Despite GOP, health care reform will pass
Even with revisions which drove up the price tag, the health care reform bill from the Senate Finance Committee has passed a crucial test: the Congressional Budget Office says it won’t add a single dime to the budget deficit. That gives the proposal added political momentum.
But the non-partisan CBO is an entity Republicans respect only when it helps their cause. They won’t rally around the bill because of the CBO report. They are dedicated to the failure of health care reform because they are dedicated to ruining Obama’s presidency. That is their only animating position at the moment.
While moderate Republicans (an endangered species, to be sure) outside Congress — such as Arnold Schwarzenegger — have urged the passage of health care reform, the GOP on Capitol Hill has painted itself into a corner as the party of the disloyal opposition. Congress will pass a health care reform bill, but without Republican support.
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53 comments Add your comment
Elder Speaker
October 8th, 2009
8:33 am
The CBO report only states that the bill’s income-producing elements more than cover the expenditures of the bill. Some as-yet-unknown elements of income are new fees for the bill’s participants.
No matter what the named groups are which pay for the increases, all of them will fund their increases by passing on those costs to the ultimate bearer of the increases, the US citizen/taxpayer.
Americans never seem to get it. Businesses pay no taxes. Their taxes are paid for in increased costs to their customers…you and me.
righty
October 8th, 2009
8:36 am
Forget the billions in shenanigans coming from Congress. True health care reform could occur in three simple ways WITHOUT a government plan and takeover:
- Enact tort reform to let doctors do their jobs without fear of lawsuits. Malpractice insurance significantly drives up their rates and less fear of lawsuits would allow them to not run many unnecessary tests.
- Allow private insurance to be purchased across state lines. A no-brainer, but an option the government opposes because it would make a private industry more competitive and would eliminate government regulations
- Allow people to customize their plans. Does a man honestly need maternity insurance? Does a woman need to worry about coverage for prostate exams? Does everyone need coverage in their plan for drug and alcohol treatment? Let people add and remove portions of their insurance that they don’t need and premiums could drop significantly.
These are all very easy solutions where the costs would be covered by insurers rather than the taxpayers, but that would mean the government would have to give up power and they just can’t have that can they? Even though that’s the way our country was founded, far be it for the statists to give up an ounce of power to the people.
Kayaker 71
October 8th, 2009
8:51 am
Bozo has to get something passed before long or he will begin to look like the clown that he really is. He hasn’t been very effective on the international scene, even with our so called friends. He, in his own narcissistic way, traveled to Denmark where he found out that charm and BS will not win you much of anything on the world stage. Unemployment is still out of site, despite this stimulus to our economy which was supposed to turn things around. He is spending money faster than the taxpayer can make it and he expects all of us hardworking taxpayers to just accept all of this without a whimper. And the worst thing about him….. he lies. He desperately needs a victory of some kind.
Health care is just a warm up for Cap and Trade and illegal immigration. Think he looks bad now, just stay tuned.
Huckabee The Next POTUS 2012
October 8th, 2009
8:52 am
Little Cindy Loo, I really hope you are right and Health Care Deform does pass in spite of the GOP. That will be the last bubbles of a sinking dumpocrap ship. Then perhaps, after the removal of many of the POS dumpocrap congressmen and women next year, we can get rid of the garbage family freeloading at the White House currently and get some true leadership in office and become a stong Nation again. I realize it will take alot of clean up and fumigating to rid 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. of the stench that currently envelopes everything from the furniture to the wallpaper, but hey a little elbow grease and some fresh paint and we’ll never be able to tell the obozo clan and their merry band of criminals and welfare lovers were there. Oh yeah, obambam is a liar too. opps, I must be a racist. What a joke this administration has been.
jconservative
October 8th, 2009
8:55 am
Reluctantly I agree that a bill will pass. The CBO scoring of an actual reduction of the deficit of $81 Billion over the 1st 10 years gives a lot of cover for those marginal supporters.
pd
October 8th, 2009
8:55 am
I hope you’re right Cynthia.
TnGelding
October 8th, 2009
8:55 am
Let’s hope not, or if they do let’s hope it isn’t anything like what is being considered.
righty
October 8th, 2009
8:36 am
How does that address pre-existing conditions, denial of payment and cancellation of coverage? How about one simple way? Medicare for all and let the insurance companies compete for Medigap insurance. I’ve got no problem with limits on malpractice awards, but doctors need to be held accountable just like everyone else. And many of them need to take better care of themselves so they can serve their patients better.
