Tag: Health Care Reform

Senate Bill Passes 2nd Cloture Vote

Filed in National by on December 22, 2009 11 Comments
Senate Bill Passes 2nd Cloture Vote

The 2nd cloture vote on the Senate health care reform bill. The motion to end debate passed 60-39. So, it looks like Sen. Coburn’s prayer that someone not show up for voting (Sen. Inhofe) came true after all! Congrats, to Sen. Coburn, he was probably doubting the righteousness of denying people health care. The Wonk […]

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What Does The Senate Bill Do?

Filed in National by on December 21, 2009 55 Comments
What Does The Senate Bill Do?

Jonathan Cohn sums up the how the Senate health care reform bill will do for people. Basically it helps lower your risk if you get sick and need health care. Most people will save money with this bill. Costs would only be higher if you currently don’t buy insurance and don’t get sick. So what […]

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Senate Bill Passes First Cloture Vote

Filed in National by on December 21, 2009 1 Comment

Early this morning the Senate health care reform bill passed its first cloture vote. Moments ago, the Senate voted 60-40 to end the Republican filibuster of the manager’s amendment to the Senate health care bill, clearing an important hurdle to passing health care reform before the end of the year. The Senators voted from their […]

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Et Tu Howard Dean?

Filed in National by on December 20, 2009 29 Comments

Howard Dean caused quite a stir when he said “kill the bill.” A lot of people trust Howard Dean and the reaction from the White House was anger. Dean appears to have had a change of heart. He’s still not a fan of the bill, but he’s saying that the manager’s amendment has improved the […]

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Question

Filed in National by on December 20, 2009 31 Comments

If you believe that Congress cannot, and will not, improve the Health Care Bill if passed, then why would you believe killing the bill and starting over is possible with this Congress?

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New Health Care Reform Bill Revealed

Filed in National by on December 19, 2009 29 Comments

Last night Harry Reid and Ben Nelson announced that they reached an agreement on the health care reform bill and Nelson will vote for the bill. The agreement has to do with the anti-abortion language in the bill. From a quick read of the amendment (read at the link) it appears that the new language […]

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Hold It Hostage – Fix It Later

Filed in National by on December 18, 2009 12 Comments

Food for thought for both the “fix it later” crowd and the “kill the bill” crowd – don’t give up the fight. Use the leverage you’ve gained with your passionate outpouring. Hold the individual mandate hostage (this is something the insurance industry definitely wants): The only way I can see progressives being able to fix […]

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The Individual Mandate

Filed in National by on December 17, 2009 34 Comments

The fight over the public option has obscured other parts of the bill. Right now the individual mandate is getting a lot of attention. Ezra Klein explains the purpose of the individual mandate and the consequences if it’s removed: Right now, the insurer sets the rules. It collects background information on applicants and then varies […]

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Exactly

Filed in National by on December 17, 2009 28 Comments

Let’s cue up the circular firing squad. John Cole nails exactly what I’m feeling right now: About health care reform is that it is a primer for Banking and Financial Regulation. We get to look forward to watching the House bill get neutered down by the conservadems, the GOP will be aligned in unison with […]

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Do You Need A Pick-Me-Up?

Filed in National by on December 15, 2009 4 Comments

Do you need a pick-me-up? I know I do. I don’t like spending time arguing with people who have the same goals. Watch this video (edited) of a confrontation between John Thune and Al Franken. Franken to Thune – you’re not entitled to your own facts.

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Public Option And Medicare Buy-In Dropped

Filed in National by on December 14, 2009 127 Comments

Reports are just coming in that there’s a new “deal” on health care reform. President Lieberman wants only to give U.S. taxpayer money to big insurance companies but doesn’t care anything about lowering costs. Do you know the origin of the Medicare buy-in? Joe Lieberman. Joe Lieberman proposed a Medicare buy-in compromise as late as […]

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Carper Fights For His Base

Filed in Delaware, National by on December 12, 2009 22 Comments

Earlier this year Carper voted with the Republicans to block an amendment to allow Medicaid and Medicare to negotiate drug prices. It caused quite a stir because Carper railed against the unfairness of hurting the profits of drug companies. Carper is doing it again. Byron Dorgan has filed an amendment to allow drug reimportation from […]

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A Modest Healthcare Proposal

Filed in National by on December 8, 2009 6 Comments

I would love to see an interim law get passed for heathcare reform that drops all elected legislators from their government healthcare as of January 1st.  This will give legislators a few weeks to find their free-market healthcare options and sign up.  I wonder how many of them would be unable to get insurance due […]

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