trillion subsidy and additional money in this bill goes to the health
insurance industry? Why are we subsidizing them at all?
Baucus proclaims how this bill/mark isn't a boon to insurance
companies. Among other "reasons" he states is that this bill forces
everyone to buy insurance. How is that not a benefit to the insurance
companies? Holds their feet to the fire? Are you kidding? He keeps
defending his bill. It's awful!
Ah, that is old footage.
Now to the new session.
Jim Bunning on now. He has been one of the worst apologists for the
insurance companies I've seen. Not too fond of this guy. I don't see
anyone else in there besides Baucus and him.
(Audio quality is good on C-Span 3. I'm using RealPlayer at this
point but have also used QT/Flip4Mac.)
Bunning is wasting our time telling us about his kids being too young
to know what kind of healthcare they may want.
Insurance companies make only 3.3% profit margin?
Drs and hospitals don't deserve big salaries. Call me a socialist.
(And if the government was the sole source for drug companies, we
could get lower prices.
Sen. Cantwell is on now. She is sharp. Always been impressed with
her. (She reminds me of my oldest sister. Looks like her and is smart
like her.) Making lots of great points.
(I have lunch so may miss some of what she says.)
So far, I haven't heard anything that would discredit her.
Now she talks about Costco...
Crapo on now. (Not pronounced like crap-o.) Another scary Republican.
An evil man.
Excessive regulation may inhibit competition. But the question is how
much is excessive. We need more, just like we do in the finance
sector, and both have to be better enforced. OK?
I have to admit though one of his staffers, the blond who sits behind
him and has her hair pulled back today, is hot. I love blonds with
dark eyebrows.
Kerry makes some good points. Entitlement (Medicare) vs
self-sustaining (Rockeeller bill).
(I miss some more as I talk on the phone.)
Sen. Rockefeller says, 'let me address my colleagues on the left who
want to maintain the status quo'... He meant to say 'on the right.'
Sen. Rockefeller: "Everyone believes everything they see on television."!
They vote on the Rockefeller amendment. Conrad votes no. Lincoln -
no. Nelson - no. Carper - no. Geez. Baucus - no. Thanks Dems. The
Dems have a 13-10 majority and they can't pass bills? (They lose
8-15.)
Schumer on now.
But we LIKE single-payer...
Baucus ought to be ashamed, and he may be, that he can't support a
public option because the votes aren't there. (The insurance industry
has bought off too many senators.)
Nelson is a good supporter of most causes I support though I don't
know why he voted against the Rockefeller amendment. Interesting that
he was the insurance commissioner of FL awhile back.
Health care cannot be a for-profit business.
Baucus is in a hurry to get this done.
Conrad likes the "public interest option."
Grassley on now.... "Many of the things we feared have come to past."
You mean pass.
Ensign on now. He's slick. He's afraid once a public plan gets
started, it will be impossible to stop. Good!
'We don't need a government auto company cuz auto companies are
already making a profit.' Um. They weren't a few months ago.
Bunning on now.
Tells Schumer his bill will do what he doesn't intend it to do.
Kyl on now.
This is going to be too big to fail...
'State insurance commissioners should keep the companies honest.' But
they don't.
Cantwell on now.
The comments have been shorter.
Baucus doesn't see how it will get 60 votes on the floor so he's
going to vote against it. Thanks ----head.
Schumer on for his last stab. We hear Grassley and Baucus on mic as
well. Schumer echoes my thoughts on state commissioners.
They vote: Conrad - no, Lincoln - no, (Carper aye!), Baucus - no. (It
loses,10-13)
Pitiful. 3 Dems could have made the difference.
Let's see what happens when the Senate bill gets reconciled with the
House bill.
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