House Democrats Get Serious on Healthcare
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I have been as critical of Democrats in the process of pounding out reform for our failed healthcare system in the last few months as anyone. In the "House of Lords" that has become the U.S. Senate the discussion is so very frustrating that one forgets that many good Democrats in the House deserve much credit. They have moved the discussion towards where it needs to be.
However, in the House on two tough calls that will be tough votes, House Democrats are forging ahead with serious and realistic goals in actually achieving universal coverage. They are showing guts in calling for sacrifice:
WASHINGTON – An income tax surcharge on highly paid Americans emerged as the leading option Wednesday night as House Democrats sought ways to pay for health care legislation that President Barack Obama favors, several officials said.
As discussed in the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, the surtax would apply to individuals with adjusted gross income of more than $200,000 and couples over $250,000, they added.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090709/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul
While tax increases are always understandably risky, President Obama did campaign on raising taxes for those making over $200,000 and won an overwhelming victory. While the part of me that is moderate does say that any tax increase on anyone should be reasonable and fair I understand that anyone who pays it will think it is unfair. All I can say if when I make it there I will gladly pay the tax.
Another idea campaigned upon and floated around is also seeing the light of day:
In addition, key lawmakers are expected to call for a tax or fee equal to a percentage of a worker's salary on employers who do not offer health benefits.
This idea is particularly appealing. In the last
few decades a whole lot of "employers" have been shipping our middle-class jobs overseas to exploit oppressed and virtual slave labor. They have transformed our job market to "service-type" to pay Americans peanuts while doing away with middle-class jobs and wages and warring on the unions in this country.
The result is not only are a huge number of Americans working jobs with no benefits including health insurance, but their wages are so low that they cannot go out on their own and afford coverage for themselves and their families. Businesses simply cannot be left out of any reform. While not all businesses and businessmen and women are corrupt, as a whole they have been one of the major contributors to the crisis. They simply cannot have it both ways again for reform to work.
Rep. Shelly Berkley spoke but cautioned that no decisions are final:
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., a member of the panel, said the proposed surtax on high-income taxpayers appealed to her and others as a way to avoid a "nickel-and-dime" approach involving numerous smaller tax increases. She added that other earlier options had fallen away, including an increase in the payroll tax.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090709/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul
The fate of any reform though unfortunately has to pass through the "House of Lords" in the United States Senate:
Across the Capitol, it seemed clear the drive to enact health care legislation was entering a new phase in the Senate, where attention has largely been focused for months on efforts by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., to forge a bipartisan agreement within the Finance Committee he chairs.
On Tuesday, the Senate Democratic leadership made it clear it viewed a proposed tax on certain health care benefits as unacceptable, at the same time it relayed word that it favors allowing the government to sell insurance to consumers.
Both those positions appeared to undercut much of the work Baucus has been doing. He has said for weeks that any legislation would call for a tax on certain health care benefits, and Republicans are strongly opposed to the idea of government intervention in the private insurance industry.
Baucus told reporters during the day he was "very sensitive to the various concerns that senators have" on taxing benefits, yet added that "by far a better approach is a bipartisan approach."
First, I have a real problem with this "bi-partisanship" that reaches out and pulls back a bloody nub. Nobody worried a singe bit about "bi-partisanship" when they were ramming these policies that destoyed our economy and got us bogged down in Iraq, and destroyed our standing in the world. How can we now be "bi-partisan" in repairing the damage?? The Republicans are never going to go along with any real reform without it being shoved down their throats. Its our turn.
It is time for our Senate to realize that they are way behind the American people. In case they have not noticed a lot of them have been shed from that body in the last few years. Maybe the safer approach is to catch up with the urgency millions of Americans feel in the problems that have beset our country- problems the folks we would reach out to created.
I guess all of us and the rest of the 70%+ of the American people that want change in the healthcare system need to stay focused on demanding real change. If we cannot get it we need to mobilize as a force in ousting those who would not give it to us in primaries or general elections with the resources available to us, the American people. Our money, effort and vote.
Well said Richard. A breath
Well said Richard. A breath of fresh air and objectivity like yours is much needed on Democrats.com these days. Keep 'em coming.
I always..
Enjoy stopping by. I do end up lurkiing sometimes though. I still have a little trouble embedding video here, so here is a link to our newest video. Jim Pence and I started a rural progressive soapblox site, and he makes some great vids:
http://www.hillbillyreport.org/diary/258/#464
This vid made by him is a classic!!;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7mm6wvBZDM
I recently graduated, finally but am waiting for the diploma to arrive. I think I may have gotten Summa Cum Laude. Hoping to work against Exxon Ed Whitfield again...
Best wishes Bill!!
Congratulations Rich on your graduation!
You have done a tremendous amount of work in your state. If we could motivate others to do the same in their states, we would probably be much better off today.
Summa huh? Wow!
A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.
Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623
The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.
Congratulations
Rich. It's not easy, I know. Best of luck to you and I'm sure you're going to do great!
Terry
Thank you!!
Terry. My job search has been delayed because I was playing a game of pickup basketball and got accidently elbowed in the mouth, knocking out a front tooth. My basketball days are over!! I should have my partial in the next couple of weeks though.
Best wishes!!
Yikes!
Heal up Rich.
And thanks for your tireless efforts!
You managed to "pick" a tough place to advance Democrats, and yet it's happening ;)
Jim
Congratulations, Richard!
That is a great achievement, I am so happy for you.
As Grinch stated, you have worked tirelessly to help your state.
In spite of dealing with strong political opposition there, you always
maintain a positive, " can do" attitude.
That is not easy.
We need more people like you, Richard.
:-)
grinch and kwalf....
Thank you both for the most kind words!! I am but one of many all over the place that want our country to be more progressive. Hopefully our time is now!!
House Unveils Healthcare Plan, Uncertain Fate Awaits in Senate
After President Obama came back from overseas and "persuaded" Congress to get serious about Healthcare, lawmakers in the House have gotten on the ball. They unveiled their plan today to overhaul the system. It has a lot of good things in it, but predictably awaits an uncertain fate in the "House of Lords" known as the U.S. Senate and will probably draw opposition from Corporate Democrats as well as Republicans.
The bill calls for sacrifice from business, and the wealthiest Americans and would create a government plan to compete with private insurance and drive costs down:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090714/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul
Funding would come from a new tax on the wealthiest Americans and cuts from Medicaire and Medicaid. Employers would pay a penalty for not offering coverage and uninsured Americans would be expected to get insurance when costs are driven down:
Of course, business groups that wish to maintain the status-quo so they do not have to make any sacrifices for the good of our nation quickly rose up against it:
I guess when you profit hansomely from a failed system it does not seem that bad. Unfortunately the huge majority of Americans do not have the luxury.
Of course, in the "House of Lords" that has become the U.S. Senate, these ideas have an uncertain fate:
Despite this House leaders and President Obama were encouraged by the progress:
I personally like a lot of the provisions in this bill. With the Bush tax cuts the very wealthy have been given a free ride for the last decade or so. It is time that they were expected to sacrifice. Also, businesses that do not offer benefits and pay low wages have been instrumental in causing the crisis and it is time that they took some responsibility in solving these problems.
I also think that before any mandate is pushed on the American people that we should have a public option to choose for those who private insurers have refused to cover at reasonable price. Without a public option there should be no mandate. However, once a public option is achieved and subsidies are provided to help the poorest Americans, I like that this bill calls for all Americans to be responsible and cover themselves.
If this bill is passed in it's current form, which may be highly unlikely I think it will be a serious attempt at real reform. I could support this House version and hope the Senate will follow the lead of the House.
Thoughts anyone??
Pride
Democrats.com use the tag "proud to be a Democrat."
The Democrat Party has betrayed us on health care.
The Democrat Party has betrayed us on ending our perpetual state of warfare.
The Democrat Party has betrayed us by turning over vast amounts of our taxpayer money to the very criminals that created the economic crisis.
The Democrat Party has betrayed us by doing nothing to help those who have had their homes repossessed.
Just what is there to be proud of?
I voted for Obama because I had no choice. I'm proud, not because he's a Democrat, but because at last he's a person of color.
It's "DemocratIC Party"
People are "Democrats" or "Republicans" or "Independents" or "Greens" or "Libertarians" or "Populists" or "Socialists" or something else.
Kindly call the Party by our name: The "Democratic Party."
Please don't tell me that you are so blind to principle that you voted on the basis of color.
Blue HOG Democrats
Democrats have their neo cons too!
Tom Carper Senator from Delaware is a neo con. He has $3.8 million in his campaign coffers, from banking, credit card companies, insurance and big pharma. He is against the public option as he said on talk radio the other morning, "I am worried the american people will pay more taxes and thats a deal breaker". I called in and told him, "Senator you have done absolutely nothing for the citizens of Del. We lost GM, Chrysler and Avon over the health care issue. We are now going to "gambling and casinos" to be revenue enhancers. If you do not support single payer and a real public option, you will be challenged in the next election. All of a sudden, Carper had a meeting and left the show. We will have lots to debate this fool with when he gets home over recess. He is a militarist, a war monger and a democrat in name only....his record has proven him to be a republican (small d).