Dems Want Some Healthcare Reforms to Kick In Before Mid-Terms
As expected, Dems are pushing hard for something to show the voters. Too bad they didn't just drop the Medicare age, but oh well:
Democrats are pushing Senate leaders and the White House to speed up key benefits in the health reform bill to 2010, eager to give the party something to show taxpayers for their $900 billion investment in an election year.
The most significant changes to the health care system wouldn’t kick in until 2013 — two election cycles away. With Republicans expected to make next year a referendum on health care reform, Democrats are quietly lobbying to push up the effective dates on popular programs, so they'll have something to run on in the congressional midterm elections.
Democrats are anxious to mix the good with the bad since some of the pain would be phased in early, including more than $100 billion in industry fees that critics say could be passed on to consumers.
“We want to be able, within the cost framework and the implementation framework, to have as much start as early as possible, even though we know all of it can’t,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), a Finance Committee member who is working with other senators on the effort. “And the White House wants to have as much as possible to start.”
Under the Democratic wish list, senior citizens would receive discounts on brand-name drugs next year. Small businesses that provide insurance would see tax credits. And a $5 billion high-risk pool would cover people with preexisting conditions.
Democratic strategists expect the 2010 election to present a stark contrast between the parties, particularly if the health care bill receives minimal Republicans support. The front-load strategy could help blunt GOP attacks on the bill as a toxic mix of higher taxes, rising premiums and cuts to Medicare.
Fuck midterms. Do what's right because it's right, even if it means the last thing you do on your watch.
Reform? We're not getting reform. You can't call what they're trying to pawn off on us "reform"
*
This is a total clusterfuck. I hope private healthcare costs go up 200% after this bill is passed.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
even if health insurance went up 200% (on the private side)
I still doubt it would top the "level of waste and fraud (on the gov't side)
"60 Minutes" did a fabulous exposé Sunday on Medicare fraud that should be required viewing for all people who support a government run healthcare program in this country.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/20...
(video included)
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
how See BS pulled that out of their big insurance loving ass just before the vote, isn't it?
It's a fake
...is the fake part.
govt has proven time and time again that it can't do shit.
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
are running things because they don't want Government to work
again and again how correct they are, that they can go around talking smack about the cleaning crew that always has to clean up their mess: the government.
capitalists/libertarians always have someone to blame......the government. in the Darwinian capitalist system there always losers some fairly others unfairly. no problem but the corporations always/often point their finger at government as the problem. the "free market" is perfect..........right greenspan. oh yeah even he changed his mind. in a democracy like ours ....laws are written by those with the money.......corporations. corporations get people elected. there are those in corporations who set it up for government to fail.....opportunistic...Darwin would be proud.
...freemarkets.
...haven't for a long time.
...I just think we ought to at least "try them". (won't know until you try!)
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
It was called the guilded age
...you spend only 44 cents to mail a letter all the way across the country.
Without the "government that can't do shit" being involved as a postal carrier (as required by Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the United States Constitution)...FedEx and UPS would be charging you 4 dollars for sending that piece of paper. Just compare USPS Priority Mail pricing with ANY FedEx or UPS pricing.
Thank God for our founding fathers and the United States Post Office.
"Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?" - General Jack D. Ripper
look who else needed a bailout!
By GREGG CARLSTROM
November 16, 2008
Add the U.S. Postal Service to the list of ailing businesses seeking help from Congress.
http://www.federaltimes.com/index.php?S=3821780
The postal service is still in business for the same reasons that Goldman Sachs still is...
We...(and our children) ...bailed em out!!! HAHAHA!
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
because the workers are demanding more and getting it, unlike the rest of us in the private sector.
The Pukes are shorting them by not letting them raise their rates enough to offset last years fuel costs and wage/benefit increases...geez.
If congress would let Government (the postal service) work, they wouldn't be in the red all of the time.
free- market take over the business...Read the 'Shock Doctrine' and 'Looming Towers' --free markets only work -Sweden -Denmark- if the greed- profit is taken out of the equation!!!
Come on folks--get up to speed on what is really happening instead of taking the MSM-talking points as gospel! ASK THEM TO REPORT ON COUNTRIES THAT ARE WORKING INSTEAD OF USING THE SCARY LABELS THAT PUT PEOPLE INTO A FETAL POSITION!
They are all govrn't run --the problem is the Congress has dipped their fingers in the coffers to fund their pet projects --not that they have been run poorly --they have been raped by Congress but still provide coverage better than the care paid for but not received from private insurers...
Call congress 1.800.828.0498
They just discovered it because someone finally wrote an article about it in the New York Times. It just took 60 Minutes to do the story because their White House correspondent is busy covering the NYTimes scoop on Obama not playing pick up basketball with girls.
