UPDATE: Nancy Pelosi is joining with me and just spoke out about the August recess:
Nancy Pelosi on staying through August:
Asked at a press conference whether she'd support keeping the House of Representatives in session into the August recess to complete work on health care reform, Speaker Nancy Pelosi was fairly adamant.
"I think 70 percent of the American people would want that," she said. "I want a bill. I have no doubt we have the votes on the floor of the House to pass this legislation," she said.
When I heard Joe Lieberman say on MSNBC that he wanted to wait until after the August recess and take the health care bill home with him during his vacation to read it I knew it was a ball of lies to destroy the legislation and it got me thinking. What if the gang of six and the rest of Congress had to forfeit their vacations in August so they could finish up a health care bill? Could it stop them from making a mockery out of this important legislation and actually get the bill done on time like it should be? That's one of the reasons why I asked President Obama if he would tell Congress to forego their August recess if they try and stall the health care legislation on the Blogger Conference call.
Andrea Mitchell picked up on it and asked Senator Wyden about needing more time. Wyden said he'd give up his vacation to get it done.
Mitchell: Senator, do you think these bills could be done by the August break or should there be more time?
Wyden: I want to stick to the president's time table. The president said, he wanted health coverage legislation passed this year. I think he's right to put his foot to the peddle, I support that. Now the letter that the moderate sent, we don't say anything about delaying the August recess, In fact I'm prepared to stay here all the way through the August recess. I told my wife and my spouse, nothing is more important in my view than fixing health care. You can't get the economy on track unless you fix health care. I'm prepared to put off the August recess.
Mitchell: What did your wife have to say about that?
She wasn't exactly cheering for it, but she said ever since you were co-director of Panthers I've heard you talk about this issue so you ought to stay with it.
Mitchell: OK, support from the home front...
I know Andrea Mitchell thought she was making a joke when she brought up his wife, but this isn't a jokey situation. It's real and it's a crisis and they better do their jobs. America is waiting. And if it means that they work like most of America then so be it.
The media is picking up this question now more and more and hopefully they will ask all the Blue Dogs and conservative Dems if they will forego the August recess and work to get us a bill.
By the way, Paul Krugman debunked the gang of six in his post: The six deadly hypocrites
Will the destructive center kill health care reform? It looks all too possible.
What’s especially galling is the hypocrisy of their claimed reason for delaying progress — concern about the fiscal burden. After all, in the past most of them have shown no concern at all for the nation’s long-term fiscal outlook.
Case in point: the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which denied Medicare the right to bargain for lower drug prices, locked in overpayments to private insurance companies, and did nothing, nothing at all, to pay for its proposed outlays. How many of these six self-proclaimed defenders of solvency voted no on the crucial procedural vote? One. (Joe Lieberman, to my surprise.)
And let’s not forget that Ben Nelson, who appears to be the ringleader, has fought tooth and nail against competition from a public option — which would almost certainly save a significant amount of money, as well as providing much-needed competition. If the Gang of Six really does kill reform, remember their names; they will bear the responsibility for vast, unnecessary suffering over the years to come.
They've had this legislation for six months these hypocrites so either do it now or do it during the August recess, it's your call.
"my wife and my spouse?"
I haven't checked the clip, just the transcript.
you beat me to it. maybe he has a wife and a husband?
He probably meant "my wife and my mistress."
Freudian slip?
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
Freud's a transvestite?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
lit his cigar...
me-oww!
...too many Republicans.
There are a good number of Latter Day Saints in Oregon so . . why not?
Pretty strange
of an epiphany she's finding here. At least if she's actually reading anything that people say here she's getting a bit of a dose of reality.
Hell yes they need to stay there until they get the job done. It doesn't matter if you work for yourself or for someone else, you don't just walk out in the middle of a project because you want to go on vacation. You either get the work done before you leave or you don't leave until it is done. I mean how many days do they really "work" anyway?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
until the end of the year for a health-care reform bill, thereby dooming the effort.
It's dead, folks. Get used to it. The delay is the death-knell.
Besides: Without a "women's health" component, it's worse than useless; but if it contains provisions for abortions, it won't get out of the House.
Health care reform?
We'll get some kinda worthless, piece of shit bill which preserves the privileges, profits, and perqs of the insurance parasites and shits on the people.
But as for change? Fuggedabaddit!
