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Health Care Bill Clears Final Hurdle For Xmas Eve Vote

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 04:06:15 PM EST
Tags: health care reform bill (all tags)
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The final hurdle to a full Senate vote on the health care bill was overcome today. WaPo has more here. The Senate will vote Xmas eve morning at 7 am.

Then it's off to Hawaii for President Obama and family, who postponed the trip a day so he would be in D.C. when the final vote is taken.

As to the health care bill, after it passes the Senate, it's on to the House-Senate conference in January where the bills will be reconciled.

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    Health Care Bill Clears Final Hurdle For Xmas Eve Vote | 67 comments (67 topical)

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    I'm not going to celebrate this vote (5.00 / 7) (#3)
    by Zorba on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 04:16:04 PM EST
    I consider this piece of legislation to be absolute merde.  They need to ditch it and start all over.

    Shelved my plans for a new venture, staying put (5.00 / 4) (#6)
    by Ellie on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 05:09:21 PM EST
    ... based on this crap. Apart from resenting the built in Slut Tax that punishes the half of the population with female plumbing, I simply can't afford to have this landmine blow up just when the biz is stabilizing.

    The Slut Tax doubles as a Soul Tax, in that women don't even get to make the MORAL choice that Ben Nelson and his gang did "for" us at the backroom speakeasies of Coat Hanger Alley.

    Bah, why ask why women aren't granted the right of search one's soul when we're not even 3/5 human to them.

    Merry Xmas to us.

    I'm sure you are not alone. (5.00 / 4) (#51)
    by Anne on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 09:48:34 PM EST
    It blows my mind that there is such little mention anymore about how health care is linked to the economy - to real people who want to break the shackles of working for someone else and move out on their own, to people who are on the brink of making a new business a reality, but have held back because of the health care debacle.

    We've missed such an opportunity to improve the quality of life of millions of people; it's heartbreaking.

    Parent

    To the Whatev, Just Pass it: Crowd: Would YOU ..? (5.00 / 2) (#61)
    by Ellie on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 11:01:08 PM EST
    ... sell your home and relocate yourself (and family), and go without coverage and care with this additional Sword of Damocles dangling over YOUR head?

    The pretense that ramming it through before the Xmas deadline because it's the only chance for decent health care and coverage makes no sense. The top rallying cry that it's historical offers no substantial reason for people to risk what little protection they already have.

    If future improvement is such a given and so easy, why not explicitly DO IT, rather than toss that aside to obey this arbitrary, false, inexplicable deadline?

    If the "reform" is so historic and valuable, why is it not worth fighting a Repug filibuster head on?

    Too much mendacity and irrational explanations for my comfort.

    Parent

    It's good bill (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by SOS on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 05:57:58 PM EST
    in the sense Government is exempt from the mandate.

    Boy these guys keep all their bases covered don't they?

    Huh? (none / 0) (#21)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:19:37 PM EST


    Parent
    What affordable health care looks like (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:38:17 PM EST
    Family of four

                   Per Month     Per year
    Insurance     $108            $1,296
    Premium

    Deductibles       0       

    Coinsurance       0   
    (the patients
    share of charges,
    after the
    deductible)       

    Price for antibiotics      $18   

    link

    I thought you put this up here (none / 0) (#33)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:44:36 PM EST
    as what we were getting.  I flipped, I was so happy.

    Parent
    I'm so sorry that my comment (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:52:16 PM EST
    caused confusion. In hind site, I should have put more of an explanation. Since we pay so much more than other countries, I wanted to emphasize what real affordable health care looked like in other countries. I will go back and add a reply to clarify.  

    Parent
    CLARIFICATION (none / 0) (#37)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:56:08 PM EST
    The information in my comment #29 refers to the Canadian health care system per Edger's post "Socialized Medicine Sucks."

    Parent
    It's gone up! (none / 0) (#41)
    by robert72 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:19:38 PM EST
    I got a letter in the mail to day that said the monthly premium for a single person is going from $54 to $57. Horrors!

    Parent
    I'll trade (none / 0) (#46)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:55:00 PM EST
    After paying into the Medicare system for over 40 years, my premium is 96.40 per month, my deductibles (hospital & physcian) will be $1,255 and my coinsurance will be about 20% of the cost of any treatment. Without additional prescription drug insurance, I would pay approximately $160 for an antibiotic.

    Of course, this is very inexpensive compared with non Medicare coverage.  

    Parent

    My dad got a statement today from his (none / 0) (#49)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 08:40:22 PM EST
    Medicare Supplement insurance for a trip to the ER he took not long ago.

