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Health Care bill passed!
Health care reform bill passed! Look up HR 3590 on Opencongress for the details. Haven't read much about it yet so I'm not sure how pleased/pissed off to be. Gotta be better than what we have now though, even if it is far from perfect.
Something is better than nothing I guess....I haven't been able to get insurance for the past few years because of a pre-existing condition and I believe the bill will make sure that's not an obstacle anymore so I'm thrilled.
War is a rich man's terrorism, Terrorism is a poor man's war
The US is officially socialist now! Or at least that's what the teabaggers told me. I'm sure everyone here will be pleased at that news.
But really, some convoluted plan that involves forcing private insurance companies to provide cheap insurance isn't socialism. And even going by a "it's a reform it should help" standard, does it really? If you can't afford insurance, you're not going to get it, just like before.
Speaking of teabaggers, some of them just told me that now Obama is going to try to take away everyone's guns because the US is communist now. I showed them the fourth point of the Demands of the Communist Party in Germany.
bourgeois press report
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Congress clears historic health care bill
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[/FONT] [/FONT][FONT=Arial Narrow]March 21, 2010 7:12:38 PM By DAVID ESPO [/FONT]
Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.
Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote. Republicans were unanimous in opposition, joined by 34 dissident Democrats.
Obama watched the vote in the White House's Roosevelt Room with Vice President Joe Biden and about 40 staff aides. When the long sought 216th vote came in -- the magic number needed for passage -- the room burst into applause and hugs. An exultant president exchanged a high-five with his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.
A second, smaller measure -- making changes in the first -- was lined up for passage later in the evening. It would then go to the Senate, where Democratic leaders said they had the votes to pass it.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the legislation awaiting the president's approval would extend coverage to 32 million Americans who lack it, ban insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade. If realized, the expansion of coverage would include 95 percent of all eligible individuals under age 65.
For the first time, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused. Much of the money in the bill would be devoted to subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums.
Far beyond the political ramifications -- a concern the president repeatedly insisted he paid no mind -- were the sweeping changes the bill held in store for millions of individuals, the insurance companies that would come under tougher control and the health care providers, many of whom would face higher taxes.
Crowds of protesters outside the Capitol shouted "just vote no" in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable taking place inside a House packed with lawmakers and ringed with spectators in the galleries above.
Across hours of debate, House Democrats predicted the larger of the two bills, costing $940 billion over a decade, would rank with other great social legislation of recent decades.
"We will be joining those who established Social Security, Medicare and now, tonight, health care for all Americans, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, partner to Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in the grueling campaign to pass the legislation.
Far beyond the political ramifications -- a concern the president repeatedly insisted he paid no mind -- were the sweeping changes the bill held in store for millions of individuals, the insurance companies that would come under tougher control and the health care providers, many of whom would face higher taxes.
For the first time, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused. Much of the money in the bill would be devoted to subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums.
The measure would also usher in a significant expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Coverage would be required for incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, $29,327 a year for a family of four. Childless adults would be covered for the first time, starting in 2014.
The insurance industry, which spent millions on advertising trying to block the bill, would come under new federal regulation. They would be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies, from denying coverage to children because of pre-existing conditions and from canceling policies when a policyholder becomes ill.
Parents would be able to keep children up to age 26 on their family insurance plans, three years longer than is now the case.
A new high-risk pool would offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems until 2014, when the coverage expansion would go into high gear.
Passage of a central health care bill already cleared by the Senate would send it to Obama for his signature as early as Monday. That still would leave one more step, a companion package of changes still needing Senate approval.
After more than a year of political combat -- certain to persist into the fall election campaign for control of Congress -- Democrats piled superlative upon superlative across several hours of House debate.
Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York read a message President Franklin Roosevelt sent Congress in 1939 urging lawmakers to address the needs of those without health care, and said Democrat Harry Truman and Republican Richard Nixon had also sought to broaden insurance coverage.
