Posted on 09/02/2009 9:50:07 PM PDT by socialismisinsidious
Democrats Try Tougher Tone on Health Plan
The Wall Street Journal ^ | 09-02-09 | JONATHAN WEISMAN and JANET ADAMY
Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 11:43:52 PM by GOP_Lady
WASHINGTON -- A top White House adviser said Tuesday he doubts two Senate Republicans at the center of health-care talks are negotiating seriously, as Democrats adopted a new, more confrontational tone accusing key Republicans of blocking change.
* * * * *
Democrats hope to persuade the public that Republicans are to blame for the stalemate and shift opinion in favor of an overhaul. They want to build enough momentum to win support from a small number of moderate Republicans, in particular the two senators from Maine.
In health care debate, direct anger at those who would leave broken system unchanged ("Angry Mobs")
The Kansas City Star ^ | September 1, 2009 | Mike Hendricks
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 12:17:52 AM by 2ndDivisionVet
What is it, something like two-thirds of us are supposedly happy with our health coverage?
A few years ago, you could have counted Mary Casey in that number. But then she contracted a rare form of cancer.
Her insurance company wouldn’t pay for the drug that her doctor said might save her life. Corporate bureaucrats were the ones rationing health care then — and still are.
And when Casey appealed the decision, she learned of the existence of death panels long before Sarah Palin started mouthing off about the mythical ones in the House proposal.
The company’s denial of her appeal left Casey and her family to count the months she had left or slowly go bankrupt because, naturally, the drug that her doctor felt gave her the best chance of survival was also expensive.
I told you about Casey’s battle against her disease and a broken system back in 2007. She eventually got coverage for the drug she needed, but only after her story went national and because her husband’s employer switched insurance carriers.
Alberta picks panel to fix health rules; critics say more privatization on way (Canada)
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 12:22:23 AM by Libloather
By Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press
EDMONTON - Alberta is taking the first step to overhaul its health laws - including redefining public care - but Health Minister Ron Liepert stresses the move is not a stalking horse to introduce more privatization.
"Some of our provincial legislation that guides our health-care system is around 100 years old, much of it designed around the system and not the patient," Liepert said Tuesday.
"We need a system in place that moves the patient from the bottom of an organizational chart to the top."
Voting For Obamacare Will Not Help Save Democrats' Majorities (Crashing & Burning)
Real Clear Politics ^ | 09/02/09 | Sean Trende
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:27:18 AM by AKSurprise
"The Democrats did not lose Congress in 1994 because they failed to pass health care reform. They lost Congress in 1994 because they failed to rally the public behind health care reform. Had Democrats successfully sold Clintoncare to the public and then passed it, their majorities might have been saved. But had Democrats gone ahead and passed it anyway, under the conditions that existed in summer of 1994, their losses likely would have been even greater"
"1994 was fundamentally a culling of Democrats who were too liberal for their Republican-leaning districts. Republicans defeated 34 incumbents that year."
"There were two controversial pieces of legislation that defined the Clinton Administration for Republican-leaning voters: the assault weapons ban and the first Clinton budget"
"In other words, the problem for Democrats in 1994 was not that they didn't support Clinton's agenda enough. It was that they got too far out in front of their conservative-leaning districts"
"What does this mean for 2010? Obama's health care plan is not particularly popular right now. Rasmussen reports that 53% of Americans oppose the health care bill working through Congress, and that for the first time ever, Republicans are more trusted on health care than are Democrats.
GOP senator warns of 'minor revolution' over health care (Lamar Alexander) [Minor my Aunt Fannie!!]
CNN ^ | September 1, 2009 | Ted Barrett
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 4:08:06 AM by 2ndDivisionVet
A top Republican senator warned Tuesday that if Democrats try to overhaul health care without Republican support, "it will wreck our health care system and wreck the Democratic Party."
"The intensity on this issue across the country is like nothing I"ve seen in a long, long time," said Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate.
After a month of town halls back home, Alexander said it's clear to him and other Republicans that Americans are "scared to death" about the sweeping policy changes coming from Washington this year and the massive debt they are creating.
Obama to Begin New Health-Care Offensive, Top Aide Axelrod Says
Bloomberg | 9/2/09 | Goldman
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:14:57 AM by pabianice
Link Only.
Enforcement is a concern with an individual mandate in health care reform
Kansas City Star ^ | 9/1/2009 | DIANE STAFFORD
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:26:48 AM by markomalley
If health care reform occurs, it is likely to include an individual mandate — a requirement that every American have health insurance.
In theory, health coverage would work something like the requirement that drivers buy auto insurance.
But everyone knows someone who has been hit by an uninsured, and sometimes even an unlicensed, driver.
So just how would an individual health insurance mandate work?
