Congress // Current

Kucinich's No Vote on Healthcare Explained: HR3962 is Pro-Insurance Industry

Congressman Dennis Kucinich after voting against H.R. 3962 addresses why he voted NO, stating (http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=153995):

"We have been led to believe that we must make our health care choices only within the current structure of a predatory, for-profit insurance system which makes money not providing health care. We cannot fault the insurance companies for being what they are. But we can fault legislation in which the government incentivizes the perpetuation, indeed the strengthening, of the for-profit health insurance industry, the very source of the problem. When health insurance companies deny care or raise premiums, co-pays and deductibles they are simply trying to make a profit. That is our system."

"Clearly, the insurance companies are the problem, not the solution. They are driving up the cost of health care. Because their massive bureaucracy avoids paying bills so effectively, they force hospitals and doctors to hire their own bureaucracy to fight the insurance companies to avoid getting stuck with an unfair share of the bills. The result is that since 1970, the number of physicians has increased by less than 200% while the number of administrators has increased by 3000%. It is no wonder that 31 cents of every health care dollar goes to administrative costs, not toward providing care. Even those with insurance are at risk. The single biggest cause of bankruptcies in the U.S. is health insurance policies that do not cover you when you get sick."

"But instead of working toward the elimination of for-profit insurance, H.R. 3962 would put the government in the role of accelerating the privatization of health care. In H.R. 3962, the government is requiring at least 21 million Americans to buy private health insurance from the very industry that causes costs to be so high, which will result in at least $70 billion in new annual revenue, much of which is coming from taxpayers. This inevitably will lead to even more costs, more subsidies, and higher profits for insurance companies - a bailout under a blue cross."

"By incurring only a new requirement to cover pre-existing conditions, a weakened public option, and a few other important but limited concessions, the health insurance companies are getting quite a deal. The Center for American Progress' blog, Think Progress, states, 'since the President signaled that he is backing away from the public option, health insurance stocks have been on the rise.' Similarly, healthcare stocks rallied when Senator Max Baucus introduced a bill without a public option. Bloomberg reports that Curtis Lane, a prominent health industry investor, predicted a few weeks ago that 'money will start flowing in again' to health insurance stocks after passage of the legislation. Investors.com last month reported that pharmacy benefit managers share prices are hitting all-time highs, with the only industry worry that the Administration would reverse its decision not to negotiate Medicare Part D drug prices, leaving in place a Bush Administration policy."

"During the debate, when the interests of insurance companies would have been effectively challenged, that challenge was turned back. The 'robust public option' which would have offered a modicum of competition to a monopolistic industry was whittled down from an initial potential enrollment of 129 million Americans to 6 million. An amendment which would have protected the rights of states to pursue single-payer health care was stripped from the bill at the request of the Administration. Looking ahead, we cringe at the prospect of even greater favors for insurance companies."

"Recent rises in unemployment indicate a widening separation between the finance economy and the real economy. The finance economy considers the health of Wall Street, rising corporate profits, and banks' hoarding of cash, much of it from taxpayers, as sign of an economic recovery. However in the real economy - in which most Americans live - the recession is not over. Rising unemployment, business failures, bankruptcies and foreclosures are still hammering Main Street."

"This health care bill continues the redistribution of wealth to Wall Street at the expense of America's manufacturing and service economies which suffer from costs other countries do not have to bear, especially the cost of health care. America continues to stand out among all industrialized nations for its privatized health care system. As a result, we are less competitive in steel, automotive, aerospace and shipping while other countries subsidize their exports in these areas through socializing the cost of health care."

"Notwithstanding the fate of H.R. 3962, America will someday come to recognize the broad social and economic benefits of a not-for-profit, single-payer health care system, which is good for the American people and good for America's businesses, with of course the notable exceptions being insurance and pharmaceuticals."

Please know the struggle for real health care reform will continue. Contribute, we can make a difference.

Thank you.
The Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee
http://kucinich.us/hcpetitionCongressman Dennis Kucinich after voting against H.R. 3962 addresses why he voted NO,... more

JonRaymond
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14 hours ago
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Overwhelming Support...

http://www.c-span.org/Health-Care-House-Debate.aspx Yesterday I listened to almost... more

lucasives
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Educate Yourself

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3962: The House of Representatives... more

lucasives
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16 hours ago
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What's in the House healthcare bill?

The Wall St Journal does a great breakdown of the House bill and who it affects.... more

afitzgerald
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16 hours ago
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18 comments

Kucinich: Why I voted NO

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Kucinich-Why-I-Voted-NO-by-Dennis-Kucinich-091108-705.... more

JanforGore
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19 hours ago
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43 comments

Raw Video: Health Care Bill Passes in the House

Congress passes HR3962 as Pelosi reads the vote count. Progressives and other... more

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1 day ago
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1 comment

Food lobby mobilizes as soda tax bubbles up

Washington lobbyists have been enjoying a multi-million-dollar sugar rush from the food industry.