Of course they could have covered it during the Bush administration but The Times was too busy publishing scoops from
Scooter about WMD for CBS to be told to cover it then.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
(which I saw part of it last night and it looked like a hit piece to me) Why did they wait until now to put it on?...I call Bullshit
was never the lady in the Cadillac. Your suspicion about the timing is well founded.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
Yeah, wouldn't that be cool if they actually had something to show off to us voters for the mid-terms? Like, an actual accomplishment they could be proud of after four years in the majority... That'd really be something.
It'd sure be better than a bunch of campaign ads saying, "I didn't do anything for you at all while serving in Congress. But at least I'm not a Republican."
Hopefully humanity will one day learn to be humane.
It gets better and better!
The healthcare reform bill is just a start.
And reform just means change - all reform isn't necessarily good reform. Medicare part "D" was reform.
I have thought all along the most important part of the bill - the part that will help people ASAP is ending preexisting conditions, rescission, and dropping of coverage. Those parts need to be started on day one and people will see a huge difference.
I personally do not believe anybody should be bankrupted by sickness, accident or illness. (not even the wealthy)
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Huh? If it is tax money, let's spend it on Medicare for everyone, and not allow ANY of it to go to private insurance.
And how nice of Big Pharma to give seniors discounts on name brand drugs. Too bad most seniors use generics. This, BTW, is the deal BHO worked out with Big Pharma. I am underwhelmed.
With a few notable exceptions such as Kucinich, Kaptur etc.
Clean the slate and start the F over already!!!
If I could blink and take 535 commenters from this website (435 House, 100 Senate...although we can only flip one-third of the Senate at a time), and place them in Congress the country would be taking a GIANT step forward!!!!
I actually trust "the regulars" here at Crooksandliars more than almost any current member in Congress.
I would have faith that nobody who posts here regularly would go on the take.
"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
I'd sell you, C&L and my own mother out for a big fat handout from the insurance and Wall Street lobbies. I need some damn money! :)
Hopefully humanity will one day learn to be humane.
...watch the fabulous exposé by 60 minutes on Medicare fraud that I posted above!
(learn how easy it is) ...to pull in hundreds of thousands per month! ...with practically no overhead!
(candy from a baby)
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
I'm gonna get me some money!
Hopefully humanity will one day learn to be humane.
If I should suddenly qualify for Medicare before the next election, I promise not to rip it off. Honest.
You can live on a $100k/year plus beny's can't you?? Great health insurance and all....
Plus if you serve more than one term you get the life-time PENSION!!!
"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
Once I'm in office I plan on starting up a crippling high-priced male hooker obsession that will end up getting me blackmailed into near poverty. I'll need more money!!!
Hopefully humanity will one day learn to be humane.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Politico reportage is the bestest.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
Ut oh, I think I see some bunches in the panty area. ;)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
some days it just gets stuck in your crack.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
I have to say I find this entire healthcare process totally fucked up. It's just a pathetic scam. I couldn't be more disappointed in the Democrats and Obama. Other countries are way ahead of us on this one. Even looks like Iraq will have universal healthcare before we do (they had it under Saddam).
For some people that is automatic and a given.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Handypants has invented an acronym for you to shorten keystroke stress and save bandwidth.
ICBM-D. Obama is to blame for everything except Reid's missing spine.
ICBM-D. Been voting Green since I stopped watching TV before it was invented.
It also makes it easier for us apologists to spot and get our pom poms ready to throw.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
You got pom poms? Damned socialist country. Where are my pom poms?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
He notices mine before I even throw them. Then he laughs
out loud.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
... don't let the sound of my laughter interrupt your perennial circle jerk.
LOL.
doesn't disturb your concentration on earth altering substantive blog commentary.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
... some of us have no issue distinguishing substance over noise.
Alas, I am fascinated by how many of your passive aggressive smirk jabs at this blog its owners and contributors tolerate. Truly a testament that freedom of expression is alive and well... so there, a reason to rejoice after all.
can price their services according to their specific needs and philosophy. Then they market to whatever demographic they choose to serve. People and customers would have more choices.
This would shake out Doc's who simply want the big bucks also.
become To Big To Fail
Guess they'd have to loan us some money.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
I am still very disappointed with the behavior of the Democrats here.
There should be a much better bill here and it should not be taking so long. I am still not convinced a "good bill for all" will be the end result. Sorry but I am not confident with the pro-bankster, pro-Insurance Reform posing as "healthcare reform" Democratic Party led by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. As long as Rahm Emanuel is there, I don't trust anything the Dems do.
QUIETLY LOBBYING ???
Which Party Has The Majority Now ??
C'mon .. TAKE A GUESS !!
Democracy is too important to be entrusted to politicians.
Rise Up!
Protest!
Just go ahead and tell us. We are too busy being disappointed to have time for messy guesswork.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
It's the Corporatists.
Democracy is too important to be entrusted to politicians.
Rise Up!
Protest!
The Dems would have to be as dumb as rocks or some of their GOP colleagues to not have something substantial to exhibit to the voters prior to the 2010 elections: VaporCare™ isn't going to bring out the base nor win over the indies—unfortunately, these are Democratic Congressmen we're talking about ;-(
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