Sen. Al Franken comes out in big support of the Senate bill

[BluegrassDem]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/19/franken-dems-unified-behi_n_398183.html

"The Senate Democratic caucus is unified following a Saturday meeting and poised to pass a much-weakened health care reform proposal before Christmas day.

"The mood was great," said Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) of the party gathering earlier Saturday. "It was a very, very good mood, even those of us who have disappointments about what is and isn't in."

Though it's far from what progressives and, according to surveys, most voters wanted in a final bill, Franken, in an interview with the Huffington Post, said that it's "an enormous step forward."

"I'm convinced this will pass. I believe we have the 60 votes," he said. Franken was encouraged that he and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) were able to insert into the final bill a provision that would require insurers, for individual and small group plans, to spend 80 percent of the money they take in on health care. Large plans would be required to spend 85 percent."

[mcablue]

1. He was never opposed (and when will you criticize his pro-Dorgan amendment vote?)

Let's not manufacture breaking news here.

And let's please criticize senators such as Franken when they vote against things (drug reimportation) that we like. Franken supposedly wanted to kill us all with contaminated medicine, if we follow the logic of pro-Pharma advocates.

We only hear that Kerry voted for the Dorgan amendment, but Franken's name wasn't heard until now.

[still_one]

2. The only thing I am hoping for is that this is part of a strategy to amend the HCR Act

once it becomes law, adding in a public option/MediCare buy in, and drug importation

Otherwise, the Democratic party will end up a party without a liberal or progressive base if they keep moving this direction

[CreekDog]

29. If we end up with nothing, I think that would be worse

I won't forget all that wasn't accomplished in 1994. I would be happy if even 50% of the worst plan was passed that year. We got nothing though. If that happened now, it would be a travesty.

[Arkana]

3. Under the proverbial RV he goes!

(I will not use "Under the bus" because seeing that phrase makes me fly into a blind rage and kill people)

[boppers]

16. "that phrase makes me fly into a blind rage and kill people"..

..by driving over them with large vehicles?

:evilgrin:

[KittyWampus]

34. agreed about the bus whose wheels go round and round. I'll opt for a semi rather than an RV

[EVDebs]

4. Wait till people start getting fined for not having insurance

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32733321/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

and Dems get the blame...

"The fines pose a dilemma for Obama. As a candidate, the president campaigned hard against making health insurance a requirement, and fining people for not getting it.

"Punishing families who can't afford health care to begin with just doesn't make sense," he said during his party's primaries. At the time, he proposed mandatory insurance only for children."

[okieinpain]

14. people should be fined for not having insurance. I get fined for

their use of medical facilities when they need them. how, my premiums go up to cover the people that do not have insurance.

[stray cat]

5. People should be able to opt out of health care - sign a do not intervene medically order

[okieinpain]

15. ok I could go for that. n/t.

[RoyGBiv]

19. Okay ...

Would you then agree that parents should be able to sign a "do not intervene medically" order for their children for any medical issue?

[BeyondGeography]

6. Poor deluded corporate sellout, he has already gone native

:sarcasm:

[jeanpalmer]

7. They've all sold us out

Anything to get a bill. These senators know that this is not HCR. It's far from it. It's a scam. And the Democrats in the Senate are pushing what they know is a scam. It's dishonest. I'm believing some of them don't have a clue and the rest don't care.

[Laelth]

8. +1 n/t

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Bodhi BloodWave]

10. i'm going to believe a number of those against are the ones without a real clue, seems more likely

[vaberella]

25. So true...because this bill is the final bill. Which is FALSE!

Because these other Dems/Independents that are normally hailed on this site as Gods are now also failures. Because there is only two who really care when Dean was outed as supported the original Healthcare bill beause he was paid by Ensho lobbyists. But it's cool...because Dean and Kucinich really care and everyone else want to kill us.

[jefferson_dem]

26. Please. You are not a victim.

They are simply doing what they believe is best - and that is passing health care reform that they believe is best of the nation.

Besides the vast majority of Democrats are strongly in favor of the bill.

[Blasphemer]

32. Indeed but I'm not buying what they're selling. I'd like to see them try getting Death Insurance $

Out of me.

