End Of Life Section: Republican Sponsored - Let's Look Back a Bit

[Joanne98]

A provision in President Obama's health care reform bill encourages "end-of- life" counseling for seniors -- sparking euthanasia fears among some of the legislation's critics and leading others to believe that the White House is looking to save money by pressuring insurers to provide less coverage to seniors.

The provision, tucked deep within the House bill, would provide Medicare coverage for an end-of-life consultation every five years, and more frequent sessions if a person is suffering a life-threatening disease.

Health providers would be required to explain to seniors the end-of-life services available, including "palliative care and hospice."

"This provision may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich. said in a statement last month.

But the sessions are not required...

coonsey's diary :: :: What these 'informational' articles keep refusing to point out is -- this provision was put in the bill by a REPUBLICAN with Democratic co-sponsors.

This bill has bipartisan support (the main cosponsor is a Republican doctor) as well as support from a diverse coalition like AARP, the American College of Physicians, and Catholic health systems.

" The section under question was based on a stand-alone piece of legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Republican Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana.

Republicans are trying to scare seniors about this issue -- despite the fact that end-of-life consultations have been embodied in federal law since 1990, and supported by both Republicans and Democrats for years.

A little history for you, the last REFORM of Social Security in 1983 (a government controlled plan) -- Guess who was President back then? Yup it was the famous PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN and his Vice President, George HW Bush! When they and their Republican friends had a chance to eliminate Social Security -- he instead REFORMED it and kept it going for another 26 years.

The National Commission on Social Security Reform (informally known as the Greenspan Commission after its Chairman) was appointed by the Congress and the President in 1981 to study and make recommendations regarding the short-term financing crisis that Social Security faced at that time.

Check out who the 4 known Republicans were in this reform group: With a Picture

Note the following names:

Rep. Bill Archer (R-TX)
Rep. Barber Conable (R-NY)
Sen. John Heinz (R-PA)
Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS)

A tad more History for you - at the signing of the 1983 Soc Sec reform act by Reagan....a certain REPUBLICAN Senator Howard Baker, then majority leader of Senate had this to say:

"It is perhaps one of the littlest noticed but most important aspects of the civility of American Government that on occasion we rise above politics; we rise above confrontation; and we address, on a bipartisan basis, the great challenges and issues that confront the Republic.

Sometimes it's been on issues of war and peace. Sometimes it has been on issues of the rights and opportunities of minorities and individuals within our country, once on the salvation of the Union itself.

But there's a canny understanding in the American political system that sometimes there are issues that are more important than any of us, or perhaps all of us, taken together. The preservation of the social security system is one of those issues. And in the uniquely American way, those of us who participate in government, Republicans and Democrats together, public and private citizens, gathered together and subordinated our own views to those of the welfare of the majority."

How easily they forget THEIR part in creating/reforming of a GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED PLAN

A couple more GOVERNMENT controlled entities:

Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) - All Congressmen/women pay into this system. Gee -- I wonder if they LIKE their government controlled pension plan?

If I had the resources, I would find the senators and representatives that fought against social security and medicare and schip, get a picture of each, then create an ad giving names with mug shots (like they've been caught by police) -- at end of mug shots, I'd display the words....ALL REPUBLICANS that refused to support Social Security, Medicare and SChip for children. Then the last shot should be a shot of the word "GUILTY" being stamped on paper!

OR...

I would do the opposite and get senators and reps that supported Medicare and Soc Sec and SChip, find their mug shots, then repeat the above---ALL REPUBLICANS THAT SUPPORTED GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED HEALTH PROGRAMS, and lastly a shot of the word "GUILTY" being stamped on paper.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/9/764108/-End-Of-Life-Section:-Republican-SponsoredLets-Look-Back-a-Bit

[napi21]

1. I watched the hearing when this was argued. All it is is the

reimbursment for someone to get a Dr. or lawyer to help them make a living will. It gives the individual the opportunity to make THEIR wishes known so their children don't have to make that difficult decision when the patient can't make it for themselves.

I did mine via the net, but one of the Reps, murkowski I think, said she went to a lawyer at it cost her $400. It has absdolutely nothing to do with anyone trying to euthanize anyone!!!

[havocmom]

2. What GOP pols and medical corporations really fear is informed consent and patients saying NO more!

They want to be able to squeeze every last cent out of old people who may prefer not to use extrodinary means to prolong life at a certain point.

They want no estate tax to lower the inheritance of the uber rich's spoiled scions, but they want to take every penny of the less well off, and put their offspring deep in debt.

They don't like assisted suicide for people who are terminal and in pain. They do not favor decisions being left to patients and families. They want ENFORCED life beyond what is desired or bearable.

Yet, they are happy to kill people in wars and deregulation of environmental toxins. They are happy to deny health care to any who are without means they can steal.

They don't value life at all. They just want the money. How much federal money spent, how much more deficit dollars racked up, to fly in for a special session to dicker about Teri Schavio? Where was the rush like that to save hundreds of lives in NOLA after a hurricane and neglected levies threatened life?

They don't give a shit about life. It's the money they follow. They are a pack of jackals, eating every bit of any flesh they can tackle.

[Birthmark]

3. The Republicans can't be bothered about little things like facts

Facts interfere with their hysteria, and so, must be ignored whenever possible.

[zbdent]

4. ever notice that, when someone dies of a fatal illness/disease ...

there's quite often a priest around? BANISH PRIESTS!

[fallingleaf]

5. How to prove the republican from La sponsored bill

" The section under question was based on a stand-alone piece of legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Republican Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana.

Do you know how to find the bill number? These poor American's that are being lead by the nose need hard proof.. I have to admit, some family that I used to respect are being lead like sheep. Whipped into a frenzy over nothing. Won't even listen to any opinions other than Fox news. It is really sad.
I have to admit it didn't help when I told some to take responsibility for our mess if they voted for "Shrub" W the second time.
It seems they stole that election fair and square, we did what we thought was good for the Nation as a whole. If we had acted like these scared,
hysterical people, who knows what would have happened. I think these people are not thinking of our Nation as a whole. Just Me,Me and Me and it is too hard for them to reason and think.
Sorry, I got carried away. You just want to spank them and send them to their rooms....LOL...
New to forums hope I did ok.
Fallingleaf