$894 billion over ten years, fully paid for, that helps practically no one, and the states can opt out of.  

It takes no genius to see the genius in that.  Not.

Screw it. Vote the damn thing down. Step on it. Burn it. And tell the Dems to take their bill and shove it.

Pelosi is not to be trusted. Period. she's out for blood and this is not done in good faith.

Just wait til the afterburners kick in.
Look it up if you can't keep up.

Fully paid- on the backs of the middle class taxpayers, through fines and forced purchase of insurance - on the backs of the seniors, with half a trillion in cuts to Medicare - on the backs of people that need medical devices like walkers, canes and yes even hearing aides, contact lenses and eyeglasses, because there are huge taxes being put on those devices - on the backs of the union members like police, firefighters, teachers, hotel workers and carmakers, who have the 'Cadillac' health care plans that will be heavily taxed.

Fully paid for indeed.

Is there anyone on the planet who honestly believes this will be paid for?  

And how can she tell us it will cost $894B if CBO hasn't scored it yet?

Here we go again.  For all of you that have so much to say about troop levels, where are your sons and daughters?  I have a step-son and his wife serving in the Army and my daughter-in-law is in Afghanistan, with the Step-son just coming home from Iraq.  I say send the 40,000 and let's re-evaluate this War at the end of Obama's first term.  Did I mention I voted for Obama?
Barbara - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Barbara, you have my sympathies for your family and these awful wars we are in. When were family members drafted?

It's just become clear - Government run health care IS the death panel.

This bill will die.

Call that undertaker, he owes me a service.

Every day, David Axelrod looks more and more like Amerigo Bonasera, the undertaker in The Godfather.

PelosiCare - Taxes start now, benefits start to get paid in 2014. And they say it's "fully funded" for the first 10 years? Sure, if you tax for 10 years, and pay benefits for 5, then how hard is it to come up with a balanced 10 year program?

“House to Unveil Health Plan With Public Option and Millionaire Tax

James Rowley and Kristin Jensen- Oct 29, 2009
Oct. 29 (Bloomberg) - U.S. House leaders today plan to unveil legislation that would create a government run health insurance program, require employers to offer coverage to their workers and impose a new tax on the wealthiest Americans.“

It will die in the Senate when seven of the wealthiest US Senators, all DEMOCRATS by the way, will shoot it down.

Heads up Senator John Kerry (D), you are THE wealthiest US Senator. Your declared net worth alone is more than the net worth of the four wealthiest Republican senators COMBINED. Warn your other multimillionaire Democrat senators- Kohl, Lautenberg, Rockefeller, Boxer, Feinstein and the Estate of Edward Kennedy. Better check if George Soros is OK with too. Don’t worry, Tim Geithner, Charlie Rangel and Tony Rezko just won’t pay any new taxes, period.

cjake (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 10:20 AM): "And lastly Bill, Fairfax...what a piece of work."

Well thank you. The criticisms from the left never cease to amuse.  While I regret your inability to grasp the core principles I present, you do have the option of showing your own stuff by challenging those points rather than tossing out insults.  Of course, I stopped holding my breath waiting for thoughtful challenges around here a long time ago.

++++

no joe, no bo, nj: I wish your granddaughter well and pray for the best.

>>>The bill is available on the House Rules Committee Website.
==========
Ok, righties.  You folks are always complaining that you don't get to read bills, here's your chance to read on.  I'd be interested in seeing just what kind of arguments you can make based on specifics of the bills (as opposed to the FOX News talking points).  Oh, by the way, if you get stuck on some of the big words (more than 4 letters), here's a link to the Webster's Dictionary site...

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

GO PHILS!!!
http://jawillie.blog.com

Pelosi: "The Speaker's office says it would cost $894 Billion over 10 years and be fully paid for."

Fully paid for. Does anyone believe this garbage? Every year from now on our government will look for more and more funding just like all other countries that have tried socialized medicine. This plan will become a cash cow. This will become the equivalent of war-time spending where other spending is attached to healthcare spending and we have to pass it because people need their government healthcare. Our children will live in a different country than we've lived in all our lives and they will give 50 - 70% of their income to the government. The end of liberty in this nation.

Thank you Nancy. You have worked very hard.

I have downloaded it and is ready for review.

I appreciate the patience and fortitude that you, and President Obama and staff have exhibited in this matter in spite of all of the obstruction and lies coming from conservative opponents.

It takes great heart to care about all of us Americans.