Republicans attacked the bill without let-up, warning it would harm the economy while mandating a government takeover of the health care system.
"The American people know you can't reduce health care costs by spending $1 trillion or raising taxes by more than one-half trillion dollars. The American people know that you cannot cut Medicare by over one-half trillion dollars without hurting seniors," said Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich.
"And, the American people know that you can't create an entirely new government entitlement program without exploding spending and the deficit."
Obama has said often that presidents of both parties have tried without success to achieve national health insurance, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt early in the 20th century.
The 44th president's quest to succeed where others have failed seemed at a dead end two months ago, when Republicans won a special election for a Massachusetts Senate seat, and with it, the votes to prevent a final vote.
But the White House, Pelosi and Reid soon came up with a rescue plan that required the House to approve the Senate-passed measure despite opposition to many of its provisions, then have both houses pass a fix-it measure incorporating numerous changes.
To pay for the changes, the legislation includes more than $400 billion in higher taxes over a decade, roughly half of it from a new Medicare payroll tax on individuals with incomes over $200,000 and couples over $250,000.
A new excise tax on high-cost insurance policies was significantly scaled back in deference to complaints from organized labor.
In addition, the bills cut more than $500 billion from planned payments to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and other providers that treat Medicare patients. An estimated $200 billion would reduce planned subsidies to insurance companies that offer a private alternative to traditional Medicare.
The insurance industry warned that seniors would face sharply higher premiums as a result, and the Congressional Budget Office said many would return to traditional Medicare as a result.
The subsidies are higher than those for seniors on traditional Medicare, a difference that critics complain is wasteful, but insurance industry officials argue goes into expanded benefits.
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Yeah. The anti-rescission stuff in the bill is worth it alone IMO.
I'm seriously digging the frothing at the mouth replies in the comments sections of the newspapers. *makes some popcorn*
And now people will stop pushing for reform and we'll have to wait even longer for single payer than if the bill didn't pass.
This is a sorry excuse for a bill. 95% of Americans under 65 will be covered. What about the other 5%? What about the fact that health insurance companies still have the right to put a "cap" on annual payouts in this bill? That one thing should have at least been dealt with. If I have to pay the insurance companies I should be absolutely insured that if I need the money they will have to pay me. There's a limit to how low they can set the cap but plenty of cancer patients will still wind up bankrupt.
But what do you expect from bourgeois liberal capitalists.
Just wait the Republicans will widdle away the regulations on the health insurance industry when they get into office but they won't repeal mandatory coverage so we'll all be stuck having to pay money for substandard health insurance.
I'm not sure how close this is to the socialised healthcare there is in... pretty much every country in Europe (even the UK! America really is backwards!) but I think you should support it. Even in a capitalist system, medicine which is free at the point of use is an aspect of socialism, so while keeping in mind what could be (better medicine free at the point of use, well-paid nurses and cleaners, better food, free drugs), give more precedence to how it could be worse (the old system, being turfed out of your bed, HMO predation).
Vive le Birkenhead
Vive le Revolution
So whats with teabaggers? Healthcare works fine in Canada and Europe but they still insist that it will ruin the country, up to their necks in taxes or even claim they are Socialist, England=Socialist?
America is just the country that shows how all the written guarantees in the world for freedom are no protection against tyranny and oppression of the worst kind. There the politician has come to be looked upon as the very scum of society. - Peter Kropotkin
This is not a single-payer system of healthcare. It never was intended to be such. Neither is it like the kind we have in most of Europe where the government provides a plan along side other private options.
The Democrats had originally envisioned a concept where private insurers would be regulated, and would compete with one another as well as a "public" option for others to go into.
Then the drama started, and through various acts, the bill ended up as a sorry ass attempt at "regulating" the industry, and requiring all Americans to buy into an insurance plan. The public option was struck out all together.
This is a situation they have in Massachusetts, at least the bit where everyone has to buy into insurance that they're assured is "affordable".
The bill is a sorry mess. None of us should be supporting it.