Soft drink makers, supermarket companies, agriculture and the fast-food business have poured millions into campaigning against what they fear could be a burgeoning national movement to raise money for health care reform by taxing sweetened beverages.

During the first nine months of 2009, the industry groups stepped up their lobbying in Congress. They have spent more than $24 million on the issue of a national excise tax on sweetened beverages and on other legislative and regulatory issues, according to an examination of lobbying reports filed with the Senate Office of Public Records. The review shows that 21 companies and organizations reported that they lobbied specifically on the proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages - which among other things would include sodas, juice drinks and chocolate milk.

About $5 million of the money was spent on a national advertising campaign aimed at Capitol Hill lawmakers and promoting a newly formed coalition called Americans Against Food Taxes . The group bills itself on its website as a coalition of "responsible individuals, financially-strapped families, [and] small and large businesses" but its 400-plus membership list is dominated by industry heavyweights such as Burger King Corporation, Coca Cola, Pepsico and Domino's Pizza.

Many health officials and advocacy groups have argued for years that sugary drinks, particularly those with high-fructose corn syrup, have been key contributors to a rise in obesity rates in the United States, especially among children. Some argue that the time is right for a soda tax, which they say could not only cut consumption but also generate revenue to close state budget gaps and pay for new health care programs.

A proposal for a national excise tax on soft drinks surfaced in a May funding policy options paper during the Senate Finance Committee's deliberations on health care reform. Food lobbyists attacked then and continued their efforts in July when President Obama raised the possibility of a soda tax in an interview with Men's Health magazine. The proposal has not emerged in any of the health care reform bills still in play on Capitol Hill.

But the issue may be gaining traction in some key states. This week, California lawmakers are holding a high-profile hearing in Los Angeles to examine the link between childhood obesity and sugary drinks. In New York, Gov. David Paterson has revived the idea of a sugared beverage tax after a previous proposal was shot down by the legislature earlier this year in the face of industry opposition.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/soda-tax-mobilizes-food-l_n_345840.htmlWashington lobbyists have been enjoying a multi-million-dollar sugar rush from the... more

atomiclegion
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Landmark health insurance bill passes House

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Rep. quotes infant on House floor: 'Maddie wants patient choice'

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snarly
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Amendment to Automatically Enroll Members of Congress in the Public Option

http://fleming.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=55§iontree=29,55 11/04/09 On... more

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You can access all Congressional informaiton

http://www.examiner.com/x-14931-Pittsburgh-Public-Policy-Examiner

patomalley
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237 millionaires in Congress

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Congress Rejects Biased Goldstone Report

ADL Praises Moral Stance Of Congress In Rejecting Biased Goldstone Report

New York, NY, November 4, 2009 …The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the moral stance taken by the U.S. House of Representatives in passing Resolution 867, which calls on the President and the Secretary of State "to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the 'Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' in multilateral fora."

The resolution, which passed yesterday by a vote of 344-36, refers to the so-called "Goldstone Report," named for the head of the investigative mission, Justice Richard Goldstone, which was commissioned by the United Nations Human Rights Council in response to Israel's operation in Gaza in January 2009. The mission was mandated by the council to investigate "Israeli violations" during the war.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

The U.S. House of Representatives took the moral high ground in rejecting the biased conclusions and undue recommendations of the Goldstone Report. If the Goldstone Report's conclusions and recommendations are pursued, it could undermine all states engaged in asymmetrical warfare against terrorist groups operating from within urban areas who use human shields.

The overwrought recommendations and flawed methodology and findings of the Goldstone Report disqualify it as a legitimate basis for action to address human rights violations. By approving a resolution which appropriately labels the report as fundamentally biased, Congress has created a model for action and response for all principled nations. Rejecting the prejudiced Goldstone report sets an example and a standard for other countries to follow. We urge other legislatures around the world to echo the sentiments expressed by the House vote.

ADL expressed appreciation to Reps. Howard Berman, D-CA, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL, for their leadership on this important issue.

thank you, Congress, for once.ADL Praises Moral Stance Of Congress In Rejecting Biased Goldstone Report New... more

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Boehner Would Repeal Medicare

He says the government will make your health care decisions for you. This is a... more

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HR3962: No Bill is Better than a Bad Bill

Sucks.

