If sunlight is the best disinfectant, Mitch McConnell and The Dark Arts Twelve are making matters far worse.
On the merits of healthcare policy alone, it would be exceedingly difficult to come to an agreement that 50 Republicans could get behind. However, the biggest elephant in the room (surprisingly, not John Cornyn) is the huge tax cut that is a centerpiece of the House plan which makes the math for a sane bill impossible.
If, in the end, the Republicans are so cynical that they choose to pass this mess just to fulfill campaign promises and turn the page - then they will fully embrace the dark side.
McConnell is brilliant; however, from the moment he vowed total obstruction of Obama, his leadership actions have left a path of destruction rather than of responsible governance.
He is a stout warrior, no question - but not a statesman.
Too bad there are no provisions in Article 1 of the Constitution that imagined the possibility of this level of craven nonfeasance and mendacity by congressional leadership.
On the merits of healthcare policy alone, it would be exceedingly difficult to come to an agreement that 50 Republicans could get behind. However, the biggest elephant in the room (surprisingly, not John Cornyn) is the huge tax cut that is a centerpiece of the House plan which makes the math for a sane bill impossible.
If, in the end, the Republicans are so cynical that they choose to pass this mess just to fulfill campaign promises and turn the page - then they will fully embrace the dark side.
McConnell is brilliant; however, from the moment he vowed total obstruction of Obama, his leadership actions have left a path of destruction rather than of responsible governance.
He is a stout warrior, no question - but not a statesman.
Too bad there are no provisions in Article 1 of the Constitution that imagined the possibility of this level of craven nonfeasance and mendacity by congressional leadership.
The fact that people continue to support Donald "Moscow" Trump and his GOP enablers despite the lies, the racist rhetoric, the misogyny, and the blatant hypocrisy of their beloved "Christianity" has absolutely destroyed my faith in this country, its citizens, and its political and religious leaders. I am at a loss. The only conclusion I can draw is that our democracy truly died at the hands of the GOP on January 20th 2017.
1
These are the people who should lose health insurance first. Unfortunately they already protected themselves. I remember as a child seeing pictures of the robber barons in school books, and knowing they were considered the most awful people no matter how many jobs they created or haw much GDP they produced. History repeating itself.
2
If the elderly and poor don't receive proper health care in this country, now dare "we" say "America is the greatest country in the world" Maybe for the rich and corporations? This country is going down hill fast and will end up becoming the largest and richest third world country in the world.
4
I cannot understand how any group of elected officials could be so down right mean and cruel. I really don't get why the Republican party is so interested in throwing so many people off medical care completely.
2
http://billmoyers.com/story/media-ignoring-health-care-repeal-obamacare/
the media isn't covering this adequately. we could lose health care to these blue meanies.
the media isn't covering this adequately. we could lose health care to these blue meanies.
McConnell and his politburo running the country, doing the bidding of the right wing strongman, Who is cheered by his minion and his "cabinet". Just when you think it can't get any worse, it gets worse....
1
The constitution prohibits the federal government from involvement in health care that is left to the states. This country is filled with ignorant people:
"Do these principles, in fine, require that the powers of the general government should be limited, and that, beyond this limit, the States should be left in possession of their sovereignty and independence? We have seen that in the new government, as in the old, the general powers are limited; and that the States, in all unenumerated cases, are left in the enjoyment of their sovereign and independent jurisdiction." --federalist 40
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State." Federalist 45
"Do these principles, in fine, require that the powers of the general government should be limited, and that, beyond this limit, the States should be left in possession of their sovereignty and independence? We have seen that in the new government, as in the old, the general powers are limited; and that the States, in all unenumerated cases, are left in the enjoyment of their sovereign and independent jurisdiction." --federalist 40
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State." Federalist 45
You failed to provide the list proving your point. Unless you do, this is just a bunch of blather.
Otto Warmbier died from mistreatment and improper care because he reportedly tried to steal a poster in North Korea. Now Republicans are plotting to create a health care bill that will easily cause the deaths for thousands of our citizens who haven’t even tried to steal a thing. An estimated 23 million will be unable to get health care they could with the affordable care act. Some of these people will die that would not have died under the ACA. And some of these people will die a tortured death. We must realize this is a conscious choice Republicans are making - if not all of them, nearly all. We can’t do anything about North Korean politicians, and thus must accept the fate of Otto Warmbier. We do not have to accept choices our politicians make that have brutal outcomes for our fellow citizens. Once we see their choices, it is time for us to accomplish a regime change. And vote the bums out!
3
I'm sorry; is the answer yes or n0--enough votes or not?
3
I am one of the millions who will soon die without the ACA. Is there no effort to have us go down to Washington and occupy the peoples' Mall to fight this effort.
5
I give up. I'm a recently retired registered nurse who spent the last ten years in my profession as a Case Manager in one of America's top-ten hospitals, seeing first hand the disaster that is our healthcare payment system. I am now enrolled in Medicare and, fortunately, can afford supplemental insurance that provides my family with complete coverage for any medical need. My children, too, are well covered. I could say, "I got mine; you're on your own."' But I have always voted for progressive leadership, argued to protect the most needy in our great society, paid taxes freely to promote the General Welfare, vocally urged my representative to embrace more inclusive healthcare reform, and advocated for vulnerable hospital patients. But the current shenanigans in Congress frustrate me beyond my limits. That this Republican majority enjoys their position only through the blind support of the very constituents they intend to harm is incomprehensible. That this Senate secretly (!) plots to violate the trust of the very folks who empowered them is indefensible, yet strongly defended by those very folks. The worship of Mammon has displaced the promotion of common good. It's symbolized in the gold curtains of the Oval Office, evidenced by the CVs of the WH cabinet, now demonstrated by a Congress violating all norms to satisfy its benefactors, and, sadly, enabled by a misguided electorate seeking fools gold. And it gets worse daily. Why should I care? I've got mine.
7
I hope they do not have the votes because so many will lose their health insurance or pay higher premiums. I hope they do have the votes because to so many will lose their health insurance and pay higher premiums because they are the ones who voted for this administration. Hard lesson but perhaps one that requires a strong message. Maybe they will learn.
Republicans have a simple but complex problem: Explain what and how their plan works!
My jerk senator is Jeff Flake, a go-along, get-along solid Republican who tries to sound moderate in interviews but votes with the radical right. Note he was not mentioned. The health and welfare of Arizonans who are not major contributors to his campaigns mean nothing to him. Today I got a reply from John McCain: "Your opinion is of great value to me in my work in the Senate. I take my job as a member of the United States Senate very seriously, and I will continue to fulfill my obligations under the Constitution to the very best of my ability. Again, thank you for contacting me. "
As you can see, no leadership from my senators. I'm glad there is polarization among other senators. Perhaps it will save us from the worst pieces of McConnell's legislation that will uninsure, under-insure, or become a death sentence to many dependent on health insurance literally to survive. I always think of babies born with defective hearts, people paralyzed in diving accidents, and poor diabetics with no nutritional guidance. Can they survive this secretive legislation? Probably not.
As you can see, no leadership from my senators. I'm glad there is polarization among other senators. Perhaps it will save us from the worst pieces of McConnell's legislation that will uninsure, under-insure, or become a death sentence to many dependent on health insurance literally to survive. I always think of babies born with defective hearts, people paralyzed in diving accidents, and poor diabetics with no nutritional guidance. Can they survive this secretive legislation? Probably not.
2
Yep, dumb and dumber.
McCain sent me the exact same acknowledgement letter. Notice it doesnt actually say anything other than thanks for writing.
I went to Jeff Flakes town hall a few months ago. It was 2-1/2 hours of people yelling at the guy about everything. Healthcare, the environment, borders, immigration, education, the internet. Hes totally out of touch with everything. Hed just smile and say we have to agree to disagree.
McCain sent me the exact same acknowledgement letter. Notice it doesnt actually say anything other than thanks for writing.
I went to Jeff Flakes town hall a few months ago. It was 2-1/2 hours of people yelling at the guy about everything. Healthcare, the environment, borders, immigration, education, the internet. Hes totally out of touch with everything. Hed just smile and say we have to agree to disagree.
1
What a surprise! The Republic party lets 13 white men do the drafting - all behind closed doors.
This fulfills some of the Republic party's basic tenants: (a) The big ones for me, the little ones for me - nothing for you; (b) everyone must be born - even in cases of rape, incest, the life/health of the mother, a hopelessly deformed fetus (or one without a brain or heart. After that, you're on your own. And if you can't make it, you should just die and get out of the way; (c) women should keep their noses out of the big boys' business.
