AP Sources: Senate group omitting Dem health goals

[David Zephyr]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits a requirement for businesses to offer coverage to their workers and lacks a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors, according to numerous officials.

Like bills drafted by Democrats, the proposal under discussion by six members on the Senate Finance Committee would bar insurance companies from denying coverage to any applicant. Nor could insurers charge higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions.

But it jettisons other core Democratic provisions in a reach for bipartisanship on an issue that has so far produced little.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090727/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul

---

Well, we have our work cut out for us, don't we?

The trouble with our Party, since I became active during the Vietnam War, is has always been the conservative wing of our Party betraying us, and now even a Democratic President.

Obama needs to ram it through with 51 votes if necessary. Screw the "blue dogs". And if it is a 50/50 tie, then Biden can break the tie.

Republicans have never backed away from a 51 vote win to get their way.

Get it done.

We all need to start screaming from every corner of this country.

[DesertFlower]

1. without a public option,

there is no health care reform.

[No Elephants]

130. Worse. There is mandatory insurance--loss of freedom--not for the common good, but

for greater profit for insurance companies. If that happens, Democrats can start waving buh bye to their seats right now--and deservedly so.

[Yes We Did]

2. What The F*ck!

Cowards.

[No Elephants]

131. If an eviscerated health care bill passes, you may want to consider

changing your name to "Oh, no, we di'int." j/k Sort of.

:hi"

[stranger81]

3. Without a public option, will there still be a mandate

to purchase private health insurance?

Please tell me the answer is no.

[regnaD kciN]

76. Yes, there will...

...and, if you are employed, there will be no requirement for your employer to provide coverage for you. It's "pay whatever the insurance companies want out of your own pocket, or get hit with tax penalties for the 'privilege' of having no health coverage."

In other words, it's the worst of all possible worlds. :-(

[Iowa]

4. This end result will be some weak piece of crap like this...

...and Obama will sign on to it. We have a Caspar Milquetoast president, a weak congress, and a plutocracy that pulls the strings. We'll end up with whatever the corps want.

Kucinich/Feingold 2012

[alfredo]

5. I called and sent a letter.

[Zorra]

6. They're playing with fire. Democrats are in imminent danger of losing their base

forever if they don't get this done in a big way.

Republicans got every single sick stinking fucking thing they wanted when they had a smaller majority in the House and Senate.

I'm disgusted, disillusioned, and furious, and I'm feeling seriously betrayed.

Time to send the Blue Dogs to the pound.

[KoKo]

68. Agree....they lose their base...

But, it doesn't seem to matter. It's good to know that, though. Reality Sucks...but it's better than believing in false dreams like we have for decades.

[No Elephants]

128. Whatever the Republicans did to Bunning, the Democrats should do to the blue dogs.

[John K]

7. March on Washington for Health Care Reform

If we don't go all out for this to pass, then all the work we did last year was a waste of time. The repubs will take Obama apart with the death of a thousand cuts on everything.

I would march on Washington even if we seem like we are winning. It is that important, we can't be passive.

[bear425]

10. I'll march with you. This has got to happen this time.

Belated welcome to DU

:hi:

[KoKo]

69. There were doctors and nurses who marched on Congress...but the MSM didn't report it...

Did you see it? No...you saw Iranians fighting for American Democracy in the streets at the same time.

Protests don't get covered...IF you are AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. :-(

[clear eye]

81. There is a DC march for single payer planned for this Thurs. (7/30) n/t

[dysfunctional press]

91. how long has that been planned, and why haven't they gotten the word out better?

for those of us arounfd the country that are WILLING and ABLE to make the trek- we still need more than three days notice to get there.

and the marches that are going to be necessary will have to be ENORMOUS.

[clear eye]

118. It went out on the email lists around the end of last month.

Join Healthcare-NOW! if you want to get notices of actions. Many venues who are backing Obamacare do not announce single payer actions. I announced it here on the activist and the single payer systems forums a few weeks ago. The movement doesn't have much money, as a lot of the health care reform money has been funneled to public option promoters like HCAN.

