bushes Messes…
Posted by: MajorityRule | March 19, 2010, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Reality Check, this Will Pass it will be embraced by Sane Americans as a Positive step in getting our Country back on Track. Come November, we the Sane Majority will flush a few more Republicans down the Toilet and Obama will win a reelection in 2012.. Sorry Sore losers but you only have Bush and Cheney for the situation you now find yourselves in….
Posted by: MajorityRule | March 19, 2010, 10:10 am 10:10 am
Good to see right wingnuts cry and whine when things are done to help working americans.
Posted by: New Wave | March 19, 2010, 10:12 am 10:12 am
We don’t have a government . . . instead we have a giant flea market where votes are bought and sold to the highest bidder. Doesn’t it make you proud?
Posted by: rplat | March 19, 2010, 10:14 am 10:14 am
Yeah right…Bush should be impeached…blah blah blah…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 10:15 am 10:15 am
The insurance industry routinely denies coverage on any cancer surgery, any high ticket item such as bone marrow transplants (they’ve lobbied Congress to have such procedures labeled “experimental” which enables them to deny it), and they frequently hold off approval until it is too late for the patient to have the procedure. SO MUCH FOR THE SANCTITY OF LIFE argument!
We need reform, and this is a good start. Pass the thing, will ya?
Posted by: Consider_Carefully | March 19, 2010, 10:16 am 10:16 am
if they fall seven votes short, this will be the new magnificent seven
Posted by: mad max | March 19, 2010, 10:16 am 10:16 am
rightbehind; Not working out?
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Are the 200 Dems lower than the Louisiana Dem(Landrover)& Kuci (One who saw the UFO from AF1)?
Posted by: freedom | March 19, 2010, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Give out some tax monney….that should work…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Hopefully some democrats have some sense….but you never know…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Did the Men in Black flash the wand at Kuci(dennis kucinich) on board Air Force one? – Massa
Posted by: freedom | March 19, 2010, 10:21 am 10:21 am
he talks a good game…I’ve yet to hear anything of substance…
Posted by: LongT | March 19, 2010, 10:22 am 10:22 am
2.4 Trillion!! That is the “real” cost of the Obamacare; as teh 2.4 Trillion contains all the hidden costs that the Democrats are hiding in the Obamacare bill. The $934 Billion amount is a fraud and isn’t even in teh CBO Report. The Democrats put out their own CBO numbers yesterday and the Liberal Media Repeaters ran with it. It is a total shame!! Vote NO.
Posted by: Peter King | March 19, 2010, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Let’s hope those 7 democrats stay strong and vote against it.
Posted by: irishrose | March 19, 2010, 10:25 am 10:25 am
Peter King: You may need to check your facts. We know that the real cost of the Bush tax cuts for the rich is over $2 TRILLION.
Posted by: New Wave | March 19, 2010, 10:26 am 10:26 am
Why is it wrong for the democrats to use reconcillition while the republicans used it to pass medicare and deem and pass was used by them over a hundred times. There was no outcry when Bush gave out 1.2trillion dollars in his third term in tax cuts for the rich…and Mr. Boehner..you signed it.349 bilion the two previous years….no outcry from anyone on this. Your tactics of fear is not working on those who know better. The party of No never said no to Bush and spent surplus and then some. How can they with bold faces not admit to their spending much of which is why we are in this mess. Why would anyone listen to this party at all with their record of spending?
Posted by: talmag | March 19, 2010, 10:27 am 10:27 am
I hope it passes… its about damn time. And all Boehner can comment on is in his mind if they get the majority and he is Speaker. A Drunk is what he is.
Posted by: Smoochie | March 19, 2010, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Majorityrules— Give it up dude.. EVERYBODY who has read your stuff knows you hate Bush and republicans.. but stop spewing the lies about how the republicans deregulated and destroyed the economy and how the two wars THAT WERE APPROVED by congress under the War Powers Act were illegal… neither of these hold water…
Posted by: arkie vet | March 19, 2010, 10:33 am 10:33 am
Oh, they’ll get the seven votes. Dems are weak fraidy cats that wouldn’t know how to say no even if thier jobs depended on it.
