Posted on 09/08/2009 12:50:40 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON – As Congress ends its long summer recess today ready to tackle health care, both of California's senators support having the federal government compete with private companies to provide health insurance.
The so-called public option – the centerpiece of a proposed overhaul of the nation's health care system – promises to be the first big test of Democratic muscle.
Opponents say the public option would drive insurers out of business, while supporters say it would drive down premiums for everyone and provide coverage for the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans.
California is one of 15 states where both senators are backing the public option. But so far, Senate Democrats have lined up only 45 votes for the landmark proposal, according to Democracy For America, a group that supports the idea and is tracking votes. That's far short of the 60 required to stop a Republican filibuster.
California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer says it's obvious that insurance companies need competition, with their chief executives earning average salaries of $14 million a year and their profits increasing by 400 percent from 2000 to 2007.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
It seems that most of their muscle is between their ears.
I am hoping that Obama continues to destroy his party, can’t wait to watch them totally implode!
Obama is reminding me of the Battleship Bismark.
Love them Dems.
What was once just a SPLINTER has morphed into THE CENTERPIECE. By Wednesday night it may once again return to splendid splinterhood or, then again, it may not. It may become something else altogether. It's like sitting on pins and needles awaiting yet another version of Obama's Magnificent Centerpiece, or Splinter or Whatever.
The funny thing is that the media thinks this is all about taking down the Democrat party. It is about preserving the liberties protected under our system of government.
It just so happens that the more the partisan press cries about this like a stuck pig, so they lose all credibility with the public.
..........................California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer says it’s obvious that insurance companies need competition, with their chief executives earning average salaries of $14 million a year and their profits increasing by 400 percent from 2000 to 2007.................
Hey Boxer! In all the states I’ve lived in, the health insurers need to petition the state government for a rate increase. They just can’t jack rate on their own whim, they’re treated like monoply utilities.
So, bitch to the state legislatures, and get out of the way.
And, Boxer, if you continue to claim that there are 50 million uninsured, take a stand on the illegals who make a very large percentage of your statistic!
No matter what it is, it is more accurately called the GOVERNMENT OPTION, not a “public option”.
Chuck Todd of NBC just insulted everyone in flyover country by stating that Bambi needs to simplify his address Wed. night so that “Joe and Jane in Kansas City” can tell what he’s talking about. And Van Jones thinks the Republicans are A-holes??
The only option I want is the option to buy from any state in the union.
We need to tell our government to kill any bill they put forth, because they have shown that they cannot be trusted. One of many examples are that the House bill included “End of Life Counseling.” Patients should not be required to meet with government officials, who do not have their best interests at heart, as their family, doctors and religious leaders would.
Another example is when President Obama said: “Maybe you’re better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller.” Also proponents of Obamacare won’t exclude abortion from the bill. Any bill they come up with will be an antilife, antiliberty Trojan Horse.
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.