    The ER visit wasn't much more than what would have happened during a regular doctor visit, though it lasted longer. (He was the only patient in the ER that morning, but he did lay on their bed for 3 hours and they barely examined him.)

    The bill was $4,000.

    Parent

    Your premiums will continue to rise! (none / 0) (#52)
    by BrassTacks on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 09:57:08 PM EST
    Insurance will go up now that insurance companies have to insurance everyone, with every condition, and no limits on what they can charge.  Why wouldn't premiums increase?  People have to pay, or face big fines.  

    My family has to decide, pay the big fine, or pay big insurance bills.  We have to see which is cheaper.  Then when we get sick at least the insurance companies will have to take us since they can't exclude us for pre existing conditions.  

    This totally stinks.  I hate everything about this bill.  And I hate my wimpy democratic Senators for supporting it.  

    Parent

    There are plenty of limits (none / 0) (#58)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:29:31 PM EST
    on what insurance companies can charge, under both state and federal law.

    Parent
    I spend roughly that amount each month (none / 0) (#54)
    by shoephone on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:01:36 PM EST
    going out for coffee. I would glady cut it from my budget if it meant I'd get health care in return.

    You lucky dog.

    Parent

    Oh, give me a break. (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Anne on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:54:59 PM EST
    These "hurdles" have been systematically lowered to the point where we'll be lucky to get an extra-large box of band-aids, and maybe some antiseptic spray.

    It's enough to give a girl a headache.

    does a set (none / 0) (#1)
    by cpinva on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 04:08:33 PM EST
    of filleting knives come with that order of reconciliation?

    A shiv (none / 0) (#5)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 04:45:00 PM EST
    And Martha Stewart to teach them how to use it ;-).

    Parent
    Heh, not the kind of 'boning' Nelson was expecting (none / 0) (#9)
    by Ellie on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 05:15:58 PM EST
    Go, Martha, Go!

    Parent
    I watched (none / 0) (#50)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 09:31:27 PM EST
    Martha Stewart a couple of days ago, a show about mixed drinks.  She was tipsy.  The normally controlled ice queen was giggling about...well, everything....too funny.

    Martha...tipsy...teaching how to use a shiv.

    Parent

    But for a few Republican dissenters (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 04:13:04 PM EST
    the final vote could be held tonight. Actually, they don't need 60 votes for passage tomorrow, so some Senators could go home, but they do need 60 to raise the debt limit (also scheduled for tomorrow), and the Republicans are grandstanding on that one.

    Which is frankly stupid (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 04:35:05 PM EST
    The debt limit has as far as I know always passed-- it not passing would basically destroy the federal government.

    Parent
    Or, as the Repub dissenters said (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Cream City on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 05:10:52 PM EST
    the health insurance corporations' assistance bill could be passed in January when they get back.

    But Obama wants the "win" before Christmas.

    Parent

    Very rarely has the minority party (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 05:12:49 PM EST
    exercised this level of obstruction. The Dems have enabled it, but it's not entirely their fault.

    Parent
    That excuse of theirs is weak tea (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by Cream City on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 05:45:45 PM EST
    when what this country needs is strong coffee.

    Parent
    Well there's no question (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:12:48 PM EST
    that the Dems haven't dome themselves any favors.

    Parent
    Well pursuing support from Snowe was (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:06:08 PM EST
    really productive.

    If Democrats had any hopes of winning Sen. Olympia Snowe's vote on a health care reform bill, the Maine Republican likely put an end to them on Wednesday when she cast a vote expressing the view that a key element of the legislation is unconstitutional.

    Snowe was one of 39 Republicans who voted in favor of a resolution, introduced by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) that the reform bill, and in particular the individual mandate for people to purchase coverage, violates the Constitution's Fifth Amendment and the Commerce Clause. link



    Parent
    That is really amazing (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by ruffian on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:23:14 PM EST
    the mandate was in there all summer when she was leading Baucus around by the nose.

    Well played, Madame President.

    Parent

    Totally hypocritical (none / 0) (#17)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:10:51 PM EST
    because she voted for a bill that did essentially the same thing in the finance committee.

    Parent
    But she's the president now (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by shoephone on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:17:36 PM EST
    and "when the president does it, that means it's legal."

    Parent
    Why 60 votes? (none / 0) (#53)
    by BrassTacks on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 09:58:14 PM EST
    They already voted for cloture.  Doesn't a bill take only a simple majority to pass?  

    Parent
    Raising the debt limit requires 60, apparently (none / 0) (#59)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:32:40 PM EST


    Parent
    As reported by CBS news: (none / 0) (#10)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 05:43:49 PM EST
    $750 annual penalty to any "large business", per employee, that does not offer health insurance.  
    The average cost of employer sponsored health insurance is just under $10K.  Walmart, and the like can, do the math.  
     

