Posted on 11/18/2009 2:28:30 PM PST by Zakeet
Measure would add coverage for 31 million, reduce deficit over 10 years
Health care legislation heading for the Senate floor this week would extend coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans at a cost of $849 billion over a decade, according to congressional budget experts.
As rank-and-file Democrats gathered Wednesday to learn details of the long-awaited bill, the Congressional Budget Office also estimated the legislation would reduce federal deficits by a total of $127 billion over that decade, NBC News reported.
The budget agency also projected that the legislation would cover 94 percent of Americans.
The political stakes were enormous as Majority Leader Harry Reid summoned fellow Democrats to a closed-door meeting to brief them on the legislation. It is being crafted to fulfill President Barack Obama's goal of expanding coverage to the uninsured, banning industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and slowing the growth of health care costs nationwide.
[Snip]
Reid hopes to put the legislation on track toward a floor debate within days.
Health care allies around Washington were alerted that Reid and top Senate Democrats planned to hold a Capitol Hill rally for the bill at noon Thursday.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Three Action Items:
“DOC-TRIX” VOTE TOMORROW - Call U.S. Representatives today to oppose the $247 Billion “Doc Fix” bill
SENATE STEALTH CARE MOVE - Call U.S. Senators today to oppose “motion to proceed” HC vote
ABORTION - Rep. Steve King reveals Congressman Stupak’s “one-vote” plan
Ask your U.S. Representatives to vote NO on the “Doc Fix” bill, HR 3961.
Tomorrow, House leadership is trying to sneak in a vote on the controversial “Doc Fix” bill, HR 3961. By eliminating the scheduled 21% reduction in physician payments, the bill will ADD $247 billion to the already $2 trillion cost of PelosiCare, the government takeover health care bill, HR 3962, that passed on Sat., November 7th with a vote of 220-215.
By using a separate bill (instead of PelosiCare), Democratic House leadership is attempting to raise the taxpayer cost of PelosiCare without having to register the cost to the health insurance reform bill. Doctors should be paid sufficiently by government for their services, however, this bill is a shell game meant to deceive the public into thinking taxpayer cost of “reform” is lower than it is.
Call your U.S. Representatives today!
Capitol Switchboard - 202-224-3121
Phone and Fax Numbers for Congress: http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/
For local offices of Members go to: http://www.congress.org/ (click on GET INVOLVED)
Ask U.S. Senators to vote NO on Senator Harry Reid’s “motion to proceed.”
Senator Harry Reid is working behind closed doors trying to create a health insurance bill that CBO will ‘score’ under $1 trillion. If he gets a favorable cost ‘score’, some say his plan is to bring a different House bill, a “shell bill,” to the floor of the Senate. He will not bring PelosiCare because he doesn’t like it, but he has to bring a House bill because all tax and revenue bill must come through the House to the Senate. Reid will then call for a “motion to proceed” vote on the House “shell bill.” (see Sen. DeMint’s press release below).
This “motion to proceed” vote signals the end of debate on the bill and time to vote. This vote needs 60 votes, which Reid may have difficulty getting since Senators know the “motion to proceed” vote will move the health care bill forward to a final vote. If he gets the 60 votes, we expect him to delete all the language in the “shell bill” and substitute it with his “behind closed doors,” health care “government takeover” bill. If this happens, only 51 votes are needed to pass the bill. Thus, the “motion to proceed” must be voted down.
Call your U.S. Senators today, tomorrow and Friday!
Capitol Switchboard - 202-224-3121
Call the list of 12 U.S. Senators located at the bottom of this email!
Phone and Fax Numbers for Congress: http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/
For local offices of Members go to: http://www.congress.org/ (click on GET INVOLVED)
On Monday, on a national conference call, CCHC president Twila Brase asked U.S. Reps. Steve King (R-IA) and Dr. Tom Price (R-GA) the following question on the House health care bill, HR 3962, now 2,015 pages long after incorporation of amendments. Congressman King’s answer was revealing:
Twila’s Question: Didn’t you actually lose on the House health care bill because of the pro-life amendment? Wasn’t Congressman Shadegg right in trying to derail the bill with a “present” vote rather than giving Pelosi a victory of passage that moved the whole bill forward? The bill itself threatens the life of many others, not just the unborn. How do you plan to stop the bill now?
Congressman King: (just one of his comments paraphrased) “....When I found out that Stupak had been negotiating just for a vote on the bill, not for final passage, I got sick to my stomach....”
