The current legislative text was released just hours ago.
The first votes are expected within hours. [ed. note: the first vote has been recorded and is history]
The health care sector accounts for 1/7th of our economy. And the “World’s Greatest Deliberative Body” will have just hours to consider its radical transformation. However much they say the legislation will cost, don’t believe it. Rarely has a bill been so manipulated to hide its true cost.
Consider this from the most recent CBO estimate of the cost of the legislation:
These longer-term calculations assume that the provisions are enacted and remain unchanged throughout the next two decades, which is often not the case for major legislation. For example, the sustainable growth rate (SGR) mechanism governing Medicare’s payments to physicians has frequently been modified (either through legislation or administrative action) to avoid reductions in those payments, and legislation to do so again is currently under consideration in the Congress.
And this,
The legislation would maintain and put into effect a number of procedures that might be difficult to sustain over a long period of time. Under current law and under the proposal, payment rates for physicians’ services in Medicare would be reduced by about 21 percent in 2010 and then decline further in subsequent years.
(Hey, American Medical Association, how’s that endorsement of this bill working for you?)
And, this gem:
It is unclear whether such a reduction in the growth rate could be achieved, and if so, whether it would be accomplished through greater efficiencies in the delivery of health care or would reduce access to care or diminish the quality of care.
Soon, 60 Senators will vote for this.
I wish I had the money to place on ad on all major Nebraska newspapers reminding people what this traitor did and for how much he sold everyone out. The ad would run once a week until he is defeated. That way, the people in Nebraska would be reminded about what he did.
Ben got snookered.
They could always end Medicare, then start it up under a different name. I know it may sound farfetched, but look what they’ve done so far.
Unless that caveat is in his little Judas Amendment, he hasn’t got an ironclad guarantee that won’t happen.
Also, look for a huge and imminent upcoming migration of old people to Nebraska.
Ping!
Ping!
Ping!
Next November can’t come quick enough...
There are just some people that need...unemployment...
As a general rule I do not wish bad things for others, but in this case, I’m sorry. I truly hope something bad happens to these people. They have it coming to them.
Judas Ben-Nelson (D-Iscariot).
Is this the “let them eat cake” moment????
The 14th ammendment says that isn't so!
If true, and this happens Nebraska will be the most
hated state, after perhaps Hawaii for not releasing
the undocumented Kenyans’ alleged “bc”.
Send it folks..just see how many millions will read it..
There are so many aspects of this bill being unconstitutional but now you can add one more to the mix. Are we not suppose to all be equal under the law? Yet now a Nebraskan has total different rights than anyone from another state? Odd is it not?
Ready the muskets, Heat up the tar, grab the pitchforks, and will someone gather some feathers!
Yes this monster still has a road to finality but does anyone with any sense think these politicians have loose touch of reality?
We the people are sending messages, That is not working as it should so the next step is the civil disobedience. What should that look like? Well in my view the people of each state forcing (protest, locked arms backed up by your militia) there governors to start to take actions backed by their state government. Keep this in mind if we make it to the 2010 election. Yes federal officials are critical but you state and local are at the very least just as important.
Taxpayers in every other state will forever be responsible for the expanded Medicaid program in Nebraska.
Ben Nelson web address below. I entered all my contact info, with exeption that I didn’t change the state code and his website accepted my comments (not pretty!) :
http://bennelson.senate.gov/email-issues.cfm
What happens when Congress becomes criminals against their own country?
Our Senators make back alley crack whores seem like paragons of virtue.