[dysfunctional press]

119. how many people are expected...?

i've given up on email almost entirely- it just got too overwhelming, and filters weren't helping. i haven't opened my email in over three weeks, and it feels great. if i want to contact someone- i use the phone.

[clear eye]

122. Sorry, I have no idea. Ask Healthcare-NOW!

Their phone # is listed in directory assistance, though not on their website.

[bemildred]

8. I hope they don't plan on getting re-elected.

It's a lousy job-market out there in the private sector. All that out-sourcing and downsizing and stuff.

[David Zephyr]

13. Maybe the money was a bigger lure than even their poltical office.

bemildred, I have no idea what motivates some of these jerks anymore. But the big dollars are buying them off one at a time. Sad.

[Selatius]

14. Big money...and job offers...to become another lobbyist on a corporate bankroll.

Big money can be made if you work for the big syndicates. So what if you get voted out of office? You start your new job right away as a lobbyist, a guaranteed paycheck.

[KoKo]

70. In the House they WILL be Re-Elected. With Big Pharma Money...that's what it's all about..n/t

[No Elephants]

134. They didn't do great after "hillarycare" failed, did they?

[New Dawn]

9. Forcing people to buy anything from a private company is fascist economics.

[clear eye]

82. Like utilities

which should also be nationalized. Have you seen how much less the rates are in the few places w/ municipal or county utilities?

[Thickasabrick]

11. We need to get rid of the conservatives in our party nt

[No Elephants]

138. Liberals are a dying breed. Literally, sadly. The Don't Trust Anyone Over Thirty

folk are well into their senior years. (Abbie Hoffman would be over 73 now.) In general, the young uns are more conservative. At least that sums up my observation. Of course, there are exceptions, but that is the trend I see.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. Howard Dean For President

Dr. Dean would make sure that everyone who voted against a good health bill would have horrible nightmares about their re-election chances going to zero.

Obama will have everyone over for beers.

[KoKo]

15. Agree...Obama's Presidency for Dems is at risk if he doesn't STAND UP AND FIGHT!

Damned Repugs with minority obfuscated, pulled tricks, added language to bills in the dead of night during early Bush when he was "appointed by the Supremes" and beyond.

It's now time for Obama to FISH or CUT BAIT! Either he uses his MANDATE or it will be lost in the vast flotsam of Dem failures for 20 years now ...including the Clinton giveaways to the Repugs after he lost the Health Care debate early on.

Repugs will skewer him like Kabob! FRY BABY! as he toasts himself and us!

[David Zephyr]

93. Exactly.

Bush, Cheney and Rove kept the Republicans under their thumbs.

They got what they wanted and understood that 51 votes is a victory.

[No Passaran]

16. Senate Finance Committee Dropping Dem Health Goals

Source: AP

After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits a requirement for businesses to offer coverage to their workers and lacks a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors, according to numerous officials.

Like bills drafted by Democrats, the proposal under discussion by six members on the Senate Finance Committee would bar insurance companies from denying coverage to any applicant. Nor could insurers charge higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/27/senate-group-dropping-dem_n_245839.html

---

Just....wow

[OHdem10]

17. If businesses are not required to provide Health Insurance and there

is no Public Option, then what do we have.

Appeasing the Elites getting those Entitlements out of Government.?????

No Public Option and No mandate for Business. This was the whole
program so far as people are concerned.

[BlooInBloo]

18. FUCK BAUCUS!!!!

[Third Doctor]

19. I'm fed up

The fight is not over but I have to tell you this is not what I voted for. What the hell is the point in having a majority when you have a quarter of a party that stated in their platform that they would provide healthcare for all citizens and then refuse to keep their word? By using bipartisan suppor as a crutch knowing that the Repubs will not support anything that it preposed. This is not what the majority of the american people want, only the private insurance companies.

[George II]

20. I saw that report, but I seriously doubt anyone knows what the final legislation actually contains.

[The_Casual_Observer]

21. Once again it's proven that there is no Santa Claus.

Did any body really believe that the "health care" industry was going to go away or change?

They'll set up some token shit plan that will be so impossible that nobody will use it, but they'll say they did something.

