Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel
Friday, September 10, 2010
Democrats aim to pass $940B health bill Sunday
BY ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON -- House Democrats are pushing to the brink of passage a landmark, $940 billion health care overhaul bill that simultaneously would deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit, a strategy aimed at winning over the party's fiscal conservatives.
Leaving nothing to chance, the White House announced that Obama has put off his planned trip to Asia for a second time, delaying it until June. Obama was to have left Sunday -- when the House is planning to vote.
Said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "He wants to be here for the history."
The 10-year plan would provide coverage to 32 million people now uninsured through a combination of tax credits for middle-class households and an expansion of the Medicaid program for low-income people. Release of the legislation later Thursday sets the stage for a House vote on Sunday, and Democrats already have signaled they plan to go it alone, without Republican support. The GOP has opposed Obama's plan steadfastly from the outset.
It would restructure one-sixth of the economy, covering 95 percent of eligible Americans, in the biggest expansion of the social safety net since Medicare was created in 1965. It also would impose new obligations on individuals and businesses, requiring for the first time that most Americans carry health insurance and penalizing medium-sized and large companies that don't provide coverage for their workers.
Hospitals, doctors, drug companies and insurers would gain millions of new paying customers, but they also would have to adjust to major changes. Medicare cuts would force hospitals to operate more efficiently or risk going out of business, but seniors would see the coverage gap in their prescription benefits gradually eliminated. Insurance companies would face unprecendented federal regulation. Health care industries would be hit with new federal taxes. Upper-income households would face a new tax on investment earnings.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over its first 10 years, and continue to drive down the red ink thereafter. Democratic leaders said the deficit would be cut $1.2 trillion in the second decade -- and Obama called it the biggest reduction since the 1990s, when President Bill Clinton put the federal budget on a path to surplus.
"This is but one virtue of a reform that would bring accountability to the insurance industry and bring greater economic security to all Americans," Obama said. "So I urge every member of Congress to consider this as they prepare for their important vote this weekend."
The Democrats' drive took on a growing sense of inevitability, picking up endorsements Wednesday from a longtime liberal holdout and from a retired Roman Catholic bishop and nuns who broke with church leaders over the bill's abortion provisions. Leaders appeared increasingly confident of getting the 216 votes they need to pass the bill.
But House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio said his party's lawmakers will "do everything that we can do to make sure this bill never, ever, ever passes."
The legislation would be vulnerable to attack after it passes, since the biggest changes would be phased in slowly. The major expansion of coverage would not come until 2014, when new health insurance marketplaces open for business.
In the meantime, the legislation calls for a series of new consumer benefits. Starting this year, insurers could not deny coverage to children because of an pre-existing health problem, nor could they place lifetime dollar caps on the amount of coverage. A high-risk health insurance pool would provide coverage to uninsured people who can't get private coverage because of health problems.
Democrats are following a complicated two-track legislative strategy for passing the bill. First, the House will have to approve a Senate bill that many of its Democratic members object to. Then both chambers will pass quickly a package of fixes agreed to in negotiations with the White House.
The House will vote first, so Democratic leaders are seeking assurances from their Senate counterparts that they have enough votes to pass the follow-up measure as well.
Democrats are promising 72 hours for lawmakers and the public to review the legislation once it's released, so that would push a House vote on the bill until Sunday at the earliest -- "during daylight hours," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.
Much of the legislation's long-term deficit reduction came from two key changes Democrats made in recent days, the budget office said. Starting in 2019, the bill would slow annual inflation increases in new federal tax credits available to help people pay health insurance premiums. Beginning in 2020, it would accelerate the effect of a tax on a high-cost insurance plan by indexing it to the general rate of inflation.
Labor unions earlier succeeded in easing other features of the insurance, and Thursday the AFL-CIO's executive council was deliberating about the latest changes.
The long-anticipated measure is actually the second of two bills that Obama hopes lawmakers will send him in coming days, more than a year after he urged Congress to remake the U.S. health care system. The first cleared the Senate late last year but went no further because House Democrats demanded significant changes -- the very types of revisions now being packaged into the second bill.
