President Obama has signed three significant bills into law during the past six months

[ProSense]

Signed into law six weeks ago:

Wall Street reform

(Also in this period: A $10 billion in new taxes corporations doing business abroad)


Signed into law six months ago:

Health care reform

Student loan reform


These major reforms are less than six months old. Yet one would get the impression from all the spin that nothing is being accomplished.

[firedupdem]

1. K&R n/t

[elleng]

2. Thanks for this; people need to be reminded.

[babylonsister]

3. Hey, Pro. It doesn't matter to some people. He is

not the man they voted for initially and hasn't done enough or anything to advance the Democratic agenda, despite his lack of support from any rethugs and all he has accomplished, these three bills included.

And dare me to post a list, because they are waiting in my bookmarks.

He was supposed to be superhuman, and he's not, dammit. :cry:

[MannyGoldstein]

6. He appointed a commision to slash Social Security

How much more un-Democratic could he be?

Shame.

[babylonsister]

10. To slash social security? You are so full of shit, I bet your eyes are

brown.


Is that what he did, or your interpretation, manny?

[MannyGoldstein]

15. Why else appoint two co-chairs who've tried to cut it before?

many others in the commissions have also called for cutting social security.

and while obama has said he won't be privatize social security, he will not say that he won't cut it.

it's in the bag.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MannyGoldstein]

20. I'm here to fight for Democratic values nt

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[girl gone mad]

32. Paranoid much?

Everyone's out to get your precious..

[sabrina 1]

34. Isn't it against the rules to make false claims againg other DUers?

Do you have some proof that this commenter is 'here to trap this president'? I don't see anyone doing that, in fact I think if someone were it would be pretty obvious.

I see people trying to save this president from the anger of the people if he allows this commission to cut SS benefits. Because if they do not make a strong statement that this will not happen no matter what the Commission recommends, before the election, people are not going to wait until after. Because it will be clear by their silence and/or prevarications as was the case with Chris Van Hollen, what is going to happen.

Now if you care more about a politician than the American people, that is your business, but I can assure you that the majority of the American people vote for their own interests, and could care less about politicians in general when those interests are being neglected.

If you want to make sure that Democrats win in November, you would join those of us who are pressuring them now to stand up against any recommendations from this Commission that they will cut SS benefits. The Progressive Caucus has already taken the lead on this. Hopefully more Democrats will take their advice and sign their pledge to vote against any attempt to cut SS.

And a good start would be for the president to fire Alan Simpson, if not for his previous insults to the American Workers who own the SS fund, then definitely for his latest remarks about U.S. Veterans 'not helping the country' by using their benefits. That was an outrage and this administration who fired Shirley Sherrod based on a report from the worst possible rightwing source, should have already demanded that Alan Simpson step down and assure Veterans, the elderly, the disabled and dependent children that their benefits will be protected by the Democratic party.

[dflprincess]

16. Apparently the House Progressive Caucus is also worried about the purpose of the commission

per this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4527402">House Dems To Obama: No Cuts To Social Security

In a letter to be sent to President Obama, obtained by TPM, House Democrats will pledge to vote against any legislation based on the commission's report unless Social Security is taken off the table.

"We oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age," the letter reads. "We also oppose any effort to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part.... If any of the Commission's recommendations cut or diminish Social Security in any way, we will stand firmly against them."

Of course, this is the same caucus that vowed to fight for a strong public option so you probably don't have to worry about them standing in the way of Obama getting what he wants.

[babylonsister]

27. I posted that days ago, and I get it. Go in eds, and you'll

see Sanders also has an op-ed. There are a lot of people speculating about what might happen, except Obama. He formed a commission that hasn't made any determinations and he doesn't have to do anything about what they determine.

It's all speculation at this point, but people so love to do that.

[dflprincess]

84. Given that Bernie Sanders and the House Progressive caucus are among those "speculating"

only raises more questions about what the intentions of the "Deficit Reduction" Commission are. I would guess that Sanders & the House Caucus may have a bit more insider knowledge of what's going on.

Their "speculating" only reenforces concern about why Obama would appoint people like Simpson to the commission if the fix wasn't in and that this administration supports gutting Social Security. It doesn't help that the meetings are held behind closed doors - what happened to the transparency we were promised?

[rpannier]

4. Good reminder

Thanks

[MannyGoldstein]

5. FDR got 15 in 100 days

And they were effective in helping the middle class right away. And they were short, direct bills, not 2000+ page behemoths written by lobbyists.

[ProSense]

7. Did you think this was a complete list?

Sixteen Republicans voted for Social Security. This isn't 1933.

[babylonsister]

30. And he didn't have the rethugs to contend w/that Obama has had.

manny, whose side are you on anyway?

[unblock]

31. comparing presidents to fdr in terms of laws enacted is like comparing scientists to einstein

fdr came into office with a HUEUEUEUGE mandate and a very cooperative congress after 4 years of the greatest contraction in our history and 12 years of the other party in the white house. all the planets were aligned far major action on all fronts.

never before and never since has there been a background, including this one, for anything remotely approaching fdr's first 100 days. it's an insane standard to judge any president against.


it's like pissing on any scientist's achievements because they didn't come up with relativity.

[doc03]

8. The Democrats running for re-election won't touch the

HCR bill with a ten foot poll.

[grahamhgreen]

9. The student loan thing was great (but part of HCR), wall street reform weak, HCR a tragedy that give

Gives trillion to big insurers who will use the money to crush the meager reforms in the bill.

I was about to take a 60 day pause on criticizing the conservadems and Obama until I found out they might extend the tax cuts for the rich criminals that just ripped off the world.

But another good thing was Lilly Ledbetter ...

[ProSense]

11. A "tragedy"? Health care reform was a victory for America's soul

At least that's what Krugman believes.

Can't say I disagree.

[grahamhgreen]

12. It forces us to buy crapsurance from crimals, but

we've done some great stuff for GI's , and passed the unemployment extension!

[ProSense]

13. It provides coverage for 32 million Americans and

will save tens of thousands of lives. There is more.

[dflprincess]

18. Coverage does not save lives

access to care does and this bill does nothing to guarantee a person will be able to get care. It only guarantees that the big insurers will continue to make big profits. And they will continue to make their money by doing their best to block access to care. Just like they do now.

[babylonsister]

22. So nothing is better than something? Ugh. As a woman with

a pre-existing condition and no health insurance, I am a happier camper now. I'm 54. I know this is better than nothing, yet you keep insinuating this hcr sucks.

Sorry, good is not perfect, but better than nothing. Now I have something to hang my hat on.

[IndianaGreen]

26. I assume you already signed up for your Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan

so, how much are you paying per month?

[dflprincess]

28. I have a preexisting condition as well

though it is not a chronic condition and there is no concrete evidence that it increases my risk for future problems - but the insurance companies know better than the doctors. I was lucky that the problem came up while my employer still provided decent insurance or I would not have been able to pay for the procedure needed to check it out. Since then my employer has gone to a "consumer driven" plan with deductibles that are high enough that people I work with are avoiding their doctors (though the deductibles are lower than the bailout allows).

You may be able to get "coverage" with this bill but I doubt you'll be able to get anything that doesn't have out of pockets that are so high you still may not be able to get the care you need. And even if you are lucky enough to have the money to pay for something decent, as an adult you still have over 3 years to wait.

People in civilized countries do not have to deal with this crap and it is a disgrace that we in the U.S. do. What is really sad is that "our" elected officials slap the words "health care" on a bill and so many people fall for it. It reminds me of the lines from the "American President" about people being so thirsty for leadership they'll drink sand when the fact is they drink it not because they're thirsty but because they don't know difference.