[No Passaran]

25. that lobby is too strong I"m afraid

[regnaD kciN]

77. Actually, the plan is worse than that...

...because it will still require people to pay for private insurance out of their own pocket, or be penalized for having no health insurance.

[No Elephants]

133. Don't blame it on the medical insurers or the hospitals. This is the

House and the Senate wiping any benefit to the citizens out of these bills.

[mbperrin]

22. Quel choc!

Just kiddin'. You didn't really think the Corporate Masters would allow real health care for everyone, didja?

[indimuse]

23. ugh..

:banghead:

[bluestateguy]

24. "according to numerous officials"

This is a news leak.

I don't take news leaks seriously.

[MarjorieG]

26. Even if true, all other committees are Dems goals? Baucus/GOP were never for public option, so

just delayed on purpose to prevent political wind. Do Dems have to vote it out of committee with a yes, to then change mind and work with getting final Bill?

Really disgusted with the theater on this. Probably co-ops, which Wyden likes for sincere reasons, I think. The PR on this is public option and other measures save money, so why better, and what did they do to get savings?

[emsimon33]

27. No surprise here! Baucus accepted millions in what amounts to bribes

[MasonJar]

28. No public option is not reform and Baucus and any dems promoting this

need to go down asap.

[asjr]

29. And never to rise again! Our hopes are

boosted and then we fall.

[No Elephants]

141. Sure, That's going to happen. Tomorrow, probably.

[LiberalLovinLug]

30. WTF?

"Senate Finance Committee Dropping Dem Health Goals"

um....isn't that body made up of mostly Democrats?
So the Dems are dropping the Dems own health goals.
No wonder the Repukes have time to concentrate on teabagging protests, birthers, and Latino mistresses. The Dems are doing their job in the Senate for them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Senate finance committee drops pubic option

Source: AP Radio

Just heard on radio. Damn

No link yet.

[UndertheOcean]

32. "public" , don't want jokers to start making fun of a serious matter

[KoKo]

71. What we will end up with for "Public" is "HMO Pools" and we know what that is...

those who were forced into HMO's in the past decade and beyond.

[MichiganVote]

33. Big surprise. Now if only we pions will anty up more for the poor, poor executives.

[DesertFlower]

34. oh no.

without it there is no health care reform.

Jesus H. Christ.

[Hello_Kitty]

41. Oh yes there is. Mandatory private insurance.

Expensive as fuck and will get more expensive while they rake in the profits.

[DesertFlower]

44. i feel like crying. nt

[KoKo]

72. Well...apparently they will give you some "kick back" on your taxes for it..

That's a good deal isn't it? :sarcasm:

[regnaD kciN]

78. And, if you don't buy it...

...you'll get hit with hefty tax penalties for being a "deadbeat" unwilling to have health insurance -- and, of course, no care.

And, since they're dropping the employer mandate, there will be all the reason in the world for employers to cut costs by not offering health care, and making their employees pay out of their own pocket.

It's amazing...they've come up with a plan that's worse than the current system.

[dana_b]

84. it's their golden moment!

however the good news is that I can't see Obama signing this POS.

[No Elephants]

135. If the only thing that comes to his desk is this POS, I think he will sign it.

[dana_b]

137. really?!

God I hope you're wrong.

[No Elephants]

139. Yes, that is really what I think. He has staked so much on "health care"

reform, he will look totally ineffectual if he cannot get anything passed. Low information voters will be more aware that nothing passed than they will be about the ins and outs of what did get passed. So, the lower amount of political damage will be done by passing SOMEthing rather than nothing.

I hope I'm wrong, too! :beer:

Another option is to start saying--very soon--that he would prefer no bill to a bad bill. Then, he can veto a POS without looking totally ineffectual, maybe.

JMO, obviously.

[WatchWhatISay]

35. Message I just sent to the White House

"Make no mistake about it, if Barack Obama does not INSIST ON a true public option (NOT A "CO-OP") the whole bill will be an irrelevant Failure, no worse, another betrayal of the American people, and for me, it will be the straw that breaks the camels back - meaning I will no longer support the President and will support someone who is a true champion of ordinary working people in 2012."

