Posted on 11/04/2009 12:58:34 PM PST by Mozilla
House Democrats cleared the way Wednesday for a pivotal floor vote on health care overhaul as early as the weekend, after tweaking their 1,900-page bill to crack down harder on insurance companies.
"Americans are ready for comprehensive health insurance reform and the House will soon act," Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement that accompanied dozens of last-minute changes to the bill, released Tuesday night.
But with no Republican backing for the measure, Democrats will need overwhelming support from their own. A festering intra-party disagreement over how to prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortion remained unresolved Wednesday morning.
And in the Senate, progress on health care legislation was still on hold.
The 10-year, $1.2 trillion House bill is estimated to expand coverage to about 96 percent of eligible Americans. Beginning in 2013, it would provide government subsidies to extend coverage to tens of millions who now lack it, and ban insurance company practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical problems.
The House bill would be paid for by boosting taxes on upper income earners and cutting Medicare payments to health insurance companies, hospitals and other medical providers. Democrats also moved Tuesday to close a biofuel tax credit loophole, raising about $23 billion to help pay for the legislation.
Other changes to the bill, such as enhanced status for the government's office of minority health, were intended as sweeteners for supportive lawmakers.
The major last-minute changes to the House bill hardened the battle lines in the confrontation between Democrats and the health insurance industry. Insurers have sought above all to block creation of a government insurance plan, which happens to be the top legislative goal for liberals.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
85% say BS!
When pelosi’s lips are moving. She’s lying.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
They’ve already cut Medicaid payments so far that it is losing money for anyone to treat them.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
should be a fun day tomorrow when Michele Bachmann and Mark Levin show up with 50,000 of their closest friends
Yeah. Bash, tax, and cut payments for everybody in medicine and expect care to be cheaper and better.
I hope the American people are ready to call and email their Congressmen because I think there plan all along was to wait after this election and to pass this bill with as little time between elections as possible.
sw
There is enough gun powder in this bill to blow the whole Democratic party in to pieces come 2010.
Anyone heard any discussion about this bill (mandatory paid sick leave if you have H1N1.) I heard a blip about it on the radio this morning, and then went looking for an article on it. Supposedly, they were going to attach it to the Health Reform bill, but are putting it through as a stand alone (probably because they know the healthcare bill doesn’t have a chance.) Anyhoo, talk about kicking small businesses while they’re down...imagine if staff at a small business come down with the flu and are mandated to give everyone paid sick leave for 5 days.
This bill will be hung around their necks in the marketplace.
Yes This bill is a vote to destroy the country. The left wants to fundamentally change the country into what France, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe have become. Bits and pieces from each of the nations economy, society and way of living.
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