Obama considers major speech on health care, aide says (Major Barf Alert!)
CNN News ^ | 09/02/09 | Elaine Quijano
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:55:59 AM by AngelesCrestHighway
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama is considering giving a major speech detailing what he would like to see included in a bill to overhaul health care, a senior White House aide said Wednesday.
Senior advisor David Axelrod told CNN that the president is looking at the possibility of a speech as "one of his options" in pushing forward his health care agenda after returning next week from vacation at Camp David, Maryland.
Obama has outlined broad principles for what he would like in health care legislation, but he has left most details to leaders in Congress. Now, White House aides said, the dynamic has changed.
Issa Bill Would Provide All Americans Access to Same Health Care Congress Has - Video 9/2/09
Freedom's Lighthouse ^ | September 2, 2009 | BrianinMO
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 12:29:09 PM by Federalist Patriot
Here is video of GOP Rep. Darrell Issa saying he has a Health Care bill that is one-page long and would mandate providing to Americans access to the same Health Care that members of Congress have. It would provide Americans access to over 300 Private Health Care Providers at affordable rates, without respect to pre-existing conditons.
Issa makes the statement at the 1:30 remaining mark of the video. The Issa Bill is H.R. 3438.
Amid Doubts of Bipartisan Plan, Obama to Rally Support to Democrats' Health Care Bills
FOX NEWS..POLITICS ^ | 9-2-09 | Major Garrett & AP
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 1:29:40 PM by spiderfern
Two senior administration officials confirm to FOX News that President Obama is actively considering a prime-time address from the Oval Office or an address to a joint session of Congress to invigorate the debate, as Congress returns from a rocky recess. And the path forward, as the president sees it, is to unify Democrats around the three House bills and one Senate bill that have already passed out of committee.
Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty(Zer0 punishing those who do not support Obamacare by bankruptcy?)
Yahoo ^ | 9/2/09 | Devlin Barrett
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 3:06:19 PM by bestintxas
Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drug maker, will pay a record $2.3 billion civil and criminal penalty over unlawful prescription drug promotions.
Announcing the settlement Wednesday, the Justice Department said that it included the largest criminal fine in U.S. history -- $1.2 billion. The agreement also included a criminal forfeiture of $105 million.
Authorities called Pfizer a repeat offender, noting it is the fourth such settlement of government charges in the last decade. They said the government will monitor the company's conduct for the next five years to rein in the abuses.
Obama to Address Health Care at Joint Session of Congress 9/9
Abc News ^ | 9/2/09 | ABC News
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 3:32:27 PM by Shellybenoit
President Obama will address a joint session of Congress on Sept 9.
This comes as the White House has been signaling publicly that they are ready to take charge of the health care debate.
So, this settles the 5th of the 5 health care strategy questions I laid out earlier on this blog today. The other 4 remain.
- George Stephanopoulos
Mass. Health Bill Would Allow Warrantless Arrests, Quarantines
The New American ^ | 01 Sep 2009 | Alex Newman
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 4:05:35 PM by BGHater
A pandemic and disaster preparation bill (S. 2028) passed unanimously by the Massachusetts Senate earlier this year is receiving wide-spread criticism as citizens mobilize to oppose its passage in the commonwealth’s House of Representatives.
“Under this bill, Massachusetts becomes a medical police state. There is no debating it,” wrote Natural News editor Michael Adams in an August 28 article entitled "Wake Up, America: Forced vaccinations, quarantine camps, health care interrogations and mandatory 'decontaminations,'" where he suggested America was delving into medical fascism. “The citizens of Massachusetts will have no rights, period. The Constitution is ancient history. You are now the property of the State.”
Pelosi: Health bill will come to the floor soon, and it will pass [Will contain Public Option...]
The Hill ^
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 5:26:09 PM by Sub-Driver
Healthcare reform legislation will come to the House floor soon, and when it does, it will pass, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) boldly declared Wednesday.
"When we're ready, we'll go to the floor, and when we go to the floor, we will win," the speaker said in remarks to reporters after a speech at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. "We won't vote before we'll ready, and when we're ready we will go. But it will be soon."
LIBERAL LIES ABOUT NATIONAL HEALTH CARE: THIRD IN A SERIES
by Ann Coulter
September 2, 2009, 2009 (9) If you like Medicare, you'll love national health care, which will just extend Medicare's benefits to everyone.
Hey -- I have an idea: How about we make everyone in America a multimillionaire by pulling Bernie Madoff out of prison and asking him to invest all our money! Both Medicare and Bernie Madoff's investment portfolio are bankrupt because they operate on a similar financial model known as a "Ponzi scheme." These always seem to run fabulously well -- until the money runs out.