[dixiegrrrrl]

38. They know there will not be a "true champion of the working people" available in 2012.

And the fat cats up on the Hill with their lifetime leases on Congressional seats are not worried about being voted out anymore. The crooked ballot box will work if the bought votes don't.
Democracy has been in your face busted.

[Iowa]

59. Obama will sell-out on health-care just like he has sold out on everything else...

And we knew he would sell out before we elected him - he already had a record of it.

Worthless president. Worthless congress.

The once-great Democratic party has been dead for some time now. A true party of the people is our only hope.

[CTLawGuy]

61. go cry about it on Green underground

Obama doesn't control the US Senate and the House is a different story. There's still time left.

[Fumesucker]

36. Surprise, surprise, surprise..

/Gomer Pyle

[Skink]

37. Time for another press conference.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. Yes

[Jazzgirl]

40. Here is a link to the story. I read it before coming back to DU.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/27/senate-group-dropping-dem_n_245839.html

[Sensible321]

42. Here Is the AP Story Link

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_OVERHAUL?SITE=OKPON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Hello_Kitty]

43. It's dropping the requirement that employers provide coverage too!

Fuckers. :grr:

So we little people get forced into expensive bullshit catastrophic policies.

[Sensible321]

45. The Lack of the Employer Bit Could Be A Good Thing if that Cord could be Cut Entirely

Why is health coverage tied to employment? Because Unions used it as a recruiting tool (and opposed national health for decades for that reason). I am pro-union, BTW, though they are far from perfect, historically, in this arena.

Why burden businesses with healthcare and discriminate against the unemployed or self-employed? The Catastrophic policies do suck, I agree. But the solution is national healthcare not tied to employment. I am remembering the part of Moore's film where the family leaving with the new baby from the hospital is puzzled by the question "How much do you have to pay now?" and finally replies, "This isn't the United States."

[Hello_Kitty]

48. I agree with you that insurance shouldn't be tied to employment.

Or marriage, or relationship, or family for that matter. A single payer plan would alleviate that. But without single payer what we are looking at is an individual mandate that will, as you say, screw the self-employed and those without benefits.

[KoKo]

73. Without "Portable/affordable" insurance...what do we have?

:shrug: We are all working at the will of our Corporate Masters and the small businesses just can do it in the way you can get better options with Corporate Insurance.

[kenfrequed]

52. Uhm no

Actually most of the major unions were pro-healthcare and pro-universal. I have been a union activist for almost two decades now and you are pushing complete hogwash.


On the second and more important point that we need national healthcare I agree.

[Sadie5]

54. You have no idea what you are talking about

You need to educate yourself about unions.

[Sensible321]

65. Gompers (AFL) Spoke Like Bill Frist On Healthcare ...

... "a menace to the rights, welfare, and liberty of American workers"; the AMA concurred with this view (after initially supporting the idea). Only union members were to get health insurance (and the rich who could afford healthcare). This was during a historical period when the connection between unions, employment, and healthcare started. To undermine worker's incentive to unionize a shop, employers began offering healthcare insurance as well (it was cheap then). This set the precedent which brought us to this point.

I did not intend for my statements to be interpreted as 'bashing unions' in the modern sense.

[Davis_X_Machina]

56. No.

Health care became tied to employment when it was provided instead of wage increases to workers during WWII -- there was little in the way of consumer goods and services to spend the money on, everything was rationed, and by contemporary standards margina rates of income tax were very high.

Health benefits were a form of untaxable, non-cash compensation that were invisible to government agencies looking for profiteering, and deductible as a business.

The peculiar labor economics of 1941-1946 created our health care delivery system.

The nexus between union contracts and employer-provided health care came later, in the mid-fifties, and consistent union opposition to universal health care came later still, in the sixties.

[Sensible321]

67. Thanks for the next chapter

really - I didn't know the WWII part.

[Hawkeye-X]

46. More reason to out Baucus from Finance Committee and put him to the same subcommittee

that Joe Lieberman sits on. Get him AWAY from there as long as he's dirty with insurance money.

Hawkeye-X

[No Elephants]

142. I rather suspect Baucus is far from the only one in government who is dirty with insurance

money.

[RandomThoughts]

47. They make there own choices.

If the news is true. I question much of the news articles.

