Reid to Baucus: Stop chasing Republican support for health care reform.
Reid to Baucus: Stop chasing Republican support for health care reform.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has “ordered Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) to drop a proposal to tax health benefits and stop chasing Republican votes on a massive health care reform bill.” Roll Call reports:
According to Democratic sources, Reid told Baucus that taxing health benefits and failing to include a strong government-run insurance option of some sort in his bill would cost 10 to 15 Democratic votes; Reid told Baucus it wasn’t worth securing the support of Grassley and at best a few additional Republicans. …
“This was discussed in the weekly Democratic leadership meeting,” one Democratic source confirmed Tuesday afternoon. “These concerns were relayed to [Baucus] later on.” … “The longer Baucus takes, the trickier it gets,” the senior Democratic Senate aide said.
If Baucus’s attempts to secure Republican support delay the process any further, the “planned merger” of the Finance Committee’s health reform proposal with that of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee could be “scrapped in favor of allowing each one to move to the floor on its own.” The lack of a public option is a deal-killer for some Democratic Senators because, as Igor Volsky explains, it is perhaps the most effective way to reduce the cost of health care, while ensuring affordable coverage for all.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Hey Harry
It’s your job to get those like Baucus to toe the line , you twit……
July 7th, 2009 at 6:46 pmFor the love of god harry ….GROW SOME BALLS!
yes i was shouting
peace
July 7th, 2009 at 6:52 pmBaucus is serving his major donors. He accepts donations from for-profit health care companies with no facilities in his state.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:53 pmPresident Obama needs to spend some of his banked capital and get the recalcitrant members of the Democratic Party in line for the Public Health Option. We don’t need the GNOP to pass this.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:54 pmAnd Harry Reid needs to grow a pair of big ones. NOW.
Taxing employer-provided health benefits would simply be a zero-sum game in the end. Compensation packages would adjust accordingly to reflect the change in real value.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:54 pmI believe that’s Senator Evan Bayh in the background of the picture. The Bayh household made millions flipping the Mrs.’ WellPoint stock awards the last few years.
Dirty Harry, the public is catching on…
July 7th, 2009 at 6:55 pmBobbyG Says:
July 7th, 2009 at 6:56 pmAnd a lot of us (like me) would lose their coverage completely. My employer has already said as much. He really depises Obama.
You mean that Harry Reid has a pair? Really? Maybe? Can we hope?
July 7th, 2009 at 6:58 pmWe MUST have a strong, well regulated Public Option Plan in any healthcare reform bill, or it’s not worth doing… and it Has to be done!
July 7th, 2009 at 6:59 pmWe can all see the benefits of having a strong Public Option Plan, and they’ve been discussed many times. But have we looked at what will happen if we are given a weak Public Option Plan by the likes of Baucus and Collins? Could a weak plan be even worse than no reform at all, initiating a “race to the bottom” among the private plans? If the public plan consists of only the most basic, subsistence healthcare will the private plans ratchet DOWN their plan offerings?
Private plans suck, and they have for the longest time. Anyone who says how good their plans are, are by far in the minority. Private plans have been a race to the bottom line for years. The bottom line being you Don’t Get What You Pay For, while the Ins. Co’s Just Keep Getting Richer.
Please, let’s not have defense of private insurers.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:05 pmSen. Baucus is a sell out!
When is this a$$hat up for reelection?
July 7th, 2009 at 7:06 pmMT can do much better than this panty-load!!
Here is what you say the Republic Fascist Party Members…
…”Go phuck yourself, we and America no longer want or need you.”
July 7th, 2009 at 7:06 pmI see a comments count of 17 but only 10 comments published.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:08 pmHave the Trolls been that naughty, vulgar and off topic on this thread?
Here’s one of the biggest safeguards that must be included in the public option, and one that I suspect the lobbyist are using to “deal” – The overhaul must include a provision that prevents the private insurers from dumping the sick and disabled into the public plan!
I work within the industry and trust me, they are already making plans to do exactly that. And what will happen is that the public plan will wind up with far higher “per member” costs than the private plans, which will be used by the GNOP down the line as proof that public healthcare costs more than the “free market”.
I’d also like to any government subsidized premiums going only into the public plan, or the privates will lure the young and healthys with free gym memberships, etc. because they don’t use services and their premiums are paid by the government! Another Medicare Advantage boondoggle.
