Who is working on the health care plans...mostly behind closed doors.

[madfloridian]

Talks have been going on since last fall, many of them behind closed doors. Some of those who speak out for progressives the most loudly are not included.

Many of those included are pushing not for real change, but for a mandate that everyone must buy health insurance. Insurance companies prefer there not be a public option.

Health Care Industry in Talks to Shape Policy

WASHINGTON — Since last fall, many of the leading figures in the nation’s long-running health care debate have been meeting secretly in a Senate hearing room. Now, with the blessing of the Senate’s leading proponent of universal health insurance, Edward M. Kennedy, they appear to be inching toward a consensus that could reshape the debate.

Many of the parties, from big insurance companies to lobbyists for consumers, doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, are embracing the idea that comprehensive health care legislation should include a requirement that every American carry insurance. While not all industry groups are in complete agreement, there is enough of a consensus, according to people who have attended the meetings, that they have begun to tackle the next steps: how to enforce the requirement for everyone to have health insurance; how to make insurance affordable to the uninsured; and whether to require employers to help buy coverage for their employees.

The talks, which are taking place behind closed doors, are unusual. Lobbyists for a wide range of interest groups — some of which were involved in defeating national health legislation in 1993-4 — are meeting with the staff of Mr. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a search for common ground.

They are discussing a penalty for those who don't purchase it.

The ideas discussed include a proposal to penalize people who fail to comply with the “individual obligation” to have insurance.

“There seems to be a sense of the room that some form of tax penalty is an effective means to enforce such an obligation, though only on those for whom affordable coverage is available,” said the memorandum, prepared by David C. Bowen, a neurobiologist who is director of the health staff at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

That is not real change. Not at all. That is not what was in Obama's plan during the campaign.

Here are the groups who are attending the closed door conferences.

The 20 people who regularly attend the meetings on Capitol Hill include lobbyists for AARP, Aetna, the A.F.L.-C.I.O., the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Business Roundtable, Easter Seals, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and the United States Chamber of Commerce.

The Senate gang of nine is also meeting, and I would not call many of them likely to have progressive ideas about health care.

Health care hinges on Senate insiders

The Board includes Democratic and Republican leaders of the key committees of finance, health and budget. And with Obama leaving the job up to Congress — and empowering Baucus and Health Committee Chairman Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) as his go-to guys — the prospects for passing health care reform this year rest, in large part, with this group.

..."The senators in the room include Baucus, Grassley, Kennedy, Hatch and Sens. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.). Senior staff to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) monitor the talks."

One of the groups meeting in Kennedy's office is AHIP, and they oppose any kind of public option.

AHIP opposes public option

AHIP Explains Its Opposition To The Public Plan
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) — the insurance industry’s lobbying arm — is hosting a health care policy forum in Washington D.C. This is the second of a series of posts from inside the conference.

When ThinkProgress asked AHIP spokesperson Robert Zirkelbach about the lobby’s opposition to a public plan, Zirkelbach explained that the insurance lobby was concerned the the “government-run program” (as he called it) would undermine health care providers, employers, and the “sustainability” of the entire health care system”

It would hurt their profits, bottom line.

In spite of the secrecy about the planning, most Americans support a public option.

73 Percent: Want Americans To Have A Choice Of Private Or Public Health Coverage

Most progressives — including President Obama — argue that allowing a new public plan to compete with private insurers would increase choice, promote effective competition, bring down health care costs and create incentives for effective performance. (Jacob Hacker has much more here).

Well, a new poll released today by Lake Research found that most Americans agree with this argument. “A whopping 73% of voters want everyone to have a choice of private health insurance or a public health insurance plan while only 15% want everyone to have private insurance.”

Republicans and the insurance companies are part of that stubborn 15%. They argue that competition would force private insurers out of business and lead to a complete government take-over of health care. But as Howard Dean explained in a recent interview with ThinkProgress, giving Americans a choice between a public and a private plan is the only way to achieve real health care reform.

Watch it

The one speaking out the most firmly on this public option has not invited to those meetings.

From the Wonk Room:

Howard Dean: Real Health Reform ‘Rises And Falls On Whether The Public Is Allowed To Choose Medicare’

Today, during an appearance on MSNBC’s Hardball, former Gov. Howard Dean (D-VT) said that a public insurance option is essential to any health reform effort:

"If Barack Obama’s bill gets changed to exclude the public entities, it is not health insurance reform…it rises and falls on whether the public is allowed to choose Medicare if they’re under 65 or not. If they are allowed to choose Medicare as an option, this bill will be real health care reform. If they’re not, we will be back fighting about it for another 20 years before somebody tries again."

[Naturyl]

1. F--kers.

Excuse my irrational outburst, but isn't this just the way it always goes?

Private talks with the health care "industry" is akin to two wolves and one sheep deciding what to have for dinner.

It's time for single-payer universal health care. It's time for REAL change, not just the sloganeering kind.

[Triana]

2. They say "forcing private insurers out of business" like it's a BAD thing....

...and I don't see an issue with it.

[madfloridian]

15. Private insurers only want really safe bets. LIke State Farm leaving Florida.

When there is a risk, they decide it is time to go.

Years and years with profits, then they get scared and leave.

Same with health insurance, any kind of insurance.

[Bettie]

34. Hey, wouldn't that the that "free market" thing they always talk about?

If the insurance companies compete with a publicly run plan and they are unable to compete, that would be the free market!

After all, they've been telling us for years that businesses do a better and cheaper job of nearly everything...or might they have been untruthful?

[wolfgangmo]

48. They're saying "forcing private insurers out of business"

Tells us that they believe that; a) they are too inefficient to compete, b) they believe they have a right to continue to exist even if market forces disagree, c) given point b, they don't believe in free and open markets but only monopoly controlled markets, d) that they don't care that health care costs in America put our small, mid, and some large companies at a competitive disadvantage internationally, e) they pay lip service to health care reform only as a method of forcing more people to afford, either through coercion or through social programs to accept their inefficient and unethical plans.

They are un-american, unethical, and bad for business. Let them wither on the vine.

I have seen insurance companies pull the most outrageous and illegal shit as standard operating procedure for years as a clinic owner. And as someone who recently got a spinal injury only to be denied treatment or surgery on my policy despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I can say from personal experience that they are not worth a single plug nickel.

No money for crooks. I Washington won't change, then we, the people, need to flood donations to the opponents of republicans and blue dog democrats like Dodd until those bastards are out. Mark my words senators and other congress critters, change is in the air and your days in office are numbered unless you start to do the right thing.

Mark my words. Deny us this and we will bury your careers.

[Cleita]

3. So now they are going to force people to pay for crap that they can't afford

anyway? The only way for this to be resolved is for the doctors and other health care providers to refuse to take insurance. We do it in our office. We demand cash and give the patient a receipt that they can send to their insurance. We, however, aren't into life and death catastrophic medical care so we can do this. God help those people who really need immediate health care.

[madfloridian]

14. Looks that way.

If we don't speak out.

[wolfgangmo]

49. Our clinic is the same way.

We take cash up front and provide a "superbill" that has all the relevant insurance and treatment codes on it so they can submit their own claims.

However by not having to have a small army of billing specialists, lawyers, etc. to fight the multiple insurance companies HUGE army of billing deniers and lawyers, then we are able to charge about 1/3 to 1/2 of what most clinics charge. This allows those without insurance to afford to see us as well.

Jeff in Minnesota.

PS - we are expanding to a larger location and adding other integrated health care people to our clinic. We are busy. Efficiency is to be found anywhere there is not insurance.

[leftstreet]

4. Mandatory Health In$urance - F^*k Me!

This is too hilarious. A bunch of sad old f^*kers who haven't had to purchase their own medical insurance since they got elected - and they're going to decide what the rest of us need.

Up theirs.

[greenkal]

5. Behind closed doors...

is always morally and ethically wrong, and we all know that.

[madfloridian]

16. Never a good idea.

There is a reason they want no open talks.

[global1]

6. I Know Kennedy Is Sick But He Is In The Pocket Of The Insurance Companies & Big Pharma......

I have a feeling that they are going to use Kennedy's problems to get this passed before he passes and dedicate the accomplishment to him - saying it is a real tribute to his dedication of all these years to get something done for healthcare. Unfortunately - they are going to try to package more of the same and sell it to us as change and use Kennedy's problems to sell it to a sympathetic public.

What we need is single source, universal care, getting the insurance companies out of the fray - but - we'll get universal healthcare alright - only it will be universal in that everybody has to get their insurance through the insurance companies. They - the insurance companies - will win out again - and bottom line - nothing will really change that much. We'll still have the insurance companies making the decisions as to who gets what kind of care, when and where.

