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Kerry proposes universal coverage by 2012 [pay for the program by repealing tax cuts.....]
Yahoo ^

Posted on 07/31/2006 6:11:23 AM PDT by Sub-Driver

Kerry proposes universal coverage by 2012

By GLEN JOHNSON, AP Political Writer 10 minutes ago

Sen. John Kerry on Monday will propose requiring all Americans to have health insurance by 2012, "with the federal government guaranteeing they have the means to afford it."

The Massachusetts Democrat, whose name is figuring prominently in 2008 White House speculation, will repeat his 2004 presidential campaign call for expanding the federal Medicaid program to cover children.

In a speech scheduled for midday Monday at Faneuil Hall in Boston, he will advocate creating a program to cover catastrophic cases so an employer providing insurance doesn't have to pass the cost to his other workers, and offering Americans the ability to buy into the same insurance program used by federal workers, such as members of Congress.

Kerry will propose to pay for the program by repealing tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration that benefit those earning over $200,000 annually. He is not expected to immediately elaborate on how he would get his insurance mandate enacted into law.

"One of my biggest regrets is that fear talk trumped the health care talk, and that we are less safe abroad and less healthy at home because of that," Kerry will say according to the prepared text of remarks he planned to deliver.

The senator already had delivered two other speeches at the Revolutionary War meeting house laying the ground work for a second presidential campaign.

Kerry also promoted his health care proposal in a Boston Globe op-ed piece published Monday morning, and during an appearance on Don Imus's nationally syndicated radio program.

In the text of his prepared speech, Kerry concedes that his health care proposal is virtually the same as one he outlined during his failed campaign for the White House in 2004.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; fascism; govwatch; healthcare; insurance; kerry2008; socialists; socializedmedicine
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To: EQAndyBuzz
News flash to Jean Francois: illegal aliens already get health care coverage for free.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)

41 posted on 07/31/2006 6:46:11 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop

FYI- 'Certain' big businesses in Canada have contracts with Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit to provide imaging services (radiology) because of the 6 month appt. backup in Canada. They bring the patients over on tour buses. You are told these are 'priority' pt's. Meanwhile some parents kid who is comatose after a playground swing accident has to wait in the hallway because the elitist's come first. Wonder why I'm habitually being called to the office because I juggle priorities?


42 posted on 07/31/2006 6:48:44 AM PDT by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
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To: goldstategop

If you don't like the price of health care today, wait till you see what it costs when its free.


43 posted on 07/31/2006 6:48:54 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: LIConFem

To each according to his needs.


44 posted on 07/31/2006 6:49:47 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

The important thing is that it won't cost Corporate America anymore.


45 posted on 07/31/2006 6:52:20 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Caution: Quoting Karl Marx from memory may be harmful to your psyche.

But quoting Groucho Marx is perfectly fine!
46 posted on 07/31/2006 6:52:28 AM PDT by LIConFem (It is by will alone I set my mind in motion...)
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To: Sub-Driver
Myyyyy FIRST new ideaaaahhh will be to RAISE taxes....but you'll GET some healthcare for that...

Why is everyone leaving???

Hello?

Where did everyone go?

47 posted on 07/31/2006 6:54:38 AM PDT by NordP (The NEW YORK TIMES - All The News Jihadists Can Use! .....(RL 06/28/06))
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To: Wolfie

Yup. General Motors was a prime supporter of Hillarycare a decade ago. It would have allowed them to walk on all their lifetime guarantees...


48 posted on 07/31/2006 6:54:45 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: Brilliant
The real problem is that if we spent all this money on additional health care for everyone, we'd still get no more health care than we've already got because the supply is limited.

Flat supply curve, eh? As the price goes up supply does not increase? Did you take your first course in Economics at the Flat Earth Society?

49 posted on 07/31/2006 6:58:47 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: Sub-Driver

65% of this nation's health care is already provided by the government through Medicare, VA, Medicaid, etc. This is an undisputed, textbook fact.

Kerry is pandering using the notion that the small remaining "private" percentage is causing all the problems with cost and access.

A big lie, if ever there was one.


50 posted on 07/31/2006 6:59:17 AM PDT by Wiseghy ("You want to break this army? Then break your word to it.")
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To: LIConFem

How about making people who have all their money in Tax Free Muni Bonds pay the freight? Johnny, what do you think? Johnny?


51 posted on 07/31/2006 7:00:15 AM PDT by Holicheese (Stanley Cup's new home IS North Carolina!)
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To: mtbopfuyn
Ketchup for everyone!

Could we allot more ketchup for males? Tomatoes are very good for the prostrate! ;^)

52 posted on 07/31/2006 7:01:05 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Closing in on 3000 posts, of which maybe 50 were worthwhile!)
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To: GreenAccord
Well, since we can expect free health care, I would hope they also propose to provide everyone with a plasma TV and a jet ski.

I want a BMW!

53 posted on 07/31/2006 7:06:49 AM PDT by Rummyfan
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To: You Dirty Rats

You've got it backwards. It's not flat, it's vertical.


54 posted on 07/31/2006 7:16:16 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: You Dirty Rats

Well...take a look at all the money going into higher education. It has not equaled more higher education, just more expensive higher education.


55 posted on 07/31/2006 7:27:17 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: Brilliant

100% inelastic supply -- hilarious.

C'mon -- money has been pouring into health care as well as universities -- that's why every public campus (health or educational) has hugh and series construction cranes and new buildings. Meanwhile, private industrial investment stinks because the returns aren't there thanks to high corporate taxes and other anti-business barriers.

I'm not saying that the college and health investment doesn't have massive waste, but there is some increase in supply coming from that.


56 posted on 07/31/2006 7:27:44 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

OK, so if we take 10,000 kids crammed into a little red schoolhouse and build a 10,000 university campus with a $10 Billion investment we haven't increased the supply because no more kids are in school? Please.

Not all of the increase is in State Universities. ITT Tech institutes and online universities and other nontraditional educational establishments have sprung up to get in on some of the hugh and series money the Feds throw at "higher education". Those places turn a profit compared to investment that would make Exxon-Mobil blush.


57 posted on 07/31/2006 7:33:14 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: You Dirty Rats

It's not completely inelastic, but it's pretty damn close. There is already a severe shortage of physicians & other health care personnel, and it takes years to educate new ones. The average doctor probably works about 60 hours a week as it is. He's not going to work more if you find someone who's willing to pay the bill for people who aren't currently getting "adequate" health care. But he will very likely charge more.


58 posted on 07/31/2006 7:35:06 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: You Dirty Rats

One fact of business life is, if someone offers you more money for the same product, everyone's price goes up. The product doesn't get any better but the margin improves.


59 posted on 07/31/2006 7:36:34 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: Brilliant

Have you seen the explosion in MRI centers? Urgent care centers?

The supply of doctors is restricted by a professional guild. The price doctors can charge is limited by HMOs and the Feds and other bureaucracies. So the money goes into other avenues like labs and MRI centers, which are often owned by docs.

Our entire health care industry is a socialist nightmare, but it's still better than in other countries where the socialism is even more pervasive.


60 posted on 07/31/2006 7:40:07 AM PDT by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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