The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representative approved a landmark health care reform bill Saturday night by a 220-215 vote.
President Barack Obama, who went to Capitol Hill earlier on Saturday to lobby moderate Democrats who were wavering, said, "I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year."
The bill will now go to the U.S. Senate.
BizTimes Milwaukee collected reactions about the legislation from Wisconsin's Congressional delegation and others. Their comments follow. More comments from other officials may be added during the day, and readers are invited comment at the end of the blog:
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison)
"This is an historic moment for our nation. House passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, marks the first step toward ensuring health care for all Americans. I truly believe that we'll look back years from now and view the passage of this Act to be as significant as the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935 and the Medicare and Medicaid Act in1965. The bill the House passed today will cover 35 million Americans who currently have no health insurance. This legislation will end the abusive practices of the insurance companies. Your coverage will no longer be denied because of a pre-existing condition. The bill will end the despicable practice of retroactively cancelling your policy at the moment you most need care. It will place caps on out-of-pocket medical expenses so that families dealing with a serious illness will no longer face the prospect of bankruptcy or financial ruin. And it will offer a multitude of other reforms to make our health care system more efficient, less costly, and more effective in preventing illness, restoring, and maintaining good health for you and you family. Health care for all is the issue that brought me into politics and has been a driving force in my work ever since. I am proud of the role that I played in crafting this groundbreaking legislation and will continue to work on improving and strengthening this measure to send the strongest bill possible to the President's desk."
Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Appleton), who is a medical doctor
“Tonight, we have taken a bold step forward towards securing the health and safety of all of our families. Working together, we are beginning to fix what is broken in our health care delivery system, guaranteeing that no family will lose their home or need to hold a bake sale just to pay for life-saving treatment. The bill we passed will immediately help senior citizens by beginning to close the Donut Hole in Medicare Part D and eliminating deductibles and co-pays for preventive services in Medicare. It will help everyone in Wisconsin by increasing the number of primary care physicians; securing continued coverage for workers who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs; providing immediate help for the uninsured and expanding community health centers ... As someone who has been paying medical malpractice insurance premiums for three decades, I know that we need to fix this problem and strike the right balance. This issue came up frequently in our town hall meetings this summer, and I delivered that message to my colleagues in the House. I listened, came back and helped to write a better bill."
Rep. Ron Kind (D-LaCrosse)
"Comprehensive health care reform is long overdue because the current system is unsustainable. The Affordable Health Care for America Act not only makes health care more stable and affordable for those who already have health insurance, but it guarantees access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured, protects consumers, provides security for seniors, and reforms the way we pay for health care from one that is volume driven to one that is value driven. The health care reform bill builds on what works and fixes what doesn’t, offering stability and security to families who are satisfied with their health insurance and providing choices for those who aren’t, without leaving a legacy of debt to our children. Although it’s not perfect, the bill is a good start. As promised, it’s completely paid for. In fact, it reduces the national deficit by $109 billion over the next 10 years and will reduce the cost of care moving forward. I am proud to support the bill. Our current system pays for the number of procedures ordered instead of the quality of care provided; resulting in $700 -800 billion, approximately one third of health care costs, in wasteful spending each year that doesn’t help the patient. We need a value-based reimbursement system that rewards quality and cost-effectiveness. I’ve worked with health care providers in Wisconsin to correct the unfairness of Medicare reimbursement rates that they have been subjected to for so long. Our region is among the lowest reimbursed in the nation, forcing health care providers to shift costs to private plans, resulting in higher costs for patients. We’re fixing that flawed system with this bill, through negotiations I led, to include provisions for historic payment reform that reward the value of care delivered instead of the quantity of care provided. This bill will lead to a more cost effective way to pay for and deliver health care in our country and lower costs in the long run, making health care more affordable for all Americans. I have been assured by Mayo Clinic, Gunderson Lutheran and other health care providers that they will continue to work with me and other Members of both the House and Senate to achieve a final product that moves Medicare toward a model that rewards value. They understand that more of the same is not an acceptable option."