I learned something last year when we were lobbying up on Capitol Hill and we were in the then Senator Obama's office. We were making a request of one of Obama's healthcare legislative assistants regarding a pharmacy issue. What was telling was this assistant heard our request and said that Senator Obama would have to check with Senator Kennedy's office before he could either support or not support our cause. That was very telling and it made me sick to my stomach to hear this and learn that the now President Obama had to get the 'ok' so to speak from Kennedy.

Senator Kennedy has always supported Big Pharma & the FDA over the small business pharmacist owner. I'm afraid that his support goes to the insurance companies as well.

Don't get your hopes up for any major changes that would really benefit us as consumers of healthcare. One of the major reasons I voted for Barack Obama was because I seriously thought he would be effective in changing our mess of a healthcare system and make things both easier and more affordable. I hope I'm not disappointed - but the healthcare gods are working behind the scenes.

[madfloridian]

9. I am afraid he was also very instrumental in pushing NCLB.

I never understood his support of that plan. Later he said he misunderstood the plan or something like that.

I respect him so much, but progressives are not getting the necessary input.

[antigop]

19. He was also one of the chief negotiators of the Pension "Protection" Act

A real POS bill. That's when I lost respect for him.

[DCKit]

7. The equivalent of Cheney's secret energy meetings... and we all know how THAT turned out.

The corporations can't afford to lose this fight yet, neither can we. It's life or death for one or the other.

[madfloridian]

11. Sounds about right.

.

[Mithreal]

37. At least we know who is in the room. nt

[earthboundmisfit]

8. Health Insurance is not Health Care.

We need to take the f*ckers OUT of the equation.

[madfloridian]

10. Exactly right.

Forcing people to buy insurance is NOT providing health care.

[kath]

12. Mandatory insurance is NOT what we need. Far, FAR from it.

We need single payer health care. It works for many, many other countries.

The bloodsucking insurance companies have got to go.

[madfloridian]

13. Exactly.

.

[madfloridian]

17. More on who is working on the health care plan.

Hope it is not signed, sealed and delivered without lots of other input. These are pretty conservative folks working on it.

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=57514

"Capitol Hill Watch | Sen. Edward Kennedy Working With HELP Committee Members To Introduce, Mark Up Health Care System Overhaul Legislation Before August Recess


Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and a "core group" of five other committee members "will intensify their efforts in coming weeks to ready universal health care legislation for early summer," CongressDaily reports. Kennedy's drafting group includes Senate HELP Committee ranking member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and committee members Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and one of three other senators -- Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) or Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who previously were named to working groups focusing on insurance coverage, prevention and quality improvements, respectively.

Kennedy's staff has been holding stakeholder meetings, which include 20 interest groups, and members and aides from the Senate HELP Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have been holding joint and separate meetings to discuss reform. However, "nothing has been made available for public consumption," according to CongressDaily. Kennedy's drafting group is scheduled to meet up to three times weekly over the next two-and-a-half months and hopes to have legislation ready for mark up by early summer, according to a source familiar with the talks.

Kennedy and Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who also wants to bring health reform legislation to the floor before the August recess, have said they would work together on a health care overhaul, but the lawmakers "are keeping their committees on largely parallel tracks based on their jurisdictions and are not crossing over to work on a single bill," CongressDaily reports. Eventually, the lawmakers would like a single bipartisan bill for full Senate consideration (Edney, CongressDaily, 3/17).

Republicans Concerned About Industry Relationships
In related news, The Hill on Monday examined how health care industry and other business group efforts to align with Democratic lawmakers on health care reform are "causing unease among their traditional Republican allies on Capitol Hill." According to The Hill, President Obama and congressional Democrats have yet to produce health care legislation "that will force these factions to take a stand, but the conciliatory approach of health care and business groups so far stands in stark contrast to the broad skepticism that has greeted Democratic health reform ideas among congressional Republicans."

According to The Hill, "If Obama and the Democrats are able to hold together this loose coalition of interests, Republicans could find themselves standing in opposition to a Democratic health reform bill without the support of health care and business groups that have been the beneficiaries of GOP policies." Republicans believe that "business risks losing in the long run if its strategy results in their being co-opted by Democrats seeking to significantly increase the role of the federal government in the health care system," The Hill reports.