Woman from Tennessee Eagle Forum: “I agree with Twila. I hate to think we won the battle and lost the war.”
Representative Bart Stupak (D - MI) Phone: 202-225-4735 Fax: 202-225-4744
DeMint: Americans Won’t Be Fooled by Democrat Shell Game, a Vote for Cloture is a Vote for a Government Takeover of Health Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, made the following statement:
“Let’s be clear: Any senator who votes to proceed to this bill is voting for a government takeover of health care. Senators who hide behind procedure and claim they just want to allow for debate are not being honest, they are trying to deceive their voters while helping to pass this terrible bill that will make health care more expensive.
“Earlier today, Democrat leaders told reporters that the Senate may vote to proceed to a shell bill, not related to health care reform, in an effort to grant the President’s wish for a government takeover of our nation’s health care by Christmas. These outrageous shell games won’t fool Americans. Voters will remember who stands up for their freedom and who stands with the special interests who want to ram through this takeover.”
“President Obama and Democrats have now put forward at least four different versions of their government takeover, and Harry Reid has been secretly working behind closed doors on the fifth act of this fiasco. But despite the nuances, every Democrat bill puts Washington in control of health care, slashes Medicare coverage for seniors, raises premiums for families, raises taxes, places bureaucrats between patients and doctors, punishes young adults who choose not to buy coverage, and opens the door to government rationing of care.
“Americans have loudly and repeatedly rejected the President’s government takeover of health care. It’s time to for the Senate to listen, stop the shell games, and start over with real solutions that will provide every American the opportunity to afford, own and keep a health care plan that best meets their needs.”
###
Sen. Michael F Bennet, Colorado
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5852, DC Fax Number: 202-228-5036
Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska
DC Office Number: 202-224-6551, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0012
Sen. Mary Landrieu, Louisiana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5824, DC Fax Number: 202-224-9735
Sen. Mark Pryor, Arkansas
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2353, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0908
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4843, DC Fax Number: 202-228-1371
Sen. Robert Byrd, West Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-3954, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0002
Sen. Jim Webb, Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4024, DC Fax Number: 202-228-6363
Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2023, DC Fax Number: 202-224-6295
Sen. Jon Tester, Montana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2644, DC Fax Number: 202-224-8594
Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4041, DC Fax Number: 202-224-9750
Sen. Mark Begich, Alaska
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-3004, DC Fax Number: 202-224-2354
Sen. Evan Bayh, Indiana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5623, DC Fax Number: 202-228-1377
The progressives just don’t get it. They’re playing with matches in a lake of jet fuel.
Double the $849 billion, and then it will be in the ballpark of the actual costs.
Good then let them light it up and burn to death.
You betcha. This bill will be designed to keep on taking for the rest of human life.
You’re right but our side trumpeted CBO findings when they worked in our favor, and I’m afraid this finding, especially the part about reducing the deficit, is the game set match. The best chance now is the libs in Pelosi’s caucas rebel at no public option and no abortion funding. Otherwise, it’s over.
You’re right but our side trumpeted CBO findings when they worked in our favor, and I’m afraid this finding, especially the part about reducing the deficit, is the game set match. The best chance now is the libs in Pelosi’s caucas rebel at no public option and no abortion funding. Otherwise, it’s over.
This is insane. They are already beyond bankrupt. The Fed. Gov. is in full madman mode. This will not end well.
Sometimes I feel like I’m watching a horror movie and there’s nothing I can do about it. I have a conservative Rep, but my senators are leftists who don’t care what I think. Being a politician these days is not about serving the public; they think they run an oligarchy. Hopefully some of them will remember who is their boss, come next November.
The Senate must be persuaded to stop, block, filibuster, the Health Care Reform. The following are considered key Senators: people who will go either way.
Reid has NO margin for error: he has to get ALL 60 Dems in order to put the bill on the floor.
Here's the key concept: Urge these Senators to Vote No on any "procedural vote" to "move to the health bill."
This will happen Friday or Saturday!
We don't want the bill even to make it to the floor!
Ben Nelson (D NE)
Strong abortion opponent …Against Big Government, the "public option"…Fiscal conservative…Quote: "Faced with a decision about whether or not to move a bill that is bad, I won't vote to move it," he told ABC News. "For sure."
Use: City Omaha, Zip Code 68108 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (402)
Blanche Lincoln (D Ark)
Member of the Senate Finance Committee…Voted twice against making the "public option" part of the bill…Facing tough re-election, eager to display her conservative credentials in a state that was handily carried by Sen. John McCain… probably won't even agree to let the bill be debated on the Senate floor.