Posted by: Wimps | March 19, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
‘Vote bribing is against the law’, said Arnold Schwarzenegger , governor of California, which was left out in the special deals in the Senate passed bill.
Posted by: austin | March 19, 2010, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Republicans are mean! My nephew, twelve years old. – ITWARZ
Posted by: ITWARZ | March 19, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
HERE is what will happen your MOM and Dad. WILL LOOSE their doctor because they cant afford the 21% CUT in this BILL.
AND this BILL STEALS from Social Security
This TURKEY of a BILL is a LIE from END to END and DOES NOTHING to HELP WITH COST. NOT A $&%^#$ thing. It will PUSH the middle class BACKWARDS as your cost will medical costs GO UP. Many seniors will loose their DOCTORS being driven away from Medicare patients due to COST.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 19, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
emmett brown–” How dare Obama and the Dem try to help 30 million people without insurance, the devils…….”– I have news for you this bill helps NO ONE but the dems in power.. IT will RAISE your premiums not lower them, It will force you to buy coverage or be fined (why do you think that they are adding 15,000 new IRS agents to enforce this??) It will reduce Doctors pay by 22%.. which means fewer quality doctors. It will cut seniro advantage programs by 500 billion and raise taxes on working Americans by another 500 billion.. this is about a power grab for progressives.. it has NOTHING to do with helping anyone…
Posted by: arkie vet | March 19, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
THE only thing I can take comfort in is UNION PEOPLE YOU ARE NEXT. They are coming after YOU.. They are going to cram illegals into the country and your jobs. FORGET ABOUT IT. The PARTY you Support are going to destroy your electrician your carpenter your roofer jobs. You OK living will be destroyed. SO KEEP saying rah rah democrat.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 19, 2010, 10:39 am 10:39 am
Victory is near! America isn’t buying the Republican propaganda tactics.
Posted by: JOE | March 19, 2010, 10:40 am 10:40 am
History is being made here. Pelosi in 48 hours will need to hide out because she will be voiced out by the rebellion against the dems. Pelosi’s kids and grand kids will need to change their names because they will be associated with the person who destroyed the freedom of a nation.
Posted by: Jim Rod | March 19, 2010, 10:41 am 10:41 am
The 10-year cost is a sham…….the first 4 years there are no benefits just taxes.
Here’s the true cost………….To see the bill’s true first-decade costs, we need to start the clock when the costs would actually start in any meaningful way: in 2014. The CBO says that Obamacare would cost $2.0 trillion in the bill’s real first decade (from 2014 to 2023) — and much more in the decades to come.
But $2.0 trillion wouldn’t be the total ten-year costs. Instead, that would merely be the “gross cost of coverage provisions.” Based on earlier incarnations of the proposed overhaul, the total costs would be about a third higher (the exact number can’t be gleaned from the CBO’s analysis, which is only preliminary and is not a full scoring) — making the total price-tag between $2.5 and $3 trillion over the bill’s real first decade.
How would we pay for all of this? According to the CBO, by diverting $1.1 trillion away from already barely-solvent Medicare and spending it on Obamacare, and by increasing taxes on the American people by over $1 trillion….
…And what would we get for all of this? The CBO says that health insurance premiums would rise by 10 to 13 percent in the individual market, in relation to current law. The Medicare Chief Actuary says that the percentage of the gross domestic product spent on health care would also rise in relation to current law, increasing from 17 percent today to 21 percent in 2019. And, as the CBO reports in its latest scoring, as of 2019 there would still be 23 million people in America lacking health insurance…
Posted by: MLM411 | March 19, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am
I love Joe’s quote…..They’re going to get a reward for this — they’re going to be rewarded,” Vice President Joe Biden told ABC’s Jake Tapper Thursday, summing up his argument to wavering Democrats. With all of the BRIBES in this bill, he’s right…..most will get a reward. Corruption at it’s finest…..isn’t our government great? We need to vote out all of these idiots!!!
Posted by: MLM411 | March 19, 2010, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Republicans protecting big insurance
companies….this will be a boon to them. Mandated purchasing of insurance.
