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Alegre's Corner
We're not finished folks - not by a long shot!

HELP bill: Means-testing for the public plan (updated)

by: Alegre

Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 11:38:37 AM EDT


Karen Tumulty was on a press call with the HELP committee to hear about Kennedy's bill, and she just posted a tweet with the following...

Senate HELP bill: If u hate ur employer's coverage, u have to keep it, unless it costs 12.5% of ur salary. No public plan 4 u.

Looks like you were right ML - anyone above a certain income level is f*cked with this new reform bill.  It's Mass-Care all over again :(

UPDATE: Meanwhile, Amy Goodman interviewed Australian investigative journalist John Pilger, who says the British national health system is a "treasuer" and asks how our own leaders can be so "in bed with powerful intersts" that they could ignore the basic human rights of Americans to health care services.  Here's an excerpt of Goodman's interview with Pilger.  

Soapblox won't let me embed the video but you can view the short clip / teaser at: THIS LINK.

Check it out - Pilger really blasts the do-nothings in Congress for their failure to enact a single payer system.
Alegre :: HELP bill: Means-testing for the public plan (updated)
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HELP bill: Means-testing for the public plan (updated) | 25 comments
This shouldn't be this DIFFICULT (0.00 / 0)
or painful.  We control government - this is on the heads of our Democratic leaders and we won't let them forget this betrayal when election time rolls around.

Invest in Women - Change the World
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Did Mitt Romney win in 2008? (0.00 / 0)
It's getting hard to tell.
Seriously - - please tell me what the Mittster would have done differently on a host of issues (other than Sotomayor (which is no small thing) and tieing Bo to the roof of his car)?
[ Parent ]
Did Mitt Romney win in 2008 (0.00 / 0)
He wouldn't have signed the CHIP Legislation

He would not have signed an executive order for Federal funding for Stem Cells.

He would have been more bellicose on foreign policy

His energy policy would be more drilling

His economic policy would be bigger and more taz cuts.

He would have a health care program relying strictly on tax credits

He would appoint judges that would overturn roe V Wade

Finally he would relie on voluntary standards from industry regarding the enviornment

No thank you , Romney would be far far worse.

[ Parent ]
"more bellicose on foreign policy"? (0.00 / 0)
Are you following what were doing in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia ???  It's the neo con policy to a tee.  
[ Parent ]
more bellicose on foreign policy (0.00 / 0)
Romney would HAVE INSERTED himself in their internal affairs and truly united Iran against the US.

We are withdrawing from Iraq. (This is not the neo con policy)

We will be out by next year at this time.

Afhganistan is a policy to build their infrastructure not to win a war that is un-winnable.

Finally, these policies would have been followed if Hillary was president. She is the secretary of state. If she would so be against such policies then she would re-sign.

[ Parent ]
Uh... (0.00 / 0)
We are withdrawing from Iraq. (This is not the neo con policy)

So far, we have only adhered to Bush's status of forces agreement with Iraq.

Medicare for All is Civil Rights

[ Parent ]
Uh... (0.00 / 0)
The agreement to withdraw all combat forces in Iraq by the end of 2010 was forced on  Bush by the Iraqies and the 2008 political campaign.

The neo-cons wanted us to stay for 100 years.

Their will be a residual force of 20-30,000 troops thereafter.

All major democratic candidates were in agreement with that policy. This included Ibama, Edwarda and Clinton.

[ Parent ]
Duh, except this is a blatantly untrue... (0.00 / 0)
"The agreement to withdraw all combat forces in Iraq by the end of 2010 was forced on  Bush by the....2008 political campaign."  

Medicare for All is Civil Rights
[ Parent ]
Duh, except this is a blatantly untrue... (0.00 / (0.00 / 0)
The Iraqui government forced Bush to agree to a time table to with draw combat forces.

If he didn't the new US president would if a democrat.

Malaki liked Obama's position for with drawl not Bush's.

I know this the Raqui's celebrated a couple of day's ago when US forces have moved out of the major cities.

[ Parent ]
That move out of the cities, (0.00 / 0)
WAS in the status of forces agreement.  Honestly, you are the only person I have heard credit the '08 election for the status of forces agreement.  

But this is way off topic.  This is a health care thread.  

Medicare for All is Civil Rights

[ Parent ]
MOVE OUT OF CITIES (0.00 / 0)
Isaid the Iraqui government forced the withdrawk timetable

My friends at DARPA  indicated that the 2008 campaign gave the Iraquis leverage against Bush in finalizing the status of force agreement.

This is my last word on this subject.

[ Parent ]
Surprise, suprise... (0.00 / 0)
Ted Kennedy proposes a national MA health plan.  I'm telling you, this is the No Child Left Behind of health care reform.  By the way, in MA the plan is now deemed an "accessibility" plan because it can't control costs.

Medicare for All is Civil Rights
"The No Child Left Behind of health care reform" (0.00 / 0)
What a dick Ted has turned out to be in his last couple of terms. He could not have done more damage to education and healthcare if he were a Republican, the difference being, we would have stopped a Republican from doing what Ted has done.

