Tonight's Vote (Blast Email from Senator Specter)

My Email In-box | 11/21/2009 | Senator Arlen Specter

[VinceASA]

Dear Friends,

The Congress is continuing its work to try to get healthcare reform legislation, and I believe the prospects are reasonably good that we will produce a bill. I hope that the bill will have the public option - and a robust public option. We will have a cloture vote tonight and I believe that we should be able to get 60 Senators at least to agree to start the debate. Click below to hear my take on healthcare reform:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorArlenSpecter#p/u/0/_cjXqFbdAeg

It would be my hope that my colleagues would not draw lines in the sand or stay in inflexible positions. We need to move ahead, and doing nothing is not an option. The problems of so many millions of Americans uninsured and the problems of the rising healthcare costs makes it imperative that action be taken.

I think that the bill which has been proposed is a very, very good start. It is obviously subject to amendments and some modification. But the total cost has come in at about $850 billion over 10 years and is projected to save about $130 billion to reduce the deficit. In the second decade it is projected to save even more, up to as much as $650 billion. President Obama has committed not to sign a healthcare bill which adds to the deficit, and I’m committed not to vote for a healthcare bill that adds to the deficit.

It is my hope that the bill will emerge with very strong provisions on preventative care. That includes annual examinations without additional costs and encouraging people to have the annual exams to catch many problems at their early stages, like heart disease or ailments, before they develop into debilitating and expensive chronic diseases. I disagree with the recent recommendations to cut back on mammogram screenings or pap smears. I think that early detection is vital and well worth the cost. I can tell you from my personal experience: an MRI detected a brain tumor the size of a golf ball between my skull and my brain back in 1993. It could have been a very, very serious matter had that early detection not occurred.

Healthcare reform is vital and we’re determined to get a good bill.

Sincerely,

Arlen Specter

[VinceASA]

"It would be my hope that my colleagues would not draw lines in the sand or stay in inflexible positions."

So, we should just let this happen?

[Tenacious 1]

But the total cost has come in at about $850 billion over 10 years and is projected to save about $130 billion to reduce the deficit.

We propose spending an additional $850 billion in order to reduce the deficit by $130 billion.

My eight year old asked me how that works as my wife and I discussed it over dinner.

[beethovenfan]

“The prospects are reasonably good that we will produce A LARGE, STINKING TURD.”

[geologist]

The facts are incorrect. ‘Doing nothing’ ... means Medicare must be fixed; because it it exhorbinately beyond affording. True.

But mostly because of the fraudulent rip off/stealing from multiple physicians and hospitals ... on going. etc.

Stop the corruption.

God help us in our day, in Jesus name, amen.

[broken_arrow1]

[Report Abuse] - Arlen Specter is abusing us!

[billhilly]

I hope Specter and every democrat in congress will live to be 150 years old so they will experience first hand what they are doing to this once great country.

[chainsaw]

I hope that the bill will have the public option - and a robust public option.

Then why have a healthcare bill at all?

[chainsaw]

We propose spending an additional $850 billion in order to reduce the deficit by $130 billion.

And the total deficit is around 11 trillion. Lunacy I say, pure lunacy!