Senate Democrats Consider Tactic to Push Through Government Health Plan

New York Times ^ | August 24, 2009 | Robert Pear

[reaganaut1]

Senate Democrats said Sunday that they were fleshing out plans to pass health legislation, particularly the option of a new government-run insurance program, with a simple majority, instead of the 60 votes that would ordinarily be needed to overcome a filibuster.

After consulting experts in Senate rules and procedure, the Democrats said they were increasingly confident that they could legislate creation of a public plan in a way that would withstand challenges expected from Republicans.

Appearing Sunday on the NBC News program “Meet the Press,” Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said a public insurance plan was “essential to getting the costs down, which is our No. 1 problem.”

Proponents of a public plan say it would drive down costs because it would not have a profit motive and would have lower overhead costs and lower executive salaries than private insurance companies.

In Colorado on Aug. 15, President Obama said people had become “fixated” on the public plan option, which he described as “just one sliver” of efforts to overhaul the health care system.

Mr. Schumer said it was “looking less and less likely” that Republicans would support Democratic proposals to subsidize coverage for tens of millions of the uninsured. And Senate Democratic leaders said they had little hope that the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, would be able to forge a bipartisan compromise.

In the last week, Democrats have begun to talk openly of using a procedure known as budget reconciliation to pass a health bill in the Senate with a simple majority, assuming no Republican support.

[xkaydet65]

The Brain Drain involved scientists and engineers who saw defense cutbacks in the UK impacting their lives. They were welcomed to the US and many wound up in NASA. But they were English coming to an English speaking country and so their cultural adjustment was lessened. They were also quite sought after by industry and the DoD.

American doctors could go to the UK or Canada, but they would find the same conditions they were trying to escape. They may not be well received by their colleagues. (many Brain Drainers weren't either). Where else where a US MD could uproot his family to? India, Singapore, Mexico? If the UK had a private health system I'd accept your argument.

[metalurgist]

Democratic proposals to subsidize coverage for tens of millions of the uninsured

Did anyone ask this putz how many of these tens of millions of uninsured are illegal aliens, and why should the American people be forced to pay for insurance for people that don't belong here?

[Artie]

Physician practices and groups, with the means, will lease cruise ships. They will be stationed 15-20 miles offshore.
The new industry of the future will be ferry service to and from these ships, carrying the well to do and their foot lockers full of cash.

[Nateman]

I checked it out. Reagan was right. There is nowhere else to run to. Switzerland seemed the best choice for a doctor though. Everybody has to buy insurance but policies are private market, like car insurance here. Great if you're a doctor but sucks if you believe in freedom.

(Costs keep going up since you can't opt out and more requirements for coverage keep being added)

[JustTheTruth]

I checked with someone who works in a Republican Senate office, asking what - other than worthless "talk" - the Republicans would do if Democrats attempted to pass healthcare reform through reconciliation.

The response was as follows:

First, Senate Republicans would be united in their opposition to use of the reconciliation process to pass health-care reform.

Second, Republicans would use every parliamentary and procedural tool available to slow or stop Senate proceedings, for example by withholding approval of unanimous consent requests, requiring the reading of legislation in its entirety, offering numerous amendments, and forcing votes on adjournment.

Third, if the Democrats still proceed under reconciliation, Republicans would offer substantial ideas and alternatives to the health-care reform bill.

In response to this, a part of me says:

"I'll believe it when I see it..."

But for starters at least it is something...

[Munz]

>OK I’ve heard this all before. Doctors will leave their practices.What are they going to do?<

The specialists do make quite a bit of money. Most of them can afford to pay off their loans and get out. I am betting that they do. It wont be cost effective for them to stay in.
between paying for loans, still having to pay high insurance to continue doing business, they would be better off to treat patients for cash under the table and stay away from government programs.

As in Canada right now, many physicians take bribes to give service or have pulled out of the public health care field entirely. They now charge each patient for services.

You can wait 12-18 months for a routine blood exam in Canada now through their system, or pay $800 - $900 out of you own pocket for it and get it that week.

Similarly you can have surgery done when the government can find a doctor to do it and budget your surgery or pay for it in cash and have it done immediately.

The wealthy and powerful will always have the best doctors, but the people that this monstrosity is being sold to will be shorted by health care professionals far and wide.

[Munz]

If your talking about Chucky .. he doesn’t answer to his constituents. I have written him several times and never received a reply.

I am nothing but a surf .. a peon .. a peasant.

How I WISH HE WOULD BE UNSEATED

[Jacquerie]

I can't entirely answer your question but I remember from “The Forgotten Man” by Amity Shlaes that Social Security was sold to the Supreme Court as just a tax on income, not a transfer of $ from one citizen to another.

The President and members of Congress used to seriously take their oaths to support and defend, . . . for they are just as responsible to do so as any court. With socialists running both the executive and Congress and at least four of them on the Supreme Court, it doesn't bode well for the republic.

[agere_contra]

it would drive down costs because it would not have a profit motive

Stop. Right. There.

[IbJensen]

They can start packing now.

...and leave their big fat pensions for life behind!

[massgopguy]

The individual mandate violates the “contracts clause” of the 13th Amendment. By coercing citizens to enter into a contract with an insurance company they have committed us to indentured servitude. This was decided in Reynolds vs United States where the SCOTUS defined the “wheel of servitude”.

[jch10]

In a state like Florida, with a huge senior population, how could Bill Nelson, D, vote for this bill?

[Verginius Rufus]

The Democrats don’t need all of their senators to vote for the bill if they use “reconciliation”—if they could count on all 60 Democrat senators they wouldn’t be thinking of reconciliation as an alternative.

[Verginius Rufus]

...a transfer of $ for one citizen to another.

What they want to do is to transfer money from citizens (seniors on Medicare) to illegal aliens. The latter will be a more reliable Democrat voting bloc.

[randita]

In a state like Florida, with a huge senior population, how could Bill Nelson, D, vote for this bill?

I just saw a poll a couple of days ago that found that about 60% of Florida's seniors are FOR this bill, even though a majority of seniors nationwide are against it. I don't know if it was an outlier but it was certainly strange. If Nelson's polls find this to be the case, he will likely not suffer for voting for it.

[JrsyJack]

I think Republicans will hang as a block against a public option.”

Good, because they'll hang separately, metaphorically speaking of course, if they support it.

[ncalburt]

well your right !