Premiums are key issue for health care negotiators (Secret meetings - just like the death panels?)

NP Telegraph ^ | 1/06/10

[Libloather]

Premiums are key issue for health care negotiators
Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010 4:12 AM CST

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama began work in earnest Tuesday on difficult issues still standing in the way of their national health care overhaul after months of tortuous debate. Topping the list: How to help Americans pay for insurance premiums.

Republicans weren't invited, and they complained that the Democrats intended to deliberate behind closed doors - though lawmakers often do so in the final stages of such complex legislation. Separately, the head of C-SPAN, the nonpartisan public affairs network, called for letting the sun shine in on the discussions - as Obama once had promised.

Obama met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., at the White House on Tuesday evening. Joining the discussion by telephone were Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who were out of town.

The White House will take a lead role in settling disputes that could stall the bill, said a congressional leadership aide, who described the private meeting on condition of anonymity. Staffers from the House and Senate will meet with administration aides at the White House later this week to formally begin sorting through issues.

House Democrats face the virtual certainty that they will not get the government-run insurance plan liberals had sought, a point Pelosi acknowledged after meeting earlier in the day with key committee leaders.

"There are other ways to do that, and we look forward to having those discussions," she told reporters.

[Libloather]

For example, under the House bill, a family of four making $44,100 would pay no more than $2,425 a year to buy coverage in the new insurance markets. Under the Senate bill, premiums would be higher, $2,778.

CommieCare™ - a few grand - for four? That doesn't add up.

[UCANSEE2]

though lawmakers often do so in the final stages of such complex legislation.

Because that's when the real name-calling starts, and the wheelin' an dealin' goes into high gear. We aren't usually privy to this stage of the process, because there would be public riots if we really knew what was going on. It couldn't be aired on public 'tv', due to profanity.

[freekitty]

Open the doors, scumbags.