Posted on 11/24/2010 10:06:45 AM PST by WebFocus
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) is daring Republicans to make good on one of their top legislative priorities: repealing the healthcare law.
Using a somewhat unusual tactic, Ackerman, a strong advocate for the healthcare reform law, vowed Tuesday to introduce a series of bills next week that would roll back some of the most popular provisions of the law.
The congressman said the legislation — all titled the HIPA-CRIT (Health Insurance Protects America—Can't Repeal IT) — will give Republicans a chance to "put up, or sit down" on their campaign promise to repeal the eight-month-old law.
"This will be the big chance for Republicans to do what they've vowed to do," the 13-term member said. "These bills will be their chance to at long last restore liberty and repeal the evil monster they've dubbed 'Obamacare.' "
Ackerman has begun circulating a letter to fellow lawmakers telling them to "Go ahead, make my day. Become a cosponsor."
"The Affordable Care Act contains these and many other foolish protections for our constituents," the letter states. "So, join other Members of Congress who want to deprive their constituents of these silly safeguards from the big insurance companies. You can cast your courageous vote on a series of SIX bills to do it. Feel free to call it the HIPA-CRIT Act when you explain your vote."
The measures would overturn six consumer protections in the new law that:
• Ban health plans from rescinding coverage;
• Eliminate annual coverage limits;
• Eliminate lifetime limits;
• Prevent plans from turning down adults with pre-existing conditions;
• Prevent plans from turning down children with pre-existing conditions; and
• Require that insurers offer coverage for dependents up to age 26 on family plans.
Ackerman defended the Democrats' legislative record while talking to reporters on Capitol Hill last week.
"Republicans have mischaracterized a lot of the stuff that we've done," he said. "The policy was great [but] we didn't market it. People had no clue."
8 month old law. How many millions still have no insurance?
Scam.
“Ackerman defended the Democrats’ legislative record”
Sheesh! This guy needs a reality check!
Where’s the “dare”? Repubs better vote for all of those. That’s why they were elected.
The coverage for dependents up to the age 26 is beneficial to my family. The rest they can throw out.
See also here :
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/11/24/the-2010-congressional-healthcare-stunt/
The 2010 Congressional Healthcare Stunt
The silly season for politics only lasts 364 days each year, and it’s back in full swing already with two related items of note percolating inside the beltway. Firsts up is a New York Democrat who has cooked up a plan which will attempt to paint Republicans who ran on a platform of repealing Obamacare as hypocrites.
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) is daring Republicans to make good on one of their top legislative priorities: repealing the healthcare law.
Using a somewhat unusual tactic, Ackerman, a strong advocate for the healthcare reform law, vowed Tuesday to introduce a series of bills next week that would roll back some of the most popular provisions of the law.
The congressman said the legislation — all titled the HIPA-CRIT (Health Insurance Protects America—Can’t Repeal IT) — will give Republicans a chance to “put up, or sit down” on their campaign promise to repeal the eight-month-old law.
Of course Ackerman’s plan doesn’t repeal all of Obamacare. It cherry picks the items out of the legislation which have polled most favorably with the public. Examples include protection for those with preexisting conditions, keeping students on their parent’s plans longer and eliminating coverage limits.
Some of the usual suspects are already cheering for this “worthwhile” plan and are acting all smug about what a clever idea it is. And I suppose you might think it was clever… if your name happens to be Wile E. Coyote.
The second “clever” plan on the table is being shopped around by some liberal groups who want all of the Republicans to forgo their congressional health care plans or forever be labeled as hypocrites.
Both of these stunts are childish in their execution and easily shot full of more holes than a Swiss cheese, but they may each provide a terrific opportunity for conservatives to move the ball significantly down field.
First, as to the repeal bills, this would be a perfect opportunity for one of the Republican Young Guns to stand up to Ackerman and say, “Fine. We’ll bring your bills to the floor for a vote. But since you’re in a voting mood, we’re going to roll out a few more for your caucus to vote on.” And they should then lay out their own set of bills targeting the following:
- First and foremost, a bill which will rescind each and every one of the exemptions granted thus far allowing groups to opt out of Obamacare. Further, it would make it illegal for any future exemptions to be granted. (Hey, if your bill is so wonderful it should be fine for all Americans, eh? And oh, by the way… isn’t Congress exempt right now?)