People wanted reform that gave them access to care, not something that just reenforced the failed system we have now and those who think we got reform are in for a rude awakening as they watch their premiums go up and what's "covered" go down.

[grahamhgreen]

21. In my view it forces them to buy, or me to subsidize,

Payments to corrupt institutions who have a pattern and practice of denying legitimate claims (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/18/in-health-care-number-of_n_291881.html)

Without a public option, it is toothless, IMHO; and most of the country agrees..

[niceypoo]

47. Since HCR passed, I cant afford to get sick

Before it passed, I could afford it. Do the math. The failure to address price gouging has wrecked any good contained in the bill.

[bvar22]

82. It doesn't "provide coverage".

It FORCES them to BUY Health Insurance from a For Profit Corporation...
Worthless Health Insurance because MOST will not be able to afford the high deductibles and co-pays.
The REASON these people don't have insurance is because they can't AFFORD it.
A partial subsidy that is immediately handed over directly to Corporate Profits won't help with high deductibles and co-pays.

[niceypoo]

46. Health Care 'reform' that does not solve the problem

On the contrary, their failure to put anything into the bill to stop price gouging has led insurers to raise premiums over 30% in the last six months. My deductible jumped from zero to 6k per year last April. Health care has gotten worse since the bill was passed, not better.

The problem has been institutionalized.

[Number23]

14. Kick and a rec too!

[babylonsister]

19. YES! Me, too! nt

[impik]

23. He's done in 19 months more than any Democratic president

Except for LBJ and FDR, but it doesn't matter.

[babylonsister]

25. It matters to people who aren't intent on trashing him and who

are paying attention, like me!

:pals:

[Lindsey]

29. He also reversed the Stem Cell Research decision

that Bush/Cheney halted even though now some judge is trying to override him. I get so f'in pissed that some people aren't giving him the credit that he so richly deserves. Jesus, he's been in office less than two years and inherited the biggest mess since the depression. No body is going to agree with everything that a President does but for God's sake he's doing everything he can. I'll actually be surprised if he chooses to run again in 2012. I mean really, who the F needs this?????????????????????

[Milo_Bloom]

55. There is a difference between doing SOMETHING and

doing something RIGHT.

The administration has done lots of SOMETHINGS. Unfortunately, many of them don't actually address the problems they were supposed to fix.


ie, credit card reform, health care, wall street reform.

[Hekate]

33. Kick and Rec

Thank you

[JTFrog]

35. K&R!

[Exilednight]

36. These weren't signifigant .............

The HCR he ran on is not the bill he signed into law. It fails to address the core issue - raising health care costs. It induced mandates, failed to deliver on Canadian drugs.

Wall Street Reform also fails to address the core problem that created the meltdown in the first place. Nothing in this reform bill will prevent us from making the same mistake.

Student loan reform, honestly, I don't see this as a major issue. It's nice, but bigger issues need to be addressed.

[ProSense]

38. So these achievements

pale in comparison to the progressive achievements of every President from Nixon through Bush?

"Student loan reform, honestly, I don't see this as a major issue."

Yeah, doing somthing to prevent people from being trapped in high-interest student loans for decades isn't significant.

People love to talk about what the bills fail to do, but the fact is that what they do is significant and historic

[Exilednight]

39. Answer me this ..........

Did HCR deliver on a PO, Canadian drugs, and reduce the cost of health-care?

Did the financial regulation bill address the core problems of the meltdown?

I'm not knocking the student reform bill. I'm happy it passed, but it's not major legislation. I am all for making college affordable. With that being said, I think fixing the public school system is a higher priority. I would rather see children have the ability to read at a 12th grade level by the time they finish high school and have to worry about paying for college rather than have them not make into college at all because they can't read.

[ProSense]

40. Wait

"Did HCR deliver on a PO, Canadian drugs, and reduce the cost of health-care?"

You don't know the answer to this question?

In terms of reducing cost, isn't the bill being phased in? You think that just because it doesn't have a public option it isn't doing any good, covering 32 million uninsured and more.