The big losers are the ones who always
lose…the little guy who watches the
wallets fatten up by all this “care and
concern” liberal leaning loons. Al Gore
is another one who pretends to be so
concerned by making more money then he
ever has by “caring” for the earth.
These people make pond scum look inviting.
Posted by: wis134 | March 19, 2010, 10:45 am 10:45 am
I DEEM the democrats DOA in November and probably for 8 years more. If they wanted to be martyrs don’t take the rest of the country with you.
CUTS in SOCIAL SECURITY which is ALREADY BROKE. GOD aren’t you SENIORS happy? Medicare doctors will leave the practice so you wont SEE your doctor anymore. HOPE you like some clinic doctor.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 19, 2010, 10:46 am 10:46 am
We the American Taxpayers do not want government run health-care!!! Voting for this bill will be political suicide!!! Look what happened in ultra liberal Mass. T
Posted by: Bobby | March 19, 2010, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Can I assume you conservatives are praying really hard to God that this doesn’t pass?
Posted by: Jackson | March 19, 2010, 10:47 am 10:47 am
THIS WILL RAISE EVERYONES cost. YES you the middle class people who are hanging ON BY A THREAD. MY FIX to the cost issue is we TAX THE POOR 33%. YES they need to FEEL MY PAIN as I hang on by a thread. I REALLY am tired of being PUSHED OVER BACKWARD after working so hard. ENOUGH! YOU ARE destroying US and I cant wait until November to RETURN the favor. AND.. Can someone post the CONGRESSIONAL home numbers and PRIVATE CELL phone numbers?
I dont want these folks to SLEEP anymore. BURN out their fax machines FILL their email BOXES FILL UP THE PHONE LINES. STOP THIS INSANITY.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 19, 2010, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Caterpillar: Health care bill would cost it $100M
WOW FOLKS you think this wont create MORE LAYOFFS and MOVEMENT out of this stupid country?
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 19, 2010, 10:51 am 10:51 am
There is no hope for this country under the present “leadership”.Government that tries to give away anything to people HAS to take it from someone else.The government doesn’t creat anything- it redistributes.Without business, there are no jobs.There are simply too many people out there that want the government to take care of them.Get off your collective butts and do something for yourself.Democrats are simply one of types:
1-Very rich that wants more power that buys votes or
2-Very poor that wants to be given something by the government.
Who pays??? The guy in the middle-not the rich!
Posted by: ron | March 19, 2010, 10:58 am 10:58 am
================================
Democrats have got to realize that this healthcare bill is extremely polarizing.
================================
The lead-up to the healthcare vote is creating great division in this country that will only get worse if this thing is passed.
================================
(oh, if we could only go back to the Bush administration when unemployment reached historic lows of 4%)
Posted by: N Waff | March 19, 2010, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Poor, poor Caterpillar, where will they ever find $100 million?
Well, last year they made a profit of $895 million despite a severe global recession, so I think they’ll be OK if this bill passes.
If they were truly worried about being placed at a competitive disadvantage, they’d support a single payer government run system, like the ones in place in every other industrialized country on Earth.
Posted by: gary | March 19, 2010, 11:11 am 11:11 am
Dear American Patsy,
The GOP is hell-bent on preventing affordable health care for you, because that threatens the profits of monopolistic GOP donors. We condemn as sleazy tactics exactly the same tactics we ourselves use to privatize profits and socialize risk. Now we have deemed abusing your patriotism necessary necessary to furthering our corporate agenda. There is nothing we won’t do to please our corporate masters.
Whether we succeed or fail depends on your ability to see how you’re being used. We want you to think that you’re defending freedom when you’re actually enslaving yourself to massive insurance companies. We telling you that when we push the right buttons, you’ll fall into line and shut up about extortionistic health insurance premiums. Now it’s time to shoot yourself in the foot.
