Kucinich Becomes Target Of Health Care Whip Campaign

[tpsbmam]

<snips>

With the real possibility that a handful of lawmakers -- or even a single vote -- in the House of Representatives could end up deciding the fate of health care reform, advocates are suddenly targeting the chamber's most progressive holdout.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio.) has firmly staked out his opposition to health care reform's passage, citing the timidity of the legislative language and, specifically, the unwillingness of lawmakers to seriously consider a single payer system.

In a meeting at the White House on Thursday, President Obama directly addressed the congressman's concerns by pointing out that the Senate bill does, in fact, include single-payer language. His reference (which Kucinich wrote down on paper) is a provision in the bill that Sen. Bernie Sander (I-VT) introduced, which would allow states to use federal money to set up a single payer system years down the road.

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Under Sanders's proposal, states would have the option of using the federal funding they receive for health care services (including the new subsidies in the bill) on policies for providing universal care. There are certain restrictions. For starters, a state could only use 90 percent of the federal funds it received, and it could only spend that money on a universal system starting in 2017 - both stipulations of the Congressional Budget Office. Sanders is still working on a reconciliation fix to move the start date forward three years (perhaps by allowing blocs of states to start before others) in addition to increasing the funding threshold. But the goal, he stressed, remains providing a foundation for single-payer to grow in practice and popularity.

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Kucinich didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The congressman has previously insisted that the law allowing insurance companies to sue states that adopt single-payer systems must be changed. And on this front, Sanders admits, his provision has a "weakness."


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Bernie, Bernie, Bernie....I love you but.....the provision has a weakness -- ya fucking think? Hang in there, Dennis!! Keep fighting for US!



From HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/kucinich-becomes-target-o_n_490280.html


(edited to add link)

[ixion]

1. When it's an ugly fight that needs fighting, you can always count on Kucinich

:applause: :woohoo:

way to go Dennis!! :bounce:

[NoPasaran]

8. You can always count on Kucinich to vote with the Repubs

:thumbsdown:

Get bent, Dennis!

[Individualist]

9. That dog don't hunt!

[ixion]

18. uh, yeah, right...whatever

:eyes: :rofl:

[TankLV]

25. Only in your simple mind - reality has it differently... WAY TO GO DENNIS!!!

Keep up the good fight Dennis!!!

[Echo In Light]

2. k/r for DK

[FarPoint]

3. Dennis is a master whinner

all hot air...never leadership....so full of himself...a disappointment indeed.

[nosmokes]

5. you're not qualified to carry DK's skivvies

[FarPoint]

12. Just watch....

he will not step up to the plate...He was asked to lead...but appears clueless as to how...he just makes excuses and complains..unrealistic idealalog.

[mod mom]

28. +1

[Individualist]

7. Damn the DLC!

[cntrfthrs]

10. ditto...

you're not qualified to tie his shoes....

[O is 44]

4. He is willing to bring this whole thing down

because he does not get exactly what he wants? That is really sad, although this is not the perfect bill it will help a lot of people. I respect Bernie because he constantly repeats how this would not have been the bill he would have came up with but he worked to make it better and he still feels it does a lot of good. To me that is far more principled then just taking your balls and going home because the bill is not what you want. The status quo is not sustainable and the status quo is what Kucinich is voting for when he votes NO.

[FarPoint]

13. Well said...

so predicted too...he has that routine down for sure.

[laughingliberal]

32. Huh, seems to me Lieberman got everything he wanted when it came down to needing his vote

Wonder why the same tactic can't work to get more progressive measures in a bill? Only seems to work for those who want to make the bill worse, for some reason.

[slipslidingaway]

6. Ask These Reps to Oppose Healthcare Bill Unless States Rights (Single-Payer) Language Restored

Thanks for posting :)

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/letstatesdoit


"...What if there were something far less controversial than the public option that could bring healthcare to far more people? And what if this something had already passed in committee and been unceremoniously stripped out of the bill without a fight? Would it be worth a winnable fight right now to put this measure back in?

When the first state passes single-payer healthcare, none of the other 49 states will lose anything they've gained through Congress. But the lucky state whose legislature tries to do something more won't see any immediate benefit, because the insurance companies will sue. And there are federal laws that may allow such suits to prevail and deny states the right to provide their residents with healthcare.

Last July the House Committee on Education and Labor voted 25 to 19, with bipartisan support, to pass an amendment proposed by Congressman Dennis Kucinich to waive federal restrictions and allow states to provide healthcare if they choose. Nothing in any other versions of the healthcare bill from other committees conflicted with this language, but it was quietly removed nonetheless. (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House told her to remove it.) And the Senate bill added language forbidding state healthcare solutions through 2017, and not - despite what the President told Kucinich - including the waivers that had been in Kucinich's amendment.

Republicans can be expected to vote No on any healthcare bill, no matter how limited or corrupt. But these 14 Democrats voted yes in committee on the Kucinich Amendment:

...

