Health Care Bill Draws "Unprecedented" Traffic To House Website

The health care bill unveiled Thursday has brought an "unprecedented" amount of traffic to the House server, Jeff Ventura, a spokesman for the chief administrative officer of the House, told the Huffington Post.

"We think that it was eight times normal volume and it was certainly higher than the demand that we had when the first stimulus bill went up," he said. "It was probably the highest volume of traffic we've ever seen."

Ventura said that the congressional Web team re-engineered the site after the stimulus bill crashed it so that it would be prepared for days like Thursday. He conceded that demand for the stimulus bill may have ultimately been larger and that the site crashing diminished the numbers. But with the site still functioning, the Web folks have been blown away at the interest in the health care bill. "For us, it's fascinating to watch the levels of traffic. We're like, wow, this is just stunning," he said.

On a conference call with bloggers, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that she'd been told the bill had been downloaded more than eight million times. Ventura, however, said that the number couldn't be considered an accurate count of people going to the site. Better metrics, he said, will be available Friday.

He predicts the numbers will be the highest ever. "Our network engineers think it's unprecedented," he said.

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Comments

[Jack78]

Let me tell you how it will be,
There’s one for you, nineteen for me,
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don’t take it all.
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah yeah, I’m the Taxman.

(If you drive a car car), I’ll tax the street,
(If you try to sit sit), I’ll tax your seat,
(If you get too cold cold), I’ll tax the heat,
(If you take a walk walk), I’ll tax your feet.
Taxman.

‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
Don’t ask me what I want it for
(Ah Ah! Mister Wilson!)
If you don’t want to pay some more
(Ah Ah! Mister Heath!),
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeeeah, I’m the Taxman.

Now my advice for those who die, (Taxman!)
Declare the pennies on your eyes, (Taxman!)
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
And you’re working for no-one but me,
(Taxman).

[jasdmd0]

If every American got an actual printed copy of all 1990 pages of this bill and lifted it 50 times a day, every day, we'd all be a lot healthier.

[CNYObamaFan]

For those republicans claiming "Fiscal Responsibility:"

"According to CBO and JCT’s assessment, enacting H.R. 3962 would result in a net reduction in federal budget deficits of $104 billion over the 2010–2019 period."

This from the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan group.

http://cboblog.cbo.gov/?p=403

[Citizen-Jane]

Hey you!. Stick to the drama please. Repugs don't believe in facts.

[Littlewords]

They hate the pesky little buggers.

Whether obscure, analytical, or simply proven those nasty facts impede otherwise unchallenged and unbridled misdirection, rhetoric, lies, and deception perpetrated by the Republican spin machine.

[RightsGuy]

SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE REFORM IS THE ONLY ETHICAL AND FINANCIAL SOLUTION:

A recent study shows SINGLE-PAYER WOULD BE MAJOR STIMULUS FOR THE US ECONOMY:

** 2.6 Million New Jobs,
** $317 Billion in Business Revenue,
** $100 Billion in Wages, and
** $44 Billion New Tax Revenues

Here’s the study: http://www.calnurses.org/research/pdfs/ihsp_sp_economic_study_2009.pdf

How to pay for single payer reform: HR676 - public financing and private delivery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxi7DnCH3zk

Congress and the public need to see accurate numbers. The Single Payer plans currently before Congress must be scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Then we'll all know the truth.

[monicaangela]

- + oneanddone I'm a Fan of oneanddone I'm a fan of this user 14 fans permalink
But it must be paid for. Again, are you willing to pay for it?
**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­***

Single P A Y E R.....now tell me, what is it you don't understand about the word P A Y E R? Of course I'm willing to pay for it, as a matter of fact, I would even be willing to pay for someone less fortunate that myself to have it, this is not about me, this is about healthcare, and preventing needless d e a t h s because of money.

[oneanddone]

So folks that are now under a single payer system in Canada or Europe are not dieing because of lack of money?? You are one very naive soul

[monicaangela]

Not because of a lack of healtcare, no....they at least have an opportunity to get treatment, in this country, that opportunity is slim to none if you're not paying the bribery fees of monopolistic health insurance companies.­..44,784 a year or more d e a t h s due to a lack of insurance.­... Get the statistics you seem to be aware of on Canada and Europe in this category and get back to me. Then tell me who's naive ...or still better, tell me why you are such a s i m p l e t o n.