Ok, righties.  You folks are always complaining that you don't get to read bills
jawillie Philadelphia, PA (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:56 AM)
-------------------------------------------------

Well since YOU read it Jawillie, gimmie the Executive Summary. I am a busy man. I have bids to rig. Aldermen and judges are waiting for their "lunch money" as we speak.

Many in Congress seem torn on what to do with their votes on health care reform. Maybe they should go back to their home states/districts, get some feedback from the people, maybe have a town hall meeting or two. See how that goes.

A report from Edmunds.com (the auto industry magazine) stated that the Cash for Clunkers program cost the American taxpayer $24,000 for every deal made under it.  This cars program that the government used to crush the car industry in this country has now set the taxpayers back $24000 for every car done.  If this simple program had this much success in helping to destroy this country's financial future imagine what this elephant of a program is going to do.  The government runs our schools, the post office and the DMV and you want them in charge of your health care.  Who has ever competed successfully against the government?  The insurance companies will loose to and we will all be under oppressive rule being held hostage through our health care.

*** UPDATE *** The press secretary for House Minority Whip Eric Cantor e-mailed First Read contending that Republicans were barred from being at Pelosi's West Front announcement.

"Dems are blocking access to their press conference," wrote Brad Dayspring, an aide to Cantor. "Apparently there is a list, and if you're not on it, you can't get through. This is a public space on the steps of the Capitol and the Mall."

NBC's Mike Viqueira, who was there, confirms that a Cantor staffer was barred from attending by a Capitol policeman, who said he was told by the Speaker's office that it was invited guests only.

When asked about it, security officials and the Speaker's staff said that didn't seem right to them and that they knew nothing about it.

As an aside, there was one protestor with a bullhorn who was shut down. In that area, apparently no amplified sound is allowed.

************************

CANTOR and BOEHNER. Do one well: WHINING!!!!!

It takes great heart to care about all of us Americans.



Andrea, New York City


Just read the tax portion of the bill. It states "How much money do you have? Give it to us!"

Nice to know that they care about us enough to at least ask.

Some perspective seems needed. Over 10 years we are talking about spending 894Billion, considering the waste in the system (over 300Billion a year) and the fact that the recently signed Defense Bill was for 680Billion for ONE YEAR, the cost of HRC is not the issue. The issue is fairness.

When will the GOPer/Conservatives begin thinking about the country instead of how much they love Rush?

Ok, righties.  You folks are always complaining that you don't get to read bills, here's your chance to read on.  I'd be interested in seeing just what kind of arguments you can make based on specifics of the bills (as opposed to the FOX News talking points).  Oh, by the way, if you get stuck on some of the big words (more than 4 letters), here's a link to the Webster's Dictionary site...

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

GO PHILS!!!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie Philadelphia, PA (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:56 AM)

jawillie, they won't read it, they'll just go to Fox get the talking points made up by Fox and start talking like they know what their talking about, not knowing how stupid they sound.

Well since YOU read it Jawillie, gimmie the Executive Summary. I am a busy man. I have bids to rig. Aldermen and judges are waiting for their "lunch money" as we speak.

Big Al in Chicago, Vote early and vote often! (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:09 PM)

See jawillie,their already looking for someone to read it for them, their to lazy to read it them selves.

jawillie
In case you are unaware nobody likes to be called stupid even if they are. If you could please answer a couple of questions for me. Is the 350 million dollars that they passed in the last budget bill tucked into this bill to keep the cost down? On page 547 there is reference to "independent health services evaluation organization", could you explain this group and what they do? It sounds very much like a certain panel that scared the crap out of seniors previously.

The press secretary for House Minority Whip Eric Cantor e-mailed First Read contending that Republicans were barred from being at Pelosi's West Front announcement.

It's called KARMA. You see, what goes around comes around. This is payback for when the Republicans consistantly shut out the Democrats when the former had control of both houses of the Congress.

Elections have consequences. Since Cantor and the Republicans have NO plan they now want to be seen as being part of the process by asking why they weren't included. They had their chance to be included and chose not to. If they can come up with a reasonable plan that isn't just a tax break for the rich and loads of money for corporate interests (insurance corporations in particular) maybe the public and maybe the Democrats in Congress will be willing to listen to them and include them in photo ops etc. By not participating Boehner, Cantor, McConnell et. al. have signaled they don't care enough about you and me to provide a viable alternative. They don't deserve the coverage they seek.

Oh and Righties...Notice that there is a website you can go to for the text of the proposal. So don't say it isn't posted for all to see. Open your eyes, ears, and minds before opening your mouths for once.

DOA as the majority of the American voters don't want it.

Just read the tax portion of the bill. It states "How much money do you have? Give it to us!"

Nice to know that they care about us enough to at least ask.
Jeff Easley, Illinois (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:24 PM)

*************************


I don't have a problem with paying more taxes or expenses for this bill. I have skimmed it and I think its a good bill and much needed.

It seems to me that the conservative opponents are the ones who want it all for nothing.

I'm all for kicking everyone off the healthcare dole.

Employees get huge subsidies for their health insurance and then routinely abuse the system since it doesn't cost them much, just those little copays and deductibles.

Medicare/Medicaid recipients get near free healthcare costing us 12,000 a year though many of them in their lifetime paid for a few months worth of care in medicare taxes, total.

Those of us who are real Americans making it on our own want the rest of you socialists to give up your near free subsidized healthcare and make it on your own too.

How can the CBO score the bill? Even if they got a draft a week ago, 1990 pages will take a while to go through and understand. A real scoring of the bill on something like this should take weeks, if not months. I wouldn't trust anything less.

DOA as the majority of the American voters don't want it.
Facts Be Told (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:37 PM)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The American People don't know what they want.
We MUST tell them !!

The idea of government run healthcare is a joke.  Just look at the VA.  Look at Medicare.  Both are poorly run and result in bad care.  The current administration likes to attack the insurance industry while they are in bed with the drug companies. The drug companies will still be able to charge Americans the highest prices in the world for drugs and make far higher profit margins than the insurance industry.  At the same time the current administration is doing nothing about tort reform which would yield substantial cost savings without degrading or rationing care.  The two biggest areas of potential savings are drug prices and tort reform.  The current administration is in bed with the drug companies and attorneys so little of that savings will ever be realized.  Also, union members will not have to be concerned about their plans while the rest of us will pay for it.
VOTE THEM OUT!

A SUMMARY of Healthcare bill

Affordable Health Care for America Act
By Kruger, Mike on October 29, 2009 10:30 AM
For the first time in U.S. history, all Americans would have access to quality, affordable health care under updated health insurance reform legislation unveiled by House Democrats.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act [H.R. 3962], which blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed by the House committees of jurisdiction in July, embodies President Obama’s key goals for health reform. It will slow the growth in out-of-control costs, introduce competition into the health care marketplace to keep coverage affordable and insurers honest, protect people’s choices of doctors and health plans, and assure all Americans access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

The key components of the Affordable health Care for America Act include:

Increasing choice and competition. The bill will protect and improve consumers’ choices.
• If people like their current plans, they will be able to keep them.
• For individuals who aren’t currently covered by their employer, and some small businesses, the proposal will establish a new Health Insurance Exchange where consumers can comparison shop from a menu of affordable, quality health care options that will include private plans, health co-ops, and a new public health insurance option. The public health insurance option will play on a level playing field with private insurers, spurring additional competition.
• This Exchange will create competition based on quality and price that leads to better coverage and care. Patients and doctors will have control over decisions about their health care, instead of insurance companies.
Giving Americans peace of mind. The legislation will ensure that Americans have portable, secure health care coverage – so that they won’t lose care if their employer drops their plan or they lose their job.
• Every American who receives coverage through the Exchange will have a plan that includes standardized, comprehensive and quality health care benefits.
• It will end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, race, or gender, and strictly limit age rating.
• The proposal will also eliminate co-pays for preventive care, and cap out-of-pocket expensesto protects every American from bankruptcy.
Improving quality of care for every American. The legislation will ensure that Americans of all ages, from young children to retirees have access to greater quality of care by focusing on prevention, wellness, and strengthening programs that work.
• Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental, hearing and vision benefits.
• Provides better preventive and wellness care. Every health care plan offered through the exchange and by employers after a grace period will cover preventive care at no cost to the patient.
• Increases the health care workforce to ensure that more doctors and nurses are available to provide quality care as more Americans get coverage.
• Strengthens Medicare and Medicaid and closes the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole’ so that seniors and low-income Americans receive better quality of care and see lower prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses.
Ensuring shared responsibility. The bill will ensure that individuals, employers, and the federal government share responsibility for a quality and affordable health care system.
• Employers can continue offering coverage to workers, and those who choose not offer coverage contribute a fee of eight percent of payroll.
• All individuals will generally be required to get coverage, either through their employer or the exchange, or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income, subject to a hardship exemption.
• The federal government will provide affordability credits, available on a sliding scale for low- and middle-income individuals and families to make premiums affordable and reduce cost-sharing.
Protecting consumers and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. The legislation will put the interests of consumers first, protect them from problems in getting and keeping health care coverage, and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Provides transparency in plans in the Health Exchange so that consumers have the clear, complete information, in plain English, needed to select the plan that best meets their needs.
• Establishes consumer advocacy offices as part of the Exchange in order to protect consumers, answer questions, and assist with any problems related to their plans.
• Simplifies paperwork and other administrative burdens. Patients, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, providers, and employers will all encounter a streamlined, less confusing, more consumer friendly system.
• Increases funding of efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse; creates enhanced oversight of Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Reducing the deficit and ensuring the solvency of Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation will be entirely paid for – it will not add a dime to the deficit. It will also put Medicare and Medicaid on the path to a more fiscally sound future, so seniors and low-income Americans can continue to receive the quality health care benefits for years to come.
• Pays for the entire cost of the legislation though a combination of savings achieved by making Medicare and Medicaid more efficient – without cutting seniors’ benefits in any way – and  revenue generated from placing a surcharge the top 0.3 percent of all households in the U.S.(married couples with adjusted gross income of over $1,000,000) and other tax measures.
• The Congressional Budget estimates the bill will reduce the deficit by at least $100 billion over ten years.
• Estimates also show the bill will slow the rate of growth of the Medicare program from 6.6 percent annually to 5.3 percent annually.