We are asking you to make plain your enduring commitment to our biggest campaign contributors. We are asking you to ignore your latest premium hike and to tell Madam Speaker and any Democrat who sides with her that you won’t forgive a vote that helps the American people instead of insurance companies. Remind them that they are employees of whatever corporation pays the biggest bribes, and that if they vote against insurance company interests, they – and Nancy Pelosi – will be fired. And let them know that unlike good parents, what really bugs you is smug Democrats, not the deaths of your children when you can’t afford to get them medical care.
Sign your children’s death-warrant today!
Republicans say No to Healthcare for Americans, Yes to Insurance Treatment Rejection Death Panels.
Posted by: Realista | March 19, 2010, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Who would remain a Republican after watching them butcher this issue, all in the name of handing Obama his “Waterloo?”
Palin tweeting about “death panels” (there aren’t any), fear mongering aimed at the uninformed, spreading rumors that the bill represents “socialized medicine” when
it clearly doesn’t. Republicans muddied the debate with lies and our media let the whole country down by not reporting more clearly on the facts.
Change is scary, but this is change that will lower our federal deficit, for crying out loud. Change that will prevent sick people from losing their coverage. Change that will lighten the load on small businesses and on the self employed. It’s too bad Republicans didn’t want to help correct the course we are on, but there you go, they chose party over country.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 19, 2010, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Either way, Obama looks like crap. When you own EVERYTHING in Washington and can get NOTHING passed. What does that tell you? Hope you lefties enjoyed your power. You’re done for 20 years.
Posted by: Ryan | March 19, 2010, 11:30 am 11:30 am
Ryan & co: Dream on…
Posted by: New Wave | March 19, 2010, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Righties: Time is running out. About getting the last call from the health bill train.
A still unanswered question – What policies has the GOP ever put in place to make lifes of working Americans better ?
Just like they voted against the stimulus bill and then RAN home to claim credit for stimulus checks, they’ll soon RUN home to claim credit for health insurance reform benefits after it is signed into law.
Posted by: New Wave | March 19, 2010, 11:36 am 11:36 am
I can bet my first Born that we have spent well over 2.4 Trillion not including the 5 thousand Dead Kids on Bushes Senseless illegal Wars… Where’s the right Wing Outrage?
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 11:47 am 11:47 am
“When you own EVERYTHING in Washington and can get NOTHING passed. What does that tell you? ”
Not much. This happens to every administration that has a Congressional majority. Just ask the last president about reforming Social Security, immigration reform, or the Clear Skies Act.
Posted by: gary | March 19, 2010, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Mr Klein have you even looked or read any of this legislation? Because if you had the price tag they have for it is inaccurate and can not even be figured out until the death panels are assembled. If you look at the bill these panels will determine the prices doctors will receive for the procedures they administer. So without these numbers it is impossible to calculate the price of the bill. This is also where our health care system will detoriate into substandard care. If they mandate the cost they are currently allowing for Medicaid and Medicare the doctors will be retiring and changing professions because they will no longer be able to afford to practice medicine. Many people are unaware that doctors charge three times the rate to insured people and insurance companies to recoup the costs that they are losing providing services to individuals on Medicaid and Medicare. I find it ironic how none of the main stream news stations ever report this and because of the overages charged to insured people is why our premiums continue to rise. So after this bill is implemented with millions more on the Medicaid system along with the mandates placed on the insurance companies the service of medical care we are used to will detoriate quickly and doctors will no longer be able nor want to treat people under those guidelines placed on them.
Posted by: Lester | March 19, 2010, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Republicans Fear nothing More then Obama and the Democrats Succeeding.. NOTHING! It’s their Dooms day, after Bushes Dismal 8 Years that nearly destroyed our Country they know full well that if Obama Succeeds they die as a viable Party… The Majority of Americans spoke loud and clear last Election! NO MORE REPUBLICAN BIG BUSINESS FIRST LEGISLATION AND POLICIES!
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 11:53 am 11:53 am
As Rush Limbah stated! I HOPE HE FAILS!!! as that other Republican Senator said “This will be his WATERLOO” Republicans are Hell Bent of tripping up this Administration and ensuring that they do anything and everything so that Obama and the Democrats don’t succeed. No Matter How Manny Americans suffer or die in the Process! Yeap, they’re Great Americans! WHOOHAWWWWWW
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 11:56 am 11:56 am
I don’t know if the state-owned bank in ND is such a case, but in many cases certain states had made changes in certain services that saved money despite the fact other states didn’t. Cutting those programs penalizes such states that have been saving taxpayer’s money.