Mandatory coverage paid for by you, including drug coverage. That would be with no caps on cost for the premiums, no caps on co-pays, widening the donut hole in the drug coverage (like now, only after the "reform," they pay 80% of the first $1500.00, you pay the next $7000.00 out of your pocket, and they might pay 20% of your remaining drug costs for the year, but only if they feel like it). But in spite of the mandatory purchase of the insurance, there will be a life-time cap on the benefits you can receive. Once you meet this threshold, you must continue to pay for coverage, even though you will not get any. This is the cost of living in a civilized society. Suck it up.
We'll get some kinda worthless, piece of shit bill which preserves the privileges, profits, and perqs of the insurance parasites and shits on the people.
Like dat?
.
I'd like to see NO legislation agreed on by their precious month-long August "recess".
I'd like to see all of the Congress go to their home offices and get an earful from the locals.
They are much easier to pigeon hole at a Town Hall meeting or in their offices when they're "back home".
This would give the American people a chance to organize and lobby them while they're away from their corporate masters.
But alas, most will be winging off to the Grand Cayman's for a little R&R with the fam.
I think all their minds are already made up anyhow. They do not care about their constituents health and well-being either physical, mental or economic. They just care about how their next campaign will be financed so they can keep their cushy jobs with their cushy benefits and cushy health care.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
corporations, rather than the other way around. Joke is are on them and all who believe that elections are for real.
They have no illusion in that regards. Many of them will be looking from lucrative jobs with those very same corporations when they leave government.
THAT is why they won't cross them.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
I'm just reading Bushwhacked by the late, brilliant Molly Ivins (I sure miss her). She wrote:
"The health-care system is falling apart, the social security net has been shredded, the Bushies want to privatize Social Security and the schools. These are the same ideological geniuses who brought you the savings-and-loan scandals, $2 trillion in deficits, the California electricity crisis, Enron, WorldCom -- in fact, it's the same laissez-faire ideology that produced the Great Depression.
"The free market is a wonderful thing -- but it functions well only within a nest of law and regulation. When those who are regulated by the government buy the government, the people get screwed."
I wish she could speak from beyond the grave.
I think congress should stay in DC for the summer (especially since it now feels like summer), and get nothing but phone calls, letters, emails, and tweets from their constituents. Oh, and they will have to do all their work on the Mall in the sun with the bugs and humidity.
We'd have a bill in record time.
Put another way:
If you go on recess without a health payment bill, a la SINGLE PAYER,
GO HOME and STAY HOME!!!!!
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
EMPTY THEIR offices if they take the vacation.
Permantly lock them out.
Glue the entrances shut.
Set booby traps so they get caught trying to get back in.
Terrize them.
That blithering, babbling, mealy-mouthed whiner disgusts me... can you tell? He is an obvious cretin that we need to stamp out of office!
let him go on vacation, permanently & forever.
GOOD BYE.
good riddance.
Both he and Dodd were trying to save the F-22 program for Lockheed Martin. Those two assbags need to try that hard for healthcare reform - we'd save ten times the number of manufacturing jobs if we could get healthcare costs under control.
So, I wish I could take an August recess from work; don't you?
I'm sure someone more knowledgable than me can do this but how many people without health care will fall into crushing debt during August waiting for Congress to pass legislation? How many will die due to poor or lack of health care? Just having the compassion to realize this on the part of a member of Congress should spur them on to pass (or fail but I'm optimistic they'll pass) the legislation.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Not many American's can afford even a week off for a vacation this summer. And it's probably just as well because many of those don't have any healthcare and would be done for finacially if they happened to hurt themselves enjoying life. But you may want to stop and think about them before you start packing your bags for a month of rest and relaxation back home. Don't EVEN think of coming back up here without passing a bill to give all American national universial single payer healthcare first!!!
My husband and his partner own their business. We are going away to the beach next week and my husband has been literally working day and night the past two weeks to be sure he is caught up on all his pending work obligations so he will be able to be away that long. If he has to bust his butt like that before leaving, why shouldn't congress.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
like your husband.
They should depend on it for their pay, just as he does.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
My husband and his partner...
Wow, that's very liberal of you. Do you all live in the same house?
after all, how many years did they operate on the 2 half day workweek?
Even working through this one August, 24/7 wouldn't be pay back for all that messing around they did at Abramoff's 5 star free meal restaurant, rolling in to the office around 10-10:30, and clocking out around 11 (11:30 on those late days) to tuck into a couple hundred bucks worth of a 4 hour 'Lunch' at Signatures Restaurant.
