Fierce! Reconciled HCR Bill Ditches Previously Included LGBT Health Provisions

[Bluebear]

The reconciled health care reform bill posted by the House is stripped of previously included provisions addressing LGBT concerns, such as the taxation of employee partner benefits.

Lawmakers did manage to find $50M to fund abstinence-only sex education.

Ditched:

* Health Disparities – the bill specifically designates LGBT people as a health disparities population, opening up health data collection and grant programs focused on health disparities related to sexual orientation and gender identity. With collection of data and funding of research, we can better address the specific health issues facing LGBT people.
* Unequal Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits – the bill ends the unfair taxation of employer-provided domestic partner health benefits, incorporating the language of the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. Without this tax penalty, more people will be able to afford employer-provided coverage for their families, and more companies will be able to offer these important benefits.
* Early Treatment for HIV under Medicaid – the bill also incorporates the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which allows states to cover early HIV treatment under their Medicaid programs, instead of withholding treatment for Medicaid recipients until they develop full-blown AIDS, This will dramatically improve the quality of life for low-income people with HIV, as well as saving taxpayers money and reducing the transmission of the virus.
* Comprehensive Sex Education – the bill provides funding for comprehensive sex education programs that focus not only on abstinence, but also reducing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. After more than $1 billion wasted on failed and discriminatory abstinence-only programs, this funding will provide youth, including LGBT students, with the tools they need to live healthy lives.
* Non-discrimination – the bill prohibits consideration of personal characteristics unrelated to the provision of health care. HRC worked with a coalition of civil rights groups to develop and lobby for this language and we believe it will help protect LGBT people from discrimination in the health care system, where there are currently no federal protections for our community.

http://www.joemygod.blogspot.com/
http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/11/house-passes-health-reform-bill-with-key-lgbt-provisions/

[Divine Discontent]

1. even though I support all the good things it will make happen, seeing this makes me nauseated that

they so willingly capitulate our health and well-being...


absolutely disgusting. THANKS Nancy.

[Richard Steele]

2. Sad K&R

[Solly Mack]

3. k/r

[Luminous Animal]

4. C'mon Bluebear...

get with the program. Under the big tent, women don't matter and queers don't matter. All we need now is to exclude coverage for Tay Sachs and Sickle Cell Anemia and we will have the perfect Democratic health care coverage.

[Bluebear]

19. Ain't that the truth LA.

[sabrina 1]

34. I don't know about that yet, but there is a ban on

treating sick immigrants and their children. We call them 'illegal aliens' so we can feel better about them dying. Thanks Democrats. If they think we will 'get over' this bill by November, they couldn't be more wrong. I do not support discrimination which is why I was never a Republican.

Tragic to see so many 'democrats' cheering for this discriminatory legislation. It sets us back decades.

I wonder if this one of those periods in history where the parties evolved from what they were into something else? Like the Party of Lincoln, no longer recognizable as such eg. This Democratic Party does not represent the ideals they claim to aspire to any more. This HCR debate exposed a great deal about them, along with the Bush era when so many of them voted with Republicans.

[Bluebear]

48. +1

[nosmokes]

5. Well, Fuck 'em. No on the goddamn bill.

If abstinence only can make the cut and taxes on gay partners bennies are in this warm stinking pile of a gift to the insurance companies, then just fuck the democrats, because this isn't reform, this is just some bull. And we all know they're no more gonna fix this stinker than they vigorously investigated the Bush admin and the *possible* war crimes to shut us up about impeachment.

This cannot be close to the best work we can do, and if it is then we are well and truly fucked.

[kevinbgoode]

7. I agree. This looks like a moderate-conservative REPUBLICAN

bill more and more to me.

And funding stupid-ass abstinence-only education? Why the hell are we supposed to be paying to support rightwing causes but our own Democratic constituencies are sacrificed - over and over again.

You can bet my representative is going to get an earful from me about this sham.