PEACE
July 7th, 2009 at 7:16 pmThis is what we have been waiting for-no more jerking the health care bill around. The Republicans have been playing a stall game and now it is time for the Dems to stand up and pass the bill without the Republicans. They can go p*ss in the wind and tell their constituents why they did not vote for the bill. I am sure there are a lot of middle class voters in red states that are going to be happy with the bill. I suspect some of the vulnerable Republicans may even vote for the bill if they think their seat is in jeopardy.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pmI will believe that Harry Reid is capable of talking tough and maybe even leading on an issue when I see something positive and progressive come out of the Senate.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pmGood point spencers mom. I hadn’t thought of that. Hopefullly Kennedy, Schumer and others on the committee have.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pmTaxing health benefits? Republicans want to raise taxes? O_o
July 7th, 2009 at 7:19 pmspencers mom Says:
Here’s one of the biggest safeguards that must be included in the public option, and one that I suspect the lobbyist are using to “deal” – The overhaul must include a provision that prevents the private insurers from dumping the sick and disabled into the public plan!
I work within the industry and trust me, they are already making plans to do exactly that. And what will happen is that the public plan will wind up with far higher “per member” costs than the private plans, which will be used by the GNOP down the line as proof that public healthcare costs more than the “free market”.
I worked in the insurance industry and the states mandate high risk pools to assign to individual insurance companies thereby forcing them to absorb some of the risk. A high risk pool exists for almost any type of insurance.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:21 pmpags2, will state mandates have any meaning if there is a national public plan? I suspect federal trumps state. Paper covers rock.
PEACE
July 7th, 2009 at 7:24 pmspencers mom Says:
Here’s one of the biggest safeguards that must be included in the public option, and one that I suspect the lobbyist are using to “deal” – The overhaul must include a provision that prevents the private insurers from dumping the sick and disabled into the public plan!
That’s why single payer > public option.
If everybody just has it, then the insurers only get to fight with each other over the supplemental game, instead of picking and choosing out of the overall pool.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:29 pmHarry Reid should ask Bernie Sanders to straighten Baucus’ stupid ass out……….
July 7th, 2009 at 7:32 pmI only have one question…who stuck the stick up Harry’s butt?
July 7th, 2009 at 7:34 pmspencers mom Says:
pags2, will state mandates have any meaning if there is a national public plan? I suspect federal trumps state. Paper covers rock.
AmericasBack Says:
A high risk exists for insurance (companies)? Are you Fu(king kidding me Pags2? Let’s just take a look at their profits… (I’ll be back with link)
It doesn’t have to be a state run high risk pool but it can be done on a regional area. The private insurance companies will be forced to accept claims that are currently not covered you get from your employer. A high risk pool can be used with federal subsidies on the premiums. This way the risk is spread out over more people instead of just the public option. The private insurance can administer the high risks for their standard fees while the feds insure over the normal limits. I am sure that the feds can come up with something along these lines so that the private companies can help and the insurance companies will not be able to cherry pick their clients.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:44 pmpags2, do you also believe in Tinkerbelle?
July 7th, 2009 at 7:48 pmThe insurance industry is the problem, no amount of tinkering will fix it. It is time to shut that ponzi scheme down.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:54 pmObviously, Baucus’ price is about $1.5 million:
But Obama’s @sshole “Pit Bull” Rahm needs neutering:
Let them know in no uncertain terms that they’ll be unemployed, along with Rahm the @sshole, if they pass some industry-sucking giveaway. Make them afraid…make them very afraid.
And then there’s this:
July 7th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Hoodathunktick Says:
pags2, do you also believe in Tinkerbelle?
I presume you know nothing about insurance other than what you buy from a consumer standpoint. My insurance company made a lot of money from the assigned risk pool. There are ways to design the high risk pool so that the distribution of claims are evened out. If done properly, the private insurance companies will want the business.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:56 pmIf you tax healthcare benefits, I assure you that you will lose a hell of a lot more the 10 or 15 votes.
The public option will not work for employees. If there is an employer mandate, many small businesses that cannot afford anything close to for-profit healthcare insurance premiums will be mandated out of business. This will work well for monopolies. If there is not an employer mandate, many employers will tell their employees to start buying their health insurance from the government.
I also doubt that the public option will be much cheaper. The insurance lobbyists will write that into the legislation. This is why real lobbyist reform is needed before we will see healthcare reform we can actually use.
For the purposes of this article, and since Obama is only willing to offer the public option, if it does not take effect immediately, the Dems will lose a hell of a lot more than 10-15 votes.
Maybe the bribes they received while they were still the minority sufficed for them, and they don’t care if they lose the majority. At least they know we won’t expect them to do anything again if they regain it.