Their work was rudely ignored. If they could be moved to withhold their support for a healthcare bill until it reinstates the missing amendment, progressives would find a voice and a lever of power, and the campaign for healthcare reform would be energized in those areas where it has a chance of truly transformational change, namely in the states.

Contact these 14 congress members with the phone numbers and website forms above.

What we are asking for: Please oppose the health insurance reform bill unless the amendment you voted for and passed in committee last July 17th is reinstated, permitting states to enact healthcare reforms if they choose to..."

[berni_mccoy]

11. Kucinich will eventually buckle. That's what he always does.

[saracat]

14. Sure like Obama to the GOP. More compromise.

[O is 44]

15. At least he is trying to get something done...

and this bill though not perfect will help lots of people. Sorry but that is just true. I commend the President for not giving up.

[laughingliberal]

34. Dennis just hasn't learned the Democratic negotiating style

The one where we figure out what's the least we could accept and go to the Republicans and Blue Dogs and ask pretty please can we pass this bill and then cave if they say no. I'm not sure he's really a Democrat.

[O is 44]

35. In your world nothing would ever get done...

due to the fact everyone would be in their individual corners and no one would budge. I guess that would be exactly what the Republicans want. Dennis's stance will get us nowhere so I can't say it is a noble act. Maybe he should take a page out of Bernie Sander's book.

[laughingliberal]

36. Last I looked nothing is getting done. nt

[berni_mccoy]

16. Obama did more in one month for this country

than Kucinich has done in his entire career.

[Better Believe It]

17. That's right! Take Wall Street and the insurance industry for example.

:)

[berni_mccoy]

19. It's called Economic Stimulus Package. And bitter posters like yourself who can't post one postiive

article about Obama, and ONLY post negative (most of the time, false MSM bullshit) crap, can't handle the truth that Obama's Stimulus Package worked. It really gets under your skin that he saved our economy.

[saracat]

23. Sorry.it hasn't worked at ALL in my neck of the woods. I don't know where you live but it has

gotten worse here. My state has no jobs and my husband was just told by the jobs recruiter that it was hopeless.We lost 50% of our police and we have few government services left. Medacaid has been slashed. We are using the last of our savings to pay for health insurance Whatever dream on.Tinkerbelle still dies no matter how hard you clap. And I admit I am bitter about the many campaigns I dedicated myself to and all the money I wasted. I am sorry my husband ran for office. I am sorry my father was an elected official.But then I used to "believe". Every day I talk to Democratic friends in DC and they KNOW it hasn't worked. And BTW I have actually praised Obama when I felt it warrented. I praised him for the stand on individual contractors and stepping up to the plate on calling forthe anti trust provision from the insurance companies,I also praised him for his initail response to DADT.Whatever.

[MadHound]

33. The economic stimulus package that is forty percent tax cuts, the most ineffective kind of stimulus?

The stimulus package that cut out 16 billion dollars in school construction funds in favor of more tax cuts, all in a vain effort at bipartisanship? That stimulus package?

Sorry, but one year out the economy is still in the toilet, unemployment is still going up, and we the people are still screwed.

Yeah, that was a real "change."

[O is 44]

20. What did Obama do to help Wall Street and the

Insurance Industry? TARP signed into law by Bush. If this bill passes they must follow the new regulations that will be put in place when the exchanges open, if they do not they are unable to solicit those customers. Just because he has not put them out of business does not mean he is on their side. He is trying to do something no other President has managed to do. I give him credit for that.

[saracat]

22. Dennis is in a minority but Obama has the majority and still can't pass "real" HCR

and has given the GOP everything they have asked for.As for done more for this nation? Where is FOCA? FISA, a requested moratorium on DADT? Mandates,Exapansion of the Patriot ACT? Expansion of the Office of Faith Based Iniatives? Oh, yay!

[politicasista]

38. Ouch!

That hurts. :)

[tritsofme]

21. Does he stand with John Boehner or President Obama?

We will soon find out. However I don't have much faith in him.

[nosmokes]

37. He stands with YOU,

even those not bright enough to realize Dennis is fighting for them.

[amborin]

24. K&R for Kucinich

[branders seine]

26. They have their DU minion beating the bushes

[flvegan]

27. Always count on a Kucinich thread to bring out the apologists.

Keep up the good fight Dennis!

[557188]

29. Kucinich is the only Democrat who represents me anymore

Keep fighting Dennis. You're the only voice of the left we still have in this party.

[laughingliberal]

30. Insurance Companies can sue states that adopt a single payer system? I'd call that a weakness, at

the very least. Fatal flaw might be more like it.

[MuseRider]

31. Good for Dennis.

He knows people are hurting and many will be left behind by this Insurance Boosting bill. He also knows that the chance for real honest to goodness reform is now and that there will most likely not be another chance in our (those of us who are older) lifetimes. Maybe not for those of you who are younger.

Standing for all people should never garner disrespect but I guess if it has become all about the team and winning it will.