POLITICO – The Senate Finance Committee filed its sweeping health care reform bill Monday and its release served largely to highlight the divisions among Democrats over the direction of reform.
The massive, 1,500 page bill is expected to serve as the backbone for Democratic reform efforts going forward and five senators expressed concerns about one of its main provisions, a 40 percent tax on high-end insurance plans.
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Dodd, you went astray when you joined the noisy minority that automatically ascribes the worst intentions on anything the new president attempts.
#34-Olo Baggins of Bywater-you went astray when you joined the noisy minority that automatically ascribes the worst intentions on anything the new president attempts.
The new president is in the process of repealing our freedoms – of course I challenge anything this treasonous hack attempts to do.
I disagree with that premise entirely, but where were you when the the previous president actually did repeal several of our freedoms?
The GOP today has a bad case of projection.
I challenge anything this treasonous hack attempts to do.
To borrow a phrase, why do you hate America?
#36-Olo Baggins of Bywater-where were you when the the previous president actually did repeal several of our freedoms?
I was complaining like most everyone else. No one gets to hide behind party affiliation if they are using the presidency to steal freedoms.
Why do you hate America by supporting that treasonous hack, Obama?
OK, good then.
What treason? Remember, the pres gets to set a lot of policy, that’s his job. Disagreeing with that policy doesn’t make it treason. OTOH, hoping he fails, and with him the country fails….that’s a harder line to draw.
#39, What treason?
Not upholding the U.S. Constitution.
http://tinyurl.com/nzrc
The more pages, the better the bill!
And it shows us they care and have planned ahead!
And this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
#40, Liberty Loser
Not upholding the U.S. Constitution.
As usual, you haven’t disappointed. You throw out a broad accusation with no specifics. This is very typical of you, specifically, and all Liebertarians generally.
Geeze you are mentally deficient.
I read it this morning while I was taking a dump. What a load of crap…
There’s one compelling reason why I hate the idea of government run health care…look at how the VA is run. If the government can’t run a hospital/health care system for those who volunteered to serve our country, how is it we’re suppose to trust them to run a system for the rest of us? This is typical political thought process. The government has failed to prove their capability of running any type of service well, and yet they want to the run even more. And there are people who wonder why there are folks like me who say smaller government is better?
#42, If you can’t see it for yourself, no amount of proof is going to convince you otherwise.
Go back to your TV.
twigster…nobody is talking about a second VA-style system—where did you get that idea? The public options being discussed are for insurance.
Repeal the insurance industry’s anti-trust exemption, they need some real competition. How can anybody argue with that???
#46, Nobody can argue with it.
But why does it take 1500 pages to do that? What else are they sneaking into it?
LL…why so big? Who knows. I am, however, fascinated by the perception that big = bad.
#48, Simple. Because Americans no longer trust their government.
Well, they never REALLY trusted it, but now they just down right detest it.
#49, Liberty Loser
#48, Simple. Because Americans no longer trust their government.
Why do you hate America so much? You claim you are getting rich within the system. You claim it gives you great health coverage. So why do you hate America so much?
In Aetna we trust?
I trust entities that are accountable, and don’t trust those who aren’t. But that’s just me.
Seriously, this mistrust was big during Clinton’s term, and again with Obama. Sure seems like the problem is that people don’t trust non-republican presidents. Which given the last eight years, I just don’t understand.
#50, Your post made no sense. Please insert another quarter and try again.
#51, The problem is indeed the insurance companies. Unfortunately, they are this way because of the government. Do you not see the link?
Re: trust Maybe it’s because they both sound like used car salesman? They promise you everything will be ok, just sign right here . . . And then you get home and find out you got a lemon.
The government created this situation with insurance companies? No, I don’t see that link, unless the anti-trust exemption is really the sole problem.
So why trust businesses more than ‘government’ if they are the same? You can vote the government liars out, but good luck with the CEO of Cigna and his massive compensation.
#53, The protections are the biggie, but that didn’t come to be in a vacuum.
That protection was sold to them in exchange for covering things they normally wouldn’t. This is the root of the problem today.
Here is a very brief (well, it was brief) example:
At one time, chiropractors weren’t covered by insurance. People didn’t go to them that often. The demand was low.
Chiropractors knew if insurance covered their services, more people would use their services (this is a type of artificial demand). All the chiropractors got together and lobbied congress to force insurance companies to cover their services. In return for this, the congress-critters got lots of money.
Insurance customers see their policy and think, “Chiropractic care is in this. I’ll go to one.” This is something they wouldn’t have done before unless they needed it (artificial demand again). Now, someone else is paying for most of it so they don’t care.
In return for this “favor,” chiropractors now have to submit to government regulations they didn’t have to before — which jacks up their costs even more. And who pays for that added cost? The customers in the form of increased premiums.
It’s easy to tell your constituents you are doing something when you “force” the insurance companies to cover everything under the sun. Why did the insurance companies put up with it? Because they got what they wanted in return — assurances competition would be kept to a minimum. I am sure there are other little things (like not looking too closely as fraud, etc.)
And you wonder why they are pissed about the single payer system? That wasn’t part of the deal they agreed to.
If you truly want to reform health care, you need to yank those protections and allow them to cover what they want. BUT — with that, you need to ensure, without any doubt, that if they say they are going to cover something, it damned well better be paid for.
This could all be done without single payer and would not create another situation where artificial demand forces prices up.
The bill is self-propelled. Around p. 211 it says if it passes the senate finance committee that it must be considered by the full senate within 15 days with nothing getting in its way.
P.214 says if there is a disagreement between house and senate versions, the differences must be resolved in 15 days.
p. 714 says there will be a working group on healthcare quality, hand-picked by the president. No checks or balances.
I looked up “eligible professionals” but the bill referred to a version of the Social Security Act. When I chased that one down
(http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/legislation.htm), the numbering and acronyms lost me. Are vets “eligible professionals” or not?