To the ObamaCare Barricades (WARNING: Illegal Health Care is coming with the Public Option)

Wall St Journal ^ | Feb 20, 2010 | editorial

[The Raven]

[snip]

Liberals are making a bid to restore the "public option," ObamaCare's most controversial and destructive inspiration. Some 18 Senators as we went to press—led by Colorado's Michael Bennet and growing to include New York's Chuck Schumer on Thursday—have endorsed slipping this government-run insurance entitlement in the reconciliation process that would let Democrats abuse Senate rules to hustle ObamaCare into law with 50 votes. Vehemence among House progressives is also at a fever pitch, though it always is.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius joined the mob, telling MSNBC's Rachel Maddow that if the public option is "part of the decision of the Senate leadership to move forward," then the White House is all-aboard. Right on cue, Majority Leader Harry Reid put out a statement that he'll work to "craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles."

On that score, the main obstacles to this agenda aren't procedural but moderates in his own party. Rational Democrats killed the public option because it is hated by the insurers that will be driven out of business by its subsidy advantage, by the doctors and hospitals that will be forced to accept its below-market rates, and by the taxpayers who will get stuck with the bill. On the other hand, this new political strategy might fire up the dispirited liberal base—and allow the White House to cast the GOP as obstructionist going into the health summit next week.

It really does seem as if the Democrats are gearing up for Pickett's reconciliation charge. What was that again about "the best ideas from both parties"?

[Ros42]

sorry, this is the link I was referring to:

Congress plans to block Tricare fee increases
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w

[GailA]

Says the page has gone AWOL. But I've read it. It's only blocked until 2011 and then goes into effect. We have a year to get it repealed. It's not fair or right to treat our retired Military like this. They'll need a third insurance to cover what TFL and Medicare will no longer cover.

We had our 6 month check ups (because of the meds we take) and a new sign was up in our doc's office, that IF Medicare was your only health ins, then you had to pay the difference UP FRONT before the doctor's visit. I can't blame the doctor, the re-imbursment barely covers his overhead cost. And they are talking about dropping it from 80% to 60%.

[Ros42]

It’s an outrage!! I found same article on Navy Times, and printed it out to send to my dad, retired Air Force, Vietnam Vet. I imagine he will be helping to get the word out too. Thank you!

[GailA]

Can you send me the link in the Navy Times?

[Ros42]

Sure, here it is:

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w/

[GailA]

Same article that was in the Army Times...don't know why google didn't dig it up when it dug up the Army Times one.

Thanks I've bookmarked it. Looks like Vets are raising H over it even the demwit underground website had post on it.

[Ros42]

It came up under a Bing search. :)