Senate clears last hurdle before final health vote

[BeatleBoot]

Source: MSNBC

WASHINGTON - Exultant Senate Democrats pushed President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul past a final procedural hurdle Wednesday, setting up a Christmas Eve vote to pass the legislation extending coverage to 30 million Americans.

Democrats voted 60-39 to end a GOP filibuster and move to a final vote Thursday. All 58 Democrats and two independents hung together against unanimous Republican opposition.

It was the 24th day of debate on the 10-year, nearly $1 trillion bill.






Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34574421/ns/health-health_care/

[Divine Discontent]

1. "extending coverage to 30 million" LOLOLOLOL

oh, that's rich.... like they're all going to be 'given' it, like it's free.

should read, 'extending the profits of major insurers, as 30 million new customers are added with no cost containment measures, such as a Public Option. Stock prices of these companies has ballooned over the past 2 months as investors saw the incoming profits for Aetna, Cigna, and others.'

[thestoic]

3. its not free

It is far from free, tax payers are going to pay dearly for it. Dont get me wrong, I am all for universal health care, but I really think they are spending way too much, then again- everything always requires a little bit of money to get started.

[Mz Pip]

5. And those tax dollars

to help people pay for the insurance will go right into the pockets of the insurance companies.

Merry Christmas United Health!

[ShortnFiery]

16. "Merry Christmas United Health!" = Good-bye Middle Class America! eom

[ixion]

2. Quite a present under the Insurance Vertical's tree

they must be ecstatic. :grr:

[Divine Discontent]

4. stock values up 30% for insurers since Halloween - talk about Trick on us, Treat for them & a

big ol' present under their tree as you said.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BeatleBoot]

8. + 10,000

the poutrage around here is pathetic.

Can you point me to your ealrier post? I would love to read it.

[tridim]

9. I'm done with it. The lies are over.

This is the link I've posted hundreds of times this morning. It's amazing.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/22/818060/-This-HCR-Bill:-45,000,000-Get-Single-Payer-Vermont-Health-Care

[BeatleBoot]

14. Wow, that was informative. I spent the last half hour

actually reading all of that.

Senator Sanders and Cardin are a godsend for the American people.


<snip>

Ted Kennedy's existing CHC program expands along lines developed by Bernie Sanders and Ben Cardin.

The single best thing to happen for America's working poor since food stamps:

-- 14,000 nationwide Community Health Clinics

-- Expand CHC capabilities to match VHA technology

-- 45,000,000 people served

-- $$$$$ to attract 20,000 primary care physicians, nurses, etc.

-- Drugs at VHA prices

-- Dental care

-- Patient billing scaled to income

-- No profit motive.

-- 40% saving for chronic care, 1/5th the cost for ER.

[boppers]

18. Sanders: Checkmate.

National Single Payer is Born.

[ixion]

12. No, I haven't been

I've read your posts... and I don't agree with your premise.

[Bumblebee]

10. you should join GOP in shedding tears...

[ixion]

13. bite me

[BeatleBoot]

20. No, really.

You should.

[ixion]

21. No, really

Bite me.

[HuckleB]

7. I thought there was no Republican filibuster?

At least that's what I read at DU. Was someone lying to me?

[Garam_Masala]

11. A christmas gift to Big Pharma and Big Insurance

No Single Payer.
SP system is true HCR. Everything else is hodge podge.
With SP, every living person is in the same pool, and paying
on their ability to pay based on income. So simple yet so elegant.

P.O missing.
Not as good as SP, but the ONLY way to make sure there is competition
to the for profit private health insurance industry.

No re-import of Drugs.
This is missing from both bills as far as I know. Are you aware Big Pharma
passed on to us 11% increase this year? If this bill is not a bonanza for
Big Pharma with mandates and subsidized additional customers then I have
a bridge in Minnesota I can sell you.

No limits on insurance premiums.
Sure they can't cancel you or refuse you. But they can jack up premiums
for all their customers until there is enough profit to pay big bonuses
to the big corporate honcho's. Why there are no limits on pay when the
TARP recipients and Bailout recipients are subject to pay restrictions?

To sum up, I don't see any cost reduction to health care in these bills.
It is exactly the opposite...middle class and up will pay more.
Big Pharma and Big Insurance are the Big winners. If you don't believe me,
please check their stock performance on Wall Street.

[ShortnFiery]

15. Yes, but we're told to sit down, shut-up and enjoy this delicious sh*t sandwich.

:puke:

[seeinfweggos]

17. kick

[truthisfreedom]

19. $33,333.33 each