Republicans aim for rival health plan in House

[TomCADem]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives plan to offer an alternative to Democrats' massive healthcare reform bill that would not raise taxes or require people or businesses to buy health insurance, the House Republican leader said on Sunday.

House Democrats last week introduced a 1,990-page bill that includes a tax on the wealthy to help fund a government-run public insurance option, which has drawn the most heat amid larger debate on President Barack Obama's efforts to revamp the nation's healthcare system.

John Boehner, the House's top Republican, said his party hoped to introduce one single bill with a "step-by-step approach" that would include allowing the purchase of health insurance across state lines, letting people group together to buy it at lower prices and ending "junk lawsuits."

The bill will include eight or nine healthcare ideas that have already been introduced separately, he said on CNN's "State of the Nation."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091101/ts_nm/us_usa_healthcare_republicans

[ProleNoMore]

1. Probably A Ploy To Insure That No Legislation Passes This Year

eom

[still_one]

2. Does it cover pre-existing conditions? Does it control costs? Nothing specific is stated

[John Q. Citizen]

12. How does the Democratic house bill control costs? I haven't been able to figure that out?

According to the Congressional Budget Office the so called "Public Option " will have no impact on cost.

So what is in the bill that controls costs?

[stray cat]

3. Is this going to be different between their blank piece of paper they paraded last time?

[geckosfeet]

4. This is horse hockey. More insurance company handouts.

[Politicub]

5. The ability to buy things across state lines is worse

Though it sounds like a better choice, I predict that insurers will go the way of credit card issuers and move to states where they can jack up rates unchecked.

Most credit card companies are in either Delaware or South Dakota because they offer the most lax laws and don't cap the amount that can be charged in interest or fees.

So if insurance companies can sell policies across state lines, what's stopping them for all moving to the lowest common denominator state where there is no control?

[FarLeftFist]

6. Republicans already have HR 3400

Which is basically about tort reform and the ability to purchase insurance across state lines. Does not include pre-existing conditions plus many other amendments.

[bluestateguy]

7. Oh that's so cute; the minority party is going to propose a bill

And their poor legislative assistants are going to work for days on a document that virtually nobody will read, and will go straight into the wastebasket.

[msongs]

8. written by Joe Lieberman? nt

[Posteritatis]

9. It'll suck, but I'd rather they suggest something than just stamp their feet and tantrum (nt)

[rasputin1952]

10. Boehner is full of shit...

all he cares about is "frivolous/"junk" lawsuits"....like when the wrong leg of a diabetic is amputated.

[Ikonoklast]

11. Tort reform and tax cuts? Is he crazy? Well, I know that he is, but...

Good God, they really haven't a clue.

[Kablooie]

17. Change the cherry torts to blueberry and (Whoohoo!) CUT TAXES! That'll fix it!

[Fearless]

13. All this is is a publicity stunt...

We should have hammered them harder that they didn't have an option. Now, we have to deal with righting the ship of gullible people who are going to latch on to this... dare I say cling to it.

[w4rma]

14. So, *now*, they are finally thinking about coming up with a bill. (nt)

[Grassy Knoll]

15. Hey Boehner, I read your bill and it stinks.

[ej510]

16. Sadly so does the democrats bill.

[TomCADem]

18. Joe Lieberman Definitely Agrees - He Says No Reform Better Than The Current Bills Being Considered

[and-justice-for-all]

19. Coming from the pukes, it is a bill for and by the insurance industry..

not that the Dem bills were far off.

[depakid]

20. ...ending "junk lawsuits."

and leaving Americans with junk insurance with EVEN LESS recourse than they have now.

[DearAbby]

21. Will it have a pretty matalic blue cover?

It was really pretty.....WELL IT WAS!

It will have two pages:

Page one: DON'T GET SICK

Page Two: If you do Die Quickly and Quietly.