[amandabeech]

18. This is what Obama is threatening to include in the budge reconciliation bill

along with cap and trade. I don't think that process is going to give enough time for discussion and amendments.

Massachusetts has this law, and I wonder how they're doing. I don't know if Deval Patrick was responsible or not. I wouldn't want to proceed with this until there's sufficient time to allow a thorough study in Massachusetts.

Forcing everyone to purchase health care will be extremely difficult to enforce, IMHO. I think that those who can't afford it will simply refuse to go to the doctor, because if they do, they'll face a penalty that they can't afford to get treatment.

I really don't see any good options to single payer. Anything else will result in much less than 100% coverage, which is what is necessary to cut costs.

[dflprincess]

20. So, Obama will sell us out to the insurance companies, call it "reform"

and we're screwed for another 30 years.

This is not what Kennedy has been advocating for almost 40 years. They're taking advantage of his illness to pass this POS and act like it's some big tribute to him and the crowning glory of his career. All it is is another transfer of wealth to the insurance companies and I'll bet our actual access to health care will get harder.

I knew Obama was no liberal when I voted for him, but this is really low even for a DLC type.

[madfloridian]

26. I had an article on MA, don't think it is doing so fine there.

Costing more than they thought.

[amandabeech]

44. Hmmmm.

That doesn't sound good.

I hope that whoever is working on the health care proposal is looking to Massachusetts for some idea of how thing would work out.

[antigop]

21. Doesn't the state of Massachusetts have mandatory insurance? nt

[avaistheone1]

27. The Massachusetts Health Plan is a failure.

Here is a progressive review of the Massachusetts health plan.

http://prorev.com/2009/03/massachusetts-healthcare-plan-failing.html

[antigop]

29. Thank you., I had read some stuff about the MA plan that wasn't complimentary.

I hadn't seen that review that you had posted.

Thanks.

[leftofthedial]

22. NOT FUCKING GOOD!

"The 20 people who regularly attend the meetings on Capitol Hill include lobbyists for AARP, Aetna, the A.F.L.-C.I.O., the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Business Roundtable, Easter Seals, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and the United States Chamber of Commerce."

Jesus Fucking Christ on a trailer hitch! Was Bill Frist too busy or something? He's the only miserable fucking part of the problem asshole not represented!

[dflprincess]

24. You'd think that one of these days the Chamber of Commerce and

the National Federation of Independent Business would wake up and figure out that their pals in the health insurance business are bleeding them dry.

[wolfgangmo]

50. Business have figured this out.

But the chamber of (big) business and the NFIB does not represent us. They represent monied interests.

They only say they represent us. It is kind of like Bush-speak.

[antigop]

23. WATCH. WYDEN'S. BILL.

http://wyden.senate.gov/issues/Health_Care.cfm

"It is the first bipartisan proposal to reform health care in over a dozen years."

We still don't have a Senate version of HR 676 (Medicare for All), but Wyden's bill has co-sponsors from both parties.

Watch this bill. CAREFULLY.

[madfloridian]

25. Everyone must buy insurance. Am I missing the public option?

"All employers, along with individuals and the government, will share the responsibility of financing health care. During a two-year transition period, employers who provide employee health benefits would be required to convert their workers' health care premiums into higher wages. Employers who don't currently offer health benefits would have to make phased-in "Employer Shared Responsibility Payments," which would be used to provide financial assistance to individuals and families of modest income. After two years, all employers would make "Employer Shared Responsibility Payments." These payments would reflect the relative ability of small and large employers and low- and high-wage industries to make such payments, and would have no direct impact ON the coverage that is available to their employees.

Employees, in turn, would be required to purchase private health coverage with their higher wages. To ensure that it's affordable, the plan would fully subsidize the premiums for those who live below the poverty line. Those people between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line would also receive subsidies on a sliding scale to help pay their premiums.

Individuals would choose from a variety of private plans offered in their state. State-based Health Help Agencies (HHAs) would guide individuals through the enrollment process. These agencies would also provide consumers with unbiased information about competing private health plans and determine premium reductions that will ensure every American can afford their health plan. HHAs would ultimately lower administrative costs by coordinating payments from employers, individuals and the government.

