After A Tumultuous Friday, House Health Care Negotiations Back On Track
If you're following the ins and outs of the health care reform fight on Capitol Hill, Friday was brimming with drama, but was also, seemingly, of little particular consequence. One can only speculate about what was said behind closed doors, but in the end, the trajectory of the day's events is best captured by a chronological reading of its headlines, which began blandly enough with the news that health care negotiations would continue behind closed doors between Blue Dogs and Democratic leaders; followed by puzzling news of a complete breakdown in those negotiations; and rounded out, mercifully, with the news that the warring factions had made peace and that the process would pick up again on Monday or Tuesday.
Unless tensions boil over once again (unlikely, but never impossible) things are basically right back where they were on Friday morning. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will finish marking up its health care package this week, and, depending on a number of issues--timing, progress in the Senate--that bill could come to a vote before the House adjourns for recess at week's end.
Whether that happens, or whether a vote waits until September, Speaker Pelosi continues to sound notes of confidence. "When I take this bill to the floor, it will win," Pelosi said over the weekend. "This will happen."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
The answer is too many people have sick feelings.
July 27, 2009 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
So as I suspected, the "news" of a "breakdown" was nothing but that jackoff Mike Ross bluffing with nothing at all in his hand. Good that the bluff was quickly called.
July 27, 2009 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
around here (DC), this rag is handed out at all the metro stations: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/
talk about jackoffs and bluffing. i mean, i knew it was a wingnut publication, but they've gone off the deep end since, oh, about november 4, 2008. i accidentally grabbed a copy this morning (instead of the washington post's similar "news mcnugget" version handed out at metro) and couldn't handle more than 5 minutes before i had to set it down.
i mean: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obamas-already-lost-the-health-care-argument-51793627.html
July 27, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fred Barnes (Cheerleader-in-Chief for W right 'til the end) is a grade A moron.
July 27, 2009 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
When some military funding is up for a vote the blackmail line is always " American lives are at stake! " and voting against it seen as traitorous and callous. When healthcare funding is up for a vote and AMERICAN LIVES ARE AT STAKE! why oh why do these conservative assholes not take the suffering and death of so many more human beings seriously? What god do they pray to? What drug or insurance corporation do they pray to?
July 27, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
A pay for outcome / value payment system, key to the deficit-neutral, might be capable of bringing all groups together.
Supporters of the agreement say it could save the Medicare System more than $100 billion a year and 'improve' care, that means more than $1trillian over a decade, and virtually needs no other resources including tax on the wealthiest. (Please visit http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=820455&catid=391 for detailed infos).
As much as 30 percent of all health-care spending in the U.S. -some $700 billion a year- may be wasted on tests and treatments that do not improve the health of the recipients,” Thus the remaining $239 billions over a decade do not matter.
Dr. Armadio at Mayo clinic says, "If we got rid of that stuff, we save a third of all that we spend and that is 2.5 trillion dollars on health care. A third of that and that is 700 billion dollars a year. That covers a lot of uninsured people."
1. There is no need for infighting and class conflict.
2. It can satisfy revenue-neutral raised by the Republicans.
3. It is able to resolve the regional disparity.
4. It may bring the private insurers to competition, innovation.
5. The focus on 'outcome' over volume can make the practitioners more accurate and creative based on IT SYSTEM and evidence, while eliminating the additional, unnecessary care that is increasing patients' pains, frustrations, and possible side-effects.
6. The desperate people will get back American dream.
THANK YOU !
July 28, 2009 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink