(House) Liberals want no more (health-care reform) compromises

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC

From NBC's Luke Russert
House members of the Congressional Tri-Caucus -- comprised of the Asian Pacific American, black and Hispanic caucuses and the Progressive Caucus stated they would not vote for health-care reform legislation that did not include a “robust public option.”

Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), a member of the Progressive Caucus claimed at a news conference today on Capitol Hill that she had a letter with 53 signatures, attesting to that. “We have gathered here today to demand that the final health-care legislation has a robust public option and to vow we will vote against it if it does not," she said.

Echoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s words from earlier in the day, Woolsey took a swipe at health-insurance companies saying, “Insurance companies have had decades to provide the kind of coverage that Americans need. They have shown that they cannot or they will not do it.”

Woolsey then said, “We can compromise no more.”

Barbara Lee (D-CA), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, went after those who have said health-care legislation is too costly in the midst of a recession. “We must continue to reject these claims that the cost of reforming health care in America is something that our nation cannot afford," she said. "We reject that. The money is there to pay for all Americans.”

...

Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, continued the demand for a public option saying, “Business as usual is not going to work. We will support nothing less than real comprehensive health care.”

Michael Honda (D-CA), chairman of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, attacked the recent compromise made by four members of the Blue Dog Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “The compromise will cost more than the original bill, pose a greater burden on working families, gut the public plan eliminating access subsidies for families between 300 percent and 400 per cent of poverty," Honda proclaimed. "The people of my district are relying on us to bring true reform to the health-care system, and this is not it.”

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/30/2015571.aspx

[livetohike]

1. Finally! Guess they were all waiting for the right time to speak out

Also, interesting to see Luke Russert's name on the by-line.

[No Elephants]

14. Seems like only yesterday that Luke was positively gushing about how young people would love McCain

if only they realized how "authentic" McCain is. If there's anything the media needs less than another RW media ass, it's a second generation RW media ass.

[primavera]

2. Bravo!

:applause:

[MarjorieG]

3. Thanks, Mike Honda. Media has cast this as Lib vs Conservative, when ConservaDems more costly.

and bad policy. Obama would like this to conference as soon as possible, but we need clarify on the points and what's at stake.

I've called many Senators today to accept nothing less than non-profit public option in an exchange pool. (Obama used non-profit for 1st time and necessary.) No mandate and money for co-ops which will not work nationally, or curb costs; they can offer in addition to the states to try it if they want. No tying rates to private ins.; if Medicare too low or needs adjusting, do that, then couple them. Not to be regulated by future administration appt. whim.

[GeorgeGist]

18. blah blah blah ...

you don't know dick shit about healthcare.

[MarjorieG]

19. If you're going use dismissove language, okay, and if you're going to say single payer, I

agree, but with such cowardice to public option by Congress, now what?

[redqueen]

4. I'm very thankful the progressives are joining the corporatists in playing hardball. (nt)

[Mojambo]

5. What the fuck is left to give away? n/t

[MarjorieG]

8. A lot, if it mandates, money to ins. companies and no competition, covering less people.

[grahamhgreen]

11. The stealth bill big insurance wants: Mandatory insurance with no concessions on their part.

You may be forced to pay into a plan that actually gives you no real coverage!

[Beartracks]

20. That's what I fear...

... That all this effort will result in a "plan" that mandates coverage - "Look! 97% of Americans are covered!" -- but premiums are still unsustainably high, and the "coverage" is like now: rationed by private insurance bureaucracy. Americans don't need better insurance; Americans need better access to health care. Insurance doesn't make people healthier; health care makes people healthier.

[truedelphi]

23. But what else could our poor beleagured Congress critters do?

After all,this has to be rushed through, despite being 2,100 pages in length.

And the Dems "must' make sure that they are bi-partisan about it, as long as looking for multiple viewpoints does not include doing what is right for the average American.
<sarcasm meant>

However many of us will stand with the Progressive Democratic Caucus:
We regard the agreement reached by Chairman Waxman and several Blue Dog members of the Committee as fundamentally unacceptable. This agreement is not a step forward toward a good health care bill, but a large step backwards. Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates - not negotiated rates - is unacceptable. It would ensure higher costs for the public plan, and would do nothing to achieve the goal of "keeping insurance companies honest," and their rates down.

[subterranean]

12. A few things...

No denials or higher rates because of pre-existing conditions
No dropping of coverage (rescission)
No gender discrimination
Guaranteed issue
Subsidies for the poor
Medicare
Social Security

Don't worry, we still have a few chips left to bargain away!

[No Elephants]

15. Give it another five and a half minutes.

[mzmolly]

6. Damn Democrats! Oh wait.....

“We can compromise no more.” :toast:

[Juche]

7. I don't get the 'it'll cost too much arguments'

Assume health care reform costs 1 trillion over a decade.

1. About 50%+ will be paid for in savings by changes to federal programs like medicare (ending subsidies to insurance companies, etc). So the real cost to taxpayers is about 50 billion a year, or a fraction of what we spend in Iraq which most of the blue dogs vote for and a small % of the federal budget.

2. Health reform will save 2-3 trillion in lower health costs over a decade, so for a 500 billion investment we will save 2-3 trillion in lower health care costs.

I don't get the arguments that we can't afford it. Do these people actually believe that, or are they just using cost as red herrings because they don't want to anger the insurance industry?

[Old Codger]

9. Tell e'm

Give em hell, stick to your guns piss on this gutless compromise BS, we sent a majority there for a reason and I guarantee it wasn't so they would have more lips to kiss repug asses...

[grahamhgreen]

10. Proressive Caucus sign up!

Sign-up for the latest ongoings with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. By submitting the information below we will include you in on all the latest happenings as well as events and other important information!

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?SectionID=3&ParentID=0&SectionTypeID=5&SectionTree=3

[MasonJar]

13. Bravo! They have been speaking up and now they are drawing the line,

which with corporate shills like Baucus in charge is obviously necessary. Obama will now take notice because he probably cannot get his bill without them. They went to the White House and warned him months ago and yet just this week Gibbs was stating that Obama might be willing to sign a bill without a public option. Obama just wants credit for health reform; he obviously does not really care what it is. No wonder he gave Howard Dean the back of his hand. Dean stands tall for what he believes.

[No Elephants]

16. Dean is not the only one who got the back of the hand. We should invent a new game. Find

a real liberal in the Obama administration.

[GeorgeGist]

17. Too late, Obama has already agreed that healthcare must be remain to the mercy ...

of the health insurance industry.

[Kablooie]

21. I sure hope so. Up to now Rush, Beck etc. have been controlling the whole debate.

[Laelth]

22. K&R for the Honorable Members of the Progressive Caucus.

At least some legislators are fighting for the people and not big business interests.

:dem:

-Laelth