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee)
"With the passage of the House version of health insurance reform legislation, we recognize the government has a moral responsibility to make sure its citizens have access to quality and affordable health care. The health of a country’s population is absolutely critical to its productivity, and it’s about time that the United States got in the game. In my district, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will improve employer-based coverage for 354,000 residents, and provide credits to help pay for coverage to up to 192,000 households. This bill will improve Medicare for 87,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription drug donut hole for 6,200 seniors. It will allow 14,600 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 12,300 small businesses. This legislation will create a right to health care that many Americans have never had before, but it also creates a responsibility that all Americans get insurance so that everyone has some skin in the game. At some point, everyone in America accesses the health care system, and whether or not they have insurance, that care is not free. This bill brings 96 percent of Americans into the health care system – 36 million additional people. This is nothing short of transformational."
Rep. Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac)
"I think the vote was a tragedy. The bill, when it is finally implemented, will be a killer of jobs and of economic growth. It is going to mean our unemployment will be higher rather than lower, and I think people are going to be shocked when they learn how much more they are going to be paying in premiums for the insurance that they get - especially young people and middle-aged people. There will be real increases in the cost of health care for an awful lot of Americans. Now, I think one thing we have to remember is that this is not final passage. The bill goes to the Senate and will have to go to a conference. There are many hurdles that still have to be passed."
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville)
"I firmly believe that this is the most consequential vote each of us will take in our service here in Congress. When you expose this bill’s budget gimmicks, does it increase the debt and deficit? Yes. Will it take coverage away from seniors, raise premiums for families, and decrease health care innovation? Yes. Will it raise taxes on small businesses and workers, and cost us nearly 5.5 million jobs when our unemployment rate is 10.2 percent? Yes. Does this bill mean the government will take over running our health care system? Yes. But what is worse is this bill replaces the American Idea with a European-style social welfare state. This bill – more than any other decision we are going to make in this body – will lead to millions of Americans becoming dependents on the state rather than being dependent upon themselves. This is not about health care policy – if it were, we could pass a bipartisan bill to fix what’s broken in health care without breaking what’s working in health care. This is about ideology. “The choice is not whether or not you’re going to stick with your party leaders. The choice here is what side of history do you want to be on? Will you be on the side of history where you stick with the people and the principles that built this exceptional nation? That is the choice we face."
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls)
"The U.S. Constitution declares 'we the people,' not 'we the government.' Yet, with tonight's late night passage of H.R. 3962, the House voted in favor of a government takeover of health care that will raise taxes, cut health care services, and perhaps most alarming, set our nation on a dangerous path in which the government encroaches on our lives even more. In the last few days, we've learned the government couldn't foresee the real cost of Cash for Clunkers and the stimulus package did little to stimulate job growth - and now, the same leaders who brought us these programs are taking over health care with more red tape, increased taxes and additional mandates. Like these programs, with health care, we don't know when the spending will end or how high the final costs will go beyond the estimates. Health care needs to be reformed in our country, but Speaker Pelosi's 2,000 page health care overhaul bill is the wrong way to do it. H.R. 3962 is the wrong prescription for America. This bill makes care more expensive and less available, while hurting Wisconsinites and harming Wisconsin businesses. This legislation chips away at the independence our Founding Fathers fought for, and replaces it with citizens being dependent on their government for care. I hope Senators Kohl and Feingold have a better understanding of the principles of democracy when they consider health care legislation on the Senate floor."
