STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE’S WORK ON HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

[ProSense]

STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE’S WORK ON HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

"Thanks to the unyielding commitment of Senator Baucus and members of the Senate Finance Committee, we have reached another milestone in our effort to pass health insurance reform. Over the past two weeks, the Committee has engaged in long hours of thoughtful deliberation and vigorous debate. They have considered hundreds of amendments, and incorporated many of the best ideas from both parties. And they have shown a spirit of civility, a seriousness of purpose, and a willingness to compromise that embodies our democratic process at its very best.

"The Finance Committee’s work is the culmination of tireless efforts over the better part of this year by the five committees and many members of Congress involved in health reform – holding numerous hearings and bi-partisan meetings; reaching out to stakeholders across the spectrum; and striving to find common ground. As a result of this work, we are now closer than ever before to finally passing reform that will offer security to those who have coverage and affordable insurance to those who don’t. We have a long way to go, but I am confident that as we move forward, we will continue to engage with each other as productively as the members of the Finance Committee, and will get reform passed this year."

Democrats 5, Republicans 0

[Oregone]

1. "As a result of this work, we are now closer than ever before to finally passing reform that..."

Hehe....thanks Baucus

Actors, exit stage left

[Autumn]

2. Nice statement. n/t

[Vincardog]

3. When are we going to kill mandates and include a robust immediate PO?

[Dr Fate]

10. "Keep your powder dry" n/t

n/t

[IndianaGreen]

14. More 'Change You Can Believe In'

Let us pray to our gods.

[joeycola]

15. It is past time for the WH to publicly fight for a strong Public option!!

[jbnow]

16. When we look at the other bills. This one has to merge with Kennedy bill

Then merged bill has to merge with the merged bill from 3 house bills.

None of that could happen till this bill got done. This bill sucks.
This could be good unless this Baucus crap somehow dominates the merges like it has dominated recent news.
We'd all feel better if all of the bills had gotten the same amount of publicity going through the process of becoming a bill...if we had heard the debates on other committees where the "good guys" won.

Hoping that those who want a good bill are also figuring out how to make them deficit neutral...letting bush 'temporary tax cuts' expire and so many other things that could fairly raise funds. (Like hedge funds that made billions off our misery not just paying 15% on their profits!)

[budkin]

4. What a bunch of bullshit!

[Mass]

5. " the Committee has engaged in long hours of thoughtful deliberation and vigorous debate"

Like when they " refused" the public option, or gave money for abstinence-only program, or opened the door to high-copay insurances because they could not do anything to the prices.

I understand why Obama says that, but this is pure BS. The Finance committee (or at least 15 of them), have given up to the wishes of the insurance companies. The idea that the program would have cut CHIP without the last minute intervention of Rockefeller shows how much it is true.

[ej510]

6. The final bill will be closer to the Baucus bill, because the Senate is conservative, but Obama will

claim victory anyway.

[Dr Fate]

9. I'll bet they spent a whole 90 hours on it! Maybe 150!

God Bless Our Tireless Blue Dog Masters.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Obama called Rockefeller to tell him to support Baucus bill, without a public option

According to this LBN link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4085289&mesg_id=4085289

[ProSense]

12. That's really funny.

Rockefeller is not going to be the vote that kills the Finance Committee bill.

People are ridiculous.

ROCKEFELLER SECURES MAJOR VICTORY FOR COAL MINERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN SENATE FINANCE BILL

Washington, D.C. -- Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, successfully fought and succeeded in having his Excise Tax Amendment (F1 modified) included in the Finance Committee health care reform bill. The amendment is designed to protect coal miners, first responders and other high-risk workers from an excise tax being proposed on high-cost health insurance plans. His amendment will now be part of the final Finance Committee bill, which will merge with the Senate HELP Committee bill to produce a final product for full Senate review.

<...>

[Dr Fate]

8. "unyielding commitment of Senator Baucus " LOL! That's actually kind of funny.

If Baucus is committed to it, that's all I need to know.

If Baucus's donors like it, then I'm going to hate this bill, and so will the average voters who supports robust reform.

[bigwillq]

19. Yeah, that made me throw up a little in my mouth

:puke:

[Honeycombe8]

11. Sounds like a typical mealy-mouth political statement about someone finishing drafting a bill. nt

[WeekendWarrior]

13. Sounds like a "thanks, guys, we're moving on now" statement

Now maybe some REAL work can get done?

[Kaleko]

17. That's my reading as well.

Oh, and welcome to DU, WW!

[annabanana]

18. "the culmination of efforts by the five committees" ???

That sure does sound like no revisiting of the public option, doesn't it? It sounds like the work of the other committees is somehow no longer an issue...

[IndianaGreen]

20. Translation: Senate will pass Baucus bill and emasculate HELP

No public option in Senate = no public option out of conference.

White House will claim victory. PhRMA will declare victory. People will lose.

[freddie mertz]

21. Thanks for less than nothing....

Baucus bill sucks, and so does this statement.