Health Bill Questions
11/12/09 | 16 comments
editorial

Health Bill Questions


As Senate Democratic leaders struggle to muster the necessary 60 votes to bring their health care reform bill to the floor, three members of Maine’s congressional delegation raised critical questions that could bear on details of the bill and on an eventual final vote. They should not, however, stand in the way of overdue reform.

Both Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe have said they would not vote for the bill as it now stands. They were among the few Republicans who once seemed possibilities to break ranks and vote for it. Among their objections is their opposition to a “public option” or government-run insurance company.

Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud said Monday that he remained concerned about cuts in Medicare and Medicaid but voted to move the process forward: “The work is too important to fail, and I could not in good conscience let the perfect be the enemy of the possible.” That is the difficult balance lawmakers must find — what is possible, if the perfect is unattainable.

The bill approved in the House over the weekend “moves us much closer to a time when no one can be denied health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition, no one can be told you can’t have health care coverage, no one will have to go into personal bankruptcy,” said Rep. Chellie Pingree.

Sen. Collins said she could not support the Senate bill because it would increase insurance costs for many middle-income families and small businesses.

“We should rewrite the whole bill,” she said. “There is considerable unease on both sides of the aisle about the impact of this bill, and as more analysis is done, I believe those concerns will grow.”

She objected that the bill included “billions of dollars in new taxes and fees that will drive up the cost of health insurance premiums,” many of which would take effect before the government started providing insurance subsides to low- and middle-income people.

Some members of both parties complain that neither bill does much to curb the steady 15 percent-a-year rise in total American health cost.

While Maine’s delegation, like many other lawmakers, have been carefully appraising details and changes in the health care reform legislation, the details may not prove decisive from a political point of view. Both Democrats and Republicans know that many Americans want major improvement in the health care system, while others oppose any change, and that either outcome could affect lawmakers’ chances of re-election.

And leaders of both parties know that a failure to deliver could damage President Barack Obama’s prospects for a second term. Republican leaders seem determined to block any Democratic bill regardless of the details.

The Democratic leaders could use a legislative device called budgetary reconciliation, which would require only 51 votes for passage in the Senate instead of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Republicans used the same device to push through the Bush tax cuts.

That would end any chance of bipartisanship, but it is a better option than allowing the reform work to languish.

Not registered? Click here
E-mail this
Print this
Guidelines for posting on bangordailynews.com

Bangordailynews.com is pleased to offer a forum for readers to react to our stories, discuss them and provide additional information. We are reluctant to delete comments, but do reserve that right for those who abuse our forum. For more on using this site, please see our terms of service.

The primary rule here is pretty simple: Treat others with the same respect you'd want for yourself. What does that mean specifically? Here are some guidelines (see more):

Comments
16 comments on this item
On 11/11/09 at 6:12 PM, shockin wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

a better option?? im sure that whomever wrote this editorial did not read the bill. i guess they're trusting that what ever the dems put in is right. what a joke

Report abuse
On 11/11/09 at 8:00 PM, LilMikey wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The whole process is a joke. A bill with most of the house stuff omitted will get passed just to get it passed so they can get away from the 60 vote required in the senate. Next the conference committee will stick in all the stuff they want back in..send it out with all the garbage back in and then it will only require 51 votes in the senate to pass. Boy if this, cap and trade..etc...doesn't wake this country up to what happens when one party can completey dominate with no rebuttal or way to stop it...then we get what we deserve. Only problem is, it then becomes too late, the damage is done.

Report abuse
On 11/11/09 at 8:40 PM, mallory wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Any chance that the democrats will kill themselves? Socialism ain't happen yet.

Report abuse
On 11/11/09 at 10:12 PM, EJParsons wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What ever happened to tort reform? What ever happened to taking down the state by state barriers? What ever happened to tri-level insurance policies to expand coverage options? Oops! I forgot. Those were Republican suggestions and they don't allow a complete government takeover. And they cost way less than this multi-trillion dollar fiasco is going to cost. How stupid of me to think this Dem controlled Congress would consider sane solutions.

Report abuse
On 11/12/09 at 5:49 AM, Ladyslipper wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Michaud defending his vote in house says....."The work is too important to fail, and I could not in good conscience let the perfect be the enemy of the possible.” .....translated it means he caved to union, Obama , and Pelosi pressure........

.

the only thing bi-parisan about the house bill was the vote AGAINST it.

Report abuse
On 11/12/09 at 10:01 AM, hankwilliams wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Sooner or later we will get single-payer health care in this country in spite of the insurance companies and the politicians in their pockets. The majority that wants single-payer is not yet a critical mass, but it is getting there. One of the many reasons the Republicans were trounced in the 2008 elections was that their approach to health care is to keep rewarding the insurance companies at the root of the problem: unaffordable and non-comprehensive health coverage for average Americans.