[Bluebear]

22. We're expendible until voting time.

[eridani]

6. What in fucking HELL did you expect?

Be gutless cowards on the public option, agree to benefit taxation, and put the Stupak crap back in, and that they'll just keep on fucking you over. Because you signal nothing except that you will eat any shit sandwich the corporations force on you.

[sabrina 1]

35. Wish I could rec. that comment.

I blame the enablers who for years now have been excusing the abuse from Democrats. One egregious vote after another and still there were the apologists. It has come to the point where I cannot distinguish between Democrats and Republicans anymore on major issues, like War, Corporate Corruption, Torture etc.

[readmoreoften]

8. My partner won't even go to the ER for fear of being separated from me and dying alone.

And he won't go to any doctor who doesn't promote that they accept transgender client because he's afraid of abuse or cruelty. Thanks for fuckin' it all up a little more for us

[Morning Dew]

14. and don't forget recission

or denials for pre-existing conditions.

I figure that if the insurance co. doesn't know every detail of your life ( or even if they do), health insurance for Trans people is worthless - when they find out that you're Trans, they'll deny or rescind payments.

JMO ( with a slight dash of paranoia tossed in for good measure)

[Bluebear]

21. Where are all the believers saying we have known about this "for months"?

[nosmokes]

27. Reform=Thanks for fuckin' it all up a little more

thanks so much for the exact wording I've been looking for.

[spoony]

52. I remember the story about that happening

It was one of the most wrenching things I've ever read.

[WVRICK13]

9. You Mean Farce

because that is what this bill has turned into. Four years before pre-existing conditions rule takes place, no govt. oversight of rate increases. This is another corporate bill and we are being fucked as usual. Oh please give me any bill titled as Health Care Reform, it doesn't matter about the contents. Politics as usual in my opinion.

[bvar22]

10. By the time "they" get through with this "reform"...

..it won't even be a re-arrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic.
The Democrats will simply have added a couple of small potted palms and declared "Mission Accomplished!!!"

This WAS a Once in a Generation Opportunity.
Gone Now.
The Democrats successfully fought off any REAL "Change".
.
.
.
.
..."But it was ALL Joe Lieberman's Fault!" :cry:

[glitch]

46. Mission Accomplished.

Wish I had any reason whatsoever to reason to think otherwise.

[blindpig]

11. There is room under the bus for everybody.

Ain't that inclusive?

[amborin]

12. "reform" just a travesty

[Starry Messenger]

13. They're "fixing it" all right.

:(

[dana_b]

17. no s***

this is an ugly, ugly thing and this is the Dems doing it. What in the hell will the Repubs do with it if/when they get their hands on it?

[chowder66]

15. Wait...I wondered....

I read the piece above and while it pissed me off I wondered since the House Rules made this decision if this was something that might be included with
DADT instead. I searched the net for more info and found this....


http://sdgln.com/news/2010/03/19/pro-gay-provisions-stripped-health-reform-pressure-grows-votes-enda-dadt

Please read. While it is not ideal that this has been stripped there is much to do. What will pass will be a foundation to build on. I really don't think, and I may be naive for saying this, that healthcare amendments are going to be ignored or forgotten. We must keep the pressure on.

[Bluebear]

20. 'What will pass will be a foundation to build on.' - Yeah, right.

Sorry, I don't believe it anymore.

[chowder66]

23. I'm sorry you feel that way.....

Do you give up now? I hope not.

[Bluebear]

24. I have no hope that any of these provisions will be enacted into law for a long, long time.

If ever.

[chowder66]

26. I know it's really hard....

I have to step back from the news at least every couple of weeks to recharge and think things through. It keeps me going and helps to keep my cynicism from coming back for good. I personally feel that the republicans have screwed the process up so bad in the previous years that Dems are having a hard time finding their momentum and footing. It falls on us to keep their eye on the ball or the prize and to not let up for too long. The cynicism that the people have had is brutally hard to knock down and especially to keep down. If you can't recover hope, I'll try to push even harder with the dems so you might feel like hope can be yours again....someday.

