Nov
9
Health Care Bill Passes the House
November 9, 2009 |
The U.S. House passed by a very narrow margin the health care bill that has been the subject of heated debate for what seems like forever. The battle now moves to the Senate, where passage of anything remotely resembling the House bill seems unlikely. The Globe ran a story today on some of the key differences, and they are stark. The Globe also ran a story on the potential for a Joseph Lieberman filibuster of any health bill that may contain a “public option”. So Harry Reid has his work cut out for him on the political end of this equation. Speaker Pelosi lost 39 Democrats on the final vote count, and I believe the Majority Leader is going to have his share of troubles keeping all of his caucus in line. Timing is now critical, as the President has called for a bill before year end. That potential has been called into serious doubt. The President should be concerned, as slippage into an election year can not be helpful to this bill. The December recess should also create political problems for the potential passage of a health bill.
If the Democrats are successful in getting a bill then the results will be clearly owned by the President and the Party. I do agree that universal coverage is a critical component of health care reform, but if that is all that is achieved and we see a spike in premium costs for those currently insured or a massive increase in the debt then there will be a political cost that will not be pretty for the Dems. Cost control in the existing system is essentially left for another day by the current efforts, and while the politics of that decision are obvious the resulting financial strain may not be bearable, even in the short run. Steve Pearlstein over at the Washington Post talks about some of the realities in a recent column, as does Fred Hiatt today. Will the President get a bill out this year? The political focus has centered around the political cost to the President of failure to get a bill. What will be the political consequence of success?
Comments
3 Comments so far
Your Honor,
There is no use discussing the matter until the final bill is assembled after the Senate and senate and house compromises are done.
Some observations and opinions;
1. If a bill is passed it will have enough “bad” stuff to change the nature of governance of America and move us toward socialism.
2. While there are serious arguments on abortion and illegal immigrant issues, no one, including the Senate, seems to find an argument against taking one half a trillion dollars from Medicare. How do you think that will effect senior medical attention? My Dr., who has a law degree as well as a medical degree, is preparing to move over to the legal side.
3. I have a summary of the two thousand page Health care Bill, HR 3962 that is 4 pages of bullet points. What is frightening is the items that give committees the responsibility for interpeting many items and making policy.
4. Policy affecting Methuen: The states share of the costs will increase further impacting the Massachusetts budget and consequentially Methuen’s budget.
5. Now the federal government can do to Deval Patrick what Deval is doing to you.
6. Finally, I would ask you a question. Would you sign any political or private contract of 2,000 pages?
7. Health Care equipment providers will be taxed.
I see nothing positive in this bill.
Jules
Your Honor,
More stuff from you ‘friends’.
All citizens (except Politicians) will be required to pay $7,500.00 yearly fees ($626 per month) while the rich will pay $20,000.00 plus ($1920 per month).
For those who don’t there are fines and finally a guy with a gun will show up at your house and take you off to jail.
This does not include the taxes for medical equipment.
Tax and spend.
Are you proud of your friends?
Jules
Your Honor,
Just received an AARP flier in the mail that say, “If you loose your Medicare Advantage coverage, you may be able to apply for a Medicare supplement plan without answering questions about your health.”
That, your honor, is Obama’s kiss to this weasel operation. For support for Obama’s health care AARP get a larger share of the insurance business.
What did the AMA get? A delay in their price cuts. But, the idiots don’t seem to know that will change, as will the abortion legislation. These guys are idiots.
Is everyone up for sale?
Jules
Jules