Susan Eckerly, senior vice president of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
"Small business owners are outraged that their elected representatives voted to pass a health care bill that fails to lower costs, increase choice and provide real competition for America’s small businesses. Instead, this bill will actually make things worse, not better. With unemployment at a 26-year high, the punitive employer mandates and atrocious new taxes will force small business owners to eliminate jobs and freeze expansion plans at a time when our nation’s economy needs small business to thrive. There is no question that this bill will have devastating consequences for small business owners, their employees and the country’s economic recovery. As we have said since its original introduction, H.R. 3962 is not the kind of reform America’s small businesses need or want. Small businesses have long supported reform that provides more affordable and accessible healthcare options for them and their workers. Instead of listening to small businesses, the House passed a bill that will actually make things worse for small firms. Punishing small employers with employer mandates, payroll taxes and a new government-run program paid for on the backs of small businesses, will not fix our broken healthcare system. H.R. 3962 represents a failed opportunity to help small business owners with their No. 1 problem – skyrocketing health care costs. As the health care debate moves to the Senate floor, NFIB hopes senators will consider legislation that actually makes addressing the needs of small businesses a top priority. This begins with enacting
responsible insurance market reforms and increasing competition in the small group and individual private market by creating an exchange modeled on the SHOP Act. It means allowing national benefit plans to be purchased across state lines – something long supported by small business. And, it means making certain that they do so in a way that doesn’t increase the cost of doing business for our small businesses. We have said repeatedly that we remain committed to trying to support reform efforts that will provide more affordable and accessible healthcare options for small employers and their workers. No one needs reform more."
Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"With the passage of H.R. 3962, the health care bill, the House missed a significant opportunity to advance reasonable and meaningful health reform that fundamentally changes how the health care system operates and changes the overall upward trajectory in spending. American employers and employees want an improvement in the nation's health care system, not an unsustainable, unaffordable overhaul. Friday's news that unemployment has reached double digits for the first time in 26 years should have been a wake-up call for those considering job-stifling tax increases and employer mandates included in the House health care bill. Expanding coverage is an imperative; it is also imperative that the nation is moving on a credible and sustainable fiscal path. Unfortunately, in addition to the massive new tax burdens on individuals and small business owners, the health care reform bill just passed by the House of Representatives fails the crucial test of reducing the soaring cost of health coverage for businesses or individuals. We urge the Senate to listen to the American people and reject the House’s partisan approach to health care."
Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin
"It is very rare that a vote can be called 'historic,' but the vote Saturday night certainly was. Despite health care reform efforts that go all the way back to Theodore Roosevelt, this is the first time that any comprehensive health care reform bill has ever been passed by either house of Congress. By a narrow margin that would have been shifted by a change in 3 votes, Congress has taken a great step for the people of Wisconsin in passing the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Those who voted yes proved they were on the side of the American people and not the big insurance companies and special interests that have been working overtime to try and kill meaningful health care reform. Because of the strong support from members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation to do what is right for their constituents, we can look forward to having more affordable health coverage with good, comprehensive benefits, and true choice and competition in the health insurance marketplace."
Erin Musgrave, Small Business Majority
"The passage today of H.R. 3962 by the US House of Representatives was historic. We are finally within reach of effecting real change—change that has been hard fought, is long overdue and essential to small businesses’ survival. Providing America’s 28 million small business owners with high-quality, affordable healthcare got one huge step closer to becoming a reality today. Small business owners have been mired in a healthcare system that burdens them with inordinate costs, threatens their competitiveness and discourages entrepreneurship. Economic research we released in June shows that without healthcare reform, small business owners will pay nearly $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years to provide health insurance for their employees. Clearly, the cost of doing nothing is too high, and failing to pass healthcare reform legislation this year is unacceptable. We’re pleased to see adjustments to the bill that will benefit small businesses in particular. These include short-term relief through a high-risk pool set to start in 2010, requiring insurers to justify premium increases to discourage price gouging, a requirement that health plans spend at least 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care and individual plans available in the exchange that would save the 22 million self-employed 25 percent on their premiums in 2016. These provisions, along with tax credits, a robust national exchange and strong market reform—specifically the elimination of preexisting condition rules—will go a long way toward getting small businesses the relief they desperately need. With that said, there’s still more work to do. As we await the final Senate bill, it is imperative that all stakeholders remain constructively engaged and focused on enacting comprehensive healthcare reform this year. There are good provisions in the Senate bill that can be merged with H.R. 3962 to improve the final bill—specifically additional measures to lower costs. Today was a good day for small business and America, and we must maintain this momentum if we are to succeed. We’ve come too far to stop now."
