Breaking News On Big Ed!

[berni_mccoy]

1. Rockefeller affirms there will be a public option. The AHIP PWC report has ticked off plenty of Dems and they are taking it as a threat that the Insurance Industry are about to spike rates.
2. The House is busy drafting legislation that would punish the Insurance Industry for any sort of rate increase prior to the HCR becoming effective. Windfall profit tax, anti-gouging law, etc. They are taking the threat seriously.
3. Rockefeller, Menendez and other Progressive Senators will be on the bill merger committee and will be key in merging the HELP and Finance Committee bills.
4. Rockefeller himself was assured by President Obama after the Finance Committee bill passed that Obama will be putting the pressure on to pass a Strong PO in the Senate
5. Menendez says a PO will be part of the Senate Bill that goes to conference. The President will get a bill on his desk to sign that includes a Strong PO.

Rockefeller's final words to Big Ed were "Keep the Faith!"

[Engineer4Obama]

1. Rockafeller's confidence is keeping me hopeful

We do seem to find the cloud in every silver lining though.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

7. Look on the bright side:

Even Price-Waterhouse is backing off of their own report. They issued a statement today revealing that AHIP asked them to create the report based on only four items from the bill. This whole thing is going to explode in the face of Big Insurance.

[Engineer4Obama]

8. Wait they admitted they produced a fraudulent report?

Isn't there some sort of law that breaks?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Not if they are not given all the data

which is what happened here.

[Engineer4Obama]

13. So then the insurance companies asked for a report they knew was going to be fraudulant

Is that illegal?

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. On the letter of the law NO

on the spirit... well, you expected them to be truthful?

[verges]

26. I doubt it.

It's just telling someone to tell you what you want to hear.

[AusDem]

47. it was a disclaimer of sorts issued by PwC

saying that the report was based on 4 factors only, and didn't take into account all the other parts of the legislation.

they were basically given terms of reference by AHIP and of course the terms were biased. no surprises there. I'm surprised they took on the job given that most firms have fairly strict risk management practices. Times must be tough.

The statement issued was:

America’s Health Insurance Plans engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to prepare a report that focused on four components of the Senate Finance Committee proposal: -- Insurance market reforms and consumer protections that would raise health insurance premiums for individuals and families if the reforms are not coupled with an effective coverage requirement.

-- An excise tax on employer-sponsored high value health plans.

-- Cuts in payment rates in public programs that could increase cost shifting to private sector businesses and consumers.

-- New taxes on health sector entities.

The analysis concluded that collectively the four provisions would raise premiums for private health insurance coverage. As the report itself acknowledges, other provisions that are part of health reform proposals were not included in the PwC analysis. The report stated on page 1:

“The reform packages under consideration have other provisions that we have not included in this analysis. We have not estimated the impact of the new subsidies on the net insurance cost to households. Also, if other provisions in health care reform are successful in lowering costs over the long term, those improvements would offset some of the impacts we have estimated.”

AD

[Enthusiast]

75. It should be. But they are in the business

of selling fraudulent information every day. It's what they do.

[Demoiselle]

93. Hmmm...

Shouldn't Price Waterhouse, in its professional wisdom, KNOW when it hasn't been given all the appropriate and necessary data? This is supposed to be based on public statistics...not the private information of an individual taxpayer who's hiding his assets.
Aren't there certain pro formas for this kind of figuring?
Sounds like a classic CYA to me...

That said, I'm neither an accountant or economist nor do I play either on tv...so what do I know?

[Kablooie]

49. No. They admit that the study was deliberately limited to 4 factors.

They said that other factors they weren't allowed to use would change the result.

They are out in front and honest about it. Not illegal at all.

[Kablooie]

48. Yes that came from NPR. They have some reporters that do their job.

In spite of Irene Morningstar being a Republican instead of a Democrat.

[elleng]

60. Irene MORGENSTERN?

:eyes:

[polmaven]

68. No...

MORNINGSTAR is correct. I googled the name to check.

