Re: Medicare: Charles Rangel kicked BUTT on CSPAN

[Ellen Forradalom]

"The audacity of the Republicans to talk of bipartisanship...Seniors didn't ask for privatization....Seniors know more about this than many members of this House."

[La_Serpiente]

1. You go Rangel

I am going to bed...but I will see what happens in the morning. I hope enough Republicans break ranks. I also think Gephardt is going to talk. He is there.

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Jennifer Dunn (Pug-WA) is up now

"It's time to keep our promise...This bill will lower drug costs by passing along discounts...The poorest seniors in WA, 216,000, will pay nominal fees...We increase payments to doctors and hospitals, especially in rural communities...Requires Medicare to account for military retirees...This bill will save my state half a billion dollars...WA will receive $800MM to serve our seniors....Seniors will have access to inovative treatments..."

My four year old says the TV is bothering him, so I may not be able to report more.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. Pete Stark D-CA up

The GOP has been lying to us, about the war, gone back on word to give us three days... promised preventive care, but voted against it. They want to destroy Medicare, they'll lie to us, to seniors, for their own Messianic desire to destroy medicare.

[bvar22]

3. Rangel for President!!

Gotta love this guy!

[FrenchieCat]

21. Rangel has endorsed

General Clark as his presidential candidate. He was one of the "big dogs" that encouraged him to run.

Go Rangel, Go Clark!

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. Phil English R-PA

We have the last opportunity to provide a voluntary benefit...unprecedented expansion of entitlement...I'm convinced this is the most realistic compromise bill that Congress can put together....Some here make the perfect the enemy of the good...Do you support adding a Rx benefit or not? This bill helps all seniors in his district. It's time to put people ahead of politics. Vote yes.."

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. "Sander Levin D-MI

Rx want to force seniors to get drugs from private insurance, no set premiums, not fixed benefits. Their bill prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower prices.... The real GOP goal is to use the drug benefit as a vehicle to change and undermine Medicare...The deck is loaded against Medicare: $14B to HMOs....Vote No"

[Julien Sorel]

7. I'm still trying to make sense of this bill, but Rangel is one of the

very few people whose opinions I trust on something like this to the point where I could almost make a decision based on his word alone. The TV (CNN) was blaring all day today where I was at an offsite conference, so I watched it for the first time in months, and the AARP was running commercials every thirty minutes or so in support of this bill. Somebody wants it passed, bad.

[Ellen Forradalom]

8. Nancy Johnson R CT

28% of seniors will have no change in costs, the poor ones will be protected. 38 states provide Medicaid coverage for people whose income is 74% of poverty income. We cover people completely. Of the Medicare population, 57% are women. Half of them will pay no more than $2 for generics or $5 for prescription. This is a giant stride forward in women's health."

[Ellen Forradalom]

9. Ben Cardin D MD

I had hoped to vote for a real Rx benefit...No guaranteed benefit to seniors....relies on private insurance companies.....HMOs gone from Maryland....Denies govt tools that every other industrialized nation is using to bring down drug costs. It harms my seniors..2.7MM retirees will lost their Rx benefits. Cost-shifts onto seniors...We overpay HMOs with money we could use to help seniors.....It harms cancer treatments....I must oppose this conference report.

[Ellen Forradalom]

10. Nancy Johnson R CT

on pp 49-50 of report, there's a hard fallback.

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. JD Hayworth R-AZ

Reminds me of horror stories I heard when I first came to Congress....We are strengthening Medicare and preparing it for the 21st century, for the new influx of seniors, for the new changes in medicine. Rx drugs first line of defense for America's seniors. This recognizes that...We reach out to seniors most in need and to all seniors, immediate discounts...We've heard a lot of wailing about AARP endorsement...They say this legislation may not be perfect but it's a good place to start. Change comes incrementally. Let's adopt it.

[Ellen Forradalom]

12. Pete Stark; Jerry Kleczka D-WI

Pete quotes Tucscon newspaper: By doing nothing to address costs and by paying HMOs to compete with Medicare, it dooms Medicare down the road.