    IN which case you're eligible for a subsidy (none / 0) (#15)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:10:04 PM EST


    Parent
    Ah! (none / 0) (#25)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:30:44 PM EST
    It's the Walmart bill, not healthcare reform, eh?  
    There are those who think what's good for Walmart is good for the country.  They have been systematically voted out of power during the last two cycles.

    Parent
    The fact that the bill (none / 0) (#28)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:36:06 PM EST
    doesn't require everything it probably should of big business does not make it, by implication, the "Walmart bill." Arguably, single payer would be even better for Walmart.

    Parent
    And your point is? (none / 0) (#30)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:39:19 PM EST
    You commented to me.  If we're on the same page, ok; we can be frustrated together.  If not, what's your point?

    Parent
    If you like, read my first comment as (none / 0) (#31)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:40:57 PM EST
    "so what?"

    Parent
    A lot of time wasted, (none / 0) (#32)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:43:10 PM EST
    by both of us, on your "so what".

    Parent
    What is the penalty (none / 0) (#20)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:19:10 PM EST
    under current law?

    Parent
    Huh? (none / 0) (#26)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:32:59 PM EST
    What is the objective of healthcare reform?  Have you accepted "half a loaf"?

    Parent
    I'm asking (none / 0) (#40)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:15:28 PM EST
    how much employers like Wal-Mart have to pay as a fine under current law.

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#42)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:23:02 PM EST
    I understood your question.

    Parent
    Okay (none / 0) (#47)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 08:25:18 PM EST
    Guess my point was easier to understand than yours.

    Parent
    I used only a few (none / 0) (#48)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 08:37:44 PM EST
    multi-syllable words.  My apologies if you found that challenging.

    Parent
    Sadly (none / 0) (#57)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:28:17 PM EST
    there seems to be a significant gap between the point you thought you were making and the point you actually made.

    Parent
    Hmmm. (none / 0) (#67)
    by ChiTownDenny on Thu Dec 24, 2009 at 08:20:20 AM EST
    I'm rubber, you're glue....

    Parent
    I stop for dinner (none / 0) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:02:23 PM EST
    And not a peep here? Jane's taking down what it looks like could be Mr Hamilton Project hiding the bodies and getting rid of healthcare reform and financial reform for a powerful possibility of a corportized everything Emmanuel, and not a peep?  I don't know if the President is going to be having a nice quiet vacation.  He might be too busy cleaning his britches if he was into this and this has teeth. If you read BTD and Atrios, the financials on this administration have never been believable but nobody was calling anybody names because nobody could figure out what has been going on and why.

    Also, some House members have linked arms ... (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Ellie on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:20:13 PM EST
    ... to fight for the PO/pro-choice elements: Reps Slaughter, Woolsey, Lee deserve big love on the sensible "reward actions, not promises" that delivers more bang for the buck.

    Rewarding Ds for the letter on the ballcap when they screw people worse than their odious overlords anyway is guaranteed bad medicine.

    Parent

    I see that too right now (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:27:28 PM EST
    I wish this didn't matter so much to me and have it going down on Christmas eve.  It's too wierd too.  I do wonder though at some time if Jane isn't going to make it into some space or place in history for having to expose people who were attempting to remove control of our basic human needs from us.  I think the Hamilton Project is nuts!

    Parent
    [[hugs]] to you + yours while we're on the subject (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Ellie on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:55:28 PM EST
    I'm watching closely too, because of how this bill (and process) affects so many fam and friends around me.

    A lot of people I know, besides my own border family & loved ones are watching more closely than almost anything I can remember (short of Attaq Iraq.)

    BTW, did you know that Xmas Eve is known as "Mother's Night" in my old-world, Pagan/Catholic tradition? This is in contrast with Christmas Day, which is all about the Newborn Son. We always celebrated midnight Xmas Eve and kind of lay around belching on Xmas Day, but now the kiddies like the toy & turkey version so we work that in too. Don't want to venture OT, but in case it doesn't come up in Open Threads, add my thanks to others' for illuminating this process with your own experiences and applications.

    Parent

    Merry Christmas to you and yours too (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:08:37 PM EST
    On the road again.  Be well everyone!

    Parent
    Just read the full Hamsher / Norquist letter ... (none / 0) (#16)
    by Ellie on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:10:05 PM EST
    ... so, um PEEP.