This fulfills some of the Republic party's basic tenants: (a) The big ones for me, the little ones for me - nothing for you; (b) everyone must be born - even in cases of rape, incest, the life/health of the mother, a hopelessly deformed fetus (or one without a brain or heart. After that, you're on your own. And if you can't make it, you should just die and get out of the way; (c) women should keep their noses out of the big boys' business.
1
On NPR today it was said the Obamacare is in trouble.
Why are Liberals so opposed to fixing a major problem?
Why are Liberals so opposed to fixing a major problem?
1
what kind of representative government keeps the talks hidden from half of the representatives?
Right. No-one hides something that is good and helpful. People must call, protest against this UNdemocratic act. Everyone deserves healthcare, it is a human right. It seems, though, that the GOP is planning on trying to deny this right to the people who vote. This is not the time for complacency!
We're not. But the Republicans don't want to fix it -- they want to destroy it.
Is it possible to start a Single Payer Revolution? Would it be possible to head McConnell off at the pass? And all related lobbyists/ special interests. We, the people have power in our numbers. Of course, there is always risk with any revolution. So in my dreams, I imagine what would happen if 100 million+ Americans threatened to refuse to pay their health insurance company premiums at the same time? A Single Payer Ultimatum. Would we get anyone's attention?
1
If some Republican Senators are concerned about the content of the health care legislation and the bald-faced abuse of power being used to craft it, the whole thing can be stopped if three of them vote against it.
Expressions of deep concern to the media and talk show hosts don't count, only votes do. If they can't muster three lousy votes to stop this then let's quit pretending a moderate wing of the Republican Party exists.
Expressions of deep concern to the media and talk show hosts don't count, only votes do. If they can't muster three lousy votes to stop this then let's quit pretending a moderate wing of the Republican Party exists.
3
The one thing we should all pay attention to is the difference between how the Democrats crafted the ACA and how the Republicans went about taking it apart. The former was like a craftsman who builds a house, carefully coming up with a plan, taking their time to get it right. Then there are the republicans who are like a demolition crew coming in the middle of the night to tear down the house when no one can see them doing their "work." The democrats had legislative "Chops" that helped insure millions of people. The republicans Bill was simpler. Take away healthcare from 20+ million Americans and then give the "savings" in the form of tax breaks to the 1%
3
We all need affordable healthcare. On that I am sure we can all agree. This is the most important issue facing American families. Everyone should write their representatives and spell out what they expect. Don't leave it up to the politicians and lobbyists . Tell them you want a bipartisan solution. No finger pointing should be accepted. There should be a national debate with evidence based data presented for the best policy going forward.
5
To all you who love the ACA, I want you to see something. I have been a physician in nyc for the past 30 years. Just today a new patient came into my office and my secretary verified his insurance. I want you to see exactly what he had.
Out-of-Network:
Deductible:
$5,800 per Calendar Year
Family
Med Dent,DED INCLUDED IN OOP,Chiropractor Visit or Evaluation,Lab Performed by Chiropractor,Xray by Chiropractor,Manipulation by Chiropractor,Occupational Therapy by Chiropractor,Physical Therapy by Chiropractor,Emergency use of Emergency Room
Outpatient Surgery Facility,Semi Private Room and Board,Intensive Care Room and Board,Medical Ancillary,Outpatient Medical Ancillary,Non Emergency use of Emergency Room,Emergency Room Physician,Urgent Care,Non Urgent Services at an Urgent Care Facility
GYN Visit when Performed in an Office,GYN Visit,Specialist Visit or Evaluation when Performed in an Office,Specialist Visit or Evaluation,Primary Care Visit or Evaluation in Office,Primary Care Visit or Evaluation
$5,800 per Calendar Year
Family
The guy had GREAT insurance, and yet, he could not afford to use it. I get new patients like this almost every single day. Having insurance does not mean you will get health care. Trump wants to make it better. I am willing to see the final results before I condemn his plan.
Out-of-Network:
Deductible:
$5,800 per Calendar Year
Family
Med Dent,DED INCLUDED IN OOP,Chiropractor Visit or Evaluation,Lab Performed by Chiropractor,Xray by Chiropractor,Manipulation by Chiropractor,Occupational Therapy by Chiropractor,Physical Therapy by Chiropractor,Emergency use of Emergency Room
Outpatient Surgery Facility,Semi Private Room and Board,Intensive Care Room and Board,Medical Ancillary,Outpatient Medical Ancillary,Non Emergency use of Emergency Room,Emergency Room Physician,Urgent Care,Non Urgent Services at an Urgent Care Facility
GYN Visit when Performed in an Office,GYN Visit,Specialist Visit or Evaluation when Performed in an Office,Specialist Visit or Evaluation,Primary Care Visit or Evaluation in Office,Primary Care Visit or Evaluation
$5,800 per Calendar Year
Family
The guy had GREAT insurance, and yet, he could not afford to use it. I get new patients like this almost every single day. Having insurance does not mean you will get health care. Trump wants to make it better. I am willing to see the final results before I condemn his plan.
2
Your example is not universal. ACA is affordable for many.
1
But the Republicans want to be sure you don't see the final results until they have approved their plan. You trust them to make insurance better for these patients of yours?
Tell tell Congress and the Senate that you want them to be required to use the same healthcare as the rest of American citizens. We all deserve better from our representatives.
5
Members of Congress get their insurance through individual coverage obtained through the District of Columbia exchange, unless they get coverage through a spouse. They used to get coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, but the Affordable Care Act changed that.
A seemingly unreported aspect of this corruption is that the Republicans have yet to produce a shred of evidence for the need to design health care their way.
They just whisper causes and effects into the ears of their supporters - "See that 'illegal' cleaning toilets? He's the reason why you're broke" - and the party faithful vote accordingly. Conversely, at every turn during its year-long massage, President Obama and congressional Democrats based the ACA on data from health care professionals and the CBO, including a priori data.
It's beyond shameful to willfully withhold empirical evidence simply because you can exploit fear. I am embarrassed for you, Republicans, particularly because you know this is an unearned tax cut masqerading as health care, paid for in part by kicking kids with cancer off their Obamacare-funded chemo, and by forcing older people, who built the infrastructure you now exploit for personal wealth, to pay almost all of the money they have toward health care. What a way to say "thank you."
Don't think for one second that the country hasn't taken note.
They just whisper causes and effects into the ears of their supporters - "See that 'illegal' cleaning toilets? He's the reason why you're broke" - and the party faithful vote accordingly. Conversely, at every turn during its year-long massage, President Obama and congressional Democrats based the ACA on data from health care professionals and the CBO, including a priori data.
It's beyond shameful to willfully withhold empirical evidence simply because you can exploit fear. I am embarrassed for you, Republicans, particularly because you know this is an unearned tax cut masqerading as health care, paid for in part by kicking kids with cancer off their Obamacare-funded chemo, and by forcing older people, who built the infrastructure you now exploit for personal wealth, to pay almost all of the money they have toward health care. What a way to say "thank you."
Don't think for one second that the country hasn't taken note.
3
I don't know about design it "their way" but somebody needs to do something quickly for the 18MM people stuck with private insurance with no government assistance. Obamacare jacked my premiums by 250%, my deductible by 100%, and curtailed the provided network to the point where I lost every single one of my doctors and hospitals, and have a long wait to find new, lesser skilled ones. This is the best insurance I can buy in Connecticut! If they don't fix it, I will self insure (doing that anyway) next year and stop paying for everybody else.
If Republicans are successful at repealing the ACA, I can promise that the next time Democrats control both houses of Congress, and the White House, they WILL pass Single Payer!
11
Perfect. I really really like this comment, hope that it comes to pass if the ACA is repealed.
Republicans are not writing a health care bill. They are repealing the taxes in the ACA so they can pay for their tax cuts for the rich in their planned tax reform bill. That's all they are doing, besides pandering to their base.
27
apparatchick writes here in 3 sentences exactly what is happening. Trickle down is over, voo-doo is for late nights, lofty Reaganism a 3 card monte in a new game right out in the open under the lights called Attack Attack Attack.
Are Democrats reaching out to "swing" Republicans like Senator Susan Collins of Maine? These "swing" Republicans are generally sensible and sensitive, and their support helps. Are Democrats out there EDUCATING the public in states where Republicans are likely to vote for this health care bill? Health care is complex... but any reasonable person should agree that keeping a bill behind closed doors and away from the public is simply not ok. GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS. If enough of the Republican public speaks out, their Republican senators will have to listen.
6
Susan Collins is a faux moderate. She is big on the visuals. Hand wringing, sighing and talking the "voice of moderation.": But funny thing when it comes time to vote, she votes the republican line 99% of the time.
1
this is time for simplicity not backroom shady deals. Insure everybody with a single payer model and allow public/private coverage balance each other.