Jerry: I'm listing to seniors...one of my constituents tore up her AARP card....$100MM for special interests....The calls supporting are from the special interests....Lobbyists are urging support because they're getting money...none mention seniors! Who do you think is going to win? Seniors don't have a PAC, they don't give $10K in campaign contributions."

Nancy Johnson & Jerry getting into it: AARP is not a special interest; Jerry: American Medical association, american hosptial association...

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. Phil Gingrey R-GA

Bill not perfect...Medical reality is than Rx medication can help seniors live longer lives while saving money...Medicare agreement will be a great start..Take fiscally responsible step and pass Medicare conference report.

[Ellen Forradalom]

14. John Lewis D-GA

I stand in strong opposition...I believe Medicare is a sacred trust between the federal govt & Am. people. 38 years ago Republicans didn't like Medicare and they don't like it now! Newt Gingrich is back and his fingerprints are all over this bill. If this bill is passed it will be a dagger in the heart of Medicare as we know it. Medicare is a covenant with our seniors. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

[Ellen Forradalom]

15. Richard Neal D MA

Here we are again in the dark of night...Whether it's trade, or tax cuts, or privatization of Medicare, we do it in the dark of night!! GOP lead the charge to strip 400B from the budget....It was Rumsfeld and Ford who voted against the establishment of Medicare. You mark my words..we're going to be back here in a year. The next step is Social Security. That's where we headed. America is an egalitarian society because it was OUR PARTY who said no."

[theoceansnerves]

17. the vote

the vote to suspend the rules and limit debate was passed on strictly partisan lines. i hope this upcoming vote isn't, sigh.

[Ellen Forradalom]

16. John Peterson R PA

I was pleased to receive the Dem Gov of PA's endorsement of this plan. Those of you from rural America better think seriously about voting against. It'll help stabilize Medicare payments to rural areas. Urban areas have Medicare Plus Plus while rural areas have Medicare Minus Minus. Preserves cancer care.

He was corrected: Rendel does NOT support this program. Let the record reflect it.

[Ellen Forradalom]

18. Max Sandlin D TX

This bill is a sham, charade, a shameless trick on America's seniors. No coverage until 2006. Who knows what will happen then? Republicans' bill require seniors to pay $4K out of first $5K out of pocket. HMOs and drug companies won't let Medicare control prices. Their greed is what got us in this situation in the first place. This bill PROHIBITS the govt to negotiate lower prices with drug cos...They set the price, the seniors foot the bill...sweet deal...Can they go to Mexico or Canada?Oh no....Takes money out of cancer treatment.

[Ellen Forradalom]

19. Stephanie Tubbs Johnson D-Ohio:

Americans, you were not at the table. You were not represented. In the last 4 years, AARP made $608 MM in insurance...AARP has 10 year Medigap contracts worth 3.7 B dollars....Makes money selling member lists to insurance companies...they spent 7MM in support of this bill.

Stark: Al Hunt of WSJ says this bill is a blatant ripoff by HMOs

[Ellen Forradalom]

20. Ginny Brown-Waite R FL

My Dad said I'm a democrat because they protect the poor. The Democrats don't care about little old ladies that make $11K a year. .... African-Americans, Hispanics pass away more often from heart attacks...these drugs will be available under this plan...The poor and downtrodden will benefit from this plan.

[Ellen Forradalom]

22. Steny Hoyer D-MD

This Medicare report is sadly a missed opportunity. in 1986 Reagan, Tip O'Neill, minority leader Michael got together to save Social Security. GOP has rejected that model. It is long past time to provide for our seniors. This is not it. A feeble benefit that forces them to pay 80% of their costs. This party historically and now believes we should have done better by our seniors. Heritage foundation: The politically engineered premiums and benefits..are likely to unpopular with seniors. Majority leader just past: This conference report is 'bad news for seniors' ... and he wants to do away with Medicare!

[Ellen Forradalom]

23. Jerry Weller-R IL

Another step forward in modernizing Medicare...This legislation came out of bipartisan work..endorsed by AARP..1.7MM IL seniors benefit. They will have voluntary, affordable, available RX coverage. in 2006 every senior will have opportunity to see up to 75% savings if they choose to enroll, at $1/day. It's a good plan. I want to salute Sens Breaux and Baucus..Hospitals and community health care centers benefit...$400MM for IL in addition to reimbursements.

