Posted on 11/08/2009 10:26:06 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
(CBS) Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the health care bill passed last night by the House of Representatives is "dead on arrival to the Senate."
Graham argued that the House bill was "written for liberals, by liberals.
"Just look at how it passed; it passed 220 to 215. It passed by two votes. You had [39] Democrats vote against the bill," Graham told "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer Sunday.
He also admitted that if it were to come down to it, he would join his independent colleague Senator Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., in filibustering a bill including the so-called public option should it come to the Senate floor.
"The House bill is a non-starter in the Senate," he added. "I just think the construct out of the House and what exists in the Senate is not going to pass, and I hope and pray it doesn't because it would be a disaster for the economy and health care," Graham concluded.
Graham believed a public option would "destroy" private health care, saying that insurance companies could not compete against the lower premiums of a government-backed plan. "It will be a death blow to private choice," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
As for McCain, just give him a candy bar, or a bag of pork rhines and he'll sign anything!
Sandlapper FReepers:
Hold this guy’s feet to the fire.
I worked for sixteen years in a state legislature. I know how the system works. I know you have to work with what you’re given. I know anyone who does not agree with you is 100% exasperating. I know pro-life Dims are useless unless they are in the minority. I know a RINO still counts toward a majority, even if they’re completely out of synch. I know a RINO is better than a RAT. I know life is not perfect. I know this is not heaven and we are not going to find perfection here. We do the best we can.
TRI CARE FOR LIFE
This from a google search:
http://economicspolitics.blogspot.com/2009/05/tricare-for-life-is-obama-trying-to.html
This option would help reduce the costs of TFL, as well as costs for Medicare, by introducing minimum out-of pocket requirements for beneficiaries. Under this option, TFL would not cover any of the first $525 of an enrollee’s cost-sharing liabilities for calendar year 2011 and would limit coverage to 50 percent of the next $4,725 in Medicare cost sharing that the beneficiary incurred. (Because all further cost sharing would be covered by TFL, enrollees could not pay more than $2,888 in cost sharing in that year.)
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf
Bill Would Restrict Veterans’ Health Care Options (Pelosi breaks word to Rep Buyer no amendments)
REPUBLICAN PRESS RELEASE ^ | November 6, 2009 | Rep Buyer abd Rep McKeon
Bill Would Restrict Veterans’ Health Care Options
Buyer and McKeon Offer Amendments to Protect Veterans and TRICARE Beneficiaries
Washington, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon offered three amendments to the Pelosi healthcare bill that would protect America’s Veterans and military TRICARE beneficiaries. The healthcare legislation, which is expected to be voted on in the full House in the coming days limits veteran’s and service member’s health care choices and places veterans and military health care unnecessarily at risk by not clearly excluding military and veterans health care from the requirements of the bill.
“In addition to being fundamentally opposed to a sweeping government takeover of health care, I also strongly object to the bill that was unveiled today because it would limit veterans’ ability to choose a health care provider,” said Rep. Buyer. “The liberty and freedom upon which our nation is founded was paid for through the sacrifices of veterans, and I find it outrageous that the government veterans defended would presume to dictate where and how they obtain health care. This is not the type of government veterans have fought and died for.”
“America must remain vigilant in our efforts to provide the necessary support to our Veterans, military retirees, and current military personnel,” said Rep. McKeon. “The Democrat healthcare bill that will be voted on in the coming days creates unnecessary uncertainty for our Veterans and military families that their healthcare options will be unfairly limited. Our amendments make certain—in the strongest terms possible—that our nation’s heroes will continue to have options, while protecting their rights to maintain their current high-quality options if they so choose.”
Reps. Buyer and McKeon offered the following three amendments to ensure that our veterans, servicemembers, and their families are not hurt by the bill:
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #001: Would add a new subsection to provide explicitly that veterans enrolled in the VA health care and TRICARE beneficiaries may choose additional health insurance through the “Health Insurance Exchange”, along with care provided by VA or DOD.
