188 replies to this topic

[UncleVinny]

New Harris Poll shows a jump in approval for the new bill.

Latest poll reveals popularity of US health Bill rising
http://www.irishtime...4267013847.html

"A USA Today /Gallup poll published yesterday showed 49 per cent of Americans now consider the reform “a good thing”, compared to 40 per cent who said it was negative."

“The political tides shifted with the passage of the Bill,” White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer told USA Today . “It’s easy to demonise something large and complex in theory; harder when it becomes law.”

- - -

The Republicans are laying their hopes on a strategy to demonize the
heath care bill, and use that anti-reform sentiment to oust Democrats
in the Fall elections. If the bill's popularity continues to increase, the
Republicans will backfire, because they are opposing
a popular program.

Wait until the millions of families tune into this and are able to get
coverage for their kids, coverage for a pre-existing condition, or
coverage after they lose employment - do you think they would be
willing to go back to the old system?

[Bill Z]

Kind of reminds me of a settlement in litigation. You know what they say, "If both sides are unhappy, then it's a good settlement."

Just because they say that, doesn't make it the truth.

[SmartMoney]

If the HCB is heaven on earth, then why did Democrat lawmakers adamantly exempt themselves and their staffs from inclusion in the plan??

Go ahead...I'm ready for the spin....!

[folsom500]

If the HCB is heaven on earth, then why did Democrat lawmakers adamantly exempt themselves and their staffs from inclusion in the plan??

Go ahead...I'm ready for the spin....!

Hey Chip - Tell me any republican lawmakers that will chose to change their plans...
Up you old you know what ... maybe you should do more reading and less spewing ....

[bordercolliefan]

Just because they say that, doesn't make it the truth.

Yes, I agree. I do fear that a compromise could be the worst of all worlds.

With no health care reform, our economy was doomed to crash and burn -- there was simply no way to sustain the ever-spiraling health care costs that were causing droves of employers to drop health coverage.

This bill fixes the moral problem of people being left without coverage, but I'm not sure it fixes the threat to our economy from a system that was, and now will continue to be, weighed down with duplicative bureaucracy.

[folsom500]

I have a question related to seniors on the HCB and my partner.

He has Kaiser Advantage- one of the many "Advantage" subsidized programs where he has his medicare but also the extra coverage that he now pays $90 per month for.

I know the bill eliminates this subsidy to the provider, but have not seen anywhere what the change will make on his coverage and cost.

Does anyone know more about this ?

[Folsom Guy]

This is not yet over...

The insurance, pharma and other lobbies will be fighting every inch on the way in state legislatures, and also when the rules and regulations are coded at federal and state level.

And just like the deals were made to bring wavering Dems in the fold to vote for the proposal, there will be lots and lots of goodies that will be carved out at state level - and will be an equal opportunity for REPs and DEMs.....

[The Average Joe]

This bill fixes the moral problem of people being left without coverage, but I'm not sure it fixes the threat to our economy from a system that was, and now will continue to be, weighed down with duplicative bureaucracy."

Couldn't have said it better myself...

[bordercolliefan]

This bill fixes the moral problem of people being left without coverage, but I'm not sure it fixes the threat to our economy from a system that was, and now will continue to be, weighed down with duplicative bureaucracy."

Couldn't have said it better myself...

Ha! I knew I'd convert you to the appeal of a single payer system....

[The Average Joe]

Hahahahaahahaha! Good one....

[mando]

A republican idea

[The Average Joe]

Don't care who thought it up, it's a bad idea. The penalties are laughable (at least for the first several years), so those who don't want to pay will just do without until they need it, then pay the penalty (as they cannot be excluded from coverage due to a preexisting condition).

We have all seen how well mandates work in our own state. Auto insurance is mandated, and yet over 5 million registered drivers (around 22%) in CA are not insured. How's that working for ya? I know I am paying for all these knuckleheads not only in higher rates, but in uninsured motorist coverage. So I pay because I have to, and I pay yet again to cover those lawbreakers.

Get used to that, cause health care mandates will have about the same effect.

[bordercolliefan]

That is really a very insightful quote by Mitt Romney:

Among the other Republicans who had embraced the idea was Mitt Romney , who as governor of Massachusetts crafted a huge reform by requiring almost all citizens to have coverage.

"Some of my libertarian friends balk at what looks like an individual mandate," Romney wrote in The Wall Street Journal in 2006. "But remember, someone has to pay for the health care that must, by law, be provided: Either the individual pays or the taxpayers pay. A free ride on government is not libertarian."


I've never heard it put quite that way...

[swmr545]

There is a section in the bill called, SUBTITLE A – EDUCATION. Can anyone please tell me what any of these additional expenses have to do with making sure everyone has access to affordable health care? It has nuggets in there like:

Sec. 1501. TAA for communities. Appropriates $500 Million a year for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 in the Community College and Career Training Grant program for community colleges to develop and improve educational or career training programs. Ensures that each state receives at least 0.5 percent of the total funds appropriated.


Section 2102. Student Financial Assistance. This section provides $13.5 billion in mandatory appropriations to the Federal Pell Grant program.


Section 2214. Income‐Based Repayment. The section amends the Income‐Based Repayment program to cap student loan payments for new borrowers after July 1, 2014 to 10% of adjusted income, from 15% percent, and to forgive remaining balances after 20 years of repayment, from 25 years.


And my personal favorite:

Section 2104. Investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions. This section amends section 371(b) of the Higher Education Act by extending funding for programs under this section created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 for programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and minority‐serving institutions through 2019, including programs that help low‐income students attain degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics by the following annual amounts: $100 million to Hispanic Serving Institutions, $85 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, $15 million to Predominantly Black Institutions, $30 million to Tribal Colleges and Universities, $15 million to Alaska, Hawaiian Native Institutions, $5 million to Asian American and Pacific Islander Institutions, and $5 million to Native American non‐tribal serving institutions.

We need to more access to education for students. Science, technology, engineering, and math all factor into health care; and these are areas in which we need more students going into.

Many students need loans to go to school, so the govt. is offering more student loans to help more students obtain degrees and join the working force. More people in the work force, an increase in tax revenue for govt.

According to the Chancellor Scott, "for every dollar the state spends on education, it gets $3 back in increased tax revenue."