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rushmc

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Dems have majorities in both Houses of the government. A filibuster proof majority in the Senate.

Why do they need Republicans to pass the shit cap n trade and "health care reform" bills?????

http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/us_health_care_overhaul/2009/07/27/240619.html

Oh, and by the way, before you trash newmax this is from AP;)
Quote



Senate GOP Pushes Dems from Gov't Healthcare

Monday, July 27, 2009 6:25 PM

Article Font Size






WASHINGTON -- After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits a requirement for businesses to offer coverage to their workers and lacks a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors, according to numerous officials.


Like bills drafted by Democrats, the proposal under discussion by six members on the Senate Finance Committee would bar insurance companies from denying coverage to any applicant. Nor could insurers charge higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions.


But it jettisons other core Democratic provisions in a reach for bipartisanship on an issue that has so far produced little.


The effort received a boost during the day from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, normally a close ally of Republicans. In a letter to committee leaders, the business group called for the panel to "act promptly, preferably before" the Senate's scheduled vacation at the end of next week. In doing so, the business organization dealt a blow to the Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other GOP lawmakers who have called repeatedly for Democrats to slow down.


In yet another boost for the drive to enact legislation, PhRMA, which represents drug companies, has purchased more than $500,000 worth of television ads to air during the week in nine states.


Obama's top domestic priority has suffered numerous setbacks in recent weeks, and Republicans have stepped up their criticism. Administration and Democratic leaders hope to show significant progress before lawmakers begin their monthlong recess in hopes of regaining momentum.


In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, "We're on schedule to do it now or do it whenever," when asked whether the House would complete its bill before lawmakers leave at the end of the week. Democrats called a meeting of all their House members late Monday afternoon.


In the Senate, officials stressed that no agreement has been reached on a bipartisan measure, and said there is no guarantee of one. They also warned that numerous key issues remain to be settled, including several options to pay for the legislation. They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss matters under private negotiations.


They said any legislation that emerges from the talks is expected to provide for a non-profit cooperative to sell insurance in competition with private industry, rather than giving the federal government a role in the marketplace. The White House and numerous Democrats in Congress have called for a government option to provide competition to private companies and hold down costs.


Officials also said a bipartisan compromise would not subject companies to a penalty if they declined to offer coverage to their workers. These businesses would be required to reimburse the government for part or all of any federal subsidies designed to help lower-income employees obtain insurance on their own.


Democratic-drafted legislation in the House includes both a penalty and a requirement for companies to share in the cost of covering employees.


Any measure along the lines under discussion could face difficulties on the Senate floor, where Democrats command a 60-vote majority.


Additionally, negotiators are likely to call for a commission to recommend long-term savings in Medicare that would take effect automatically unless overturned by Congress. Unlike some of the other provisions, that is an issue that unites the White House and business groups seeking to rein in the cost of medical care.


Among tax increases likely to be adopted is an excise tax of as much as 35 percent on insurance with very high annual premiums, perhaps over $25,000.


The senators involved in the negotiations are all members of the Senate Finance Committee, and include Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the chairman, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the senior Republican. Others participating are Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, and Republicans Olympia Snowe of Maine and Mike Enzi of Wyoming.


They have met for hours in recent weeks in Baucus' office, joined by aides and outside advisers such as actuaries summoned to explain arcane details of insurance. Douglas Elmendorf, head of the Congressional Budget Office, has also attended.


Baucus has been under intense pressure from the White House and Senate Democrats in recent weeks to convene the committee to vote out legislation to advance Obama's goal of extending health care to millions who lack it while curbing the explosive growth of health care costs overall. He has so far declined to do so, opting to give the bipartisan negotiations as much time as needed to succeed.


Several Democratic officials have said he recently pledged to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that the committee would meet next week to vote on legislation, a timetable that implies time is growing short for the bipartisan group to wrap up its work.


Much of the cost of the proposal would come from curbing the growth in fees to insurance companies and other providers under Medicare.


But congressional aides in both parties as well as lobbyists said a proposal limiting Flexible Savings Accounts to $2,000 annually is also a strong possibility. FSAs permit the use of pre-tax income to pay for items such as health care and child care.


Negotiators also are considering fees on the manufacturers of medical devices and on the makers of both brand name and generic drugs coming onto the market.