Since this is classified as socialist healthcare (although everybody is into this model except the US)... it will never happen in my lifetime and people will continue to die... no sense of human dignity left within the GOP ... one day... they will regret their short mindedness ..pathetic !
Since this is classified as socialist healthcare (although everybody is into this model except the US)... it will never happen in my lifetime and people will continue to die... no sense of human dignity left within the GOP ... one day... they will regret their short mindedness ..pathetic !
5
It's obvious McConnell and the troops just want to get the bill to vote, expecting it to fail, but giving them the ammunition for 2018 and 2020 railing against failing Obamacare. If I was Schumer I would be tempted to issue the following statement "Democrats are totally against this. But we realize elections have consequences and because of that all Dems will vote for the new bill repealing and replacing the ACA." You now own it Repubs and Dems will run in 2018 and 2020 with the promise to reinstate the ACA except this time it will be with single payer and cost controls.
Why and what are they hiding? Why do they have a golden health care package when THEY work for US?? Aren't we all equal?
10
The tyranny of a false majority cooks up covert code to kill the will of the people.
The opposition was extremely lazy to let their representative republic get hijacked by McConnell's secretive neo-confederate cabal.
But the healthcare die was already cast.
The southern & rural poor would apparently sooner get sick & die than forego their chance for red-state revenge.
The opposition was extremely lazy to let their representative republic get hijacked by McConnell's secretive neo-confederate cabal.
But the healthcare die was already cast.
The southern & rural poor would apparently sooner get sick & die than forego their chance for red-state revenge.
4
This is un-American. It doesn't reflect the will of we the people. If it bears any resemblance to the horror that the House passed and Trump toasted, it will , without question, harm and kill tens of thousands of Americans. It essentially declares a silent war on the vulnerable - anyone other than the top 10% of wage and passive income earners.
The Republican Party, as an entity, has become a domestic enemy and a clear and present danger. It must be constrained. It's past time for that tainted organization to be disbanded and disarmed.
The Republican Party, as an entity, has become a domestic enemy and a clear and present danger. It must be constrained. It's past time for that tainted organization to be disbanded and disarmed.
7
Don't worry, be happy! (Essentially the response my sister gave me when I complained about this.) What could possibly go wrong?
2
The the Republican approach should be called "Stealth Health."
6
Ironically, this makes me feel SICK TO MY STOMACH
6
It is totally absurd that the most liberal Republican senator wants affordable insurance for lower-income older Americans. Define that group, exactly.
Even if she could, she would leave out other Americans who struggle to get themselves insured.
We need a single payer plan; or better yet, extend Medicare to all, and allow the addition of more coverage plans, as it is now for those 65 and older. Good grief! Helping one group--even if it is possible to define them correctly and catch all who need help with paying for insurance--is like putting one of those circular Band-aids we all thought were so cute as kids, on a gash so wide and deep that it's possible we will bleed to death.
Even if she could, she would leave out other Americans who struggle to get themselves insured.
We need a single payer plan; or better yet, extend Medicare to all, and allow the addition of more coverage plans, as it is now for those 65 and older. Good grief! Helping one group--even if it is possible to define them correctly and catch all who need help with paying for insurance--is like putting one of those circular Band-aids we all thought were so cute as kids, on a gash so wide and deep that it's possible we will bleed to death.
5
I like and find the graphics here illustrative. Alas. No graphic can adequately depict the nation-damaging moral bankruptcy of the republican leadership impersonated in the likes of mitch mcdonnell and paul ryan. Surely this star chamber secrecy that is the breeding grounds of this senate jerry-rigged bill cannot bode glad tidings for this rickety raft of closed door collusion. Try shining some sunlight on your bill, Mitch.
2
Rob Portman is the only one of this group that is not rabid-right-wing. Nothing good will come of this. It will probably pass despite the fact that no one knows what is in it, there has been no debate, and no consultation. Oh, also no minority senators (unless you count Ted Cruz) and no women. The Republicans will own this disaster.
I hope that one day the Trump supporters will finally wake up and see what their votes have bought them--bankruptcy and death.
I hope that one day the Trump supporters will finally wake up and see what their votes have bought them--bankruptcy and death.
8
Good to see that most of the 13 Republicans determining Everything on this Health Care Bill are mostly from the smallest States representing the least amount of Americans.
Then again, what does it matter? They aren't doing a thing that Doctors and Nurses recommend, These Republicans surely know more about Health Care than they.
And they don't give a whit that only 17% of all Americans approve of the Bill.
Besides...They aren't going to discuss it, show it or allow anyone to do anything about what they decide and will try and ram through without a single shred of democratic values, political responsibility or honest behaviour.
They are doing whatever they want and don't have to explain anything to anybody.
How African "Dictatorshiply " of them.
But Worse.
Then again, what does it matter? They aren't doing a thing that Doctors and Nurses recommend, These Republicans surely know more about Health Care than they.
And they don't give a whit that only 17% of all Americans approve of the Bill.
Besides...They aren't going to discuss it, show it or allow anyone to do anything about what they decide and will try and ram through without a single shred of democratic values, political responsibility or honest behaviour.
They are doing whatever they want and don't have to explain anything to anybody.
How African "Dictatorshiply " of them.
But Worse.
7
You know how the government pays to provide us with universal necessities like cops, education, libraries, road construction and repair, fire departments, snow removal, defense, garbage removal and the like? That's what we need in regard to medical care to make sure that everyone in the country is covered. Just like with the other services it should be paid for using the taxes which we pay.
The ACA has always been deficient in that not everyone is covered because people are permitted to opt out by paying a fine. What sense does that make?
Go to whatever doctor you want to go to, you pay a deductible to cut down on frivolous medical visits, and the medical providers get paid according to a reasonable government schedule that is tailored to region. Medical providers who do not want to accept what the government is paying can do so by posting a notice in their offices to that effect. You pay the difference or go elsewhere.
The government funds it and the insurance companies run it for the government. Just like with FEMA and flood insurance.
And that's the end of it. Welcome to the 21st Century!
If it makes the prez feel any better we can call it "Trumpcare".
Anything less than this is no good and antiquated.
The ACA has always been deficient in that not everyone is covered because people are permitted to opt out by paying a fine. What sense does that make?
Go to whatever doctor you want to go to, you pay a deductible to cut down on frivolous medical visits, and the medical providers get paid according to a reasonable government schedule that is tailored to region. Medical providers who do not want to accept what the government is paying can do so by posting a notice in their offices to that effect. You pay the difference or go elsewhere.
The government funds it and the insurance companies run it for the government. Just like with FEMA and flood insurance.
And that's the end of it. Welcome to the 21st Century!
If it makes the prez feel any better we can call it "Trumpcare".
Anything less than this is no good and antiquated.
4
What galls me most is the utter hypocrisy of it all. As long as their multinational corporate overlords pay them off, however, they could care less about what the voters think. Bought and sold. Texas has already been sold down the river.
6
How sad that there is no mention of the plan to defund Planned Parenthood. Evisceration of women's health services, reduction in availability of birth control and no Medicaid for poor babies. What could go wrong?
2
Why is the Republican leadership so secretive? What are they afraid of? Could it be that if the provisions of this bill became public knowledge before the vote, neither a majority of Democratic voters NOR a majority of Republican voters would approve of it? Sure looks that way -- but why isn't the Democratic leadership in the Senate shouting this from the rooftops--and holding out the olive branch to the more approachable Republican senators? Seems to me this is a golden opportunity to engage in that long-lost practice, bi-partisan leadership.
4
The secrecy regarding the bill is a fairly good sign that a number of the Republicans are less interested in the effects of the bill on health care than they are on political maneuvering. Why else would they want to exclude most Republican senators, all the Democratic senators, and the many experts who are knowledgeable about the many complexities of health care?
6
It is time to get at the core of the health insurance bills. The deciding factors are determined by the insurance and big pharma companies. It is time to bring the leaders of these monopolies to senate and congressional hearings.
2
Let's put it this way. Vote against passage and no one will bother to check up on who said no. Vote for passage and the likelihood of being returned to office is vanishingly small. A straightforward choice, leaving no room for doubt about principles, honor, responsibility or even self-interest.
2
Imagine sitting in a back room for hours upon hours trying to write legislation that purposefully denies coverage to millions and millions of citizens, but, trying to write it in a way that no one knows the difference. That is what is broke about the GOP-- they waste enormous amounts of energy trying to hide from the general public that their sole goal is to make the general public poorer and unhealthier.
8
Is it just me or is DEMOCRACY itself at some kind of crossroads? So 51% of "We the people" can take away the livelihood of the other 49%? Representative Government is supposed to work for the good of the many. But right now we have an administration seemingly focused on making lives worse for people who voted against it. Is it just me?