It’s a shame that it makes for better sensationalism to avoid mentioning whether or not such is the situation in each case.
Posted by: The_Mick | March 19, 2010, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
lets make believe you could grant a Republican like Rush, Hannity, Gleen, Coulture a choice of 2 Wishes. 1. Have Obama Succeed at Fixing the Health Mess or 2. Fail at Fixing the Health Mess Which do you think anyone of those would pick? like we didn’t know! They’d pick the Wish that Obama fail rather then succeed.. Therein lies the true objective of all of this Republican obstructionalism and Fear Mongoring…
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
Republicans would Rather Obama Fail then Succeed, no matter how negatively it affects US Citizens.. They’re GREAT Americans…
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
So why are you Sore losing Republicans so up in Arms over his fullfilling his Campaign Pledge to Reform Health Care? What a bunch of idiots…
Posted by: MajorityRule
************
I usually don’t respond to people who are so childish as to call people names, but let me explain:
People voted for Health Care REFORM. Not a bribery laden, stomp on the Constitution, ignore the majority of Americans, paying for 10 years to get 6 years of coverage to make it “look” deficit neutral monstrosity of a bill.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | March 19, 2010, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
your Money is paying Some Farmer not to Farm, or building Sarah Palins Bridge to no where or subsidizing a US Corp to Relocate to Inida and China thanks to Bush and Cheney…
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
maybe your money is paying for Bushes two unfunded illegal Wars? WheresMyMoney? LOL ..
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
Boy is the new republican controlled congress in 2011 going to have fun!!!!!
Posted by: jamescbuilder | March 19, 2010, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
The Dems aren’t doing anything that the Republicans haven’t done hundreds of times… They’ve used Reconciliation and Deeming as well as the Slaughter Rule.. So stop the Belly aching and go crawl into your cave and let the REst of us Civilized Americans try to Mop up Bushes Messes…
Posted by: MajorityRule
********
Here is when they used it, and look who was on the lawsuit list:
Dial the date selector back to 2005 when the Republican majority in Congress approved a national debt limit increase. But there was a minor difference between the two chambers’ versions resulting from a clerical error.
Guess who went to federal court to challenge the constitutionality of the bill, citing the difference between the two texts? The Ralph Nader-backed Public Citizen legal activists. Here’s the argument they made:
“Article I of the United States Constitution requires that before proposed legislation may “become[] a Law,” U.S. CONST. art. I, § 7, cl. 2, “(1) a bill containing its exact text [must be] approved by a majority of the Members of the House of Representatives; (2) the Senate [must] approve[] precisely the same text; and (3) that text [must be] signed into law by the President,” Clinton v. City of New York, 524 U.S. 417, 448, 118 S.Ct. 2091, 141 L.Ed.2d 393 (1998).
“Public Citizen, a not-for-profit consumer advocacy organization, filed suit in District Court claiming that the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub.L. No. 109-171, 120 Stat. 4 (2006) (“DRA” or “Act”), is invalid because the bill that was presented to the President did not first pass both chambers of Congress in the exact same form. In particular, Public Citizen contends that the statute’s enactment did not comport with the bicameral passage requirement of Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution, because the version of the legislation that was presented to the House contained a clerk’s error with respect to one term, so the House and Senate voted on slightly different versions of the bill and the President signed the version passed by the Senate.
“Public Citizen asserts that it is irrelevant that the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate both signed a version of the proposed legislation identical to the version signed by the President. Nor does it matter, Public Citizen argues, that the congressional leaders’ signatures attest that indistinguishable legislative text passed both houses.” (Emphasis added)
It’s important to be clear that the issue before the court was whether a minor text correction was sufficient to satisfy the constitutional requirement that both chambers of Congress must pass the exact same bill. In this 2005 case, the court ruled the minor correction was acceptable.
