TPMDC
Lieberman 'Increasingly Troubled' About Medicare Buy-In
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
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Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) tells Politico that he's not totally on board with a proposal to expand Medicare.
"I am increasingly troubled about the proposal," Lieberman said. "I am worried about what impact it will have on the Medicare program's fiscal viability and also what effect it will have on the premiums paid by people benefiting from Medicare now and whether the whole thing is viable. If you separate it from Medicare, it will be an extremely expensive program."
Lieberman had remained neutral on the buy-in proposal since it was brought up Tuesday night, saying he would wait to make a decision until he saw legislative language and a score from the Congressional Budget Office.
If Lieberman joins Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in opposing the buy-in, it becomes much less likely that part of the proposal will survive.
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Progressive Party
December 10, 2009 4:11 PM
Since Harry is out of town this weekend at a fundraiser for himself in New Orleans and there will be no health care work done in the senate, I guess old fucking Joe will just continue to do his best to keep fucking w/ everyone's HRC.
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Nicnack74
December 10, 2009 4:13 PM
How is it fiscally unsound if there is a buy in? You are actually offsetting some of the costs by pouring money into the system. That makes no sense. These are people who are taxing the system anyway by going without health insurance and declaring banruptcy when they go to an emergency room for urgent care. He's just a dick.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
December 10, 2009 4:26 PM in reply to Nicnack74
Makes about as much sense as the seven successive reasons he came up with to oppose the public option.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_12/021311.php
He's just transparently making up a lie to cover for the fact that he's now heard from his masters in the insurance companies and they're against it.
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masanf
December 10, 2009 9:06 PM in reply to Nicnack74
If you honestly think $600 a month (a politically untenable amount) is going to offset the amount paid out every month, for the sickest portion of the population, I have a unicorn farm tended by leprechauns in the Everglades for sale that can be reached by the Brooklyn Bridge, which I also have for sale. Furthermore, buy ins do nothing to address the problem of the ridiculously low Medicare reimbursement rates that already are causing a growing number of doctors to stop seeing new Medicare patients.
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Walter Mitty
December 10, 2009 4:15 PM
When will the Democrats wake up and realize Lieberscum will be against anything they put forth. He's obviously in cahoots with McConnell and Gregg, and all probably laugh privately how Lieberscum keeps getting away with his shenanigans.
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Andreams
December 10, 2009 4:17 PM
I wish he'd be "increasingly troubled" about those of us in that age range who can't afford what insurance costs or don't have access to insurance of any kind. I would gladly pay a higher price for Medicare. Anything under $1,200 per month would be better than what I'm paying now.
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Allsburg
December 10, 2009 4:17 PM
Allsburg "increasingly troubled" by Joe Lieberman.
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masanf
December 10, 2009 9:11 PM in reply to Allsburg
Is that you Bob Dole?
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The Decider
December 10, 2009 4:18 PM
Joe just remained neutral until he had a chance to speak with his wife and me. We will get Joe's back up. Filibuster, Joe! Don't let them pass anything! Don't worry, when Joe gets through the democrat Senate won't be able to pass gas. He is my favorite democrat and the only one who will kiss me!
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virginiacynic
December 10, 2009 4:22 PM
an easy guess that Joe would take this position.
truly, until someone starts to play rough with these people nothing good will happen. Barack and lyndon both gave us new wars but at least Johnson twisted arms for civil rights. obama will do nothing of the sort.
time to use reconciliation,change the filibuster rule (remember it is not constitutionally mandated It is time to go by majority vote . when the republicans are in power then they also can go that way. and finally somebody-some dem senator needs to move to strip joe of his chairmanship. let him become a rep, who cares but the democrats will do nothing what a courage less group.
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CommunityOrganizer
December 10, 2009 4:38 PM in reply to virginiacynic
Obama was elected in November 2008. Afghanistan war started in 2001, Iraq in 2003, both by Bush/Cheney.
Obama campaigned on leaving Iraq and putting more resources into Afghanistan, which he is in process of doing.
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Maritza
December 10, 2009 4:24 PM
I think the CBO will determine whether or not there is a medicare buy-in. If it gets a great score then it will happen. If it doesn't then it won't.
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acf_ma
December 10, 2009 4:27 PM
He's "increasingly troubled"? After his success in blocking one aspect of a public option, he's gleeful and looking for more.
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Michael A
December 10, 2009 4:30 PM
Ok. Now I can say it on this one.
FUCK YOU TRAITOR JOE.
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rick101010
December 10, 2009 4:33 PM
Joe Lieberman- the one-man party of NO.
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Stroszek
December 10, 2009 4:36 PM
If you'd stop posting stories about this douchebag, I bet he'd go away. He feeds on attention and hatred. Cut off the source, TPM. You can do it!
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masanf
December 10, 2009 9:12 PM in reply to Stroszek
Not to rain on the parade, but I doubt Joe Lieberman pays much attention to this site, and I have a distinct feeling others news outlets will probably cover him.
