Posted on 12/24/2009 9:21:15 AM PST by rhema
The Senate health care bill is dead on arrival in the House of Representatives unless major changes are made, including removal of special “carve outs” for Medicaid funding for certain states and inclusion of language barring taxpayer-funded health plans that cover abortions, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) told CNSNews.com on Tuesday.
Faced with the possibility that House Democratic leaders and the White House will try to force the U.S. House to accept “as is” the health care bill that the Senate is poised to pass on Christmas Eve, the pro-life Democrat said the Senate bill differs too much from the version passed by the House to be accepted.
“If they expect the House to accept the Senate bill, it’s going to go down in flames,” Stupak told CNSNews.com in an interview.
CNSNews.com asked Stupak: “Are you prepared to vote for a bill that looks more like the Senate bill – and Senator Nelson’s language on abortion – than the House bill, with your language?”
“No, absolutely not,” said the Democratic congressman, whose district encompasses all of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and roughly one-quarter of the territory in the remainder of Michigan.
“The Senate bill will not receive support in the House,” Stupak said. “If they tell us we have to take that bill without changes, it will not survive the House. Regardless of the abortion language, there are just too many objectionable items in there that at least I see, and in talking with maybe a half-dozen other members, they sort of see the same thing.”
Stupak, like many in Congress, takes strong exception to the fact that, under the Senate plan, certain states would receive special “carve outs” for increased funding for Medicare/Medicaid.
“That’s not what it’s all about,” he said. “This is about health care, this is providing health care for all Americans – it’s not to see who can strike the best deal for their state. This is the wrong piece of legislation to try to do carve outs, or get an exception for your state and the rest of the country is supposed to pick up the tab. That’s not what health care is all about. That’s not the policy, that’s not the principle behind the bill.
In exchange for their votes for the Senate bill, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) reportedly obtained $100 million in additional Medicaid benefits for Nebraska and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) obtained $300 million in additional aid for Louisiana.
In addition, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) managed to obtain a carve-out for 800,000 Floridians, who will keep their Medicare Advantage plans, while those in other parts of the country are slated to lose their Medicare Advantage plans under the bill’s targeted cuts.
Stupak was incensed at the special deals.
“All the rest of us that live in states that did not receive that exception, why would we [be] inclined to give Nebraska or Florida or Louisiana a special break underneath the bill and expect the rest of us to pay for it?”
Beyond the carve-outs, Stupak pointed out that seniors “take some cuts in the Senate bill that are not found in the House bill [that] members are not going to accept” -- and that the bill would tax people who have “decent” health insurance programs.
“Aren’t you really going to force more people off health insurance?” Stupak said.
He added: “If you just take a look at my three main constituencies – Right to Life, labor unions, and senior citizens – the Senate bill is contrary to all their interests,” Stupak said.
“I’d have no real desire to vote for this bill the way its being outlined in the media," he said. "I know the bill’s not finalized yet, but if that holds true, if they expect the House to accept the Senate bill, it’s going to go down in flames.”
Stupak, who succeeded last month in getting 64 House Democrats to join him in attaching his pro-life amendment to the House version of the health care bill, also firmly rejected language in the Senate bill regarding abortion.
The “Stupak amendment,” as his provision is known, would prohibit the federal government from allocating taxpayer money to pay for any part of any health insurance plan that covers abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger.
But the abortion language in the Senate bill secured by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), which attempts to segregate taxpayer money from paying for health plans that provide abortion, does not contain an outright ban on taxpayer money going to fund abortion.
Stupak, however, added: “Even if they fixed the abortion language, if it’s the Senate language, I have to vote for – I’m not voting for it.”
Let’s see..Lincoln, Landrieu, Leiberman, Nelson....all were going to “stand firm”..now, we’re told it’s Bart....ya think?
Let’s see..Lincoln, Landrieu, Leiberman, Nelson....all were going to “stand firm”..now, we’re told it’s Bart....ya think?
