Oooo Oooh I just figure out how they are gonna finesse the Reconciliation

[Perky]

The president raised ser GOP ideas he heard at the summit in a letter to joint leadership.


I betchat hat is the construct of a deal

The bullets:

Grabbed from Politco

-- Obama said Oklahoma Sen. Coburn had an “interesting suggestion” that the government have medical professionals conduct undercover investigations of health care providers that receive reimbursements for federal programs like Medicare.

-- HHS will soon award $23 million in grants to encourage states to demonstrate new ways of resolving medical malpractice disputes. Obama said he is open to including an additional $50 million in grants in his proposals as further incentive.

-- At the summit, Iowa Sen. Grassley raised the idea that expansions in Medicaid should be accompanied by increases in physician reimbursements. “I'm open to exploring ways to address this issue in a fiscally responsible manner,” Obama wrote.

-- The president agreed with Wyoming Sen. Barrasso that expanding the use of Health Savings Accounts, along with high-deductible plans, would make Americans more conscious of their health care spending. “I believe that high-deductible health plans could be offered in the exchange under my proposal, and I'm open to including language to ensure that is clear,”

None of these would give anyone on the left serious heartburn in my view and it show some Bipartisan spirit....

Couple that with what the Sante needs to do on reconciliation and the President may have justified the reconciliation route.

[Schema Thing]

1. I love that Grassley was just bitching about Medicaid being expanded...

he wasn't suggesting that legislation do anything to actually improve Medicaid.


pwned.

[Fridays Child]

2. The right will just move the goalposts again.

Besides, why does he even need to justify reconciliation? Shove the public option down their throats but, by god, shove it through.

[MissMarple]

4. The Republicans shove things down throats, I hope we are better than that.

Civility (but not caving in) is better than bullying. The Republicans are unprincipled bullies, hopefully the Dems have enough statesmen to get this done. I would like to see, what is in effect, a public option. I don't care what they call it, or how it is structured. And I want it done with civility, maturity and measured, deliberate thought.

And then the goppers can stand there with no clothes on, like the proverbial emperor. Well, at least more people will be able to see that they are stark naked.

[Fridays Child]

5. People are dying, and you're worried about whether Dems are better than that?

You place civility over life?

[MissMarple]

6. What are you talking about? It sounds like you believe there is only one way to do this.

Your one way or people die? That's a GOP kind of response, it's not even an argument.

on edit. GOP goalpost moving is irrelevant. We don't need them, we know that, they know that.

[Fridays Child]

9. No, a GOP response would be to say there's more than one way but never say what the other ways are.

So, what's the alternative plan on the table for helping people who are dying RIGHT NOW from lack of health care coverage? I'd like to hear it. Oh, and as for your comment about goalpost moving, that was my original point. We now need to act on the fact that we don't need them by passing a bill that includes a public option. Better yet, let's make that single-payer--Medicare for all. We don't need the pukes for that, either. At this point, I see continuing to be civil as an exercise in cynical self-interest on the part of corrupt Dems. I'm done with it.

[MissMarple]

10. They do that, as well. So we agree. Also, "goal post moving" is your term, not mine.

I was using your term, and I think we agree on the fact that their goal post moving is not a concern for us. And if I tell you of some of the ways to create a virtual public option, you would not accept them. You should research that for yourself, if you don't have a pretty good idea already. The information is there. And the people who are dying right now for lack of proper care, they are going to die, as are the people tomorrow and the next day and the days and weeks after that. Social Security and Medicare did not start up over night.

There is no magick wand to help us out of this mess. It takes hard work, determination, and an understanding that further dividing this country is not in progressives best interests in getting this government back on track. Bullying, throwing our weight around, and pushing things through is counterproductive in the long run. So. Are you in this for the long haul or for just a short term feel good moment?

I'm frustrated, too, we all are.

[tabatha]

3. Also, if some of the Republican ideas are put into pratcice

e.g. health savings accounts, and they fail while other methods work, how else better to discount them later.

[4lbs]

7. HSAs are doomed to failure from the very start of the concept. The only people that truly benefit

from HSAs are those making 6 figures or more annually, and can afford to sock away $12,000+ annually in them.

The other 95% of the people don't have enough money left over to use them.

[tabatha]

8. Yep, they are stupid in concept.

[MissMarple]

11. But having them available, as an option for people who want to use them is a bad thing?

Certainly they are not appropriate for everyone, even most of us. But there are are people for whom they could work. If they want to opt for that...I say go on ahead, providing they have a higher deductible coverage, as well.

[MiniMe]

12. I think HSA's are great, but they are not insurance