Ok, righties.  You folks are always complaining that you don't get to read bills, here's your chance to read it.  
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Jawille ,your arrogance is surpassed only by your lack of knowledge. Your rants are mindless and erroneous and so is your grammar.There should be a semicolon or period  before "here."So before assuming that others are illiterate, "Gnothi sauton". Look it up, Jawacky.Oh hell,"Look in the mirror"

One thing that needs to be addressed,and this is very important.One has to know how to read and understand what they are reading.So there goes 99% of the wingers and there Red state education.Worst in the country,S.Carolina,Alabama,Texas,Louisiana,Mississippi,Oklahoma,Georgia,Rush country,where the under=educated meet.

I have skimmed it and I think its a good bill and much needed.
Andrea, New York City (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:42 PM)

-------------------------------------------------

How dare you steal a quotation from the President of the United States of America and pass it off as your own. For shame!

Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental, hearing and vision benefits.
Andrea, New York City (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:54 PM)
---------------------------------------------
WOW! That is great. Todays Medicare recipients don't even get those benefits (Medicaid welfare sponges do but not Medicare)! Look THAT up.

But Barack is going to pay for these benefits by LOOTING Medicare anyway so why am I shocked?
He will spin the looting of Medicare as a "restructuring" or an "overhaul". Wise up seniors and AARP you are about to get fleeced.

The GOP should have sent Clubber Lang to crash it. He could do a repeat perfomance for Rocky III when he crashed Rocky's statue dedication!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeFMxy4QPMc

One thing that needs to be addressed,and this is very important.One has to know how to read and understand what they are reading.So there goes 99% of the wingers and there Red state education.Worst in the country,S.Carolina,Alabama,Texas,Louisiana,Mississippi,Oklahoma,Georgia,Rush country,where the under=educated meet.

jesse St Paul MN (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:04 PM)
-----------------------------------------------------

Poor grammer is apparently a common theme among these leftwing lunatics.  

BTW Jesse... P-L-E-A-S-E find out what THERE, THEIR
and THEY'RE mean!  

It is really hard to take you seriously when you type the way you do.

Andrea, New York City - right out of the box you state a lie:

- If people like their current plans, they will be able to keep them.

That's a lie. If you have insurnance through your employer, and they opt out, you're going into the government public plan.

- Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental, hearing and vision benefits.

Have that already - it's called SCHIP.

-  Increases the health care workforce to ensure that more doctors and nurses are available to provide quality care as more Americans get coverage.

Another lie. With all the secret side deals, hospitals will be cutting billions out of their budgets. How do you hire more doctors if your cutting billions out of the budget.

-  The Congressional Budget estimates the bill will reduce the deficit by at least $100 billion over ten years.

How can it? The bill was just made public today, and the CBO has yet to comment.

You're drinking too much kool-aid Andrea.

As an aside, there was one protestor with a bullhorn who was shut down. In that area, apparently no amplified sound is allowed.

=============

I say, I say, that was no amplified sound . . .

How much you want to bet that every TV news outlet, except Fox, starts their news stories with "The non-partisan CBO . . . ". The CBO is partisan. It's appointed by the powers that be in the House and Senate - Harry and Nancy.