Say What??
October 8th, 2009
8:56 am
“Despite GOP, health care reform will pass”
Wrong again, Cindy. BECAUSE of the GOP, healthcare will pass.
TnGelding
October 8th, 2009
8:57 am
Huckabee The Next POTUS 2012
October 8th, 2009
8:52 am
After what Duhbya left, you’re irrational if not insane.
Huckabee The Next POTUS 2012
October 8th, 2009
9:09 am
TnHorsesrear,
Perhaps you should look into how the polls are shaping up for your beloved bedwetters currently holding or seeking office. It gets better every day. Perhaps once we get through this weak little mistake of a man soiling the seat behind the big desk we can get back to being a strong country again and obozo and his uuuuuuuuugly old lady can write their socialist memoirs and show up at rev. wrongs and terrorist aryes houses for the weekly orgy of losers are us.
TnGelding
October 8th, 2009
9:14 am
Huckabee The Next POTUS 2012
October 8th, 2009
9:09 am
Polls are for trolls.
Call it like it is.
October 8th, 2009
9:20 am
Wow Cindy you sure are on the ball this morning. Why don’t you put those fantastic journalistic skills to use and tell us why Schwarzenegger is behind this bill? Could it be that his state is in the worst financial crisis in history, and is getting ready to fall into the sea. Could it be that it got this way because of illegal aliens crossing the borders for free health care, and American tax payers footing the bill? Hmmmm, I don’t of course have your great skills, but I just wonder if Calif would benefit from a federal run health care system that would now have all of America paying for the health care of those who are not here legal?
Things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Chaps
October 8th, 2009
9:20 am
It is not the Republicans holding up passage of the “health care” bill. In case you haven’t noticed, Democrats have a majority in both houses of Congress and hold the White House. It is Democrats who can’t pass the bill. And thank goodness some of them have a little sense.
Donovan
October 8th, 2009
9:29 am
Hmmm…let’s see. The Democrats control the House, Senate, and the White House. They are trying to put forth a scam and a sham that will only benefit the non-productive voters, but will grow government, control more lives, and stunt economic growth. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot to achieve their Disney World agenda. I can live in Cuba and experience the same program. This tactic of unilateraly shoving legislation down our throats will result in a very interesting election scenario in 2010. The nuclear option of Comrade Tucker’s associates will doom their very existence and future existence once and for all. These clowns who have highjacked the government have an inherent problem of not listening to the American people.
Joan
October 8th, 2009
9:32 am
I believe that, despite the fact that 85% of Americans are fine with their health care, this health care abomination will pass–if only because it will pass in the dark of the night, without ever having been read and fully discussed, or will be placed in another bill as a piece of “pork”. But, someway or the other those Democratic crooks in Congress will get it passed. And then of course, illegals will be given amnesty, and that CBO budget is blown all to hell–and Medicare recipients–who have paid for their insurance–will lose it. What a farce this country has become.
pd
October 8th, 2009
9:32 am
This bill will not provide health care for illegal immigrants.
sd
October 8th, 2009
10:13 am
“You took your stupid pills this morning didn’t you? ”
No, I just read the bill.
Kevin
October 8th, 2009
10:13 am
“Reform” may pass.
The version you so desperately wanted doesn’t stand a chance in hell.
But that’s a technicality.
booger
October 8th, 2009
10:15 am
….despite GOP….
Just to remind once again, the gop is not needed to pass this. Your guys own the house and senate. What’s the gop got to do with it?
TnGelding
October 8th, 2009
10:18 am
Joan
October 8th, 2009
9:32 am
Nothing new. It’s been a farce for decades.
The last Boy Scout
October 8th, 2009
10:21 am
The real proof (Nobody needed because the Repubs are the party of the rich and stupid) that the Republicans need no excuse to ruin the middle class is that all of the flim flam about budget busting is false. That the lie that the goverment will kill Granny and pull the plug on Grandpa is pure Bull. The real reason for the TREASON is that the Republicans are bought and paid for with big bucks from the rich. WAKE UP AMERICA
Mutts R Stupid
October 8th, 2009
10:21 am
Notice that only dead beats and their political mouth pieces want what is alleged to be health care reform. The dead beats all want a free ride, just like Cindy and her ilk at the Urinal. My prediction, and I am putting my money behind it, is that this bloated reform will be what finally breaks the dollar, and with it AmeriKan power. The death of the “Almighty” dollar will mean we can no longer print paper that other countries and peoples accept in exchange for their valuable products. Oil will have to be paid for with something of value other than freshly printed green paper, like gold, silver, and foreign currencies. This latest dummycrat give away is just the final nail in the coffin of the AmeriKan empire. Too many pointless foreign wars, to much foreign aide, too much of our wealth concentrated in WashingAss, DC and New York have all contributed to this pending failure. The true Axis of Evil runs from Wall Street thru K Street. But only President Obama will be held responsible for the collapse of the dollar, the other politicians are out of office, and can always claim things were A ok when they were in office. The truth is they are all responsible, and will all get away with their crimes, letting President Obama take all the blame. If he were as smart as he claims, he would stop this ill advised health care reform mess now, withdraw all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, end all foreign aide, impose tough import restrictions on manufactured items, and cut the federal budget in half, NOW while there is still a chance to save the dollar. I am betting none of this happens, and have moved my dollars into foreign stocks, gold, silver, oil, and fx.
go to www.atlshirt.com
October 8th, 2009
10:22 am
Illegals will be granted amnesty in 2010, so of course, when this bill becomes active in 2013, there will no longer be anyone to call Illegal, because they will all technically be considered as citizens..
Public Option Going to Hell
October 8th, 2009
10:30 am
Cynthia is once again in denial. It’s the Dem’s that the Dem’s need to worry about. The smart ones know that taking 400 Billion out of Medicare, taxing health insurance, imposing fines on individuals as well as business, providing health benefits for illegals will lead to being voted out of office. While being voted out of office may be a good thing in many cases don’t count on any democrat committing political suicide for B.O., Nancy and Harry. Look for a tremendous amount of Dem party infighting between the House and Senate. This thing is far from a done deal.
JackLeg
October 8th, 2009
10:33 am
Only an absolute moron would believe that we can add 50 million people to our healthcare roles and it will not cost anything. But then again we do have people like Cynthia Tucker; these must be the same people who failed math for 12 years. Every reform that this administration is proposing is for power alone, not reform. True reform would adjust the existing laws to do several things that the GOP has proposed, but not many liberals even know that this bill exists, I wonder why? We need less government all around, how about they do something productive like balance the budget? If you can’t balance a budget how can you possibly run a bank, cars factories or healthcare?
sd
October 8th, 2009
10:40 am
“Only an absolute moron would believe that we can add 50 million people to our healthcare roles and it will not cost anything”
When the number 50 million is used by someone in support of Health Care Reform, an opposer will answer that the number is in accurate. Usually they cite that a large number of these people are young, healthy, people who choose not to enroll in insurance.
If those people are correct, then their participation in paying health care premums will ABSOLUTELY reduce the costs for everyone else as their payments subsidize the sick and elderly.
If you were young and healthy with no insurance and got a hernia, you could either go to a doctor and have it fixed for between $10,000 and $15,000 cash, or you could fly to England, have it fixed, and spend a week’s vacation in a nice hotel and spend less than a third of that price. Something isn’t right.
sd
October 8th, 2009
10:51 am
We also aren’t talking abotu “adding people to health care rolls”. We are talking about adding premium paying customers to the rolls of private and a new public insurer.
I mean, don’t you think that if your Healthcare company could add 50 million new customers, that they would?
$4,500 per person per year in the US on Healthcare. Nearest county = $2500.
Something isn’t right.
Susan George
October 8th, 2009
10:56 am
This is good news but only part of the story. If you add a much-needed public option, the cost would decrease because it would help drive down the excessively high costs of private insurance that continue to rise and rise unchecked, greatly exceeding the cost of living. We must be bold and enact true health care reform. The majority of Americans are in favor of a public option.
nowhereman
October 8th, 2009
11:00 am
I didn’t read the column, but only because of the headline. The Dems hold the majority in both houses of congress plus the White House. So reform will pass DESPITE THE GOP? Too much….
Jake
October 8th, 2009
11:01 am
Yes it will pass although exact provisions, like how it will be financed, are still up in the air. The sad thing is that real reform would require a national health care plan and reducing the roles of insurance companies to supplemental policies, and that won’t happen because we have not been govern,ment of, by or for th epeople in a long time. We are government for the rich and powerful and big business. CEO’s get million dollar bonuses while th epoor die in the street untreated.
Vinny
October 8th, 2009
11:11 am
Obama is doing a fine job of ruining his “presidency” all on his own – he doesn’t need any help from the GOP.