Does anyone really think that the slave mistress with the whip, Pelosi, is going to stop this bill from passing in any form?
It really is embarrasing to see grown people grovel at her feet. It makes them look like cowards.
Where are the Catholic Bishops in addressing this Pro Abortion Issue?
In Altanta, Archbishop Wilton Gregory does not object to the abortion in this Bill!
IMO a sign needs to be placed on the Congressional building saying “Brothel” and next to each Congressman’s door a sign listing a dollar amount (the amount they can be bought for). As far as I’m concerned they are nothing but a bunch of prostitutes who sell themselves to the highest bidder.
No I don’t think. Stupak will get his amendment; they’ll fix it later. They are going to do this to us...we now live in a fascist state.
We have a chance here is we don’t give up. There are probably 40 moderate dems that know they will lose re-election in November if they vote for this thing. We just need to swing 5-10 of them.
But it isn’t just their own hide they would worry about. They know this thing is an Unconstitutional mess. The pressure needs to go on the moderate dems. I don’t think many of them want to kill their careers carrying water for Obama.
The Senate was a different deal since those guys aren’t all up for re-election next fall.
Here is the Stupak “fly in the punchbowl”: “...or when the life of the mother is in danger.” Who is going to decide that? An abortionist. And who is going to argue with it? No one. This bill stinks, and the Senate Democrats are a bunch of liars. And the Democrats - even Stupak - will fold.
So here is what typically happens: we, the people, put up a fuss because we do not like a bill. Congress ignores us, passes the bill, then we shut up, accept the “inevitable,” become obedient sheep, and then vote in the same dimwits. It is our fault that we let Congress get away with this stuff. So what do we do? We continue to apply pressure even after this bill passes - emails, town halls, phone calls, faxes, and visits to local offices between now and the election. Keep this on the front pages, in the blogs, on the radio, on the TV shows. We even run for elected office so we can get decent, honest people in those positions.
We also push for the items specified at http://pushbackuntil.com/Mandates.htm. These are just common sense ideas that will save our beloved country for future generations.
In addition, be in D.C. for a massive protest on the day of the State of the Union Address (anyone know the date???). We need to ruin their “party” - no more status quo, no more business as usual - WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE! Also be there on 4/15. We will have to have major protests in D.C. several times a year. We are not trying to awaken Congress - we are trying to awaken the American people! And it is working. But we have to keep the pressure on for the next five or ten years. Otherwise, nothing will change.
So...BE IN D.C.!
Since neither of these options appear to be in the cards, I conclude that this bill is definitely going to conference. That's a good thing.
Of course there may be some House rule that precludes either of these. If so, I would be interested in hearing what that rule is.
All they care about is getting government money. That are about as useful for decency and the cause of freedom as the Russian Orthodox Church. And I say this as a Roman Catholic.
It is going to be extremely important to keep the heat on over the holiday break. Picket, rallies, letters to the editor, everything we can think of to get their attention.
This might “go down in flames” if people get out and show the force and strength.
I wonder why the Democrats are so indifferent to the fact that many will not be re-elected. What is it that they know that we do not? Is it because they are just out of touch with the public and think that we will forget about this by the midterms? Or is it because they have already fixed the next elections through buying off the people who have the voting machines and allowing illegal aliens to vote. Or is it because they are confident that there will not be any elections?
Yup. It's getting old.
Same old blue dog and pony show.
This is tough talk from a DemocRAT. NEVER trust ANY DemocRAT! NEVER!
You are spot-on...this grasping at straws is no way to live...these mod dims are totally feckless and why rely on people who have a “D” after their names (or a “R”, for that matter...)? It’s secession...
l. No preexisting conditions.
2. All insurance companies can sell in any state.
3. You do NOT have to buy a policy if you don't want to or can't afford it.
BA
Either way, things are going to get very messy, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if some, like the good archbishop you mention, find themselves on the wrong side of war - and history!
CA....
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