After heavy lobbying from Obama, liberal Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, announced his support Wednesday, becoming the first Democrat to declare he would vote in favor of the legislation after opposing an earlier version. Shortly after Kucinich's announcement, a letter was released from 60 leaders of religious orders, urging lawmakers to vote for the legislation.
The endorsement reflected a division within the Catholic Church. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes the Senate-passed legislation, contending it would permit the use of federal funds for elective abortions.
Late Wednesday, however, retired Bishop John E. McCarthy of Austin, Texas, told The Associated Press he was urging approval of the legislation.
Reflecting growing opposition among states to the health care bill, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, a Republican, signed a measure Wednesday requiring the state attorney general to sue the federal government if residents are forced to buy health insurance. Similar legislation is pending in 37 other states.
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Most...
Copyright ©2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
28 COMMENTS
Pop2 said...
When will they get it, most people don't want the health bill. We don't need the Gov running it.They are lying to us!!!!
March 19, 2010 at 2:17 AM Report abuse
fedupwithtax said...
Pay close attention to what is happening in Greece. If this healthcare bill passes we will have the same type of reaction here.
March 19, 2010 at 6:02 AM Report abuse
Babbs said...
We can talk until we are blue in the face but these crazy people running our country don't care. The great thing about all of this is that history will record for all time the names of the people, these crazy people, who took the greatest country in the world and destroyed it.
March 19, 2010 at 6:20 AM Report abuse
chromedome said...
Moving a Trillion dollars of heath care fee’s to small business and individuals so the legislature can say it “saved a Trillion dollars” isn’t saving anything, it’s just shifting an enormous cost to the rest of us. This very likely will go down as the biggest rip off in history. Doctors will get richer and the rest of us will be FORCED to pay for it.
March 19, 2010 at 9:36 AM Report abuse
chromedome said...
Moving a Trillion dollars of heath care fee’s to small business and individuals so the legislature can say it “saved a Trillion dollars” isn’t saving anything, it’s just shifting an enormous cost to the rest of us. This very likely will go down as the biggest rip off in history. Doctors will get richer and the rest of us will be FORCED to pay for it.
March 19, 2010 at 9:37 AM Report abuse
Routone said...
First of all, Republicans wouldn't even allow Democrats into conference committees to shape the final form of bills when Bush was President with his Republican majority. Secondly, Republicans ought to do some research before he offers false GOP talking points. The bill allows for purchase of insurance across state lines. In fact, there are lots of aspects of this bill that were ideas offered by Republicans ... errr ... until they realized that their ideas were actually being incorporated into this bill ... then they were against the very ideas they offered! Imagine that, Republicans who don't act with honesty and good faith! I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you!
March 19, 2010 at 9:56 AM Report abuse
C-Fairer said...
My Hoveround didn't cost me a penny, and neither will Obama's trillion dollar health care plan! Suck it Grandkids, I'll be dead by the time you pick up the tab!
March 19, 2010 at 10:15 AM Report abuse
Routone said...
C-Fairer, Bush's tax cut for the wealthy opened up a massive federal deficit. Where were you then? Oh, that's right, you didn't CARE because it was a worthless Republican scheme! That's what you want, worthless Republican schemes! Even you will benefit from the passage of health reform.
March 19, 2010 at 10:51 AM Report abuse
C-Fairer said...
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves." William Pitt in the House of Commons November 18, 1783 A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity. Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address
March 19, 2010 at 11:03 AM Report abuse
Routone said...
C-Fairer, I and no doubt many others always find it laughable when a Republican quotes the Constitution or "founders." Where were you when Bush was SHREDDING it? Oh, once again NOWHERE! You're fine with anything as long as it benefits Republicans. It's why you ought not to be taken seriously. Republican: We're Worthless But Our Voters Don't Know!
March 19, 2010 at 11:06 AM Report abuse
C-Fairer said...
It's not the Republicans vs. the Democrats. It's the State vs. you. It’s like sorting out the differences between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the U.S. The Democrats have an overt philosophy of collectivism – but you’ve at least got to respect the fact that they are consistent about it. The Republicans don’t really have any philosophy at all, unless you could call saying, “We won’t go as far as the Democrats” a philosophy – so, although they’re arguably less evil, they have to be totally disrespected as spineless hypocrites.
March 19, 2010 at 11:16 AM Report abuse
Tired said...
Lets tax the insurance companies, I'm sure they won't pass it on to the consumers. Oh yeah don't forget to penalize Americans who can't afford to buy insurance while allowing illegals to get coverage. Scary to think the burden we are passing on to our children & grandchildren.
March 19, 2010 at 11:18 AM Report abuse
Routone said...
You're apparently forgetting that the reason that health care costs so much is BECAUSE of the profit motive. Health Insurance Companies did NOT build America, far from it, they're making it extremely uncompetitive. Who are you jokers kidding. I work for a company that has to spend 35% of its revenue on health care insurance. Is that right? NO! If you factor in lower health insurance costs against slightly higher taxes, I'll take the taxes for a net SAVINGS! It's so sad that there are people floating around who have been imprinted with such brave, very wrong "free market" ideas, not really realizing that the game is actually rigged and NOT FREE!
March 19, 2010 at 12:34 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
For Republicans this isn't really about health care at all, it is about their political fate. That's REALLY why they're so worried. All Republicans care about is power, not serving Americans. They know if this passes that, like Medicare, which they opposed, people will like it and consequently, will wind up voting for Democrats in higher numbers. Let Republicans just try to repeal this legislation, they know they won't be able to because they'll be fully revealed. Republicans don't want good, affordable health care for Americans, they want power and fear they won't have it if Democrats deliver. If enough Americans are dumb enough to hand control of Congress to ReopubliCONS in the fall, it won't matter, once the good of this bill happens, they'll be toast in the long run.
March 19, 2010 at 12:42 PM Report abuse
livefreedie said...
Routone, you're full of it. Healthcare costs so much for the most part because it costs a lot of money to treat sick people. All those tests, labwork, and everything else people have done because they "deserve" it, and want to make sure they don't get sick, costs a lot of money. It's like you saying that a Mercedes costs a lot of money because of the "profit margin." Yeah, the Mercedes company wants to make a profit, they don't just build cars for the hell of it, but they also do a great job making a great car and doing that is not cheap!
March 19, 2010 at 12:52 PM Report abuse
heyrube said...
the real reason repugs dont want the bill to pass Utah Republican Senator Orrin Hatch warned his Republican allies that that a victory for President Obama would earn his party the thanks of a grateful public and guarantee Democratic majorities for the foreseeable future. In an interview with CNS Monday, Senator Hatch revealed that was his darkest fear as well: "And if they get there, of course, you're going to have a very rough time having a two-party system in this country, because almost everybody's going to say, "All we ever were, all we ever are, all we ever hope to be depends on the Democratic Party."
March 19, 2010 at 1:47 PM Report abuse
heyrube said...
freedo-- what part of" we cant afford the gouging and denials dont you understand? Health spending reached 16.2 percent of the gross domestic product in 2008, up from 15.9 percent in 2007. That added up to $2.3 trillion and far higher per-person expenditures than other industrialized countries, although the higher spending is generally not matched by better health outcomes, the top five largest for-profit insurance companies increased their profits by $12.2 billion last year while dropping coverage for 2.7 million Americans.“
March 19, 2010 at 1:51 PM Report abuse
livefreedie said...
HeyRube, you say their profits went up 12.2 billion dollars last year. Even if your numbers are right, that works out to approximately $40 per person in our country. I have no doubt that government involvement in healthcare is going to increase our costs much more than $40 per person per year. Not to mention, government sucks at everything they do because they have no incentive to do a good job. The fact that U.S. medical treatment has been able to keep our average age of death stable, even though we are a coutry of indulgent fat slobs as a whole, is a testament to how well our system works.
March 19, 2010 at 2:28 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
LiveFree, your blather is worthless because what's the alternative? To allow HMO's to keep raising premiums 40% a year?! Compare real wages of American workers to those doing the same jobs in Europe and you'll see that Europeans have more buying power, primarily because of single payer health. This country wasn't created by and forth the highest bidder, a fact that RepubliCONS and apparently people like you can't or won't accept.
