Will they vote on Christmas Day? Washington Post reports: "Possibly"
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has just asked listeners on the Sean Hannity show to
KEEP CALLING THE SENATE. (contact here)
Oh, the cynicism and slipperiness in the national health care debate! Oh, the betrayal! How long until next November?
Keeping track of the Senate bill’s wording and the vote count is like trying eat a popsicle with a spoon and fork.
Here are the latest ”team trades”:
The “public option” and the “Medicare opt-in” ( to lower Medicare eligibility to age 55) are OUT, in an effort to get more Democrats back on Team Obama.
Democratic National Party chairman Howard Dean wants the Senate bill killed, because the “opt-in” has been removed. He wants health care reform to go instead to what is called the “reconciliation” process, which allows easier additions to the bill and requires fewer votes for passage.
President Obama has met behind closed doors with the 60 member Democratic Senate caucus this afternoon, despite promises that he wanted to hold health care reform discussions on Cspan to show that his administration is “transparent” , “participatory,”and “collaborative.” We may not know for some time what price is being paid for each vote.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) was going to filibuster AGAINST, but as of now, intends to vote FOR the Senate version after some Democrats said he should be recalled for betraying them and threatened to kick his wife off her breast cancer foundation.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebr.) has refused to vote FOR any bill which contains federal funding for abortions, but just learned that Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha, Nebraska will not be getting the contract for Global Strike Command, which would have meant at least 900 new military jobs to his state. Nelson is asking for a review and says the rejection was “political.” Ya think?
The lame ladies from Maine, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Olympic Snowe (R-Maine) appear to hanging tough as NO votes. They seem peeved at the pressure for a quick vote, but don’t forget, Snowe’s yes on cloture helped get us into this mess.
What the bill contains:
Marriage penalty: A potentially huge transfer of wealth. Read here.
According to the American Family Association (AFA):
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, says that if the bill currently before the Senate becomes law, Americans will spend $234 billion more on health care over the next ten years than if the Democrats do nothing.
The Mayo Clinic, the American Medical Association and hospital associations everywhere are all opposed to the current bill’s plan to expand Medicare, saying it will drive hospitals out of business, talented Americans out of the medical profession, and result in rationed and inferior care for the American people.
A CNN poll from just last week revealed that 61% of voters oppose the government takeover of health care. The more they find out about this monstrosity and its lurch toward socialized medicine, the less they like it. Now is the time for our senators to hear from us once more.
A letter from Dr. Stephen Fraser to Senator Bayh of Indiana contains the following areas of concern about the Senate Health Care bill: (the punctuation, grammar and emphasis are his)
“Here is a letter I sent to Senator Bayh. Feel free to copy it and send it around to all other representatives.” — Stephen Fraser
Senator Bayh,
As a practicing physician I have major concerns with the health care bill before Congress. I actually have read the bill and am shocked by the brazenness of the government’s proposed involvement in the patient-physician relationship. The very idea that the government will dictate and ration patient care is dangerous and certainly not helpful in designing a health care system that works for all. Every physician I work with agrees that we need to fix our health care system, but the proposed bills currently making their way through congress will be a disaster if passed.
I ask you respectfully and as a patriotic American to look at the following troubling lines that I have read in the bill.
You cannot possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of the country and our fellow citizens.
Page 22 of the HC Bill: *Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self-insure!!
*
Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill: *THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
*
Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: *YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!
*Page 42 of HC Bill: *The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC benefits for you. You have no choice!
*
Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: *HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
*
Page 58 HC Bill: *Govt will have real-time access to individuals’ finances &a ‘National ID Health card’ will be issued!
* Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: *Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
*Page 65 Sec 164: *Is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions &community organizations: (ACORN).
Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: *Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the ‘Exchange.’
*Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: *Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans *–* The Govt will ration your health care!
*Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: *Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. (Translation: illegal aliens.)
*Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: *The Govt will use groups (i.e. ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: *Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. (AARP members – your health care WILL be rationed!)
*
*Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: *Medicaid eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. (_No_ choice.)
*
Page 12 4 lines 24-25 HC: *No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt monopoly.
*
Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: *Doctors/ American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what salary you can make.
*
Page 145 Line 15-17: *An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. _(NO_ choice!)
*
Page 126 Lines 22-25: *Employers MUST pay for HC for part-time employees _AND_ their families. (Employees shouldn’t get excited about this as employers will be forced to reduce its work force, benefits, and wages/salaries to cover such a huge expense.)
*
Page 149 Lines 16-24: *ANY Employer with payroll 401k &above who does not provide public option will pay 8% tax on all payroll! (See the last comment in parenthesis.)