    If it stops the runaway train, I have no objections to this weird wedding. :-)

    Parent

    Everything they seem to be (none / 0) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:24:02 PM EST
    trying to enable is like a Hamilton Project wet dream to me.  I think Matt Taibbi is going to have a field day with all this.  But if you want something like the Hamilton Project pulling all of our strings you can never federalize banks, healthcare.....anything like that, in such a way that it serves the peoples needs first.  It attempts to create a giant conglomeration meeting our baisc needs that gives those in power control over factors they need to control to remain in power.  They have stats on poverty and ideas how to make poverty less of a problem, but it is all very bizarre to me.  It seems to me that they are attempting to figure out how many people you can allow to live in poverty before they become a problem for you.  It creeps me out.  But you can't do Hamilton Project and federalize banks or healthcare in such a way that a generous power that could belong to the people is theirs.  It keeps us all beholden not to addressing the issues but to those in power.

    Parent
    obRahma dream for a Chi-Town Machine to rule this (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by Ellie on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:11:20 PM EST
    ... "new" dynasty creeps me out too. I thought smirking Bush/Cheney vanilla fascism was repulsive enough. The Dems' gilded age Boss Politics might even be worse.

    I've never felt so 11-dimentionally disenfranchised as this past year.

    Parent

    Krugman agrees with Ezra.HCR Bill a lot like what (none / 0) (#27)
    by Dan the Man on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:33:31 PM EST
    Obama promised before.

    "the truth is that the bill the Senate is about to pass looks a lot like the Obama campaign plan, so something real has happened."

    Looks can be deceiving... (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by lentinel on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:31:49 PM EST
    "[A]ny plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family."

    That is a promise I would have been interested in seeing Obama keep.

    Parent

    OMG!!! (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by BrassTacks on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:02:56 PM EST
    This bill is NOTHING like what we thought Obama was promising!  It's not change, AT ALL.  Krugman has drunk the kool-aid, or the eggnog, something has gone to his brain.  He's lost his last marble if thinks that this awful bill is what Obama and his supporters wanted!  

    Parent
    Hysterically, Krugman Refutes Himself. (none / 0) (#34)
    by Dan the Man on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 06:46:55 PM EST
    As he pointed out in several blog posts before, 1) Obama "campaigned on the public option" ie he supported the public option in his campaign, and 2) Obama "campaigned against his rivals by attacking the fact that their plans contained such a mandate" ie he opposed the mandate in his campaign.  So, on these 2 significant issues, the Senate HCR bill is nothing like what Obama promised.

    Of course, at the end of that blog post, Krugman also said of Obama's HCR campaign plan, "none of this matters."  So if Krugman wanted to remain consistent with what he was telling the "reformers", he never should've mentioned Obama's HCR campaign plan in the first place.  Or perhaps Krugman does not consider himself a reformer.

    Parent

    What's Krugman been smoking? (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by shoephone on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:06:28 PM EST
    He seems to have gone over the deep end with kudos to Teh One. I don't get it. It's almost like somebody's blackmailing him.

    Parent
    We all so admire Krugman as a (none / 0) (#62)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 11:27:47 PM EST
    macro economist, we sometimes (some of us) forget that he really doesn't know Jack about health care, just like he grossly betrayed his ignorance of the financial system earlier.  He's amazingly flat-footed on plain ol' politics, too.

    You cannot look to Krugman for expert guidance on stuff he's not even close to being an expert on.

    Parent

    Gonna have to wait for the tell all book (none / 0) (#64)
    by Inspector Gadget on Thu Dec 24, 2009 at 12:42:37 AM EST
    after this administration is out of office to find out what his motivation to swoon is.


    Parent
    No one is blackmailing Krugman. (none / 0) (#65)
    by EL seattle on Thu Dec 24, 2009 at 02:22:38 AM EST
    But now that Obama has also become a member of the "He-Man Nobel-Winnerz Club", Krugman has to stick up for his brethern, or else he might suffer some sort of divine wrath worthy of Spanky and Alfalfa.

    Parent
    Obama never said he was for a public option... (none / 0) (#44)
    by lentinel on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:28:06 PM EST
    except last July...

    "[A]ny plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family."

    Rim-shot.

    PO was also front and center (5.00 / 3) (#63)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 11:30:49 PM EST
    on that Web site we kept being told to go read when we pressed for a few paltry details of his actual policies.

    Parent
    WTF??? (none / 0) (#66)
    by jbindc on Thu Dec 24, 2009 at 06:47:37 AM EST
    Was Chuck Schmuer wearing???  A pink shirt, neon green tie, and a gray suit?????

    Health Care Bill Clears Final Hurdle For Xmas Eve Vote | 67 comments (67 topical)

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