I know they are tired but this isn't the most encouraging way to
start out this meeting on a very important topic.
Senator Rockefeller presents his amendment. It seems he is offering a
public option in an exchange. Not good enough. (Medicare for all, I
say. Not as an option. Health insurance companies should only sell
coverage for things not covered like cosmetic surgery, etc. Medicare
should cover all health issues. (Dental, mental, obstetrics, etc.)
Senator Nelson asks Senator Rockefeller to explain his bill and
Senator Rockefeller politely refuses. I don't understand that.
Isn't it amazing that we subsidize the insurance companies now and
will do so in the future? Why do we subsidize industries that are
profitable? They subsidize "the people" to buy the insurance and they
also subsidize the insurance companies as well. It makes no sense.
Baucus defends the "mark" as being hard on the insurance companies.
They levy a fee for 60 billion but are subsidizing them to the tune
of 500 billion.
The audio quality of C-Span 1 on DirecTV is bad as usual. Distortion,
and now we are hearing monitor ring, which is a problem caused
whoever is doing audio in the Senate chamber.
Grassley tries to defend his approach on the "public option" and then
announces his opposition to Sen Rockefeller's amendment. Grassley has
no credit as far as I'm concerned. ('A slow walk to government run
health care.' Yes. et's do it!) Then he yammers on about half truths
and misconceptions that are the Republican talking points. (People
come to the US for health care...)
Grassley 'A government plan will run the insurance companies out of
business.' I'm all for it!
Grassly rails on about how bad the public option is. Yawn. Most of
what he says has been disproved.
What he's saying is the public option will be more cost effective so
let's not have it because it will put insurance companies out of
business. Doesn't want government bureaucrats making decisions
instead of Drs but that is what the insurance companies are doing
now. Exactly that.
Now he waffles on Medicare.
Grassley wants choice? Choice to pay more than we need to? How about
not needing a choice because the care provided is good. (And I guess
choice doesn't apply to abortion. Can't have choice there, can we?)
Hatch on now. ... "enjoy the private coverage of their choice."
Enjoy? Enjoy paying exorbitant rates and have limited coverage? No,
we don't enjoy it, Senator.
God forbid Drs can't charge whatever they want. We don't need rich
Drs. We need Drs who like to practice medicine. They will be
adequately paid. They are in other countries.
Yes, let's go this way!
No, the government DOES NOT MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS! the Drs do! Liar!
No, the American people will not lose control over their care.
Menendez strongly in favor of Rockefeller's (and Schumer's) amendment.
All (of the Senators) are for choice unless it's for a public option.
Drs ought to be required in this program. He weasels out of Sen
Ensign's question. Then Rockefeller weasels out, after saying they
won't be required to then saying only for two years.
Sen Nelson asks, is the public option a disaster in NJ? Menedez
answers since there is no public option it can't be a disaster. What
was the point of that?
Sen Conrad bashes Rockefeller's plan. Conrad mentions the TR Reid
book! Our system ought to be not for profit. (More talk is about not
for profit insurance but I am for not for profit health care and NO
insurance being needed.)
Ensign tries to criticize our ranking in the world of preventable
deaths by saying that it isn't valid because we have more car
accidents and gunshot wounds than other countries do. Hardly
something to draw attention to since you (Senators) are supposed to
be doing things to improve that.
Sen Rockefeller would have been better starting off saying his plan
IS a government run plan for the first two years.
It's a shame Dems aren't clear on the plans being offered. Bingaman
is confused. Nelson was. Conrad was against the Rockefeller plan....
Schumer up now to talk about Rockefeller's amendment. He then
launches into the state of health care and insurance.
Ensign is missing the point. We may be good at taking care of cancer
There are MANY more health conditions where we are NOT better than
other countries. (Infant mortality, others. Cost as percent of GDP is
twice that of the next "rich" nation. Also bankruptcies due to health
costs are obscenely high.)
Sen Kyle on now.
Britain's health care system may be the world's 3rd biggest employer
but their system works! Works well.
Sen Stabenow on now.
I have liked most of what she has said in the past.
They break at about 5 after 1 to return in about 45 minutes.
More to come.
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