Posted on 07/27/2017 12:52:57 PM PDT by gattaca
In a twist that exemplifies just how wild the healthcare debate has been, on Thursday the Senate voted on a single-payer healthcare plan. Introduced by a Republican. Who doesn't support it.
The plan, proposed as an amendment to the House bill by Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, was called the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act.
It was overwhelmingly voted down, with the 57 voting "no" and many Democrats choosing to vote "present." There wasn't a single "yes" vote.
The amendment was the third healthcare plan to face a key vote during the 20-hour Senate debate period. Votes on both a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and a plan to repeal the ACA without a finalized replacement have also been unsuccessful.
The amendment would have set up a virtual universal healthcare system in which all Americans would be covered through Medicare, the federal government's health program that today covers only those who are at least 65 years old.
The intent was to try to expose which senators would vote in favor of a single-payer system.
"I do not support a single-payer system, but I believe Americans deserve to see us debate different ideas, which is why I am bringing forward this amendment," Daines said in a statement emailed to Business Insider ahead of the vote. "It's time for every Senator to go on the record on whether or not they support a single-payer healthcare system."
A representative for Sen. Bernie Sanders — who has been a proponent of "Medicare for All" — called the Republican plan a "sham" and said the Democratic caucus wouldn't be considering amendments until the final bill is out. Democrats also won't be introducing amendments until the debate period is over.
He said in a statement:
"The process Republicans have used to try to take health insurance away from millions is a sham. The Democratic caucus will not consider amendments until we see Republicans' final legislation and know what bill we are amending. Once Republicans show us their final bill, Sen. Sanders looks forward to getting a vote on his amendment that makes clear the Senate believes the United States must join every major country and guarantee healthcare as a right, not a privilege."
During the debate on Thursday, Sanders called the amendment an "old political trick."
"I hope that this is really a breakthrough," Sanders said of the bill.
"I think this is not a time for political games," he added.
What? Not one Demrat could tell us how they really feel. Total cowards.
Republicans won’t vote for it.
They want it to come about without a vote.
That’s what their refusal to address Obamacare will result in.
How about a straight repeal vote to see where the swamp critters stand? Is this so hard?
“How about a straight repeal vote to see where the swamp critters stand? “
Cruz already tried it. It went nowhere.
L
Tyranny obfuscates.
“Single Payer” - what a lying bunch of crap.
It’s COMPLETE GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTHCARE ie. DMV Healthcare AKA government has just removed your freedom of choice about your healthcare and government decides whether you live or die.
That’s not “Single Payer” that’s single Death Panel.
John McCain voted against it.
Cruz and Rand Paul
The process is get them undeniably on the record, then ream them all election season long with it. You don’t even have to get all of them, just one good casualty (see: Eric Cantor going down in no small part because of his role in facilitating illegal immigration, and his follow-up errors of demonstrations of contempt for the electorate) is good enough to effect real change.
This is all Kabuki Theater. Intended to use votes in campaign ads.
Nothing more.
Single payer is liberalese for 50% 0f the people pickup 100% of the costs
It got 43 yes votes.
hope they will Repeal Zero-care, ASAP!
Not even Bernie?
DING! DING! DING!
We have a winner!
Congratulations, please take, uh, anything in this general area right in here. Anything below the stereo and on this side of the bicentennial glasses. Anything between the ashtrays and the thimble. Anything in this three inches right in here in this area. That includes the Chiclets, but not the erasers.
Not even Berneee... old Bernie be lying.
The hilarious part was they didn't know how to handle the situation.
If so the Democrats are going to be in some trouble.
The Bernie Bots will not be pleased with this Profile in
un-Courage.
50% of the people pickup 100% of the costs.
EVERYBODY PAYS when unconstitutional government tyranny runs the show and redistributes wealth until there is none (except in government).
The United States Senate - under GOP control - is a pathetic mess. They have no overall plan to reduce the size and scope of government, protect the border, repeal Obamacare and reintroduce health insurance to the open market, improve military readiness, or anything their voters demand.
Of the 535 members of Congress there are fewer than 30 patriots. Pray for America.
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