15
Time to insist that senators and congressional leaders -- and presidents -- must use the same health-care that their constituents have to use. Make it mandatory -- and they can't have any secondary health care insurance, either. What they vote in is what they - personally - and their families must use for health care. Fat chance of THAT ever happening.
82
No kidding_ WE PAY for their health care
5
Find it so interesting there are only 5 women in the Republican Senate- none asked to be in this boys club....do not women have a voice, a needed voice, in the policy decision making of our health care for all participants,male and female and particularly children?
And only three have another idea....hope they have the voting power needed to defeat this health bill reform(?).
And only three have another idea....hope they have the voting power needed to defeat this health bill reform(?).
6
The women were not chosen by McConnell and the rest of the GOP gang.
7
Well you know....They might persist??
If there are not three Republicans who will stand up to this process of one party state secret law making then at least let us stop speaking of Republican "Moderates" It will be have shown that there is no such thing.
21
I think we're looking at the ultimate in modern Republicanism.
I suspect that what they're doing behind closed doors will be more than enough reason to justify dismantling the GOP in any way possible.
I suspect that what they're doing behind closed doors will be more than enough reason to justify dismantling the GOP in any way possible.
11
This bill is being shoved through without an poem hearing. McConnell opens to get this through without any any mark up before the vote. This bill will be shoved through on procedure not common sense or concern for citizens.
6
What a revolting development. How strange Sarah Palin who wants zero taxes decried the Democrats might have Death Panels. Since we could not spent a million on everyone. And we Democrats think we can fix every illness without eventually having to have death panels.
So I understanding doing this worst possible way. No problems we learn everyday how the settle things in the Mid and Far East.
So I understanding doing this worst possible way. No problems we learn everyday how the settle things in the Mid and Far East.
1
what bill?
2
Republicans are mired in theories and processes that lost relevance around mid-twentieth century. The democrats aren't much better in that their resistance to novel ideas backfired in favor of Republican intransigence post-watergate. Bipartisan cooperation is what we need but even the lightest reader of the day knows that's not going to happen nytime soon.
1
These pictures are worth a 1000 words.
1
Memo to Republicans:
Allow Americans 55-64 to buy into Medicare or face the united fury of this group of voters, regardless of party affiliation.
Your plan to allow insurance profiteers to charge older patients approaching retirement age as much as 5x more than younger customers is an absolute non-starter - and will surely lead to a united coalition of pre-seniors to reverse it and remove you.
Most pre-Medicare eligibility Republicans are no better off economically than their Democratic- and Independent-leaning counterparts - and if you somehow think throwing them to the insurance company wolves in order to fund tax cuts for Trump and the Koch Brothers will prove the smart move long-term, you must be doing some really good recreational drugs.
Beware the fury of the pre-Medicare generation - and what they can do to end your political careers.
Allow Americans 55-64 to buy into Medicare or face the united fury of this group of voters, regardless of party affiliation.
Your plan to allow insurance profiteers to charge older patients approaching retirement age as much as 5x more than younger customers is an absolute non-starter - and will surely lead to a united coalition of pre-seniors to reverse it and remove you.
Most pre-Medicare eligibility Republicans are no better off economically than their Democratic- and Independent-leaning counterparts - and if you somehow think throwing them to the insurance company wolves in order to fund tax cuts for Trump and the Koch Brothers will prove the smart move long-term, you must be doing some really good recreational drugs.
Beware the fury of the pre-Medicare generation - and what they can do to end your political careers.
22
I think the tricky part is this. How can we drive up premiums, increase co-pays, reinstall existing conditions, deny coverage, and then; BLAME IT ALL ON OBAMA! Or Hillary, or the "Democrats that won't work with us". It will not be surprising if they damage Obamacare severely, drive up costs, throw people off heath care and then THE NEWS MEDIA will carry their water about who's "really" to blame.
7
During the next enrollment period, I've see the evidence that I'll be one of the millions of Americans who will no longer be able to afford excellent health insurance. During a gathering in my state, I met one of our Koch-backed senators to express my concerns, and I've also written to him about it and called his office. On several occasions I wrote to the Koch-backed representative for my district a couple of months ago and I called his office.
They will vote millions of the poorest Americans out of the insurance market. As a result, most assuredly people will die. I do not condone violence, but the next shooter(s) may use the graphic accompanying this story to choose the next targets when they themselves or their family members, friends, and acquaintances can no longer afford the life-or-death medical care they've come to depend on under the Affordable Care Act. An eye for an eye. No, it's more serious than that. It will be a death for a death.
They will vote millions of the poorest Americans out of the insurance market. As a result, most assuredly people will die. I do not condone violence, but the next shooter(s) may use the graphic accompanying this story to choose the next targets when they themselves or their family members, friends, and acquaintances can no longer afford the life-or-death medical care they've come to depend on under the Affordable Care Act. An eye for an eye. No, it's more serious than that. It will be a death for a death.
7
When the vote is conducted, we need to see the names of those who vote it in, so we can vote them out of office.
18
You are correct that we need to vote these people out of office. However, by then they will have their non-health bill passed and expect people to passively live with it. It is one more nail to end democracy in this country.
People have to march and call and demand their rights before they are taken away. And, they will be removed, maybe watered down at first, but eventually the 99% of Americans will be worse off.
People have to march and call and demand their rights before they are taken away. And, they will be removed, maybe watered down at first, but eventually the 99% of Americans will be worse off.
7
"Do Republicans Have the Votes to Pass the Health Bill?"
We should all hope NOT!
And of course THEIR OWN health-care is protected, safe, and paid for (by US taxpayers!) !
We should all hope NOT!
And of course THEIR OWN health-care is protected, safe, and paid for (by US taxpayers!) !
9
One of my Utah senators is a dinosaur (Hatch), the other is an isolate, a rogue (Lee). I have been trying to contact Mike Lee, who wants to abolish ACA all together, but all given email addresses to his assistants seem bogus in that messages returned as "undeliverable." What is a constituent to do? There is no access to question or respond.
13
Call him. Phone: 202-224-5444 (from his Washington DC web site).
4
Recommend you follow the same rule that was effective in getting the attention of House members who refused to make themselves available - call the Senators in the next-door states. Jeff Flake isn't doing much - he could probably get a message over to Lee. McCain's staff is pretty good about passing along notes too, and Cory Gardener and Mike Bennett in Colorado would be willing to help.
4
Have you tried calling any of his offices?
I'm afraid Hatch might be more persaudable.
I'm afraid Hatch might be more persaudable.
Will it do any good if we call our US senators and let them know of our concern and outrage that an issue as important as healthcare coverage must be the subject of public hearings and debate? Probably not. But at least I will have done what I - as a citizen - can do to move the needle at this point.
9
It does not matter what is in the bill. No self-respecting small d democrat Republican should vote for a bill held secret. What king of democracy is that? Every bill should be fully vetted in public long before it is voted upon. That is what democracies do elsewhere. And this is supposed to be a government of laws?
12
"Government of laws" died when Trump marched in.
10
For Republicans, the healthcare bill is a powerful symbol for their ideology against social evolution, and the elimination of Obamacare channels their racial hostility towards Obama as a black man.
The symbolic value of healthcare has very little to do with actual healthcare, much like the Republican obsession with fetuses has very little to do with actual children or their denunciation of science has very little to do with scientific knowledge.
In a world where knowledge and information increasingly replace blind belief as a guiding principle, Republicans are left groping for and clinging to symbols - from guns to fetuses - that might have served them well in another era, but which are ever more sorry excuses for being stuck in the past.
The symbolic value of healthcare has very little to do with actual healthcare, much like the Republican obsession with fetuses has very little to do with actual children or their denunciation of science has very little to do with scientific knowledge.
In a world where knowledge and information increasingly replace blind belief as a guiding principle, Republicans are left groping for and clinging to symbols - from guns to fetuses - that might have served them well in another era, but which are ever more sorry excuses for being stuck in the past.
22
These 13 Republicans are truly putting Party before God and Country. What happened to the Christian values of love and charity for the Godless 13?? What they are trying to do amounts to genocide, and history will remember it as such if the "good people" don't prevail.
8
These hateful, hateful, hateful, hateful people are monsters, intentionally plotting the murder of millions of hard working U.S. citizens. Removing pre-existing condition coverage and capping life-time limits on coverage is a death sentence that will reduce life expectancy in the U.S. by felling millions of us who will die of curable disease simply because we cannot afford treatment.