To cut down on the cost of the bill, the bipartisan group may include only one year of a long-term plan to adjust reimbursement fees under Medicare.


Officials said the legislation under discussion in a series of private meetings would likely cost under $1 trillion, include an expansion of Medicaid, and provide federal subsidies for individuals and families up to 300 percent of poverty to spread health care more broadly.


Individuals would have a mandate to buy affordable insurance, but companies would not have a requirement to offer it.


It was not clear whether companies would be required to reimburse Medicaid, the government health care program for the poor, for the cost of covering any employees enrolled.


Nor was it clear what, if any, provision the proposal would include to make sure companies did not simply withdraw insurance as a fringe benefit to millions of workers who now have it.






© 2009 Associated Press.


"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

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>Why do they need Republicans to pass the shit cap n trade
>and "health care reform" bills?????

"After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise. . ."



Do avoided my question. Republicans are not needed to pass any bill. Why are they saying they need the R's?
"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

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>Republicans are not needed to pass any bill. Why are they saying they
>need the R's?

The bipartisan group does, because it's bipartisan. The democrat-only bill does not, because it was drafted by democrats alone. It says it right there in the article.

In any case, are you actually bitching because the democrats are including the republicans in their decision-making process? I'll remember that the next time you complain about the lack of bipartisanship.

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>Republicans are not needed to pass any bill. Why are they saying they
>need the R's?

The bipartisan group does, because it's bipartisan. The democrat-only bill does not, because it was drafted by democrats alone. It says it right there in the article.

In any case, are you actually bitching because the democrats are including the republicans in their decision-making process? I'll remember that the next time you complain about the lack of bipartisanship.



Bill, I am not bitching about anything. The Obama admin has stated they "need" the republicans to pass health care. That is a lie. They have the majority in both houses. They DONT need republicans to do any of this. Bipatisan spew is bull shit. It seems you have bought into it. Why?

And what do you mean by "bipartisan group"?
"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

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Dems have majorities in both Houses of the government. A filibuster proof majority in the Senate.

Why do they need Republicans to pass the shit cap n trade and "health care reform" bills?????



A bill that passes 60-40 on party lines will not hold up at the next power shift. If the goal is to accomplish legislation that will be meaningful, it should involve the Republicans.

It's also very hard to get the 20 centrist Democrats to stay unified.

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Dems have majorities in both Houses of the government. A filibuster proof majority in the Senate. Why do they need Republicans to pass the shit...



"Blue Dog" democrats. Even many of the Dems don't want Obama's legislation. They need enough Repubs to offset the uncooperative Dems.

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Because not all democrats are fucking idiots - just most of them. They need some fucking idiots from the right to join them to pass bills that are just fucking stupid - like cap and trade or ObamaCare or the card check fiasco.

Hopefully all three die quietly in committee.

[barf]
Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

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And what do you mean by "bipartisan group"?



The White House probably considers it "bipartisan" if they simply talk to republicans during the drafting of the legislation...:S:S

However, they will be crossed by Sen. Snowe and Sen. Collins of Maine just to add to the insult/injury if the senate ever does vote on the health bill.

As much as I would like the conservative democrats to rue the day in the House, I wonder how many of them will really stand up to Speaker Pelosi. Despite them, she probably has enough of a comfortable margin in the House to render them a non-factor.
So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

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Quote

Dems have majorities in both Houses of the government. A filibuster proof majority in the Senate. Why do they need Republicans to pass the shit...



"Blue Dog" democrats. Even many of the Dems don't want Obama's legislation. They need enough Repubs to offset the uncooperative Dems.


Of course your point and a couple others down thread here are on the mark.

They dont "need" the R's they "want" them. And the reasons are many.

But, at least for this bill, it seems we have enough Americans to stop this bill. Regardless of party.

And everybody, do not stop calling, writing, emailing and finding these a holes during the bread. In the end it is us stopping this with our comment and input. It is bad law. And every damn one of them knows it>:(
"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

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In any case, are you actually bitching because the democrats are including the republicans in their decision-making process?

Make no mistake about this one, the republicans have proposed 38 amendments to the bill and the democrats have rejected ALL without discussion! That is not including them in any decision-making process.

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Because there are just enough Democratic legislators with their brains still plugged in (aka not making decisions based purely on emotion) to keep them from passing a piece of shit legislation.
" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

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