[Ellen Forradalom]

24. Dan Burton R-IN (WOW)

AARP does not speak for all seniors---when they find out they pay $4 out of first $5K they'll be so angry it'll be 1988 all over again. No provision to negotiate prices. Do we believe in free trade? We can import everything back and forth but not drugs because 'it's not safe.' There is no safety issue. We're not doing anything $70B payoff to big business to keep employees/retirees on their plans. Companies will dump retirees on federal plan."

Big round of applause!

[Ellen Forradalom]

25. Nancy Johnson R CT AGAIN

25% discount means you pay 25% less. Half of medicare recipients women. Half of them will be covered totally. A big powerful Rx bill that will help half of women.

[Ellen Forradalom]

27. Jim Nussle R IA

America's got a big decision tonight. Seniors will be really mad if they find out we failed one more time. This year is the first time we've been able to get it to this point because Prez has provided leadership. In Iowa we've been waiting 20 years for reimbursement fairness, for recruiting health care professionals, for seniors to have prevention, drug benefits. It's not perfect but it's on the road to making Medicare fiscally responsible. If we do nothing tonight, Medicare is going bankrupt. (My note: yeah what about those TAX CUTS???)

[Momof1]

26. I'm sorry : -) eom

[Ellen Forradalom]

28. Pete Stark; Rahm Emanual D-IL (Chicago)

Don't tell seniors something that isn't true! There's not

Conferees had 3 opportunities to lower Rx bill: competition; negotiation; more generics. The only immediate benefit is a political benefit that its supporters will get in 2004; seniors wait until 2006.

[Ellen Forradalom]

29. Rob Portman R-OH

It's a great program. It's voluntary. Companies are not providing retiree benefits the way they used to. It's happening. It puts $88B into helping people stay with employer plans. 2% of seniors will migrate from existing retiree plans into this. These things are happening already. Poor seniors will get Rx coverage no premium, no deductible, only nominal copay. 35% of seniors. Some of us come from districts where it's as much as 60%. For the rest, more that half of their drug cost will be covered. This is why AARP supports this.

[Ellen Forradalom]

30. Mike Ross D Arkansas

Stark: Many many poor seniors will pay more. They don't understand their own bill.

As owner of small town family pharmacy, I see seniors who can't afford meds. This bill doesn't do it. We decide if we side with drug companies or seniors. GOP brings up a bill that prohibits gov't from negotiating prices. This is medicare fraud.

[Ellen Forradalom]

31. Joseph Crowley, D NY

In 1965 with a Dem Prez, House, Senate, Medicare was founded. Now with a GOP Prez, House, Senate you say you want to save a program you never supported in the first place? Give me a break! I will say I voted against the dismantling of this great program.

[theoceansnerves]

33. heh

crowley was pissed!

[Oracle]

32. CA Senator Dianne Feinstein, call her...

For years, Democratic lawmakers have been working to make sure that
seniors have access to prescription drugs and reasonable healthcare.
Now, in an attempt to score political points, the Republican
Congressional leadership is pushing through a bill that appears to
offer a solution. Actually, the bill undermines the entire Medicare
program, pushing people into the very HMOs which contribute heavily to
Republican lawmakers and barring the government from negotiating for
lower drug prices.

Given the danger to seniors, one might expect that the millions-strong
American Association of Retired People (AARP) to be on the case.
But after huge contributions from pharmaceutical companies and HMOs,
and pressure from Republican lawmakers, the AARP is selling out its
membership and backing the bill.

In response, 85 members of Congress (so far) have canceled their AARP
memberships, or announced that they will never join (if they're not
yet old enough to be eligible). <1> Today, we urge you to do the
same. If the AARP won't stand up for the elderly when it comes to
health care, what good is it? You can reach the AARP at:

CA Branch: 626-585-9500
National hotline: [phone]

If you're a member, tell them you're quitting.

If you're too young to be eligible, tell them you'll never join.

You also may want to let your Representative and Senators know that
you're keeping the AARP accountable. You could also tell them
that you expect them to demand real health care reform -- not this
industry-backed bill.

