I agree.
Posted on 12/09/2009 8:45:30 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Senator Joe Lieberman has just released a statement that pours some cold water on the talk of a huge Senate healthcare breakthrough. He signals that the public option trigger won’t work for him, he raises a red flag about the Medicare “buy-in” expansion (an expansion which is simply bizarre in a bill that cuts so much from Medicare at the same time), and he says the proposals will have to be fully scored by CBO and analyzed by the CMS actuary before they can be taken up—all of which are problems for the Dems. Here’s his statement:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) issued the following statement regarding the latest in Senate health care reform negotiations:
“I am encouraged by the progress toward a consensus on proposals to send to the Congressional Budget Office to review. I believe that it is important to pass legislation that expands access to the millions who do not have coverage, improves quality and lowers costs while not impeding our economic recovery or increasing the debt.
“My opposition to a government-run insurance option, including any option with a trigger, has been clear for months and remains my position today.
“Regarding the ‘Medicare buy-in’ proposal that is being discussed, we must remain vigilant about protecting and extending the solvency of the program, which is now in a perilous financial condition.
“It is my understanding that at this point there is no legislative language so I look forward to analyzing the details of the plan and reviewing analysis from the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of the Actuary in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.”
The logic of the Reid proposal, as it has been emerging in the past few hours, seems to be pure political panic. The parts make very little policy sense, individually or together, and don’t really make political sense outside the Senate either (for instance, sending huge numbers of younger people into Medicare is likely to turn off the AMA, which hates the way Medicare treats doctors, and will send the hospitals screaming for the same reason). But the idea is to cobble together whatever it takes to get 60 votes in the short term and worry about it later.
As Bill Kristol notes, Reid’s strategy depends on building a sense of inevitability with this proposal. That doesn’t seem to be happening this morning, if Lieberman’s reaction is any guide.
You know, I really struggled with having to vote for Lieberman just to keep Ned Lamont (a liberal democrat) out.
I feel better now.
Reid’s strategy depends on building a sense of inevitability with this proposal.
Gotta remember to try that out the next time I want a raise, more paid vacation, or a little bit o’ Afternoon Delight with the wife. “C’mon, you know there is just this building sense of inevitability in my proposal...”
This thing has been pieced together with duct tape and spit. This whole thing needs to be thrown out and started over. They have no business trying to pass this...this...thing
Fat chance though!
I don’t trust Joe
Mr. Reid and his fellow meatheads really are making up this crap as they slog along.
We cut Medicare expenditures, but then we make it possible for zillions of other people to “buy-in” to the program.
Here’s what that is like: First, dip a bucket into the deep end of the pool; Second, walk down to the pool’s shallow end; Third, empty the bucket into the shallow end.
See how much deeper the shallow end has become?
Gosh, what an idea.
So what? Maine has Collins/Snowe to vote for it.
Moving the medicare limit down alone must be many billions. The real joke is that the gov’t will still control all the details. Insurance companies will pass (no money to be made and risk too high) and the trigger (which won't be scored by CBO) will come into play.
Let's see if Joe L can stay with the plan.
KILL THE BILL!!!
I feel like saying in support to your post:
KILL THE BILL!!!
I voted for Lieberman in 1988 as a "Wm. F. Buckley, Jr." Republican in order to rid the Senate of Lowell Weicker. Shame was we then got him as Governor in 1990 + an state income tax his personal $30MM BMS trust fund won't ever be touched with.
Nor do I.
You watch at the last second he'll vote for it unless Snowe or Collins support it. Reid would prefer if these RINOs support it to give it the stench of "bi-partisanship" Either way IMHO the fix is in and Joe is on standby to vote yes if there's no other way. Otherwise they'll allow him to vote no to give him cover with the insurance industry.
I do not trust Joe either but Aetna’s HQ is in his state and they have a big health insurance business. Joe will not cross them. The public option would kill Aetna.
***”It wasn’t clear what he meant by a “public option,” the Medicare expansion or a fallback in case private insurance companies declined to participate in the nationwide plan envisioned to be overseen by the Office of Personnel Management. One possibility was for the agency to set up a government-run plan, either national in scope or on a state-by-state basis.”***
The Government will make sure private insurance can’t get in the market just to make make sure of a Government takeover.
Well, the media is helping, by reporting without question everything Reid tells them. He says “We have an agreement”, they report “Democrats reached an agreement”. He says “The Public Option is not Dead”, the media says “The public option is not dead”. He says “It cuts the deficit”, the media says “It cuts the deficit”.
We wouldn’t be in this mess if the media would report the truth.
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