Sounds more like a test balloon more then anything else.

Also repeated articles like that can foster despair and lead to people giving up, so repeated attempts to give hope then crash it can be done to make people numb and hopeless.

I figure its best to hear the full story, then the day to day news, and hold them to account over time for their actions. Society have a huge justice advantage right now, so I think it will work out.

[No Elephants]

49. EMAIL YOUR SENATORS AND WHITEHOUSE.GOV!

[bemildred]

50. I hope they don't plan on getting re-elected. nt

[RandomThoughts]

55. Insurance companies and media are probably

blackmailing them with scandals of complicity over the years and with so many laws, there are some laws that can be selectively enforced on them by the media to at minimum get them out of office, and probably jail time.

Many have been dirty for awhile and they have a mutual contract of corruption with big corporations.

The funny part is anyone can do the same thing to any people, guilty or innocent, because there are so many laws not enforced. The frame work for justice is not really based on justice.

The perspective is easiest to think of as 'why do taverns have parking lots?" 80% of people driving from bars are probably over .08%. But with the laws discretionary targeting can give almost anyone at the tavern a ticket.

And most of them have been belling up to the big corporate bars for years.


What ever form of justice they end up facing, it is still based on their actions, either past or present or future. I think most of the fear for them comes from the companies they are in bed with big money. Their fear of big money is more about how they are trying, in their perspective, to avoid the worst of the fears they have. They fear society less, since they think they can just roll into private sector even if replaced in office.

Big corporations wants to win this and will deal with elections later, probably trying to fund primary challenges with similar dirty people. So each primary challenge has to be more then just vetted, he must have integrity if replacements are required.

Must be terrible to live in fear.

:shrug:

Its actually kind of funny when you think about it.

[madamesilverspurs]

51. Any Democrat talking about going up for

Baucus' seat next election? Time to start fundraising.

Baucus is so quick to consign us to hell, he can go there first and tell us how wonderful it is. He couldn't be any more obvious if he strutted around with insurance lobby money glued all over him. What a pig.

[karynnj]

83. He just ran in 2008, so he is not up until 2014

No one announces a challenge 5 years in advance.

[madamesilverspurs]

88. Erk, thanks.

Yeah, I kneejerked the comment.

[karynnj]

89. Don't blame you in the least - I only know because I looked to see if he was up in 2010

and found he just ran.

[No Elephants]

145. Maybw we could set up a much-publicized fund to help candidates

who will primary Baucus and others who stand in the way of the public option. Send a message louder than any email or phone call.

[New Dawn]

53. They just want to force us to buy private health insurance (i.e. fascist economics).

[Libertas1776]

57. Just fucking perfect

Fuck the whole damn thing now, if this is true. Throw the whole bill out. End the damn thing. All we are going to get stuck with is a trillion dollar porker that serves the insurance industries just right and fucks the rest of us over. Once again, the Dems fucking fail again, as usual. That tends to happen to people without spines. Like it or not, the republicans, though they may be heartless money grubbing succubi, they still have spines. Thats why they always keep coming back. They fucking do what they want, and damn with the consequences. They're like roaches, they'll survive anything.

Come 2010, more rethugs will return under the banner of a failed Democratic agenda. In 2012, I fear Obama will bite the big one. Nothing has changed under this presidency. We were all fooled. The banks got their bailouts, the war machine has been fed prodigiously, and the insurance industries got a new lease on life. And all this under a Democratic Congress and White House. Then, once they're gone, the Repubs will ride right back in on their broomsticks and it will business as fucking usual, ya know maybe a war here and there, a new shitload of oligarchs, and probably Great Depression 2.


They (blue dogs) came in sheep's clothing, but there were wolves hidden beneath. Nothing but a bunch of fucking moderate Repubs with a big scarlet D placed at the end of their name.

[lumberjack_jeff]

58. As much as I value the "pubic option". Don't panic.

This is just one bill from a collection of several which must be reconciled.

The public wants the public option, the president has promised to veto any bill which lacks a public option, the House will pass a bill with a public option.

It is not the final Senate bill and it is absolutely not the bill which will be sent to the President.