The reason the U.S. Putin-regime has yet to install death camps... they're just going to let us die slowly at home, ringing out every minute of time in the workforce they can get from us before sending us in our 50s and 60s home to die. Diseases that have been treatable for decades will reemerge as killers, families with a new born with a birth defect will buy little white coffins. People with Down's, Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, and hundreds of other congenital conditions who have been able to survive with access to care will simply die as infants and children. Those with mental illness will harm themselves. NICUs will close. ICUs will close. Rural hospital will close. Rural nursing homes will close.
The GOP is plotting a mass genocide against the middle class and poor in the United States. The rich will get everything, and the rest of us will simply die.
The reason the U.S. Putin-regime has yet to install death camps... they're just going to let us die slowly at home, ringing out every minute of time in the workforce they can get from us before sending us in our 50s and 60s home to die. Diseases that have been treatable for decades will reemerge as killers, families with a new born with a birth defect will buy little white coffins. People with Down's, Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, and hundreds of other congenital conditions who have been able to survive with access to care will simply die as infants and children. Those with mental illness will harm themselves. NICUs will close. ICUs will close. Rural hospital will close. Rural nursing homes will close.
The GOP is plotting a mass genocide against the middle class and poor in the United States. The rich will get everything, and the rest of us will simply die.
9
'wringing' every minute.
And one of the most powerful senators behind closed doors is Arizona's Jeff Flake. Guess whose mailbox has been "full" this weekend and unable to receive input from constituents? (It's now available for phone calls 520-575-8633)
5
This article contains useful information. Hopefully the reporters will be able to find inside sources that will yield detailed information about the GOP plan so that there can be public comment and pressure before they try to ram it through.
In the meantime, we should use the information we have--especially to contact our senators and those few Republicans who might respond to constituents' concerns and vote no. If you have friends and relatives in states like Ohio and Maine and Alaska, email them and ask them to contact their senators. It's an organizing problem that resourceful citizens should be able to carry out. Who knows, maybe it is possible to make democracy work in spite of what the GOP intends.
In the meantime, we should use the information we have--especially to contact our senators and those few Republicans who might respond to constituents' concerns and vote no. If you have friends and relatives in states like Ohio and Maine and Alaska, email them and ask them to contact their senators. It's an organizing problem that resourceful citizens should be able to carry out. Who knows, maybe it is possible to make democracy work in spite of what the GOP intends.
4
Don't hold your breath.
1
Republicans fight to win. I wish the Democrats fought as hard or did their own dirty tricks. Democrats are too nice.
6
Do they have the votes? Sure do. Democrats lost this one.
1
Steve
Democrats lost the vote (maybe), but Rebuplicans have lost the country.
Democrats lost the vote (maybe), but Rebuplicans have lost the country.
9
If that's the case than the American people are the biggest losers.
7
Well, Steve, the House GOP didn't have the votes to pass the first version of their health care reform bill. Moreover, it is far from clear that the Senate GOP will be able to unite behind a single bill. If they do, they will then have to hammer out an agreement between the House and Senate. I'm not sure whether the Republicans can mobilize majorities in the two chambers behind a single bill.
1
This 'healthcare' bill is madness, yet there are average people who support it. Astonishing. I think the answer is that the Republicans have somehow linked healthcare for all to socialism and all things 'non American'. It's the same as connecting the access to guns to freedom or smoking in the 1930s to being sophisticated. These relationships are completely made up and are not real. Our Republican overlords have managed to convince people that single payer healthcare will lead to the destruction of the essence of what it means to be an American. Because of this most of us are one major illness away from bankruptcy and we put off routine check ups so that we can afford to eat.
4
What depresses me is that so many people who are covered by "The Affordable Health Care Act" don't comprehend that the AHCA --IS-- ObamaCare. They think that they are two different entities. They're against "ObamaCare", but think "The Affordable Health Care Act" is a good thing. Boy, what a rude awakening they're going to have if/when the good 'ole boys in the GOP flush it down the toilet - and people who need the care the most will be the ones who lose the most.
5
Joy:
ACA = Affordable Care Act = Obamacare
AHCA = American Health Care Act = TrumpCare.
You have the names reversed (apparently).
ACA = Affordable Care Act = Obamacare
AHCA = American Health Care Act = TrumpCare.
You have the names reversed (apparently).
2
Where was all the hand wringing over the loss of health care during the 60 plus times the R"s tried repealing Obamacare? No questions then about what was going to replace it. The only proposal, I can recall, was something about insurance companies selling across state lines. And then came the election and the lemmings voted the R's to all three branches. And now there is all this concern about the R's following what they said they would do. Little late folks to start worrying about your health care.
4
Who is representing over 50% of the population - our women? This secret cabal of men can't make good or fair decisions about women's health because they haven't a clue to the intricacies of women's health. This is an assault on all of us since none of us entered this world without a woman or being a drain on women's health due to the serious demands, sometimes fatal, that pregnancy and childbirth present.
10
Why should politicians be crafting this? Shouldn't the medical professionals be more greatly involved in making decisions? Especially since NO women are involved in the specifics. This is not government for the people, by the people's representative.
3
The lack of medical professionals involved in work on the bill is because the Senate Republican leaders are not interested in the knowledge those professionals have. The same is true of the House's work on their version of the bill. The Republicans are far more interested in ideological correctness than they are in whether millions of Americans have access to health care.
3
you people who voted for Sanders and stayed home, are getting what you deserve!
10
If they do, it will be a death sentence for most of them in their next election cycle. Tens of millions of Americans will be harmed, and many are members of the GOP.
As the GOP in the Senate rush to same type of inane judgement as their colleagues did in the House, they've made a grave miscalculation.
Americans will remember the physical pain and suffering that will be exacted on themselves and their families at the polls.
As the GOP in the Senate rush to same type of inane judgement as their colleagues did in the House, they've made a grave miscalculation.
Americans will remember the physical pain and suffering that will be exacted on themselves and their families at the polls.
6
Sarah O' Leary, it will not be a death sentence for most of them. You underestimate the ability of Americans to forget that the GOP or any other political party or politician has hurt them in less than 6 months. By the time 2018 rolls around a good bit of this will be forgotten. And if it isn't dragged up just prior to the election in November, the GOP will win again because they excel at pretending to care and saying what people want to hear.
3
Unfortunately it will be a death sentence for many Americans who will be left without healthcare.
5
Losing a seat dies not matter to these congressmen. If they are out of office they will go on to make more money than they do in government. Lobbying, books, lectures and jobs are their reward for cutting the taxes of their wealthy cronies.
2
The best outcome for the Trumpublicans is to fail and blame it on Obama, or the deep state. Because passing anything means appeasing the few moderates with lies to get the Freedom Caucus, and their extreme right wing tax cut agenda through. The American people will know who took away their health care, no matter how many times the fool in the white house lies and says 'I personally made it much much better, everybody says it's a very very good health care plan, and better than Obama's.'
5
This weekend, I tried to help an individual get into rehab. He's no longer able to receive a shot of Vivitrol because he can't afford his employer-sponsored insurance's $5,000 deductible, so off the wagon he fell. Which is the reason why he couldn't get into a rehab, either. When he wasn't employed and on Medicaid, no worries. Now he has a job and insurance and -- voila -- no can do. I mean, the hell of it all. I support any and all efforts to go single payer. Anything else is simply lunacy--and anyone who votes Republican in 2018 and beyond needs to have their heads examined. If their insurance will pay for it.
13
It is sickening that the future of healthcare is being formulated by this group, lead by the supremely out-of-touch McConnell. They are more concerned about protecting our rights to assault weapons than health care.
They should be bound by whatever health care plan they come up with.
They should be bound by whatever health care plan they come up with.
10
Mitch McConnell said 'when you lose elections, you go home'... meaning that the Republican majority can do as they please. This is not government by the people and for the people. This is a travesty- a secret meeting of the central committee, a major gift to the donor class and untold suffering to millions of Americans. They will pass this bill and Trump will sign it. Chaos will ensue. They will blame Obama. Shame on them.
5
Andrews and Park look like they we're having too much fun with Tableau. Nice scatter plots but you really didn't answer the question you proposed. The article only re-asks the same question we've been pondering since the House bill was introduced: Will the hard-right and moderates be able to reconcile? Seeing as Republicans are negotiating in some deep, dark secret dungeon in Hogwarts, I'm going to guess affirmative. However, a more useful analysis would have included more specific vulnerabilities rather than a bobble-head ideological index.
How about an overlay with Senators facing the biggest health care losses by demographic group under the ACHA? Oh, that's right. We have no idea because Republicans won't let us see the bill they're about to pass.
How about an overlay with Senators facing the biggest health care losses by demographic group under the ACHA? Oh, that's right. We have no idea because Republicans won't let us see the bill they're about to pass.
1
If the Democrats could do it why not the Republicans?
With the Democrats in the majority, Congress held many committee meetings and worked to build bipartisan support. The Republicans are crafting this bill in secrecy. There's a big difference.
