Obama comments on Finance Committee (video). Repubs on wrong side of history. Screw AHIP

[ProSense]

Obama Praises Snowe, Senate Finance Cmte. for 'Another Step Forward' on Health Care Reform

Senate panel passes health bill

A Senate committee has approved a bill to reform US healthcare, a key step in President Barack Obama's attempt to overhaul the system.

Senators voted by 14 votes to nine to pass the bill, with one Republican joining Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee in voting in favour.

Senator Olympia Snowe became the first Republican to back the Democrats' reform proposals.

Reforming the US healthcare system is Mr Obama's top domestic priority.

Announcing her decision to break with her party on Tuesday, Senator Snowe said: "When history calls, history calls.

However, Senator Snowe said it did not necessarily mean she would support later versions of a bill.

"There are many, many miles to go in this legislative journey," she said. "My vote today is my vote today. It doesn't forecast what it will be tomorrow."

The committee's vote could give an indication of how the legislation will fare when it reaches the full Senate.

Kerry Kicks Insurance Company Ass: AHIP "Study" Shows Why We Need Public Option

More: Sen. Kerry blasts PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis of health legislation


Losers:

Grassley: 'A Vote Against This Bill Is Not A Vote For Status Quo'

Ben Frumin

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said moments after the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care reform bill by a 14-9 vote that "a vote against the bill is not a vote for status quo."

I'm not going to stand still and let people say that a vote against this bill is a vote for the status quo. There's so many things we can do and we're going to do. And when we go to the floor, we'll be there telling people how we can change the status quo.Next up was Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). He declared that the costs of the Baucus bill "are astronomical."

Next up was Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). He declared that the costs of the Baucus bill "are astronomical."

It's not moderate. It's very costly. It's gonna cost us an arm and a leg. It's gonna disrupt the practice of medicine.

Stocks Fall

The Standard & Poor’s index of 13 health insurance stocks fell as much as 3.5 percent. UnitedHealth Group Inc., the largest insurer by sales, led the decline, with the shares of the Minnetonka, Minnesota, company dropping 5 percent in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Health Net Inc. followed, with the Woodland Hills, California, company losing 4.5 percent.

link

[Parker CA]

1. Thanks for the info, Pro! Falling insurance stocks are positive signs. nt.

[beachmom]

2. I'm not going to shed a tear for the insurance industry's stock tumble.

They had YEARS to clean up their act, and they chose not to. Based on their boneheaded move with their absurd AHIP report, I think the people are finally going to be served.