Posted on 08/09/2009 6:06:55 PM PDT by new cruelty
On Saturday August 8, 2009 my wife, children, and I attended a town hall meeting held by US Congressman John Adler, DEMOCRAT, Representative for New Jersey 3rd District. We arrived shortly after the meeting began, signed in, and found seats in the back of the assembly room, which was roughly the size of a gym. Few seats remained empty and people lined the perimeter walls. Essentially it was standing room only.
Adler was speaking when we walked in and was touting what he saw as problems with the current health system. I heard him offer slight praise for health systems in other countries, at which point a chorus of booing erupted. Adler quickly noted that the United States still has the best health care system in the world and the booing turned to applause.
Several times throughout the meeting Adler made it clear that he was OPPOSED to the health care bill and would vote AGAINST it.
He stated that he was against offering health care to illegal immigrants.
He stated that he thinks the health care bill would bankrupt the United States.
He stated that he was opposed to TARP but was not around to vote against it and that he voted against additional funding earlier this year. He also stated that he thinks business should be allowed to fail.
At the end of his comments, which took about 20 minutes, the audience was asked to line up to ask him questions. Many people lined up to ask questions and Adler took time to give direct and complete answers. Only 1 hour was allotted for the meeting, and as a result, several people did not get to ask a question. One person expressed his displeasure by shouting at Adler and begging him to stay longer. When finally given an opportunity to speak at the microphone, this person noted that he would “gladly give a little more money if it meant health care would be provided to all Americans”, to which someone shouted, “No one is stopping you from giving more!”
Also in line was an elderly woman who said that she whatever is done, should be done in a slow, thoughtful and fiscally sound manner. Then she held up a book of COMMON SENSE and said that everyone in the room should read that book. Many people applauded.
There were just a few outbursts. A single police officer was present. The only time he moved around was to ask the person that was shouting for more time to settle down. One man appeared very distressed and repeatedly snapped out loud for all of those booing to shut up. A few of those who were booing within earshot turned and told him to shut up. Other than that it was an orderly meeting.
Someone in line proclaimed that he had read the entire bill and cited word for word from a section in the bill that would exclude people with special needs. Adler appeared stunned at what was read, stated he was not aware of that section, and then restated that he would vote AGAINST the bill.
Adler had another town hall meeting to attend in Riverside, NJ, but he stayed later than the appointed time and talked face to face to many people as he slowly made his way to the exit.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.pdf
In regards to this Section starting on page 353, here is the cut and paste (hope it works - the numbers at the side are “line numbers” for ease of finding info)
The ending is where the Government will decide on the plan for special needs people (emphasis mine):
13 PART 3—TREATMENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS PLANS
14 SEC. 1176. LIMITATION ON ENROLLMENT OUTSIDE OPEN
15 ENROLLMENT PERIOD OF INDIVIDUALS INTO
16 CHRONIC CARE SPECIALIZED MA PLANS FOR
17 SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS.
18 Section 1859(f)(4) of the Social Security Act (42
19 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(4)) is amended by adding at the end
20 the following new subparagraph:
21 ‘‘(C) The plan does not enroll an individual
22 on or after January 1, 2011, other than during
23 an annual, coordinated open enrollment period
24 or when at the time of the diagnosis of the dis
25 ease or condition that qualifies the individual as
1 an individual described in subsection
2 (b)(6)(B)(iii).’’.
3 SEC. 1177. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL NEEDS
4 PLANS TO RESTRICT ENROLLMENT.
5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1859(f)(1) of the Social
6 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(1)) is amended by
7 striking ‘‘January 1, 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘January 1,
8 2013 (or January 1, 2016, in the case of a plan described
9 in section 1177(b)(1) of the America’s Affordable Health
10 Choices Act of 2009)’’.
11 (b) GRANDFATHERING OF CERTAIN PLANS.—
12 (1) PLANS DESCRIBED.—For purposes of sec
13 tion 1859(f)(1) of the Social Security Act (42
14 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(1)), a plan described in this
15 paragraph is a plan that had a contract with a State
16 that had a State program to operate an integrated
17 Medicaid-Medicare program that had been approved
18 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as
19 of January 1, 2004.
20 (2) ANALYSIS; REPORT.—The Secretary of
21 Health and Human Services shall provide, through
22 a contract with an independent health services eval
23 uation organization, for an analysis of the plans de
24 scribed in paragraph (1) with regard to the impact
25 of such plans on cost, quality of care, patient satis-
1 faction, and other subjects as specified by the Sec
2 retary. Not later than December 31, 2011, the Sec
3 retary shall submit to Congress a report on such
4 analysis and shall include in such report such rec
5 ommendations with regard to the treatment of such
6 plans as the Secretary deems appropriate.
The answer to this dilemma is simple, they should not vote on any bill that they haven't read, or they vote no on it if it comes up for a vote. I don't care how many bills are shoved in front of a congress critter, if they haven't read it then the right thing to do is vote it down.
I was thanks.
Thank you. I have to inform his own staff that his position on the health care bill has changed from not having made a decision as of last Thursday to a no vote as of Saturday.
They seem not to know this.
Him and Colin Peterson from MN.
2 down 37 to go.
That doesn't sound good. His website notes that he is against a single payer system, but it doesn't just plainly state that he will vote against the bill- at least not as plainly as he stated it last Saturday. It will be interesting to see how he would flip on the issue.
Near Stone Harbor?
NJ is going Republican this Nov in the governors race.
He does not want to be linked to this health care issue.
That is very optimistic. I know it's not outside the realm of possibilities, but I don't see NJ democrats voting for a republican. Something will happen between now and election day to change the tide. The dems will drop corzine and run someone else against Christie. The media will dig up or make up dirt or blow out of proportion anything that could be considered dirt on Christie. The media will give positive spin about some miniscule democrat sponsored action. Polls will begin to shift, showing the underdog dem closing the gap on the hapless republican. And people will once again be convinced that they must vote against the evil GOP.
I've been here since 2002 and have met many good and interesting folk. What I find most interesting is how they can consistently convince themselves to vote democrat despite their continuous chorus of complaints regarding high taxes, poorly run government, corruption, etc. Hopefully I will be proven wrong.
Actually I think we have a chance of winning it. That is if we can get the votes to counteract the votes that will be bussed in from PA and NY.
I called his Marlton NJ office (856 985 2777) and spoke to a woman named Hope who handles the Health care thing and she said he was NOT voting for it “in it’s present for”. When i asked her his position on health care for illegals he said he was opposed to it for all “non citizens.
She also said the current HC legislation contains a specific exclusion for health care for illegal aliens. Is this true?
I have not read the bill. At the meeting, Adler did say that he was opposed to health care for illegals but did not specify if the current health bill excluded illegals.
“in it’s present form”.
That is my concern. What would it take for him to vote in favor of the bill? That is a question that was not posed at the meeting.
And thank you for being persistent in calling for clarification!
I explained I knew Mr Adler had won a seat that had been rep since dirt was discovered and if he did not want to be a “one and done” Congressman he would vote AGAINST this bill untill ALL of us knew precisely what was in it and EXACTLY how much it would cost AND how it would be paid for.
Kudos to Adler then!
Sorry Rover, but your blue status won’t save you come 2010!
Hide and watch!
He will vote against it then change his vote later!
I called it first!
Not that is helped, but he voted against it last night.
If they needed his vote, he would have voted against it. We need to get rid of everyone of these Dems including the so called “blue dogs.”
How did he vote last night?
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