US Democrat: Medicare 'Buy-In' Likely Out Of Health Bill - Reuters

[WillyT]

10 minutes ago...

<snip>

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Senator Max Baucus said on Monday a compromise plan to expand the Medicare health program for the elderly to allow those as young as age 55 to buy in probably would be dropped from a broad healthcare bill.

"It's looking like that's the case," Baucus said after a meeting of Democratic senators to search for a way forward on the bill, President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

The meeting was called after Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and is a crucial vote on the overhaul, said he would join Republicans in blocking the bill if the Medicare expansion was included.

<snip>

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1419189520091215?type=marketsNews

[dkf]

1. Why are we unrecommending crappy but need to know news?

Is this a head in the sand sort of thing? I don't get it.

[mcablue]

4. It's a confusion regarding the criteria used to recommend a post

I don't blame anyone for this. People unrec. posts for different reasons. Some unrec. because they don't like the message being sent, regardless of how newsworthy the piece is. Some don't do it that way. There's simply no fixed way to do it.

[IndianaGreen]

7. It is the head in sand brigade

They can't even formulate a coherent defence of the crap that is taking place in the Beltway.

[chill_wind]

10. Which I get. Why don't they leave it at that?

[quantass]

2. K&R -- People need to know.

The bill is even more worthless when the Medicare thing is out...seriously is shit,.

[DJ13]

3. Mandates with no PO or Medicare buy in?

I guess we know who the Senate really represents.

[WeDidIt]

5. I've been a very vocal supporter here of HCR

but if Reid is going to capitulate to Joe Lieberman, I'm sitting out 2010.

And I haven't missed a mid term in the 30 years I've been eligible to vote.

[MarjorieG]

6. Reconciliation means starting over. Wht about passing regulation, anti trust-if possible, and

Medicare buy-in, lowering age during budget reconciliation later, independently, with 50+, maybe next budget.

[high density]

8. Our system is fucked up when single personalities like Lieberman can completely derail something

Here comes reconciliation.

[nilram]

9. so this is a "compromise" (aka, abdication) on the compromise?

Why should I continue to support the Democratic party?