Obama slams insurance industry going into health reform's home stretch

[babylonsister]

What are the pros and cons of an up or down vote on healthcare legislation other than knowing where everyone is at? And if that happens, what if anything happens next?

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/73045-obama-slams-insurance-industry-going-into-healthcare-home-stretch


Obama slams insurance industry going into health reform's home stretch
By Kevin Bogardus - 12/19/09 06:08 AM ET


As the Senate prepares for a final round of votes on its healthcare reform bill, President Barack Obama chastised the insurance industry for its lobbying against the legislation.

In his weekly address Saturday, Obama extolled the virtues of the bill for the various protections it would provide for Americans in their health insurance coverage. He also called for an up and down vote on the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has struggled to find the necessary 60 votes to beat back a filibuster, which Obama blamed on the insurance companies’ heavy lobbying.

“They’re spending millions of dollars to kill health insurance reform, just like they’ve done so many times before. They want to preserve a system that works better for the insurance industry than it does for the American people,” Obama said in his address.

The president recounted a similar legislative battle more than a decade ago over the Patient’s Bill of Rights, a bill that had support from senators from both parties, including Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the late Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Designed to let people choose their own doctor, appeal against an insurance company’s decision and disclose more information about potential conflicts of interests for doctors, the bill was beaten back by the insurance industry before it could be passed.

Obama said both the House and Senate healthcare reform bills would go further in providing consumer protections than that legislation. Liberals, including former Democratic National Committee Chairman and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D), have said the Senate bill is not worth passing without a government-run insurance plan, known as the “public option,” or a Medicare buy-in alternative.

“Simply put, the protections currently included in both the health insurance reform bill passed by the House and the version currently on the Senate floor would represent the toughest measures we’ve ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable. Anyone who says otherwise simply hasn’t read the bills,” Obama said. “Just open these proposals at random and you’ll find on almost any page patient protections that dwarf any of those passed by Congress in at least a decade.”

The president also prodded senators to not filibuster the bill. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) is the latest holdout, worried over federal funds being used to pay for abortions, who has left Democrats uncertain if they have enough votes to move the bill forward.

“Whatever their position on health insurance reform, senators ought to allow an up or down vote. Let’s bring this long and vigorous debate to an end,” Obama said.

[AllentownJake]

1. Obama slams banks on Sunday

Gives Tax Breaks weeks before that enable banks to act like assholes.

[Captain Hilts]

2. This is interesting. Thanks for posting this. nt

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Armstead]

4. His actions belie his words

This "reform" bill contains fig leaves that diusguise its real intent -- Preempt and make impossible any public healths plan.

The "toughest measures" to hiold the insurance industry accountable is just more two-faced nonsense. There have been NO measures taken previously to hold them accountable, so that's a low standard.

The gift of millions of forced customers and no actual regulation of prices far outweigh any minor inconvenience of rejiggering their books.

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. I am sure Rahm called the insurance company lobbyists

and told them the President was going to say a few harsh words, but don't worry about it because it is just for the rubes.

This bill does nothing to hold insurance companies accountable. They will continue to lie, cheat and steal and they will continue to pay tens of millions of dollars to their executives every year. Big Insurance will still deny coverage using different means.

Has Obama simply given up on attacking REPUBLICANS about their stance on healthcare reform?

[Jamastiene]

6. That's like having a broken leg and

walking all the way into the kitchen to get something to drink, coming back and sitting back down, then AFTER THE FACT having someone say, "I would have gotten that for you."

[natrat]

7. do they think we are stupid? do they think we spent hours and money for nonsense like this?

one can only surmise that these fuckers really are trying to run the party over a cliff to benefit the corporatocracy and move the country further to the right. Really insulting having to listen to this guy.

[undeterred]

8. Is he going to slam Goldman Sachs before he wines and dines them?

[Deja Q]

9. Slam and support. If my company goes on strike,

I will yell at the management and then scab inside in total support of them...




"Bendless Love" - great episode of "Futurama". Bender is so cool. He does the same thing; chastises on the outside and cooperates on the inside. It's a great job; I would love to sign up! Oh, wait, I think that's deplorable and nobody should do that!!!!11!!!!11!!!!!11111!12

:D

[QC]

11. Anybody else remember when he slammed NAFTA? n/t

[pissedoff01]

12. The insurance industry is terrified - like the banks