Repeal 'health' insurer anti-trust exemption as a stand alone bill.

[Union Yes]

If there is such a thing anymore. Stand alone + a gazillion amendments and earmarks.

Whatever, pass it.

It's the first step in cost control and regulation.

Cost control will be the next battle of HCR.

Stand alone issues can have a much better chance of passing.

[Pirate Smile]

1. House already passed it. I hope they bring it up in the Senate.

It was passed overwhelmingly in the House.

[laughingliberal]

2. Yes. It was passed in the House. The Senate didn't pass it.

Proving, once again, the Senate is where legislation goes to die.

[Inuca]

3. In fairness, they passed it in the House very recently

it's too early to say whether it will die in the Senate or not.

[laughingliberal]

11. At one point it was in the Senate bill. I believe Reid put it in the blended bill he wrote

It was stripped out. They may pass it but my faith in the Senate to do anything that might hurt 'bidness' is a little low right now.

[Union Yes]

7. That's true but I just want to point out..

it was "compromised" out of a much larger HCR bill. Dems completely wimped out on many similar compromises to ensure passage of the overall bill. Not saying that's right but it's what basically happened.

A stand alone bill might actually get the support in the Senate.

Please, don't have me committed for suggesting the following..

Perhaps even 1 Rethug supporter in the Senate. Collins? Snowe?

Anyway, I actually have hope for passage if it is introduced as a stand alone bill.

:hi:

[laughingliberal]

12. I hope it passes, too. But I trust the Senate, at this point, about as much as I do the rattlesnake

I encounter on the path in the campground.

[Luminous Animal]

4. The House already passed one in February.

I don't know where it stands in the Senate.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/February/05/antitrust-health-insurance.aspx

(FYI - Kaiser Health News is not affiliated with Kaiser Permenente.)

[merh]

5. Why limit it to health insurance?

A stand alone bill that revokes the anti-trust exemption for ALL INSURANCE would help the citizens and small business owners and even corporations.

[Union Yes]

8. Agree but increasing it's size and scope decreases it's chance of passage IMO. nt

[merh]

9. I disagree.

Think of the small business owners that have to pay outrageous premiums to cover their fleets, their buildings, their workers comp, etc. I know of small contractors and security companies that folded because the insurance rates skyrocketed. They couldn't get contracts without insurance but they couldn't afford the insurance to get the contracts.

I know home owners who cannot afford to rebuild their homes or move back home after natural disasters. Not because they cannot afford the rebuild but because they cannot afford the insurance required.

The more people you help by making all insurance more affordable and by restricting the monopoly of the insurance companies, the more support you will get for the legislation.

[rhett o rick]

6. Where is it in the Senate? We need to keep the pressure on this important "fix" to the HCR. nm

[Union Yes]

10. Dems know cost control will be the next major battle. Repealing the exemption is an absolute must.

It may have a chance in the Senate if negotiated as a stand alone bill rather than part of massive legislation.

But you are spot on right. We need to pressure the Senate till they can't stand hearing our phonecalls no more and enact real change by repealing the exemption.

It should be the next front and center issue for activists and anyone who calls their elected officials.

I know it is on almost every Senator's mind. Whether they support it or not is another issue. That's where all of our calls and emails come in.

:fistbump: