Baucus' health-care bill: GOP balking

Of the two EVILS, Sen.Baucus bill is better than any of of Onam's "distortied ones"

Well, this is the inevitable result of weak leadership in the Senate.
What a misfortune to have Mr. Reid as the Majority Leader at such a critical time in our history.
This Baucus Caucus travesty can't be supported. The BC has produced a Republican bill that none of the Republicans will vote for. Pretty clever, hey? I can see the headlines now; 'Democrats pass 'Medical Insurance Profit Enhancement Act of 2009'.

It will be interesting to see what kind of financial system reforms this 'process' produces.

The Baucus health care bill is absolute garbage.

This is the ONLY way we'll go:
Single payer, full-featured health care. For life. For all. No exceptions. Paid entirely taxes.

This is all wrong. Why in the world are we going to mandate insurance for individuals and then deny these same people an affordable choice with the Public Option? What a coup for the private insurance companies this is turning out to be. What a cruel joke to play on Americans. Wow.

"...any healthcare legislation that passes this year will have no more than one or two Republican votes."

Good. That way when it fails, it's all on the Dems and a few RINO's.

"Nearly everyone would be required to get insurance or pay a penalty."

And you thought the Patriot Act was intrusive... Perhaps we'd adopt what Japan does and fine people who are overweight and don't lose the weight. Or, just give out lap-band surgeries like Halloween candy...

"And the federal government would offer subsidies to help lower income people buy coverage."

So, they get a free ride while the costs for the rest of the tax payer base goes up... Don't be fooled - YOUR costs WILL go up...

Great article!!! [sarcasm intended]

What the Hell? The Republicans are not the only ones balking. Hey, Baucus, where in the hell is the public option?? You may as well take that bill and pitch it in the round file! Hey, Baucus, the only ones to get healthy with this bill is the insurance company's! How much have they been stuffing in this committee's pockets. NO PUBLIC OPTION, NO DEAL!! whiteagle38

This is insanity. The Gov't can't even run Medicare without it being bankrupt. And now they want to add hundreds of billions (rapidly become trillions) to Federal bureaucracy?
In a few short years we'll see our taxes double just to pay for the Fed bureaucrats, much less any resulting real healthcare costs.

People - WAKE UP!!!

What a piece of crap. So moderate income people without employer insurance could still be paying 20% or more of their income for insurance, plus thousands of dollars in out-of pocket costs. If they can't afford it, they'll be fined 5% of their income and still won't have insurance. Not that the House plan is much better. We need comprehensive health insurance for EVERYONE, paid for by reasonable income taxes on individuals and businesses. It should be administered by the government to cut the 30% of current health spending that represents insurance marketing, corporate profits and bureaucratic waste. Support HR 676!

More proof that the Republicans want NO reform at all. They will protect thae staus quo at all costs. They want the poor to do without healthcare. They want healthcare to be priced out of reach for the working poor. They want the poor to suffer, so that insurance company profits can be maintained. Don't be fooled. They are against all reform. They are against anything which would help lower income people. They are engaged in full blown clkass warfare against the poorest and must vulnerable amongst us. We must acknowledgethe reality that the Republicans not only don't care about the poor, but that they actively wish for them to suffer.

Two hundred some odd pages that do nothing but outline how the government is going to destroy private insurance, enact national Medicare for all, and bill the middle class for the tab.

Opposition to healthcare reform from the left, as outlined by Obama and Democrats, has not been widely reported, or even accounted for in polls.
How many polls have differentiated the opposition to the plan between too liberal or too conservative?
They may exist, but I haven't seen any.

If the Baucus Bill does not have Bi-Partisan support it will not pass. President Obama, supported by the inept Democratic Leadership in the House and the Senate will push through a Health Reform Bill with a Government Option. Competing against a Government subsidized Health Insurance Company will force all the Private Insurers out of business. Everyone will be forced to join a National Health Program that will cost trillions of dollars. How will the Government pay for such a program? Will we have enough Doctors and Hospitals to take care of everyone? You do not have to be a Rocket Scientist to figure out that the tax paying American Public will have to pay for it through huge new tax increases. Although I believe we desperately need Health Reform in this country the Obama Administration and their Cult Supporters need to be more truthful and forth coming on how much this really will cost and how are we going to pay for it. I am afraid they are going to cram a very costly health program down the country's throats that will result in much higher taxes and a reduction of medical treatment and services that we currently enjoy.

Let me try to summarize the issue in three points:

1. The Repubs don't want any increased government involvement in health care because they think it would end up driving the private insurance companies out of business and create a "socialized" health care system which essentially broadens medicare to include all Americans.

2. The liberal Dems don't support the Baucus bill because it doesn't go far enough in reforming the current private insurance run health care system.

3. The Dems have a majority in both houses and have a chance to pass anything they can agree on without Repub support, which is not forthcoming. The Dems will most likely give up some seats in the 2010 elections, so they have a window of about a year to get this done.

Can my doctor still charge
his big fees and own a house
worth 2 million and have 4
cars, one a sports special.
If not, then this bill is bad.

To Rance Spergl -- Do
you want us to pay your rent
and car payment also. Where
do us tax payers send the money to so we can do this for YOU.

Well, Max Baucus (D-Mont). is obviously wrong-- this bill won't cost any more than $855 billion. Or is it $8.55 trillion?

Who knows, who cares? They way for me, is everything for free!!!

I'm a little confused on this healthcare debate. Why does everyone think that a public option is going to raise your taxes? Why can't the government start a health insurance company and charge for it just like every other health insurance company? They already have infrastructure through Medicare, and if an employer wants to switch from their private insurance company to the government insurance company (presumably because it will be cheaper), then they will be able to.

I still don't see how this has anything to do with raising taxes or screwing the middle class.

Sweeping new insurance regulations but no new government insurance plan?
Why would mere regulations (free!!) on the greedy and heartless health insurance companies and assistence for the very poor cost $856 billion.

I refuse to give up my 24 million salary. I don't care if we have to drop your coverage or not.

This is the most moronic viewpoint and used by the left lunies on a daily basis.

More proof that the Republicans want NO reform at all. They will protect thae staus quo at all costs. They want the poor to do without healthcare. They want healthcare to be priced out of reach for the working poor. They want the poor to suffer, so that insurance company profits can be maintained. Don't be fooled. They are against all reform. They are against anything which would help lower income people. They are engaged in full blown clkass warfare against the poorest and must vulnerable amongst us. We must acknowledgethe reality that the Republicans not only don't care about the poor, but that they actively wish for them to suffer.

Posted by: Republican hate the poor. | September 16, 2009 12:20 PM

Now, please tell us Mr. I hate all Republicans? why would the democrats need a single republican vote to pass health care legislation???

Oh, that's right! THEY DON'T you goofball. Spew your hate for republicans but that doesn't change the FACT that democrats controll Both houses of Congress.

"They" this and "They" that but "They" are not in control so "They" are not at all blocking anything from happening. Shut your "F" piehole about Republicans you lunatic and tell your Democrats with all the power to do the right thing if you think it is soooo right!

Oh, you can't because "THEY" (Democrats) are the ones keeping health care reform from being passed. ES&D Mr. Democrats Hate The Poor!

Screw the Republicans. We have A MAJORITY. Dems only need 50 votes-- Biden can break any tie. The Republicans want the poor to just shut up and die-- preferably out of their sight.

Springfield , you are wrong that the Democrats don't need any Republican support to pass healthcare. With the passing of Senator Kennedy, they currently do not have the votes to break a filibuster.

However, whether or not they need the Republicans, that does not change the fact that the Republicans will NOT support ANY reform effort. The Baucus bill does not include the Public option, yet the anti-poor Republicans will not support it. They have no intention of of helping any bill which helps the poor get access to healthcare pass.

I guess the truth makes you angry. Or perhaps it's the thought of the poor being aided in any way that cause your rage? In any event, you show the hatred for the poor that is at the heart of modern Republicanism.

The GOP wants to stick with our incredibly wasteful and expensive failed system. The Democrats didn't have the guts to go single payer - the system they use in all other leading democracies that cost far less than ours while their citizens live longer and healthier lives.

