So When Can We Address Health Care REFORM?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:10:17 AM EST
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As I have posted below, with some fairly modest changes, I am supporting passage of the Health Insurance Premium Assistance bill. I suspect the unions and the House will be successful in either killing or sufficiently modifying the Excise Tax so that it does no harm to middle class workers (a provision limiting it to policies sold to persons making over 200K a year seems a natural as it contours precisely with President Obama's promises on taxes.) But my second change, sunsetting the mandates in 2019, is intended to get us back to the issue of health care reform. Perhaps, sooner rather than later. The meager demands of Ben Nelson in the end demonstrate to me that the health insurance industry was really fearful of losing a captive market through the mandates. Clearly, the one impetus we can count on for putting and keeping REAL health care reform on the agenda is the mandate. Paul Krugman writes:

We can come back to this. Progressives can push for bigger subsidies; stronger exchanges; a reinstated public option; stronger cost controls. Some of these things can be done through reconciliation. Having this bill in place will make it easier, not harder, to do these things than having passed nothing.

I doubt this is true without the bargaining chip of the mandate. That is why I think it is critical that the mandate provision be sunsetted in 2019. In order to extend the mandate, the discussion about health care REFORM can continue - because that is what the health insurance industry wants - mandates.

Speaking for me only

< Sunset Mandates, Eliminate Excise Tax, Then Support Health Insurance Premium Assistance Bill | Harkin: Health Bill A "Starter House" >

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So When Can We Address Health Care REFORM? | 29 comments (29 topical)

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The real reform bill (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Steve M on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:28:04 AM EST

will be introduced on the 12th.

: Perfect. The nu anthem (none / 0) (#10)
by Cream City on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:37:06 AM EST

of the Nu Dems. Maybe the song that will open the 2012 convention.

Funny how watching Republicans... (none / 0) (#1)
by magster on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:19:50 AM EST

complain about this bill makes me move towards accepting it. I'm so shallow.

The sunset is an excellent idea, I'm on board and hope this idea gets traction. The mandates are obviously the key.

And after what happened to Sanders amendment earlier this week, why haven't they hired a speed reader. The guy reading now is really struggling with the text and plodding along.

: Speed reader (none / 0) (#29)
by Tony on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 03:34:57 PM EST

Remember the guy they had for the climate change bill? They should hire him.
speedreader

How do we get sunsets in (none / 0) (#2)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:27:46 AM EST

at this point of negotiating this out?

The House asks for it (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:30:14 AM EST

Specifically, it can be a progress block demand.

Remember they passed a bill with a public option and have pledged to not vote for any bill without one.

Asking for a puny sunset is peanuts.

Indeed, my hope is that FDL and Kos will demand removal of the mandates.


So the groundwork and the mechanics (none / 0) (#8)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:32:26 AM EST

to do this are there and we just need to push?


: Sure (none / 0) (#9)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:33:51 AM EST

Procedurally it is no sweat.

Slip it in in conference. (none / 0) (#4)
by andgarden on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:28:29 AM EST

Do we have to get a Senator to do this? (none / 0) (#5)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:29:34 AM EST

: No (none / 0) (#7)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:30:42 AM EST

Just the conference.

Will any Senator (ie. Liebermann) filibuster (none / 0) (#11)
by Buckeye on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:39:21 AM EST

sunsetting mandates.

Or will they just threaten (none / 0) (#12)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:41:26 AM EST

to do it and then never actually do it?


Good question (none / 0) (#13)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:41:54 AM EST

Allowing a sunset to slip in (none / 0) (#14)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:43:17 AM EST

Would seem to insure later contributions from the insurance companies to legislators that are sympathetic to their plight :)


: Indeed (none / 0) (#17)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:44:48 AM EST

If you assume that he is acting as R-BCBS, (none / 0) (#15)
by andgarden on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:43:22 AM EST

then probably yes.


Then (none / 0) (#16)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:44:31 AM EST

he puts in peril that mandates for 10 years, which is not nothing.

You can bargain from there. 2024?


Maybe (none / 0) (#18)
by andgarden on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:49:28 AM EST

Interestingly, Ben Nelson wants "open enrollment and closed enrollment" periods instead of penalties. But here's the rub on that: the new version of the bill pays for the loss of the public option in part by jacking up the penalties.


Once again I have to rely on you (none / 0) (#19)
by MO Blue on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:56:38 AM EST

for information since for whatever reason I can't access the PDF no matter how I try.

What are the penalties in the current bill?

Sorry to be such a pest.


Try (none / 0) (#20)
by andgarden on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 11:58:21 AM EST

here.

I don't know what the penalty is now, but I read on a news site that it's increased.


15 billion is the new goal (none / 0) (#21)
by nycstray on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:02:27 PM EST

I think.


I keep getting a file error ???? (none / 0) (#23)
by MO Blue on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:16:29 PM EST

Tried 2 different browers - downloading etc.

Thanks for trying to help me. I guess I will just have to get my information piecemeal from various sources.


I think there's something wrong with your PDF (none / 0) (#24)
by andgarden on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:19:58 PM EST

reader. Try upgrading Acrobat Reader?


: I had the same problem (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by nycstray on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:22:52 PM EST

yet I'm not having it with other downloads . . .

what r u supporting? (none / 0) (#22)
by jedimom on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:03:38 PM EST

r u supporting the continuing denials due to pre ex for adults?

NE having a lifetime exemption from ANY Medicaid costs???

Welcome to the Corporatist Party (none / 0) (#26)
by Honyocker on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:31:46 PM EST

I continue to be astonished at the number of people, not specific to this forum, but in general, who claim to be "progressives" or "liberals" and casually discuss using the coercion of state power to force yet more Americans into employer controlled health plans that essentially makes them captive to a company (as in I owe my soul to the company store). That missing from this health care legislation disaster is tax reform that would give individuals the same incentives and deduction for buying their own insurance that corporate America enjoys for providing employer-based insurance is pretty fair evidence that the Democratic party, including its progressive wing, should really be called the Corporatist Party.

: Can't speak for anyone else (none / 0) (#27)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:40:38 PM EST

But I have always worn the mantle "Centrist."

And what if they just extend it (none / 0) (#28)
by Florida Resident on Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 03:30:51 PM EST

in 2019??