[antigop]

30. I don't see a public option either, mad. That's why we need to watch this--carefully. n/t

[antimatter98]

28. Obama has lied to us several times; health care being on of those times.

During the campaign do you remember how he so casually said that
we'd get the same health care as Congress gets, and that the crowds
erupted enthusiastically?

Today, where is it? He said it would be so easy to do. Where is it?

Obama is being totally run by the same power centers and money that
WOULD HAVE run McCain.

Obama has been dishonest on many fronts, but as I predicted also,
he's very able to just toss his hand to the side and dismiss any
promises he made during the campaign.

As someone said in the past few days, when Congress does what the people want,
well that isn't democracy. I say, when Congress and the president do what
corporations and banks want, its fascism, and ObamaCo is emerging as just
a slicker version of BushCo. Same corruption, same disdain for Americans.

[Kansas Wyatt]

31. They already have a National Health Care Plan.... MEDICARE

The only thing they need to do is kick the Private Insurance Industry out of the prescription coverage and tell the pharmaceutical companies that they will be accepting our price from now on.

The "Private Insurance Industry" that they are trying to protect, fucked themselves, because they were too greedy. Time to move on from the death merchants.

[beaudogjake]

32. "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" -"network the movie"

If the Insurance companies are left in this issue, a dream for Healthcare for all Americans ends.

The only true answer out there is HR 676, But I could be wrong. If I am "Talk Me Down":grr:

[jwirr]

33. So let me get this straight. They are going to replace Medicare and

Medicaid with private insurance plans that people have to purchase. What happens with the poor? Who pays for them? Who decides what the patient can have? Right now my daughter who is severely disabled has to fight for every item she needs just to stay alive. Who is going to tell them they HAVE to take care of her?

Let me tell you a story about her needs. Way back in the 80s we purchased a beautiful custom made wheelchair that has a strong frame while everything else on it can be replaced when needed. Whenever something like the wheels or the head rest needs to be replaced it can be. This worked just fine until our county began purchasing coverage for their clients from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. We could have gone with other insurance companies but this is the one that had been involved with Medicaid in our area.

So we need a new arm rest for the chair. BC/BS bought the wheelchair through Medicaid back in the 80s but apparently they did not carry the old records into the new coverage. They refused the arm rest because there was no record that she owned a wheelchair. This arm rest would cost $22.00. The social services and the doctor and the foster home all assured them she did have a wheelchair. No dice. So I got involved as her guardian/parent. I wrote them a nice little letter. "Either give us the arm rest or I will buy a whole new wheelchair that is not needed." This new wheelchair would cost $1000s of dollars. We got our arm rest.

I am worried about this kind of behavior on the part of insurance companies. First of all there was no logic in their decision: Why would we be asking for a arm rest for a wheelchair we did not have? And then the mismanagement of the records is scary. They were taking the decisions totally out of the hands of the doctors, social workers and foster parents who knew her best and doing what fit their needs.

For profit is dangerous and it will mean more of the above. It will also mean that health care will not get cheaper - only more expensive. The must give us the option of medicare.

[Born_A_Truman]

35. So this never happened?

http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/index.html

In December 2008, the Presidential Transition Team invited Americans to host and participate in Health Care Community Discussions to talk about how to reform health care in America. Over 9,000 Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia signed up during the holiday season to host a Health Care Community Discussion and thousands more participated in these gatherings. Friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers, representing the views of both health care patients and providers, came together in homes, offices, coffee shops, fire houses, universities, and community centers with a common purpose: to discuss reforming the health care system.

After each Health Care Community Discussion, hosts were asked to fill out a Participant Survey and submit a group report to the Presidential Transition Team's Web site, www.change.gov ("Change.gov"), summarizing the group's main concerns and suggestions. Committed to bringing all Americans to the table, the Health Policy Transition Team and a group of dedicated volunteers read and analyzed, line-by-line, the 3,276 group reports submitted to Change.gov. This extensive and intense engagement of the public in policy development by the Federal government is unprecedented and historic, as is this study, which systematically analyzed the information generated by the Health Care Community Discussions.

(snip)

The Health Care Community Discussions are a first step in this Administration's commitment to an open and inclusive style of governance that allows all Americans to have a voice in our country's health reform efforts. This Administration recognizes that true reform comes from the grassroots up and promises that when Americans speak, the Administration will listen. These Health Care Community Discussions reflect the President's commitment to enlist the public in achieving a top priority: creating a health system that is affordable, accessible, and high-quality for all Americans.

