The ginormouse factor that is different in the House bill from the Senate

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

The House bill includes a "National High Risk Pool" that would insure people with prior conditions who have been refused or who cannot afford the prohibitive insurance they have been offered and provide coverage IMMEDIATELY after the bill was signed.

Now, this cuts to what we have all been talking about and why the need for reform is so necessary - LIVES ARE AT STAKE. The uninsured and ill need CARE not insurance and the National High Risk Pool seems like it would do that.

The biggest problem with the Senate bill is the lackadasical approach it takes towards timeframes. 2013 and the stuff starts happening. I can see no provision for the 120K people who would die from lack of care in the meantime - please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I guess I don't care if a completely crappy, stupid, incomprehensible bill emerges from the Senate of there is a chance that some of the good stuff from the House bill, like the National High Risk Pool can survive a bill reconciliation.

I think the chances are HIGH that it could survive the reconciliation, since I believe that is done by bill managers from both Houses (correct me if I am wrong) and then the final bill is sent for a vote. That bill would only need 51 to pass.

[AndyA]

1. At this point, I think our only hope is that the final bill takes the best things

from both the House and Senate bills, and combines them into one that is at least not evil. Perhaps this is the plan, which is why the Senate seems so anxious to give away so much. Perhaps it's because they know the House bill includes those things, and they will be in the final bill.

I would like to give credit where it's due, but too many times I've seen good bills turn out to be so compromised they've lost almost everything of value.

I'll cross my fingers that the end result is a good foundation to build on, but I'll believe it when I see it with this corrupt bunch in charge.

[old mark]

2. I am really angry at the Senate, although at my age I should know

exactly what they are - greedy, petty, spoiled, ego driven people.
Any good that comes out of this "reform" will be pretty much by accident.
Rec.
mark