Report abuse
On 11/12/09 at 1:26 PM, Yesman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"... many Americans want major improvement in the health care system, while others oppose any change." Nice try, BDN. You and your fellow leftists are setting up a straw man argument. Despite what we hear from the Dems, conservatives do not oppose any change, in fact, they have offered some very sensible solutions, not that you would ever see them in print in the BDN.

Facts are stubborn things: The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Most (52%) remain opposed. Only 25% Strongly Support the plan while 42% are Strongly Opposed.

Rich Lowry, National Review editor, sums it up as well as anyone:" If Obamacare is so necessary and wise, there’s no true need to hurry. If it fails to pass the Senate, Democrats should campaign on it around the country. They should keep talking of its wonders, and build up public support for it, turning around the polls. They should enhance their majority in the House and the Senate, bringing new Obamacare Democrats to Washington. That’s how you build toward passing historic legislation in a system such as ours naturally resistant to large-scale change. Democrats don’t want to do that because, in their heart of hearts, they know they can’t do that. They want to jam it through instead. Here’s hoping the Senate does its proper work and — slowly, frustratingly — assigns the health-care bill to the grave"

Congress: please slow down and get the American people on board. Please DO NOT cram this down our throats, no matters how much praise you will receive from your buddies in the press.

I agree with Sen. Collins (and she agrees with me). I have been contacting Sen. Snowe's and Sen. Collins' offices for months urging them to scrap this piece of junk and start over. There is hope yet that this may happen, esp. if Dems value their majority status.

Report abuse
On 11/12/09 at 1:31 PM, Yesman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Consider this: even if it passes, any bill that forces Americans to purchase health insurance under risk of fines and/or jail will no doubt be ruled unconstitutional. Get it right rather than right now.

Report abuse
On 11/12/09 at 1:35 PM, Yesman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

By the way, the Bush tax cuts saved our economy after 9-11. This health care bill will wreck ours, with no clause of expiring in eight years. Otherwise, the comparison holds up.

Report abuse
On 11/12/09 at 5:18 PM, beardguy45 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's at least heartening to know that Senator Collins and Senator Snowe are not backing the so-called public option. Dirigo is a miserable failure, no reason to make it a national disaster.

Report abuse
On 11/12/09 at 5:44 PM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Michaud quote>>“The work is too important to fail, and I could not in good conscience let the perfect be the enemy of the possible.” That is the difficult balance lawmakers must find — what is possible, if the perfect is unattainable"

When we wanted to go to the Moon

A least someone must have said it is attainible

Obama and Snowe for just a few are on record as saying a Single Payer would be best for the US people

Why they are not standing up and screaming this could only mean one thing to me

The are so friggin afraid of Special Interest that the are either in bed w / them or afraid they will not get re-elected

both reasons are BS PERIOD

second, third, 4th best should not be an option Period

We do not want PUrrFect We Want Just the Best you freakin polictal YaHOooosss!!!

Better than I wanted to Call them all.

Report abuse
On 11/13/09 at 5:16 AM, borninbelfast wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Please scrap this plan! Then work on HEALTH CARE, not health insurance.

Report abuse
On 11/13/09 at 9:47 AM, Yesman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The pushback against this abomination of a bill is not driven by special interests; it is driven by personal interests. The American people know a bum deal when we see one, and we are looking at one right now.

ElectraGlide, for all your blather about special interests, why is it that you never seem to mention the trial lawyers assoc, AARP, ACORN, and the AMA? Or are these lobbyists considered extra-special interests because they support this socialized health care insurance plan?

BTW: insulting your opposition does not advance your argument; rather, it simply serves to alienate people.

I am thrilled to see Sen. Collins on record as recommending scrapping this plan. That is exactly the kind of independent thinking and action we need to set the ship of state back into the proper direction.

Report abuse
On 11/13/09 at 4:58 PM, SteveH wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Mike Michaud's support was bought and paid for. The same day Mike voted for the bill one of his pet projects was funded by the President. This how it works. It is not about doing what is right, it is about winning and losing and getting what you can get. That is not the way to reform 17% of the economy.

Report abuse
On 11/13/09 at 7:36 PM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yesman~~~I know ya have a hard time w / my stuff

What do u think I mean when I say Special Interest

That means like ((ALL)) dumbo

Just like All means Equality for ((ALL))

And how dare u say insulting my opposition does not help my cause

Talk about calling the Kettle Black

So take that>>slap>slap<

Youngster or is it Gangster

You have selective Goodness that is not Good for You

Or for ALL of the ole USofA. Period !!!!!!

Report abuse
On 11/13/09 at 7:39 PM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I know more about the Healthcare System than you know about just about anything.

Yes On 1<

Report abuse
You must be logged in to post a comment. click here to log in.

Powered by: Creative Circle Advertising Solutions, Inc.