Use: City Little Rock, Zip Code 72291 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (501)
Joe Lieberman (I CT)
Independent but caucuses with the Democrats… has threatened to filibuster against public option. ..Quote: “I would use the power I have as a single senator to stop a final vote," he said in a recent televised interview.
Use City Hartford, Zip Code 06160 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (860)
Sen. Susan Collins (R Maine)
Could go either way…One of just three Republican lawmakers to cross party lines and vote for the Recovery Act (a.k.a. Federal Stimulus Package) …voted in favor of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2)…but although pro-“reform”, she is on record as being against (quote) "billions of dollars in new taxes and fees that will drive up the cost of health insurance premiums." The whole bill should be re-written, Collins said, according to the New York Times.
Use City Augusta, Zip Code 04330 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (207)
Robert Casey (D PA)
On record as an opponent of abortion, from a very pro-life district…
Use City Erie, Zip Code 16501 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (814)
Evan Bayh (D IN)
Concerned about tax on medical-device makers in the current legislation…Indiana is the third-biggest state for jobs in the medical device sector, with currently some 63,000 Indiana residents working in that field….Quote: "I want to know what works for families and small businesses."
Bayh says medical devices fee would "seriously threaten thousands of American jobs and deter innovation in the industry."
Use city Indianapolis, Zip Code 46201 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (317)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D LA)
Often “on the fence” about issues…Mixed voting record on Abortion, rated 43% by NARAL (pro-abortion) and 50% by NRLC (pro-life)…Favors letting some states try "trigger" mechanisms that would create a public option if residents don't have enough insurance choices (needs to be vehemently argued out of this fallback position)…Quote "I'm not for a government-run, national, taxpayer-subsidized plan, and never will be."
Use city New Orleans, Zip Code 70141 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (504)
Roland Burris (D IL)
A bit quirky and cantankerous, Burris' willingness to bend could prove crucial if Reid needs every possible vote in crafting a compromise, such as a national public option that is triggered if certain insurance availability targets aren't met. Or might favor a public option “offered by states, not feds.” Or “might” be pushed to favor no on the bill altogether. Push him to say NO, JUST NO! At age 72, Burris has virtually nothing to lose by defying his party's leaders and voting as he pleases.
Use city Kankakee, Zip Code 60901 (plus any 4 digits), Area Code (815)
Reid does not plan on keeping the "Stupak-Pitts" pro-life amendment in the Senate version of the bill. He is expected to take up the House bill, and then replace it with a "Senate substitute" which will fund elective abortions. He is also in hot water about the "public option," with some Dem Senators saying they won't vote for the bill WITH public option, and some (on the Left) saying they won't vote for the bill WITHOUT it.
This is our chance to stop it dead.
I know. I actually think the jig is up. It is only a matter of time. No amount of flailing and floundering by these clowns can avoid the plunge.
Thanks BOB. We need to keep posting this through tomorrow.
This CBO estimate is suspect. It came after a serious arm twisting from Obama, if you remember the personal meeting he had with Elmendorf, the CBO head. Further, the finding is based on (at least) two faulty assumptions.
The first is that the "doc fix", an ongoing Ponzi scheme to threaten cumulative pay reductions for all Social Security medical work, is going to be pushed into the future, and not counted as part of the bill's cost.
The second, is that the CBO estimate goes ten years into the future, but as I understand it, the taxes go up right away, while the actual service delivery and expenses start in 2013. So, you are scoring a 10 year plan based on 10 years of income and 6 or 7 years of expenses. On its face, the steady state loss of the plan per year should be increased by roughly a third if scored on an ongoing basis.
That said, the CBO scoring will be trumpeted without a discussion of its assumptions, without a doubt.
Please keep this up through tomorrow!
Well, I have hit my tipping point. Unless someone can promise us they can repeal this sham, I am done with the US and politics.
If you can put this bill into motion, you must have a way to repeal it. I am tired of hearing there is no turning back. If that is the case, I have no reason to vote in 2010.
I see there as no turning back as a desire to not turn it back.
Anything is possible and the GOP best be cracking on it ASAP.
Tip 'o the hat to you, brother.
Comes out of conference, it will be in the $3+ trillion region.
Reid actually stood there with a straight face tonight and told the American public that the CBO now estimates the bill at $849B but it won’t cost taxpayers A DIME! Are people really that stupid? Do they think the government has $849B in the bank to spend on this fiasco?
The article says the CBO estimates the bill will save us money.
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