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Progressive Party
December 10, 2009 4:36 PM
Hey Joe..another 123 dead today while you pick your nose and ass!
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ilovebacon
December 10, 2009 4:49 PM
He is insatiable. He will keep sucking the blood out of every bill until there's nothing but the shell left. It is time to cut Lieberman off. Any ideas how this could viably be done?
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Tanjaoui
December 10, 2009 4:52 PM
Hey Joe, we already knew you were increasingly troubled.
Scary thought for the day: this guy would've been a heartbeat away from running our country.
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mans_best_friend
December 10, 2009 5:03 PM
What an insufferable prick.
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Powkat
December 10, 2009 5:29 PM in reply to mans_best_friend
Couldn't have said it better.
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Indie Pro
December 10, 2009 5:03 PM
Reid all ready said more compromise if his latest didn't win enough votes. If the tactic keeps working...
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ilovebacon
December 10, 2009 5:07 PM
could use reconciliation, so why the hell don't they???
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hey norm
December 10, 2009 5:17 PM
increasingly worried? the number of briefcases full of money from the insurance companies must be increasing. just keep doing your master's bidding joe...don't worry your pretty little head about the residents of connecticut.
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ilovebacon
December 10, 2009 5:19 PM
For how long will Reid tolerate this?
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Al
December 10, 2009 6:07 PM in reply to ilovebacon
Joe Loserman is the least of my worries. Gotta go raise some cash in Las Vegas. Harry
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CT Voter
December 10, 2009 5:32 PM
I think Joe is, in fact, increasingly troubled by the realization that if a compromise is reached, he would become increasingly irrelevant.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
December 10, 2009 6:21 PM in reply to CT Voter
Bingo! If he's not being a prick, there's a chance he'll have to spend a Sunday without being on the teevee.
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Al
December 10, 2009 5:35 PM
Damn brain cancer took the wrong senator.
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ilovebacon
December 10, 2009 5:35 PM
Same for Olympia Snowe. The longer they drag this out, the longer their relevance. Time to call for cloture, call their bluff, and if they filibuster, go to RECONCILIATION.
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mikedrevguy
December 10, 2009 5:40 PM
Joe, you're overcooking my grits!!!
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The Decider
December 10, 2009 5:47 PM
My sources tell me that Obama is trying to buy Joe off: offer to start another war in the Middle East in exchange for Joe's vote on health care. Don't do it, Joe! Filibuster! We can start a war later on, but now stop this bill that will destroy America by trying to make us healthy (so they say).
Joe is my favorite democrat and the only one who kisses me!
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
December 10, 2009 6:24 PM
Here's one thing that is a little perplexing to me. You'd think getting people who are 55 and older off of their rolls and into Medicare would be a delightful prospect for Joe's Dark Masters in the State of Aetna. The more 55+ people buy their way into Medicare, the younger and more profitable the private insurers' risk pool. What am I missing? Why have they ordered him to oppose it?
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Saladin
December 10, 2009 6:41 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
He's just a prick. But you bring up a point that worries me. How will this help medicare's solvency issues?
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masanf
December 10, 2009 9:14 PM in reply to Saladin
This bill does absolutlely nothing to address the issue of solvency and it does nothing to address the issue of the ridiculously low Medicare reimbursement rates that are bankrupting hospitals and causing doctors to turn away new Medicare patients, which is what they will continue to do, with greater frequency, if this bill passes.
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twayn
December 10, 2009 6:25 PM
Lieberman had remained neutral on the buy-in proposal since it was brought up Tuesday night, saying he would wait to make a decision until he [DELETE: saw legislative language and a score from the Congressional Budget Office] [INSERT:] was told what to do by the health insurance lobby.
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ben_nelsons_hair
December 10, 2009 6:34 PM
Joe is done next term. Not worried.
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ilovebacon
December 10, 2009 8:02 PM
I want to hear constructive ideas on how to get a bill past Lieberman. And don't just shout "reconciliation." I'm for it, too. But let's explore other ways. I can't think of any right now. Snowe is just a female Lieberman. Collins? I doubt it. Is there ANY way to get 60 votes. Reconciliation is plan B. What is plan A?
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VictorLH
December 10, 2009 8:15 PM
Lieberman has been troubled for a long time.
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ilovebacon
December 10, 2009 9:22 PM
A health care reform bill WILL be signed soon. It's why GOPpers and Lieberputz are going NUTS!
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jimboz
December 10, 2009 10:36 PM
I sent emails to jerkoff joe until he cut me off. You can Google his email address, let him know what a twerp he is.
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susanthe
December 10, 2009 10:45 PM
If the Democrats don't do something about Lieberman, they have even less spine than I think they have - and I think they're amoebas.
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wbgonne
December 11, 2009 9:12 AM
"Lieberman 'Increasingly Troubled' About Medicare Buy-In"
And I am increasingly troubled by Lieberman's presence in the Democratic caucus.
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