NYT: Dems Need To Push For Majority Vote On Health Care Reform

nytimes.com:

The talk in Washington is that Senate Democrats are preparing to push through health care reforms using parliamentary procedures that will allow a simple majority to prevail in their chamber, as it does in the House, instead of the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster that Senate Republicans are sure to mount.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[murphy80]

don't count on Harry Reid

he will sell you out to the corporations every time.

[Marmel]

Agreed:

http://marmel.com/2009/08/just-go-it-alone-and-live-with-the-consequences-already/

- Steve

[Deschris]

I wish all the politicians who oppose health care reform would be honest and tell the people that the reason they cannot support the public option is that they are beholden to the big pharma and big insurance companies.­Blue dogs dems and the republican party truly believe that health insurance and care should be based on a for profit system.

Once you believe in the above the people come second,therefore everyone should stop the posturing and stop the BS and come clean.You cannot be against the public option and for it at the same time.NO CO-OPS,NO WATERED DOWN BILL,NO DEALS WITH BIG PHARMA TO KEEP DRUG PRICES HIGH!!!

The only reason they are against lifting a ban on the importation of drugs from Canada is not that they are unsafe,it's that it will bring the prices down.A government option,not a goverment take over of health care as the detractors have been claiming,with policy rates of $3000 to $4000 per year wiil certainly make those $18,000 overpriced usless policies a thing of the past.This is what they are afraid of....your powere to discover their big for profit scam.By useless I mean..try to get your first major claim through!!

[mmz]

I wish these articles would not use the term "Medicare cuts." Very misleading. I thought the goal was to make Medicare more efficient, and quit subsidizing the health insurance companies. The "Medicare cut" phrase sends many people who are already misguided and mislead to begin with, out into orbit.

[oldngrumpy]

Each of those little subtle innuendos are purposeful. Politicians and the media are experts at manipulating opinion in this way. Obama should be more specific about the cuts he plans to combat this. I'm sure that most will come from Bush's meddling with the system to shovel money to the insurance industry.

[3dtrix]

No Canadian citizen will ever be denied health care due to a pre-existing condition. Ever. Not one.

No Canadian citizen will ever be forced into bankruptcy relating to a medical crisis. Ever. Not one.

No Canadian citizen will ever lose their health care coverage because an employer closed its doors, canceled a policy or because the employee changed jobs. Ever. Not one.

No Canadian citizen will ever have health care coverage terminated because they've exceeded a coverage limit. Ever. Not one.

No Canadian citizen will ever be barred from employing the services of private health care providers or purchasing supplemental insurance from for-profit providers. Ever. Not one.

Now - explain again how our system is better than theirs...

[DLB]

If their system is so good, why do they come here by thousands each day and get care here? And don't lie, I've lived on a border town before and saw the cars with Canadian license plates in the medical clinic parking lots.

[oldngrumpy]

Pure BS.

[3dtrix]

I've recently returned from Vancouver, and co-incidently had a house guest from Toronto - and upon my immortal soul, I could not find ONE - not a single one - Canadian who thought our system was better than theirs. Naturally, they thought their system could be improved - citizens in every country on earth criticize their government and its programs - but not one - not ONE cab driver, waitress, business associate, or acquaintance would trade their system for ours - and I asked dozens and dozens. I've satisfied myself - and your dogma (as reflected by your nauseating avatar - is powerless to convince me otherwise.­..

[tribalogical]

Thousands? Every day? Those must be some humongous parking lots...

Straight from the horse's mouth...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/21/thousands-from-canada-and_n_265459.html

Few would say their systems are perfect, but it's pretty much unanimous.­.. none of them would trade theirs for ours!

I on the other hand, having experienced single-payer, would definitely trade ours for any of theirs....­. Japan's system, preferably­... I can only dream of that kind of health care security here....

[murphy80]

see the clinic today, i think you need new eyeglasses.

[Deschris]

Exactly right and this Canadian would not exchange our system for yours.I go to sleep each night in comfort of knowing I don't ever have to worry about getting sick and being left to die.As for DLB on this post he/she is confusing the cross border shoppers with people looking for medical care.As for cross border shopping we don't do too much of that any more anyway.

[tribalogical]

A message to Senator Hatch:

Dear Senator,

I'd like to ask you a simple yes or no question. Do you believe that our health care/health insurance system is in need of reform? Yes, or no.

If you answer "No", then please explain why not? Have you been out here on the ground lately to see the realities of the current system? e.g. 62% of all bankruptcies being health-cost related, with 78% of those bankruptcies filed by people who have health insurance? Millions upon millions of citizens with no access to health care at all? If you answered "No", explain why you think we don't need reform.

If you answer, "Yes", then please explain in what way you are proposing to reform our system? All I have heard from you so far are speeches aimed at killing what seem to be pretty good ideas to the majority of Americans. 70% of us think a public option is a good idea. 65% of us think universal health care is the way to go. I haven't heard your proposals for reform. If you answered "Yes", explain how you are contributing to the ideas for reform, and what kind of reform you would propose.

Otherwise, please stand down and make room for those of us trying to create a system that ensures that all Americans have affordable access to quality health care.

