Kucinich on the latest health care reform bill
Pepe Silvia
Posts: 3,758
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index. ... _bill.html
Dennis Kucinich: Latest health care reform bill leaves Americans vulnerable to insurance companies
Dennis Kucinich / U.S. Representative
President Barack Obama is in northern Ohio on Monday to campaign for his health care plan, and I will be here to welcome him. I have met with the president three times to discuss how we can work together to address the serious deficiencies in our health care system. Even at this late date, I am hopeful that the White House will be able to reinstate key reforms that passed the Education and Labor Committee on which I serve.
Unfortunately, the president's plan, as it currently stands, leaves patients financially vulnerable to insurance companies. It requires all Americans to buy private health insurance policies, while failing to ensure those policies do what they are supposed to do -- protect people from financial catastrophe caused by injury or illness.
Comprehensive health insurance is a matter of economic security. While many Americans don't have health insurance at all, many more Americans have health insurance that doesn't pay for care when they get sick or injured. When that happens, illness can lead to economic ruin. Half the personal bankruptcies in America occur because health insurance companies refuse to pay medical bills.
Unfortunately, if the president's plan becomes law without substantive change, you would still be only a major illness or injury away from personal bankruptcy, except the federal government will have required you to buy a private health insurance policy.
Over the years, I have held many town hall meetings in the 10th District on health care. I am the co-author of H.R. 676, a bill that would improve Medicare and extend its coverage to those under age 65.
This past year, as reform legislation began to take shape, I led a group of members of Congress to create a set of policies that clarified elements of a suitable compromise. I joined a majority of the 77 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who promised to oppose any legislation that did not include a public option.
When a bill was considered in the Committee on Education and Labor last summer, I worked hard to improve it. I won five separate amendments, each of which improved the bill significantly. A key improvement was my amendment to allow states to implement a single-payer plan, the only model proven to control costs while covering everyone.
The amendment waived the application of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act for any state that signs into law a single-payer health care plan. My budget-neutral amendment was passed by a bipartisan vote of 27-19. The promise of single-payer health care reform in the states constituted a safety net, if the underlying bill otherwise failed to control costs.
I voted for this version of the health care bill, and it passed in committee. It was a compromise, but a reasonable one. However, the version of the bill that reached the House floor was considerably watered down. It had a severely weakened public option and the employee-retirement waiver had been stripped. It no longer constituted an incremental step forward that would provide relief to my constituents, so I could not support it. The version of the bill that passed the Senate was even worse.
Absent a strong public option or legal protection for states that wish to pursue single payer, the bill that the president is proposing is a step in the wrong direction. Even with the few modest improvements in the bill, the insurance companies will still have dozens of loopholes to deny care and continue to find ways to leave Americans with the unpayable bill.
Kucinich, a Democrat, represents Ohio Congressional District 10.
Dennis Kucinich: Latest health care reform bill leaves Americans vulnerable to insurance companies
Dennis Kucinich / U.S. Representative
President Barack Obama is in northern Ohio on Monday to campaign for his health care plan, and I will be here to welcome him. I have met with the president three times to discuss how we can work together to address the serious deficiencies in our health care system. Even at this late date, I am hopeful that the White House will be able to reinstate key reforms that passed the Education and Labor Committee on which I serve.
Unfortunately, the president's plan, as it currently stands, leaves patients financially vulnerable to insurance companies. It requires all Americans to buy private health insurance policies, while failing to ensure those policies do what they are supposed to do -- protect people from financial catastrophe caused by injury or illness.
Comprehensive health insurance is a matter of economic security. While many Americans don't have health insurance at all, many more Americans have health insurance that doesn't pay for care when they get sick or injured. When that happens, illness can lead to economic ruin. Half the personal bankruptcies in America occur because health insurance companies refuse to pay medical bills.
Unfortunately, if the president's plan becomes law without substantive change, you would still be only a major illness or injury away from personal bankruptcy, except the federal government will have required you to buy a private health insurance policy.
Over the years, I have held many town hall meetings in the 10th District on health care. I am the co-author of H.R. 676, a bill that would improve Medicare and extend its coverage to those under age 65.
This past year, as reform legislation began to take shape, I led a group of members of Congress to create a set of policies that clarified elements of a suitable compromise. I joined a majority of the 77 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who promised to oppose any legislation that did not include a public option.
When a bill was considered in the Committee on Education and Labor last summer, I worked hard to improve it. I won five separate amendments, each of which improved the bill significantly. A key improvement was my amendment to allow states to implement a single-payer plan, the only model proven to control costs while covering everyone.
