Posted on 04/08/2010 7:02:14 AM PDT by upchuck
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — First-term Rep. Betsy Markey is convinced that once people learn what's in President Barack Obama's new health care overhaul law, they'll support it.
But it's not a message she was eager to carry in person to her constituents in Republican-leaning eastern Colorado. During Congress' two-week Easter break, she reserved any discussion of health care reform for conference calls, an op-ed piece and an appearance at a small-town Rotary Club — all small-bore outreach.
After the raucous, angry town halls of last summer, Markey steered clear of massive gatherings.
She was not alone. Tough votes for Obama's health care plan have further complicated the re-election prospects of dozens of already vulnerable freshman and second-term Democrats. There's even a chance the party could lose control of one or both houses in the midterm elections.
...
In districts and states where the overhaul was most controversial, town-hall meetings have been replaced with tightly controlled business roundtables and other gatherings with voters.
In Nevada, first-term Democratic Rep. Dina Titus defended her vote for the health care bill in a newspaper piece she co-wrote and in a meeting with female doctors. Facing a vigorous GOP challenge from a Republican physician, she acknowledged treading carefully.
"It's more of a teaching tour than a selling tour," she said of her recent appearances.
Republicans dismiss the notion that voters opposed to the new law can be sold on it. They equate the overhaul to a "government takeover" of health care and blame it on one-party arrogance. The theme is central to House Republicans' plan to cast the GOP as the party that will listen to what voters want, not pass bills the people oppose.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Dear Rats,
As the British say, you fouled your own nest.
I hope you enjoy it.
/Zak
Teaching? What a joke. Its they who need the lesson come election day in November.
Ya kniow what fatnotlazy,
I hope these bastards are afraid.
I want them ALL nervous about the votes sending America down the socialist path.
I want them all nervous about their own constituents.
I want hem all afraid for their future jobs and standings in their communities.
Like Ben Nelson going to a restaurant and getting boooooed out of the place.
Give em all hell.
Or Keel Haul the lot.
I was in my physician’s office yesterday settling my bill. When they told me how much it was I asked, “So where do I sign up for the Free Health Care?” There were a few seconds of icy silence before everyone started laughing.
Debbie WasserScum-Schultz is in a heavily Dem district and had to “tightly control” the meeting because her constituents were furious. She had to pack the meeting early with SEIU zombie/thugs.
I too want these congresspeople to be afraid, but at the same time, I want us, the rest of America, to stand up and take charge again. When I was in school, I was taught that our elected representatives serve us; we are the employers; they are the employees. See how long you would last in your job if your boss told you to do something and you did the opposite. No, we keep these folks on, electing the same ones every time for decades on end. So wong. It’s time for us, the employers, to fire the whole lot of them and hire employees who will follow orders.
And by the way, I’m not just talking about Democrats. There are a few Republicans who should be handed pink slips too.
I heard a clip from her last meeting. Her largely liberal Democrat audience was actually booing her. I loved it.
Apparently, there are people showing up at doctors’ offices and hospitals looking for that free health care. These are the same ones still waiting for that free Obama money too...like that woman who wanted to elect Obama because then she wouldn’t have to pay her mortgage or the installments on her car. Suckers!
Democrat incumbents hiding from their constituents while their GOP opponent is out campaigning is not exactly the formula for electoral success. Sounds like Markey is toast.
Thank you for your service. We all must commit to pledge our time and treasure to save the Republic or it will surely be lost. It is now hanging by a thread!
bump
We are getting more calls than usual from state Medicaid recipients wanting to know if we take Medicaid “yet”. We tell them it is not up to us, but to the various insurers, including the state and they do not, in this state, cover massage. They respond slowly and seem confused.
However, we just received word from a continuing education provider who teaches concerning insurance, coding and billing, that there is a chance alternative and complementary (CAM) licensed providers _may_ be included.
From her email (sic):
“As it stands now, here is the excerpt from the final health care reform bills just passed and to whom we all owe many thanks for all their hard, dedicated, timely and expensive work.
The provider non-discrimination provision (Section 2706) enacted into law reads in part: “A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider’s license or certification under applicable State law.”
Regarding this provision, John Falardeau, American Chiropractic Association (ACA’s) Vice President of Government Relations said, “The Harkin Ammendment’s non-discrimination language will be applicable to all health benefit plans both insured and self-insured.”
In addition to Senator Tom Harkin (D) Iowa and Senator Chris Dodd, (D) Connecticut, many, many thanks is owed to the American Chiropractic Association as well as Chiropractors across the country and their Associations for their long, hard and expensive ordeal, being on top of this Discrimination Issue and see it to fruition.
They made darn sure this part of the Health Care Reform Bill was not removed as the bills moved forward.
I know for sure. as a FL Chiropractic Association Member, the FCA worked tirelessly for years to make sure they were not discriminated against. In this fight they have also won some other great achievements in their favor. More on this next time.
There will be more information on this issue as time goes on. For now, if this health care reform is not repealed or if nothing unforeseen happens, this portion will go into effect 2014. “
HOWEVER, note that these modalities will not be free. They will be discounted heavily for government recipients (Medicare now pays $13 for an hour of massage with an MD script)and CAM riders for private policies will likely be an added cost.
Also, today’s Rassmussen poll shows zerO has lost 3 points of *strongly support*. I wonder if this indicates some of the *recipients* are learning that the new bill does not provide free anything. Medicaid, as it stands, is linked to requirements that are stringent about income and assets. Recipients are audited monthly and must provide income information per month. In any month where income rises above the minimium and the recipient used medical services, they are required to reimburse Medicaid dollar for dollar relative to excess income reported. I believe they can request wage information from any listed employer. The Medicaid providers report on each recipient’s monthly medical care usage.
I have seen people on full disability under Medicare carting around file folders that are easily 2 inches thick. The paperwork requirements hit both providers and recipients.
The recipients are just gonna love all that paperwork.
too correct you are.
If anyone asks me that question I'm going to tell them that the Free Healthcare and the rest of the Free Stuff are coming by Unicorn Express.
“I don’t think a Congress person should EVER vote FOR anything they aren’t willing to face the people on.”
You obviously don’t think like a Dem:
“First-term Rep. Betsy Markey is convinced that once people learn what’s in President Barack Obama’s new health care overhaul law, they’ll support it.”
But she’s obviously unwilling to test her “hypothesis” about her constituents. Thus, either she doesn’t actually believe her hypothesis (since testing it would then demonstrate even to doubters that she was right after all) or she does believe it, but is too chicken to subject it to a test (suggesting that her confidence in its validity cannot be terribly high). Actions speak louder than words. If you’re not willing to put your money where your mouth is, shut your mouth.
If Rep. Markey is truly “representing” the views of her constituents, then she is making them appear to be fools. If I were a voter in her district, this alone would make me pretty steamed.
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