Flashback: Senators Confirm Medicare Buy-In As Part Of A Public Option

[Bluebear]

Sorry, just reminiscing about what might have been...and this was less than two years ago. Now our party leadership proposes to "reform" Medicare. Sad.
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A number of key Senators--including Chuck Schumer (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) confirmed today that a Medicare buy-in is being discussed as an option as part of a grand compromise on a public option.

"It's an option, it's being discussed, it does have some issues that are being raised, but it remains--it's on the table," Kerry told reporters.

The idea was introduced to the discussion by Rockefeller, who told reporters that it's still unclear whether it would ultimately be a replacement for the public option.

"I think that's one of the reasons it was brought up, but you don't do everything in juxtaposition with something else always."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/key-senators-confirm-medicare-buy-in-as-part-of-a-public-option-compromise.php

[FBaggins]

1. And with the added advantage that it isn't unconstitutional. nt

[Scuba]

2. Yeah, but if they'd tried that the R's would've called Obama a Socialist. n/t

[Dragonfli]

4. It was smart to appease them, They never dared call him that after he knelt before them.. Oh wait

they still did.
Who knew that Newt's old health deform ideas of the 90's that many knew were horrible at the time became the goal of the Democrats, and who knew that the further privitization of profit from our pain would now become Socialist when a socialist would have taken out the pain and death profit parts, socialists have changed as much as Democrats I guess.

[Scuba]

6. The DLC and other right-wing infiltration of the Democratic Party was very ...

...successful for them and disastrous for the rest of us.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. What s a Medicare buy in??

Or, I should say, what is their definition of it?

[Bluebear]

11. See 8

[DCKit]

13. Average folk buying into the Medicare program at cost...

as a substitute for conventional insurance.

Big Insurance wouldn't stand a chance. Austerity would be forced upon them, and they'd have to shrink like crazy to survive.

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

16. I would be happy to buy in at cost, PLUS a reasonable 10%

I suspect there must be a large group of people like me.
This would be the best way to make medicare more solvent.

[DCKit]

17. I'd have to agree with that. nt

[mmonk]

5. Yes, it is an example of just how far we have digressed in 3 years.

[scheming daemons]

7. What passed was the most that was going to be able to pass...

With a public option, it would've never made it through congress.


That's what people still don't get. It barely made it through congress as it was.

[JoePhilly]

9. Exactly correct ... I always ask folks this challange question ...

First some set up.

We all know that there were 5 or 6 blue dogs, and then every GOP member, and they were going to vote NO on a public option.

But let's pretend. Let's imagine that somehow (we'll ignore how), Obama gets 5 of the 6 bluedogs to agree. He only needs one more.

And that last one is Joe "the Senator from Aetna" Lieberman.

The challenge question ... "What SPECIFICALLY does Obama do to flip Lieberman to a yes?"

When answering make sure to be aware of 2 key points.

1) Lieberman campaigned against Obama and actively supported McCain in the 2008 election.
2) Lieberman doesn't plan to run for re-election.

I ask this question regularly, and so far these are the best answers.

1) Use the DOJ to blackmail him. This was a serious suggestion.
2) Threaten to cut aid to Israel. Which fails because other Dem senators would never go along with that.
3) Threaten to take government contracts from Connecticut. Which fails because Lieberman isn't running again. He doesn't care if Obama does that, and in the end, it only hurts Obama with the people of Connecticut.

The reality is Obama had zero leverage over Lieberman. Joe has a sweet deal already lined up for when he leaves office, and he's not going to do anything to jeopardize that.

And as you correctly note, folks don't get it. They seem to be unable to do the math needed to count the votes.

[eomer]

12. He didn't need the last 5 or 6 Democratic votes or Lieberman. 50 in the Senate is all it required.

There were 58 Democratic Senators (59 at times) counting Independent Bernie Sanders who caucused with the Democrats. They needed just 50 votes since a reconciliation process bill cannot be filibustered. So the last 5 or 6 Democrats and Lieberman were unnecessary and irrelevant. Put the blame where it belongs - the President with 49 Democrats + Sanders could have enacted a public option.

[Dragonfli]

14. Don't mess with Obama's alibi, they all worked really hard on inventing it and it is all he has

Pointing out the back room deals he made or exposing the 50 vote requirement will hurt Obama's feelings and make baby Jesus cry.
Just leave him alone!! cry cry ..sob... he has no power at all and you are being mean to someone that is as weak as a little girl with no authority and no office.

You are just so fucking cruel!!!

[Bluebear]

15. !!

[hootinholler]

8. This would still put medicare on a more stable financial footing.

Just let anyone buy it as insurance through payroll.

-Hoot

[Faryn Balyncd]

10. The sell-out on heathcare was a turning point - inaugerating attempts to destroy rather than expand

Medicare.

[Major Hogwash]

18. So, you're admitting that you're dropping acid before you start these threads?

Well, color me surprised!


Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!