I am headed to a healthcare townhall with NE senator Ben Nelson today. My question:

[Maru Kitteh]

OK. I am going to a healthcare townhall with Nelson today. I will be in the distinct minority up against a big wall of stupid.

I realize we would all (myself included) like to ask him questions like "Why are you such a dumbass?" and "Why do you pretend to be a Democrat?" but I do not wish to waste my opportunity to ask a thoughtful question, should I get it.

My question (work in progress) is:

Senator Nelson, thank you for coming here today. This is a two-part question, you have expressed trepidation about the public option in HR 3200 because you fear that it may hurt Big Insurance companies, but isn't it true that the public option is designed mostly for people Big Insurance has mostly left behind like the self-employed and small businesses? It's my understanding the public option wouldn't even be available for people employed by a company of 50 or more employees.

And secondly, Nebraska has some of the most physician-friendly tort reform in the country and it has not significantly brought down prices for services or insurance - how do you propose to put downward pressure on prices for healthcare services without a non-for-profit option?



I'm still very open to serious and thoughtful suggestions. What do you think?

[Zen Democrat]

1. Texas had tort reform -- and has the largest # of uninsureds in the nation.

And ... after a few years of tort reform, malpractice premiums still went up. It's an insurance industry scam. No surprise, huh?

[Maru Kitteh]

6. Yup, and yet probably 1 in 5 callers to the local call-in show was some bumpkin bleating about tort

reform. Idiots.

Big wall of stupid.

[cliffordu]

2. I think you should go with your first impulse.

But that's just me and I never get called on....

[gratuitous]

3. Good luck

Write your questions down, because even the most seasoned professional can clutch when the microphone gets jammed in his or her face. On the first question, take out the second "mostly": "the public option is designed mostly for people Big Insurance has left behind." Don't leave too much wiggle room, because he'll take it to avoid answering the question if at all possible. I also like the use of the dog whistle term "left behind."

[Maru Kitteh]

7. Thank you, I have the notecard before me, and I will make your suggested change.

You're so right about the wiggle room.

[barbtries]

4. your questions sound good

i hope you don't get shouted down. if you get a chance perhaps you could express (if this is your position) support for Medicare for everyone.

hopefully we'll see you posting about this after you're back.

[Maru Kitteh]

8. I may get shouted down as it is, advocating for single-payer I'm afraid could get me assulted

And I'm not dressed for a street fight.

[barbtries]

13. i hope you find yourself pleasantly surprised

at how many like-minded people attend the event. i hope.

[Vinca]

5. Good question, but . . .

on your way out the door could you give him the raspberry for us anyway??:rofl:

[Maru Kitteh]

10. I'm not above that AT ALL! Excellent suggestion!

[Ms. Toad]

9. I don't believe the first part of your question is accurate

My understanding is that the public option (in the only bill with any detail) will eventually be available to everyone - BUT it does not start being available to ANYONE until 2013, and then is only available for uninsured individuals and micro-employers (10 or fewer), in 2014 employers of 20 or fewer are added, and thereafter (with a possible phase in over a period of years) all employers will be eligible.

Section 202 of the bill, if you want to go take a look. http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text

[Maru Kitteh]

11. Thanks! So how would you rephrase that with the correct information?

[Ms. Toad]

14. That's a tougher question.

And I almost hate to, since the 2013 starting date is one of the things I find completely inexcusable - and an earlier start date would pose a significant challenge for the insurance industry.

If you want to assume that the bill won't change and we'll have to tolerate a staggered start beginning in 2013, you might suggest that insurance companies will have 4 years before any competition - and 6 years before the public option would even be permitted to compete for the business of companies with more than 20 employees. They have plenty of time to make adjustments to their business plan to become strong competitors.

The delayed start (which makes life easier for the insurance company) is tied to insurance reform which is the only part of the current plan that is absolutely unacceptable to me. It will be 2103 before insurance companies are required to provide coverage to all applicants regardless of pre-existing condition, to cover treatment for pre-existing conditions, to drop annual and lifetime caps on coverage, and to remove health based considerations from their premium calculations.

I have been agitating for Congress to make that change right away, even if the start of the public option and subsidies are delayed. Although it would cost nothing, that change would be a major inconvenience for the health insurance companies - so the "What's your beef?" line doesn't work as well under what I am really pushing to have happen.

[sabrina 1]

12. But why is he worried about Insurance Companies?

If the Public Option is good for ordinary people, why is that not a priority for him? If you have a chance to ask a follow-up question, I would ask him who he represents, seriously, those who put him in office, or big business and I'd also ask him how much he received from them. They should all be asked that question. Have others in the audience to ask follow up questions, like 'how much would we, the people have to pay you to get you on our side'?

I give you credit for your patience, but people like Nelson make me furious so I doubt I could be polite if I were there.

[elvisbear]

15. So how did the town meeting go? nt

[John Q. Citizen]

16. I wouldn't address the house bill because he's in the Senate. I would ask him

about the Finance committee bill since he's on it.

[rhett o rick]

17. First never use words like "trepidation". Seriously. Make your question as short and succinct as

possible. If you have a second question, have a friend ask. Better to get a single good question asked than try for too much. Lots of times the response will only address your second question.

Ask something like this: "The public option is intended to provide an option for those without basic health care. The insurance companies are fighting this option. Who do you support, the insurance companies or the public option?"

Make it simple. "Who do you support? the public or the insurance companies?" Remember, it is more important for you to get your agenda expressed in your question than try to get it in his answer. He will give you bullshit no matter what you say.