Do you think all of these significant changes would be happening without the bill?

[Exilednight]

42. I know the answer, I'm just not sure you do. The bill that passed is not the bill

he campaigned on.

As far as reducing costs goes; no, the bill did nothing to reduce costs of the long term. There is nothing in this bill that prevents health insurance companies from jacking up premiums.

Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit. Up to 4 million small businesses are eligible for tax credits to help them provide insurance benefits to their workers. The first phase of this provision provides a credit worth up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution to the employees' health insurance. Small non-profit organizations may receive up to a 25 percent credit. Effective now.
-Does nothing to prevent insurance companies from jacking up their price.

Relief for Four Million Seniors Who Hit the Medicare Prescription Drug "Donut Hole." An estimated four million seniors who hit the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the "donut hole" this year will receive a $250 rebate.
-Does nothing to prevent insurance companies from jacking up their price.

Free Preventive Care. All new plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance. Effective for health plan years beginning on or after September 23.
-Does nothing to prevent insurance companies from jacking up their price. To be honest, this could have the opposite effect. Insurance companies will jack up prices on other services in order to offset the price of providing this service; since there are no real cost controls put in place.

Cracking Down on Health Care Fraud. Current efforts to fight fraud have returned more than $2.5 billion to the Medicare Trust Fund in FY 2009 alone. The new law invests new resources and requires new screening procedures for health care providers to boost these efforts and reduce fraud and waste in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. Effective for health plan years beginning on or after September 23.
-Does nothing to prevent insurance companies from jacking up their prices. To be honest, this is a concession to the right. Health insurance fraud is a minute fraction of health-care costs (even insurance companies concede this fact. From Cigna's fraud page: Certainly, only a small percentage of health care providers and consumers deliberately engage in health care fraud.). In the long run we will probably end up spending just as much to counter fraud compared to what we currently lose to fraudulent claims.

I would of have settled for a yearly percentage cap on health-insurance companies, instead of a PO. But to be honest, the only real way to reel in rising health care costs is to either create a medicare(-type) option buy-in for the public, or have a truly universal health-care system. Since I know it might be too soon for the later, there was overwhelming support (77%) for the prior when Obama took office.

[ProSense]

44. It's the exact bill he campaigned on

and he explained why the he included a mandate.

Seniors are getting free preventive care for the first time in history.


"Does nothing to prevent insurance companies from jacking up their prices."

Funny how that is your answer to everything, and it is inaccurate.

[Exilednight]

45. Funny how you fail to see the truth .........

Look at what that grant does. First off, it's only $46 million dollars. That's only a million dollar a state, and it's not for every state.

Second, it puts the power of enforcement in the state; when it really belongs in the hands of federal government.

Third, it's not the bill he campaigned on. The core of his campaign was for a public option, availability of prescription drugs from Canada, and no mandate. He can explain all he wants about why he changed his mind, but it doesn't change the facts. If I wanted a mandate, I would of supported Hillary in the primary.

From the Blueprint for change: "For those who do not have health insurance,
they will have a range of private insurance options — accessible through a new National Health Insurance
Exchange that is similar to what Members of Congress have — as well as a public plan."

1. There is suppose to be a health insurance exchange, but it will not be like the one members of congress have.
2. There is no public plan.

From the Blueprint for Change:
• Allow Americans to import inexpensive and safe prescription drugs from developed countries where the same medicines are cheaper

Not in the bill.

From the Blueprint for Change:
• Increase the use of generic drugs in all public health plans, stop large drug companies from paying to keep generics out of markets to preserve their profits, and create a pathway to bring generic vaccines and other biologic medicines to the market.

Not in the bill.

From the Blueprint for Change:
• Allow Medicare to negotiate for better prices.

Not in the bill.

[ProSense]

48. Again, you're pointing out what's not in the bill, but

you refuse to acknowlegde that what's in the bill is significant.