(snip)

President Obama has encouraged all Americans to have a direct say in the effort to reform the health system. Individuals who participated in the Health Care Community Discussions rose to this challenge. These Health Care Community Discussions brought together people in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from all walks of life – patients, doctors, business owners, and advocacy groups – who united around a common concern: the need to reform health care in America. The stories of hardships that emerged from the Health Care Community Discussions, and thousands of similar stories, affirm the need to reform America's broken health care system. The Health Care Community Discussions represent two related Administration commitments: to an open, inclusive style of governance that engages Americans in the policy process and to health reform that is directly responsive to the problems Americans face, the stories they share, and the solutions they offer.

[madfloridian]

36. The closed door meetings have been going on since last fall.

I hope he is going to be inclusive on the plan, like he was when they had to be pressured to let single payer supporters at the summit.

I am pointing out who is working on the plan.

I am being realistic.

If they don't rely on those meetings, then that will be a good thing.

[Mithreal]

39. Is there any evidence that the Community Discussions are guiding policy? nt

[JDPriestly]

47. These community discussions were a nice gesture.

But it sounds like that's all it was. Gesture made. Citizen in-put taken care of. Set it aside.

Now, down to work. We invite the insurance providers and insurance companies to tell us what we kind of legislation they will let us pass.

It's a doublecross pure and simple. The whole process should be open. The insurance companies should have to say what they say to our senators and to the administration IN PUBLIC. Stop the secret deliberations.

I don't mind that insurance companies have some input. I just object to the secrecy. It is unnecessary. They American people are mature. We are realistic. We don't like a doublecross. We don't like secrecy. We want a transparent process.

New rule: No lobbyists.

[kaygore]

38. Reminds me of Cheney's energy policy team and their secret sessions

and we all know how that turned out!

[Mithreal]

40. The difference being Cheney's attendees were secret. nt

[pmorlan1]

41. Pathetic Ruth Marcus Column Today on Healthcare Reform

The Ruth Marcus column in the Washington Post today really needs a reality check from DUers. Here's what I posted to her column.

Typical Ruth Marcus column. Bi-partisanship is the goal as long as bi-partisanship is defined as giving Republicans what they want.

“anything that smacks of a public program will be unacceptable to Republicans.” – Ruth Marcus

What about what the American people want, Ruth?

Poll: 73% of Voters Think Health Care Reform Must Include Choice of a Public Health Insurance Plan
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/poll-73-of-voters-think-h_b_173398.html

Evidently Ruth is now calling 73% of the American public “liberals”

“Liberals demand a public insurance alternative…” Ruth Marcus

And of course Ruth doesn’t want the Democrats to use any tool that might allow them to do what Americans sent them there to do because it would ruin Ruth’s idea of “bi-partisanship”

“The rules limit how much policy change can be done this way and give huge power to the Senate parliamentarian to rule things in or out. Simply including this technique as a possibility in the soon-to-be-unveiled budget resolution would be incendiary. And wielding the stick would be the end of bipartisanship as we never got a chance to know it.” – Ruth Marcus

Ruth you are such a disingenuous hack.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032002820.html

[Time for change]

42. The option of a PUBLIC insurance plan similar to Medicare was the heart of Obama's plan that he

touted during his campaign. Without it, it will act to funnel even more money into the coffers of the private insurance companies, with no compensating benefit to the American people.

Do you really think that he's considering going to a private insurance only plan? That would be terrible.

[madfloridian]

43. I think that is why Dean is speaking out so much on this.

He said several times in interviews that the insurance companies might be too involved in making the plans, and he referred to Obama's plan of including Medicare as an option.

I think we should be on guard, but I do think it was/is Obama's plan to include Medicare.

[quidam56]

45. See what is deemed, defended and supported in Tennessee as THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF HEALTH CARE.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com Profit care comes ahead of Patient care....

[JDPriestly]

46. I want to support Obama, but this is not the change or hope we voted for.

Obama needs to start listening to the American people. We want to sit at that table. He is pulling a Hillary Clinton -- meeting with insiders in the corporate world and excluding consumers and our advocates. AARP is an insurance company, not a consumer advocate. Is Public Interest, are the nurses unions represented at that table? Is Howard Dean participating? Who speaks for us. This does not give us hope.