Robert Nesse, M.D., president and CEO, Franciscan Skemp Healthcare (La Crosse), Mayo Health System
"The status quo is not acceptable. What we see in health care right now in the United States is tremendous amounts of duplication of services that are not necessary. About 30 percent of the money we spend on health care could be saved if we were all practicing at the best standards of quality and efficiency. The House bill’s provision calling for an Institute of Medicine study and recommendations will move us in the right direction. I look forward to continue working with Congressman Kind to achieve a final product that moves Medicare toward a model that rewards value."
David Newby, president of Wisconsin AFL-CIO
"When the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act, working families found out who their real friends are, and Rep. Moore is at the top of the list. Residents of the fourth congressional district can be proud that Rep. Moore cast one of the deciding votes to put us closer than we have been in the last 60 years to achieving real health insurance reform. Rep. Moore has been a champion for health care reform. In voting for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, Rep. Moore stood up to the insurance company fat cats who have fought so hard to maintain the status quo. She said 'no' to insurance company denials and discriminations due to pre-existing conditions. She said 'no' to the insurance company stranglehold on 94 percent of the markets and told insurance companies they now have to compete. Rep. Moore said ‘yes’ to fairness, competition, security and stability in our health care system. She voted for a plan that provides health insurance to 96 percent of Americans, pays for itself, and reduces the deficit. Saturday’s vote was a rare vote of conscience that distinguished which members of Congress truly represent the will of the people. We thank Rep. Moore for standing with the working men and women who sent her to Washington and we will honor her commitment by continuing to stand with her. It is very exciting that we are so close to winning genuine health insurance reform and we will redouble our efforts to finish the job."
Derrick Plummer, Democratic Party spokesman
"It's disappointing, but not surprising that Rep. Ryan chose to stand with the insurance companies instead of Wisconsinites. Today, Rep. Ryan voted against a historic bill which will protect Wisconsinites from unfair insurance company practices and will provide coverage for millions of Americans. But standing on the side of insurance company CEOs and the far right wing or the Republican Party isn’t just bad policy, it’s bad politics. Rep. Ryan can be rest assured that after voting against health insurance reform today, the people of the 1st Congressional District will not be voting for Rep. Ryan next November."
Barry Rand, CEO of AARP
"AARP is pleased that the House has passed the Affordable Health Care for American Act. This bill meets our goals of improving Medicare's benefits and making critical health insurance market reforms that make coverage more affordable. Our nation is now closer than ever to a health care system that actually works for all Americans. For too long, insurance companies have taken advantage of discriminatory practices to cherry pick the most profitable customers. And for too long, the high costs of prescription drugs have forced seniors to choose between their medications and other necessities. We must fix this broken, inequitable system. This legislation protects Medicare and ensures that it will be there for today's seniors and for the future generations. The bill makes prescription drugs more affordable for people in Medicare by closing the program's dangerous gap in drug coverage and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. It adds cost-free preventive services like cancer screenings and cracks down on waste and fraud to protect and strengthen traditional Medicare benefits. In addition, the legislation provides benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program. For all Americans, especially those age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find affordable insurance, this plan strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age, and stops insurers from denying coverage based on a person's health history or gender. For those who still cannot find affordable coverage on their own, this bill offers help so they can purchase insurance. We thank those representatives who voted for this landmark legislation, and we urge those members who did not support health care reform tonight to reconsider the needs of their constituents when this issue returns to the House for a final vote."