- Second, a bill which will remove the unconstitutional mandate included in the health care overhaul.
- Third, a bill which removes the entire package of taxes and fees buried in the original legislation – including the Snookie Tax on tanning beds – replacing the hikes with cuts in other areas of government to pay for the whole mess.
- Fourth, a fresh, original bill which imposes serious reform on the medical malpractice industry. The projected savings from those costs can be factored in as part of the way to pay for the taxes and fees we’ll be cutting out. (This one should really stick in their craws, and it would be great to see the Democrats have to line up for a reading of the yeas and nays on that one, with every “nay” showing the voters exactly who is in the pocket of the trial lawyers.)
As soon as Ackerman panics and runs away like a pig from the gun upon reading that list, the entire charade will be exposed for the pointless political theater that it is. And if he somehow gets the Democrats to agree, then the worst parts of Obamacare could be surgically extracted from the system in record time.
The second stunt – where Republicans are challenged to turn down their congressional health care plans – may be even more promising. An early poll on this is showing that the public is expressing surprising support for the idea, and not from the areas you might expect. 53% of the public feels that Congress should turn down their health care plans. And rather than it being mostly Democrats trying to make the GOP look foolish, the lion’s share of came from Republicans and independents by a 58/28 margin.
The reality, of course, is that congressmen are employees who are offered an option of a health care plan just as most full time workers get from their employers. This was in place long before Obamacare was even thought of and it’s not unreasonable for them to expect some sort of benefits. But members of congress earn a pretty good salary with generous expense accounts. Would it be such a disaster for some of them to turn their noses up at the package and go seek out a Blue Cross / Blue Shield plan just like millions of regular, working class Americans?
The GOP caucus should agree unanimously to do this and leave the Democrats feeding off the government teat in a time when most Americans are disgusted with Congress in general. Pick up the gauntlet that’s been thrown down in front of you and leave the Democrats with their jaws dropping. I think you’ll see national support for the Republicans climbing a fair number of points overnight
Insurance is a private business. They can provide what services and to whom as they choose. Its not like the medicare (govt run) pays all bills. As a matter of fact, most people have serious out of pocket expenses becuause the govt does not do all necessary tests, but tests they choose to pay for.
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The file for minority members’ bills is round and about 30” tall. Fancy ones have a hinged lid.
I guess “House Dems” are clueless on why they just got their butts handed to them on a golden platter. The Dems can be thankful that the entire Senate was not up for a vote. If so, then I am pretty sure the Republicans would have control of that too.
What is the constitutional process for throwing NY, CA and MA out of the union?
The Democrats had an "idealized" view of what health insurance programs were like ~ but it was almost totally false.
That's why they've only found 8,011 people prepared to ask to sign up for an insurance program offered to folks who've been rejected.
What a tool he is.
Beneficial? That connotes a benefactor. Who would that be?
Why is that a "dirty tactic"?
democrats believe what they believe, they fight like hell to get what they want, they defend their gains, and they never quit.
If that's "dirty", then, let's get dirty.
John Conyers and others openly mocked those who inquired if the Rat politicians even read the damn bill.
They swore to us “what wasn’t in it” even though it WAS and they swore to us “what wouldn’t be in it” even before it was complete.
“sign the bill and I’ll tell you what’s in it”.
Toss out the turkeys.
The tactic to call Republican bluff is so obvious that only a clueless person will miss it.
Ackerman’s plan doesn’t repeal all of Obamacare (in fact he doesn’t want it repealed).
What he does is cherry pick the items out of the legislation which have polled most favorably with the public to DARE Republicans to vote against them ( in order to insinuate that the Republicans are REALLY against them ).
He of course, wants to use this bill as propaganda against the GOP.
Dirty trick. Only liberal fools who want to stereotype Republicans as cruel and mean will fall for this.
"Stuff" like NOT reading the actual bill before voting on it??
They just never get tired of the whole "people are stupid" meme do they.
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