McCain Introduces Obamacare Repeal And Replacement Legislation

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

DYLAN SCOTT – DECEMBER 18, 2013, 3:45 PM EST

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Wednesday that he would introduce a bill to repeal Obamacare and replace it with his own set of reforms.

It appears to be the first comprehensive health care reform legislation that McCain has introduced during his three decades in Congress. It is composed of conservative pet policies, such as tax credits for individuals and tort reform to stem medical malpractice lawsuits. The bill comes as Republicans attempt to beat back criticism that they don't have a viable alternative to the Affordable Care Act.

McCain boasted that Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the conservative American Action Forum and the chief economic advisor to his 2008 presidential campaign, had concluded that the bill would save taxpayers $2.37 trillion in its first decade.

A formal bill has not yet been filed, but McCain offered a description on the Senate floor and said it would be a companion to a bill introduced by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) in the House. The central tenet, tax credits for purchasing health coverage, was also included in McCain's 2008 presidential platform.

His full description is below (preliminary transcript):

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mccain-obamacare-replacement-bill

[Capt. Obvious]

1. "Allow all insurance companies to move to Delaware"

[KamaAina]

2. I believe Kentucky is the Delaware of health insurance

[olddad56]

3. McCain is just one big fucking distraction. He serves no other purpose in the Senate.

[Journeyman]

4. Still don't have a viable alternative . . .

or a sentient senior Senator for Arizona.

[madrchsod]

5. john has reached his senior moment.......

time to retire john .

[kardonb]

9. senior moment

Grumps McCain has passed that point a long time ago . He just flips and flops all over the place on any issue . Confusion reigns supreme in his head .

[Mass]

6. Still missing the three most essential qualities of ACA

a/ Standardized minimum coverage + free preventative care, so that companies cannot sell you useless policies.

b/ Interdiction to price somebody out of insurance by increasing costs if people are sick.

c/ subsidies on the exchanges + Medicaid extension (even if I have some qualms with the way it was done, it is important).

Without those, this bill is just a set of policies that are somewhat useful to the middle class and totally useless to the bottom 30 % of the population (if you cannot pay your premium, a credit will not be of any use to you).

[Old and In the Way]

7. McCaincare!

"the bill would save taxpayers $2.37 trillion in its first decade"...reminds me of that Bush toady, Natsios, who said the Iraq war would pay for itself. They are so desperate to derail this legislation, they will lie about everything. Republicans have been delaying healthcare reform for 25 years...how many trillions did that cost middle-class?

[neffernin]

8. I'll believe it when I see it

but at least the Republicans are making progress... I'd rather see two parties offering opposing ideas than one party offering ideas and the other just complaining about everything. The next step will be a much bigger one, the republicans offering ideas that don't just benefit their primary constituents, the rich (and corporations).

[Spirochete]

10. McCain health care?

I can just see it now...

1. Nothing for poor people - just let them die

2. Bomb, bomb, bomb - bomb bomb Iran

Broken records are less annoying

[SoapBox]

11. Sounds like a "Death Panel" to me.

I would NEVER trust a Puke with my health!

p.s...Opps, forgot. Fuck off Grampy McSame.

[Swede Atlanta]

12. Voo-doo health insurance reform....

Let's be clear that neither the ACA nor anything Gramps would come up with are not "healthcare reform".

There are all about healthcare "insurance" reform. His statement was there would be options for people with pre-existing conditions. Let's see those are (a) die quickly (b) die slowly while being milked by an insurance company that pays just enough to keep you alive and keep milking you and hmmmmm...oh there is no 3rd option.

The ACA is not going anywhere. Yes there are things that could be improved about it. So let's start getting those things the pukes (and even others) think we could do to make the law even better.

But the law will not be "repealed and replaced". If Gramps wants to do something then propose improvements to the existing structure.

And as for "tort reform", I will agree to this when doctors and hospitals stop making mistakes. Protocols, training and checklists have significantly improved the safety of aviation. I suggest the healthcare industry adopt some of those procedures. When a doctor or other healthcare industry participant makes a mistake, victims must have recourse in the courts. They need to be able to recover for their actual expenses and compensation for quality of life, etc. and when the error is significantly grave, punitive damages are totally appropriate.

The GOP want to absolve doctors and others for their mistakes...a little slap on the wrists like the rich kid in Texas that killed 4 and crippled another. As long as you are rich and among the "elite" you should be untouchable.

[JoePhilly]

13. Section 102: If your ball lands in my yard, I keep it.

[tanyev]

14. "Repeal the danged law!"

[Dollface]

15. A day late and a dollar short.

[Brigid]

16. As someone once wrote about Sen. Sam Ervin . . .

He is an example of why there should be an age at which Senators should be forced to retire.

[Merlot]

17. Oh, I bet the insurance companies who have spent the last three years

setting up ACA compliant policies and getting millions of new customers will just LOVE that idea.

[jwirr]

18. This old man needs to understand something NOW. You lost the election. We do not want you to

be our leader. Set down and shut up.

[freshwest]

19. Oh No's! Obamacare is failing!!!!!

Barack Obama ✔ @BarackObama
Follow
"Nobody should have to choose between putting food on their kid's table or taking them to see a doctor." —President Obama #Obamacare
2:50 PM - 3 Dec 2013

Senator Harry Reid ✔ @SenatorReid
Follow
We'll look back at ACA's passage and say: How could a major industrialized nation have had 45 million people with no health insurance?
2:35 PM - 3 Dec 2013

Kathleen Sebelius ✔ @Sebelius
Follow
Good news: 1.46 million people have been found eligible for Medicaid & CHIP in the 1st month of open enrollment. http://go.usa.gov/WFFm
10:28 AM - 3 Dec 2013

Talking Points Memo ✔ @TPM
Follow
At least 1.5 million people enrolled in Medicaid since Obamacare launch: http://bit.ly/1iw58I3
12:02 PM - 3 Dec 2013



jennifer bendery ✔ @jbendery
Follow
GOP ldrs, one at a time, lining up at presser to say how awful Obamacare is. In other news, http://healthcare.gov got 1M visitors on Mon.
10:17 AM - 3 Dec 2013

http://theobamadiary.com/

to Sheshe.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1102&pid=19861

So McCain's bill might save money over a decade for some group or another, with more protection for committing medical malpractice.

Sorry, John, a bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush. We know you miss him, too:



Most of the world doesn't. We'll keep going forward without you and not bomb Iran, either...

[Cha]

20. BENGHAZI!!!!11111

[Owl]

21. Piss on worthless old McCain.