J. James Rohack, M.D., president of the American Medical Association
"The AMA hails the passage of the House health reform bill, which will help improve the health system for patients and physicians and calls for swift passage of H.R. 3961 to secure the stability of the Medicare program. Passage of the House health reform bill is a big step forward as we work for comprehensive health reform this year. The AMA will continue its work with Congress and the administration to strengthen and improve health reform legislation as the process continues for patients and physicians. The bill will significantly expand health insurance coverage to Americans; empower patient and physician decision making; institute meaningful insurance market reforms; make substantial investments in quality; institute prevention and wellness initiatives; provide incentives to states that adopt certificate of merit and/or early offer liability reforms, and reduce administrative burdens. As Congress considers new coverage commitments to the American people through health reform, it must ensure that commitments already made are fulfilled through passage of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961). This bill will permanently repeal the broken physician payment formula and preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers and military families."
23 Comments
There is nothing surprising about the comments above. What would be surprising is reporting on the true costs and mandates in the house bill. Who is going to pay for it and how much? What will happen to typical premiums for those currently with private health care insurance? Who will be exempt and why? We don't need regurgitation of press releases- we need reporting.
This is an absolutely terrible bill that will prove to be just another giveaway to the insurance industry. Over $1 trillion in a decade. Mandated purchases will drive insurer's 85% market to nearly 100%, plus a surcharge on self-insured corporations that do not use insurers will be penalized. Wow. I know where my future investments are going.
For the same amount of dollars we are spending today (16.5% of GDP) we could provide first-class Cheney-care to 100% of our population. But instead the House jumped through dozens of hoops to keep the insurance bureaucracy in place, which consumes 31% of our health care dollars without ever laying hands on the patient.
Yea, a single-payer system would increase personal taxes slightly, especially for the wealthy, but it would be the best corporate bailout ever. For all corporations, not just the bankers.
Sort of reminds me of Winston Churchill who said "America will always do the right thing, but only after everything else fails."
As usual, B.M. lays a big one. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says this bill cut the national deficit and will provide insurance coverage for 36 million more Americans. As for its impact on our insurance premiums, they will come down - IF insurance companies have to compete with a public option. That is why the Republicans are fighting the public option ... Because their campaigns are funded BY the insurance industry. The insurance industry is bankrolling the Republican Party, and the Republican Party is against the public option. Go figure.
John, the D's campaigns are also funded by the insurance industry. $5 million to Max Baucus got his ear and he refused to hear the best option out there; Medicare-for-all. The best corporate bailout ever.
As well, *IF* a bill gets through the senate, there is only one legitimate public option: let corporations and individuals OPT INTO Medicare at cost. What the heck, it already exists and would only need additional people. Not the 20-30 additional departments any new reform would require.
I really don't understand the opposition. Telling me the bill is 2000 pages is a statement of tree conservation, and not a reason to vote against it.
Paul Ryan says that this will replace our current system with a european system. Well, last I checked, the europeans are healthier than us, living longer than us, and closer to their nominal weight. Doesn't sound so bad to me.
It also saddens me that the decision to wage war or help failed businesses comes easier than the decisions to improve the health of all Americans.
I'm happy that the bill passed the House, but Senate Republicans need to get out of the pockets of big insurance, and into the hearts of Americans crying for help and the help of their unemployed loved ones.
And John, let me add that when insurers are not able to play games with lemon drops, cherry picking, denials, pre-existing diseases, and rescissions, their rates are going to go up, not down. And if they really do have to compete with a public option, they will take it out of the hides of physicians long before they reduce excessive executive salaries, bonuses, broker commissions, and lobbying and campaign contribution costs.
It is not going to be a pretty sight. We will soon see that "private" is not more efficient than "public," as they have been claiming.
I find it interesting that no one even asks if this is constitutional.
