Pelosi calls new health care bill ‘historic moment’
Published: October 29, 2009
WASHINGTON — After months of struggle, House Democrats unveiled sweeping legislation Thursday to extend health care coverage to millions who lack it and create a new option of government-run insurance. A vote is likely next week on the plan patterned closely on President Barack Obama’s own.
Speaking on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress was “on the cusp of delivering on the promise of making affordable, quality health insurance available to every American — and laying the foundation for a brighter future for generations to come.“
Officials said the measure, once fully phased in over several years, would extend coverage to 96 percent of Americans. Its principal mechanism is creation of a new government-regulated insurance “exchange” where private companies could sell policies in competition with the government. Federal subsidies would be available to millions of lower-income individuals and families to help them afford the policies.
The ceremony marked a pivotal moment in Democrats’ yearlong attempt to answer Obama’s call for legislation to remake the nation’s health care system by extending insurance, ending industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, and slowing the growth of medical spending nationwide.
Democrats issued a statement saying their measure “lowers costs for every patient” and would not add to federal deficits. They put the cost of coverage at under $900 billion over 10 years, a total that evidently didn’t include additional spending.
Pelosi was flanked by rank-and-file Democrats as she made her remarks.
Across the Capitol, Senate Democrats, too, are hoping to pass legislation by year’s end. Legislation outlined by Majority Leader Harry Reid earlier this week would include an option for a government-run plan, although states could drop out if they wished, a provision not in the House measure.
With Republicans expected to oppose the measure unanimously, Pelosi and her lieutenants worked for weeks to resolve differences within the Democratic rank and file.
The toughest of them covered the terms under which the government insurance option would function. Liberals generally wanted the government to dictate the rates to be paid to doctors, hospitals and other health care providers, with the fee levels linked to Medicare.
Moderates, fearing the impact on their local hospitals, held out for negotiated rates between the government and private insurers — and won.
Not all liberals were ready to sign on. Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, was noncommittal about whether progressives would accept the negotiated rates. “This is not walkaway time and it is not acceptance time,“ she said.
Democrats control 256 seats in the House, are overwhelmingly favored to win one special election next week and are competitive for another. As a result, they can afford 30 defections or more on the legislation and still prevail.
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Reader Reactions
JB - You have crossed the line in posting!
PELOSI A HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE
(MrCobray) the downside of the Pelosi sex-offender
strip tease is that after watching that they would become
gay if they aren’t already—but then that’s okay with
most liberal democrats—and wardens.
I repeat—there will be reprisals in the courts over the
health care fiasco—It is not over when they pass the bill.
Businesses and individuals will reject it outright.
The major insurance companies are in for a nightmare
as well as their customers. Yes, reform is needed. Yes,
the big players like Athem have risen their rates in a
most egregious way and look for any opportunity
to increase rates or not cover something—even for healthy
people. But the Pelosi-Obama mission is a Halloween nightmare
and is bound to screw up the system so bad—no Democrat
will be taken seriously after 2012. The liberal agenda
of big government is being revealed for what it is: a lost
and stupid cause. The Democrats can pretty much hang it up—Obama in
his second year will be revealed for the socialist he
truly is—warts and all and all of those people who rioted on
Broad St. the night of his election—will be rioting in the
streets for their liberties. The joke is on them…
On behalf of all the older grey haired mature women with bags and sags like me..
If a man gets grey hair, he is called distinguished. A woman is called old.
If a man gets a few wrinkles on his face, they are called character. A woman is called a hag.
The list of comparisons are endless. Thank goodness I’m still here. Just older and wiser than dirt, which is a good thing.
A lobotomy would be a cheaper and less offensive option for convicted sex offenders. No one would want the poor devils to die of fright after viewing Miss Nancy or Barney Frank.
MrCobray,
You wouldn’t say that if you saw Nancy’s yearbook photo. She was HOT! Probably wouldn’t have given you the time of day.
Historic???, yeah it will be recorded as one of the direct hits that leads to the eventual sinking of the ship Pelosi. As the crowds cheer!!!
The CBO estimates Pelosi’s socialized health care bill will cost $1,055,000,000.
The initial estimate for govmint run Medicare was 9x lower than the actual cost.
So based on the historical and predictable factors we can expect this Republic killer of a bill to cost taxpayers $9,495,000,000.
Can China afford this?
Dick Tracy… you are so totally correct. They cannot even fix the road properly with the potholes, and you expect good healthcare. IN addition, as a Veteran the Veteran Hospital is a joke for our vets. Hours to see a doctor and months to have something done if you need it to be taken care of.
In addition, Medicade is a joke and is losing money including the Post Office and the Amtrack Train. The Pelosie Care is nothing short of one step closer to Gov’t Socialism in this country. If the Private Insurance are going to pay for this so call healthcare, than you know that they will raise the rates to offset the difference. Once their policies become unaffordable…. people will drop private insurance and now you will only have Obama Care….
Look at Canada and Great Britian. If you think Obama Care will solve all of your Health Problems, than I suggest that you talk with the people for Canada and Great Britian. If you do not believe them than watch the movie, “1984”. Maybe that will be an eye opener to you, as this is what and where it is heading with Big Government.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS AN
AMERICAN EMBARRASSMENT
While you all are arguing amongst yourselves let
me just get in that the health care actions of the
Democrats will go down in history as one of the most
mindless moves Congress ever made. Nancy Pelosi will
be seen as a sad manic woman.
One of my predictions is that great numbers
of Citizens simply won’t comply—starting
with some businesses and followed by
the general public. Some may go to jail
for a while—but it will be a lawyers’ gold mine
and the Supreme Court will be wrangling at some of
these issues for a while.
The US government can no more
manage health care than it can the
graft of ACORN—or the H1N1 flu shot.
The Democratic Party is an insult to the USA
for its more intelligent members not having the
organs to stand up to the socialists and feckless
Czars now aping their way about the White House.
Good Riddance when they are thrown out of office
and the memory of their careless spree part of
our country’s dust bin of mistakes, like slavery,
prohibition,Ted Kennedy and the Vietnam War.
This is not a kinder and gentler world!!!
Anytime Grizzman, as I look forward to a spirited debate with you anytime. The funny thing in what you said, as I remember a friend who is about as far to the left as you can go… tell me this… “Hey, it always turn around every 14 years… it is our turn now and in 12 to 14 years, I can start griping”. I had to laugh as she was right.
I have a feeling if we all meet, we would probably be more kinder and gentler to each other in what we write. Have a wonderful weekend and by the way… thank you on the word “Dissent”. lol
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