Dean: Dems can pass limited health care overhaul

[demoleft]

WASHINGTON – Former Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean says he still thinks Democrats can get a scaled-back health care bill through Congress.

But Dean also said in a nationally broadcast interview Friday he doubts Republicans will work with Democrats on a compromise measure, even one far more modest and less costly than versions passed by the House and Senate.

Appearing on CBS's "The Early Show," the former Vermont governor said he believes Republicans concluded "they can benefit" politically from resisting President Barack Obama's ambitious health overhaul. But he also said the American people want changes in the system, saying "they didn't want something that was written by the insurance industry."

ap, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100122/ap_on_bi_ge/us_heath_care_dean;_ylt=Ap77TbjZxQVD3Nv55xE7zRgUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJsOWl1ZTEyBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMTIyL3VzX2hlYXRoX2NhcmVfZGVhbgRjcG9zAzIEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNkZWFuZGVtc2NhbnA-

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. the present bill was written by the health insurance industry and the GOP

so what needs to be done is to pass something that benefits people especially the poor directly.
Cut prescription costs.
Reduce and cap hospital charges and costs of medical equipment and drugs.
Cap health insurance premiums and subject health insurance companies to a windfall tax (so they can't raise premiums to compensate).
Insurance companies have to allow pre-existing conditions
etc etc

Then we can get on to the states having their own health systems like Sakatchewan Canada with Fed government start up money. Start pilot schemes.

(don't tell me we can't afford it when we are spending billions on futile wars and lining the pockets of Wall Street!

psst... http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/health-system