[Iowa]

60. I wouldn't be so sure...

"...the president has promised to veto any bill which lacks a public option"

He has promised a lot of things. If we know anything for sure, it's that his word cannot be relied on. Just wait. He'll either cave or sign on to some piece of crap that has a neutered public option. We'll know soon enough. My money is on Obama selling out. I hope I'm wrong.

[Faryn Balyncd]

62. We need to make sure this bill is DEFEATED in the Senate!!!

We can't afford to depend on it being improved in joint conference committee (where things usually get compromised in gfavor of corporate interests) or depend on a presidential veto to save the public option.



Too many people think that the success of the administration depends on whether ANY HEALTH BILL, no matter how bad, passes.


We cannot allow a pro-corporatist capitulation to pass in the name of "reform".

[lumberjack_jeff]

64. The finance committee bill isn't worth supporting.

I'm simply saying that given where we are, despair is not a useful frame of mind.

All the political momentum is against this bill.

[KoKo]

74. But, what is your understanding of the "Public Option" that will be offered?

What do you want to see in that bill. Just because it says "Public Option" ....the truth is the Devil is in the Details of what that really means. From what I've read it will be some kind of HMO Group or Pool with the sickest getting care on the backs of those who are still sick enough to be included but not quite as bad as those in dire need. The rest will get bigger and better options they won't need to use because they are young or healthier.

[lumberjack_jeff]

90. The broad outlines are given in HR3200

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/hr3200_summary.pdf

[No Elephants]

132. "Devil is in the details" is correct.

[DuaneBidoux]

63. Here at DU we have our ideals, there on Washington Dems have their corporate payments.

Let's face it, Republicans are bought off at the 110% level and Dems at the 90% level.

It hurts to realize that your own party is as cancerous as that of the opposition. For me I have a literal heartache over it.

[No Elephants]

143. Don't let it lead to a heart attack unless you have good medical insurance.

[meow2u3]

66. Are they trying to get the crabs out of the Senate?

Is that why they dropped the pubic option?

[Sensible321]

75. And In the Same AP Article ...

"In yet another boost for the drive to enact legislation, PhRMA, which represents drug companies, has purchased more than $500,000 worth of television ads to air during the week in nine states."

Here comes the next "Thelma and Louise" mind-wash, though the price-tag seems a bit low for these guys.

[clear eye]

85. They're supporting it b/c it doesn't allow Fed bargaining on drug prices.

Dems can't even overturn Bush's massive giveaway that keeps us buying from Canada.

[Sensible321]

87. Ahhh ... So Much For 'Free Trade'

That explains it. How sad.

[ramapo]

79. Take a deep breath and think

I am disgusted with Congress in general and Democrats specifically. You couldn't find a more spineless bunch of ass-kissers if you worked at it.

However, dropping the public option, no matter how it pains me, may not be so horrible.

Most importantly, the number one reform is intact, and that is the ban on preexisting conditions and the ban on charging an individual a higher premium based upon their medical history. This will be a huge change and it will allow millions of Americans (including my son) to obtain insurance. Gone will be the worry that if you move to a different state, or lose your group coverage, that you will become uninsurable. Everybody will be able to obtain insurance, albeit through the private sector. If the cowards do nothing else, this change is more than substantial. It does away with denial of treatment.

Now to me the worst thing about dropping the public option is that once again the Democrats cave in to the Republicans, special-interests and lobbyists. But I have to admit that the bill that included the public option is a mind-numbing creation of complexity. It seems to be a horror show waiting to open

The right answer of course is single-payer. And we all knew all along that there was no way it was going to fly. Just take a look at the House Bill 676 for single-payer. It is short and simple. Why? Because single-payer is so simple. Too simple, too much, too fast.

I am interested to see what else winds up in the bill. I am going to try and keep rational and somewhat open-minded. I'd rather be 75% happy than 100% miserable and pissed-off.

[KoKo]

86. I understand what you say...some of it is better than NOTHING...BUT...this isn't what

we thought it would be. And why are we supposed to accept 75% and not see that something is very wrong. If they asked us for even 50% many would feel it was a true compromise. But, even 50% would be something where we Dems and Repugs were in deadlock. Repugs vote as a Block. We Dems are told the Blue Dogs won't vote with us. So, why the hell do we have Blue Dogs and the Repugs have Block Vote?

