Bipartisan Health Reform Negotiations on Life Support

I don't think we'll ever see real change in regards to healthcare reform. Again...big business with rule for the Republicans and keep it tied up while the Democrats will aim for goals they can't reach nor get agreement on.

mary... i have to aqgree with you. we need lower health care costs however and the most significant change which should occur is tort reform.in my experience at least and probably more than 10% of every doctors bottom line goes to malpractice insurance. reform that and you will see rates go down as every doctor will not feel compelled to test for every disease known and unknown to man in order to not get sued by somebody who likely didnt pay for the service in the first place.

The Dems should go for it. Obstructionist GOPers will say no to any proposal. They're in chaos, desperate for any supposed political advantage. To this know-nothing crowd, that means NO! NOTHING! The Ted Stevens approach writ large.

The focus should be on the American people. Healthcare as it stands is critical and getting worse. We have to fix it now--there won't be another chance anytime soon. Repubs are not bargaining in good faith but rather from desperation, and their main constituents are the insurance companies -- their beloved private-sector bureaucrats. If the oligarchs can't make obscene profits from something, these guys believe, it ain't American. Which is one reason the GOP has fallen off the political cliff.

Let the Dems do the right thing, and do it alone if need be. And by all means let's have a public option. That's the only way we can possibly get cost containment. Don't lose this opportunity -- do it now!

Certainly we will know who backs those who oppose reform.

This was the Bush/Rove fix for healthcare, he came out with it a couple years ago and then McCain picked it up for his campaign. Anyone that thinks sending more money to Washington will fix the problem needs their head examined. Not only taxing your income for healthcare but also any your employer contributes. How much money do you think is spent on each year, its way up there. Under Bush’s plan the people that are packing the load with inflated premiums are the ones to be taxed. This could put some in a higher tax bracket and it will definitely be less on your check. I found it hard to believe that Repubs would even think about another tax! I say find another way like stopping the abuse in Medicare and Medicaid.

here is an AP article...."The wife of a senator playing a lead role on a national health care overhaul sits on the boards of four health care companies, one of several examples of lawmakers with ties to the medical industry. Jackie Clegg Dodd, wife of Sen. Chris Dodd, serves on the boards of Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cardiome Pharma Corp., Brookdale Senior Living, and Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals, a financial disclosure report the senator released Friday shows."

Passing a health care bill that will make no difference in the delivery of health care is no reform. Just as the stimulus bill which failed to stem the tide of unemployment provided no stimulus to the economy or a boost to employment. The stock market is tanking again and the 401k which seemed like it was improving by 10% has lost all the gain. In the mean time the annual deficit has tripled and individuals too owe more money than they ever did. Congress can take a permanent recess because they are irrelevant in spearheading real change that will actually benefit main street. Unless there is a drastic spending cut we the people should not support any new spending.

Yes, if you are for this proposal and your elected official votes against it. Let's hold them accountable. I think it's a slap in the face they have Gov't healthcare or whatever but, we can't get it.

How obviously sef serving is anyone proclaiming health care reform is wasteful spending.

What great bipartisan alternative on health care does McCain have? That's right; he wanted to tax health benefits...

Sara Palin has no chance in hell of being our president,shes a good person but not pres. material!!! I get pissed off everytime I go to Tucson, Ariz. and see miles of 30t million dollar aircraft sitting in very large fields, build 10 or so less of them a year and fix the health care problem!!!!!! Give our new president a chance, changes HAVE to be maid!!

I have friends and customers in both Canada and England, who are very entrenched in government run healthcare programs. I have personally talked with people you have waited close to a year for an MRI. If you have been watching the news, you would see that Canada has a shortage of doctors. Ask yourself why. Who wants to go to school for ten years and then have the government tell you how much you are going to make and how you are going to treat your patients. My guess is that they either got out of medicine or emigrated to the U.S. Has anyone mentioned that the Canadians and Europeans also have a 50% tax rate to pay for these services.

If you do not think that will eventually happen to us here in the U.S., you are the king or queen of fantasy land.

This administration is pushing government into almost every area of our lives. If this is allowed to continue, you will not recognize this country in ten years. This is the biggest power grab I have seen in my lifetime. If you think that government is here to take care of you, then I am sure you are pleased with what is happening. I am not.

Mary Lynn

BS, Mary. I'm glad you support the insurance companies. I don't.

"Has anyone mentioned that the Canadians and Europeans also have a 50% tax rate to pay for these services." - The tax rate pays for a host of services and health care is just one of them. In the U.S. we pay pay twice as much per capita than Canadians or Europeans do and medical related debt is the second leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. What do we get for all this expense? On average the Canadians and the Europeans have longer life expectancies and lower infant death rates than we do. Both stats correlate with quality, affordable primary care. We need to change our system now - its killing us.

If the Health care industry is spending $1.4 million a day to defeat Obama's heatl care plan.
Can you imagine how healt costs will skyrocket of Obamas plan doesn't pass? Their going to get back what they are spending.

