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House Poised to Vote on Historic Health-Care Bill Sunday
Democratic congressional leaders, confident they have the votes needed to enact the most sweeping changes to the U.S. health-care system in history, have scheduled a vote on the legislation Sunday afternoon. Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, has said she will vote for the $940 billion bill.
In a politically charged speech on Capitol Hill on Saturday, President Barack Obama sought to rally Democrats behind the measure, which was considered to be a handful of votes short of the 216 required for approval in the House of Representatives. Last-minute talks appeared to center on differences over abortion within the majority Democratic Party caucus.
Obama said the bill “runs straight down the center of American political thought. This is a middle-of-the-road bill.” He dismissed contentions by minority Republicans that the bill represents a government takeover of health care and he exhorted Democrats to ignore dire predictions about possible major losses in November’s midterm elections.
“If you agree the system’s not working for ordinary families,” Obama said, “then help us fix this system.”
As thousands of angry protesters marched around the Capitol calling on lawmakers to “kill the bill,” Democratic leaders agreed to hold separate votes on the Senate’s larger version of the health-care legislation and a smaller companion package making changes to that bill. House Democrats earlier had indicated they would vote only on the companion package, using a “deem-and-pass” tactic to avoid a direct vote.
Approval of the Senate bill will clear the measure for Obama’s signature. The companion bill must go to the Senate for approval.
The 10-year, $940 billion health-care package is intended to extend health insurance to 32 million Americans now without coverage. According to a preliminary estimate by the Congressional Budget Office, the federal deficit would be reduced by $138 billion over the next decade through a series of tax increases and cuts in Medicare spending.
“I am thrilled we are taking the final steps to enact much-needed health insurance reform,” Capps said in a statement Friday. “Congress has debated this issue intensely for more than a year, and the need for reform is clear.
“Today, millions of Americans have no coverage, and everyone with coverage is at risk of losing it at any time due to unaffordable premium increases, the loss of a job, or even an untimely accident or illness. Insurance companies all too often drop people when they get sick and regularly raise premiums to unaffordable levels. Small businesses and families cannot afford skyrocketing health-care costs, which are a drag across the entire economy.
“This bill fixes those problems. It would help tens of thousands of Central Coast citizens without insurance today get coverage. Just as important, it will improve the coverage for the vast majority of my constituents who already have health insurance.”
— Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk.
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» on 03.21.10 @ 09:04 AM
Lois, you and the Dems are dangerous to our health! Your bill is “historic” all right, historically disastrous for responsible working Americans. Historically good at creating vast new government bureaucracies. I feel better now - NOT!!!
No TORT reform, little PREVENTATIVE CARE emphasis, basically NO ACCOUNTABILITY - just take take take. DEMS WILL PAY FOR THIS—and we’ll make sure they do. MEANWHILE:
“A million words are spoken on the [health care debate] with every passing minute, and as far as I can tell no one has ever addressed the real issue that’s upsetting everyone. Millions of Americans are secretly thinking the exact same thing:
Why should we be forced to pay for the costs of other people’s irresponsibility?
Someone has to pay for their medical care, and under the single-payer concept, that someone is Uncle Sam. But since Uncle Sam gets all his money from American taxpayers … YOU end up footing the bill anyway, and also footing the bill of a vast new government bureaucracy.”
http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2010/03/20/why-america-hates-universal-health-care-the-real-reason/
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» on 03.21.10 @ 09:14 AM
Millions of Americans are secretly thinking the exact same thing: Why should we be forced to pay for the costs of other people’s irresponsibility?
Someone has to pay for their medical care, and under the single-payer concept, that someone is Uncle Sam. But since Uncle Sam gets all his money from American taxpayers … YOU end up footing the bill anyway, and also footing the bill of a vast new government bureaucracy.
http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2010/03/20/why-america-hates-universal-health-care-the-real-reason/
Physicians agree with every word Dr. Sunderhaus is saying, but of course (being younger and still needing to make a living) they can’t say so publicly. BRAVO Dr. Sunderhaus, you kick “them” all in the butt!
For those of us who don’t DO all those dangerous and slovenly things that damage our health we think we should pay less.
Now we’ll all pay more!
I DON’T THINK SO.
Some of us are considering NOT PAYING TAXES this year. That’s right. IF WE ALL JUST DON’T PAY TAXES, ALL OF US, they cannot put us all in jail. They don’t HAVE enough jail cells. THINK ABOUT IT. You want to squander MY hard-earned money? Raise MY taxes again?
NO. I quit.
Think about it. It’s time to just say NO.
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» on 03.21.10 @ 10:41 AM
We need reform, but this bill doesn’t do it. I don’t understand why the majority of most people don’t want this bill and yet it’s being jammed through. What I don’t get also is if this bill is so great, why all the deals to get their own party to vote on it. Is Lois going to be on the health care plan like the rest of us? California and the U.S can’t afford this bill plus it doesn’t address reform. I’m going to work on the campaign to get her voted out of office. Enough is enough!
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» on 03.21.10 @ 11:43 AM
Lois (I will sign a pledge to serve only two terms so I can get the campaign money from the easter orgainzations)has spoken. I wonder if Nancy Pelosi contacted her personally to tell her what to says or if it was one of Nancy’s staff)
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» on 03.21.10 @ 03:24 PM
The bible says those who want something for free, will always want more—WELFARE, FOOD STAMPS, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, 99 weeks of unemployment—instad of 26?? costing us billions.
What happen to hard work and lowering your standand a notch..
Dont be a lazy bum and sit around and complain—send the illegals haome and go back to work..
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» on 03.21.10 @ 04:36 PM
Democrats, their arms twisted beyond recognition by Chicago mobsters will sign in to law tonight the destruction of America and commence the advent of this great country’s second civil war. It is now those of us defending our individual rights, our freedom from tyranny, against those who have abdicated their souls to the state. God help us all.
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» on 03.21.10 @ 06:56 PM
Well, Republicans have learned to like (and cash) their Social Security checks and wouldn’t let go of their Medicare for anything. I think they’ll come to enjoy the peace of mind that a national health care policy brings to them and their fellow citizens. Its a great day for America!
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» on 03.21.10 @ 08:06 PM
Tax refusal usually has a bad result for the refuser. You might want to take your own advice—it is the soundest you have given in a time—Think about it.
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» on 03.21.10 @ 08:47 PM
AN50 - as usual you are eloquent and on target.
Lois - you are toast. As is every other “representative” who voted for this bill.
We’ll see you with pitchforks.
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» on 03.22.10 @ 09:55 AM
Who is going to pay for all these government programs, Illegals etc???
Vote out Boxer, Pelosi, Capps..
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