We lose.

We need heathcare reform but congress is full of corrupt self serving dolts. The Democrats control congress and with leaders like Reid, Durbin, Dodd, Pelosi, Rangel,and Frank we are getting the type of reform that their leadership provides. Saying Republicans hate poor people is the best their supporters can come up with.
THEY DON'T NEED ANY REPUBLICANS TO PASS A BILL SO SHUT UP AND DO IT ALREADY!

I'm not sure I get any of this. So, about .5% of the population has insurance problems, so we're going to shake up everything for 99.5% of the population? Oh boy.

@ PIstolPete44:
Well Pete it's nice of you to offer to pay my rent and car payment. I'm used to working hard and paying my own way but if you insist, why not? And since you're paying, I think I'll buy a new car and condo.

BTW Single payer full-featured health care for all. No exceptions. Paid through taxes.

"The Baucus legislation - like the other two Democratic health bills - is designed to largely preserve the current system of employment-based health coverage" Did I miss something? Like Medicare did to our health system, this will also do, only a order of magnitude more. I want healthcare reform, not an additional layer of government, dictating healthcare. Why are we talking about so much taxes - Obama says we'll save hundreds of billions from waste and fraud in the system. And you don't think this will create hundreds of billions more in waste (of our tax money!). Going to force the 6-7 million who can get insurance from their employers, but choose not to, to get insurance? Excuse me but what happened to our freedom of choice - oops! forgot the government knows best.

Is there anyone in the GOP camp who even thinks that health care in this nation is a problem? They are so out of touch, all they can complain about is the "size" of government, a relative term, and taxes. You would almost think that they are the impoverished class!

Blue dog dems are a bigger problem than the repubs. However, at least some of the blame lies with the republicans for putting out so much disinformation and lies about the reform, they've convinced the people that 15% annual increases in premiums are actually a good thing.

I love how the headline is, "GOP balking" It seems as if your motive is to capture the attention of people who read the headlines but not the actual article, in an attempt to portray Republicans as the party blocking any healthcare proposal just to stifle President Obama's agenda. Perhaps a more approrpiate headline should explain how both Democrats and Republicans are balking at the Baucus plan.

"Republicans hate the poor": That is an incredibly dumb statement that could only be offered by someone who doesn't even understand the basic talking points. The Republicans have offered multiple plans and multiple amendments. All were voted down along straight party lines or Pelosi will not let them reach the floor.

Rick

Whatever they say this thing is going to cost - triple it. That is how all government estimates work. Now sit on that figure for a while and tell me how to fund it without bringing the country to its knees.

Rick, please provide a link to a single Republican plan that has been introduced that would actually provide insurance coverage to the poor. Not a plan to give money to insurance companies, or to shield doctors from malpractice, but a plan that would directly aid in making healthcare available to the poor. Can you fido that Rick, or can you only find plans that act to make insurance companies more profitable with the claim that somehow this will help the poor?

Harry Reid and Jay Rockefeller are republicans now? Wow. Media bias much?

Still can't get HR2520 through committee because it is the republican option. The Tribune still won't confirm that it and several other reform options created by republicans exist. It would go against the false narrative that republicans have "no ideas".

Anyone hear anything about ACORN lately? Not in the Trib.

How there is no mention that fat and unhealthy people need to take better care of themselves and save us all money?

I think this Baucus is peeing on our elbows and telling us it's Channel #5.

Leave the Repubs behind. They have been too busy spending their time ordering you to be born, but would rather you just get out of their way and die so as to not trouble their "beautiful minds" (and bank books).

Weak Senate leadership has led to this turd of a bill. I blame Reid.
Baucus SHOULD have been negotiating with Boxer, Feinstein, Kennedy (RIP) etc. not the right wing apparatchiks of the Republic party.

The Republics want no reform of any kind, unless it helps the private insurance industry. It looks like they got it, and won't even have to vote for it themselves. Very smooth indeed.

This is an emotional issue for many Americans. Obama’s health-care promises are being exposed by the details of the actual legislation, and we WILL see costs rise.