You can reach your members of Congress at:

Representative Mike Thompson
DC Phone: [phone]

Senator Dianne Feinstein
DC Phone: [phone]

Senator Barbara Boxer
DC Phone: [phone]


Please let us know how you feel about this -- we're collecting
individual comments to share with the media, at:

http://moveon.org/aarp.html?id=2136-3256631-wrmAbket4qguFI_1bvQfuA

[Ellen Forradalom]

34. Amo Houghton R NY

Medicare needs an update; seniors need help with drug costs. This bill does both. Who are we trying to help? Are they being helped? Yes. Probably not enough, but we don't know yet. Hospitals being helped. Doctors being helped? yes. Will companies be helped? Yes. Will those purchasing drugs be helped? Yes. I rate the bill a B+. No bill before this body can get an A, not with the attack/counterattack process we use.

[Ellen Forradalom]

35. Nick Lampson D TX

Stark: Albany Times Union: Seniors can least afford a massive overhaul without doing the research.

We don't know what all is in this bill. Seniors I've heard from overwhelmingly oppose the bill. Privatization will cause Medicare to wither. They are astounded that there's no provision to negotiate prices. They're going to be driven back to HMOs that dumped them.

[Ellen Forradalom]

36. Darlene Hooley D OR

We have lost sight of the issue: the high cost of drugs. This bill prohibits way to lower costs of drugs for seniors. Coverage comes at a high price they cannot pay. Go back to negotiating and give seniors what they need.

[Ellen Forradalom]

37. Johnson R CT again

rebutting Hooley

This bill brings benefits to Oregon.

[Ellen Forradalom]

38. Maurice Hinchey D NY

41,000 in CT are likely to lose employer sponsored coverage.

As soon as GOP has control of WH and Congress, they move to destroy Medicare. Only $1 of $16 will be spent to provide drugs for senior citizens. The rest of the money goes to drug and insurance companies. GOP engaging in price fixing. Prices can only go UP. Made sure you can't import drugs or negotiate lower prices.

(Applause.)

[Ellen Forradalom]

39. Silvestre Reyes D TX

I am opposed because would harm 77,000 medicare beneficiaries in my district. 1/5 of seniors in my district live in poverty.

[Ellen Forradalom]

40. Marion Berry D ARK

Under this bill the drug cos are a lot more equal than the seniors. Why would be prohibit the negotiation of lower prices? We serve the drug cos or serve our seniors. I choose to serve our seniors. I will not be a part of the effort of drug cos to rob senior citizens of America. (Applause.)

[Ellen Forradalom]

41. Rangel's Back

When you excluded Democrats participating in this conference, you excluded 20 members of HIsp. caucus, 39 members of Black caucus, the Asian caucus. Dingell was excluded. I am inviting him to manage the second half of the time. We should be ashamed that he was excluded from the conference.

[Oracle]

42. Representative Mike Thompson CA-D

DC Phone: [phone]

[Ellen Forradalom]

43. Nancy Johnson again

This is a great bill. That's why AARP is behind it. New support for seniors with chronic illness. 1/3 of our seniors have 5 or more chronic illnesses and use 80% of Medicare money. Rx benefit and Disease Mgt. Program helps seniors' chronic illness from progressing. This helps minority communities. This bill is an historic advancement. Improves quality of health care. Ensures that Medicare can deliver 21st century health care. Without this bill, rural areas can't attract physicians, lose small hospitals. Important payer package. Restores fairness to payer system. Cuts prices. I urge my colleagues to vote for this.

[Ellen Forradalom]

44. Bill Tauzin R LA

told anecdote about son. "Freedom is meaningless without choice." If someone else is making the choices, you're not free. We're talking about the Greatest Generation, who fought for us to be free. So far we've not given them choice in health care. We will give you one plan. Every despot, tyrant, feudal lord took the attitude that the peasants weren't smart enough to make choices for themselves. The essence of this debate is whether we are freedom-loving enough to give seniors some real choice in health care coverage.