47 million americans with out insurance policy maybe you mast take look the canadian healthcare we canadians love it and we have doctors do not let the propaganda of insurance companies to fool you

47 million americans with out insurance policy maybe you mast take look the canadian healthcare we canadians love it and we have doctors do not let the propaganda of insurance companies to fool you

It's so sad and pathetic that "supporters" keep nattering the party line about "Republicans + Big Business." Both sides are so entrenched in Big Business they don't sneeze without permission from a CEO. The Democrats are just as motivated by the smell of power, prestige and status. And who created Big Insurance? Edward Kennedy, 1973 Health Maintenance Organization Act. Gave them power by law, reinforced in 1978. So keep nattering, the Dems are just as much to blame...

What part of "one-party" rule dont you people understand?

The republicans CANNOT stop the Dems from doing this! If you are foolish enough to believe that having the gov't run universal healthcare, go for it. In the end your going to end up paying MORE for LESS.

Just remember, this is the same group who told us unemployment would not go over 9% if we passed the great "Stimulator".

The same group that wrote the "stimulator", rushing thru it, then somehow "someone" rewrote the language so that the AIG bonuses were legal. That got us 2 days of Barney Frank's pathetic fake outrage and stupid hearings.

This is the same group who is telling you we need the Cap&Trade/Climate/Jobs bill (remember its a jobs bill now because the "Stimulator" has not created the jobs it was supposed to!)

Yep....Im sure they finally get it right when it comes to healthcare!!!

And remember...Obama promised ALL this wonderful stuff.....WITH NO INCREASES IN YOUR TAXES!!!!

Hey Georgie.... what a lousy article... why are YOU still blaming it on Republicans... The Demons have FULL control of BOTH houses....... the Demons can do what they want.... but we all KNOW they are SCARED to do it because the Demons will have to take FULL responsibilty for what ever piece of crap law they pass...... cant wait for the 2010 elections..... heheheheh

Does Obama even live in the same America as everyone else? The country is hemmoraging 500,000 jobs a month. We are in "The Great Recession". Companies are scared to death of hiring anyone because of the threat of 'cap and trade' (thanks Obama) and that they will be taxed and forced to pay for all employees health care (again thanks a lot Obama). Having been a consultant for 10 years I know this is supposed to be the 'busy time' when companies hire (before letting everyone go at Christmas laying them off). Well guess what they arent hiring and there will still be a huge Christmas layoff. When no one is buying stuff (real estate, cars, retail products in general) in January February 2010...what do you think will happen to the stock market? Unemployed people will max out the credit card to give junior & sis a decent christmas. Then what? When April 2010 comes and we are at 15% unemployment what do you think Uncle Sam will do to recoup his missing income tax revenue. All I can say is save every dime you have and be very thrifty we are in for a heck of a downturn, massive tax increases and inflation by then.

Wow if the government can keep cigarettes and alcohol legal and tax them to pay for whatever why cant they make weed legal and tax marijuana to pay for their bloated healthcare and stimulus bills? I was just wondering out loud...

Last month my daughter had gotten her tonsils out. The Ins. Co. refused to pay the $4000.00 because they said it was a pre existing condition. They said because she had strep throat to many times they would not pay for the surgery. I paid the $4000.00 out of pocket. My only other option was to wait till my daughter was in so much pain and go to an emergency room. We know that this happens many times and we end up paying for it anyway. In my opinion these companies should not be traded in the stock market. The pressure to produce profits hinders service. It is simple math, the more claims that they deny the more money they make. I would love to see the money in contributions that our leaders are going to collect from these companies to stall or vote against health care reform just like they were paid to pass the medicare bill. The leader of this bill left congress after the bill was passed and became the CEO of a pharmaceutical company with a 2 million dollar salary. I love how they start to spin this as socialism, because fear is their greatest strength. You say that you would hate to see this country in 10 years if this bill passes, I say I would hate to see it if it didn't. I know people in Canada, England, France, and Germany and they don't complain about having health care, they brag about it. Four years ago i needed Tagament and was shocked to hear from my pharmacy that it was $80.00 with insurance.(300.00 without insurance for a months supply) I called my mother in Europe and asked her to send me a 4 month supply. I paid $20.00 total where it would have cost me $320.00 with insurance. Great Plan!!! This is what our leaders gave us and they got paid very well for it. George Bush got about $850,000.00. Leaders from both sides got PAID!!!! If this bill doesn't pass in the next year it will never pass. I leave you with a quote from George Bush during his re-election campaign, "We have turned the corner on health care reform, and we will never turn back" And he never did!!! Don't be afraid of this.

Hey Greg at least you got to pick which doctor took her tonsils out and she didnt have to wait 6 months for doctor beaureucrat to have them removed. Not only that but if there are complications or a problem later on you still get to sue the doctor too! Be glad your taxes arent 50% of your paycheck too while youre at it. $4000 divided by 12 months is $333 a month you have to pay. Do you want to pay half your paycheck for someone elses kids tonsils?

Shut down the worthless parasitic republican created HMOs. It's a phony baloney market. Put the people who work in HMOs to work digitising medical records. At least they'll have productive jobs. No more 10 thousand a day for an ICU or 75 thousand for a prosthetic limb. It's time a patient get what's best for them instead of what's best for the stockholders.