Regardless of the arguements pro and con, this bill does not pass constitutional muster. I checked the constitution the other day and I could find nothing about forcing citizens to pay for bailouts of private companies. I also could find nothing remotely allowing congress to force citizens under penalty of law to buy any product. Congress can not force us to buy insurance as a condition of citizenship. The scary thing to me is that the courts might actually uphold this.
The bill is terrible in its own right, even if it were constitutional. Has anyone actually read it before voting on it? Shouldn't we do that, at least?
What the hell has happened to this country?
It is very disturbing that our democratic party believes they can make this work. Heck they could not get flu shots to the American public on time even though they knew about this in plenty of time. Then when they did get the shots, they gave them to terrorists, prisoners and illegal aliens BEFORE all or our children and people of high risk are taken care of, let alone the rest of us law abiding citizens.
NAME one government program that has been successful. Post Office? No, it's going bankrupt. Social Security? No, same ending. Our Federal Budget? If a private company was run this way the managers and owners would be in jail, why aren't our elected going to jail for what they did to this country?
I for one am sick of seeing this great country getting weaker and weaker because people want to be taken care of. It's time to get off our A---S and work our way out of this mess that we allowed ourselves into. It's everyone's fault, the Democrats for playing on the welfare and poor that want something for nothing and the rest of us for not getting off the golf course and standing up for what is right for this country. I did not want to live in a socialist country, yet I feel that is where we are headed, if we are not already there. I wanted to live in America where you can get what you work for. Now the only people that can gain wealth are the elected elite and those with public jobs. Public jobs on average get paid almost double what private sector jobs get paid when you figure in benefits, yet the private sector gets taxed and pays these people to work for them. That is like paying your babysitter more than you make to watch your kids. WAKE UP America it is time we take back our country from the socialists and get back to being the best country in the world. Our forefathers gave there lives and had to fight for our freedoms. We are lucky in that we can fight for our rights without giving up our lives, but we may need to give up some of our valuable free time in order to get out and vote, petition and speak out for what we deem right for this country.
Do you really want larger government control? Do you really think our government can run an effective program?? Do you really want more of your freedoms taken from you??? I DON'T!!!!!!!
Don't wait to see what we get, speak up and take charge of your lives!
Jaime Maliszewski
Jaime, I agree partially, but the flu vaccines were delayed by the manufacturers -- three private companies -- not the government.
The post office? Yea, the internet killed 1st class mail with online billing, paying and email. They should cut to 3 day deliveries and cut staff and real estate in half. It should operate without being subsidized, but it's otherwise a public option that people support.
Social security? Can you imagine had we let Bush privatize it and give our money to the bankers and stock market?
Medicare? Yea, it's draining money because the Republican congress in 2003 gave the drug companies a $780 billion prize with the Drug bill. But eliminate that and let corporations and individuals opt into it and you'll see healthcare costs go down significantly. (But let those who want to stay out do so.) Otherwise Medicare is far more efficient than private insurers.
Politicians going to jail? Yea, I agree 100%. Mainly because they take open bribes (campaign contributions) and give away taxpayer assets in return.
That makes our country being run by the corporations, not the socialists.
John Wolters- If you think our insurance premiums will come down because of this bill you must also think the stimulus is working. Specifically what has government ever promised that has come under budget and saved the taxpayers money? Public education, public transportation, the post office, the TSA, federal highway projects, social security, medicare ($37 trillion looming liability), the recovery stimulus plan, war in Iraq, war in Afghanistan? This bill, on top of all the other out of control spending our government is doing, may be the final nail in the coffin for our economy.
As to the Republicans being in cahoots with the insurance companies. Last I checked Obama cut secret deals with the health insurance companies, the pharma companies, the AMA, the AFL-CIO, the SEIU, AARP, a few congressmen, and who knows who else. Each of these is getting special favors from Obama. By giving government more power and more money to lord over, it will naturally increase the opportunity for corruption and that is what we will get.
But please, be specific- how much will the typical health insurance premium go down and how long will it take for the price to decrease? Also, why will government employees, including politicians, be exempt? Will other union members be exempt? If so, why? Please explain how this will be a democratic (not the party Wolters) plan when it will require certain groups of people to be exempt due to their political clout.
As to Europe being healthier than the US- False. It is easy to lie with general statistics, especially when not comparing apples to apples. On average Europe may have longer life expectancies, but there is no place in Europe like the urban ghettos of Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, etc. High poverty, crime, and murder rates, and neglectful or non-existent parenting play a role in lower US life expectancies. Automobile usage is higher in the US and our auto fatality rates are subsequently higher. Also, we have been importing millions of poor, generally uneducated, illegal immigrants into the US. How do you think the US compares with Europe with regards to K-12 education? It a similar apples to oranges comparison. When specific statistics regarding treatment for specific health issues are reviewed, the US excels. Our survival rates for various types of cancers exceed those of Europe. Also, our wait times for knee surgery and hip replacements are well below those for Europe or Canada. We also lead the world in medical innovation, something that will be diminished due to a government takeover of our health care system.
Fix the things that need fixing and leave our health care, which I, most people, are happy with.
Agreed. People like Maliszewski are angry, they're teabaggers. But their anger is misdirected. They are naive. Health care for everyone, whether they can afford to have insurance or not, is not a "socialist" idea. It is a matter of American democratic fairness and justice. It wasn't socialism that brought this nation down. It was pure, unadulterated capitalism. It was corporate greed. It was banks that got too big to fail. We had eight years of unregulated capitalism, as the Bush administration peeled back the regulations, failed to restrict anyone on Wall Street and gave tax breaks to the rich. CEO salaries soared to astronomic heights. The gap between the rich and the poor grew wider than at anytime in our nation's history. It did not trickle down. Instead, wages were stagnant. We were trickled on. Good lord, get a clue and direct your anger at the true villains.
Paul, the last time the gap between the rich and poor was as wide was in 1929. You see what happened then and what is happening now. Our nation cannot sustain the inequality, and we cannot sustain the corruption in our government. I wouldn't let an employee take money on the side and give away corporate assets, and I will not stand by while my esteemed politician is doing exactly the same.
Marsh: "leave our health care, which I, most people, are happy with." What? So, you've got yours, and to heck with everyone else? Let them eat cake. Beautiful.
Bakken: Work on your reading comprehension and your honesty- I said "Fix the things that need fixing" before the part you quoted. Why am I not surprised.
Bakken- you claim others are naive- Regarding fairness- explain how it is fair or democratic (not the party, Wolters) that government employees and politicians are exempt? Also, what other exemptions are there for these unions that support the bill and currently have generous health benefits? I'm sure there is something in the bill to let them avoid the pain of this bill that ordinary Americans will incur. Please specifically enlighten us Bakken.
You poor misguided Liberal Dems, can't you see that we can not keep spending what we do not have??? When a company is not profitable we cut costs, we do not add costs and departments. Who is going to pay for this?? Balance the budget, then and only then can you add, and only if you have room on the balanced budget. Balancing a Budget is not an option!!! Keep living with your heads in the sand waiting for someone to save you. I for one want to control my own destiny. What made this country great was the ability to achieve what you work for! Last I read about History this country was built by people willing to work hard to get ahead for their family, not waiting for the government to take care of them!!! Also, the big banks that are mentioned above, I believe it was Clinton that had them give loans to undeserving people that are now costing us big time. There is enough blame to go around Republican and Democrat, the bottom line is that bigger is NOT better when it comes to government!
Jaime Maliszewski
We cannot spend what we do not have? We certainly did when we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. Why can we do it there and not for health care? Oh, I see. You've already got yours!
Yea, there ARE a couple of things we could do. First, get rid of the corruption in government that drives taxes out of sight, and then increase or decrease taxes to fund the services that we as a compassionate country should fund.
