Posted on 06/15/2009 6:14:50 AM PDT by St. Louis Conservative
WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's health secretary on Sunday pushed for a new government-run healthcare program, an idea facing skepticism even in his own party, and a senior Senate Democrat flatly said votes are lacking in Congress for the proposal.
In addition, Vice President Joe Biden opposed proposals being discussed by some lawmakers to tax health insurance benefits provided to people by employers as a way to pay for an overhaul of the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare industry.
Obama, aiming to get healthcare costs under control and ensure that the 46 million Americans who are uninsured can get health coverage, wants a new public program to compete with private insurers.
"The president feels that having a 'public option' side by side -- same playing field, same rules -- will give Americans choice and will help lower costs for everybody. And that's a good thing," Sebelius told CNN.
"The president does not want to dismantle privately owned plans. He doesn't want the 180 million people who have employer coverage to lose that coverage. He wants to strengthen the marketplace," Sebelius added.
Healthcare costs undermine the competitiveness of U.S. companies, drive many families into bankruptcy and eat up a growing portion of state and federal spending.
Versions of healthcare legislation unveiled by senior Democrats in the House and Senate include a new government insurance program. But Republicans are adamantly opposed to the idea, saying it could harm private insurers, and some of Obama's fellow Democrats are against it, too.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Coming from Reuters, this has to be a setup for something.
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"We don't need no stinkin' votes!"
God, please let it be true! Don’t let Obama ruin our country!
remember 800 billion goes a long long way
if he is successful, he will shut down the insurance agency quicker than he shut down the auto industry.
God has nothing to do with it.
It wasn’t God that beat the living daylights out of two attempts at passing amnesty, it was grassroots conservatives. If you want to stop socialized medicine, there is one and only one way to do it... Call, write, email, and organize.
0bama’s Wealth-share program is going down in flames as the public starts seeing it for what it is: Wealth-share, not Health-care.
Prayers and action! Can I stop holding my breath?
Yes, I agree - action is needed as well as preyer. I am definitely doing my part. Thanks.
Sebelius - and anyone who believes her - is an idiot, and here’s why: socialized medicine CAN NEVER be on a “level playing field” with public health insurance plans.
An insurance company must make a profit to continue to offer its services as an insurer; it can operate at a loss for only a short amount of time before it goes bankrupt. The government does not; it can operate at a loss for a very long time... literally, until it runs out of victims who will pay for it at the point of a gun. Observe every government scheme involving taxpayer money, which is obtained by force: Mediciare, Medicaid, Social Security, public education, etc.
Yes, I agree - both are needed.
Yup.
Government competition with business is NOT "strengthening the marketplace", it's STEAMROLLING the marketplace!
If the playing field is going to be “level”, why do they need $600B in new tax revenue to pay for it?
The first mistake is even accepting this premise....any part of it.
Actually they would have to get a total of 2/3 of the votes of both houses and 3/4 of the states since this plan is likely unconstitutional.... but I suppose the “dead” constitution doesn’t apply to the Left anyhmore.... just look at how they added a voting seat in the House for DC
The fight is far from over....
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