I get the feeling this majority fell into their lap, and they really weren’t expecting or really wanting it, since a Dem majority would finally demonstrate how Republican they have become since the Clinton era. You all are getting ready to find out now that they cannot whine filibuster.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:06 pmExcuse me Mr. Senator.
Could you finish filling up your campaign chest with lobbyist money and vote on the damn bill?
All I need is the same kind of coverage you have.
Is that asking a little too much?
July 7th, 2009 at 8:11 pmIt took a long but the Democrats finally figured one of the reasons they were given control of government. I hope the era of enlightenment continues.
Start acting like your in charge; the Republicans are interested in nothing but destroying this government, get it Senator Ried.
Republican= Party of NO NO NO NO NO NO
July 7th, 2009 at 8:18 pmProud Says:
——————————————————————————–
How’s that majority workin’ out for ya. Like I have said before, Republicans will be fine holding the minority position for a short while. It is fun just watching the bumbling idiot Dems fight amongst themselves. At least with a do nothing House you guys can’t screw up the country too badly until we regain the majority.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
When you moronic tools had control (which you did for 6 years) , you “rewarded” this country with walking in lock-step behind the worst president and administration in US history , jackass ; keep trying to convince yourself that the asinine statement you just posted is going to become reality.
Your zero-for-the-past-9-years-prediction record says otherwise………….
July 7th, 2009 at 8:19 pmI’m in shock – Harry Reid ORDERED Senator Baucus? Is Reid finally growing a spine?
July 7th, 2009 at 8:20 pmWords are cheap for an ineffective-on major liberal issues-Senate Majority Leader.
So, if Baucus tells Reid to take a hike, what, exactly can Reid really do about it now?
Because last I checked, Reid’s Nevada numbers aren’t so hot right now, so while Reid could stick it back to Baucus after the 2010 elections, if Reid loses then that’s the end of Max’s problems.
This is the most infuriating reality about the Democrats, far too many of them are still far too worried about soothing the furrowed brows of the GOP nitwits & equally enthusiastic Bush Dog Democrats who helped put us in our current, multiple, fixes.
Perfect example, letting that smug, totally undeserving prick Joe Lieberman keep his DHS & Govt Affairs Senate Committee Chairmanship sure paid off for Obama and the Democrats, what with not-so-holy-(or Democratic)-Joe whining about the expense of a robust, govt-run public option.
Fine, but Joe, make sure you give up your Govt health care benefits, especially those funded by the overburdened taxpayers already stuck with the Bush Jr years various catastrophes.
Because, if Congressional health care benefits aren’t good enough for the voters, they’re not good enough for Congress either.
Allowing Lieberman to keep that spot, instead of stripping it from him and promising him future consideration for ANY Committee chairmanship IF he votes the right way in the current session, didn’t signal “bipartisanship” to the GOP in the least.
Nope, to them, it signaled “weakness”.
Lieberman had absolutely no cards to play, yet, the Dems gave him far more than logically possible, they’ve given him the ability to hinder a liberal/mainstream agenda, even though there’s no way he would EVER actually put that big (R) behind his name, he’d get completely roasted & toasted in Connecticut. And if Joe was ever serious about such a switch, he’d have done it already, but then, he’d be even more worthless than ever.
Let’s also not forget when Reid decided to enforce a hold on Sen. legislation from Tom Coburn, yet simultaneously ignored a hold by Chris Dodd regarding retroactive legal immunity for the telecoms who spied on their customers without a warrant.
Perhaps sticking it to the liberal base isn’t the best Democratic strategy if trying to effectively counter increasingly lunatic Repubs.
The Dems have got to decide, now, just who’s going to get rolled this early in Obama’s term, the President & Democrats, or the GOP?
Because if the GOP actually stymies meaningful, long needed & even longer overdue, health care access & coverage, it will be only because a lack of fire, spine and heart on the part of far too many Dems.
If party fortunes were reversed, does anyone think the GOP would be as respectful & worried about the Democrats as the Dems are with the GOP?
WE should be criminally prosecuting the living Hell out of the past Administration and a number of its blithering bipartisan shills, not holding their hands and gently soothing these dregs of humanity, telling them that everything’s all right and they don’t have to worry about anything that happened on their watch.
So, if Reid is serious about this warning to Baucus, then sincere good luck in reining in these Democrats who value corporate interests over those of their real world constituents, he’ll need it.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:28 pmI like what Dr. Dean said on Countdown – the centrist/blue dog Democrats need to grow a spine! They don’t need 60 votes. They can use reconciliation and 51 votes would be all they need! Why does this shyte have to be so complicated?!