Well, right-wingers, you aren't happy about people taking your money?
Well, neither am I. But our corrupt politicians — from both political parties — are doing it daily as they take campaign contributions from businesses and unions and then pass legislation that favors their contributors to the detriment of the nation. Either get behind public funding of campaigns or keep quiet. If politicians are going to be beholden to their funders, those funders must be the taxpayers.
We pay their political costs anyway, when they add them to the price of their product and we reimburse them at the cash register, so let's pay them up front and at 1/100th the cost.
Either live with it, or fix it.
Jack, if you were stuck on an escalator that broke down while you were half way up would you wait for someone to come and help you off or would you walk to the top and go on to your destination? No one in this country is denied healthcare. Go to the emergency room, crack dealers shot during a bad drug deal will be taken care of and in his business he does not have heathcare but he is covered, by us. Or see the illegal alien give birth to her child or get care after her uninsured vehicle killed one of our citizens. I know it is hard to see with your head in the sand but it happens everyday. Look how the boy that was burned in the car fire on the southside was taken care of, his family did not have healthcare but thanks to many caring individuals and Culvers he was not only taken care of at the emergency room but many of his future needs were covered, ALL WITHOUT GOVERNMENT HELP!!! A people afraid of its government is tyranny, a government afraid of its people is liberty! Right now I Fear my government! Don't You!
Jaime Maliszewski
Oh, by the way Jack do you really believe what you said "We cannot spend what we do not have? We certainly did when we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. Why can we do it there and not for health care?" Two wrongs don't make it right!!! It's ALWAYS wrong to spend what you do not have!!!
These rightwing knuckledraggers always crack me up. News flash: The current health care system is not sustainable for consumers, for our companies or for our country. It is a competitive disadvantage for America in a global economy. Your "I've got mine so screw you" attitude is exactly what dragged this country into the mess it's in over the last eight years. And people do NOT have access to health care. Yes, once they get to emergency rooms, we cover them, and you and I pay for that, big time. But the less costly primary care they need in the first place to avoid the high-cost emergency room visit is denied to people - every day! Wake up! Get a clue! The system you like is trash, disfunctional and broke.
Jaime, it may be hard to accept but I am generally a republican. Voted for Bush twice and McCain last year. But I remember the "compassionate" most other conservatives have forgotten. I spent 40 years in health care, the last 25 as owner of an independent cardiac monitoring lab, so I think I have a handle on the health care issue.
I understand self-sufficiency and support Work for Welfare. But I will not tolerate corrupt politicians or corrupt CEOs who got to the top on the backs of others. My kids' and your kids' backs.
But you hold your head high and ignore the 20,000 who die each year because they do not have healthcare. Or those who went bankrupt because they did show up at the emergency room and got sued by the hospital because they had assets.
And yes, I do believe that when you have underfunded a system you can indeed invest more to bolster it. I've done it where necessary. They call it "increasing taxes," but even that would not be necessary if our politicians took their hands out of the special interest's pocket and spent our money only where needed.
I describe more here: http://moneyedpoliticians.net
I admit that I did not want the government messing with health care. But I did the numbers. I pay an average of roughly $13.72 per hour. The cost of benes is another $2.10 per hour (single person contribution). Looking forward, government passes and controls all health care. I just increased my profit 13%. In my history, I have never had 13% go straight to the bottom line without so much as a sales call. I'm telling you guys, think twice before pooh-poohing this legislation.
Put this little bit of profit heaven on top of moving out of Milwaukee County (reduced taxes; more skilled workers); man this may be the best two years we've seen in a long time. If the economy turns back up as Mr. Jagler promises; that's the cherry on the whip cream on the frosting on the cake..... for breakfast.
Bob, the current house and senate fixes are terrible and you should ask Kohl and Feingold to vote NO on them. They help some of the unemployed but not many. The best business-oriented proposal is single-payer Medicare-for-all.