Health care reform debate nears final days
Well, it looks like the debate over health care is nearly over, or so Congress
would have us believe. After several versions of health care reform emerged from their different Congressional committees and were all combined into the two versions that passed the House and the Senate, respectively, the Democrats are still wrangling among themselves over this issue. They have now released what they are calling the final version, but it isn’t, not really.
The final bill that was released yesterday, with a lot of fanfare from the CBO, stating how it would reduce the deficit $138 billion over a ten year period, is not the version that was passed by either house of Congress. It is instead, the reconciliation bill that we have all heard so much about and I think that is important to note. This is what the House of Representatives wants, what they say is needed to fix the problems they have with the version that has been passed by the Senate. So, we started out with a handful of bills, cut them down to two, after a lot of special deals were negotiated behind closed doors, and now there are three.
REDUCING THE DEFICIT BY RAISING TAXES!!
It is important to note just how this bill will reduce the deficit (if it actually does). I’ll give you three guesses and the first two do not count. Make no mistake about it, the Democrats are going to finance this bill, at least partially, through higher taxes and fees. These are going to be levied mostly against higher income earners, but there is also a fee or two that will be tossed at the companies who offer health insurance. Are they so naive to believe the insurance companies will not pass those fees down to their customers? Here is a rundown of some of the new taxes and fees and the amount of revenue they are expected to produce. The Associated Press has a more detailed article, if you are interested.
Projected revenues from the tax increases over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation:
The new tax on high-cost insurance plans, $32 billion.
A fee on the makers and importers of brand-name drugs, $27 billion.
An excise tax on the makers and importers of certain medical devices, $20 billion.
An annual fee on health insurance providers, starting in 2014, $60 billion.
The repeal of a tax loophole that could allow paper manufacturers to get tax credits for generating alternative fuel in the paper making process, $24 billion.
The Democrats would have us believe that this will be the final version, but I have my doubts. Does anyone think the Senate will pass this reconciliation bill without a lot of debate of their own? Anyone who has been following this process and the process of politics in general, has to know that will not be the case. There will undoubtedly be a Senate version of the reconciliation bill, so where will that leave us? Your guess is as good as mine, but I have questions about the process.
We have already talked about the Slaughter Solution or how the House will “deem and pass” the Senate health care reform bill, without actually voting on the bill itself. The constitutionality or lack thereof of that has already been discussed, but let me ask this. The “deeming and passing” of the Senate’s bill has always been contingent upon the passage of the reconciliation bill. What happens if or when the Senate decides they don’t like what is in the third bill? It’s not a very big stretch to think that may happen, given the nature of Congress.
There is one more thing that I feel is important to point out. The news stories this morning are still adamant about pointing out how the Republicans have been and still are strongly against what the Democrats are trying to do. It seems they would have us believe the GOP is solely to blame for what has gone wrong with this process in the last year, that they are to blame for the failure thus far to pass a viable health care plan. The Democrats and the media can spin this however they wish, but it is simply not true.
The Democrats are the ones who have failed in this process, on two different fronts. First, it was the infighting of the Democrats who caused so many special deals to be cut, just to get the votes they needed. They had an overwhelming majority and still failed to pass their agenda. Secondly, they have completely and utterly failed to listen to the American people. They are intent on enacting a version of health care reform that we do not want. When it comes time for the November elections, they will have no one to blame but themselves.
As opposed to Tax Cuts for the Wealthy, this bill does address fiscal responsibility. It isn’t the best bill congress could have considered but 40% of the Senate wasn’t even trying at all.
“They are intent on enacting a version of health care reform that we do not want. When it comes time for the November elections, they will have no one to blame but themselves.” So we should only pass bills that can get a person reelected? -Come on, that ain’t democracy!
Not sure why you were in the spam folder, David. I will try to correct that.
No, I do not expect Congress to only pass bills that will get them elected, but I think they have a responsibility to at least consider what the American people are saying. The Democrats are not doing that.
I would humbly submit that democracy would also entail following the Constitution and actually voting on the bill.
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I would agree, Matt. There is no way I can be convinced that “deem and pass” is a legitimate method of passing any legislation.
I agree with your accessment. It is the Democrats that have botched this bill from the bwginning. They had a super majority and should have been able to pass this bill long ago without the Republicans, but theur own greed led them to aquire special deals to different states. I think it was Mike that had the post about how the Democrats super majority actually hurt them in this process because it made the undecided Democrats to have more than helpful power. This led to the Cornhusker kickback adn the Luisiana Purchase that drew the ire of the American people.
I too share your concern that the Senate will not adopt the “fixes” that the House proposed in full. This will lead to even more delaying tactics and votes. Even with passage on Sunday by the House this battle is still long from over.
I agree with Larry and Mr. Pink Eyes as well. The Democrats could have put ANYTHING on the floor and had a vote at any time. For the better part of a year, they had unbeatable majorities, and the Republicans could have done nothing more that watch from the cheap seats. The GOP were never part of the process, and when there was a nationally televised debate, they looked reasonable ad prepared, and the President and the Dems looked like petulant children.
It’s not over yet. Mind you, it isn’t looking all that encouraging, but the day can still be won.
Matt´s last blog ..Blogger Debate Series Continued – Third Party Viability question 2 rebuttal
God help us in these final hours. I am sick at all the palm greasing that is going on to buy votes. Where and when will this madness end.
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I think the real question that should be asked is why is passing a flawed healthcare bill more important than creating jobs? Why has the President spent so much of his political capital on pushing through a bill that the majority of Americans do not want? One might begin to think that there is another agenda here that we don’t yet see. If you truly want to help Americans acquire health care, then create an environment that creates jobs.
No one has bothered to ask why the federal government isn’t knocking down the state to state barriers that prevent folks from purchasing out of state insurance. I mean after all doesn’t that fall under interstate commerce clause. This whole thing stinks, and it makes me wonder what’s really going on in this country. Are they doing this for a better health care system, or is there something more sinister behind the bill? I believe it’s the latter.
John Carey´s last blog ..The American Crisis
I’d have to agree with you there, John. The focus has been all wrong, because the real goal is a grab for power/control in the Left’s continual effort to transform the United States into the European Union West.
Sirrahc
http://AViewFromTheRight.wordpress.com
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I think that is a legitimate question, John. It may be that he feels he can make a bigger impact on our country by enacting health care reform. At any rate, he is certainly going about this in the wrong way. Of course, in true liberal fashion, he is taking the believe that more government is better government to a new extreme.