Beginning of the end, for Obamacare?

[SunsetBengal]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-oks-republican-bill-unraveling-obama-health-care-law/ar-AAfYavO?ocid=spartandhp

And, a possible end to funding for planned parenthood..

[quote"President Obama will have a choice," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "He can defend a status quo that's failed the middle class by vetoing the bill, or he can work toward a new beginning and better care by signing it."

Republicans blame the bill for surging health care costs and insurers abandoning some markets. Government officials said this week that health care spending grew at 5.3 percent in 2014, the steepest climb since Obama took office.
][/quote]

[GMDino]

(12-04-2015, 12:11 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-oks-republican-bill-unraveling-obama-health-care-law/ar-AAfYavO?ocid=spartandhp

And, a possible end to funding for planned parenthood..

Quote:"President Obama will have a choice," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "He can defend a status quo that's failed the middle class by vetoing the bill, or he can work toward a new beginning and better care by signing it."

Republicans blame the bill for surging health care costs and insurers abandoning some markets. Government officials said this week that health care spending grew at 5.3 percent in 2014, the steepest climb since Obama took office.

Quote:Democrats noted that under the law, millions of people have become insured and said their coverage has improved, with policies now required to insure a wide range of medical services.


"Do they talk to their constituents? Do they meet with them?" Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said of Republicans.

With just a 54-46 edge, Republicans had previously failed push such legislation through the Senate. This time, they used a special budget procedure that prevents filibusters — delays that take 60 votes to halt — and let them prevail with a simple majority.

Party leaders initially encountered objections from some more moderate Republicans leery of cutting Planned Parenthood's funds and from presidential contenders, Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, who threatened to oppose the measure if it wasn't strong enough.

In the end, Cruz and Rubio voted "yes." Moderate GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mark Kirk of Illinois voted no, the only lawmakers to cross party lines, while Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., did not vote.
The Senate bill would all but erase the health care overhaul by dismantling some of its key pillars, including requirements that most people obtain coverage and larger employers offer it to workers.

Also eliminated would be its expansion of Medicaid coverage to additional lower-income people and the government's subsidies for many who buy policies on newly created insurance marketplaces. And it would end taxes the law imposed to cover its costs, including levies on higher-income people, expensive insurance policies, medical devices and indoor tanning salons.

The bill would also terminate the roughly $450 million yearly in federal dollars that go to Planned Parenthood, about a third of its budget. Federal funds can be used for abortions only in rare cases.

A perennial target of conservatives, the group has been under intensified GOP pressure this year for its role in providing fetal tissue to scientists. Citing secretly recorded videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing such sales, some abortion foes have accused the organization of illegally providing the tissue for profit. The group says the videos were deceptively doctored and say it's done nothing illegal.

Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Dawn Laguens said the Senate had given the group's millions of clients "the cold shoulder of indifference."

Senators voted on over a dozen amendments — all symbolic, since the measure was destined to never become law.
They rejected two amendments that would have restored Planned Parenthood's money. They blocked proposals for tightening gun curbs, a response to Wednesday's mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, last week's fatal attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado and last month's terrorist massacre in Paris.

They also voted 90-10 to permanently repeal taxes on high-priced "Cadillac" insurance policies, a strong signal of growing congressional momentum for erasing that levy.

GOP lawmakers said the overall bill could serve as a bridge to a future Republican health care law. Though Obama's overhaul was enacted five years ago, Republicans have yet to produce a detailed proposal to replace it.

"It's either repeal or nothing," Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who heads the Senate Democratic campaign committee, said of the GOP's failure to propose an alternative. "I'll take that to the polls and we'll talk about it until the cows come home."

They probably wasted more tax money taking the time to pass (another) attempt to end the ACA.

[*bfine32*]

(12-04-2015, 12:28 AM)GMDino Wrote:

They probably wasted more tax money taking the time to pass (another) attempt to end the ACA.

Anyone with any business acumen can plainly see that the money hasn't been wasted trying to end it; the money has been wasted trying to save it. 

How much have those defunct insurance start ups cost? 

[Benton]

Republicans made sure it would be a cluster when they changed the payout formula. Basically, the system was designed so states would get reimbursed. Republicans changed formulas so states wouldn't get reimbursed.

healthcare costs are out of control and the current system only continually escalates things. Republicans trying to secure their own well being are only making the problem worse by kicking the can down the road.

[StLucieBengal]

Was just about to post this.

I like that they finally did something. Now maybe we can work on some bipartisan solutions on healthcare. Hopefully these potential solutions are focused at the state level.

