AP Sources: Senate Finance Committee to drop public healthcare option »
Posted By Beau7890 4 months, 3 weeks ago in NewsAfter weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits a requirement for businesses to offer coverage to their workers and lacks a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors, according to numerous officials.
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Beau7890
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Beau78904 months, 3 weeks ago
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I've been in favor of making some compromises in order to get a healthcare reform plan with a public option passed. But this is where I draw the line.
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If anyone else feels the same, here's where you can find contact information for your senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/... -
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Beau78904 months, 3 weeks ago
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From the article:
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The senators involved in the negotiations are all members of the Senate Finance Committee, and include Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the chairman, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the senior Republican. Others participating are Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, and Republicans [Olympia] Snowe [of Maine] and Mike Enzi of Wyoming. -
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Beau78904 months, 3 weeks ago
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Some elements of the Senate Finance Committee proposal that are likely to disturb medical practitioners, pro-business types and proponents of tax-free (Medical) Flexible Savings Accounts:
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Much of the cost of the proposal would come from curbing the growth in fees to insurance companies and other providers under Medicare.
But congressional aides in both parties as well as lobbyists said a proposal limiting Flexible Savings Accounts to $2,000 annually is also a strong possibility. FSAs permit the use of pretax income to pay for items such as health care and child care.
Negotiators also are considering fees on the manufacturers of medical devices and on the makers of both brand name and generic drugs coming onto the market.
To cut down on the cost of the bill, the bipartisan group may include only one year of a long-term plan to adjust reimbursement fees under Medicare. -
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Beau78904 months, 3 weeks ago
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The proposal removes the requirement for businesses to offer healthcare coverage to employees; omits penalties on businesses that don't offer coverage; and leaves open whether companies would be required to reimburse Medicaid, the government health care program for the poor, for the cost of covering any employees enrolled.
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Additionally, the article says:
"Nor was it clear what, if any, provision the proposal would include to make sure companies did not simply withdraw insurance as a fringe benefit to millions of workers who now have it." -
mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned3 Replies
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sprzats4 months, 3 weeks ago
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From what I've read here, I don't see a compromise, it's more like a charade. As far as I'm concerned this is just dirty politics at work here. Without the government option it isn't a real reform. They are trying to push this through and I think that they are playing us for a bunch of suckers. I hope that everyone will take the time to use the link that Beau has provided and let these mealy mouthed politicians know that this is unacceptable and remind them that they work for US.
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These so called secret meetings that are mentioned really pi$$ me off too. This should all be televised. We all have the right to know what is being discussed and see exactly what is going on. Rich Neal is probably sick of hearing from me but he's going to hear it again and I hope you guys will do the same. -
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fsev414 months, 3 weeks ago
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How do the working folks counter the millions of dollars being funneled to these "lawmakers" every day by the insurance and pharam industries? Lobbying by corporations must be outlawed. There is no violation of the first amendment as many might claim as the corporations are not people. Additionally they should not be allowed to contribute to campaign funds. They have only the rights specifically given them in law. It's time that the rights of the electorate supersede the rights of big business.
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Beau78904 months, 3 weeks ago
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We can't counter the money corporate lobbyists give to campaigns, but we can let our representatives know that if they support a "compromise" that gets rid of a public plan, removes incentives and penalties that might encourage businesses to offer coverage to employees, and mandates that voters buy their own health insurance, they'll lose votes in their next election.
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Regarding your point about contributions from lobbies being outlawed, and that ban not being a violation of the proscription against limiting free speech, I agree completely. Unfortunately the Supreme Court doesn't. It equated speech with money in a case over 30 years ago, and doesn't appear likely to feel differently today.
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Newperson4 months, 3 weeks ago
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Thanks Beau.
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I have been so busy today trying to get my account fixed that i would have missed this had you not posted it.
This is not compromise this is crap!!!
Some people just don't get it. This country needs Healthcare not the same old or even worse.-
Beau7890Comment removed: Spam
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Eagle_Eye4 months, 3 weeks ago
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Big problem we have seen is that a lot of employers are cutting back workers hours to about 34 a week so they don't HAVE to have insurance for there workers. This is an area many don't think about, when uninsured they think about people being jobless, not the people that have had their hours cut back just to keep their job but lose their benefits.
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It is a mess and all I want is the same insurance plans that our elected government officials get
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