http://www.landrieu.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1630
Landrieu: Now is the Time to Pass Health Care Reform
December 15, 2009
WASHINGTON — Following a meeting with President Obama and fellow Democratic Senators, United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today encouraged the Senate to move health care legislation forward. Sen. Landrieu commented on the improvements made to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and outlined how these changes will positively affect Louisiana families and small businesses.
Sen. Landrieu said:
“While many of us expressed cost and bureaucracy concerns about early drafts of health care reform legislation, it is clear that the product the Senate is debating is a dramatic improvement. Senate Democrats have developed a consensus that combines the best blend of private and public approaches to reduce cost, expand coverage and increase choice and competition for Americans. The Congressional Budget Office and the nation’s premier economists have confirmed that premiums will go down or remain stable, so that wages for millions of Americans can increase.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/73607-centrists-set-strict-guidelines-for-senate-house-health-talks
Democratic centrists have informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) they will accept few changes in the final healthcare bill negotiated between the House and Senate.
Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) have made clear there is little room to deviate from the bill the Senate passed on Christmas Eve.
They are the most vocal of nearly two-dozen senators who have indicated they see little wiggle room in the conference talks.
Centrists have said they will not vote for a healthcare reform bill that imposes a tax surcharge on the nation’s highest income earners or reduces the tax burden on so-called Cadillac health insurance plans, which are held by many unionized workers.
They have also threatened to vote against the bill if it includes a government-run health insurance program, a proposal that liberal Democrats in Congress acknowledge has little chance of winning inclusion in the final bill.
Lawmakers in the House will have to accept the Senate legislation with little change if a final bill is to muster 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles and make it to President Barack Obama’s desk, the centrists say.
“There’s very little room for this bill to change,” said Landrieu. “The framework really has to stay basically in place.
“It’s not just me,” Landrieu added. “There are probably two-dozen Democratic senators who feel very strongly about the framework.”
Landrieu said she would not support the final legislation if negotiators tinkered with the Senate proposal for taxing high-cost insurance plans.
“I can only support a bill if the Cadillac plans are taxed at the level they are in the Senate [bill,]” said Landrieu. “It’s not because I’m thrilled about taxing those plans, which I’m not, but it is the No. 1 cost-containment measure in the bill. It’s what is going to drive costs down over time.”
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So they made up an entire framework of lies in the form of “economist analyses” to get the bill to pass.
That means that they KNEW it would be bad, and would make life worse for most people.
And, I suspect, all for votes and power. Vote for ME! The OTHER guy will take away your health care! Without the health care that The Party provides, what would you do?
Obama signs 2010 health care bill-----Nancy Pelosi has federally-financed orgasm.
"My healthcare bill insures we have a permanent Democratic majority. All except those Tea
Party types, swallowed hook, line and sinker my promises that those stupid Americans could":
(1) keep their existing health plans,
(2) keep their own doctors that they like,
(3) keep their 25-year-olds on the family health plan,
(4) never be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition,
(5) sign up instantly on my tech-savvy government Web site,
(6) buy insurance only after becoming seriously ill."
(7) save $2,500 in annual premiums in the bargain....
(8) All without any new taxes.
"Them sonovagun Tea Partiers will rue the day they criticized my wonderful bill."