Franken Supports Obama's Approach To Completing HCR (pass it now, fix it later)

[berni_mccoy]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/5/843261/-Make-us-do-this.

Make us do this.
by Al Franken


Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 09:38:45 AM PST

This week President Obama asked Congress to stand strong and finish the job of fixing our busted health insurance system. I couldn't agree more, and now we've got a plan to get this done.

I'm calling this strategy "Pledge & Pass," and it's a simple, two-step plan for passing meaningful health insurance reform. I believe it's our job as public servants to actually serve the public, and ending the suffering of millions of Americans under our current system is exactly what our constituents expect and deserve.

Here's the plan.

Al Franken's diary :: ::
Step 1. United States Senators pledge to fix elements of the bill that are not acceptable to many House members, and the House pass the Senate bill as is.

Step 2. We in the Senate fulfill our pledge to the House, fix the elements that need fixing, and pass this critical legislation through a filibuster-proof budget process known as reconciliation.

As I've said for years, letting perfect reform be the enemy of a good bill would be a tragic outcome for our constituents. Make no mistake about it; people are hurting as a result of decades of dithering on this issue, and it's past time we deliver real change.

Every day, middle class families go bankrupt and lose their homes. Sick folks don't get the health care they need, and as a result they're sicker, they experience pain, and they watch their children experience pain.

Every year, 45,000 people die because they lack health insurance, and it's long past time we put an end to it. It's time get a bill to the President's desk.

Remember the story about activists that went to talk to FDR about wanting to see him enact Social Security? At the time, the President didn't have the votes in Congress to get it done. He said, "I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it."

Make us do this.

This is not about House vs. Senate, it's about Now vs. Never. If they pass it, we'll fix it. I didn't run for the Senate to walk away from the health care debate empty-handed, and with your support, we won't.

[mikelgb]

1. aka Pass the Buck, See Ya Later

[Skittles]

4. pass the buck to big insurance and big pharma

[berni_mccoy]

6. Never thought I'd see Franken thrown under the Bus on DU.

[mac56]

Me neither. Sad how we eat our own round here.

:shrug:

[mikelgb]

28. and boy did Franken taste good

like hot dogs

[mikelgb]

27. yes I have tossed him right under... ROTFLOL

all by myself, an official DUer no less

No, actually I was just making a little hyperbolic play on words joke with berni_mccoy's parenthetical statement if anyone was thrown under anything it was you.

I will point out, however, that Some supported the patriot act saying it would be fixed later and they keep extending it. While passing it now and "fixing" it later sound nice, as we have seen time and again fixing things in a Dem senate let alone a Repub one is near impossible.

[mac56]

45. So since we can't get it perfect on the first try, screw it all?

Along with all those who can't see a doctor now?

[mikelgb]

46. hopeless

I don't think it is a good strategy. That does not mean screw it all.

chillax

[Toasterlad]

53. How Many More "Tries" Do You Imagine There'll Be?

[Whisp]

41. you must be one of those dreamers

that thing single payer or nothing.

doesn't work that way. It took a long time for Canada and other nations to come to that point. The Pony wasn't delivered in the first mailing.

[mikelgb]

43. look it's my little pony running all over the chess board again

and throwing people under the bus

yawn

[bvar22]

44. If this bill was a step toward the Canadian system...

I would support it.
It isn't.
Even the amendment that would allow states to start their own Single Payer System was stripped out of the House Bill "at the request of the White House" AFTER it had passed in committee.

This Bill (The Senate Bill with Obama's smiling face on the label) is a step AWAY from Health Care Reform.
It enshrines and codifies the Health Insurance Industry as the sole Gateway to Health Care in America.
This bill MANDATES PROFITS for the Health Insurance Industry, and every single American WILL be a FORCED contributor to those profits.
THAT is the FOUNDATION of the bill.
It can't be Fixed, Adjusted, or Tweaked later.
It will have to be un-done before we can have genuine reform.


"By their works you will know them."

[Skittles]

2. oh that's his "approach" now?

:rofl:

[dflprincess]

3. Way back when this started we were told we had to "make" them do it

We tried, we really tried to convince them we wanted real reform. Poll after poll showed people supported a public option, preferably with a Medicare buy in or something similar to that.

They didn't listen, they still aren't listening. But we're suppose to trust them to fix it in the future? I'd say the fix was already in before the debate even started.

