CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
Sept. 17, 2009 – 1:22 p.m.
Pelosi Says House Health Care Bill Will Include Public Option
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterated her support for a public health insurance option Thursday and said the bill that she expects the House to pass this autumn will include such a plan.
“The public option will be in the bill that passes the House,” the Speaker said, a day after Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus , D-Mont., unveiled his health legislation that excludes the controversial idea.
Pelosi praised Baucus for unveiling his bill and said she expects the Finance Committee to mark it up next week. While she wouldn’t predict when the House will finally vote on its bill, she said again that her goal is to get a health care overhaul on President Obama’s desk this year. And she also wouldn’t say if she will wait for a bill to pass the Senate before bringing a House version to the floor for a vote.
“I’m very optimistic about it,” she said.
She said there were aspects of Baucus’ legislation she liked, such as the expansion of insurance coverage and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug discounts. But she said without a public option, which she views as a way to force private insurers to hold down costs, the Democrats’ effort will fall short. “Unless we hold insurance companies accountable we can’t have access for all” to coverage, Pelosi said.
“We’re very pleased the Senate has put out a mark and that the committee will accept amendments,” she said.
Baucus’ bill would allow the creation of cooperatives in which members could come together to form non-profit insurers.
Pelosi also noted that after months of negotiation involving the bipartisan “Gang of Six” Finance Committee members she had hoped for more progress. “We all had hoped they would put out something with bipartisan support,” she said.
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Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith -- Working Class Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ http://robertreich.blogspot.com/ John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone. It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!! It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER! It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL. THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL: The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts. At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE! But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH. This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong public option on day one. Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS. BUT WE MUST ACT! I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone. SPREAD THE WORD! I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious. Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED. God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings jacksmith -- Working Class No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html Triggers http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/weve-seen-these-triggers_b_283583.html Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/) Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
Yes, we all hoped that Baucus and his "gang" would actually produce some kind of bill that would benefit the people. Alas, his pockets are too heavy with the gifts from the insurance industry. Let's hope that the Speaker is correct, that we will have a public option....that is going to be the only way to appease Americans, who are fed-up with being kicked to the curb by our own government and it's officials.
Throw The PUBLIC OPTION Obstructionist Out! More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone. According to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!! We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. And the most costly. Costing over twice as much as every other county. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means. I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get, without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP's ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU! YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER. AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL. These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS! Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it's President Obama's fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World. But you don't have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist. Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this.These are your neighbors. And most will want to help. I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT! You have been AMAZING!!! people. Don't loose heart. You knew it wasn't going to be easy. :-) God Bless You jacksmith -- Working Class Twitter search (#welovethenhs #NHS #hc09 #hcr #healthcar #obama #p2 #topprog #) Check it out. Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/) Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010. * Richard Shelby of Alabama * Lisa Murkowski of Alaska * John McCain of Arizona * Mel Martinez of Florida * Johnny Isakson of Georgia * Mike Crapo of Idaho * Chuck Grassley of Iowa * Sam Brownback of Kansas * Jim Bunning of Kentucky * David Vitter of Louisiana * Kit Bond of Missouri * Judd Gregg of New Hampshire * Richard Burr of North Carolina * George Voinovich of Ohio * Tom Coburn of Oklahoma * Jim DeMint of South Carolina * John Thune of South Dakota * Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas * Bob Bennett of Utah
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