There's something very wrong here. With a Repug President and a Dem Congress when Bush was installed the Dems still blamed everything on Repugs and Blue Dogs.

How can this be that the Repug Leadership and Party can get their folks in lock step with promising favors and Chairmanships/Sub-Chairmanships on Committees to get them in line and we Dems can't seem to find any way to bribe our Blue Dogs? :shrug: We Dems have NOTHING to bargain with to get the Blue Dogs voting? Don't we give them what they want? What else is there we could give them that the Repugs can't?

[dysfunctional press]

92. do you have healthcare coverage? perhaps you can afford to wait.

other people can't, and they WILL die.

[Javaman]

80. They are trying to play us.

this fix has been in for a while.

We need to write, email, fax and call these fuckers, now!

[NoSheep]

94. perfect.

[BradXXX]

95. I guess I shouldn't be surprised...

but FUCK.

I can't see anyway I could ever support the democratic party again if they really give up this easy on this.

We need a real 3rd party in this country that can compete.

This is just getting more and more ridiculous year after year. How long will it be before Americans wake the fuck up?

[Frank Booth]

96. Sold out once again. Fuck the traitor Dems, and their spineless enablers.

Who knew Barack Obama would be the Harry Reid of the White House?

[InfiniteThoughts]

97. Senate Finance Committee Dropping Dem Health Goals (Public Option): AP

Source: The Huffington Post

After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits two key Democratic priorities but incorporates provisions to slow the explosive rise in medical costs, officials said.

These officials said participants were on track to exclude a requirement many congressional Democrats seek for large businesses to offer coverage to their workers. Nor would there be a provision for a government insurance option, despite President Barack Obama's support for such a plan.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/27/senate-group-dropping-dem_n_245839.html

---

This doesn't look good. What are these guys thinking?

[Faygo Kid]

98. Ohmigod. They are looking to cut Medicare, too.

No public option and cut Medicare benefits to beneficiaries who have already been slashed? To protect insurance and big Pharma?

Deal breaker. Damn Baucus. This time, the left has to kill it.

I guarantee you this, as well: Age rating at a killer for anyone over 40, and no protection against pre-existing conditions. Should have moved to Canada years ago.

[Skink]

99. I thought we got a new president?

[Tarheel_Dem]

112. We do. And just so you don't appear ignorant, this is a Senate Finance Committee bill....

that hasn't even made it to the floor yet, let alone the president's desk. I know your comment was meant as snark, but it kinda flopped because you obviously don't know how a bill becomes law.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

[Hulk]

116. Amen!

I'm not giving up hope that when it comes to the people, it WILL include a public option BETTER than our neighbors to the north, and as good as anywhere in the world.

Those die hard repukes can go on with their private insurance coverage. Go for it....idiots!

[Kittycat]

100. Also dropping FSA to $2K & increasing fees on Medical Equipment

Which looks like they're targeting the very group that is struggling the most. Those with serious medical needs. My son's medical equipment and supply bill is already over $1500/mo - so let's impose more fees?!?! The $4K in FSA we set aside each year, doesn't even begin to touch our out of pocket expenses, co pays, deductibles and insurance rejections - so let's make it only $2K?!?!?

WHAT THE FUCK!

[tomm2thumbs]

101. perhaps they are keeping the drama in the mix or else it won't look like a hard-won fight?

someone needs to ask the President at a Press Conference:

• Will the President veto the bill if there is no public option? •

I'd like to know that much.

[InfiniteThoughts]

107. i thought he answered that ...he has indicated that he will veto without using the words ...

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWEN089120090623

[No Elephants]

144. I don't see anything in the language in the article you linked that

would prevent him from declaring victory, no matter what passes.

This is the man who campaiged on ending DADT and repealing DOMA, no irs ands or buts. However, after election, he claimed to be powerless to do anyhing about either one, unless and until Congress acted. This is also the man who promised transparency. Turned ou that mean he would tell us whatever he wanted to tell us and fight tooth and nail in court to keep secret the same things Bush fought in court to keep secret.