[gkhouston]

49. +1. If we can't "make them do it" now, why should we be able to later? n/t

[bluestateguy]

5. We were always going to have to fix something later

Even if we got the bill we wanted: single payer, we would find things that would inevitably have to be fixed in the months and years to come. Same thing if it was a robust public option bill. All legislation covering big issues is a work in progress and must be refined, built upon and improved, and unintended consequences must be dealt with as well. And you will have that with even very good legislation.

It is up to us to be vigilant and demand that those fixes get made. We can't depend on Obama or any politician to do it for us.

[upi402]

7. I have confidence in Franken

"it's about Now vs. Never. If they pass it, we'll fix it."
Franken wont rest until this happens. Hopefully it wont happen for him like it did for Teddy and it gets fixed in his lifetime (and ours).

[Diane R]

10. I do, too. I think he's our new Teddy.

[berni_mccoy]

12. Exactly.

[dflprincess]

26. Franken has never had the best position on health care

when he first started his campaign for the senate he didn't really support anything being done at the federal level except allowing states to come up with their own ideas. That works if you live in progressive state, not so much for those in some of the more regressive parts of the country.

[NJmaverick]

8. Well Franken is being tossed under the bus for trying to help the uninsured

I guess caring about those with out insurance is not as popular as one would expect.

[mikelgb]

30. yes on DU a joke = tossed under bus

yes, I care about my uninsured ass very much thank you

a simple play on words and panties are bunched tight

lighten up

[Toasterlad]

54. If Franken Said Obama Was a Poopy-Pants, You'd Be the First One Throwing Him Under the Bus

You don't give a shit about Franken, and you don't have the slightest knowledge of the issues. All you know is, Obama's for it, you're for it. And if anyone's against Obama, they're Hitler

[2Design]

9. 30 million new customers for insurance will INSURE they NEVER allow a public option n/t

[leftstreet]

11. Now, now. It's part of the Chess Strategy!

[Echo In Light]

14. +1

[laughingliberal]

33. Riiight! So silly of us to forget that. nt

[berni_mccoy]

16. 30 million people who can't get any form of healthcare now will be able to see a doctor

and get medicine.

[leftstreet]

17. Why didn't the Free Market Insurers compete for those 30 million before?

Why would they need 'help' in selling their product?

:shrug:

[Inuca]

21. What do you mean?

The did not "compete" for trhem because they were in the high risk pool and/or could not afford the premiums. The new regulations will, hopefully, take care of that. But you already knew all this, I am sure...

[leftstreet]

22. So in order to compete to their advantage, they needed to be regulated?

:rofl:

[Inuca]

29. I have no idea what you are talking about

but I am glad you are having fun.

[Inuca]

18. Who cares?

There is no PO!!!!!! Let them eat cake until I get my PO!

[2Design]

20. 30 million more won't be able to afford - premiums up 40% pre law - how much higher

sorry this is not a good idea - they have watered this crap down and screwed the american public by throwing away the parts that would have forced lower costs

[zipplewrath]

23. Why do you claim that?

I know folks who have health insurance NOW and aren't able to see a doctor or get medicine because they can't afford it, especially after they pay their premiums. What makes you think this bill will make that any different? This is mandatory health INSURANCE not care.

[Marr]

32. Exactly-- I don't know what's so hard to understand about this.

I'm in my thirties, and two of my best friends are both in the same position: they have health insurance, have had it for years, but can't actually visit the doctor every 3 months to manage their conditions because they have high deductibles, and the insurance companies refuse to pay for even basic charges.

They can afford insurance, but not healthcare. It's ridiculous.

[laughingliberal]

39. It's not hard to understand. It's just not part of the daily message discipline talking points. nt

[laughingliberal]

34. Yes, to get a diagnosis they won't be able to afford the treatments for

Viva la change, I reckon.

[Orsino]

13. If you can't even pass it, you'll never "fix" it.

It is a fix, or is supposed to be.

Franken is promising to keep working on health-care reform, and that's as it should be. And he's right that we have to make them do it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Maybe..someday..if the lobbyists approve..and the powder is dry..and we have the votes...

and if it doesn't rain...

CYA as usual.

[laughingliberal]

36. ...and it's the 2nd Thursday following a Blue Moon. nt

[quiet.american]

19. Thank you, Al Franken. Always making me proud. nt

[zipplewrath]

24. I would disagree

And I don't have to "throw someone under the bus" to disagree with them.

it's about Now vs. Never."

It isn't clear that this bill will be significantly different from the status quo in terms of health CARE. Furthermore, if we pass this now, single payer/public option may then become "NEVER". Alternately, it may be that single payer comes in a republican form. Don't agree? Fine, but Obama is bragging that THIS is 15 year old GOP ideas of Baker and Dole.