[Ellen Forradalom]

45. Aw jeez, Taubin brought a picture of his mom to the debate.

[Oracle]

46. Kick!

:kick:

[Ellen Forradalom]

47. Oooh, my fingers are getting tired.

that's a lot of transcribing. Plus, my laptop battery is almost out. Tune into CSPAN for the rest.

[oxymoron]

48. Thanks for the report.

Go give those digits a rest. =)

[Ellen Forradalom]

54. I'm baaaack

I got a power cord, and this is way too important.

[Ellen Forradalom]

49. Dingell opening up can of whupass

This is about saving the most successful federal program ever. This plan has no competition whatsoever re: RX price costs. No wonder they want to this at 2:00 in the morning. No wonder they wouldn't allow Dems into meeting! Slippery and dishonest program to destroy Medicare as we know it. Gingrich, Dick Army want to destroy medicare. Seniors who depend on it will no longer have the assurance. They'll have to belong to HMOs. This proposal has a huge donut hole. Denies seniors care

This is a sham. It is a bad bill. It threatens medicare. It is unfair, improper, dangerous piece of legislation conceived in the darkness of night.

[Ellen Forradalom]

50. Michael Bilirakis R FL

When Dems were in control, they didn't do anything. We do something. We target $400B where it can do the most good. Seniors will only be responsible for small amount of cost sharing once out of pocket drug costs exceed $3600 annually. It helps the poorest and sickest. Bill contains 2 provision: improved reimbursements to doctors; coverage for compehensive physical upon entering program. this does not privatize medicare, it improves it. We're not pushing seniors into HMOs. We're offering seniors voluntary choices. Beginning of new better Medicare.

[Ellen Forradalom]

51. Sherrod Brown D OH

Bush said Medicare is the binding commitment of a caring society. Our Medicare is equitable, dependable, flexible, cost-efficient. Bill takes $20B out of constituents pockets and gives to HMO. Their coverage is sure to wither on the vine. Bill leaves seniors with high drug costs; puts retiree coverage of 12M seniors at risk; gives money to HMOs who have no controls or incentives. Big win for drug companies; they helped write the bill. A big win for insurance companies. Drug and insurance companies gave tens of milliions of dollars to Bush and Republican leadership.

[Ellen Forradalom]

52. [didn't get his name] R NJ

NJ offered a generous RX program. NJ wins big. We get millions to strengthen our plan. State will save 2.8 billion dollars because seniors will get drug coverage from this plan. $756MM to NJ hospitals. $5B in federal aid to NJ. This report is a big important victory for NJ in congress. Shame on NJ Dems for not recognizing this.

[Ellen Forradalom]

53. Henry Waxman D CA

Makes Seniors buy private insurance to buy drugs or join HMOs. Lets insurance companies decide how much to charge and what drugs to cover. Leaves seniors holding the bag. Makes dangerous changes in medicare. This bill is based on the P.O.V. that Medicare was a mistake. Much as I want Rx drug coverage for seniors, this inadequate benefit is not worth destroying Medicare.

[Ellen Forradalom]

55. Phil Gingrey R GA EWWWW he's an OB-GYN!

AARP, and 330,000 physicians of AMA, AHA, Rural Hospital. Assoc., United States Chamber of Commerce are for it. Who could be against it? Obstructionist Democrats. Why? Because they want to embarass Bush and Republican leadership, not do right thing. To suggest that this bill is nothing but a windfall for drug companies. Who is going to provide drugs? Chocolate-chip cookie companies? give me a break? Give up Mediscare rhetoric.

[Ellen Forradalom]

56. Frank Pallone D NJ

GOP rhetoric is cynical. Trying to fool seniors. Seniors will lose choice of doctors because of HMOs. There is no meaningful benefit here. They'll shell out more out of pocket. Discounts? What a joke! No cost containment in this bill! No reimportation in this bill. The only reason Medicare is going broke is because of GOP tax policy. You're trying to fool seniors. you're going to limit them to a voucher. They can't stay in traditional Medicare. they'll get RX benefit immediately. Doesn't even take effect until 2006! 1.2MM beneficiares in NJ. 91,000 will lose employer RX benefits, 188000 will lose premium support and traditional Medicare.