8
I'll bet you know that is not true. Why would you put something like that out there except as a republican talking point which of course if a lie.
1
The simplest way to end expansion of Medicaid is to create a single payer Medicare-for-all system. Nah, too obvious.
7
The Republican Party could take a bold step and act to control the cost of prescriptions so they are equal to the prices paid overseas and in Canada; they could dramatically restrict profits on drugs developed and tested with tax dollar support. They could allow for the optional choice of buying into Medicare at a younger age with a scaled price range. What ever bill they create it cannot simply be a pretend fix, because voters will feel the reality of it as soon as it takes effect. Any bill that is primarily a tax cut for the wealthy built on the graves of the poor and elderly will be unacceptable. Why are they building this thing out of the view of public comment?
6
Why are they doing this secretly and behind closed doors? Golly, do you think that just MAYBE they're hoping they'll be able to point fingers at each other and say "HE did it, not me -- I tried to stop it!" in 2018?
1
GOP senators will craft their bill so voters won't "feel the reality" of it until after the next election. Just watch, the bill will be 'vitally important' to pass before Congress's August recess but it will not phase in until after November 2020. We're being asked to believe that the ACA is collapsing - but the fix can wait for three years.
They will have the votes. Watch as Susan Collins pretends to disagree but votes with the 52 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Just remember that crazy theory she had to explain away Trump's wanting to have a private meeting with Comey. She's as bad as the rest of them. Worse possibly for pretending otherwise.
20
Same for Lisa Murkowski.
Wow! What a representative snapshot of America in all its diversity!!!
Two white guys from Wyoming, two more from Utah, and just for good measure two more from Texas. Woo Hoo!! Plus, all of us get to have our concerns represented by a few more from SD, OK, Arkansas, TN and the big guy from KY.
I'm not really sure how Portman snuck in there because it seems pretty clear that the everyone in the Midwest and that small portion of the population that lives on both coasts - along with women and anyone with a skin tone other than alabaster - don't really need to have a voice (or even an ear) in this issue.
Two white guys from Wyoming, two more from Utah, and just for good measure two more from Texas. Woo Hoo!! Plus, all of us get to have our concerns represented by a few more from SD, OK, Arkansas, TN and the big guy from KY.
I'm not really sure how Portman snuck in there because it seems pretty clear that the everyone in the Midwest and that small portion of the population that lives on both coasts - along with women and anyone with a skin tone other than alabaster - don't really need to have a voice (or even an ear) in this issue.
I wish there were one intellectual route I could take that would help me to better understand the utter and consistent lack of decency these people demonstrate.
Is it money? Is it power? Is it because their mothers locked them in a closet when they were three?
How does one make sense of this level of inhumanity?
Is it money? Is it power? Is it because their mothers locked them in a closet when they were three?
How does one make sense of this level of inhumanity?
34
Grand Old Psychopathy, TM.
Just when we need single-payer mental health care the most; these right-wing lunatics are handing out tax cuts, guns and band aids for a fatal tomorrow.
They are not right in the head or the heart.
Just when we need single-payer mental health care the most; these right-wing lunatics are handing out tax cuts, guns and band aids for a fatal tomorrow.
They are not right in the head or the heart.
16
Money and power are the engines impelling them toward this dastardly act. They have no collective conscience and no individual consciences to stop them.
3
These people are so arrogant that they believe only the way they live is the "right" way to live. They think most Americans are clueless. They don't want to help people. They want to rule.
2
Have any of these senators or any members of the GOP leadership taken an hour from their day to see what the average American in need of medical care experiences? When was the last time they listened to a young man with cancer and a family to support as he argues over his medical bills or as the couple tries to decide what bills they can pay and what bills they can put off? Have they ever had to decide which medications to cut in half to stay feeling semi-okay while forgoing other important treatments or medications.
When have they gone to the ER because there was no clinic or doctor that would see them? Do they understand that paying premiums, co-pays, deductibles, etc., can rapidly lead to bankruptcy because having health insurance doesn't equal access to health care or the ability to pay for what's not covered? From the way they are doing things the answer is a definite no.
Every America, regardless of income, employment status, health status, or popularity ought to be able to receive the medical care they need when and where they need it. That's not the same as asking for a Rolls Royce for every citizen. It's asking for what other countries do for their citizens that we seem incapable of doing: seeing to it that we can get medical care without losing our life savings or forgoing it because it's out of our financial reach.
When have they gone to the ER because there was no clinic or doctor that would see them? Do they understand that paying premiums, co-pays, deductibles, etc., can rapidly lead to bankruptcy because having health insurance doesn't equal access to health care or the ability to pay for what's not covered? From the way they are doing things the answer is a definite no.
Every America, regardless of income, employment status, health status, or popularity ought to be able to receive the medical care they need when and where they need it. That's not the same as asking for a Rolls Royce for every citizen. It's asking for what other countries do for their citizens that we seem incapable of doing: seeing to it that we can get medical care without losing our life savings or forgoing it because it's out of our financial reach.
25
ACA promised everything to everybody at little cost.
What happened?
What happened?
1
It needed to be tweaked. But the GOP didn't want it to succeed so they undermined it rather than fixing it. And of course there are those politicians in the Democratic party that love the pharmaceutical industry so much that they'd rather we die than try to control costs.
1
Trump promised that everyone would be covered and that he would bring drug prices down. What happened to that?
3
I find it preposterous that as many years as our country has been in existence, we as a society are going backward. All because of acts of gerrymandering and voter discrimination, laws like citizens united and excessive lobbying with outlandish sums of money, the greed trumps civility.
As a result, life gets tougher and more threatening, greater ignorance and more faith as a substitute to a greater many, all because of the system being rigged by comparatively so few. Is this how it should/was supposed to to our founding fathers; particularly with all the advancements of science and technology? If these things continue much longer, I don't think things will end well.
As a result, life gets tougher and more threatening, greater ignorance and more faith as a substitute to a greater many, all because of the system being rigged by comparatively so few. Is this how it should/was supposed to to our founding fathers; particularly with all the advancements of science and technology? If these things continue much longer, I don't think things will end well.
16
Hard hearted GOP Senators are about to make history by sending sick people to the poor house and grave yard. Their collective legacy will be set in stone by the coldest man in the world: McConnell. It is a done deal.
8
Could be worse: Obamacare
No, this will be far worse.
4
There is no one going to pay for a poor house either. There are bridges
Can we please start seeing more articles (like the one excerpted below) about WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON? Not the horse race -- what they are really doing:
"Let’s abandon the pretense.
"Republicans’ “health care” bill is not really about health care. . . . Instead, it’s about hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts — tax cuts that will quietly pave the way for more, and far larger, tax cuts.
". . . The presence of expensive tax cuts in a bill purportedly about health-care reform is not a side effect; it’s the entire point. They make it easier for Republicans’ (much bigger) individual and corporate tax cuts to sail through the Senate with minimal Democratic obstruction in a few months’ time.
"Why? Under normal circumstances, Democrats would almost certainly filibuster the coming tax overhaul, preventing it from ever getting to a vote. But Republicans can take the filibuster option away by using the “reconciliation” process, which is an option if, and only if, the tax bill doesn’t increase government deficits in the long term, relative to existing law.
"How do you keep tax cuts from increasing deficits relative to existing law? One useful tool is to change existing law — that is, to move the goalposts. Cutting taxes in the Obamacare repeal bill today lowers the revenue baseline against which a tax overhaul plan will be judged tomorrow."
Catherine Ramped in the Washington Post
"Let’s abandon the pretense.
"Republicans’ “health care” bill is not really about health care. . . . Instead, it’s about hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts — tax cuts that will quietly pave the way for more, and far larger, tax cuts.
". . . The presence of expensive tax cuts in a bill purportedly about health-care reform is not a side effect; it’s the entire point. They make it easier for Republicans’ (much bigger) individual and corporate tax cuts to sail through the Senate with minimal Democratic obstruction in a few months’ time.
"Why? Under normal circumstances, Democrats would almost certainly filibuster the coming tax overhaul, preventing it from ever getting to a vote. But Republicans can take the filibuster option away by using the “reconciliation” process, which is an option if, and only if, the tax bill doesn’t increase government deficits in the long term, relative to existing law.
"How do you keep tax cuts from increasing deficits relative to existing law? One useful tool is to change existing law — that is, to move the goalposts. Cutting taxes in the Obamacare repeal bill today lowers the revenue baseline against which a tax overhaul plan will be judged tomorrow."
Catherine Ramped in the Washington Post
22
Open democracy indeed,
All of them figure that with Trump, it can be rationalized...
they have made a deal with the devil....hopefully there will be enough people who are smart enough to see that...but this is America...I have my doubts.