So I would respectfully disagree with Franken (a rookie let's remember) that it may be about now IS never.

[Sebastian Doyle]

25. While Al himself may very well have honorable intentions as far as "fixing it later" goes

The DLC whores who made this a corporate fellation bill in the first place absolutely do NOT.

And as long as these sniveling corporate cowards are allowed to exist in the Democratic party, they will have no intention of "fixing" it. In case it isn't obvious enough by now, the DLC is trying to privatize everything. Health care. Education. Social Security is next (and Hillary already wrote that plan for them in 2006). Everything is going in the wrong direction, and will continue to do so, until we take our party back from these traitors.

[laughingliberal]

35. Yes, I'm sure he has every intention to work to fix it. But I don't trust his colleagues

I haven't seen where they have 50 votes for a 'fix' under reconciliation. And, while we're at it, when do they plan to write this sidecar bill to 'fix' everything. Cause the definition of 'fix' that some of our Senators ascribe to are certainly not my definition of 'fixing.'

[Hell Hath No Fury]

42. I agree -- Al thinks it can be done.

I just happen to disagree with that assessment.

We are going to lose seats in the midterms, that is a given. I fear we will lose enough that we may maintain a very slim majority, but not enough to make any further changes to the bill as it stands once it is passed. Worst case scenario is we lose the majority, and the outcome is the same.

Whe was the last time Dmes held the type of majority needed to pass something like this? The first Clinton term?

If it is not done now, it will not be done any time soon.

[Individualist]

31. "Make us do this"?

MAKE you do what's right? Screw that! :puke:

[Echo In Light]

38. Must maintain the illusion that the public has a substantive hand in policy shaping

[gkhouston]

37. It's not about House vs. Senate, it's about trust.

We've seen one Senator after another playing bullshit manipulative games, trying to hold up health care and get various things into or out of the bill. Now we're supposed to trust that they'll do the right thing and pressure the House to pass their bill?

No.

They've sat on their asses and played stalling games for months as if they had all the time in the world and now it's down to us to turn the screws for them? If they want something done, they can open their ears to the messages that have repeatedly been presented to them: the cost of healthcare is driving people into bankruptcy and is endangering our economy. If they are too corrupt and too craven to include a public option now, then it's ridiculous to assert that they'll "fix it" later. They were sent to Washington to responsibly represent us. Do we need to call them every hour of every day to micromanage their positions on each piece of legislation? Should we also be faxing hall passes for the Senate washroom and elevator?

Fixing healthcare is so vitally important that they should be doing it with or without our support. How many of you require a daily affirmation to do your jobs properly?

[Umbral]

40. Because the last year of trying to get the Senate to do 'this' has been a resounding success!!!

And with more Republicans in the Senate after the next election the odds of fixing this mess only improve, right?

[grahamhgreen]

47. "pledge to fix" is meaningless - what are the specific policy proposals. I don't buy it! nt

[Better Believe It]

50. Obama says he doesn't even have the votes to "fix" the public option in a Senate bill!

The Senate might pass the Republican "tort reform" proposal as a "fix".

[gratuitous]

48. You know, just like Don't Ask, Don't Tell and NAFTA

It was really important to get those "temporary" fixes in place. We'll get to perfecting them in the by and by. DADT shouldn't last more than a couple of years, and we'll improve NAFTA with side agreements on worker rights and environmental regulations, oh, just any day now.

So don't worry about health care reform. We'll pass a lousy bill in 2010, but it'll be all better. Soon. Should we time that with a stop watch, a calendar or by geologic time?

[gkhouston]

51. "Fix it later" is an acknowledgment that you're not doing it correctly now. Fix it now. n/t

[Toasterlad]

52. The Difference Is, Franken Is Sincere About Revisiting It, And Obama Doesn't Give a Shit.

Obama just wants it passed, no matter what it is, as long as it doesn't piss off his insurance company bosses. Then he can forget all about health care, and get back to doing nothing, secure in the knowlege that his legacy will forever say, "Did something or other with health care".

I don't know if Franken truly believes that anyone will look at health care again before another 50 years have passed, or if he's just resigned to the political process, and is playing along. Either way, he's wrong.

[berni_mccoy]

55. Sez you. Fortunately, I know that isn't true.

[Toasterlad]

56. By All Means, Share What You "Know"

If there's a fact even remotely connected to your "knowledge", it would certainly be a novelty. Before you begin, though, you should be aware that promises - especially broken ones - are not facts.