GOP and Dems Near Health Care Compromise

[Better Believe It]

GOP and Dems Near Health Care Compromise
By W. Hampton Harris
July 28, 2009

No Public Option
Word out of Capitol Hill this morning is that there is a group of three republicans and three democrats working on a bipartisan compromise for health care reform that is gaining momentum.
GOP and Dems Near Health Care Compromise
Date: July 28, 2009
Washington, DC

Health care reform has been the centerpiece of all legislative debate for the past several weeks. Although President Obama and Speaker of the House Pelosi had both vowed a bill would be passed this year, their attempts at reform had been blocked by both republicans and moderate democrats until now.

The bipartisan version of the bill is without two of the most important provisions that have been pushed heavily by the White House. Reports say that there is no requirement included in the legislation that would force businesses to offer coverage to their employees. Even more important is the lack of a public option to compete with private health insurance companies. The centerpiece of the bipartisan bill seems to focus on levying heavy taxes on private companies when they raise their premiums to a certain level. The hope is that this would provide enough incentive to insurers to keep their costs low.

It remains to be seen whether passage of such a heavily compromised bill would be seen as a victory or a concession for the president, who at one point seemed so intent on including a public option. Lawmakers are insiting that a deal has not yet been reached, so we will continue to monitor the situation.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1995014/gop_and_dems_near_health_care_compromise.html?cat=62

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. .

[liberal N proud]

2. It means the Democrats caved

"without two of the most important provisions"

[joeybee12]

3. Why do i suddenly feel ill? n/t

[dflprincess]

5. You can't afford to be ill (eom)

[joeybee12]

10. I know...

the really awful part is that everyone will take credit for this "reform" and the media will cover it like they've done something...

[dflprincess]

15. So true -

I imagine they'll try to ram this through as a "tribute" to Ted Kennedy's life work - but if this is what he was shooting for he wasted his time and let us all down. I always thought that he did envision more of a single payer system for us.

I hope he's feeling well enough to fight this thing.

[joeybee12]

17. And they'll try to justify it to us that they did the best they could and

"revisit" this later, and say this is a good "beginning point."

[dflprincess]

19. We could write their speeches for them.

I can't wait for the next fund raising call I get from any branch of the party.

[and-justice-for-all]

4. the gop makes me sick...nt

[dflprincess]

6. No, the GOP is behaving as expected

it's the Democrats who make me sick.

We can only hope this bill fails or Obama vetos it if it gets to him in this form - unless he's still pushing "bipartisanship".

[Mass]

7. 3 Dems and 3 GOPers would be a better title.

Now, we will see what happens when it gets in committee and to the floor.

[4lbs]

8. The lack of a public option means that insurance companies can raise everyone's premium and the

consumer doesn't have a real competitor to turn to for relief.

The insurance companies, like the oil companies, will collude to set premium prices across the board so that no matter the insurance company, you'll be forced to pay the same amount.

[Enrique]

9. why post this joke of an article?

it doesn't even mention where this compromise occurred? Not even which house, let alone which committee. I challenge you to find another article anywhere which leaves out these basic facts.

What reader could possibly find any use out of this?

Unless this article is just intended as spin. That's a possiblity.

[Better Believe It]

23. It's the Senate Finance Committee. You didn't know that?

I thought everyone who has been following the news knew that.

Well, keep checking out DU if you want to be fully informed.

[LiberalAndProud]

11. Tell me the good stuff about this bill.

Is there anything good about it? Anything? This is a bloody mess.

[Enrique]

12. it won't become law

that's the best thing about it.

[LiberalAndProud]

13. Is this really the best they can do? Really?

They are men without vision. Sad

[Enrique]

20. no, it's not

the final version will be much better.

[LiberalAndProud]

22. You're right. I'll be glad when all this speculation is finished.

It has given me heartburn.

[SpartanDem]

14. That it's not the only Senate bill

[LiberalAndProud]

24. I know. I was referring to these 6. They are not visionaries.

I expect better.

[BzaDem]

25. Some good things

- Insurance companies won't be able to discriminate based upon preexisting conditions or deny coverage to anyone

- There will be subsidies to help people up to 300% of the poverty level buy insurance

- There will be regional co-ops, which will be run by their members (and won't need to make a profit). This should increase competition somewhat and lower costs.

While this is certainly better than the status quo, it is still not great. I would much rather see a public option and subsidies for more people.

[LiberalAndProud]

26. Crumbs of goodness. Yum.

Thanks for this, but is it really easier to sell less reform than more?

I'm not on the single-payer or nothing band wagon, but if they end up codifying next-to-nothing, what's the point? They are wasting time and money. It makes me angry.

[Kalyke]

16. Obama should veto this piece of shit.

[Cal33]

18. The president has repeatedly stated that he would veto the

bill, if the "public option" portion were to be left out of it. I think he would keep
his word, if it came to that.

[Better Believe It]

21. I didn't see any article about Obama threatening a veto. Post a link please. Thanks!

[peaches2003]

27. Public option is already out of Obama's speeches

There are no words to express my exasperation at first and now disgust with how Obama has handled this health care legislation. I should have seen it coming because he has backed off so many other issues, too. We have the White House, the House and now 60 seats in the Senate. And we are compromising?? The Repugs and Blue Dog Dems are now running the show.

Does Obama ever knock some heads around? Harry Reid should be living day and night on Obama's shit list with threats of top Dems seeing to it he loses his post as Majority Leader if he doesn't lose his seat in the Senate at the next election. Reid is useless and Obama acts as if he is powerless! No more $$$ donations to the Dems from my house.