They just parrot shit they hear from Limbaugh or Beck. I've tried hashing out things with a few of them, and they literally will not accept documented facts that contradict their opinion, they just respond with another talking point.So whats with teabaggers? Healthcare works fine in Canada and Europe but they still insist that it will ruin the country, up to their necks in taxes or even claim they are Socialist, England=Socialist?
I'm so confused. So what the hell does this mean for me? I will get a letter in the mail asked to pick a healthcare plan? What If I can't afford one?
we need more revolutions and less "isms"
Sounds like there's a refundable tax credit if you make under a couple times the poverty line to pay for any dues beyond a certain amount. Any penalties (which won't start going into effect for years) also cannot exceed the cost of the most basic health care plan.
From the detailed summary on Opencongress.
I do not see the gain of this so much as economical, though that is important, as political.
Currently, while it may be unpleasant to admit, the power structure of the world's most powerful nation is necessarily divided between social democratic and fascistic wings. The Democrats represent the Social Democratic element, the Republicans as fascistic.
That is because the way the US system is structured naturally leads to two-party rule. Until we change fundamental aspects of the system to allow third parties, or unless we take over the DNC, we need to realize that the Democrats currently serve as our only shield against the fascists. It is a fact about as unpleasant as drinking cough syrup.
And just to deny anyone from the onset from accusing, I am not a Reformist. I believe it would be good to overthrow and defeat capitalist completely, hopefully without much violence. But modern day warfare is so dominated by Constant Capital over Variable that we must focus on political maneuvers over straight fights. Especially now with class consciousness so low, we are on the extreme defensive.
There are a few things in the bill that I don't mind being law as opposed to not being so. However there is really nothing to be excited about here, nothing in regards to progress towards socialism.
The debate was interesting as it yet again showed just how divorced from reality republican talking points can be, and just how inept the democrats are at pointing the flaws in such absurd republican arguments. The democrats succeeded at making a bill that by American standards was center-left become completely centrist.
Everything above is open to criticism. It's the only way to learn.
Keep in mind right now the United States is the primary target for fascists. The US has the most powerful army in the world, if any nation can set the world back to an earlier, reactionary era it is the US. The battle for this nation is important.
This bill still doesn't cover undocumented workers, correct?
If so, then this bill does fuck all for me.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS
According to what I'm reading, they have a "plan" to subsidize for those who can't afford it. That is, making below $44,000 as an individual, or up to $88,000 with a family of 4.
They also claim that insurance costs in general will be brought under control.
I'm not sure how they will enforce this to have people buy insurance, but it will probably be required for procedures in the hospital outside of emergency room visits.
But again let me emphasize, this is not "reform" or anything like what they have in the rest of the world. It's working in favor of the status quo.
With all the noise Republicans and Blue Dogs made over it, as well as Democratic politicians who lived in areas where their voters demanded angrily that it shouldn't, I believe it is not in there. Same goes for abortions.
Like I said before, this is not reform. It's a joke.
And people will still call this "socialism". It works in favor of the capitalist, and a convenient smear campaign for them too.
The Democrats have no spine. Worse then that they have little to no internal party discussions. They are liberal/moralistic bourgeoisie dominated. Most do not recognize the existence of class war, even the Union leaders. It is a major weakness. It is far from an ideal situation but as of now keeping the Christian Right and hardcore corporatists from having absolute power over Nukes is the best we can hope for.
From what I've heard the Tea Party line is that this bill is meant to force private insurance companies to go under by forcing them to insure people that aren't profitable. And then, once the private insurers are gone, Obama can implement... SOCIALISM! Dun dun dun... Or communism, or fascism, or something. Same thing, right?
Well I sure as hell don't make 44K a year. I'm unemployed and work as a temp 2 days a week if I'm lucky. I hope this is good news to my father who had a heart attack 2 years ago and had to go some procedures and the grocery store he worked for put him as part time so that they dont have to cover his hospital bills. =/
we need more revolutions and less "isms"