“He won”, remember, Cindy?
reservoirDAWG
October 8th, 2009
11:17 am
Let’s hope not. Obama is on the way to bankrupting this country.
Jimmy62
October 8th, 2009
11:23 am
The bill will pass despite Republicans AND the majority of Americans who don’t want it to pass. Too bad our elected officials spend more time representing their own political interests, and not the interests of those that they supposedly represent.
go to www.atlshirt.com
October 8th, 2009
11:24 am
sd, how much money does ACORN pay you per post ?? I would like that job, did you find that job on craigslist ??
Public Option Going to Hell
October 8th, 2009
11:36 am
Susan I don’t get how you say that cost will decrease with the Public Option. When Medicare and Medicaid came into existence in the mid-60’s the government projected cost of those entitlements has been off by about 100 billion dollars. Instead of driving down insurance cost the Public Option will drive private carriers out of the health insurance business and will create a single payer system which hasn’t worked in other countries like Canada and the U.K. and that’s fact not opinion. Also I don’t get where you claim that a majority of Americans want a public option. The majority of Democrate’s want a public option (70%) the majority of Republicans don’t want a public option. Your problem is that the majority of Independents don’t want a public option, over 60% in this group. I think those who want the public option are celebrating a little bit too early.
TnGelding
October 8th, 2009
11:40 am
reservoirDAWG
October 8th, 2009
11:17 am
He’s trying to put it on sound fiscal footing. ‘W’ left the trillion dollar deficit, he just added to it. Austerity will be the name of the game next year.
Bush and Reagan are responsible for 90% of the national debt. It’s going to take years to get back to a nearly balanced budget unless Congress and POTUS have the courage to tax us all a little more and reduce defense spending.
Chris Broe
October 8th, 2009
11:47 am
I still haven’t read the bill. I still don’t understand the proposals. I only know that Glenn Beck is praying about it, Rush Limbaugh is preying about it, and oh, the Hume-Hannity!
Is it about insuring all 300 million Americans in one big melting pot? If each american worker was charged 100 bucks a month, then the revenue would be 180 billion annually. (150 million US workers) (in 1970 money, of course)
I’m sorry, that wouldn’t even cover the costs of Flintstone Vitamins for the children of the illegal aliens who’ll get free Viagra from the new Rx plan. (Hell, it wouldn’t even pay for the castor oil.)
We should just forget Rx reform. Aren’t you sick of hearing about it? What? You haven’t heard nothing because you’re deaf and need to see an ear, nose, and throat Doc? I hope you’ve got healthcare insurance.
And what about pets? They need healthcare too. Biologists claim that with proper healthcare, a prescription-drug-abusing turtle can live to be 95 years old, (which is 666 dog years, man). OMG. I just found the doggie antichrist. He’s a turtle. The Aztecs are right about 2012! Or is it the Mayans? Dammit, I always get my doomsday scenarios mixed up.
OMG! I just realized that the Second Coming has probably been called OFF! It’s been cancelled because so many people will get maimed, the healthcare costs alone would bankrupt heaven itself.
God may need a bailout.
Imagine Judgement Day: All 100 billion souls of people who have ever lived (census bureau estimates) would be standing around, and the cost of all the wailing and gnashing of teeth would be some astronomical figure, and the devil would ask, “Who is going to pay for this?”
Part of being a good christian is paying your debts. The devil may win out over God right at the very end of time, man, simply by insisting on everyone being a good christian and pay up, which would be impossible, (a soul dont got no pockets).
So a little sympathy for the devil, people. Remember, devil spelled assbackwards is “lived”. God spelled backwards is doG. (OMG, another doggie antichrist reference, and I wasn’t even going for it!)
Jklol
F. Sinkwich
October 8th, 2009
11:59 am
As it has been mentioned here numerous times, the Democrats have significant majorities in both houses of congress. They can pass any piece of legislation they want without a single Republican vote.
So I’m baffled by any assertion by liberals that Republicans are obstructionists. After all, who cares? Pass this travesty, cap and tax, amnesty for illegals, repeal DMA, whatever.
Just don’t whine so much.
cway
October 8th, 2009
12:10 pm
Pretty interesting stuff going on here. let me ask all three questions – is this health care reform (HCR) or is this more about healthcare financing (HCF)? With HCF, we are already paying for all of those who seek care, in one manner or the other – either taxes or what we pay our medical providers. It is time to take the blinders off, this is money we are spending now.
