Stephen Crowley/The New York Times
Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Capitol Hill in 1994 in an effort to lobby support for a universal health
care plan for which she was sharply criticized.
Posted on 06/10/2006 12:02:38 PM PDT by Pharmboy
Stephen Crowley/The New York Times
Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Capitol Hill in 1994 in an effort to lobby support for a universal health
care plan for which she was sharply criticized.
WASHINGTON, June 9 — No policy issue has bedeviled Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton more than health care. Ever since the collapse of her proposal for universal coverage in 1994, critics have used the issue as prime evidence in their case that she is, at heart, a big-government liberal with a zeal for social engineering.
But now, as Mrs. Clinton heads into her re-election campaign and a possible bid for the presidency, she is trying to recast the political disaster of 1994 as something else: as a badge of honor, as a symbol of lessons learned and, perhaps most significant, as invaluable preparation for dealing with the problems in the health care system today.
"A lot of people know that I was involved in health care back in '93 and '94, and I still have the scars to show for it," Mrs. Clinton says in a new biographical film that she is showing on the campaign trail. After raising the topic in a recent speech, she added, "But it's worth wading into again — and we're going to have to."
Mrs. Clinton's approach to health care is strikingly different this time around, a measure of her evolution from an impatient agent of change to a cautious senator — and potential presidential contender — keenly attuned to the political center.
In 1994, she and President Bill Clinton insisted that anything short of universal coverage was unacceptable and proposed a vast overhaul of the health care system to provide it: a 1,342-page plan that drew withering fire from an array of interest groups and died in a Democratic Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
And let's not forget that she conducted those sessions behind closed doors, refusing to allow the media in. The entire set of proceedings was unconstitutional. Yet the Left loves to talk about how W is not giving America enough information, is shutting them out, that they have a right to know each and every battle plan in our WOT.
And saddled us with an additional trillions of dollars of debt. The prescription drug program was one of Bush's major mistakes.
"The Social Security and Medicare Trustees released their annual report on the future health of the nation's elderly entitlement programs today, and their findings were chilling. According to a review of the report's findings by John C. Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), the unfunded liability of the recently enacted prescription drug benefit for Medicare surpasses that of Social Security.
Social Security will start paying more in benefits than it collects in taxes in 2017, the same as estimated in last year's report. Yet while the total unfunded liability of the program has increased by about $2.3 trillion, up from $11.1 trillion to $13.4 trillion, the unfunded liability of Medicare Part D is $16.2 trillion. The Medicare HI Trust Fund runs out in 2018, two years earlier than previously estimated.
"Social Security's future has gotten worse and each year we delay reform adds to the cost we are pushing off onto our children," said NCPA President John C. Goodman. "Yet while the administration was right to try to reform Social Security last year, their drug benefit made the situation much worse. It was akin to throwing gas on the fire."
3) Tort reform
3.) Dry up the illegal-alien population.
Bingo.
It's not going to depend on one person. The problems with the USA are deep and vexing. The immigration debate has been an interesting one, and portends the problems in the future. Demographic, financial and somewhat pre-ordained at this point. If we assume that the Democratically engineered 51% permanant majority of grievance-group fascits, quota-queens, government employees, scared seniors and other net-recipients is not going to vote an end to the largese a crisis must come. Probably a worthless dollar / high inflation crisis. And to some extent the now-secret M3 tells us the story is already complete.
A better question might be: "who do you want holding the bucket when the SHTF". Personally I like Hillary in that role better than everyone else, R or D.
I have little invested in the continuation of the USSA and would actually prefer to see the schisms manifest and a more full throated disagreement.
Unlike many people on this forum I have retained the spirit with which we began: RESTORE THE CONSTITUTION. That's not going to happen with out a big, big fight. I believe our chances are best with Dems owning the collapse and Hillary leading the Dems.
I discount the possibility of electing a true conservative, like Goldwater, until events change many peoples understanding of reality. I would prefer not to see the Republican Party tarnished with more RINOs like Bush, McCain, Rudy, and Arlen in charge. (Though it's a little too late to claim we are untarnished.)
I really have to ask this question:
Are the people in New York dumb enough to vote for the slime one? Really, I want to know.....
***And saddled us with an additional trillions of dollars of debt. The prescription drug program was one of Bush's major mistakes.***
So you'd rather have seniors dying because they can't afford prescriptions, and have Hitlery step in to "save" them with universal health care? Now, how many "trillions" of dollars do you think that would cost us?
First of all, the prescription drug program is not means tested so anyone can sign up, including Bill Gates. Second, Medicare is already in big trouble and this will just make it go bust faster. Finally, we are well on our way to universal health care. Medicare covers everyone above 65 and by 2030, there will be 70 million Americans of retirement age--twice as many as today. Medicaid covers around 35 million of the poor and children.
Using your logic about seniors dying, Hillary could say the same thing about the poor and universal health care, i.e., would you rather see the 45 million americans without health insurance die because they can't afford proper health care?
Now, how many "trillions" of dollars do you think that would cost us?
Our entitlement systems are broken. We are headed for a diaster unless they are reformed. For example,
Today: The federal government will have to use 5.3 percent of general revenue to pay the combined benefits for Social Security and all of Medicare. That's in addition to the payroll tax dollars already collected for these programs.
By 2020, Social Security and Medicare's funding shortfalls will equal about 27 percent of all federal income dollars.
By 2041, the year the Social Security Trust Fund no longer contains any obligation bonds, the two programs will require 64.3 percent of all federal income tax dollars. By 2080, the two programs will require more than (91.8 percent) the government is scheduled to collect in federal income taxes. Note: The SSTF really contains IOUs in the form of non-market T-Bills and is considered as a liability and part of the national debt. We will have to borrow money to redeem these bonds.
Hear me now, believe me later. We will rue the day that the prescription drug program was evr passed.
The important thing is that we ELECT REPUBLICANS because, because, because, why again?
and have Hitlery step in to "save" them with universal health care? Now, how many "trillions" of dollars do you think that would cost us?
Oh yeah! That's right HILLARY WILL BE WORSE. Well you know what, I'm not scared anymore. I've been going to gym and I'm ready to let that bully take his best shot. Not going to pay the protection money to the second strongest kid any more. Nope! My message to Hillary: Bring it!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.