[Ellen Forradalom]

57. Taubin

$600/senior for drug costs (1200/couple) Defined contribution next year and year after.

[Ellen Forradalom]

58. Fred Upton R MI

Employers are already cutting back or dropping retiree coverage. Under this bill, Govt will partner with employers--subsidize up to 28% of drug costs. Thousands of retirees will have no health without the incentive in this bill. This is voluntary. Will this plan help her constituent's mom's $600/month extra costs? yes.

[Ellen Forradalom]

59. Anna Eshoo D CA

Honor thy mother and thy father. The elders of our nation. those who have built the country. I do not believe that the process in this house for this bill is someething to be proud of. If you don't honor the elders' representatives, it is a disgrace. It's dark, it's bad, it's wrong, and it's set a very bad tone. We love Medicare on this side. You can't drive a wedge between us and Medicare. This is about rewriting the contract between our mothers & fathers and our nation. My grandparents never said, God bless the insurance companies, they said God bless America.

[Syrinx]

61. She was awesome!

passonate!

[Ellen Forradalom]

60. Greg Walden R OR

My parents died before this Congress could provide Rx care. in 2006, 129,000 OR seniors will get medicare rx.

$600 in annual assistance plus a discount card for poor seniors (12K/year or less)

There are 151,000 seniors in OR will get more generous coverage. No premium no deductible, minimal copay.

Portland Oregonian has endorsed this program. My state facing fiscal challenges. I helped implement Oregon health plan. This will return $279MM to Oregon.

[Ellen Forradalom]

62. Eliot Engel D NY

This bill breaks my heart. It is not a bipartisan bill, it is a Republican fraud. They want to replace Medicare with voucheres and HMOs. Destruction and privatization of Soc Sec is next. We don't have money for real Rx benefit because of tax cuts. Hodge podge of benefits will confuse seniors. Seniors want a real drug bill. They want it to begin now. 15 years ago, my mother said, Give us a Rx drug benefit. My mother said tonight, Vote against this sham bill. Shame on you for ramming through this bill in the middle of the night.

[Syrinx]

63. you could tell he loves his mother when he spoke of her

Not like Tauzin.

[Ellen Forradalom]

64. Kevin Brady R TX

Medicare dangerously outdated. Medicare refuses to pay $80/mo for Lipitor but will pay $20K for hospital costs for heart attack. Medicare must be strengthened for future generations. Bottom line, we can invest a dime now or pay a dollar later when we pay for emergency care that we could have prevented.

[Wwagsthedog]

73. This puppet of delay is my congressman.

He is a right wing zealot who will do what the repug leadership tells him to do. Comes across as reasonable but rarely deviates from delay.

[Ellen Forradalom]

65. Gene Green D TX

I oppose. Bill does nothing to drive down costs. Prohibits Medicare from negotiating prices. bill has huge donut hole, force seniors to pay all between 2200 to 5100 dollars.

[Ellen Forradalom]

66. Time remaining: 10 min on GOP side, 16 min on Dem side.

like a football game

[whirlygigspin]

68. Ted Strikland D-Ohio

Was pissed! yihaw

[Ellen Forradalom]

67. [oog I missed his name. He was good]

This bill was written by and for pharma companies. Blue Dogs including Breaux and Baucus met with Tommy Thompson. Asked him, why is negotiation prohibited? Breaux says, it's in there because Pharma insisted that it be in there. Shame! Shame! Shame on you!

[Ellen Forradalom]

69. diana degette D CO

this bill will do harm. It will harm Helen Lay, a constituent. This bill has something for everyone but the seniors. They have good coverage through reitirement plan. They spend $800 year on drugs. Without insurance, they would spend $12,000. It would encourage employers to end Rx coverage, forcing seniors into substandard plans. This bill prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower prices. congress must do no harm.

[Habibi]

71. Wow, forradalom!

I can't believe you just posted all that (and sat through all that!) Thanks so much!

[slaveplanet]

70. Thanks Forradalom- Stellar job N/T

[Tatiana]

72. Agreed! BIG THANKS to Forradalom!

n/t

[joanski01]

74. A huge great big

thank you to forradalom. It took great fortitude to do what you just did. Thank you, thank you.