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Democrats Contemplate Massive Tax Increase to Pay for Obama's Healthcare Plan

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Other than the usual "its broken" there has been no fresh ideas for medical cost containment coming from the Obama camp. It really is pathetic when Obama refers to the "waste" in the system. Although its easy to hate the dreaded HMO the "waste" as he puts it doesn't come from insurers. Their profit levels are already regulated on the state level.
The real costs come from facility charges in hospitals who run every test imaginable to confirm a diagnosis....Guess what....That's partially why we have great healthcare. Any substitute will lead to rationing and inferior care for the 200+MM with insurance. As for the waste in that system you minimize that by limiting the liability through tort reform.
The uninsured who cant get coverage because of pre-existing conditions should have been addressed to large degree under Clinton's HIPAA law. Don't revamp the system to call it your own..Obama..Expand the law to reduce or eliminate declinations.
Federalize Medicaid so the poor and unemployed have coverage options, create a separate Federal Long Term Care facility program, require documentation for illegals to participate in either and remove the burden on the states who for the most part have screwed the management of these programs up.
Set standard reimbursement levels for all insurers, providers, facilities so that you truly create a competitive private market.
Don't screw up one of the things that make us great.

Bryan of NY 5:14PM July 01, 2009

Don't pass any health plan unless it also applies to Congress.

Jill of CA 5:55PM June 24, 2009

I GUESS MY CONCERN IS WHY IS TALK RADIO ALL SAYING AND SENDING THE SAME MESSAGE AND YET THE AMERICAN PUBLIC APPARENTLY PAYS NO ATTENTION TO WHAT IS COMING. WHEN WILL WE ALL SMARTEN UP WHEN IT IS TO LATE TO GET OUR FREEDOM BACK? OBAMA HAS TO BE STOPPED. WE DON'T HAVE 4 YEARS TO WAIT TO STOP HIM. WE NEED TO CALL OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND GET THEM TO ACT IN OUR BEST INTEREST AND WE NEED TO DO IT NOW

DON MCDUFF of ME 9:10AM June 24, 2009

Its going to cost an awful lot of money to put any kind of healthcare in place. But people are missing the real reason why the dems want some kind of healthcare for everyone. Just like the dems have taken over the banks, auto companys and insurance companys, they want to take over the complete heathcare system in this country. They will do it in small increments so no one will notice until its too late. We are in small increments being taken over and we can blame ourselves for it. You know
"Share the wealth"

Neal of GA 8:54PM June 22, 2009

I finally figured out why the Democrats are so eager to raise taxes. THEY DON'T PAY THEM!!

Andrew McCarthy of NY 1:14PM June 22, 2009

Healthcare Reform? Impossible. Somebody's not paying attention? Your damned right. It's in the news- all the key Congressional Senators who will be making the decisions are all benefiting from the largesse of those businesses engaged in making a profit from the American citizen's need for medical care. Senator Dodd,D-Conn.,Rockefeller,D-W.VA.,Coburn,R-Okla.Gregg,R-N.H,Kyl,R-Ariz, Harkin,D-Iowa,Hatch,R-Utah. A combination of employed wifes,fees-stock-options enough to make you sick of the corruption in our Federal Government.Thank God, the rank and file are immune to corruption. It's too bad their bosses don't have the same standards. Not only healthcare. Every time a bill is presented that would benefit the consumer/taxpayer at the expense of the oil industry or someother powerful busisness the lobbying starts. Lobbying?-Such a nice word-much better sound then bribing..

Albert V. Weaver of CA 5:43PM June 20, 2009

At 79, I've survived many both Democrat and Republican administrations. They all have one thing in common: they all promise to give everyone everything and lower taxes. By now, we should all have everything and pay no taxes if any of them were able to even partially deliver on the campaign promises.
It has been said that the only things that are inevitable are death and taxes. But that left out one thing: we must also live somehow until death.

HillbillyBill of TN 8:10AM June 20, 2009

The dems can pay for it with a brand new tax. We can call it the Democrat tax surcharge. That is right give half their own dollars for their favorite goal. It is a soluton they seem to like taxes. Well that is a great one you think!!

Alan Bonin of RI 5:01PM June 19, 2009

The dems are so big on healthcare and looking for how to pay for it now. I have a great idea to see how bad they really want this done. Let them pay for it with only democrat taxes. We can call the tax the democrat surcharge. It can start with Obama putting up half what he makes right on down the line. If they want it bad enough, then that is a solution!!!

Alan Bonin of RI 4:57PM June 19, 2009