Thank you.

[seattle music]

Have you been denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition and are now without a policy?

Have your premiums doubled in the last few years, while your benefits are slashed?

Are you stuck in a job you hate -- really, really HATE -- because "at least they have a health plan" and if you change jobs, you might not be able to afford the premiums to insure your family?

Have you moved to another state, far from your family (e.g. Washington, California) JUST so you could get health coverage (that pesky pre-existing condition loop-hole again)?

Have you lost a loved-one whose insurance dropped them over a technicality (after years of paying premiums) and whose subsequent, uninsured medical care ate up 100% of the family's assets while your innocent family member was dying of cancer?

If you say yes to any of these questions, know this:

Republicans are FINE with your suffering. They are FINE with it.

I am not. I am outraged, motivated, fired up and ready to fight for your right to sane, compassionate, timely, effective and affordable healthcare.

At this moment in time, this is the difference that defines a conservative Republican Party member vs. a progressive Democratic Party member.

The Republicans will be happy if, at the end of the day, you are still suffering.

[DLB]

Funny, all the questions you ask are the issues Republicans want to solve through the free market. Your side wants to lie to the American people and create an eventual monopoly called universal health care.

Your caricature of Republicans is total projection.

[Jamie Kowalski]

They just haven't "wanted to solve" it badly enough to actually do anything about it. Ever.

Just how exactly is the "free market" supposed to stop big insurance from continuing their plundering?

[tribalogical]

DLB, what did you just say? Did you just say that those are issues Republican LAWMAKERS want to "solve" through the free market??? Do you honestly believe yourself, man?

OK, I'll bite. So, what's being proposed, and what are those solutions, exactly? How are the Republicans going to rally the 'free market' to our rescue?

How are they proposing to lower premium costs?

How are they proposing to prevent sudden, unexplained reductions to coverage?

How are they proposing to close the 'pre-existing condition' loopholes?

How are they proposing to prevent coverage loss at a time of greatest medical need?

How are they proposing to reduce or eliminate bankruptcies due to health costs (62% of all bankruptcies, 78% of those by people with health insurance.­.. I'll pray it never happens to you!).

How are they proposing to create affordable coverage for all Americans?

"My side"...? I'm an American, what are you? We're in the same boat, friend.

Monopoly schmonopol­y... I've lived with universal health care & I loved it. Unless there are some really good answers to my questions above, I'll continue to fight for universal health care as the best 'public option' available for us all.

[tribalogical]

PS: Calling the entire "other side" a pack of liars, is an uncalled-for generalization.

I'm not a liar. I do feel passionately about this issue, and will speak accordingly. We may never agree on most things either. That's fine. But I am not a liar.

I'll thank you not to cast that general aspersion around here again. If you do, I'll happily flag you as abusive.

Thank you.

[ckfan]

OUR SIDE won. NEXT!

[3dtrix]

There is not now and never has been - anywhere or at any time - any such fiscal unicorn known as "the free market". It is an utter fiction used as a one-size-fits-all solution for social Darwinists, period.

Because Republicans are demonstrably, categorically content to allow Big Insurance to continue to ruthlessly exploit citizens (including themselves, amazingly) who pay them protection money in - often futile - hopes that one day, when the need arises, they won't be ruined by financial calamity as well as disease or injury - the observations and judgments in the above post stand as correct and well observed. I welcome you to prove otherwise.­..

2/3 of bankruptcies in the US are related to a health calamity - 3/4 of those who eventually declare bankruptcy related to a health crisis were covered by health insurance at the outset of said calamity.

You and yours have had over 50 years to make a single stride forward in dealing with this harrowing truth - and have done NOTHING.

"Want to solve" - don't make me retch...

[betrayed1]

Will someone, anyone, on this website please explain why they think Obama will care about any of the progressive's goals if at the end of the day he owns your vote?

[seattle music]

Objection. Leading, your honor.

[ckfan]

Sustained.

[tribalogical]

The jury is instructed to disregard these comments.

[RedneckDem]

Kind of like when the repubs took so many independents and conservative progressives for granted? I think you know the answer. You take your constituents for granted and you get burned.

[gladys46]

Objection Your Honor .. irrelevant !

[DannyGee]

every third comment by huggbots is "your guy did it so so what?" when confronted with their own errors and hypocrisy. not a very intellectual or logical response to try and sell a better idealogy

[oldngrumpy]

Answering a telephone and talking to a pollster is one thing. Getting out in the cold or rain to cast a vote is another. P 1$ $ them off and they stay home.

[DannyGee]

just as he has vacillated on dozens of issues, he will on this. The strength of the dem sheeple is staggering, if not very disturbing.

[oldngrumpy]

Kinda like driving through a trailer court and counting the McCain-Palin bumper stickers on old pick ups? No one can beat Republicans when it comes to voting against their own best interest.

[Avanti2]

Any health care legislation must lower medical costs for Americans without increasing deficits and the national debt.

The bills introduced by congressional Democrats fail to meet these standards.

If they remain in there present form, they will fail.

[oldngrumpy]

"Any health care legislation must lower medical costs for Americans without increasing deficits and the national debt."