Yes. They owe us the fucking time.
me-oww!
When we going to get a public debate about this thing!
?
It's at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:...
About the same time we get one about the Patriot Act.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
And no milk after naptime.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Recess.
My favorite part of school.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
Forcing people to buy what they may not be able to afford? With the threat of fines?
This is America Not East Germany
Tell em you're gonna take part of my pay to give to one of these insurance companies that have been screwing over Americans for years and I'm hanging up the hat! I'll live with nothing on the street rather then give those theives one single dime. Hell the odds are that I'll be healthier and live longer then too.
who are sick until the system can be overhauled correctly. Stop bailing out the bankers!
It takes a hell of lot longer to get out of mess then it does to get into one. We don't need a another health care train wreck.
Forgive me for going off topic for a second, but does anyone remember the name the republicans wanted to give the democratic party not so very long ago. The wanted to rename the democratic party something but of course it was a failure on their part.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
wussy party or something.
something like that?
No, "Spineless Suck-ups" is too realistic.
.
Thank you so much
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
parties are trying to rush any ill conceived and prepared bill into law to score political points.
Can't have that happening, can we? I mean "can they?"
Can't have that happening, can we? I mean "can they?"
They are listening to you so take it to another level and run.
We need to slam on the brakes here and scrutinize this thing.
only instead of Iraq this time it's health care.
Why should they get a vacation when so many Americans are suffering? I haven't had a vacation in 23 years. You read that right, 23 freakin years. Maybe if I didn't have to shell out nearly $900/month for my health care, I would be able to afford one. That's not including the Cardiologist and Pulmonary Specialists that I need to see, either. I'm so tired of spending what little money I live on for M.D. bills and scripts. Mostly scripts.
No. Congress shouldn't have any vacations at all until Health Care is passed. Let them go without for a change. After all, they can still take a vacation whenever they want to. Something people like me will never be able to do.
Why should they get a vacation when so many Americans are suffering? I haven't had a vacation in 23 years. You read that right, 23 freakin years. Maybe if I didn't have to shell out nearly $900/month for my health care, I would be able to afford one. That's not including the Cardiologist and Pulmonary Specialists that I need to see, either. I'm so tired of spending what little money I live on for M.D. bills and scripts. Mostly scripts.
No. Congress shouldn't have any vacations at all until Health Care is passed. Let them go without for a change. After all, they can still take a vacation whenever they want to. Something people like me will never be able to do.
Why should they get a vacation when so many Americans are suffering? I haven't had a vacation in 23 years. You read that right, 23 freakin years. Maybe if I didn't have to shell out nearly $900/month for my health care, I would be able to afford one. That's not including the Cardiologist and Pulmonary Specialists that I need to see, either. I'm so tired of spending what little money I live on for M.D. bills and scripts. Mostly scripts.
No. Congress shouldn't have any vacations at all until Health Care is passed. Let them go without for a change. After all, they can still take a vacation whenever they want to. Something people like me will never be able to do.
Sorry. I didn't mean to post that 3 times. My Bad.
not your fault.
Or something in the chain bogging things down the past two days.
If you get that red message box pop up when trying to submit your comment, do not click on the submit button again. Instead, refresh your screen or click on the home page at the top. You will find your comment does in fact post.
That's not right!
A lot of health insurance and pharmaceutical companies out there have already purchased really nice vacations for some of these legislators.
What are they supposed to do now, buy their vote through campaign funds or something?
Why should they get a vacation when so many Americans are suffering? I haven't had a vacation in 23 years. You read that right, 23 freakin years. Maybe if I didn't have to shell out nearly $900/month for my health care, I would be able to afford one. That's not including the Cardiologist and Pulmonary Specialists that I need to see, either. I'm so tired of spending what little money I live on for M.D. bills and scripts. Mostly scripts.
No. Congress shouldn't have any vacations at all until Health Care is passed. Let them go without for a change. After all, they can still take a vacation whenever they want to. Something people like me will never be able to do.
Recess? Recess? Vacation? The single, most important ISSUE of your career and there's a question about going to the beach? Didn't anyone clarify it with you it's a "staycation"... No way, Jose.... We'll order the pizza. GET THE JOB DONE.Or in other words: GET 'ER DONE! AND THAT'S NO JOKE............
