Posted on 12/20/2009 3:02:28 PM PST by Cheap_Hessian
WASHINGTON (AP) - The little town of Libby, Mont., isn't mentioned by name in the Senate's mammoth health care bill, but it's one of the big winners in the legislation, thanks to the influence of Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont.
After pushing for years for help for residents of the area, thousands of whom suffer from asbestos-related illnesses from a now-closed mineral mining operation, Baucus inserted language in a package of last-minute amendments that grants them access to Medicare benefits.
He didn't advertise the change, and it takes a close read of the bill to find it. It's just one example of how the sweeping legislation designed to remake the U.S. health care system and extend coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans also helps and hurts more narrow interests, often thanks to one lawmaker with influence or bargaining power.
Here's a look at some other winners and losers in the latest version of the legislation, which was expected to survive an initial test vote in the Senate around 1 a.m. Monday.
WINNERS
_Cosmetic surgeons, who fended off a 5 percent tax on their procedures.
_Nebraska, Louisiana, Vermont and Massachusetts. These states are getting more federal help paying for a proposed Medicaid expansion than other states are. In the case of Nebraska—represented by Sen. Ben Nelson, who's providing the critical 60th vote for the legislation to pass—the federal government is picking up 100 percent of the tab for the expansion, in perpetuity.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
This has got to be unconstitutional, if that means anything today.
It will be interesting to hear Mark Levin's opinion tomorrow.
Are the abortion provisions still in the bill?? Are we going to be forced to pay for abortions?
The elephant in the room is the 21% cut to Doctors of Medicare patients. If anyone should be getting free money it should be the sick & elderly, but weirdly, this bill doles out cash for everyone else, but cuts funds for the sick & elderly. I’m still convinced that this is just another component of an overall wealth redistribution plan as are most of Obama’s initiatives.
Congress has become a Criminal Enterprise.
Millions of people are sick over this Democrat Obama stinking bill. What has happen to our country since this President was elected? Is this the mafia or representative government?
Yes. As I understand it, the states can opt out of providing subsidies for abortion, but that would only cut funding for your state. We will still have to pay for subsidized abortions for other states that didn’t opt out.
Then, they will be seeing patients for close to nothing.
It's obvious that it is fair for all and paid for by all otherwise government wouldn't sanction such a massive change in our lives personally.
Right?
At somepoint do seniors move their, drain their resources and and help collapse the system? Duh, even I can see this happening. The will regret these bargins, Doctors may not want to go to these places..
I would love to see doctors all across the nation start sending out letters to their patients on Medicare saying that on, oh Feb. 1 or March 1, they will have to find another doctor. If a large number of doctors would do this the seniors would riot in the streets and put the fear of the Heavenly Host in the congress critters.
That 21% is the other gift to AARP. Seniors using AARP supplemental will end up paying AARP more premiums.
“That 21% is the other gift to AARP.”
I will have to read about the AARP supplemental. I was wondering who benefits from the cut. It also seems like a way for the Dem vampires to force the sick & elderly off of Medicare and on to Medicaid so that the U.S. government can get their hands on any savings that the elderly person has accrued.
Soap Box
Ballot Box
Ammo Box
Because we once again have the familiar problem, as this new "health care" plan is actually a TAX. And this is truly:
Taxation Without Representation
Just maybe when more and more people find out about the worst parts of this there will be a demand to repeal it even before next year’s election.
The cuts in care are stunning. For decades we have heard the elites literally scream about how Republicans want people to get sick and die. Now the Dems are proposing this, the very advocacy groups that are supposed to support them either are silent or embrace this legislation!
I know that some doctors now restrict the number of Medicare patients or refuse to take new ones, can't blame them.
Government wins — We The People lose. Period.
The Mafia had more compassion for their friends and neighbors.
Regards,
GtG
It is still organized crime going on. You are right, Obama is not the Godfather he is something worse.
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