"Keep moving toward the finish line..." on health care reform
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 22:19 That’s what Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid said and he’s spot on regarding the repeated attempts by Ben Nelson to insert highly restrictive abortion language into what appears to be an emerging health care reform bill that just might - might - make sense after all.
Reid’s right. This isn’t an abortion bill, and it would be criminal to derail health care reform over this issue.
Meanwhile, and I hope I’m not speaking too soon, it seems like the Senate is trudging ahead - nipping and tucking - toward a real bill.
It’s not going to please all, and that probably includes me. However, extending Medicare to people as young as 55 is a huge step in the right direction. It ought to be extended to anybody that wants it.
Additionally, there just might be a package of private plans made available that is identical to what federal workers and members of Congress have had access to all along. Another huge step forward.
Reid says that the ‘public option’ isn’t dead. I’m not sure I believe that. It’ll end up as a step-child on the bill, enacted by a ‘trigger’ … which essentially means never.
My gut tells me that once Americans see that the extension of Medicare isn’t going to bring the country to ruin, it will be extended further until it covers everybody. This would make some sense as an incremental process toward what would utimately be ‘universal coverage’.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed.
Reader Comments (2)
When (I said when, not if) health care reform is approved and passed as law, I agree it may not be what was originally intended. But hell, it's a start.
I really do hope that, if this does happen without any restrictions on insurance firms, they don't get off scot free. I hope separate legislation comes around to limit them. Because the way it stands now, health care insurance will go up another $1,000.00 a year starting next year. THEY already have stated this! They actually believe they are untouchable.
What amazes me is the incredible efforts the Republicans are doing to stonewall, deflect, de-rail, FUBAR, obstruct, and anything short of pee'ing on health care reform in the Senate. Senator Reid blasts them for being on the wrong side of history and waiting too long, but what do they focus on? They focus on the analogy part of slavery and that idiot Michael Steele wants an apology. Yeah, right, Michael. Senator Reid will get right on that. Anyways, of course they don't focus on the meaning of what he said. And it really, really pisses me off these attempts to slam Senator Reid are being thrown out there left and right. It's all a stupid sideshow. Republicans are masters of fearmongering politics now.
I do agree with the strategy Senator Reid is pursuing though. After so many attempts to extend a hand towards the Republicans, and having it constantly slapped away and spit on, he woke up and is treating them like red headed step children, particularly in regards to health reform. Perhaps instead of reach out to them, it would produce better results if you slap them in the head once in awhile. Then and only then they may start to make sense and perhaps change their mind. But I doubt it.
Republicans all act like this is something totally unwanted, something being shoved down their throats. Well, all I gotta say is this. Open up your mouths, say ahhhh. Because here it comes, whether you want it or not, damnit.....
See this post at FDL for the lowdown on the Medicare "buy-in." There is no plan to open it to all 55+ people, only a few.
I am not encouraged at all. It wasn't the Republicans who did this. It was Democrats. As I said in my post last night, it's all on them.