Forget bipartisanship: Democrats may go it alone on health care reform

[andym]

Finally some good news from the Senate:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090622/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul


I think now is the time to really push this idea when calling your representatives! We need the public plan to hold down costs and get universal care.

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Emboldened by polls that show public backing for a government health insurance plan, Democrats are moving to make it a politically defining issue in the debate over the future of medical care. Behind-the-scenes attempts to get a deal with Republicans on nonprofit co-ops as an alternative to a public plan have led only to frustration, complains a key Democrat. He and his colleagues may have to go it alone, said Sen. Chuck Schumer.

The co-ops were seen as perhaps the last hope for compromise on a contentious issue that threatens any remaining prospects of bipartisan support for President Barack Obama's sweeping plan to remake the health care system. "I don't think I could say with a straight face that this (co-op proposal) is at all close to a nationwide public option," Schumer, D-N.Y., told The Associated Press on Sunday. "Right now, this co-op idea doesn't come close to satisfying anyone who wants a public plan."

Most Democrats want the final health care bill to include a government sponsored plan that for the first time would be open to middle-class workers and their families. It would be offered alongside private plans through a new kind of insurance purchasing pool called an exchange. Individuals and small businesses would be able to buy coverage through exchanges, but eventually businesses of any size might be able to join.

Proponents say the option of a public plan in the marketplace would put a brake on costs and check the power of insurers. But Republicans, insurers and many business leaders say a government plan could drive private insurance companies out of business.

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BTW, I agree with the Republicans, insurers and many business leaders about one thing, a government plan really could drive some private insurance companies out of business. Unlike them I think that would be a good thing. Those that survive and adapt (probably the non-profits like Blue Shield of CA) could offer premium insurance on top of the government's plan.

Another point is that we already have non-profit insurers and co-ops, in fact according to the data from the Alliance for Advancing Non Profit Health Care, 48% of Americans with private health insurance from organizations insuring greater than 100,000 people are covered by non-profit plans. Yet costs are still spiraling out of control. We obviously need something more powerful than a co-op to contain costs and take on the additional financial burden of universal coverage.

[DrToast]

1. I hope so

But I would think they have their own polling data on this. Did they really need to wait for public polling to decide to push for this?

If Republicans oppose something so popular, it could hurt them further in 2010.

[dkf]

2. What happened to the Republican line about how Government

couldn't do anything more efficiently than the private sector?

I guess that was a load a bull after all.

[avaistheone1]

3. If the Democrats go for reconciliation protection they need only 50 votes.

Reconciliation protection means filibusters are not allowed. Democrats (and the Independents who caucus with them) now number 58 Senators (with a 59th, Al Franken, on the way from Minnesota). Consequently, Democrats need only hold on to 50 votes to pass health care reform legislation. Vice President Joe Biden would be happy to provide the 51st vote. Not a single Republican vote would be needed.

http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/reconciliation-puts-health-care-reform-on-fast-track-and-gop-in-bind/

[vaberella]

5. But they won't even get that. There are 13 Conservadems.

This doesn't count how many may be on the take since a few non-conservadems didn't support Sanders bill to cap credit cards. A good 26 Dems didn't support his bill. The same could hit health care reform, let's be realistic.

[DrToast]

8. Let them vote on it...

Let's see who is actually going to oppose it when it comes up for a vote.

[vaberella]

10. Fine. However, many have already stated early their position. n/t

[old mark]

13. Good - they will REALLY be unnecessary......nt

[lindisfarne]

4. It's about time. When the Repubs yell "bipartisanship" the Dems can yell "the public wants it".

About whether the health insurance industry can survive - of course it can. Perhaps with smaller profits. Germany has a total population of 80 million and not all purchase private insurance - and the industry is highly regulated. Yet it survives.

[vaberella]

6. I'm really getting tired of the stupidity of some of these writers.

I'm just fed up. People sit here and think well if the Dems vote right, as though they always do, you'll get health care reform and everything would be great. Because the people who are obstructing us are Republicans.

I have news, in the case of health care reform it's fellow Democrats or Republican clowns dressed up as Dems within the Senate who are obstructionists and I'm also tired that there isn't article after article or nor enough people on this site talking about that.

People say Obama needs to lead or we should leave the Repubs behind. No one seems to see that our biggest threat for change is Conservadems and various other Dems with self interests (that is not the will of the American people) will try to hurt us.

Sanders tried to pass a bill to cap credit card APR rates early on. ONLY 33 Senator said Aye. 33 Senators said Aye...can people wrap their head around that. All the Repubs said NO. And 26 Democrats said NO. That is what health care is up against.

If people can't get that then we'll fail anyway. They are picking the wrong battles. So many are quick to hold Obama's feet to the fire, or they are so quick to throw Repubs out the door (as they should be) but not many have stood and said our problem are bloody Democrats in Congress who don't give a fly fuck about the American people. And there are so many of them it's disgusting.

______________________________________________________________________________


Although I found the article fine, overall it was lacking a clear grasp of the issue.

[DrToast]

7. I'd be careful trying to equate those two votes

I'm not in favor of a credit card interest rate cap, but I'm in favor of the public option.

[vaberella]

9. Explain why a no on the cap?

The cap was to protect the people for if they get one late fee they're interest rate didn't go from 10% to 31% as a punitive rate.

I even asked my bank when they did that to me, keeping in mind that I found out it was their error and they then reversed everything. In any event they stated very clearly to me that the sudden jump was punitive. But why do a move like that when in the 4 years I have been with them I have never been late and I either pay in full or larger than the requested minimum.

This is what they're doing to millions of people in the nation and many of whom are depending on an extended credit in the mean time.

I also look to that cap because of the 13 Conservadems---surprisingly 5-6 of them voted Yay on the Cap but others didn't. Not only that, they could have advocated a this to be in affect until a set period---rather than just shutting it down.

[RC]

11. You are assuming Non-Profits are run honorably.

No they're not. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota spend over a quarter of a million dollars for a junket for its upper management and sales force and their partners, while at the same time was asking for a 18% rate hike. The also managed to kill a ND legislative bill to look into how well they were adhering to the laws pertaining to Non-Profits.

[Thrill]

12. Why not? The people are behind them. Look at the polls

[annabanana]

14. If the small print indicates they re talking about a REAL public

option... about healthCARE and not healthINSURANCE.. then I'm on board.