After hours of spirited debate during an historic Saturday session, the U.S. House of Representatives tonight passed the Democratic health care reform bill, by a vote of 220-215. Regrettably, 39 Democrats joined 176 Republicans in voting against the bill, with a lone, newly elected Louisiana Republican, Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, voting in favor. The vote [...]
Posts under ‘Health Safety’
GOP health care ‘reform’ plan anemic, toxic
How perfectly Republican: a health care “reform” plan that reduces costs by reducing care, keeps hated pre-existing condition gotcha traps firmly in place, and tells people who need medical insurance to go start a savings account. The Congressional Budget Office looked into the Republicans’ handiwork and found it shifts costs to the elderly and the [...]
And now, a health care cost whodunnit
featuring unidentified Democratic sources
An Associated Press story by David Espo that appeared late Sunday night/early Monday — the day before an election and just as a Republican health care “reform” plan was to be revealed — presents a mystery within a mystery. Follow the link and you’ll find a much different story from the one we’re referring to [...]
House health care reform imperfect
but much better than Senate version
The House of Representatives health care reform bill unveiled today might be a mixed bag, but it easily outclasses the Senate Finance Committee’s constipated version. Going by the official 10 Page Bill Summary, the legislation has more moving parts than an L.A. freeway at rush hour, including an unacceptably limited public option that excludes workers [...]
Opt-out public option packs nasty side effect
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, came out yesterday for health care reform that includes a public option with an opt-out provision for states that don’t want to participate — a compromise that should get blue dog Democrats on board. However, it seems there’s no pleasing some people when it comes to prodding health insurance [...]
What you should and shouldn’t be scared of
With Halloween fast approaching, we thought we’d go Hatch and the rest of the Party of No witches and goblins out screaming, “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” one better. So, here’s something we all should really be scared about.
Favorable poll results give Obama
invitation to blow health care reform
The good news in just-released poll results is that a solid majority now favors a public health insurance option as part of health care reform; the bad news is that a whole lot of people, including public-option supporters, have bought into Republicans’ scare talk about the federal government gaining too much power, and many of [...]
Lame excuse for health care reform
makes it out of Finance Committee
Heaven and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus only know what a disembowelment genuinely helpful reform measures suffered in the futile quest for a semblance of bipartisanship.
Health care reform made simple and personal
In a powerful, sometimes emotional commentary this evening, Keith Olbermann put health care, public policy and basic humanity in proper perspective. Olbermann’s hourlong exposition drew power from being personal, arising from his experience helping his ailing father. All the more so, he explained, because he’s in the uncommon position of being able to afford whatever [...]
A public option battle lost, but not the war
The government-provided public option alternative for health insurance stood little chance of passing in the Senate Finance Committee, and sure enough, two variations of it were voted down today. Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s public-option proposal lost 15-8, with all committee Republicans, plus Democrats Max Baucus, Mont., Kent Conrad, N.D., Blanche Lincoln, Ark., Bill Nelson, Fla., and [...]