The deeming of an entire bill to have been passed without a prior recorded vote goes far beyond a minor text correction, so the constitutional principle clearly would be violated by the Slaughter Solution.
And now for the kicker, guess who joined Public Citizen in that suit with amicus briefs:
Nancy Pelosi
Henry Waxman
Louise Slaughter
If the Pelosi/Slaughter/Waxman argument against using a self-executing rule against a debt limit increase measure sounds familiar, it should because it’s the same argument now being used by Republicans to oppose the Slaughter Solution for moving Obamacare through the House.
Of course, there is one major difference between 2005 and 2010. Debt limit increases are routine in Congress and have been for decades. But to place the American private health care system under government control — effectively socializing one-sixth of the U.S. economy — that has never been done before.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | March 19, 2010, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
no way they can add 30 million on the rolls, and not make retired and working peoples taxes and premiums go up. remember not enough rich to soak. will come from working poor, and the middle class,to benifet the non working parasites getting a free ride on the workers
Posted by: mad max | March 19, 2010, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Maybe your money was tied up that $700Billion Dollar gift Check Bush Wrote himself to hand over to his Wall Street Buddies on his way out the White House Back door? You know, the one he wrote himself and got Busted by the Democrats.. Where’s the call for impeachment? or Criminal Charges?
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
So who was looking out for the Good of the American People? Obama trying to Fix Health Care or Bush writing himself a $700Billion Dollar Blank Check to hand over to his Wall Street Buddies? on his way out of office no less! Tell us all again why we should trust Republicans to do right by us?
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Health Care Reform now and Financial Reform Next! Get Ready Republicans your Gravy train ride on the Backs of Americans is about to end…
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Be ready people. The trust fund is a dream come true for these politicians. They will pilfer the fund as they did social security and blame us for it. Dems have written there death warrants on being re-elected.
Posted by: Jim Rod | March 19, 2010, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
It will fix the economy and everyone will be covered. Ignore all the scare tactics and lies by the Party of No.
I wish everyone would have been screaming more about the Iraq war and the billions spent and thousands killed.
Posted by: Barb | March 19, 2010, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Do you really want I.R. S. agents telling you
if your health insurance policies are
‘acceptable’ or not to the government ? Or have
a ‘ doctor fined by the government, if he recommends
a specialist for your elderly mother or father ? This is
what will happen. Higher taxes will mean
more stress on already struggling
small businesses who employ 75% of all
Americans . Business after business
have already gone under here in California .
As for amnesty for illegal immigrants -
Consider the timing by the Obama administration.
We have 10% unemployment in the country
right now . People have lost jobs, houses,
savings , and gone through so much pain . Why is the administration
pushing to add MORE competition for scarce
jobs, and social service money at a time when
the economy is so fragile ? ( California
is bankrupt – folks! ) This is a naked and
disgusting ploy for more votes- and has NOTHING
to do with helping the economy, or
doing what is best for the American
people . This will HURT the American
people even more .
Posted by: Chelsea Walker | March 19, 2010, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
wheresmymoney
I agree part of the savings is that the fundraising starts before the subsidies for low income people to buy insurance starts, but the CBO says the bill will cut the deficit another 1 trillion dollars in the second decade it is passed. In other words, there are start up costs, but eventually reform will save us alot of money, get people covered, and fix the wastfulness and inefficiences of our current system.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 19, 2010, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
Hoyer has sent a memo around to Dems NOT to talk specifics about the CBO report… because whenever they speak the truth, the bill looks worse and worse!!!
Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 19, 2010, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Barb — (This has NOTHING to do withthe Iraq War… give me a break!!) —- You said “It will fix the economy and everyone will be covered.” — Tell me HOW!!!! — Don’t listen to Dem sound bites!!, they are lying to you!! —- The CBO itself said this bill wont cover everyone, and within 10 years 16 million will STILL be uninsured!!! — and “fix the economy”??? — Medicare has unfunded liabilities in the futre of $86 Trillion, and yet this bill takes over $400 Billion a year from Medicare… how is that helping?? — When the Dems created Social Security, they promised us 1) That participation would be completely voluntary; 2) participants would pay 1% of the first $1,400 of income; 3) contributions would be tax deductible; 4) The money would be placed in a Trust Fund’, not the general operating fund; 5) payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income. ———- NONE OF THESE PROMISES ARE STILL IN EFFECT!! —- And it was a DEMOCRAT in later years that repealed each and every one of those promises!!!!
Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 19, 2010, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
Who’s hurt the US more? Bush, Cheney and the Republicans sending our Jobs and industries over to China and India by providing Tax Breaks to Companies for doing just that or Obama trying to Fix Health Care? Which one has caused more Americans to lose Jobs?
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
So in response to Where are the Jobs? They’re in India and China thanks to Republican Greed!
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
Bush did a Great Job of Capturing Obama and eliminating Al Quida! Mission Accomplished!!!! he only had 8 years to do it..
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
LoyalOpposition: Could you back up your posts with facts? May be you should re-evaluate taking instructions from Limbaugh’s radio show.
Posted by: New Wave | March 19, 2010, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
BTW did anyone catch Colbert’s interview with GOP Mary Matalin?
She asked a question in an attempt to boost herself and Cheney thinking that Colbert would not know the answer. When Colbert answered, she was stumped and noticeably lost her line of thought, ending up pronouncing that Colber was good. That’s what happens when wingnuts are presented with hard facts in front of TV cameras.
Posted by: New Wave | March 19, 2010, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
” That’s what happens when wingnuts are presented with hard facts in front of TV cameras.”
Which rarely happens. When was the last time you saw a journalist push back against right wing talking points? Colbert and Stewart are today’s Woodward and Bernstein. (You gotta be over 50 to remember when journalists pursued the truth.)
Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 19, 2010, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
That’s the sorry state of journalism in our country today. We now have to rely on Comedy Central hosts to ask tough questions.
Rep. Weiner had to lecture Peggy Noonan today on how health insurance reform directly affects economic and job growth.
The conservative wannabe Juan Williams was quoted today stating that “TV viewers are no longer interested in the truth”
Really sad.
Posted by: New Wave | March 19, 2010, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
Peggy Noonan gets up my nose. I wish we could vote pundits out of office like we do elected officials. And if I have to see Karl Rove trotted out to attack Obama one more time…well, its spring in Maine, no reason to stay inside and watch TV anymore!
Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 19, 2010, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
To start we must realize that to insist on the requirement that every American MUST have health insurance is unconstitutional. If the healthcare reform bill in its present state is passed, you can bet the farm opponents will go after this with abandon. And the Supreme court will shoot the requirement of the bill down. This one provision is what proponents of the bill are counting on to keep down additional costs to the American people. They think that the additional healthy people being forced to buy health insurance will offset the costs that are inherent in the bill. Without this provision two other provisions become disastrous. The provision that requires insurance companies to cover those with pre-existing medical problems (eg. End stage renal disorders, diabetes, heart problems) will cause those companies to raise their premiums on all their existing clients. Likewise, the provision requiring insurance companies to eliminate the ’doughnut hole’ will bring about an additional, and substantial, increase in premiums. If the insurance companies can’t add those being forced to have medical insurance to cover their additional costs than existing clients must cover these costs with additional premium fees. We could see existing premiums double or more in the near future. This bill would spell disaster for every American who presently has health insurance . Those hurt worse are those who have Medicare Advantage programs. Watch for your co-pay to go way up.
Posted by: Bill Hammersley | March 19, 2010, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Now you have this Marco Rubio Cuban hypocrate child of Cubans who get a free Pass coming into America while other equally oppressed Hispanics and persecuted people like the Chinese and Africans are treated like Dogs and Criminals when they come here fleeing their oppression, claiming that he is against illegal immigration? Wha? If he’s against illegal immigration he needs to be against the Enter Free Pass Policy that Cubans enjoy that has flooded Miami with Thousands of Cubans.. who would otherwise be facing the same obstacles as any other Illegal Mexican.. What the Miami Cuban Community fear is that Obama will put an end to the Hypocratical treatment of Cuba while Embracing Communist China?