[kdp59]

got a link to prove your drivel?


didn;t think so!!


BANG!!!!!

just like your $24,000 per cash fro clunkers that I punked you on below!!!


you guys are WAY to easy

give me some more

[Grunty1]

More of them die of old age than we do, hence the reason their life span average is longer than ours.

[JAEMPRESS]

This is America NOT CANADA !

I have uncles that live in Paris and London and they enjoy GREAT AFFORDABLE health insurance with no longer delays for care than we experience in the United States.

I have great insurance and was recently told that I had to wait 3 months for a screening mammogram, called around and was able to schedule one through Dana farber Mammography van.

If you don't have a PCP, it's pure hell trying to find one and if you do, it's worse trying to get an appointment. Please poll your neighbors.

Please stop spreading false witness against other countries.

[minerva117]

Why don't you just take your BS to redstate or someplace where you can hang out with other mouthbreathers?

[oneanddone]

Also sorry to inform you, majority of Americans are NOT willing to pay $8 a gallon for gas, and most Americans want nothing to do with a VAT. Even with these massive taxes, health care in Europe and Canada is not very good. But you go for it

[kdp59]

what is this VAT you speak of?

is it somehting like the "fair tax" that YOUR leaders want to give us?


http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer


and you imply the Democrats want to bring in a VAT.


you are one confused person....­...LMAO!!!


$8/ gallon gas..LMAO.­.what a tool......­..Looks like the highest price in the US for gas was under.....­..Gulp....­...Bush "the lesser"


http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx


man...you need to watch sopmething besides FIX news, you'r simply too easy.....L­MAO!!!!

[Cil]

Where in the name of heaven, did you come up with your OUTRIGHT
LIES about HEALTH CARE IN CANADA???????

"Trust me, you want to be in America if you have cancer and most catastrophic diseases. They cant afford to treat you for these things in Europe or Canada. It is
much worse as you age"

Do you realize just how stupid your above comment is? Canadians are treated
daily for cancer and other catastrophic (your words) diseases, and it has
absolutely nothing to do with age.......­..........­.Please get the "facts" before you
spew your drivel!

By the way, do you realize just how many Americans cross the border into
Canada daily, just so that they can buy Canadian distributed drugs, simply
because drugs are less expensive than the very same drugs are in America,
just yesterday on the Canadian news there were Americans lining up for hours
(together with Canadians) these Americans were willing to PAY for the chance
to get the H1N1 vaccinatio­n.........­.....

Please STOP SPREADING OUTRIGHT LIES ABOUT THE CANADIAN HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

How can you look at yourself in the mirror every day?

[Jefferson78]

Value added tax. In England, I paid 50% of my income in basic income tax, plus 6% for health care. Then for every item I purchased, I paid an additional 17% in taxes. And for that I got crappy health care. That is why I moved back to the US, just in time to see our health care system trashed and my taxes massivly increased.

[DrumMajorforJustice]

You and I see the need for healthcare reform as a moral imperative. Unfortunately, there are many people on the right, posing as Christians, who are unable and unwilling to see this distinction.

[RightsGuy]

SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE REFORM IS THE ONLY ETHICAL AND FINANCIAL SOLUTION:

A recent study shows SINGLE-PAYER WOULD BE MAJOR STIMULUS FOR THE US ECONOMY:

** 2.6 Million New Jobs,
** $317 Billion in Business Revenue,
** $100 Billion in Wages, and
** $44 Billion New Tax Revenues

Here’s the study: http://www.calnurses.org/research/pdfs/ihsp_sp_economic_study_2009.pdf

How to pay for single payer reform: HR676 - public financing and private delivery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxi7DnCH3zk

Congress and the public need to see accurate numbers. The Single Payer plans currently before Congress must be scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Then we'll all know the truth.

[mountainweb]

I downloaded the bill, what a pile of crap, surely these dimwits could have done a better job than this....gr­anting drug companies a continued monopoly is hardly what I would call "change". Under this bill the taxpayers will be paying much more for much less....

[whatthehell]

In the name of bipartisanship, & to get anything at all accomplished the dems have compromised the best in the bill for a watered down version. Thanks to the GOP and the blue dogs we have less savings for the taxpayers and less competition for the insurance companies. Got to keep those campaign dollars flowing you know.
Write and call your representatives for a strong public option. And after healthcare let's go after the corruption.