As for PP.... They don't need our money. They profit more than enough to cover their needs.

[Au165]

I honestly don't care either way, I have health coverage and my costs have not increased all that much. My issue is we do need some sort of universal health care, and it's easy to trash someone elses idea, but I am waiting to see a better one. To kill it now, without an alternative plan, is just another party battle that is about political supremacy over actually doing something productive.

[Benton]

(12-04-2015, 01:32 AM)StLucieBengal Wrote: Was just about to post this.  

I like that they finally did something.  Now maybe we can work on some bipartisan solutions on healthcare.   Hopefully these potential solutions are focused at the state level.  

As for PP....  They don't need our money.  They profit more than enough to cover their needs.

partisan solutions? That's a joke. Obamacare was Republican legislation the dems blocked in the 90s. You don't get more partisan than one aide putting up the other sides legislation.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

I have a fantastic idea.....why don't those useless sacks of shit in Washington vote to give us the insurance they use....you know, the one we already pay for, and they can sign up on their own with their own coin. Sounds likes a helluva idea to me.

[StLucieBengal]

(12-04-2015, 10:08 AM)Benton Wrote: partisan solutions? That's a joke. Obamacare was Republican legislation the dems blocked in the 90s. You don't get more partisan than one aide putting up the other sides legislation.

Progressive plans are still progressive .

A bipartisan plan now involves enough true conservatives in the house that a fair deal would be made.

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(12-04-2015, 02:16 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: Progressive plans are still progressive .

A bipartisan plan now involves enough true conservatives in the house that a fair deal would be made.

Give me an idea of a health care plan which you don't believe is progressive.

[*Nately120*]

Republicans spent 4 years promising Obama was going to be a one-term president, too. They need to deliver on these promises for me to trust them.

[*Nately120*]

(12-04-2015, 03:22 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Give me an idea of a health care plan which you don't believe is progressive.

I've noticed the 2 things that bother him the most are progressives, and people who haven't progressed and are archaic savages.  

[GMDino]

(12-04-2015, 04:01 PM)Nately120 Wrote: I've noticed the 2 things that bother him the most are progressives, and people who haven't progressed and are archaic savages.  

[Benton]

(12-04-2015, 02:16 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: Progressive plans are still progressive .

A bipartisan plan now involves enough true conservatives in the house that a fair deal would be made.

There are no more conservatives in this majority than there were in that majority. Rhetoric is rhetoric. 

[Benton]

(12-04-2015, 02:11 PM)Wyche Wrote: I have a fantastic idea.....why don't those useless sacks of shit in Washington vote to give us the insurance they use....you know, the one we already pay for, and they can sign up on their own with their own coin.  Sounds likes a helluva idea to me.

The biggest reform that needs to be made is a federal public servant pay and benefit scale. And members of Congress should be on that. States have them for a good deal of the local offices. It's long overdue at the federal level, where elected officials have the same benefits as other federal employees, and their payscale is adjusted more in line with other federal employees.

Hey, maybe since the GOP has the majority now they'll... oh... nevermind.

[*Nately120*]

(12-04-2015, 05:39 PM)Benton Wrote: Hey, maybe since the GOP has the majority now they'll... oh... nevermind.

Hmm, that sort of reminds me how as soon as Democrats had the White House and majority in Congress after Republicans had both Republicans were like "Woah wait, we totally have this awesome health care reform plan now...for serious!"

[Benton]

(12-04-2015, 05:53 PM)Nately120 Wrote: Hmm, that sort of reminds me how as soon as Democrats had the White House and majority in Congress after Republicans had both Republicans were like "Woah wait, we totally have this awesome health care reform plan now...for serious!"

Dems with the majority weren't any better. I remember "Hey, we get elected, we'll get out of a ground war with the wrong people." Which, of course, has turned into multiple ground wars with the wrong people.

[StLucieBengal]

(12-04-2015, 03:22 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Give me an idea of a health care plan which you don't believe is progressive.

End all health insurance. Everything is paid out of pocket. Prices would drop like a rock and doctors would be more focused on patient care like they used to be. You would see a lot more personal service from your doctor to keep your business. Big jump in concierge care.

[StLucieBengal]

(12-04-2015, 04:01 PM)Nately120 Wrote: I've noticed the 2 things that bother him the most are progressives, and people who haven't progressed and are archaic savages.  

Haha that is ironic . I don't mind progress . Just not progressing towards socialism.

[StLucieBengal]

(12-04-2015, 05:36 PM)Benton Wrote: There are no more conservatives in this majority than there were in that majority. Rhetoric is rhetoric. 

House freedom caucas