July 7th, 2009 at 8:29 pm“… and screw it up for real.”
July 7th, 2009 at 8:31 pmTo the intelligent, phuck the trolls,
Are you old enough to remember when many hospitals were non-profit and now none are? When Blue Cross-Blue Shield was a non-profit (owned by the policy holders) that worked well? WTF??? What happened?
How did that happen?
How did non-profit hospitals, built with community and religious donations end up in the pockets of greedy, fascist, business men???? and insurance companies???
How did insurance companies go from being owned by the policy holders and when sold down the creek none of them got reimbursements or refunds. This conversion was fraud.
How does a so-called “Christian nation” allow this to happen?
Because Reich-wing Christians love Godless Corporations as long as Reich-wing, RePubugniScums benefit!!!!
July 7th, 2009 at 8:36 pm#44
Ralph
The Repubs new motto, “Don’t let the Democrats do what we did”.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:38 pm“Reid to Baucus: Stop chasing Republican support for health care reform.”
Memo to Reid: Grow a spine, please… Reid is getting nauseating. I certainly would like to see Senator Bernie Sanders as the next Majority Leader for the Dems because I seriously lost interest and trust in wet noodle Reid long time ago. Time for new leadership.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:40 pmSenator Schumer said today that unless there is a public option in the bill, the Baucus comprise is for nothing. Schumer said no to the trigger and that the public option is getting more support. I believe Reid is telling Baucus it is better to p*ss off the Republicans than his fellow Dems. I also think Reid knows that the Republicans will negotiate this until the cows come home. If the Dems start pushing the bill without the Republicans, they will come back to negotiate on the Dems terms rather than Grassley’s. Or maybe not at all. But at least the bill gets to a vote without a filibuster. Baucus and the blue dogs can voter for cloture and then vote against the bill so long as there are 51 votes.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:47 pmProudMoron Says:
You are nothing more than a stupid punkass troll. You arent even trying anymore. You KNOW you are so pathetic you are going through the troll motions and that is all. You ignorant piece of garbage.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:57 pm… whoa, harry… if this is accurate, and IF you follow through AND get this PUBLIC OPTION bill passed, well, i just might answer, positively, the next of all those emails asking for donations for your next election… got it?
July 7th, 2009 at 9:00 pmAmericasBack,
I think the days of two political parties in the US are going to be over in a few years. After the next election I wouldn’t be surprised if the Republican party splits into three parties, a fiscal conservative party, a social conservative party, and the remainder will move to the Libertarian Party.
I think when that happens, the Democratic Party will spin off the progressives into their own party. Congress will then be run by coalitions and could change as the alliances change.
In some ways, I think that will be better, but in others it will be worse. The rules in the Senate will have to go in for some major changes otherwise nothing would ever get done (maybe that would be good?).
July 7th, 2009 at 9:01 pmGood Ol’Max Baucus tries to blow up the Dems Caucus: Along comes Reid upon a Progressive steed, whipping is Durbin, too. Together they crack until Maxie falls back, he promises ” No longer will I be a DLC hack.”
July 7th, 2009 at 9:09 pmAnd lied. Like always!!!!!
I will never trust this a$$h0le who brought us Michael Mukasey as AG; a fascist traitor to democracy!!!
I will work hard to stop Chuck the Schmuck’s career in the US Senate!!!
July 7th, 2009 at 9:12 pmLefty Liberal says:
July 7th, 2009 at 9:12 pmI tend to agree. What happened the previous eight years and what is happening now illustrated the desperate need for new voices that are not beholden to either party.
Obama is trying to get things done, I do not place all the blame for the current state of affairs on him though I’d like to see stronger leadership from him.
The problem as I see it is that the progressive wing of the Democratic Party is being buried and shouted over by the DINOs. If the Conservative leadership continues to do that, then I can see the progressive wing break away from the party.
But I agree that if it happens, it will happen to the Republican Party first. They are ripe for a disintigration.
Jim,
I don’t see the same level of cracks in the Democratic party that I do in the Republican party, so I think you are right, the Republicans will break up first. Once the Progressives see that it can be done, they will break from the Democratic party.
I have always thought that more parties would make for better government. Bad legislation will be harder to get through, but it will take longer to get good legislation through the system, but I think it will reflect the will of the people better than what we have now.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:17 pmoh, before i forget, butting in, earlier on COUNTDOWN,
Keith Olberman introduced HOWARD DEAN as
“the Architect of the Democratic Super Majority”
thank you, keith o.