Remember when Ted blocked-out Hillary from running a Senate committee on universal health care? The fix was in. None of the key players was willing to push as hard and far as Clinton. That's why we didn't nominate a Democrat.

[ Parent ]
Obama Care (0.00 / 0)
"unless it costs 12.5% of ur salary"

I assume that means the employee's contribution toward the "plan" and doesn't include the co-pays, deductibles, dis-allows, etc. which can easily double that amount.  The other factor that hasn't gotten "much" press is the continued reduction of the % of the "poverty line" that qualifies for subsidies.

Here's the scoop from the hill I got today.. (0.00 / 0)
ive been in touch with many staffers i knwo n the hill at gillibrand's office, the prog caucus and kennedy's. here is what i know:
1.progs want pub opt open to all veen if employer provides your benefits. was told house plan allows for this. see here also-
http://swampland.blogs.time.co...

2.in conversation with oneof the healthcare research leaders at campaign for our future,run by paul wellston'es frmr chief of staff, was given much info. the help proposal is fair, not as good as the house's offerings. the hosue uses medicare guidlines in negotiations to bring down prices. help doesnt. that is key.

3.kennedy's health advisor told me to expect added items in markup: incl-addition of a federal healthcare plan for the disabled. ive long advoctaed for this plan since it s been floated now for a very long time. mediciad and medicare do not contain programs needed for special needs etc...
alsolong term care. a federal program where all americans purchase long term care for 60 bucks a mo.
alsoblock of sen liberals which demands a robust pub opt is pushing for an increase in mediciad and medicare rates to expand drs. this will be taken up in the finance cmte and is likely to pass.

4.house plan and kennedy favor nationlizing medicaid with better rates, total coverage of eyes dental etc.. expansion of the program. this is in both houses' proposals.

5. the battle is over 3 issues now: 1.extent of pub plan. libs want house version, 2.choice. progs want anyone to be able to pick a plan even if their employer has chosen one, 3.how to pay for it all.

be vigalent. u must call congress. use the whip tool on hamsher's site or standwithdean. push choice. push medicare under 65 plan. do it asap please.

krugman (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
Well, that's wonderful for Krugman... (0.00 / 0)
as I said, it's in what you measure.  You want to measure how many people are covered under health insurance, many more will be, it will be the law.

But this?  "4.house plan and kennedy favor nationlizing medicaid with better rates, total coverage of eyes dental etc.. expansion of the program. this is in both houses' proposals."  That's just great.  Now what's in it for me?


Medicare for All is Civil Rights

[ Parent ]
Whip tool at FireDogLake (0.00 / 0)
Hamsher's saying we need to get 40 progressive Dems to commit to voting NO on any HCR bill that doesn't open up a public option to ALL of us from day one.

THIS WHIP TOOL gives us a chart of who we're calling, whether they signed off on HR 676 (single payer) and if they've said yeah.  Phone numbers and a way for you to enter feedback once you've called and asked.

IF you do make the call - don't just leave comments with the receptionist - ask to speak to the Member's legislative aide covering health care issues.  They should know where the Member stands on a public option.  If you get them on the phone and they DON'T know - ask them to check and get back to you (which they should be willing to do if you're a constituent!).

If you don't hear back within say 2 business days - CALL AGAIN.  And again.  And AGAIN if that's what it takes to get an answer.

Invest in Women - Change the World
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[ Parent ]
Well, finally, some reality among the reality-based community. (0.00 / 0)


Medicare for All is Civil Rights
[ Parent ]
Oh, I take it back. That pledge says nothing (0.00 / 0)
about available to everyone, just available nationwide.  That doesn't mean everyone.  Since Jane is pushing this HELP plan I don't think she is drawing a line in the sand that everyone must have access to the public plan with her pledge.

Medicare for All is Civil Rights
[ Parent ]
Just sent a note to Hamsher (0.00 / 0)
or whoever checks their email - asking for clarification on their effort.  I'll let folks know if I hear back.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner
[ Parent ]
CHOICE ALEGRE (0.00 / 0)
tell her we must push choice. the pub opt must be open to all.
[ Parent ]
It won't be... (0.00 / 0)
This is the best argument against supporting this boondoggle I've read yet:

http://www.pnhp.org/blog/2009/...

Medicare for All is Civil Rights

[ Parent ]
That might be what they're pushing for (0.00 / 0)
I agree - they're not at all clear on this.

I'm guessing we'll get a public option that's means-tested, using our GROSS income as the marker.

The more I hear about this bill the more disgusted I get.

Here's hoping they can hold the line on this in the House and push hard at conference.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

[ Parent ]
Stand with dr. Dean (0.00 / 0)
HERE's THE LINK

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner
[ Parent ]
HELP bill: Means-testing for the public plan (updated) | 25 comments
"Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you?re knocked down, get right back up. And NEVER listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on."
Hillary Clinton - June 7, 2008

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