The bill reads: “(a) ACCESS TO COVERAGE. – In accordance with this section, all individuals are eligible to obtain coverage through enrollment in an Exchange-participating health benefits plan offered through the Health Insurance Exchange unless such individuals are enrolled in another qualified health benefits plan or certain other acceptable coverage.” [page 156, line 11-16].
Under H.R. 3962, VA health care and TRICARE would be deemed "qualified" coverage. The problem with the language is that it is ambiguous and can be interpreted to disqualify individuals enrolled in VA health care or TRICARE from participating in the exchange.
This amendment was accepted at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup, but the Democratic Leadership failed to include it in H.R. 3962.
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #002: Would ensure that the authority of the Secretary of VA and Secretary of DOD could never be challenged or obstructed by any provision in the bill or by a secretary or commissioner from another part of government.
As currently written, H.R. 3962 would provide that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of VA retain sole authority over their respective health care systems only with respect to Subtitle A, the Health Insurance Exchange. This was the original Buyer Amendment adopted in Energy and Commerce Committee. However, it was limited to “Subtitle A” because of germaneness requirements. The intent was that as the Committee bills were merged, the language would be revised to encompass the entire bill.
The section-by-section analysis on the Energy and Commerce Committee Website states that Section 311 “makes clear that nothing in this act interferes with the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense’s existing authorities.”
In fact, this description is incorrect and our amendment would provide that the bill conform to the website’s assertion.
· Buyer/McKeon Amendment #003: Would amend section 342 of the bill to allow individuals enrolled in VA health care and TRICARE to be eligible for affordable tax credits. Currently, H.R. 3962 defines an “affordable credit eligible individual” as one who is not enrolled in acceptable coverage – which would exclude individuals enrolled in VA health care or TRICARE.
Then, they will force the American people to do the same, to restore the republic.
Head fake, nothing more. They want us to let up. We had better fight this as our lives depend on it, literally, our very lives.
Throw the guy under the bus that wants to fight on your behelf because you didn’t like his position on a separate issue yesterday. Anyone want to know why we lose? Here is a perfect example. The usual “burn it down and groove on the rubble” loud mouths will of course chime in but their tired rhetoric but clear thinking conservatives know the most effective course of action today would be to support Graham on this issue then fight him tooth and nail over C&T tomorrow.
But noooo, let’s throw the baby out with the bathwater EACH AND EVERY TIME, that way eventually we’ll have no baby, no bath and no water.
But then they can groove on that and complain how they are mistreated and that nobody listens to them.
MEGA DITTOS! About time someone said this! H
As a taxpayer I still have the right to bitch. We are tired of the same old lawmakers in office and I wish they would go fishing for a few years. We have had enough.
Well, which ones do you want to go fishing and which ones do you want to keep?
All this B.S. about the problems for the bill in the Senate is just more smoke and mirrors to lull opposition into spreading their legs and smiling...
Based on how well this propaganda strategy worked in the House...it is almost a certainty to work in the Senate.
Obamacare is coming to a death-care panel near you...As a great American philosopher and President once said: "...put ice on it..."
Lindsey will fold like a lawn chair....he doesn’t need my support to do this, he is on auto pilot. Haven’t you seen this show before?
I'll believe it when I see it!
He
Upon further consideration I would give the House 60 days in the spring and the Senate 30 days in the fall. (If you’re going to get snippy about it!) I love the name BTW :^)
I LOVE it when they're on vacation. They don't take nearly enough vacations.
It may have been Walter Williams who suggested giving them their entire year's salary and expenses the first day of the session and then see how many days they spend in DC.
I agree we would be money ahead if we gave each one of the one million dollars a year, but only on the first day.
I don’t believe Mrs. Graham. She is one of Hussein’s biggest butt kissers in the Senate on our side of the aisle. Her, Mrs. McCain, and those two dudes from Maine.
Thumbs up! :)
I pray that the Senate does not pass this monstrosity!
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