There is also this post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6765347

The lying woman is Irene Morningstar.

[RaleighNCDUer]

101. No doubt. It was her grandfather that was Morgenstern. nt

[elleng]

108. I was joking, kind of; should have indicated such.

[beac]

70. Obama is asking us to use the link below to flood Congress today:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fight_back


Apparently, there is also a Facebook-sharable version of this, for you Facebookers out there.

[annabanana]

2. Hoooo Wheee! It sounds like the Insurance Industry stirred

themselves up a hell of a hornet's nest.

(stupid stupid lead-footed organizations)

[csziggy]

5. Was that report released on purpose or was it leaked?

If on purpose, whoever authorized it is an idiot. If it was leaked, maybe Wendell Potter is not the only insider fed up with the insurance industry's practices!

[berni_mccoy]

6. It was intentionally released. Yes, it was a very bad move.

[thunder rising]

9. True. They had to release it to use it. Saying "there exists a report" doesn't go over well anymore

[Kablooie]

50. Whoever had the bright idea of this biased report will be joining us in unemployment lines soon.

[beac]

69. And will probably have to pay out the wazoo for his/her COBRA coverage!

:rofl:

Serves them right!

[bjobotts]

61. Priv. ins. will try to corrupt reform continuously til we finally get single payer and eliminate th

them once and for all. They are just the middle men handling the money and trying to take a bigger cut at every turn. Single payer won't affect anything we are doing now except the gov. pays the bill after you get health care rather than a private insurer. End up getting dental covered as well.

[pokercat999]

66. There is very limited need for private insurance in the US.

Since most states mandate auto insurance they should offer a public option on that also. Fire and home insurance should be offered by the state and "profits" (excess in premiums) should be used to support fire and police departments. Flood insurance is already offered by the Federal Government because the private insurance companies would not take the risk. Private insurance in the US for the most part is a scam and needs to be eliminated or regulated like a utility.

[olegramps]

71. Thanks, that is what I have been advocating for years.

Anytime that insurance is mandated it should be only allowed to be offered by non-profit highly regulated insurance companies. The thought that people may be forced to buy health insurance from for profit insurance companies makes me what to puke.

[keepthemhonest]

98. good point NT

[Jackpine Radical]

103. Hell, you're talking flaming socialism.

And I love it.

Capitalism in general is a scam.

[GrantDem]

3. We'll see...

2. The House is busy drafting legislation that would punish the Insurance Industry for any sort of rate increase prior to the HCR becoming effective. Windfall profit tax, anti-gouging law, etc. They are taking the threat seriously.

It will never make it past the Healthcare Industry's representatives in the Senate.

[Fire1sKid]

56. Exactly

The healthcare industry has plenty of whores in the senate.

[cliffordu]

4. And now the real strategy unfolds......

Get ready for a real Public option, the shitheads and trolls in the MSM and the congress have once again shot their wad, and the legislating begins.


i'd vote for ANYTHING that came before me if I were a Republicant.....they are going to become extinct if they fight this.

[KansDem]

11. You know, I wonder if the Grayson "phenomena" was planned...

...I'm not sure how, but how's this for a scenario: muddle along knowing the insurance industry will throw all their lobbyists at Congress; out the liars in the media; expose the Senators in bed with the insurance industry (both Dems and Repubs); then out of the blue let Grayson began aggressively taunting the GOP with accusations of lying and knuckledragging...

The Dems/progressives/liberals are vitalized and the PO is on!

I mean, I know it's a bit of a stretch, but still...

[Arugula Latte]

14. You never know.

I had a professor once who was an "inside baseball" kind of guy in the Washington, DC beltway. He could point to every article in the Washington Post and tell the backstory on why that particular story was framed that particular way and placed on that particular page. He could tell you the agendas of the players behind the stories. There seems to be a reason for everything that goes on in the DC political-media incestuous clusterfuck.

[TuxedoKat]

17. Very interesting!

He should write a book!

[zoff]

76. You do have a way with words ...

... incestuous clusterfuck ... those 2(or 3) words sum it up.