[elocs]

9. Well, Franken awaits his pending DU godhood anointment,

so until then he may have feet of clay. With all that snow they are getting clay feet may not fit well in boots, but then again if you have feet of clay big deal with the boots.

[Phx_Dem]

11. Oops. Nevermind on the Franken 2012 thingy.

[ClarkUSA]

12. !!!

:rofl:

[jefferson_dem]

27. LOL!

Franken / Weiner 2012 ain't happenin'.

[Cha]

39. That's right! Will there be anymore Franken/Dean 2012 posts?

"This morning, Howard Dean walked back from earlier statements encouraging Democrats to “kill” the Senate health care bill. On Thursday, Dean wrote that “this bill would do more harm than good to the future of America,” but during his appearance on Meet The Press, Dean argued that yesterday’s manager’s amendment significantly improved the legislation. “I would let this thing go to conference committee and let’s see if we can fix it some more,” Dean said:"

<more>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x79586

[alsame]

13. At least he was very honest in saying

"it's far from what progressives and, according to surveys, most voters wanted in a final bill".

But Senate Democrats are happy and the insurance company stocks are up.

[RoyGBiv]

18. He didn't say that ...

Ryan Grim said that in his lead-in to what Franken said.

[alsame]

33. You're right, I misread that line. I wish just one of them would

admit that the desire for a public option was not just coming from 'the left'.

[RoyGBiv]

35. I doubt a Senator will ...

It's far too much of a "club."

I have a great deal of respect for Franken ... for a number of Senators actually. However, while I certainly believe civility should be a part of Senate proceedings, they way they go about it is incredibly obnoxious. They call each other "my friends" as though those words have any meaning at all, play all nice and present all these courtesies, and then they go on television later and accuse one another of having parents that were never married.

And in case it wasn't obvious, my choice of words there was a play on how the Senate acts. They don't straight out say "bastard." They circle around it, all the while meaning the same thing.

Franken is a part of that now. I like the fact he has, so far, no played into it entirely -- witness his timekeeping prowess -- but even so, he, like all of them, plays with the fake politeness even in the midst of delivering an insult.

Anyway, the point I'm trying, badly, to make is that Senators seem loathe to come right out and say stuff like that for fear of hurting someone's feelings apparently. It's irritating.

[alsame]

36. So true. Even the best of them play that game. nt

[Raine]

17. Doesn't take long in DC

to get corrupted must be something in the air ... I guess the scent of money will do that. x(

[goldcanyonaz]

38. LOL! I really do believe that after they get elected they are quickly deprogrammed.

I used to laugh at all the conspiracy theories about it in the past but am starting to believe that this is the case.

[WeDidIt]

20. If Al is for it, I can no longer oppose it n/t

[vaberella]

23. Of course you can. Look at DU. Because Dean and Kucinich are against--everyone else is.

Kill the bill! They chant in droves.

[vaberella]

21. Another one. Franken, Kennedy, Sanders, Kerry---based on DU ethics you are failures like Obama.

I don't know if there is much more room for all of you in the closet of failure.

[MadBadger]

22. Guess people should throw away those Dennis/Franken, Dean/Franken, etc bumper stickers.

Gonna have to find a new candidate for 2012


:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[vaberella]

24. Didn't you see on DU?! It's all about Dean/Kucinich-2012! I've seen plenty of those. n/t

[nilram]

28. wow 80 and 85 percent required to be spent on healthcare?

Great improvement. Wonder what the loophole is.

[grantcart]

30. Two - first the odious mandate so that risk can be spread among a larger pool

and secondly it reverses the Health Care Companies incentive of not paying for health care procedures by now overpaying for it.

The more they spend the greater the cost and the larger the gross revenues to make a profit from.

The answer to that would have been a robust public option and now it seems to be OPM serving as gatekeeper for plans going into the exchange. Ironically if OPM does as good a job on this as they do for federal employees then it would be a very good bill.


on edit: also wondering if there is any sunset provision for the MLR.

[Blasphemer]

31. "Far from what most voters wanted" but it will pass. Good going guys! History! Champagne for all!nt

[hulka38]

37. There must be enormous pressure on elected Democrats in DC to pass this thing.

Especially freshmen Democratic Senators.

[Cha]

40. They might know a little bit more about

this Bill than the average complainer on DU and lefty blogs calling for dems to "March With The Teabaggers".