Why the Public Option (or Medicare buy-in) Was Always Dead in the Water
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, ND) announced that he had 60 votes to prevent a filibuster on the ObamaCare health care bill and will call a Senate vote before Christmas--unless someone like Senator Joseph Lieberman (I, CT) changes his or her mind about supporting it.
Reid is optimistic that no one will defect from cloture as generous deals were cut with rebels like Senator Mary Landrieu (D, LA) who received $300 million in Medicaid funds for Louisiana in exchange for her vote and she is now a prime defender of ObamaCare.
Senator Ben Nelson (D, NV) will receive undisclosed millions in Medicaid subsidies for Nevada and he was allowed to further restrict women's access to abortions through insurance in the bill.
Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont were also big winners in receiving awards of undisclosed millions of Medicaid subsidies which explains their Senators' vehemence in attacking anyone who questions ObamaCare.
It appears that supporters of ObamaCare have made support for ObamaCare a "sanity" test leaving most Americans branded as "insane".
That cannot surprise anyone given Landrieu's incoherent attack on America's majority who support the public option--as not being smart enough to know the public option is not free.
Medicaid benefits for only certain States could well become a very serious issue for the States that do not benefit.
Accommodation to the current winners will cut into Medicaid's shaky budget. Giving the same benefits to all States could well destabilize Medicaid or bankrupt it and the poorest of Americans depend on Medicaid.
Since most of the deals are secret, there are no accurate budget numbers yet.
The bill mandates that, from 2014, 30 million Americans must buy health care insurance from private insurers or a limited non-profit policy managed by private insurance companies. The latter option will only be available in States which permit it since States negotiate and award operation franchises to insurance companies for their States.
The standard argument for the admittedly-flawed bill is that 30 million uninsured will have health insurance. No mention that they will pay for it or of the 20 million who will not be covered.
Defenders of ObamaCare claim any problems can be tweaked later.
ObamaCare advocates (New Dems/Conservatives) and apologists (Progressives/Liberals) refuse to answer why they cannot or will not produce a good bill or pass the best parts in increments.
They insist on an all-or-nothing NOW doomsday scenario.
Undeserving Republicans, who have contributed nothing positive to the debate, have been given a gift that will keep giving. They expect to claim many Congressional seats and Governorships because of ObamaCare.
Whatever happens, Americans will have to pay for the bill with or without tweaking. Americans are smart enough to understand that.
Americans are also smart enough to be angry. They were asked to support health care reform and lured by the possibilities of a single-payer option, a public option or a Medicare buy-in with the qualifying age lowered to 55.
Many are still stunned by the exclusions and/or hope that the House will reinstate them. That is not possible.
They are smart enough to know there is NO REFORM in ObamaCare, but now 30 million citizens will be forced to buy insurance from private companies or be fined or go to jail. Over 20 million are left uninsured.
Creator of the House's Stupak Amendment, Rep Bart Stupak (D, MI), has said he will NOT accept Nelson's cave in on abortions. Planned Parenthood opposes both parts of the House and Senate versions and the Catholic Church want stronger anti-abortion legislation.
The list of disputees grows.
Unions are unhappy, because the rich or health care industry companies will not be taxed (as in the Baucus bill); however their members will be taxed if they have the so-called "cadillac" insurance policies which include their families.
The rich and corporations avoid tax; workers and the middle class (if it still exists) pay it.
ObamaCare assures that no one with a pre-existing condition can be refused health care insurance or be dropped, but they and older Americans can be charged up to 300% of standard policies (3 to 1 or, i.e., $30,000 instead of $10,000).
How much of an insurance gift is a 300% limit if there are no cost controls on base prices? Prices will be set by an insurance industry committee.
Senator Kent Conrad (D, ND) has already threatened that the House "had better return" the Senate version of ObamaCare after their joint negotiating conference committee meets or the Senate will NOT approve the final version.
Then what is the point of negotiating the two bills? Oh, I forgot. Stupak wants more restrictions on women.
Evidently, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will be wasting her time conferencing especially since there are four members on the committee, beholden to the insurance industry, and they have vetoes.
Two things that are obvious to all from the Senate debacle is that our system is a mess and we are ruled by an indescribable lot of clowns in both parties.
Why was the public option (or Medicare buy-in) always dead in the water?
A clue might be in the fact that President Barack Obama has raised more health care contributions for himself than any other member of the 111th Congress, 1989-2009 (according to Jane Hamsher's research, www.firedoglake.com).
His grand total is $39,064,681. His wife is a former Vice President of Community Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics.
Senator John McCain is second highest in health care contributions with a paltry $17,803,644; Senators John Kerry third and Arlen Specter fourth.
The best write up on "How health lobbyists influenced reform bill (Former staffers of lawmakers from Harry Reid to Mitch McConnell push clients' agenda)" can be read on my Health Care page or at
www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-health-lobbyists_bddec20,0,4862599.story.
Our rulers, the lobbyists and the health care providers have made out like bandits and the taxpayers will pay.
Taxpayers have no advocates in government. We are on our own.
Unless the Tea Party and protest movements grow to include ALL Americans.
Susan's Views http://www.susansviews.com
This blog helps me to understand a lot better how things work
Reply to this
I completely agree with what has been said sofar
Reply to this
This was a really superb article. Thanks for posting this.
Reply to this
I can see that you are an expert in this field! I am launching a website soon, and this information is very useful for me. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.
Reply to this
Have you ever thought of adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the visitors more entertained?
Yes, but until recently the blog template did not allow it.
Susan's Views
Reply to this
This is a great article. Gracias for the information.
Reply to this