Yes there are positives touted by Pelosi et al. But the negatives outweigh the positives:

- No effective cost containment mechanisms
- A negligible pubic option (you remember the public option don't you?)
- Will not result in making health care more affordable
- Many provisions that will benefit corporate stakeholders (no kidding, it was written by insurance lobbyists)
- This loophole has been added—“while making sure that such a
change doesn’t further destabilize the current individual health insurance
market.”
- No say over reimbursement and
coverage policies

All of this from a progressive health reform website. The article contines with the following:
__________________________________________________
In sum, this $1.055 trillion plan over ten years will not fix the major problems of cost and affordable access to health care in our deteriorating system, will add new layers of bureaucracy and complexity to the present system, is not fiscally responsible, and is not sustainable.

What to do now? Rather than accept an unworkable bill that is politically expedient, we would be better off to make a major course change. The best first option would be to call for a floor vote, as originally promised by the House Speaker Pelosi, for the amendment proposed by Anthony Weiner (D-NY) to substitute HR 676, a single-payer proposal, for HR 3962. If that fails, shelving this bill would be the best option, but if that is not possible, lawmakers should be pressed to retain the amendment proposed by Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) to allow states to experiment with single-payer plans, as a number of states would like to do (eg. California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, New Mexico, New York and Pennsylvania). That amendment has already been passed by a rare bipartisan vote of 27-19 in the House Education and Labor Committee.
_________________________________________________

http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/blog/john-geyman-md-pnhp/2009/11/05/health-care-reform-2009-no-bill-is-better-than-a-bad-billSucks. Yes there are positives touted by Pelosi et al. But the negatives outweigh... more

JonRaymond
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4 days ago
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HR3962 Hype: Affordable Health Care for America Act

This article defines HR3962 in detail with links to the bill text and bullet points on... more

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4 days ago
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1 comment

Sign in an INDIANA store front window... [Humor]

'WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, NANCY PELOSI, HARRY REID, AND ALL... more

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2009 election round-up: NYC, NY-23, NJ and VA, Maine

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afitzgerald
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6 comments

Why Keep Geithner?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33586124/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_meeting/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_meeting

Ratigan: There are people who also understand the intricacies of finance and policy, but whose allegiances to the taxpayer are clearer.

A year ago it was revealed to the American people that our banking system was a legalized Ponzi scheme in which bank and insurance CEOs paid themselves billions of dollars in personal compensation to lend and insure assets with money they didn't have to customers who couldn't pay back the loans.

In those dark days between the fall of Lehman Brothers and before the presidential election, we were often carried through that time by the small glimmer of hope in that at least we would soon have a new leader who would hopefully fix this mess and punish those responsible.

Yet in the past 9 months, not only has the administration not fixed anything, they have made things much worse for anyone who isn't a Wall Street banker. Therefore, we are past the point where anyone in power still gets the benefit of the doubt and the process of taking back our country for all citizens must begin now.

This is why I think we must ask if U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is still the right person for the job. It has become clear recently that back in his previous role as New York Federal Reserve Governor, he unnecessarily gave billions of dollars of U.S. tax money to banks and insurance companies with few strings attached. And it is now becoming clear that his lack of meaningful action is helping many of these same banks steal more by legalizing their most economically dangerous, socially destructive and self-enriching practices.

To stop the theft from continuing, it requires that the most basic rules of capitalism be applied to our banks and that our future national wealth be safeguarded by the U.S. Government. The current custodian of America's wealth, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, is not doing a good job of either. The time for corrective action is now.

more at link

Wow, actual main-stream news calling out the Goldman Sachs establishment. No wonder Dylan got kicked off of CNBC's Fast Money, and lets not forget Jeff Macke as well.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33586124/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_meeting/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_me... more

rodstradamus
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A Little Girl on an Airplane [Humor]

LITTLE GIRL ON A PLANE A Georgia Congressman was seated next to a little girl on... more

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6 days ago
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tagged w/ Congress

Kucinich's No Vote on Healthcare Explained: HR3962 is Pro-Insurance Industry

Overwhelming Support...

Educate Yourself

What's in the House healthcare bill?

Kucinich: Why I voted NO

Raw Video: Health Care Bill Passes in the House

Food lobby mobilizes as soda tax bubbles up

Landmark health insurance bill passes House

Rep. quotes infant on House floor: 'Maddie wants patient choice'

Amendment to Automatically Enroll Members of Congress in the Public Option

You can access all Congressional informaiton

237 millionaires in Congress

Congress Rejects Biased Goldstone Report

Boehner Would Repeal Medicare

HR3962: No Bill is Better than a Bad Bill

HR3962 Hype: Affordable Health Care for America Act

Sign in an INDIANA store front window... [Humor]

2009 election round-up: NYC, NY-23, NJ and VA, Maine

Why Keep Geithner?

A Little Girl on an Airplane [Humor]

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