What is the #1 Amdendment You Want Placed in the Healthcare Bill That Goes to Obama?

[Bullet1987]

For me, I don't want a Public Option that's not available to everyone. That defeats the purpose of healthcare reform...that was the whole point all along (maybe that's why they stopped using the term Universal Healthcare?). I can put up with some other aspects of it, but a bill that doesn't cover everyone won't work for me. I can even put up with an opt-out, because there's a clear strategy. I hated the idea of a Trigger, and don't know what Obama saw in it.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I want a substitute amendment

that replaces the whole goddam mess with Medicare for All (AKA Single Payer.)

[nykym]

2. for me it would be

Universal Heath Care (single payer)

[Oregone]

3. Weiner's single payer replacement amendment

But in a realistic context, Wyden's Free Choice amendment allows about everyone to choose the exchange/public option, and even provides a cash incentive for workers to do so. There is simply no reason to oppose it that I have seen.

[napi21]

4. Make ot available to everyone! With it only available to

the currently uninsured, it doesn't comply with the words Obama used throughout the campaign...If you ike your current HC you can keep it...if you don't like it you can choose from a menu of others including a public plan.

[derby378]

5. Strip out the Max Tax, for starters

Keith Olbermann was right. When you get better payout from a Las Vegas casino than you do from your health insurance provider, there's something seriously wrong with healthcare in America.

[bain_sidhe]

6. Allow companies to offer the exchange instead of insurance

I.e., the company pays a set premium per employee for whichever level of the plans they choose (be it the "basic" or the "top-of-the-line" plan), and the employee then gets to choose from among the options on the exchange for that level. Still lets companies "entice" workers by offering to pay for higher-level plans, but it brings the whole company "pool" in at once, instead of piecemeal, like Wyden's amendment.

Perhaps employees could even pay the difference to "upgrade" their company-paid level to a higher level, if they choose to.

[joeycola]

7. Cong Weiner's amendment--posted here.........****

Forum Name General Discussion: Presidential
Topic subject **CORRECTION: This is the full text and summary of Weiner Amend
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8715792#8717887
8717887, **CORRECTION: This is the full text and summary of Weiner Amend
Posted by joeycola on Tue Oct-27-09 03:35 PM





http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_weiner_1.pdf


Overview of Cong. Weiner amendment:

http://pnhp.org/amendment/Amendment_Overview.pdf

(you can also get the embedded links at the PNHP website below)


These links are from:

Physicians for a National Health Program



http://www.pnhp.org/amendment /

Urge your rep to vote 'Yes' for single payer!

This fall presents a historic opportunity for members of Congress to go on the record in support of single-payer legislation.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) is introducing a substitute amendment to the House leadership’s bill, H.R. 3200, that would delete the language of that bill and substitute the provisions of H.R. 676, the single-payer, Medicare-for-All bill sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised a full floor vote on Weiner’s amendment in the weeks or months ahead.

The Weiner amendment, unlike the House leadership’s bill, assures universal, comprehensive, and high-quality coverage, free choice of doctor and hospital, and no co-pays or deductibles through a publicly financed system similar to Medicare. Because of the massive savings on private insurance overhead and paperwork, the Weiner amendment would entail no increase in U.S. health spending, in contrast to the House bill’s $1 trillion price tag over 10 years.

Write your representative today in support of the Weiner amendment. If you can, arrange a meeting with your congressperson; you can find tips on how to do so here and talking points here. Finally, please write to Rep. Weiner so he knows that he has our support in his fight for real health reform.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) successfully offered an amendment to the House leadership’s bill that, if incorporated into final legislation passed by the Congress and signed by the president, would allow states to adopt their own single-payer system if they chose to do so. Specifically, Kucinich’s amendment would waive certain ERISA provisions that could be used to obstruct such a move.

While PNHP works for a national single-payer program, and while we more specifically supports the passage of H.R. 676, we welcome any efforts to move toward single payer. We therefore encourage you to write your representative today in support of the Kucinich amendment.

Resources

Write your representative in support of the Weiner amendment

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/307/t/9290/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27743