THE PRESIDENT’S PROPOSAL

February 22, 2010

The President’s Proposal puts American families and small business owners in control of their own health care.

• It makes insurance more affordable by providing the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, reducing premium costs for tens of millions of families and small business owners who are priced out of coverage today. This helps over 31 million Americans afford health care who do not get it today – and makes coverage more affordable for many more.
  
  
• It sets up a new competitive health insurance market giving tens of millions of Americans the exact same insurance choices that members of Congress will have.
  
  
• It brings greater accountability to health care by laying out commonsense rules of the road to keep premiums down and prevent insurance industry abuses and denial of care.
  
  
• It will end discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.

It puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years – and about $1 trillion over the second decade – by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse.

PDF

It also includes:

A state single payer amendment was proposed by Senator Sanders. It is more detailed than the Kucinich amendment because it would cover matters beyond the jurisdiction of the House Education and Labor Committee. These include: Dedicated funding for planning and implementation grants; Specific allocations of funds from existing federal health programs, and waivers to permit coordination with those programs; Quality assurance and health professional training programs associated with other federal programs.

link

KEY PROVISIONS THAT TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY

UNDER SENATE BILL AS AMENDED BY RECONCILIATION BILL

Below are some of the key provisions that will take effect immediately, under the legislative package the House will consider later this week (the Senate health bill as amended by the reconciliation bill). The reconciliation bill is based largely on the improvements put forward by the President’s proposal – moving towards the House bill in certain critical areas.

1. SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS—Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning for calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.)
   
   
2. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE—Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. Effective for calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50% discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole; also completely closes the donut hole by 2020.)
   
   
3. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER MEDICARE—Eliminates co-payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program. Effective beginning January 1, 2011.
   
   
4. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a temporary re-insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive health claims for employers that provide health benefits for retirees age 55-64. Effective 90 days after enactment
   
   
5. ENDS RESCISSIONS—Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Effective 6 months after enactment.
   
   
6. NO DISCRIMINATON AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS—Prohibits health insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Effective 6 months after enactment. (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.)
   
   
7. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage. Effective 6 months after enactment.
   
   
8. BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Tightly restricts new plans’ use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. Effective 6 months after enactment. (Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all plans.)
   
   
9. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS—Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co-payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles. Effective 6 months after enactment. (Beginning in 2018, this requirement applies to all plans.)
   
   
10. NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS—Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan. Effective 6 months after enactment.
    
    
11. ENSURING VALUE FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS—Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent. Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders. Effective on January 1, 2011.
    
    
12. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL)—Provides immediate access to insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition - through a temporary high-risk pool. Effective 90 days after enactment.
    
    
13. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE – Requires health plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice. Effective 6 months after enactment.
    
    
14. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
    
    
15. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS—Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
    
    
16. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY—Prohibits new group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees. Effective 6 months after enactment.
    
    
17. HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION—Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals. Effective beginning in FY 2010.
    
    
18. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM—Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become functionally disabled. Effective on January 1, 2011.

[Exilednight]

51. I know what's in the bill

Some of it is nice stuff; IF you can afford it.

I will equate to this. HCR without a solid backing of price control is like having a ice cream sunday without the ice cream. You have the nuts, the fudge, a little whip cream and maybe a cherry on top; but it's not really an ice cream sunday without the ice cream.

[ProSense]

57. "Some of it is nice stuff; IF you can afford it."

"You have the nuts, the fudge, a little whip cream and maybe a cherry on top; but it's not really an ice cream sunday without the ice cream."

I think you have it backward: A public option is nothing without reforming the system. In fact, Medicare was made stronger by this bill.

You seem to think that the public option was the reform, and the actual reforms were the dressing.

[Exilednight]

62. I think you have it backwards .........

The first thing that needs to be done is the reigning in of runaway costs.

The public option IS the real reform. Nothing has been done to bring down costs.

