AP sources: Senators Near Bipartisan Health Deal

AP via Yahoo News ^ | 28 July 2009 | David Espo & Erica Werner

[edpc]

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators is closing in on a health care compromise that omits key Democratic priorities but seeks to hold down costs, as lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol labor to deliver sweeping health legislation to President Barack Obama.

[Ann Archy]

MAN THE PHONES!!!!!!

[Ann Archy]

CALL ALL THE SENATORS....NOT JUST THESE!

[TSgt]

After weeks of secretive talks, three Democrats and three Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee were edging closer to a compromise that excludes a requirement many congressional Democrats seek for large businesses to offer coverage to their workers. Nor would there be a provision for a government insurance option, despite Obama's support for such a plan, officials said. The Finance senators were considering a tax of as much as 35 percent on very high-cost insurance policies, part of an attempt to rein in rapid escalation of costs. Also likely to be included in any deal was creation of a commission charged with slowing the growth of Medicare

So it's an okay bill now. /SAR

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Third party, here I come.

[RU88]

“legislation that emerges from the talks is expected to provide for a nonprofit cooperative to sell insurance in competition with private industry, rather than giving the federal government a role in the marketplace.”

This is disingenuous to say the least. Just exactly who is going to set the parameters for this so called competition? You guessed it, Rahm and his brother Dr. Zeke.

“But one of the senators involved in the talks, Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, confirmed that co-ops are the preferred approach of the Senate Finance Committee negotiators.”

I think I speak for many when I say that I've have just about enough of this sell out RINO!

“a bipartisan compromise in the Senate would not subject large companies to a penalty if they declined to offer coverage to their workers. Instead, these businesses would be required to reimburse the government for part or all of any federal subsidies designed to help lower-income employees obtain insurance on their own.”

I'd love to know what the difference is. Call it whatever you want but the bottom line is that all of these businesses will still be handing over boat loads of cash to the feds. At this stage of the negotiations it looks as if they are trying to put lipstick on the pig.

Mark Steyn nailed it when he said Congress would pass some kind of health “reform” that on its face does not seem objectionable only to gradually modify it in subsequent bills to create the monster they envision.

[Vaduz]

It would be nice to bug the secret meetings bet the deals were more than healthare plans.

[NotSoModerate]

Can Grassley even be beaten? He seems untouchable. His last race in 2004 was a killing... he raised $8 million, his opponent raised $150,000.

[john mirse]

Short excerpt due to AP sourcing. This story just broke at approx 3:20AM EDT. When you have secret meetings and late night/early morning press releases, I don't think that says much about the popularity of the plan.

They're desperately trying to get something in under the gun before the Reps go home to face their constituents.

*****

I thought Sen. Reid of Nevada said there would be no Senate vote until the Senate came back after Labor Day.

Was he lying?

[HollyB]

I don’t want it either. I don’t want a compromise on this bill because I don’t want gov’t run health care. And most people feel the same way. Every poll I’ve seen indicates most people do not want it either. There forcing this on us just the way they pushed the stimulus package. THis is ridiculus and our representatives are not representing us.

[kellynla]

ya want “health-care reform?”

for starters... first thing “tort reform”
“loser pays”

next...

"health-care" ins. payments "tax-deductable" next...


and the bills don't have to be 1000 pages long...one page bill.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

In other words, a bunch of RINOs are caving as usual. There’s nothing “bipartisan” about it. When they talk “bipartisan”, they mean selling out to the rats.

[manc]

is there any republicans who will vote for this and we can target and I mean all of us target them.

Plus we have to keep calling the blue dogs too.

I swear I lived in the UK and have seen what national health care will do, it will kill.

No way will this health care work and once it is put in place we will never get rid of it.

If you have never lived under national health care then you have no idea how bad this is going to get.

wee need to pressure and get the word out

[edpc]

Upon further investigation, you are correct. My original source was flawed. Members of Congress can be removed before their term is up; but only under a 2/3 majority vote in the House or Senate. Only they can throw them out.....how convenient.

[FreepShop1]

Heads exploding over at Kos at the prospect of the death of the “public option” and employer mandates. they are calling the Dem Finance Chair “Benedict Baucus the Traitor”.

[KansasGirl]

Just got off the phone with Roberts-KS office. The lady on the phone said he is not supporting a Gov’t run plan, period.

[HollyB]

There = They're (pre coffee post)

[manc]

then tell them to go to the UK where I lived and have that health care.

for the left trolls.
My mother took nearly a year to get her results to see if she had cancer.
3 years to have her varicose veins operated on
days before you can get a cast on a broken bone
up to 8 weeks to see a Do
then there is the huge cost to tax payers.

It is not free at all.

All those old people on medicare will now have nearly 50 mil pushed in to their line to see a Doc.
How about wanting your mother waiting that long because 10 mil illegals have jumped into the line.

you mother will be dead and yet you want it.

SICK

Who you going to believe a community trouble maker or someone who has lived under this health care?

yes of course you ignore the facts , well just wait till your mother or father are sick, wait till you are forced on to this, and wait till you're old

[edpc]

Crocodile tears. They know full well they can’t get a bill exactly as they want through Congress. No matter....they’ll get a small portion and spend the next decade expanding it incrementally until it’s a monster. That’s what they always do.

[manc]

called Nelson and Martinez and can’t get through.
called many other reps and they said they would pass the message on.

One in the panhandle was very curious as he heard by UK accent and asked how it was over there.
i told him about the lack of Docs and nurses, hospitals closing, people dying , my mother waiting nearly 11 months for her results to see if she had cancer meanwhile her husband died of cancer.
I went on and on about it.

I just hope I got through to him

Why is the GOP not running AD’s saying if you think it is good and you vote for it then you should make a pledge to have this health care and your family.

Does anyone think Kennedy would ever have lived if we was on national health care?

I don’t

[DAC21]

Big fat NO. Was hearing on Hugh Hewitt yesterday that all the provisions knocked out of the Senate bill will be added back in by Wexler the Weasel in Committee.