[Arugula Latte]

87. Why, thank you. Thank you very much.

:D

[zoff]

109. Most Welcome!

[ellie]

77. My dad was like that

Something would happen in Washington and I would ask him what was really going on and he would know. Everything he said ended up being true. It was spooky. He died before 9/11. That would have been an interesting conversation.

[pleah]

79. Would love to have heard his take on that.

:)

[tosh]

16. The timeline does seem to have played itself too well, doesn't it? nt.

[cliffordu]

38. He did the same thing during the primaries -

Stay on a diffuse but hopeful message, let the opponent beat themselves silly trying to draw him into the typical American Political fistfight, and when they have gone over the edge ratcheting up the rhetoric until they are clownish in their hysteria, step in and look like the adult in the room.

Did it to Hillary, did it to McCain, and now he's doing it to the entire talk radio/hatemongering R party....


Those people better not bet against this guy. I'd say some of the haters here shouldn't, either.

[NJCher]

80. I like the way you articulated that

That's it, indeed, and the republicans are particularly prone to hysterics. Death panels and all, you know.

It brings to mind that SNL bit they did of Obama Cool. I still see the visual image of him standing to the side with his arms crossed, watching the tomfoolery, waiting until it dies down.

Cher

[Tatiana]

102. Great point! n/t

[cliffordu]

36. The Prez plays all his cards very close to the vest, so's not to give the

MSM and the r's a target they can fix on.........I he DID state three months ago exactly what he wanted, the r's would have spent the entire summer fighting that.

As it was they got hysterical over their own bullshit due to a lack of real target. Bullies don't do well when unsure of their intended victim - "maybe the fucker has a black belt in Karate..."

[jbnow]

62. Maybe it's like divinely inspired evolution. Maybe Kennedy and Wellstone

sent some angels to whisper in the ears of whoever needs to be moved to act as they slept, perhaps had a dream conversation.
Grayson was inspired to go out and be himself...freshman or not, speak out!

The insurance people were inspired to get that report and release it in the way that they did and the time that they did. They are probably scratching their heads wondering why it seemed like such a good idea at the time...as they watch themselves being hoisted by their own petard.

Why not? The right claim God as justification for their hatred and Heaven decided it was time to take some action. This is much more fun

[laughingliberal]

78. I think it's possible. I remember a story about 6 weeks ago or so...

that said the insurance lobby was unhappy that some of President Obama's anti-insurance company rhetoric was angering them. Grayson's timing was perfect, whether intentional or not. There have been enough stories making it into MSM about their tactics for public sentiment to be against them. I don't think Harry and Louise can save their ass this time.

[Joe Chi Minh]

81. The Democrats can be nice to the Republicans, and they can be ...... not nice; just like the

Republicans can be, well... not nice ever. Unless acting "while the balance of their mind is disturbed".

[Arugula Latte]

12. It's funny, quite a few Republicans who no longer hold office have hinted at that.

They recognize that pandering to the looney tunes anti-reform base won't help the party in the long run. The current GOP officeholders are too busy channeling Glenn Beck to realize that.

[cliffordu]

33. Yep - Boner and the bunch are about to get bit by all this......

I couldn't be happier.

[autorank]

18. "Strong PO" = available to ALL citizens & available now

Do that and we're in some serious business. The Public Option is a way station on the way to single payer. If the Republicans say that, they may be wrong about the intentions of the WH and congressional leaders, but they're right about how this plays out.

There are 15,000,000 self employed out there. We get SCREWED on rates/costs, about $14,000 to $16,000 a year, 2 adults, 1 child. See http://tinyurl.com/mm7lwn

Every self employed person who buys their own insurance, most, will sign up for the public option right away. That's why it's been so frustrating to look at the legislation that has the option available only to those without insurance and 3-4 years out for them.

Done right, this is a huge public service, a boost to business (freeing up the huge costs), and a political coup.