*Page 150 Lines 9-13: *A business with payroll between $251K &$401K who doesn’t provide public option will pay 2-6% tax on all payroll*.
Page 167 Lines 18-23: *ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
*
Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: *_Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt_ _from individual taxes_. (Americans will pay.)
*
Page 195 HC Bill:* Officers &employees of the GOVT HC Admin.. will have access to _ALL_ Americans’ finances and personal records.
*Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: *”The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” (Yes, it really says that!)
Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: *Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors. (Low-income and the poor are affected.)
*
Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors: *It doesn’t matter what specialty you have trained yourself in — you will all be paid the same! (Just TRY to tell me that’s not Socialism!)
*
Page 253 Line 10-18: *The Govt sets the value of a doctor’s time, profession, judgment, etc. (Literally– the value of humans.)
*
*Page 265 Sec 1131: The Govt mandates and controls productivity for “private” HC industries.
Page 268 Sec 1141: The federal Govt regulates the rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – *Cancer patients* – welcome to rationing!
Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever the Govt deems preventable (i.e…re-admissions).
*Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors: If you treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission — the Govt _will_ penalize you.
Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. (The Govt tells doctors what and how much they can own!)
Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion. (The Govt is mandating that hospitals cannot expand.)
*Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have the opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. (Can you say ACORN?)
Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: The Govt mandates establishment of outcome-based measures. (HC the way they want — rationing.)
*Page 341 Lines 3-9: The Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. (Forcing people into the Govt plan)
Page 354 Sec 1177: The Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of ‘special needs people!’ _Unbelievable_!
Page 379 Sec 1191: The Govt creates more bureaucracy via a “Tele-Health *Advisory Committee*.” (Can you say HC by phone?)
Page 425 Lines 4-12: The Govt mandates “Advance-Care Planning Consult.” (Think senior citizens end-of-life patients.)
Page 425 Lines 17-19: The Govt will instruct and consult regarding *living wills*, *durable powers of attorney*, etc. (And it’s _mandatory_!)
*Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: The Govt provides an “approved” list of end-of-life resources; guiding you in death.. (Also called ‘assisted suicide.’)
Page 427 Lines 15-24: The Govt mandates a program for orders on “end-of-life.” (The Govt has a say in how your life ends!)
Page 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced-care planning consultant” will be used frequently as a patient’s health deteriorates..
Page 429 Lines 10-12: An “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. (AN ORDER TO DIE FROM THE GOVERNMENT?!?)
*
*Page 429 Lines 13-25: The GOVT will specify which doctors can write an end-of-life order. (I wouldn’t want to stand before God after getting paid for THAT job!)
*Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end-of-life! (Again — no choice!)
Page 469: Community-Based Home Medical Services Non-Profit Organizations. (Hello? ACORN Medical Services here!?!)
Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover *marriage and family therapy*. (Which means Govt will insert itself into your marriage even.)
*
*Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, and rationing those services.
Senator, I guarantee that I personally will do everything possible to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating..
Furthermore, if you vote for a bill that enforces socialized medicine on the country and destroys the doctor-patient relationship, I will do _everything_ in my power to make sure you lose your job in the next election.
Respectfully,
Stephen E. Fraser, MD
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Clyde Moore sent a message to the members of MAD AS HELL – THIS GOVERNMENT IS OUT OF CONTROL.
Subject: Live In A LIBERAL State . . . . “. . .
Okay, here’s a first. IF you live in a state with very LIBERAL Senators, but are of a Conservative view . . . you could have your first chance to really help move things in a positive way . . . ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PREPOSTEROUS BILL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. Further the chaos. Promote the dissent you abhor to assist the dissent you believe in” To reply to this message, follow the link below:http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox%2Freadmessage.php&t=1095284641722&mid=1923544G5af327347a5cG12650aG0
Dan Pflaum commented on your status: “Dark indeed, Jane. Never seen anything like this before.”
Gregory Shirk commented on your link: “You are again right. It was Snowe’s vote on cloture that drew our chances to near impossible.”
Kristen Kilpatrick commented: “Lieberman is such an oportunistic ass. I remember a time in CT when only a few people hated him, now he’s pissed everyone off. “
Ronda Marks commented on Clyde Moore’s status: “We’re heating up the tar right now…”
Jerry Elliott commented: “Didn’t he already play this hand last week. I am not going to vote for it, well I changed my mind.”
Dave Williams commented: “It’s what he does every time . . . he hems and haws . . . and votes with the Democrats.”
Joe Lieberman is the WORMINATOR!
Stephanie Macniven commented: “Did anyopne actually think they were not going to pass this ????? next is cap and trade then immigration ect…… ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES”
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