Posted by: MajorityRules | March 19, 2010, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
So let me get this straight…..republican middle and lower class voters were FINE with Bush and republicans giving the LARGEST tax breaks to the RICH!!! but have a problem with using tax dollars to help themselves. So were don’t have enough money to help every day Americans but we do to help people who can buy mega yachts. Yea, those republicans they sure know what’s best for America, NOT!!!
Posted by: A Real American | March 19, 2010, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
Emmett why are you so happy? Do you have health insurance or are you on the government medicaid program paid by tax payers? Either way you are going to be paying more by being required to purchase insurance or your current insurance is going to cost you more money because of the taxes placed on them. My insurance will go up $4,000 a year because of this bill. Is that fair Emmett? Now I have to either make cuts or work more hours to be able to pay for my health care and probably will not be able to save for my childs college fund. Is that fair to my son Emmett? Should I tell him Emmett said this was a good thing so now you cant go to college. If I came over to you and took $4,000 a year to start with who knows how much more it will rise when this bill really starts costing us after 2014 would you say go ahead I dont mind? If you dont have insurance, I like this bill for the fact you will now have to pay for it or at least part of it instead of getting it for free. The problem is adding 30 million more people will also be getting government assistance at tax payers cost which will also eventually break this country. Remember the gimmick of this bill taxes and cuts will immediately go into affect for four years before this bill even will start. So that smoke screen alone should tell you this will be unsustainable once we cant keep up with the costs.
Posted by: Stewart | March 19, 2010, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
emmett- you forgot to mention the Democrats that voted to go to war. For some reason people always forget to mention that. Funny that there was more bipartisanship for the war than healthcare. Even some Democrats don’t like it. What’s that tell. But that’s ok. I’m sure if Bush said he didn’t worry about the rules of law making you’d have a hissy fit. But since it’s Obama and his moral judgement then it’s ok.
Posted by: Doug | March 19, 2010, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
…”But a Messy Finish Ahead”…LOL…LOL… Now who didn’t see that coming? The way the “party of No” and “Lies” and Misnformation” and “Fear” and “Negativity” etc.; etc. has handled it to date? Who could have figured that? LOL…LOL… And all of you who “buy in” to all the antics they (Republicans) will perform over the next couple of months are being “fooled” and “used”.
Posted by: CND FOX | March 20, 2010, 11:25 am 11:25 am
Great! Now preexisting conditions can’t keep a person form getting insurance. Affordability is still the question, a person will now have to go to one of these state high risk exchanges to get this type of insurance. Any Congressman guaranteeing how high/low your premium will be if you have cancer or heart conditions? There is now no legislation to stop the insurance company’s to still charge what they want for each type of policy issued. Are we any better off to be able to afford their insurance?
Posted by: CO_Native | March 20, 2010, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
The one good thing is once they pass the health bill immigration reform will be dead because we can’t afford to have 15 to 30 million more people become legal and get health subsidies and Medicare/Medicaid coverage.
Posted by: TheContryIsGoingBroke | March 20, 2010, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
Well, if this monstrosity does pass, it will help with the solvency crisis of our Social Security system. With Baby Boomers approaching old age and with the steady decrease in both the quality and the quantity of our health care services that will surely occur over the next ten to fifteen years and beyond, millions of Boomers who would other wise survive will, most assuredly, die. That’ll ease the strain on social security by literally Killing Two Birds with One Stone.
Posted by: BubblerDad | March 21, 2010, 7:04 am 7:04 am
It would be nice if the media took on the role of providing relevant information, rather than getting in the mix of the political debate. Why has ABC not mentioned that the Republicans used “deem and pass” in 2003 to pass Bush’s tax bill? Why is ABC This Morning allowing Eric Cantor to say the bill will tax businesses $2k for every job when in fact, it is a fine that would be paid if they don’t offer health insurance (much different than a tax across the board)? A part of the decay of our political system is our media outlets!
Posted by: KDallas999 | March 21, 2010, 11:11 am 11:11 am