While We Were Celebrating the Dems New Found Spine, Something Good Happened

[berni_mccoy]

I'll file this under the win column for health care reform.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009985218_health02.html#

Cantwell puts stamp on Senate health-care measure

WASHINGTON — Democrats worked to smooth the impact of sweeping health-care legislation on working-class families Thursday as they pushed President Obama's top domestic priority toward a crucial Senate advance. The most far-reaching overhaul in decades aims to protect millions who have unreliable coverage or none at all and to curb insurance-company abuses.

Republicans attacked the bill as riddled with tax increases that violated Obama's campaign promises, but failed to remove any of them.

An amendment offered by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., was among two key measures the Senate Finance Committee approved Thursday.

After marathon public debate, agreement by the committee is all but certain for the legislation, although no final vote was expected until next week. That formality — Democrats hold a 13-10 committee majority — will clear the way for the full Senate to begin debating the measure at midmonth.

The measure, like a companion bill under construction in the House, would bar insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. It also includes federal subsidies to make insurance available to millions who lack it, and it takes steps to slow the skyrocketing growth in health-care costs nationwide.

While not a public option, this does help the poor and the sick. It's a good amendment on an otherwise terrible HCR bill.

[imdjh]

1. RWTR is hammering home the abortion and immigrant angle. Somebody need to add an amendment .....

take that away from the Republicans. Exclude elective abortions and illegal aliens in plain language so the Republicans can't exploit the gray area.

[n2doc]

2. As we saw with Joe Wilson, even clear language doesn't matter

They will make sh*t up to fit their preconceived ideas. Better to do the right thing and damn them to obscurity.