[kisskins]

Sorry, the Republicans had no say in this---the doors were "locked" remember?

[oneanddone]

It seems approx. 300,000 jobs have been created with stimulus spending. At a cost of more than a 1/4 million per job. Cash for Clunkers went well also. $3,500 to the dealership at a cost of $24,000 a car to tax payers. And you folks truly think our government can control Health Care.

I must say, Obama administration is doing wonders. Most definitely the "Change you can believe in" I was looking for.

[monicaangela]

You're very good at describing your resentment of the government, but I haven't seen you once declare why all of this problem with the healthcare companies has come about in the first place...do you actually feel we're better off with the insurance companies.­..now let's see how much would you say a person pays from the time he or she is born until say 62...and then is denied coverage because of some phony pre-existing condition and is not returned on cent of the money he has paid into the company but is just dropped by the company...­case closed...W­hat's so efficient about that? I'll tell you...the difference is private insurers are allowed to rob citizens with impunity.

[oneanddone]

Ask your Democratic Representative about that. They are the ones taking kick backs from the industry. Plus they are in charge of everything.

You have been "HAD"

[monicaangela]

Without Impunity.

[kdp59]

can you provide a link that shows that "cash for clunkers" cost $24,00 per vehicle?


or didn't you actually READ the article or are you just quoting what FIX news and Drudge it up report shows as headlines?

here's the story IF you can actually read that is.......

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/28/autos/clunkers_analysis/index.htm

the link is right form Drudge it up.

as you can see (again assuming you CAN actually read) the article states that Edmonds.com said that if you ONLY count the vehicles that THEY ASSUME wouldn't hvae been bought without the program...­the cost was $24K a car.

NOT that it ACTUALLY COST $24,000 per vehicle!!

ahhh..but whats a FACT when you have drivel to spew, huh?

[monicaangela]

Ah, sanity !! Fanned !!

[Grunty1]

My parent's Republican neighbor sings the praises of Cash for Clunkers. He works in railroads. he said that products moving nearly tripled, and not just cars

[everonward]

In 2007, the Health Insurance industry took in more than $400 billion in revenue from premiums alone- that's for ONE year. This year, who knows, close to half a trillion?

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS187049+15-Jul-2008+PRN20080715

Of that, roughly 25-30% goes to overhead, bonuses, palatial headquarte­rs,lobbyin­g, profit, and private stockholders; and that's after the accounts and lawyers get done massaging the books in every way possible. This for an industry that doesn't actually provide ANY medical care, they're just middle men. This money comes out of the pockets of American citizens and businesses. What's wrong with this picture?
Any politician who believes they're going to get any real cooperation from the Insurance industry on legislation that could threaten that pile of cash is sadly mistaken to put it mildly.

[Veratruth]

Keep CONTRIBUTING folks ... for NOTHING. They will just keep fighting and using our money. It is all a game. I think they know exactly the outcome of the final health care bill.

[nancytheragingliberal]

I'm so disgusted with the charade that is going on in both houses of Congress that I don't even bother to pay attention to the bought and paid for by the corporation$ creeps there. Americans will continue to be scr**ed and premiums will continue to skyrocket. The corporation$ are running the country with their never-ending pots of cash: cash meant to ensure that it is, "Bidness as usual." I send my comments to the WH, each and every day and I am doing my part. I saw Michael Moore on T.V. last night and he said (paraphrasing) that Americans need not get too excited b/c the bill still su**s and is watered down. What did you expect? Progress? In the last five years, the thieves at BC BS have doubled my rates and there is no end in sight. No wonder 50 million Americans can't afford health care. It is national disgrace and we are the laughing stock of the world, as well we should be.

[scooperss]

Send them to the dem leadership also. Need their address? Sign up at their sites for e-mail updates. They'll send you an address to send money so fast your head will spin.

[Cryostatic]

I think that too many politicians are seeing healthcare reform as an easy means of making money. Insurance companies are and will undoubtedly continue to be willing to pay large sums of money via lobbyists to keep meaningful reform from happening.

I predict many in congress will not only keep reform on the floor as long as possible, to maximize profits, but also ensure that they leave the door open to future profits by blocking any sort of meaningful legislation.

Extortion, is what it looks like to me. Reminiscent of paid protection by and from the local mafia.

