Posted on 09/08/2009 8:08:53 PM PDT by Steelfish
Baucus presents healthcare overhaul plan
The Montana Democrat who heads a key Senate panel unveils his proposal. It would tax high-end insurance plans and create nonprofit insurance cooperatives as an alternative to a government-run option.
By Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook September 8, 2009
Reporting from Washington - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Tuesday unveiled his long-awaited compromise blueprint for healthcare reform, proposing new taxes on high-end insurance plans and offering nonprofit insurance cooperatives as an alternative to a controversial government-run option.
The unveiling marked an end to his marathon effort to win over substantial Republican support for a healthcare reform plan. Baucus' plan lays down a vision designed to appeal to moderate and conservative Democrats, who will be key to any overhaul.
Liberals in the House and Senate have already spelled out their vision. With Baucus' proposal, the range of potential reform options has solidified, since no final bill is likely to be substantially more liberal than the House version or more conservative than Baucus'.
President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress tonight is likely to further clarify the boundaries of a final compromise.
After a meeting with Baucus on Tuesday, none of the three Finance Committee Republicans who have been negotiating with him for most of the year would commit to backing the plan, according to a GOP aide briefed on the meeting. Baucus said he had to move forward in the committee with or without them.
"The rubber's starting to hit the road," Baucus said Tuesday. "We're not going to dawdle."
To draw moderates who object to the government-run insurance option, Baucus would provide federal funds to help set up nonprofit, state-level cooperatives in which consumers could band together to purchase health insurance.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Non-Profit = Taxpayer Subsidized.
Unfair.
This is BS! No government involvement! Period!
Nice try, Max.
And in other breaking news, the cats are going to lie down with the dogs.
I saw the word “co-op” in there. This ain’t gonna fly, either.
There are millions of workers with high end healthcare plans who make well under 250K.
Campaign promise el brokeno.
“state-level cooperatives”
Sorry Max that is a non-starter.
Sarah Palin, if true to form, will bust that little balloon right quick.
This is a no go. He is “foot in the door” with this free crap. NO MONEY FROM ME FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS!!! or anyone else. Get a Job — take disposable income and buy what you want. If you don’t have insurance — Die!!!
You bet ... no co-ops!
It is DOA.
It is still crap isn’t it?
“There are a lot of promising elements. It’s a work in progress,” Snowe said, adding that she wanted to see a trigger mechanism setting up a government plan in case the cooperatives don’t work.
I thought I read earlier today that Snowe was in no way going to endorse a “government plan”. Boy, that didn’t take long!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090908/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_overhaul
“60-year-olds could be charged five times as much for a policy as 20-year-olds.” [forget they pre-paid into Medicare for decades, kinda insurance on layaway. Then the gov’t yanks it away - but keeps the money you've paid on the account.]
.......................
“Just as auto coverage is now mandatory in nearly all states, Baucus would require that all Americans get health insurance once the system is overhauled. Penalties for failing to do so would start at $750 a year for individuals and $1,500 for families. Households making more than three times the federal poverty level — about $66,000 for a family of four — would face the maximum fines. For families, it would be $3,800, and for individuals, $950.”
************************************** the problem is that these elitist politicians have swallowed their own hype and truly believe that they are ever so much wiser than We the People or private business or doctors or anyone else - I'd say ‘even God’ but they don't believe in Him anyway = and therefore, THEY need to totally plan out every facet of our lives - and then force us to comply.
To all of them, JUST SAY NO!
Tell ‘em to get the hell out of our lives.
Sorry Maxie boy. Americans know a camel’s nose when we see one.
FORCE people to buy insurance??
H$#@! NO!!!!
A government co-op. Is NOT a co-op. If the President appoints the people who run it and not its members, then its NOT a co-op.
I so hope you are right.
Even moderate TN Repub Senator - said he will only go with a plan headed by 3 words, “Let’s start over”.
I’d say - let’s not start at all.
Pay attention, Demonrats. The economy is in the sewer.
Get some businesss people in there who know how to run a business, make a profit, and hire people and let them advise you on how to turn the economy around so it is no longer a fake “jobless recovery” and stop messing around with our healthcare and with taxing our energy sources.
How useless to hope that will happen, I know.
The Individual Mandate must be stopped too
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