All of them figure that with Trump, it can be rationalized...
they have made a deal with the devil....hopefully there will be enough people who are smart enough to see that...but this is America...I have my doubts.
7
The core philosophy for the Republicans and Conservatives in particular is do what ever you can for business and the rich who own them. I'm not being flippant. It is a core belief that the if rich and powerful do well, the country as a whole will do well. Businesses must be protected from the whims and needs of the undeserving population. The workers get paid for doing their work, that is their reward. Offering anything more, like health coverage, is stupid to consider on the part of the businesses. If they want health coverage they should earn more to buy it.
The truly incredible point to all this is, Republicans and Conservatives have convinced the vast majority of people who vote for them, who are not rich or business owners, that the Republican party represent their values and needs. Talk about voting against self interest.
The truly incredible point to all this is, Republicans and Conservatives have convinced the vast majority of people who vote for them, who are not rich or business owners, that the Republican party represent their values and needs. Talk about voting against self interest.
13
Do Republicans Have the Votes? I wondered how they have the nerve.
7
Occupy....harming tens of millions of Americans is easy when you have no conscience and the Lord of Mammon is looking over the Greedheads with a fresh glass of lucre to sooth their dark souls.
7
They obey Sauron and, like Saruman, expect everyone to bow to them and not notice that their robes aren't white.
2
Recent votes seem to show that Senators Murkowski and Collins vote against their own party when it does not matter. I think it has been kabuki theatre: the outcome has already been determined. McConnell knows the vice president will break a tie so he can afford to give a pass to two Republicans. Rand and Cruz are grandstanding now but I doubt that they will oppose any Republican health bill from the right. Portman and others may extract a lengthier demise for Medicaid and stay on board, claiming a victory for moderates as if taking longer to deny millions health insurance is neither extreme nor morally repugnant
9
It seems to me that the Republican's way of going about this is all about politics and not trying to improve and lower the cost of health insurance for all Americans. I think it will come back to bite them, but that will take years.
7
I think that if anything gets passed, the major effects will be postponed until after the 2018 elections and the worst of it will be felt after 2020. The spin doctors will come out claiming that Trumpcare is wonderful. Under these conditions, will Republicans really pay a price at the polls? After all, Republican voters will be told that it is "those people," the undeserving, who will feel the brunt of the cuts.
24
Why are they acting in secret? Because they are cheats and liars and deep down (one can hope) they may be ashamed ... for all the good it will do the rest of us.
How do these people live with themselves? How do they look themselves in the mirror every morning? Are they really so craven and devoid of anything remotely resembling decency and public mindedness, are they really so utterly insensitive to the needs of the public they swore to serve, are they truly so completely beholden to the rich that they will willingly let people die? Because that is what will happen.
And yes. i know. The answer most assuredly is, "Yes, they are."
How do these people live with themselves? How do they look themselves in the mirror every morning? Are they really so craven and devoid of anything remotely resembling decency and public mindedness, are they really so utterly insensitive to the needs of the public they swore to serve, are they truly so completely beholden to the rich that they will willingly let people die? Because that is what will happen.
And yes. i know. The answer most assuredly is, "Yes, they are."
134
There really is no surprise here. GREED is one of the "traits' of Republicans... they put profit ahead of health, ahead of the environment, ahead of education. Democrats seem to be ineffective at getting that message across to the public. The "proof" has been there before and it's there now. It shouldn't be that challenging to remind the electorate about how Republicans vote on these issues.
1
If the average American learned just a little about the way wealth is distributed in this country, we would ALL be up in arms about 22 million people losing healthcare to provide tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans.
Income Inequality:
https://youtu.be/QPKKQnijnsM
Income Inequality:
https://youtu.be/QPKKQnijnsM
1
Cowards! There is likely no government issue more important to the average American than their healthcare.
Let them debate the bill in front of the American people. If they support the bill let them explain why to the people who elected them.
Let them debate the bill in front of the American people. If they support the bill let them explain why to the people who elected them.
116
"Do Republicans Have the Votes to Pass the Health Bill?"
Since the Senate is working in secret, behind closed doors, just as the House did their most unacceptable versions, it is most likely that this bill will be unacceptable. The Senate does not even have a woman Senator as part of the group doing the writing.
McConnell and the republicans in the Senate are only a little bit more inclined to heed the needs of all citizens of America. The House bill would have taken medical care away from over 24 Million Americans. One word has leaked out of the Senate that they just intend to kill off the Medicaid portion of the Affordable Care Act a little bit slower than the House version.
Health care is a human right. It is unfortunate that there are people in Congress who do not believe that. If Medicaid is killed off, hundreds of rural hospitals will be forced to close because they depend on Medicaid to stay open and serve the citizens. I wonder what one of these Senators or Representatives would do if they were driving through a rural county, had a traffic wreck, were seriously injured and the nearest hospital was 40 miles away? Several hospitals in rural Georgia have closed or have announced they will be closing soon because our Governor did not expand Medicaid in our state.
Since the Senate is working in secret, behind closed doors, just as the House did their most unacceptable versions, it is most likely that this bill will be unacceptable. The Senate does not even have a woman Senator as part of the group doing the writing.
McConnell and the republicans in the Senate are only a little bit more inclined to heed the needs of all citizens of America. The House bill would have taken medical care away from over 24 Million Americans. One word has leaked out of the Senate that they just intend to kill off the Medicaid portion of the Affordable Care Act a little bit slower than the House version.
Health care is a human right. It is unfortunate that there are people in Congress who do not believe that. If Medicaid is killed off, hundreds of rural hospitals will be forced to close because they depend on Medicaid to stay open and serve the citizens. I wonder what one of these Senators or Representatives would do if they were driving through a rural county, had a traffic wreck, were seriously injured and the nearest hospital was 40 miles away? Several hospitals in rural Georgia have closed or have announced they will be closing soon because our Governor did not expand Medicaid in our state.
13
It was glorious last week to hear all the calls for bipartisanship following the shooting in Virginia. Maybe Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republicans should be reminded of that in writing the health care bill. Hearings on the bill would at least be a start.
7
It'll pass.
No matter no one knows what's in it, and the fallout will be long and painful for many.
No matter no one knows what's in it, and the fallout will be long and painful for many.
2
I’m an old white man and it just strikes me dumbfounded that all those other old white men with super-duper health care insurance are going to decide what’s best for the women of the country, the underemployed, unemployed, the poor, those with pre-existing conditions, the sick, and the like.
What these Republicans, Mitch McConnell being at the top, lack in common sense and compassion, manage to replace it with stupidity, ignorance, mercilessness, and ineptness.
One can only hope that those three women on the left will go with the Democrats.
What these Republicans, Mitch McConnell being at the top, lack in common sense and compassion, manage to replace it with stupidity, ignorance, mercilessness, and ineptness.
One can only hope that those three women on the left will go with the Democrats.
67
It's not stupidity, nor ignorance, nor ineptness -- they're smart cookies who know exactly what they're doing. But you got the "mercilessness" part right.
2
An all male panel making the rules for health care for all Americans. Of course they don't want it to be debating in the Senate. One of the women excluded from the panel might remark that their proposal doesn't cover contraception or maternity.
35
I wonder, once they have secretly tailored this bill to pass, whether they will vote on it in secret too? They might as well, since they obviously do not care what anyone except 52 Senate Republicans think about it.
6
Horse race reporting on something that might mean failing health, bankruptcy or even death for huge numberes of people? For shame.
4
The Republicans are obsessed with taking money needed for people to survive and shoveling it to millionaires. Whatever is left they want to give to the "defense" (who is actually attacking us?) industry and breaks for fossil fuels.
It's noteworthy that this is happening early in Trump's term. They hope that voters will have forgotten by the 2018 elections, and hope to distract them by ramping up a useless war in the meantime. All so that Republican legislators at all levels can remain in the corporate trough.
There is a cure available. It's called boycotting key advertisers for right wing media companies, especially including Fox News. Breitbart is reeling, having lost 90% of their ads for trampling on the truth less than Fox does every day. They won't change until we dish out some pain. The Democrats won't help us here, nor will competing media companies or even "green" organizations. Let's get started.
It's noteworthy that this is happening early in Trump's term. They hope that voters will have forgotten by the 2018 elections, and hope to distract them by ramping up a useless war in the meantime. All so that Republican legislators at all levels can remain in the corporate trough.
There is a cure available. It's called boycotting key advertisers for right wing media companies, especially including Fox News. Breitbart is reeling, having lost 90% of their ads for trampling on the truth less than Fox does every day. They won't change until we dish out some pain. The Democrats won't help us here, nor will competing media companies or even "green" organizations. Let's get started.