March 19, 2010 at 4:00 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
Livefree, You say government sucks at what they do because they have no incentive to do well. So you think that police, fire, and military suck and have no "incentive" to do well, to help their country and communities despite the dangers and often, very low pay with great expectations? Is that right? Same with teachers? How about the clergy. Boy, you live in a bleam, ignorant, absurd world. Thankfully it's only the sick one that exists between your ears, you WORTHLESS REPUBLICON, not the REAL WORLD. By the way, the "private" contractors did a really wonderful job of messing up everything they touched in Iraq ... for money far in excess of what we'd pay our trained and disciplined troops. How people like you got imprinted with ignorant Republican thinking is beyond nme. Well, you just did, which explains why you're a worthless Republican!
March 19, 2010 at 4:17 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
The politically impartial CBO just released the latest report on this health care bill. It is 100% deficit neutral and actually cuts the deficit by $138 billion over 10 years. It saves 1.2 trillion dollars over 20 years. Anyone pretending to be a true conservative needs to now find some other excuse. There no longer is any credible argument to remain opposed to this bill.
March 19, 2010 at 5:20 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
livefreedie said...we are a coutry of indulgent fat slobs as a whole, is a testament to how well our system works.********** You are a "fat slob" because of lack of exercise and too much caloric intake. Don't blame the government. Try Jennie Craig or Weight Watchers. Good luck freedie!
March 19, 2010 at 5:25 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
Routone said... How people like you got imprinted with ignorant Republican thinking is beyond me.********** Karl Rove, Rush, Mitch McConnell, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Sarah Palin. Need more?
March 19, 2010 at 5:29 PM Report abuse
heyrube said...
The Business Roundtable, which represents CEOs from the largest U.S. companies, warned in a report released Sept. 15 that annual health-care costs for businesses will rise 166% over the next decade, to nearly $29,000 per employee, if Congress does not enact significant coverage and cost reforms. That's even worse than the prior decade, according to a second report, which was released the same day. An annual survey by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation reported that employer-sponsored health insurance premiums rose 5% this year, bringing the total increase over the past decade to 131%—more than four times the rate of overall inflation. When asked about their plans for the future, 21% of firms now offering coverage said they are very likely to raise worker premium contributions in 2010, and 16% are very likely to raise deductibles. Four percent are very likely to restrict eligibility for coverage, and 2% are very likely to drop coverage altogether.
March 19, 2010 at 5:49 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
Any RepubliCONS blathering on and on about health care reform at this point is an exercise in futility. They TRASHED health care reform in 1995 and then did NOTHING about it. All they can do is DESTROY, never FIX! Republicans had their chance and did nothing while insurance companies increased premiums 200%! Republican: Worthless. Ignorant. Gone.
March 19, 2010 at 5:51 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
Chicken little, with an (R)beside his name, is running around saying "the sky is falling! The sky is falling!" And why? Because big insurance companies might not be able to ripoff the majority of Americans once this health care bill passes! Republican: We Break. Dems Fix.
March 19, 2010 at 5:54 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
heyrube said... The Business Roundtable, which represents CEOs from the largest U.S. companies, warned in a report released Sept. 15 that annual health-care costs for businesses will rise 166% over the next decade, to nearly....Very good info rube, thank you!
March 19, 2010 at 8:21 PM Report abuse
DTOM said...
This legislation is NOT ABOUT HEALTH CARE. It's about control. PRESIDENT ADMITS THAT OBAMACARE IS “A TRANSITION STEP” TOWARD SINGLE-PAYER. If you still harbor doubts that Obamacare is a first step toward single-payer health care, this montage of Obama speeches will eliminate them. He explicitly states that he is following the same path that Canada took to its government-run system: Get a system in place, signed into law by the end of my first term as President and build off that system … Canada did not start off immediately as a single-payer system. They had a similar transition step. In his own words : http://www.healthcarebs.com/2010/03/17/president-admits-that-obamacare-is-a-transitional-step-toward-single-payer/
March 20, 2010 at 10:39 AM Report abuse