And you think this man will have a problem signing a bill he has not actually promised in so many words to veto?

Edited for spelling.

[bkkyosemite]

102. We need to call them and vote them out as they are not supporting the people and single payer.

[Aragorn]

110. do both

let them know NOW why they are gonna get voted out, and remind all candidates of this in 2010. If you are FOR single-payor you need to work against any and all who oppose it. I for one cannot think of any other issue over which I could overlook failure to support this issue.

None of this "Well she/he was against single-payor but he/she is pro-life/anti-gay/pro-NRA/etc" ignorance. Too many intelligent voters to let this go on another election cycle.

[dflprincess]

103. My God, the House bill is bad enough but I think this actually moves us backwards

Are they going to insist this pass as a "tribute to Ted Kennedy" and his life's work? I hope he has enough energy to slam this travesty.

[AllentownJake]

104. Fuck these assholes

Vote them all out. Every last fucking one of them.

[Doctor_J]

105. Senate Dems have decided to throw the president under the bus

We need to make sure that every last one of them is voted out next year, or impeached/recalled if they're not up for re-election.

If that doesn't work, we need to prepare to burn the country down.

[No Elephants]

146. Are you venting, or do you think anything in your post has a realistic

chance of ever happening? I can support venting and I can support strategizing. I can't enable fairy tale posts in the LBN forum, though.

[IsItJustMe]

106. I think no legislation would be better than this POS.

[Doctor_J]

108. Unless you're one of the 49M without health care, or

one of the millions who will have to go bankrupt in the upcoming year because of health care costs

[AllentownJake]

115. How does this POS legislation do anything for them?

No public option and cuts to Medicare?

[ramapo]

120. Please think

This legislation at bare minimum will ELIMINATE the ability of insurance companies to DENY INSURANCE to those with pre-existing conditions OR charge more based upon medical history.

This by itself means that millions of individuals who CANNOT NOW get insurance will be able to buy a policy just like any "healthy" person.

My son is among these millions. He had the audacity to have a brain tumor when he was sixteen. Now 22, he has been denied insurance and told he will NEVER get individual insurance.

Yes I'm pissed at the gutless Democrats but I'll take what we can get.

[neverforget]

113. But, but, but it's BIPARTISAN! That makes it good, right?

:grr::argh: With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans?

[No Elephants]

147. That's why I wrote white house.gov a couple of days ago and asked for a veto.

[Doctor_J]

109. well, Montanans can always vote Baucus out in 2014

but not likely

[neverforget]

111. Bipartisanship means never letting the Democrats get what they want.

[Ed76638]

114. FUCK YOU BAUCUS

[farmboxer]

117. They want to support their insurance companies

They just told us all to go to Hell! They are kissing up to their masters the insurance companies. I will not vote for any of those bastards! Dr. Dean told it like it is tonight.

[SOS]

136. Insurance stocks rise as public option fades

Senate may drop public healthcare option
"Shares of U.S. health insurers rose broadly on Tuesday"
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE56M0HE20090728

All sold out.

[4dsc]

121. We need single payer not public option..

[clear eye]

123. Please, if you can get off work Thurs., join the action in DC.

More info from your state's organizer who is listed on healthcare-now.org

[maryf]

124. I just got a robot call from my union to support HR 3200 F*ck that!!

HR 676 is it!! call your reps about that!!

[BlueIdaho]

125. Let Max know how you feel...

http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

[ProudDad]

126. Max Baucus (D-Insurance mafia and Big Pharma)

Corporate tool...

He's the number one democrat recipient of "health" insurance and drug money!

So what else is new?


HR676 - Universal Health Care for All...

Read it -- it's only 33 pages long!

[Zynx]

127. I hope the Obama bashers on this board now realize who the real opponents are.

I hope they also realize why what they wanted was never going to happen.

[No Elephants]

How about posting about the issue instead of posting about other posters?

[No Elephants]

129. Dupe.

[Big_Mike]

140. It worked for Bubba early on

I remember many 51 vote issues with VP Gore casting the deciding vote.

Get 'er done!