[berni_mccoy]

23. I'm one of those self-employed who get screwed

Just shy of 20k per year to insure my family before I ever get a cent of coverage back.

[autorank]

28. It's great isn't it.

Yep, that's my figure. We could aid the housing recovery, hire someone, invest, or party;) with that money. All but the last item are good for the country.

Here's how many of us there are:


Here's what the right wing says (Blue line) and what the actual costs (Pink line) are from state to state. You can get a $125 a month policy in Utah but your deductible is $16,000. That totals out to about the same as Massachusetts.


From "Screwing the Self Employed out of Health Insurance"

You'll be thrilled to know that about 35% of what we pay in premiums is profit margin (compared to 5-10% of what self-funded companies have to pay for overhead).

Two bennies: Premium costs are 100% deductible and we can sue the carrier. People with self-funded employer insurance cannot. That means "experimental" treatment is something we get a lot more of.

You know all this but I thought I'd share our story. We are doing something about it every day, however. Each day we get older older puts us closer to Medicare;)

[bobbolink]

37. Oh, I don't know.... partying MIGHT be good for the country.

If it brings people together more.

[green917]

54. Partying definitely helps a subsection of the economy

Of course, I'm a bartender. We need to buy insurance too so, if y'all can save all that money and spend it at my bar & I don't have to pay the ridiculous premiums for my average insurance, we can all party together but, regardless, it's a win win!

[bobbolink]

84. If you had actually read my response, you would know that's exactly the opposite

of what I was getting at.

You are all about capitalism and making your goddamed precious profit.

*I* was about people coming together and supporting each other.

Which one makes a better world?

I'm so very sick of republican lite.... and unconscious at that.

[marylanddem]

94. Hi green917 - welcome to DU - don't mind the occasional bad vibe -

you are welcome here! (And I think your point was well made)

[autorank]

58. I could pay for a great party the first day of a Medicare-like plan

:toast: Get a bunch of ex New Yorker pals together and have an "Irish Rose" theme party.

You're right, bring people together for a common cause -- celebrate!

[bobbolink]

85. Being together, hugs and smiles and listening for each other.

Doesn't have to cost a damned cent.

We dirtyhippiecommiepinkbums came together and stroked each other without the $$$$.

But then, the vision was different in those days.

Many of us aren't ex-New Yorkers, so.... I guess we can sit in the corner.

I dunno.. I really don't get what is happening here.

:shrug:

Have fun at your party. If you can spare a moment, toast those of us who aren't in your crowd.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

55. Count me as another screwed-over self-employed person

$13,000 in premiums, deductibles, and co-pays before I get any benefit.

I long for the good old days (1990s) when I had Kaiser-Permanente: $110 a month, $10 co-pays for office visits and $10 for each test, no copay at all for hospitalization in a Kaiser facility. Simple and affordable.

However, even Kaiser isn't such a good deal anymore.

[autorank]

59. My premiums have doubled in the last 5-6 years.

My plan is out of New York. That's a high premium/low deductible state the way their regulations work. I pay a bit more than you in premiums but get some of that back. The low premium/high deductible states are the killers, Michigan, Utah, etc. Where ever you are, the state regulators are living high off the hog for allowing this to happen. It's pure gravy for the insurance company.

Just occurred to me - if you paid that in premiums, you could deduct 100% of the premiums. But since it's paid cash out of pocket, I'll bet the deduction is for medical expenses with that dumb formula. Ouch.

If we had reasonable premiums and coverage, we'd spend the money saved in a way that benefited others, e.g. part time clerical, consultants, travel, etc. That would be good for everybody. But noooo...

It is great working for yourself and I wouldn't change that for anything but they forget us on a regular basis. I guess the best advice is, if you're self employed, marry an AFSME member or teacher (my wife is solo too and doesn't read DU;) Those folks have great plans.

As for the insurance company threat to jack up rates, good luck to them. They are entirely unnecessary, no value added at all. I think they're finished ultimately. Within months after Medicare, they lost just about everyone over 65. Shame, truly.