I have skimmed it and I think its a good bill and much needed.
Andrea, New York City (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:42 PM)

-------------------------------------------------

How dare you steal a quotation from the President of the United States of America and pass it off as your own. For shame!
St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia

Andrea has done more then 98% of the congressmen will do.

I am ashamed of the republicans. I watch them bitch and moan about dems plan but they have not brought one thing forward other than tax cuts. You have all these people who want health care the majority of Americans wanting public option.I watched on talk show last night about Liberman being in the insurance peoples pockets. Including his wife. This is where we need to stop NOW. Also repukes that won't vote for a public option should be banned from getting the insurance they now have. I am a tax payer and am not going to continue to pay taxes for there wages or there insurance DONE FINISHED  

I sure hope some of the blogers read the bill instead of just quoting other blogers and a few media opinion givers and makers.

From Jesse, St. Paul:

"One thing that needs to be addressed,and this is very important.One has to know how to read and understand what they are reading.So there goes 99% of the wingers and there Red state education.Worst in the country,S.Carolina,Alabama,Texas,Louisiana,Mississippi,Oklahoma,Georgia,Rush country,where the under=educated meet."


Jesse:

A curious statement to make within the context of your prodidgious literary abilities.

To:  Jesse in St. Paul, MN

People in red states are "dumb"?  Really?  That's odd.

-Newsweek recently published the list of top-ranked public schools.  #1 - Dallas, TX

-The states with stronger economies currently happen to be "red".  You see, Republicans understand that taxing corporations & individuals to death does not equate to a strong economy.

-The states with the least job losses & more job creation are "red".  You see, Republicans understand what creates jobs -- and it's certainly not a $787 Billion stimulus.

-Isn't that strange?  In Q1 I believe, Texas created more jobs than all 49 other states combined --- and they have zero state income tax and are business friendly.

-Even more proof:  It was reported the other day that over a million people have fled NY to other states with lower taxation policies.  The effect:  Now they're struggling to pay welfare

Do your fellow countrymen a favor --- Get a Clue!

The richest in America will seemly move elsewhere.

It makes it obvious the drug industry is getting fed.

Keep the rethugs out; all they want to do is deny President Obama any achievement!!

I would have given them the middle finger a long time ago!!

I thought the health care debate was going to be an open process?  Why doesn't Pelosi and the other Dems tell you that the cost is only for the last five years of that 10 year period?  What's the cost beyond the ten year period?  Why are they loading the fees/surcharges/taxes/fines at the beginning of that 10 year period?  They'll build a nice stash of $$ from those taxes and it will be gone by the 11th year when we begin raising taxes to continue coverage.  

The American People don't know what they want.
We MUST tell them !!

RNCC, RNSC, RNC

We the majority know as that's why the democrats are now tanking in all polling and will be voted out in the upcoming elections.

Well since YOU read it Jawillie, gimmie the Executive Summary. I am a busy man. I have bids to rig. Aldermen and judges are waiting for their "lunch money" as we speak.

Big Al in Chicago, Vote early and vote often! (Sent Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:09 PM)

See jawillie,their already looking for someone to read it for them, their to lazy to read it them selves.
------------------------------------------------------
Hey Mo (where's Larry and Curly?) -- As a fiscal conservative, I will be taking some time to look this bill over since it is so easy to access.  While I'm doing that though, you (as well as Jawillie and the rest of your liberal ilk) should probably understand that the basic tenets of this bill as proposed by the officials who wrote it make it sound fiscally bad enough for conservatives to ignore the details in it.  Why?  Because the general ideas they have already explained for funding it (not to mention the proposed scope of it) are at very least unbelievable.  When someone offers you a used car for $25, what is your first thought?  If you're smart, it better be: "What's wrong with it?"  Why?  Because that isn't even close to reality when it comes to paying for a used car -- that won't even cover cars that are still usable for parts... even scrap.  This same idea applies here -- does it seem even remotely plausible that the sources used to fund this monstrosity are adequate or realistic?  Most likely answer: No.  That's why conservatives generally don't look too much into crap bills like this one -- the bills need to at least SEEM reasonable before they deserve attention.  But then, from what I've seen of liberals -- it just has to FEEL reasonable (thinking with your heart) -- don't worry so much about the reasonableness or fiscal soundness of it, that part's just window-dressing, right?  My suspicion is that you probably don't spend much time looking into conservative measures, either -- too much reason, too little emotion.

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