(pretty close to quote)
July 7th, 2009 at 9:20 pmand of course,
THANK YOU HOWARD!
July 7th, 2009 at 9:26 pmIts estimated that there are 47 million Americans without any health insurance. Why dont the politicians ask them how they feel about health insurance run by our government? Im sure all 47 million of them would say can we please have some insurance. The bottom line is that politicians get alot of money from private ins. companys. If ins. co. actually gave a sht about their policy holders then they would welcome some competition.That would give them the opportunity to prove that they care more about their clients than they do about profit. Why would any politician want to deny a person health care? MONEY and thats all it is, healthcare is a multi-billion dollar business. You are worth more money being dead then being treated. So you wingnuts who are against healthcare reform I hope all of your uninsured loved ones never need life saving treatment.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:35 pmJesus Fcuking Christ! WAKE UP, DEMS!
The GNOP has one goal, and one goal only – to water down the bill enough for it to be completely ineffective, then vote NO anyway! They’ve been doing it this Congress was formed in January! What makes anyone think healthcare reform will be any different????
I’m so fcuking sick of this bipartisan bullshit that leads to watered down versions of good ideas, only to have them UNITE as a party and vote NO!
Grow up and do the bidding of the American people! WE HAVE SPOKEN and now WE DEMAND ACTION!
PEACE
July 7th, 2009 at 9:36 pmReid told Baucus that taxing health benefits and failing to include a strong government-run insurance option of some sort in his bill would cost 10 to 15 Democratic votes; Reid told Baucus it wasn’t worth securing the support of Grassley and at best a few additional Republicans.
Even if Baucus could get 2 or 3 Republican votes by crippling the bill, they’d just change their minds and vote against it in the end, like they did with the stimulus package. Untrustworthy people are not to be appeased.
.
Proud Says:
How’s that majority workin’ out for ya. Like I have said before, Republicans will be fine holding the minority position for a short while.
Wow, bragging about still being able to f**k up the country. You should be ashamed of yourself. Y’all are like some kind of movie villain at this point – “Mwah ha haah, you’ll never fix health care! More people will die and we’ll keep sucking money out of the system! (flourish cape)”
But in case you hadn’t noticed, Reid ditching the R’s is a step forward. Now the spotlight’s on Baucus, and we’re perfectly happy to kick him out of his seat if he doesn’t do the right thing. In short, this post is evidence of your failure, not your success.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:40 pmBlock a filibuster or two and the party of no may want to play marbles a little bit. Stop the filibuster and all it takes is 51 votes to pass the bill. The unhinging will be dramatic or pathetic.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:59 pmspencers mom Says: (and I agree)
Here’s one of the biggest safeguards that must be included in the public option, and one that I suspect the lobbyist are using to “deal” – The overhaul must include a provision that prevents the private insurers from dumping the sick and disabled into the public plan!
I work within the industry and trust me, they are already making plans to do exactly that. And what will happen is that the public plan will wind up with far higher “per member” costs than the private plans, which will be used by the GNOP down the line as proof that public healthcare costs more than the “free market”.
I worked in the insurance industry and the states mandate high risk pools to assign to individual insurance companies thereby forcing them to absorb some of the risk. A high risk pool exists for almost any type of insurance.
PS screw Grassley
July 7th, 2009 at 10:08 pmReid to Baucus: Stop chasing Republican support for health care reform.
Is this for real? Is it part of the tap dance?
called the Sorry, but it is really not going to pass dance:
July 7th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Proud says: “you guys can’t screw up the country too badly until we regain the majority.” Then the Real damage can begin again. Couldn’t have said it better myself. LOL.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:20 pmIf there were 99 Democrats in the Senate and only 1 Republican, the lone Republican would control the Senate.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:27 pmI like you proud.
You don’t mind looking stupid.
You do the job well!
July 7th, 2009 at 10:33 pmPass the sh1t already. Work out the details later. People are losing their lives.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:38 pmHas everyone here called their Senator and let this person know THAT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES A VOTE AGAINST A PUBLIC HEALTH PLAN IS UNACCEPTABLE?
If your senator is up for re election in 2010 use that for leverage.
Senators need to know WE are all watching their vote and there is not enough media distractions such as missing white women, dead celebrity’s to block it out.