[Grinchie]

57. I get the feeling that you are one of many that would

Myself included. The cost of Insurance vs benefits are clearly a bad investment in todays climate of profit over results, considering it's the human design to be healthy.

I get the feeling that the Administration knows that there are a lot more than 45 million people that are without meaningful health insurance, and double that for people that are scared to death of the Medical system we have in place toda, with it's focus on treatment rather than prevention.

Of course, it would demonstrate that the so called best healthcare system in the world, is just another Hollywood prop hanging on the wall, place their by the best PR agency in the world.

[Chan790]

100. If any of you are in NY...

you're eligible as a freelancer/self-employed person for health insurance and other benefits usually supplied by employers(401K, vision, dental, life, disability, etc.) through the Freelancer's Union. Membership is free, the benefits are not cheap(they're not outrageous either...my monthly premium was like $460 for me as an individual.) but are high-quality offerings. All except the Health is available nationwide, they do contract to provide health coverage in some states but not most.

They are a nationwide organization. They do tend to reject a lot of membership applicants initially because it is unclear that they're self-employed...if you send them an email asking why you were rejected, they'll work with you to verify and straighten it out. Also, they have a PAC and overwhelmingly support Democrats though I do believe they're backing Bloomberg over Thompson for NYC mayor because Bloomberg went toe-to-toe with Albany to get the NY UBT on freelance income repealed for us; they're also a strong backer of a public option in healthcare reform & extension of unemployment benefits to cover freelancers, both unemployed and extreme-underemployment...a one-day gig for $100 or someone throwing you $50 to house-sit for a weekend shouldn't cost you your unemployment benefit. (I'd say that's true for everybody, not just freelancers. Mercy gigs are not employment.)

www.freelancersunion.org

[pokercat999]

67. While your congress person gets top shelf coverage for

about $6K per year(family coverage). About 3% of his/her gross congressional salary pay.

[autorank]

105. Anyone involved in this bill should give up health insurnace until it's done

and done right. This the third rail, it's the Pandora's Box and they opened it.

Of course, they think we're all on board with the theatrics and won't notice that there's
"no there there" if they produce garbage. Oops! This is their Waterloo, I'm convinced.

Memo to all involved: "Shut up and do your job. Failure to comply will result in your
dismissal, sooner figuratively and later in actuality. Have a nice day :)."

[WillieW]

19. Is there a link to this?

[berni_mccoy]

24. MSNBC Video Link here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33300045#33300045

[WillieW]

30. Thanks Bernie

[regnaD kciN]

20. Was this all before or after the Snowe job...?

I notice that, now, the White House is crowing that Senate Finance passed a bill that achieved Obama's goals of "bipartisianship" and "increasing coverage and competition," and Gibbs indicated Obama will sign the Baucus bill as-is.

I fear the pressure to "get something instead of nothing" has just become a genuine game-changer, and anything said before then is, as the Nixon administration put it, "inoperative." :-(

[berni_mccoy]

22. After. It was this evening's Big Ed show on MSNBC.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

29. The "Baucus Bill" will NOT be the bill that lands on Obama's desk at the end IMHO

I would be willing to bet money (I don't have) on it. Keep the faith! :hi:

[PopSixSquish]

32. Wait - What Exactly Did Gibbs Say?

The only quote I saw was this

"I don't want to get ahead of the actual vote," he said. "I think the White House and the president are pleased that the likely outcome appears to be that we are one step closer to reform." Gibbs continued.


http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Briefing-by-White-House-Press-Secretary-Robert-Gibbs-10/13/09/

transcript of today's briefing

I think Gibbs was very clear in NOT saying anything...

[spanone]

21. k&r.....

[Canuckistanian]

25. So many unanswered questions

WHY is Rockefeller such a PO advocate NOW? Maybe I've missed something, but he wasn't before.

What is happening with Baucus and Dodd, who are supposed to be doing the merging?

What, exactly, is Menedez's plan?

Ans surely Snowe knew what was going on. Why did she vote for the Baucus plan?

