(December 8, 2009 - Photo by Pool/Getty Images North America)
With Harry Reid announcing that he has formulated a compromise plan for the Senate Health bill, the healthcare reform effort has once again moved into limbo waiting on the CBO to score the proposal. In the mean time, lawmakers have been anything but quiet as they wait to see the changes for the first time and many of them are hinting, if not outright declaring, that they are optimistic about the chances of the bills eventual passage. Again – without even seeing the bill. That should make most of you sleep warm and cozy at night. Here are a few of the statements rounded up in the last two days.
President Obama - Obama hailed “a creative new framework that I believe will help pave the way for final passage of legislation and a historic achievement for the American people… “I support this effort, especially since it’s aimed at increasing choice and competition and lowering cost.”
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) – It “has something that we think should satisfy everybody.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)- “There is certainly a great deal of appeal… the House and Senate bills are ‘probably 75 percent compatible.”
Rep. Anthony Weinter ( D-NY)- Called it “an unvarnished, complete victory for people like me who have been arguing for a single-payer system.”
Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean – “Using Medicare makes more sense than reinventing more bureaucracy.”
Sen. Mary Landrieu, (D-LA) – said the Medicare expansion could help small business. ”There are a lot of small business people who are between the ages of 55 and 64,” she said. “If that were done (it) would provide some real relief to them.”
Blue Dog Bart Gordon (D-TN) – is “watchful and hopeful” but not ready to commit.
Senator Joe Lieberman – Said he was “encouraged by the progress toward a consensus,” but he’ll wait to see the final details.
I cannot see what is even remotely wrong with allowing elderly Americans to buy into Medicare. Afterall, republicans have been telling us how it must be protected. I believe that impliedly means that it works and if so, it should be able to be extended to other Americans in need. 55 if not far from 65 and they are still rather old Americans with many of them unable to care for themselves.
Mariah I have to respectfully tell you that youre nuts. Letting this go on in this manner is just a show. It is a way around calling it a single payer or a public option and yes that is a bad thing. Extending coverage to 55 and older will bankrupt the system and drive up the costs for the private sectors. Medicare works – if you think it works – by requiring lower payments from doctors and hospitals they will just stop seeing medicare patients and problem solved. THey all go back to the roles of the uninsured.