The LOSEYOUR HEALTH CARE BILL has been put on the senate calender under

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General orders calender number 417. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d109:1:./temp/~bdjn6P:@@@L&summ2=m&|/bss/109search.html|#major%20actions




4/27/2006:
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 417.



By Mr. ENZI, from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute:

S. 1955. A bill to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to expand health care access and reduce costs through the creation of small business health plans and through modernization of the health insurance marketplace.


I've been at Rollcall.com looking through the senate calender and can't find the general orders calender 417, http://www.gpoaccess.gov/calendars/senate/browse.html

Can anyone shed light on how to locate this? Never mind I found it. Its listed under general orders, p46 at the bottom and is subject to rule VIII


Here is what rule VIII is:Standing Rules of the Senate
RULE VIII
ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. At the conclusion of the morning business at the beginning of a new legislative day, unless upon motion the Senate shall at any time otherwise order, the Senate shall proceed to the consideration of the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions, and shall continue such consideration until 2 hours after the Senate convenes on such day (the end of the morning hour); and bills and resolutions that are not objected to shall be taken up in their order, and each Senator shall be entitled to speak once and for five minutes only upon any question; and an objection may be interposed at any stage of the proceedings, but upon motion the Senate may continue such consideration; and this order shall commence immediately after the call for "other resolutions", or after disposition of resolutions coming "over under the rule", and shall take precedence of the unfinished business and other special orders. But if the Senate shall proceed on motion with the consideration of any matter notwithstanding an objection, the foregoing provisions touching debate shall not apply.

2. All motions made during the first two hours of a new legislative day to proceed to the consideration of any matter shall be determined without debate, except motions to proceed to the consideration of any motion, resolution, or proposal to change any of the Standing Rules of the Senate shall be debatable. Motions made after the first two hours of a new legislative day to proceed to the consideration of bills and resolutions are debatable

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1. The NFIB, big money greedy small business behind bill, is targeting

senator Wyden of Oregon and Gordan Smith. NFIB leg alerts:"SENATORS RON WYDEN AND GORDON SMITH NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. Remind them that small-business owners, their employees and families can’t wait another day for small-business health plans to become a reality. Tell them there is no excuse to wait any longer."

Please take a minute tomorrow and call them to offer a counter voice to the NFIB campaign.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[papau]

2. Giving Health Ins Companies MORE is very GOP- here its no State Regulation

S.1955, would deregulate the health insurance market and gut state patient protection laws - leaving millions of patients without crucial health benefits like mammograms and prenatal care. Opposing S.1955 are the American Diabetes Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and many others.

"A decision on this bill is only weeks away, so time is of the essence," said Jerome McAndrews, DC, spokesman for the American Chiropractic Association, a member of the coalition. "S. 1955 would thwart years of state efforts to ensure that consumers have adequate health insurance coverage - yet it has received surprisingly little attention and many Americans have no idea how severely their health care benefits could be affected. As important as expanding health insurance coverage is, particularly in the small business market, it is also important for such coverage to reliably secure patients' healthcare services."

The bill, also known as the "Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act" or HIMMA, attempts to expand health care access and reduce insurance costs through the creation of small business health plans. These plans, frequently called association health plans, offer insurance coverage purchased through non-profit organizations on behalf of the small businesses that make up their memberships.

However, if passed, the bill would take the unprecedented path of preempting state insurance laws. As a result, insurance companies and small business owners, rather than locally elected policymakers, would decide which benefits consumers should have when they purchase health care. States would have no recourse to protect residents and they would lose their incentives to enact consumer protection laws in the future.

Moreover, S. 1955 also would preempt stronger state laws that limit the ability of insurers to vary premiums based on health status, age, gender and geography. For many older Americans and those with complex health needs and disabilities, this would price them out of the health insurance market.

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4. One of their biggest arguments for passing this bill seems to be

the near monopoly some insurance companies have gained and prices have climbed along the way to this point. They want to break that up so they can get a peice of the business and profits. It will not drive premiums down, but it will drive them up and bankruptcy rates for middle and working class people too.

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3. The National Association of Realtors has on their web site May8

as the date to watch for

Important Update on Small Business Health Plans: May 01, 2006

During the week of May 8, the U.S. Senate will begin debate, and vote, on permitting Small Business Health Plans (The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006 - S.1955).

Its hard to say when this bill will go to the floor, this week or next. But it will be one of the two.

Its important not to let up the pressure on the senators. The NFIB and the NAR aren't.

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5. DU, we can stop this DANGEROUS bill.

Educate yourselves and call your Senators--please.