In OR. Sen. Merkley is on board and will vote the right way. But Sen. Wyden needs much work and is up for re election in ‘10.
callcongress.org
July 7th, 2009 at 11:16 pmThe pharmaceutical, health care, and insurance “providers”
need to be regulated back to reality.
The GOP’s need to feed corporate greed has nothing to do with
free enterprise and gives capitalism a bad name.
Donations from their lobbys and their pseudo-social minded PAC’s are nothing more than bribery. Their shameless obstruction of democracy has grown into a weed corrupting the very roots of our system of government. Sure, they should have their say, but their money should stay off the table.
Campaign and lobbyist reform was on the Democrats short list of things to fix. What happened?
As long as our representatives are obligated to the corporations that fund their campaigns, everything they do is compromised.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:17 pmAlthough my story is only a small one, it helps prove the point that insurance companies make money, no matter what.
My father was required to purchase prescription drugs through mail order — he’d just purchased his 90 day requirement (several hundred dollars) even though we all thought he would not need three months’ worth, and he died within a week. The medications were wasted.
Also, (in the pharmaceutical-designed Medicare plan) you must sign up for a drug plan even if you don’t take Rx drugs because when you finally do sign up, you will pay a lifetime surcharge. Also, if you go over $2500 in value of Rx drugs, you pay 100% of your Rx until you reach $5000.
We need health plans that don’t include insurance companies but are instead designed to help the patient and keep costs down.
July 8th, 2009 at 12:10 amMarie, I sorry to read of the loss of your father. The whole insurance industry is a mess – and our politicians let them make it that way.
What will the insurance industry do when they can’t charge $50. for an aspirin?
July 8th, 2009 at 12:46 amMarie Says:
July 8th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I’m so sorry to hear of the death of your father, Marie. ((hugs))
I know a woman in that “pay 100% of drug costs after $2500, until you reach $5000″ trap. She’s an insulin dependent diabetic who’s on disability, and now she’s supposed to pay 100% of her meds. She expects to land in the hospital soon. It’s horrifying.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:27 amHarry,
If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times — don’t wave a dull sword.
Why I expect a different result, I’ll never know…
July 8th, 2009 at 1:28 amthankyou
July 8th, 2009 at 6:05 amHow did non-profit hospitals, built with community and religious donations end up in the pockets of greedy, fascist, business men???? and insurance companies???
July 8th, 2009 at 8:27 am
The Democrats in Congress need to get on the same page about this. 3/4 of the American people want a public option. Not including one is, frankly, dereliction of duties. These people were put in office to do a job, and no matter what kind of ego trip they are on the majority of the time, their sole purpose is to represent the voice of those who hired them through election. Any Congressman who votes against a public option is willfully ignoring the people, and that, to put it bluntly, is a fireable offense.
My state has a Republican Senator up for re-election in 2010. No matter what happens with this bill, I know for a fact that he will not be voting for any type of public option.
I intend to go to his question and answer sessions on the campaign trail and ask him point blank, since he is so willing to blatantly ignore the wishes of his constituents, why he should be allowed to keep his job? I’m curious as to what someone’s justification could be for not firing someone who intentionally didn’t do the job they were hired to do.
I encourage everyone else to do the same. We don’t need Congresspeople who think they know what’s best for us no matter what we the people want. We need Congresspeople who will do what we the people tell them to do, because that’s their effin job. We are their bosses, not the other way around, and certainly not the industries that come packed with money but not votes. It appears as though they need to be reminded of that.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:27 amIF the health plan covered EVERYTHING,eyes, dental, ALL costs for everything including co-pays, I would have no problem paying taxes on it. BUT it would need to cover ALL costs 100%.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:56 amI’m with Reid here. Taxing employer benefits for health insurance to secure 2-3 Republican votes makes no ploitical sense. Republicans would pounce on this tax-and-spend proposal with both feet in the next election while they would only have those 2-3 to defend the vote while the Democrats would have over 50. I’m surprised that Baucus is so politically dense on this issue. I could perhaps see taxing the difference between standard insurance and the gold-plated insurance senior executives get but even that is a perhaps.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:21 pmDEMS NEEDS TO IGNORE THOSE WAR-MONGERING FASCISTS. THEY ARE IRRELEVENT.
AMERICANS VOTED FOR CHANGE AND MADE RETHUGS IRRELEVENT.
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH SOME OF THESE DEMS ANYWAY.
MORE HOUSE CLEANING IS APPARENTLY REQUIRED.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:51 pmIt would be nice if Reid actually means what he said. It’s about damn time he started talking smart.
July 8th, 2009 at 3:35 pm