Democrats Threaten Reconciliation After Healthcare Summit

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"Soul-Searching?" How about they all do some "Constitution-Searching?" Our politicians are prostituting our system to get what they want, not what the people want, and definitely not within the scope of the powers granted them by the Constitution! Get back to basics! Maybe if we weren't taxed to death we could afford our own medical care. I don't want the government in my life any more that to provide the military. The rest, I can take care of if they leave the money in my pocket. STOP THE SPENDING!!!!!

Julie LaBrecque of OK 4:27PM March 03, 2010

Enough already. Health care insurance is far too important to far to many people for any further delay in correcting AS MANY of the problems as possible as soon as possible. The Republicans' step-by-step approach is too little too late and should have been started, if Republicans are actually serious, during the first or second year of the G.W.Bush presidency. They had the chance but failed to start the ball rolling and are now, years later, standing in the way (along with their pals, the private insurers and Big Pharma).
Of course, the big question is whether the monsrosity of a plan the Democrats have engineered is the answer. Few of us apparently think so, hence President Obama's summit and now a promised announcement concerning a streamlined version incorporating both Democrat and Republican contributions.
Whatever is in this new version, if Democrats are satisfied, I say run with it, ram it through, and await the consequences of such bold action in a town known for a lack of guts on the important stuff. If the rammed-through "plan" has any sure-fire ways of halting the spiraling cost of health care in America without stripping out significant benefits, there will be partying in the streets. If not, shame on the Democrats for being yet again unwise.
Reconciliation, if necessary AND successful, could be the way Dems have been looking for to bring a little sunlight into their gloom. Since I'm as much in need of cost efficient, good healthcare coverage as you are, let's hope, pray, and, just in case, bring out the lucky rabbit's foot.

Ron W. Smith of UT 12:55PM March 03, 2010

Not too many years ago,in referring to drugs, the saying was "just say no." Since we have wasted a year plus on the government controlled government sponsered health plans,mostly behind closed doors when explanations were asked for, JUST SAY NO and go ahead with the huge addional tax burden on US. The next thing is to throw out ALL members of congress, having the new crop pass a TERM LIMITS law, and get on to representing US.

Jack Gourley of NC 6:20PM March 02, 2010

Without Tort Reform, Interstate Insurance Competition and a War on Immigration there should be NO Health Care Bill!

JIM PETRILLO of NY 4:16PM March 02, 2010

Here's another place to find more money to pay for universal coverage, by the way...
http://www.taf.org
The amount of waste and fraud within the system is staggering.
Imagine how much could be paid for if such waste and fraud were curbed? And before subjecting "the little guy" to fines over the individual mandate that's being debated.

Angie Koutrotsios of IL 3:11PM March 02, 2010

When will the Republicans get their heads out of the sand? When will they face reality and quit playing their dead-head games? Of the last 22 'stall games,' the Republicans staged 17 of them. But, of course, when they do it it's alright. We need to clean up/out Washington by VOTING NO TO ALL INCUMBENTS. As long as we keep them in Washington, they will continue to play games, stall progress, continue being the party of no, and obstruct any changes for the best. They are more committed to destroying President Obama than in doing what is best for our nation. The majority of politicians have been there 20-30 years and sat there and did NOTHING while our nation went into the worst decline ever. We don't need or want party ideaologist who are so controlled by their party they refuse to use common sense and leave principles at the door because they are more loyal to the party than to their constituents. As long as we keep voting in the same old farts our nation will remain stagnant, unproductive, and will continue to decline while our senators and congressmen play party games. As voters, we need to clean out the incompetent, the irresponsible, the game-players and the corrupt. The ball is in our court. Do not vote for any incumbents next election.

Ann Marie of IL 3:07PM March 02, 2010

Re: "The basic Democratic bill is a complex rewrite of existing law designed to extend coverage to 30 million uninsured people. It includes requiring most Americans to get health insurance and provides subsidies for many in the form of tax credits."
Many are wondering just how on Earth coercing most American citizens to enter into a contractual agreement with private insurers (sans a public option to introduce needed competition to bring costs down) is even remotely fair, let alone even remotely constitutional (unless, of course, one subscribes to the theory that somewhere within the shadows of the US constitution, there's a right to coerce otherwise free beings into contracts).
Oh, but wait. They're claiming it is reasonable as regulation of interstate commerce, right? Except that non-participation sort of exempts one from being an active participant in that part of so-called interstate commerce.
The real solution should lie in getting coverage only for those who want it and cannot afford it or qualify for it (in the case of pre-ex conditions and being part of an extremely high risk pool otherwise unable to qualify for a standard policy).
And if paying for a program that the overwhelming majority of the American people can seem to agree on is an issue, might it be suggested that penalizing insurers with a fine for excessively late payment of valid claims be enacted, along with penalties for any hospital system that has an excessive amount of over-billing or coding errors, first, before fines are levied on ordinary people?
Just where, in the US constitution, is there a right for a government to force private citizens into a contractual relationship with a private, for-profit entity, and just for having been born into the USA?
Here's hoping the Supreme Court takes up the issue if it even gets that far, because the individual mandate, on principle, is a disgrace (this coming from one who is insured, too).

Angie Koutrotsios of IL 3:01PM March 02, 2010

I watched the health summit and was not surprised by it's lack of progress. In comparaing the Repubs vs Dems health care plan, it is almost identical, except the Repubs want to give more to the special interest groups. What they are asking for, free market, has been tried for the past fifty years with no success, on the contrary, the industry has gotten more greedy and corrupt and the Repubs only want to protect the industry and their own self-interest...contributions from the lobbyist---instead of the American public. The party of NO is more bent on, more interested in destroying President Obama than in what is the best for the nation. We had eight years of Bush and the Republican Party and ended up with a dire financial crisis, millions of lost jobs, millions of lost homes due to foreclosure, lost savings and pensions. I'm sorry but the Republicans are not fit to run anything, not after the mess they have left us. Their claim that the Dems have much to fear---well look out, because the Republicans have a lot more to fear, all they have is a few million 'conservatives,' like dimwit Palin to support them. The election proved that.

A. Geary of IA 2:49PM March 02, 2010

Even liberal Warren Buffet says Obama, Pelosi and Reid should give up on these two terrible bills (Obamacare) and start over.
Over 70% of Americans don't like it.
What is the matter with these dunderhead Democrats? Why do they keep sticking their elitist heads in the sand and refusing to listen?

Ken of WI 2:10PM March 02, 2010

Republican vs Democrat - does it really matter?
It's time to stop the finger pointing and vote for "REAL" change.
If anyone votes for "ANY" incumbent you are just asking for more of the same. “We the people” need to make a "No Incumbent" stance for the next 6 years and cycle everyone of them out of office.
Just look at the last year, if the health care takeover was such a great bill the Democrats had all the votes they needed. They didn’t need a single Republican vote and they couldn't pull it off. Add to the fact that if this health care bill is so good for the people, then why aren't every elected official required to be on the same plan?
Then go back a few years to when the Republicans held the house and senate, they spent money like a bunch of drunk sailors. And guess what a lot of the same Republicans are still there.
If we do not hold OUR representatives accountable then this is our fault, no one else’s.
VOTE NO TO IMCUMBENTS
IN 2010, 2012, & 2014

Larry of CA 10:14AM March 02, 2010