And most important of all, what is Reid's opinion of what's going on?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. Great news!!!

Hope it all comes to pass!!!

[Kansas Wyatt]

31. That 'Strong PO' had better NOT be a damn giveaway to the Death Merchants!

The Insurance Industry's threat should have made it very clear to them that they can NEVER be trusted and should NEVER have a hand in the PO Fund.

[bobbolink]

39. If it's a giveaway to the Death Merchants, we'll be strongly P.O.'d

[cascadiance]

104. One way or the other I think we'll all be "strongly P.O.'d"!

[ThePantaloon.com]

34. PUBLIC OPTION now, bitches!

[bobbolink]

35. Senator Jay has been a quiet but strong presence in all of this mess.

Bless him... I hope to learn more about him.

[eridani]

65. I want his proposal for Medicare to be open to retirees over 55 to be passed

Nothing in the Senate bill so far is going to help anybody at all until 2013

[bertman]

40. I just heard a commentator on Countdown say that the President was giving the props

to Snowe and basically said he would support a bill that would gain her vote. Apparently that was interpreted as a direct snub of Rockefeller and means the President will accept a Senate bill with a trigger instead of a Public Option.

Bottom line: no matter what bill gets passed it is going to give the Insurance industry BILLIONS in future profits from all of the new coverage that is going to be mandated as a price for having some feeble-assed public option enacted.

As usual it's a charade designed to quiet the bleating sheeple.

[ChiciB1]

73. Chuck Todd Is Saying The Very Same Thing On Ratigan This AM... Triggers

because SHE isn't for a Public Option! And THAT Public Option they're talking about will only be inclusive to a small minority of people! 4 to 5%!

So, if they get A Public Option, it's only enough words to say IT IS A PUBLIC OPTION!! Yes, they say the have a way to go, but I'm not thinking we'll get much in the end! Sure, as many will say, it's a start... I say that even IF it's just a start, it just may be the END too because they will say WE DID GET HEALTH CARE REFORM!!

End of story! Just sayin' and MHO!!

[bobbolink]

83. So, are WE going to have the backbone to protest and raise holy hell???????

We've clearly been deceived and sold out.

Are we going to meekly accept it?

[bertman]

97. NO!! I'm not meekly accepting it. I and about 25 other MoveOn members spent the last

hour with our PUBLIC OPTION signs in front of the Raleigh Senate office of Kay Hagan.

The weather was cold, rainy, and grey, so the turnout was low. We had a minor hassle from the new Raleigh Police officer assigned to the area, who wanted to know where our protest permit was!! No biggie.

This was very low-key and didn't attract any media attention (they probably didn't want to go out into the wet and cold unless there was a bloody news item).

I still cannot understand why no progressive group (hint hint MoveOn) has organized a massive march on Washington for the Public Option.

[bobbolink]

110. Great idea~ Good for all of you!

I'm not sure we need a "massive march on washington".... and, remember, not everyone can afford to do that.

I think these local efforts are much more important right now.

I hope you are able to keep it up.

[DutchLiberal]

88. Why is this single Republican vote so important?!

As if ONE Republican vote somehow means it's "bipartisan"! :rofl:

And why do we want bipartisanship anyway, with an opposition that questions the president's legitimacy?

That woman Snowe represents only a handful of people... literally! (If she isn't bought by the insurance companies.)

[calimary]

41. That's exactly how the insurance industry response to that survey of theirs struck me.

It sounded like a bald-faced, flat-out threat. Extortion anyone? If you pass this bill - we're gonna raise yer rates!!!

[tekisui]

42. knr!~

[JNelson6563]

43. Maybe we should pass judgement AFTER it's done.

In the meantime we scream bloody murder for a strong PO and get as many to join the effort as possible. Hammer away at the Congress-critters. Call, fax, e-mail, snail-mail, local office visits, the works! Keep hammering away, demanding we join the rest of the industrialized nations in providing this basic need to all!

