Stupak was a floor amendment - correct? What OTHER floor amendments were voted on?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

I know there was some question a while ago if there would be any floor amendments allowed. So why did Nancy Pelosi allow it? Did she do it as part of some horse trading to bring in some Blue Dogs and to get the final numbers she needed? Would the outcome have been better/ worse without Stupak? In other words, did Stupak alter the final vote in either direction?

Dems definitely sold women down the river on this one. Why was Stupak ok with the Progressive caucus? Why did Stupak pass period?

If anyone has a good link explaining the dynamics of this amendment, I'd be grateful.

[vaberella]

1. I don't know. But Prosense posted this list of Amendments...if it helps.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8742991

[rucky]

2. I can think of one that wasn't voted on. n/t

[vaberella]

3. Apparently the bill repeals this: McCarran-Ferguson Act insurance antitrust exemption

But I don't know how important it is...so if you're willing to explain it would be helpful.

[Jennicut]

4. Found this article:

"The House health-care bill would repeal an exemption from federal antitrust oversight that the health-insurance industry has enjoyed for decades, but the move alone might not make local insurance markets more competitive.

The repeal is necessary to inject competition into regional insurance markets, according to Rep. Diana DeGette (D., Colo.), one of several members of Congress behind a push to repeal the exemption. She cited American Medical Association figures showing that 94% of those markets are highly concentrated. She said she wasn't sure whether the antitrust exemption was to blame for the lack of competition, but "the way the market is behaving would send up red flags," she said.

Ms. DeGette said repealing the exemption is also needed to promote competition in the health-insurance exchanges envisioned under the House bill. Otherwise, she said, insurers "could say 'You operate in this market, and you operate in that market.'"

America's Health Insurance Plans, the health-insurance industry's trade group, said insurance is heavily regulated by the states, where antitrust laws mirror federal rules prohibiting price-fixing and collusion. "Insurers are only exempt from federal laws if there are state laws. We are not letting anyone off the hook here," said William Schiffbauer, a health-insurance-regulation lawyer who consults for AHIP, among others."http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125763748641536301.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

It would make the insurance companies no longer exempt from federal antitrust laws, though there are laws in the states. It would help the federal govt. have more oversight on the insurance companies and that is the important thing.

[vaberella]

8. Thanks Jennicut. I've bookmarked the thread. Your post cleared a lot up for me.

This is a good thing. And with all the good stuff in the bill, I'm happy. Thanks again for the help. By the way I adore Diana Degette, she said some great things against the Stupak bill/amendment. She explained everything to me in detail---versus the others on this board who rail and I can't understand a damned thing.

[Jennicut]

9. research is better then railing.

:)
And I railed against Stupak...because he tried to hold the bill hostage for selfish reasons.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Stupak passed because 60 something blue dogs and all the Repos voted for it.

Kucinich was one of only a couple of Democrats who voted No twice against outlawing private insurers from offering coverage for women needing an abortions.

Rahm said passing a bill, any bill, was all that mattered. That's the one principle the Dems can be said to have upheld, for certain.


Perhaps if we offer to repeal the 8 hour work day, or we abolish the minimum wage, we can get this bill passed quickly through the Senate?

[BzaDem]

6. Stupak and 39 other dems would have killed the bill before it even hit the floor

if the amendment weren't ruled in order. No other amendment (besides the Republican substitute healthcare bill) was allowed.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. Do you mean killed "the bill" vs rule?

Thanks for the concrete info. So you are in effect saying that the Stupak amendment was specific deal-making on Pelosi's part?
And she did it to bring in 39 Dems who somehow needed that amendment for a "yes" vote? Wow.