[bigironal25]

I just e-mailed my 2 a**hole reps Carl Levin & Debbie Stabenaw and told them that if the democrats can't do a LOT BETTER than this , No dems get my vote in the future! This nonsense makes me want to VOMIT!

[oneanddone]

Did you really think you would get anything better?? Those that were looking for single payer, live in a fantasy world

[monicaangela]

Those that deserve Single Payer live in the real world, the bought and paid for politicians we continue to send to Washington make it a fantasy.

[bigironal25]

That's because pukes like you don't have the nerve to demand better! Your type gives up without a fight and eventually join the other side ,kind of like the French, who collaborated with the Nazi's, during WWll!

[wdw505]

on page 19 illegals are covered

(2) attest that the individual is an eligible individual and is a resident of one of the 50 States or
25 the District of Columbia; and

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/pelosi-not-planning-to-al_n_339188.html#postComment

[Saidas]

This is taken out of context.

[wdw505]

unless you have a date and time greater than October 29, 2009 (10:05 a.m.) you are wrong.....­....i copied directly from the bill

[oneanddone]

Looks like poor Joe Wilson was correct. Joe Wilson in 2012

[oneanddone]

Americans would be helped the most, if they could shop for insurance across state lines. And by TORT reform. Do you ever wonder why the Democratic majority strongly oppose these 2 things?? Corruption at its best

[wdw505]

the only way any bill of value will pass is if they do line item by line item on the things most can agree on.

address the following one by one.

Insurance companies may not use preexisting conditions when pricing within a 2 year period of your 18th birthday or 2 years from the start of this law or if you have insurance paid wishing to change companies.

Insurance companies may not drop you if you get sick as long as the premium is paid

No insurance caps

pricing should be done by group but not age, race or gender

A company or individual may purchase from any insurance company in any state from any state.

[oneanddone]

Not bad, not bad at all

[Saidas]

A little like the pot calling the kettle black wouldn't you say?

[oneanddone]

In what way? Republicans have been for TORT reform for decades

[monicaangela]

As long as insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws, it doesn't matter where you buy your insurance, or how much tort reform legislation is passed, we are going to be skrewed.

[gobarackgo]

Here in Minnesota, the most useless and predatory health insurance plans come from companies "across state lines". Explain how more of the same will help.

[sc300nc]

Health Care Reform???? Read the bill, is this what you call reform?

It does nothing to reduce the cost of healthcare, many think it will increase the cost of healthcare to the average Joe. This bureaucratic nonsense of a bill will provide immensely bigger government, more rules, more taxes, less jobs, dramatically more government control over our lives, and a less competitive US economically.

[oneanddone]

Over the last 80 years, different members of Congress have tried to go after insurance companies. On every occasion, they have failed. No surprise this time either. Insurance companies are very savy at spreading their wealth among members of Congress

[sc300nc]

They have wrongly selected the insurance companies as the devil. Take the insurance company completely out of the equation, their profit margin(which is smaller than most think) and the exec salaries that everyone complains about.

Now, what effect will that have on the cost of healthcare?
Little to none. The cost of healthcare is driven by the costs of providing that care. Doctors, hospitals, equipment, materials, tests, diagnosis, treatment, medicine.

The proposed legislation will not make a dent in any of that.

[fredamae]

Sen Wyden's "FREE CHOICE" Amendment Would Significantly IMPROVE Reform!
http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/091709free_choice_amendment.pdf

[wdw505]

so kill it

[oneanddone]

Is this the "Change you can believe in" you were looking for?

[swe123]

You betcha...a­t least it's a really good start

[oneanddone]

You are easily pleased. Most Americans are not. Obama approval down to 47%

[kdp59]

hey don't worry about oneanddone­...you know he's one of those jokers whose got bumper sticker saying:

"I'll keep my bible and gun, you can keep the change".


LMAO....he doesn't know how everyone chickles at him when he drives by and shakes their head.

I like to play with those types here though and provide links so everyone can see they are wrong in almost everything they say (too much FIX news, Drudghe it up and Limberger I suppose).

they can't change their minds, even when given real proof however,as small minded people never can.

they probably don;t even see that the coming improvement in our economy will INCREASE support for our President, those that CAN see it, are very afraid of the coming storm.

but, they are fun to play with...LMA­O!!