The amendment waived the application of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act for any state that signs into law a single-payer health care plan. My budget-neutral amendment was passed by a bipartisan vote of 27-19. The promise of single-payer health care reform in the states constituted a safety net, if the underlying bill otherwise failed to control costs.
I voted for this version of the health care bill, and it passed in committee. It was a compromise, but a reasonable one. However, the version of the bill that reached the House floor was considerably watered down. It had a severely weakened public option and the employee-retirement waiver had been stripped. It no longer constituted an incremental step forward that would provide relief to my constituents, so I could not support it. The version of the bill that passed the Senate was even worse.
Absent a strong public option or legal protection for states that wish to pursue single payer, the bill that the president is proposing is a step in the wrong direction. Even with the few modest improvements in the bill, the insurance companies will still have dozens of loopholes to deny care and continue to find ways to leave Americans with the unpayable bill.
Kucinich, a Democrat, represents Ohio Congressional District 10.
don't compete; coexist
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
Besides, Kucinich hasn't exactly been truthful with the facts, either.
I get your point about Kucinich. That he is not helping the situation by blocking this bill with the GOP. And that things like the single payer and other reforms can be added later. But I can't fault Kucinich for being disappointed with this bill. I really believe that single payer(universal health care) could have been included. And I feel that a much bigger percentage of the public would be rallying behind this bill had it been included.
Imagine we had 61 congressmen that thought like Kucinich. We might just be able to stop these crazy wars and start spending our money at home.
for your first link i liked the first comment:
There was once a man named George McGovern who was at least as big a pain in the ass as Kucinich is now, and for the same reasons.
When this McGovern fellow retired he had a nickname, "Conscience of the Democratic Party."
as for your second, they seemed to have left out the part where Kucinch wasn't truthful with the facts.....
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
The poison from the poison stream caught up to you ELEVEN years ago and you floated out of here. Sept. 14, 08
A little strong arming gets the job done, wimp.
Basically the health care industry and how it makes money. This is basically what happened to me in my surgery, they found a way to deny coverage. It didn't matter how weak their case of denial was, they were able to turn down coverage. Worse when I had to pay out of pocket when you're self employed, I don't know what people in those working situations are to do.
I gather that's why you DON'T see the Health Care Industry getting or needing a bailout. They can make BIG MONEY.
Peace
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/03/0 ... z0iTVPw7wR
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
reelection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRePQ4Pb ... r_embedded
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
and it hardly a flip flop, which is a stupid term to begin with
since when has it been a negative thing to change your mind or compromise
or to listen to your constituents?
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwiKGjM5tHU
2004
oh yes I remember
but that was still a different situation, it might have been a better argument to say that Kerry flipped the script
it this case a guy thought about his options on an opinion, looked at the situation, talked to people close to him and gave ground for the good of the people
This is outrageous how these morons can act towards other humans over an issue. Next thing you know someone will kill someone else over the issue of health care. The only way these Teabaggers will understand the circumstance of a person stricken with Parkinson is when they're stricken or someone close in their family has come down with the disease.
A sad scene indeed.
peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
But then nothing these idiots do is really surprising.
Only a Teabagger's way of thinking he was asking for it therefore he should be punished and berated, tells a lot about you TBer's.
peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
CLASSIC....*No Peace....No Pussy*
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
yeah so sticking to your principles instead of looking for a compromise to further benefit the country is a bad thing?? this bill can always be strengthened later down the line, and who knows, perhaps that grayson bill for single payor could be included in the bill before the final vote? last i checked it was a sign of a mature, clear thinking mind to constantly re-evaluate your stance on issues, talk to others and create a dialogue and possibly a compromise instead of maintaining the status quo simply because the person you are talking with has a different letter after their name....
and people wonder why the gop lost the presidency and both houses of congress and you wonder why they look like the assholes in the health care debate.....
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
here is the link to their main page...
http://www.targetofopportunity.com/
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Yikes. That whole site is f'd up
I seem to remember an enumerated right to peacably assemble...
.... Oh yeah, the First Amendment.
not unless the circled cleveland a few timeas as obama came to kucinich
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
making a sign that says 'Israel Out Of The Occupied Territories!' makes a person an anti-semite? wow, i see they've really lowered the bar lately.... :roll:
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
Yes indeed it is, I wonder how she came about finding a place like that?
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Bill asks him about his chance of stance and Kucinich explained it well (IMO).