[Bluebear]

28. You sound like a wonderful person.

Thank you for your message :hug:

[chowder66]

40. I find it hard to say thanks... but thanks

Just doing what feels right.

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. So you think it was an accident that it got stripped out? And that when congresscritters realize

their mistake, they'll put it back in? I don't think so.

I'm the proud papa of a Gay Teenager, and I'm so sick of this shit, INCLUDING the lack of action on DADT and DOMA that I could puke.

[chowder66]

41. Absolutely Not!

Never said such a thing.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

16. Damn. So unfair. GLBT'ers always get dumped on.

:puke:

[Rhythm]

18. Not shocked at all... just disgusted as usual. n/t

[upi402]

25. I'd like to welcome my LGBT brothers and sisters

and greet them with open arms in out mutual place under the bus. Oh wait, I mean they're back under here before their usual place even cooled.

"* Non-discrimination " -This is more than "not perfect" as Obama calls it.

[VMI Dem]

29. I'd say what I think of this,

but it would get disappeared.

[havocmom]

30. We need a taller bus. It's damned crowded under it.

:grr:

[treestar]

31. You were never in favor of this at any point

Never praised it for having these alleged provisions!

[QC]

36. It's a good thing, too, or he would really look like a sucker right now. n/t

[Bluebear]

37. What is "ignored" yabbering about lol

Man I love that feature.

[QC]

38. Just the old "YOU NEVER REALLY LOVED HIM ANYWAY" silliness.

In this case, it is said you never supported the "reform" anyway, but I'm not sure what that has to do with the queers getting backstabbed again.

[Bluebear]

42. My god but there are some real dopes around.

[tekisui]

56. God, they are pathetic.

Incapable of doing the right thing.

[glitch]

47. Message Deleted by Moderator

not really, just giving the moderators a break.

[Bluebear]

50. :)

[Political Heretic]

49. um... and? That changes this, how exactly? Suddenly it becomes OK to fuck over gay people?

:shrug:

[bvar22]

54. I WAS in favor of HCR as outlined by Obama during Campaign 2008.

*No Individual Mandates

*A government run Public Option "Like Medicare" available to anyone who wants it

*No Anti-LABOR "Cadillac Tax"

*Pay for HCR by raising taxes on the top 2%

*No reductions in Medicare


Now, AFTER the Bait & Switch, I don't support this now Mostly Republican Health Insurance Scam.

OBama fumbled.
Whether it was an accident or intentional no longer matters to me anymore.

[Touchdown]

32. Oh' it's no big deal. Those are just 'Ponies'.

:puke: :sarcasm:

[Orsino]

45. +10

x(

[QC]

39. Another day, another betrayal. n/t

[Rockholm]

43. My health insurance is a taxable benefit.

I am on my husband's health plan. His company pays for insurance, but because we are gay, he is taxed on the $20,000 is costs. Nice. Yet another hetero benefit we are denied.

[Bluenorthwest]

44. The discimination pleases Obama and his DuBois crowd

that is why it is there. They agree with the teabag crowd.

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. Sickening...

Who exactly are we covering? And for what? :(

[QC]

53. Sickening, but typical.

At this point, only a true sucker would believe any promise that this administration makes to the LGBT community.

[Toasterlad]

55. I'd Have Been Amazed If They'd Left It In.

That's one thing the Republicans and the Democrats can both agree on: the gays can go fuck themselves.

[joeybee12]

57. Don't worry, Obama will issue an executive order replacing all this...

...because it's all part of a grand chess scheme, and we only think he's bending over for the right, but of, course, we'll be proven wrong again...just like...well, there's....never mind.

[ProgressIn2008]

58. You'd almost think this was part of a ... pattern. Or something. nt