43
What health care bill?
Hey Harvey, have you seen a health care bill?
Hey Harvey, have you seen a health care bill?
5
It would not surprise me if at least 50 Senate Republicans were on the take from big money advocates of ACA repeal. Is anyone following the money?
9
Only 50?
1
13 old white men working on the health insurance bill. My uterus feels safe, how about yours?
74
Cincy...the Grand Uterine Party has you covered.....with a forced pregnancy....whether you like it or not.
Grand Old Perverts 2017
Grand Old Perverts 2017
14
We deserve the government we get...I held my nose when I voted for HRC however, what you see happening now never would have happened if she was elected....
"We need to go through a Trump in order to elect a Bernie Sanders"...Dems who voted for Trump
The social safety net will be deconstructed by then...gridlock would still be a fact but all the programs in place would have remained in place.
nuf said.
"We need to go through a Trump in order to elect a Bernie Sanders"...Dems who voted for Trump
The social safety net will be deconstructed by then...gridlock would still be a fact but all the programs in place would have remained in place.
nuf said.
5
Note that the three least conservative GOP senators are women. This tells you something.
1
It's unutterably shameful, starting with the fact that there are no women on the working group. My Senator Susan Collins usually is as moderate as McConnell allows her to be. She is a Repub first; I don't trust her to vote against this, even though it would decimate our rural and older state. Bouncing it back to the states doesn't help us here as long as we have the mini-Trump Paul Lepage as Governor, determined to cut state spending in any way possible.
Truly, truly shameful and not seriously addressing the many issues which must be addressed in the long term. It's just McConnell trying to get a "win" for his team in the dark of night, ever the procedural strategy man. History will not be kind to him.
Truly, truly shameful and not seriously addressing the many issues which must be addressed in the long term. It's just McConnell trying to get a "win" for his team in the dark of night, ever the procedural strategy man. History will not be kind to him.
59
How about a new nickname for him....Grim Reaper
2
I wish the New York Times would step peddling the fiction that Susan Collins is a "moderate."
Nothing in Collins career suggests she has ever acted as an independent voice when it counted.
Instead, like you said she is just another GOP drone that takes her marching orders from her boss Mitch McConnell.
Nothing in Collins career suggests she has ever acted as an independent voice when it counted.
Instead, like you said she is just another GOP drone that takes her marching orders from her boss Mitch McConnell.
4
Newsflash: she's not "your" senator. She's TRUMP'S senator. The fact that she supposedly represents your district means nothing.
1
I always say how many time does it take for Republicans to be hit over the head for thinking their voting for good people. Obviously a whole lot times because all there people support are wars, wall and pollution.
8
A tax cut for corporations and the 1% over the medical needs of the rest of America.
Sounds about right, given our current oligarchy/kleptocracy.
Vote 'em out before they take those rights away too.
Sounds about right, given our current oligarchy/kleptocracy.
Vote 'em out before they take those rights away too.
80
This is the death panel republicans were always warning us about!
124
Forget the ideology test, forget their bogus reasons for backing this monstrous fraud, forget happily reneging on promises the nation made to recipients of Medicare; how can anyone of these august phonies desire to force the Senate to vote on a bill, any bill, that their leadership refuses show them.
This is the ultimate in damnable behavior, neglect of duty, failure to keep the oath of office, and pig headed, me-first, anti American political thuggery.
My man Portman, he of the conversion to gay rights when he found out his kid was gay, is the very model of witless, pretty, borderline evil partisanship. His contempt for Ohioans is bursting from him like flames in British apartment building. Sadly, the results will not be much different.
Yet there he will sit, in his role as responsible American, chomping on Freedom Fries in the Senate basement.
The best part was hearing them yell, with spit flying from their lips and rage in their red eyes, that they had repeatedly "invited the Democrats to participate" and so felt no need to share the contents of this dastardly bill.
At least now the Dems have a good model for how to get legislation passed when its their turn again.
This is the ultimate in damnable behavior, neglect of duty, failure to keep the oath of office, and pig headed, me-first, anti American political thuggery.
My man Portman, he of the conversion to gay rights when he found out his kid was gay, is the very model of witless, pretty, borderline evil partisanship. His contempt for Ohioans is bursting from him like flames in British apartment building. Sadly, the results will not be much different.
Yet there he will sit, in his role as responsible American, chomping on Freedom Fries in the Senate basement.
The best part was hearing them yell, with spit flying from their lips and rage in their red eyes, that they had repeatedly "invited the Democrats to participate" and so felt no need to share the contents of this dastardly bill.
At least now the Dems have a good model for how to get legislation passed when its their turn again.
29
2018 can't get here fast enough!
Let them pass it -- the closer to the November, 2018 elections, the better.
8
Thank you for this intelligent, non hysterical discussion of the negotiations over the health care bill.
1
the only part of this "health care bill" that is non-negotiable is the tax cuts for the top 1%
9
Reservations? Cory Gardner has reservations about cuts to Medicaid? Please. You are being generous. That man has no backbone, he will do exactly what McConnell tells him to do. As an aside: he will not meet with concerned constituents about cuts to Medicaid but willingly jets off Manila to meet with Deuerte.
37
I imagine he'll be doing a lot of traveling OUTSIDE of the U.S. over the next several months -- anything to put distance -- a LOT of distance - between himself and his constituents.
1
My beloved country lies gasping for air in the jaws of the wolves of wall street, and reading and writing biting comments about it just makes me sadder.
Good people are being hurt, and dying early so that folks with too much stuff and too much power can grab even more.
That's all this is.
That is all that this ever was.
Good people are being hurt, and dying early so that folks with too much stuff and too much power can grab even more.
That's all this is.
That is all that this ever was.
64
A group of white. middle-aged men tackling diverse population health issues..hmmm....
33
I think most Americans have earned the right to drop dead early so millionaires and billionaires can have an extra yacht.
Isn't that what the Devolutionary War was fought for ?
The American Death Care Tax Cut Act and latest GOP Death Panel deserve a big round of funereal applause.
It's not easy to legislate death, but Republicans are sticking to their fatal guns, working hard under the cover of darkness, secrecy and corruption, and finding a way to kill average Americans.
Nice people.
Isn't that what the Devolutionary War was fought for ?
The American Death Care Tax Cut Act and latest GOP Death Panel deserve a big round of funereal applause.
It's not easy to legislate death, but Republicans are sticking to their fatal guns, working hard under the cover of darkness, secrecy and corruption, and finding a way to kill average Americans.
Nice people.
140
Why is Mitch McConnell given a conservative score at all? It's clear that he has no strong convictions of any kind.
34
yYes he does...tax cuts for the rich. That's his whole philosophy.
12
Turtles have shells. They withdraw into them whenever they don't feel safe. McConnell is a turtle. His strongest conviction is that his shell's narrow view of the world is the world. Just ask him. He'll tell you if he pokes his head out long enough to see the sun.
Actually he and his ilk don't deserve to be called conservatives; in reality, they're reactionaries. Journalists should look the word up and then start using it in their articles, essays and op-eds.
Closed doors. Secrecy. No discussion of what it contains. Is this how the Senate is supposed to work? This will impact millions of citizens, yet Republican senators proceed as if they are working on classified nuclear plans. This version of Trumpcare is probably awful, unfair, cruel and only helps the wealthy; that's why they don't want anyone to know what's in it.
If this passes the Senate, then we regular folks know what to do when re-election time comes along.
If this passes the Senate, then we regular folks know what to do when re-election time comes along.
110
Waiting for re-election is too late. This needs to be PREVENTED NOW. And one way to do that is to EDUCATE and ENLIGHTEN our ignorant public. Concentrate on states with Republican senators likely to vote for this bill, and EDUCATE their Republican electorate. Reach out to them. If the Republican electorate express concerns, their senators will have to listen.
2
But the crafting of this bill is happening behind closed doors, in secret. We deserve to know what's really in this bill that will affect the health care security of millions of Americans and their families.
If it's anything like the health care bill that was rammed through the House of Representatives, it risks the health of our nation's most vulnerable citizens to give the wealthy billions of dollars in tax cuts.
Contrary to Republican claims, the ACA was passed in 2010 after more than a year of public hearings and input from all stakeholders in the health care industry - including Congressional Republicans who did not control either house of Congress at that time.
However, that's not the case with the current bill to replace the ACA. It’s very clear why the Senate health repeal bill is being kept secret: Senate Republicans don’t want its harmful impact exposed.
In their private meetings and backroom conversations, these Senators are doing the bidding of President Trump. What are they working on? Denying millions of Americans access to affordable health care, gutting Medicaid, and making it almost impossible for seniors and people with pre-existing conditions to obtain health coverage.