Not only is Medicare bankrupt, but it is extremely limited in whom and what it covers. If Medicare were a private insurer, it would be illegal in many states for failing to cover hearing aids, podiatry, acupuncture, chiropractic care, marriage counseling, aromatherapy and gender reassignment surgery.
Hoyer may not support Health Care bill
CNS News ^ | 2 Sept. 2009 | Nicholas Ballasy and Edwin Mora
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:14:48 PM by WellyP
"Waldorf, Md., (CNSNews.com) – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D.-Md.) told a town hall meeting on Tuesday night that the health care reform legislation under consideration in Congress will not increase taxes or deficit spending, and must be paid for or he won't vote for it.
A participant at the town hall meeting that was held in Waldorf, Md., asked Hoyer if he believed the health care bill would cause a "tax increase or an increase to the deficit?"
"Neither," Hoyer replied...."
White House Floating "Snowe" Trigger [Health Care]
Atlantic ^ | 08/03/09 | Mark Ambinder
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:48:11 PM by BunnySlippers
Senior White House officials, in conversations with reporters today, are floating the idea that President Obama is secretly negotiating with Sen. Olympia Snowe over a health care compromise that would phase in a government-funded health care alternative if private insurance companies fail to meet quality and cost benchmarks over a certain period of the time. The public discussion of the Snowe "compromise" is meant to test the reaction of House Democrats, who will pass a bill that includes an immediate public option added to a new health insurance exchange. The White House hopes that, having voted for a public option, House Dems would accept a "trigger" as part of a conference committee compromise rather than putting the kibosh on the entire health care reform project.
Without Public Option, Enthusiasm for Health Care Reform, Especially Among Democrats, Collapses
Rasmussen Reports ^ | August 19, 2009
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 8:45:21 PM by Lorianne
Just 34% of voters nationwide support the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats if the so-called “public option” is removed. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 57% oppose the plan if it doesn't include a government-run health insurance plan to compete with private insurers.
The Divisions in the White House Over Health-Care Reform
Washington Post ^ | 02 September 2009 | Ezra Klein
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 8:52:57 PM by Lorianne
Conversations with a number of White House officials make it clear that, at this point, even they don't know. The argument was raging as recently as last night, and appears to have hardened into two main camps. Both camps agree that the cost of the bill has to come down. The question is how much, and what can be sacrificed.
The first camp could be called "universal-lite." They're focused on preserving the basic shape of the bill. They think a universal plan is necessary for a number of reasons: For one thing, the insurance market regulations don't work without universality, as you can't really ask insurers to offer standard prices if the healthy and the young don't have to enter the system. For another, it will be easier to change subsidies or improve the benefit package down the road if the initial offerings prove inadequate. New numbers are easier than new features. Creating a robust structure is the most important thing. This camp seems to be largely headed by the policy people.
The second camp is not universal at all. This camp believes the bill needs to be scaled back sharply in order to ensure passage. Covering 20 million people isn't as good as covering 40 million people, but it's a whole lot better than letting the bill fall apart and covering no one at all. It's also a success of some sort, and it gives you something to build on. What that sacrifices in terms of structure it gains in terms of political appeal. This camp is largely headed by members of the political team.
The 5 key Strategy Questions the White House is Considering on Health Care
ABC ^ | September 02, 2009 | George Stephanopoulos
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:08:49 PM by Lorianne
Here are the five key sets of questions they have to confront, both in the Roosevelt Room and in their consultations with Congress:
Obama’s Big Health Care Speech and Echoes of Clinton [MAJOR GARRETT]
Whitehouse Blogs Fox News ^ | 09/03/09 | Major Garrett
Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:15:08 PM by BunnySlippers
"I think he's out of touch with what he needs to do," Schoen said. "I don't think he needs another speech. I don't think it's a question of oration. I think it's a question of the bill, the agreement, showing presidential leadership in getting the Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and their leadership, to the White House to hammer out an agreement that works in the interest of the American people."
White House officials say Obama will be more specific about what he wants. But, they caution, he won't be too specific. They cannot say, for example, if Obama will rule out the government-funded entry into private insurance known as the public option.
California Senate approves tax on health insurers
Los Angeles Times ^ | 9/2/09 | Eric Bailey
Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2009 12:03:32 AM by Nachum
Reporting from Sacramento - State lawmakers pushed forward today with an agreement to keep nearly 700,000 children from being yanked off a government health insurance program for the working poor.
The state Senate passed a measure that would create a tax on health insurance companies and bring in federal money to rescue the program, which had been deeply cut in recent months as lawmakers scrambled to balance the state budget
I almost got in a fatal accident once...it might have been with Ted kennedy, driving drunk, but we'll never know...it would have been really sad to see me go so young...
I hate these stupid $%^&* stories...
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