That was a stupid promise made by Obama, not a constitutional amendment or anything. He stepped in it. Throwing a trillion or 10 at Wall St, buying GM, and then telling America to suc it up for health care is not setting well with progressives. Bush "LOST" (as in misplaced) billions in Iraq in cash and joked about it. Republicans were fine with that.

"The bills introduced by congressional Democrats fail to meet these standards.­"

Let them eat it on this one. It is too important to not do over what is lunch money at the Pentagon.

"If they remain in there present form, they will fail."

I don't think so. There is too much support among voters for meaningful reform. Republicans and Blue Dogs are asking voters to trust government oversight and the good intentions of the insurance industry. We just came out of a bad relationship with Wall St and trust is going to be difficult for a while.

[DLB]

"We just came out of a bad relationship with Wall St and trust is going to be difficult for a while."

Our mistrust for Wall Street has been replaced - in seven short months - by a mistrust of this Administration and Congress. Election 2010 will prove it. They're spending this country into oblivion.

Last election was about pitting the poor against the rich. Next year the democrats will attempt to pit the young against the old. That's always a losing game.

[ncmom54]

very good post... thanks for bringing those details into the picture. they are relevant!

[CTtransplant]

Folks, Senator Kennedy said, “This is the cause of my life – new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American – north, south, east, west, young, old – will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.­”

Kennedy was one of our greatest champions of health care reform. He carried the torch for a long time...and now it is up to us to continue to carry it for him!

We cannot let the scare tactics dissuade us from reaching our goal!

While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.
While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.
While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.

Our elected officials in Congress receive health care mostly paid for by us tax payers, yet many are trying to make it impossible for us to purchase an affordable plan of our own.

Please sign these petitions - and by all means, spread the word! Thank you!

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html
http://www.democrats.com/honor-ted-kennedy?cid=ZGVtczQ0MTA5OGRlbXM=
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4922/content.jsp?content_KEY=2763&tag=hk1_typ-e1

[ncmom54]

Support Medicare for All:
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=13819501

[zitlight73]

Everybody should read Matt Taibbi's piece in this Rolling Stone. It is just the Republicans and Blues Dogs selling us out to the health care and insurance companies. Obama, Pelosi and Reid are in their pockets as deep.

[THORYOU]

obama is taking over the internet just like china and you say he not a statest

[mixnmatch]

To be afraid all the time......­how sad for you.

[zitlight73]

Under expanded and vague emergancy powers there a bill is being forwqarded asking that the president be given the power to control over the internet in a time of an emergancy . It's sad that people can not see that Obama has left in place at least 75% of Bush's policies whether it's expanding an unwinnable war in Afghanistan, to widening the powers with which to spy on American citizens to secret closed door deals with big pharmacuticals and insurance companies. He's reneged on virtually all his promises that got him elected, he's taken a powder on the one debate that wil define his adminintration, stating he supports a public option but not very forciably. He should be out in the forefof this health care debate shaming Pelosi and Reid from selling out the American citizens and taxpayers.

[escribacat]

LOL. Are you serious? Pray tell how Mr. Obama is "taking over the internet."

[seattle music]

With his ring.

It burns! It burns!

[THORYOU]

they will tax every one and every job to get it done and still NO new job in the U.S. NO jobs!!!!!!!!! stop the DEMS now

[escribacat]

Hey THORYOU, Did you know a scary stranger with a foreign accent and unfamiliar habits is going to come to your door in the night and take all your money.

[ckfan]

lol

[Dbos]

Health insurance for all now. The only way to save our Democracy and Capitalism by freeing people to work without fear of loosing their health coverage.

[ckfan]

And why are there no jobs??? Think about that and get back to us.

[oldngrumpy]

They think because the magical 100 days is past that suddenly their leader's absolute record setting f k ups are somehow transferred to Obama. Obama may own some errors in dealing with a once in a century financial collapse, but he will never own responsibility for it. They will try to pin it on him though and some will believe it. The lines are getting clearer by the day between the parties. The Republicans are the party of the ignorant who will cheer as their leaders destroy the way of life they claim to be protecting.

[sheoples]

maybe we should learn a lesson from ted kennedy...­.for several decades he's been trying to negotiate/­compromise with insurance for a bill....

if we can learn anything..­.....NOTHI­NG will get done if we try to compromise with insurance companies.

we have to go unilaterally on this folks

[sheoples]

SINGLEPAYER IS SOMETHING WE CAN NOT WAIT FOR

WE NEED IT NOW

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR POTUS/CONG­RESS/INSUR­ANCE TO COME AROUND TO THE IDEA B/C IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO GROW THE SPINE/BALLS THAT CONGRESS/POTUS DO NOT HAVE

WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO SPEAK UP AND MARCH

EITHER WE LET THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WIN OR WE WIN

[betrayed1]

The insurance companies will win. When you start posting that you will not vote for your congresssman or the President, when you start writing letter san calling and telling them you will not vote to relect themn unless there is a government option (or single payer), then you will have a fighting chance. Speak up and march all you want. As long as you support your incumbent and Obama at the end of the day, your views mean nothing.