Julie

PS Anyone remember this fabulous video calling for Revolution re: the Iraq war? Check it out and get fired up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVWlNQxjIsc

[AllyCat]

46. Called Kohl, Feingold and Rep Baldwin today

Confirmation from staffers that Baldwin and Kohl support a "public option" and I replied that it needs to be available to everyone to be worth a hill of beans. No such response from Feingold, but I don't really need one from him. He's been fairly clear where he stands on this I believe.

[DeadEyeDyck]

44. So how is this done?

How do they get them reconciled? What is the process?

[AllyCat]

45. My stars I hope so!

There are times I wonder if the point of the Dems voting for Baucus' stupid little bill was just to get the crummy thing out of committee so they can hack it to pieces. I hope this is true!

[DireStrike]

51. Why now...

I don't understand why some little procedural crap always brings about a furor in the halls of power.

The insurance companies will lie to you, and fuck you over in every conceivable way. Nobody in congress is allowed benefit of the doubt in claiming to NOT be aware of this.

I find it worrisome. It seems like theater to me. But, I will keep my fingers crossed and read the final bill.

[StreetKnowledge]

52. Payback Time, Mother*!#%ers!

Bet they are kicking themselves now......they just out and out said there will be a big rate spike after the bill passes, the idiots. I bet this pisses people off. Maybe that's why Snowe jumped ship, knows she will get reamed in 2012 if she doesn't?

[Festivito]

53. If things don't go as he said, he's still a Rockefeller. IOW NBD.

In other words, no big deal. So what? We end up with no public option, and he ends up, just where he is right now, a Rockefeller.

[liberal N proud]

63. Great news

[eridani]

64. If this public option does not take effect until 2013, it will be useless n/t

[ChiciB1]

72. So,,, Is Anyone Listening To Dylan Ratigan This AM?? Bad News About

Public Option, and he has been talking to Ron Wyden and really getting his back up and EXPLAINING specifics quite well!

He's really "hot" that what the American people will get in the end is nothing more than a watered down bill and nothing to lose for the Insurance companies! He's been on this subject many times and he REALLY puts the questions to others VERY DIRECTLY!!

The head of the Chamber of Commerce WAS NOT very happy with him this AM, and while he didn't walk OFF the show, you could tell he wanted to! The appearance was "short and quick after Dylan started asking him questions! He was unable to actually put a "good face" on job creation because the Chamber is SO BEHOLDEN to Lobbyist! I think the LARGEST Lobbyist in America, and if anyone knows anything about Chambers... well they ain't my friend, that much I know!!!

[LynneSin]

74. This is why I never panicked over the Baucus bill

it's one of like 5 going to that joint committee

Now we need to focus on those that are on the committee and make sure the right plan comes out of it.

[redqueen]

96. Exactly. (nt)

[Lena inRI]

82. BADDA-BING, BADDA-BOOM !

Inch by inch. . .day by day. . .

Keep the pressure on folks!

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[wicket]

86. GIVE 'EM HELL!!!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[glinda]

89. oh my

:wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:

[WheelWalker]

90. A Big K & R !

:nuke:

[RaleighNCDUer]

91. People think health insurance is there for their protection -

when actually it is nothing but a protection racket.

"So, you think yer payin' too much insurance, huh? How'd you like Bruno there show you what yer payin' for? Don' like it? Thas what I thought. Oh, and NEXT month, it's gonna to be 10% more."

[whathehell]

92. YayYuh!!...They pushed the envelope a tad too hard...

[wroberts189]

95. If we got big money Rockefeller on our side ... we already won. nt

[BrklynLiberal]

99. From their mouths, and your keyboard to the ears of she who can make it so...

[Jakes Progress]

106. Would be a good start.

I think the rash of state ads for republican insurance tools has also ticked off many. The tactic is so obvious and so egregiously full of lies that the stomach turns.

I will try to keep a little faith. A very strong PO is the least that should be settled for. And I mean strong.

[grahamhgreen]

107. YAY! Good news - let's make it happen!

And get rid of the evil individual mandate