Health Care Bill, they got to Dennis
I haven’t had the stomach to write much about what is going on with Health Care Reform as I don’t see this bill moving us in the direction that we need to go. Somebody, somewhere, thinks this this is a groovy bill. I do not. I’m sure we can find a little addendum in a hidden corner that is going to allow a few extra people to afford health care in 2014, but really, I mean, seriously, reform? Government subsidies for private insurance? Forcing people to purchase from private companies? Seriously?
Dennis Kucinich got it, though. He knew this was a bad move for the American people. He supported single payer all along. He and Eric Massa were our stalwart proponents for universal, single payer health care.
But, today, somebody got to him. Today, Dennis has said he will vote for this bill.
In a big get for House Dems, Dennis Kucinich just made it official: He’s voting for the Senate bill, making him the first member to go on record fliping his vote from No to Yes.
“In the past week it’s become clear that the vote on the final bill will be very close,” Kucinich, who voted No last time because of the lack of the public option, said at a presser moments ago. He acknowleged that he’d be voting “not on the bill as I would like to see it, but as it is.”
“However, after careful discussions with President Obama, Speaker Pelosi” and others, Kucinich said, “I’ve decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation.”
Kucinich’s stance was being closely watched by both sides, partly as a test of President Obama’s ability to corral the support of reluctant Dems. Obama wooed him directly with a lift on Air Force One and gave a big health care speech in his district earlier this week.
I wonder if there’s a shower on Air Force One.
Rahm must have a very big stick.
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This bill will do amazing things for the American people. Many would prefer the public option, I would too. But how anyone who claims to support health insurance reform can oppose a bill that covers 31 million Americans, outlaws policies against pre-existing conditions, controls cost, reduces the deficit, and maintains Medicare and Medicaid for those who need it, is mind-boggling.
If we fail to pass this legislation, we’ll have to wait another generation to pass these needed reforms. Millions will fall into bankruptcy because of lack of medical coverage, millions more will be thrown off their insurers because they pose too much risk, and meanwhile premiums will continue to increase by 5 times the rate of inflation.
The legislation is far from perfect, but the scales so clearly point toward this life-saving bill. Call those congressmen on the fence and get this thing passed!
Pass this bill!
Control costs?? Yes, people will be covered because they will be forced to carry insurance which will be purchased from private companies. Oh, and then there’s that little snafu with a woman’s right to choose. I haven’t seen that removed-I may be mistaken.
When, exactly, does all this take effect?
Sure, whatever. Pass the F*%#ing bill.
You assume that private insurers will continue to treat policy holders as before: throwing off those who pose too high a risk, and rejecting treatments that are too expensive, among other means. But this is not true. The bill requires private insurers to abide by a wide array of regulations that will hinder their ability to deny coverage that is too expensive, kick people off etc. Basically private insurers will operate much differently once the bill passes, to the betterment of us all.
As for cost controls, the bill is full of them. First, covering nearly all of the remaining uninsured will basically end the practice of the uninsured using the emergency room as their PCP, which drives up costs enormously. The bill also streamlines delivery systems and promotes bundled care, two reforms the nearly every health care analyst agrees will reduce administrative costs. These measures, among others, coupled with the literally dozens of pilot programs throughout the country will drive costs down, while streamlining care. While it’s unclear which pilot program will work the best, all will provide valuable insight as to ways we can reduce cost further. Many components start right away: coverage for those with pre-existing conditions for example, while mechanisms like the health care exchange will come on by 2014.
We have to keep in mind this is probably the most complicated bill ever put up to a vote in the history of Congress. Fundamentally altering 17% of our economy to better serve our citizen isn’t like naming a post office, and every member had their own way of getting it done. Pulling all these differing ideas together has been a monumental task, and I think history will have a very special place for Nancy Pelosi for getting this done. What we have represents what we can get done now, and it ain’t half bad. Progressives likely myself would prefer that his bill had a strong public option. But telling 32 million Americans “sorry you can’t have coverage”, telling all those people “sorry, but you’ll have to continue being one serious injury away from bankruptcy”, because we didn’t get every little thing we wanted is unconscionably selfish, and tragically short-sighted.
This bill is why I worked so hard in 2006 and 2008, and generations after will thank us for it.
as a big kucinich supporter i am glad he is voting for it. he still knows that single payer is the only way to go, but that isn’t the vote. this is a stepping stone and hopefully getting something done will push the issue further and show the need for the public option after all.
This bill isn’t a stepping stone at all.
It’s one step forward - but 10 steps backward! Why do you think PHARMA and THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY is spending gizillions to get it passed?!
We’re f*****.