Larry, Jeff and Ron, Curley Joe and Moe....
in this bill? Or not being mentioned.
not playing nicely in the sandbox with Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Supposedly in the "market place" the big insurance companies are going to give us all an offer we can't refuse....or we'll have to buy in to the "Public Option" (if there is one) and if we DON"T we'll be FINED or get a PENALTY!!! Something like $2500/year.
Oh well! There goes that tax refund you thought you were going to get to pay one more months rent!
The Fed just sends you a notice because you decided that NONE of the insurance plans were affordable OR acceptable for the money and they let you know for that decision your refund has gone bye-bye.
Or if you fight it, you'll get audited. Or suddenly your bank account will be garnished all the money.
Or you'll have to make a "payment plan" with the IRS. Ever try that one? The interest keeps accruing so you NEVER pay off the amount owed.
They are trying to screw us, NOT heal us!!!!
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
Present a copy of an agreement to your opponent. Let them make whatever changes they want in the margins. Insist on having your secretary type the permanent agreement with the changes included. Then, have your secretary type exactly and only what you and your client want. Arrive at the courthouse just in time to be called before the judge, without giving your opponent enough time to read the final agreement. Give your word that it contains only the changes your opponent wanted. Give it to the judge, who will ask if you all agree to it. Everyone says, "yes." Done deal. Just try to complain about it afterward. Many young innocent lawyers fall for this, but just once. The good ones warn those who come after them. I know lawyers who do this and are listed in the "Who's Who in American Law." Some of them may be in Congress and the Senate right now.
Beck is making the insinuation tonight that "reparations" are somehow hidden in the healthcare bill and that Obama had something to do with it. He's completely going over the edge about Obama and his choices tonight. This dude needs meds. Hopefully he has a good insurance plan that can provide them for him.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Since when did any republican host need an insurance program to get their oxy?
I am sure he has friends in fat places.
Since when did any republican host need an insurance program to get their oxy?
I am sure he has friends in fat places.
Beck is making the insinuation tonight that "reparations" are somehow hidden in the healthcare bill and that Obama had something to do with it. He's completely going over the edge about Obama and his choices tonight. This dude needs meds. Hopefully he has a good insurance plan that can provide them for him.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Funny how he grabs onto the coat tails of Pelosi's comments.
His own constituents are VERY UPSET that he will not support Public Option. He is hanging with Bacchus.
ArrrrrGh!
:(
If I don't get to see a doctor until 2013 under the most optimistic version of the bill now on the table, what difference will a few weeks make? I won't be around by then anyway. You should be bitching about them dragging it out until after the next two elections (how convenient for them!). Vacation/no vacation makes no difference at all, in the end.
elections. We will be doing the North Korean "dictator for life" and Jeb Bush will be the dick..., I mean dictator.
It's a brilliant ploy if your sole concern is winning elections, and the job of actually, you know, governing, is something you don't give a shit about. This has the stink of Rahm all over it. "If you don't vote for us, those other guys will cancel the changes we worked so hard for, right before they go into effect!"
Damn right, the politicians should stay and get the job done.
Any manager is expected to give up vacation time during critical projects, and that's just one for the
goddam corporate mastersgipper.If the US is gonna get out of the
steaming heap of shiteditch we've driven into, it's gonna take hard work from everyone, even the damn politicians.-- or the set up for a Mormon joke?
Shit or get off the pot. They have had more than enough time to debate and draft their legislation. Delay only opens the door for shenanigans. It is all too easy to scare people.
15 to 1 is the amount of stories against reform vs those for reform that has been aired on TV. The insurance industry is locked and loaded to hit the public with a media blitz to end the public option.
This really does feel like a no brainer to me. Personally, I've had to forgo my yearly summer vacation this year due to the economy and my personal responsibilities on top of it. None of my responsibilities are anywhere near as large as getting long overdue health care for millions. Given that a "staycation" has been marketed to us working stiffs as something we should strive for now, it should be an embarrassment for any member of the House to go on vacation before finishing such an important job, particularly when those who want to see this fail have stalling this process out as part of their strategy.
Absolutely. And the beauty of the "stay in Washington until you get your job done" argument is that you can use it on your elected representatives regardless of their political affiliation.
At a time when America is in the shitter and Americans are suffering, the use of sloth as a political strategy is unacceptable.
Comments are closed on this entry