Unfortuantely, the HCF industry (insurance) will have a heavy hand in the final design of HCR, so dont put that money into gold too fast righty and tort reform wouldn’t save fractions of a penny on the premium dollar. Look at a couple of the big boys financials, they are all on line. Lastly, do we want HCR or HCF reform?
sd
October 8th, 2009
12:28 pm
“sd, how much money does ACORN pay you per post ??”
Honestly, I am not even completely sure of what ACORN does. All I know is that people hate them. I don’t care.
I just think that it is insane that healthcare costs so much more here than any where else, yet the system itself isn’t better. Seems to me that anyone with common sense would look at it and think something isn’t right.
A friend of mine is 71 and still working. His wife, who is 62, isn’t elligible for Medicare yet and has cancer. He can’t quit his job and spend time with her as she dies because if he did, he would lose his group plan and her pre-existing condition would mean that she can’t buy private insurance and there is no way he, (anyone) could afford her ongoing treatments.
So, either he keeps working for three more years so she can finally get on the government’s plan even at the expense of his own health, healthcare reform can pass, or she can hurry up and die.
For me, I hope that it passes so he can retire like he planned to do 5 years ago.
Public Option Going to Hell
October 8th, 2009
12:49 pm
Gelding
Bush and Reagan responsible for 90% of the debt?
Last time I checked congress was still responsible for passing spending bills. Of course Clinton had a balanced budget during his second term.
Jack
October 8th, 2009
12:54 pm
Folks covered by Medicare do vote, y’know. And if a politician wants to get reelected, he wont cut their benefits.
William
October 8th, 2009
12:57 pm
Obama lied! Obama lied!
D Herdy
October 8th, 2009
1:00 pm
Cynthia,
What makes you so insightful as to say; “That is their only animating position at the moment.” How about another motivation like…I don’t know…85% or more of the people in America are happy with the insurance we have!!! Or maybe…ummm…the federal government never publishes the true cost of anything they do! Also, this only covers 94% of the population. Once they institute this slippery slope, they will expand and expand it until they cover 110% of the population.
I am insightful as well. You can quote me on this; “The only animating position for the Dems at the moment is to EXPAND GOVERNMENT!!!
Turd Ferguson
October 8th, 2009
1:00 pm
Cindy-Loo may be correct *sigh* and everyone, Dem/Rep/Indp should be quaking in their boots. Obobo and the Dems are like a runaway train and we can only hope they derail themselves as soon as possible.
Obobo is dangerous and he is a liar…its just that simple.
Carrie
October 8th, 2009
1:02 pm
Obama will ruin his presidency all on his own. Rebublicans are the only party with intelligence anymore, it’s insane what the democrats are tying to cram down this country and it won’t be able to take it, but of course it will all be Bush’s fault! Whatever!!
sd
October 8th, 2009
1:14 pm
“85% or more of the people in America are happy with the insurance we have!!! ”
Are 85% of Americans also happy with the amount they pay for their insurance? Are those with employor sponsored insurance employed by employers who are happy with the cost they pay?
Are 85% of Americans happy that the costs of medical insurance is rising at a much higher rate than all other inflation?
And how do you arrive at your figures?
Lynnie Gal
October 8th, 2009
2:39 pm
I think it will pass without Republican votes, and I’m thankful for that. I’m one of those under-insured people with a pre-exisiting condition. It’s too bad that the Republicans have become so extreme and right-wing. I grew up in a conservative Republican family, but these are a different breed of Republican. These people look like they’re all on the train ride to crazy town, mainly because they allowed themselves to be suckered by Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and the rest of those Fox clowns.
El Jefe
October 8th, 2009
6:34 pm
Even though the people do not want a reform bill that is this sweeping, Congress knows better.
Even though we can not afford it, Congress knows better.
Even though projects say that over 100 million people will lose their private insurance, Congress knows better.
Even though we are tearing apart 1/6th of the national economy to provide coverage for 10-20 million truly need folks, Congress knows better.
If it passes, I will predict a vast turn out of progressives from Congress and a majority of more conservative folks taking their place.
Watch and see.
Congress, are you listening, better call the moving companies now, to avoid the rush.
lanie w
October 8th, 2009
7:21 pm
sooo easy to name call “liar, liar” sooo easy to say i’ve got mine to hell with everyone else. i actually do have very good health coverage. that does not mean my hard working uninsured neighbors and friends can just die if they get sick. most of you right wingers claim to be christian. what would Jesus do? apparently your god is definately not my God. my God would tell you how yoy treat the lowest among us is how you treat me