[ProSense]

64. Medicare is single payer

Why are the costs going up for seniors?

[Exilednight]

74. For the same reason you don't pay the same price for ..........

bread that you did 30 years ago. Economies grow, thus prices rise. The trick is to not have the rise in price to outpace economic growth or inflation.

[niceypoo]

53. 'Soutions' that do not solve the problem

...and 'things that are not in the bill' that actually make it worse, like, say, a failure to stop price gouging.

[ProSense]

56. "'things that are not in the bill' that actually make it worse"

Damn that President Obama for screwing up system that was a least better than his HCR.

[niceypoo]

60. Before we could afford to go to the doctor

Now we cant. Do the math, Einstein.

What sounds good on paper, fails miserably where the rubber meets the road.

[ProSense]

63. Before? So you can afford it now?

Health care reform doesn't go into effect until 2014.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProSense]

70. You still haven't answered the question: Can you afford it now? n/t

[niceypoo]

50. Wow

Your joking, right? Price gouging is 'funny?' to you?

'The emperor wears no clothes'

[ProSense]

54. "Your joking, right?" Why

because you want to pretend the changes don't exist?

[niceypoo]

61. Two words that make HCR worse than before:

'Price gouging'

[ProSense]

65. Can you afford it now?

You made the claim. Answer the question. If it was affordable, why was it important to reform the system?

[niceypoo]

79. " You made the claim"

So, my effed up insurance situation is just a 'claim' that Im making? My, aren't we indifferent?

It was barely affordable before. Now I have three choices:

1. Stay sick
2. Sell my house to pay the deductible
3. Pull my kids out of college to pay the deductible

Which would you suggest I do?

[awoke_in_2003]

86. "explained why included the mandate"...

That one is easy- because he is no longer campaigning against Clinton or McCain, both of whom he ridiculed because of their planned mandates

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClarkUSA]

41. Some people have made it a habit to minimize/demonize anything Pres. Obama accomplishes.

Fortunately, their collective empty rhetoric does not change the facts, as you ably demonstrate every day.

[Exilednight]

49. Alright, let's talk about facts.

These are the facts of HCR.

Fact: President Obama campaigned on a public option.

Fact: President Obama failed to achieve a public option.

Fact: President Obama campaigned on a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have.

Fact: Preisdent Obama failed to achieve a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have.

Fact: Preisdent Obama campaigned on allowing Americans to import inexpensive and safe prescription drugs from developed countries where the same medicines are cheaper.

Facgt: President Obama failed to achieve such legislation.

Fact: Obama campaigned against a mandate for adults.

Fact: Obama signed into law a mandate for adults.


If these are not the facts of HCR, then please feel free to correct me and provide me links to the facts.

[ProSense]

68. No.

"Fact: President Obama campaigned on a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have.

Fact: Preisdent Obama failed to achieve a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have."

That is not a fact. This is a fact:

More Health Insurance Choices

• Multi-state option. Health insurance carriers will offer plans under the supervision of the Office of Personnel Management, the same entity that oversees health plans for Members of Congress. At least one plan must be non-profit, and the plans will be available nationwide. This will promote competition and choice.
  
  
• Free choice vouchers. Workers who qualify for an affordability exemption to the individual responsibility policy but do not qualify for tax credits can take their employer contribution and join an exchange plan.

PDF

[Exilednight]

72. No, this is directly from Obama's blueprint for change ............

Comprehensive Benefits: The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees
Health Benefits Program, the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity, and mental health care.

What passed is: Multi-state option. Health insurance carriers will offer plans under the supervision of the Office of Personnel Management, the same entity that oversees health plans for Members of Congress. At least one plan must be non-profit, and the plans will be available nationwide. This will promote competition and choice.


What passed is not the same as what he campaigned on.

Just because OPM oversees the plan, it doesn't mean it's the same national plan that type of plan that Congress has access to.

The big lie is that at least one plan must be non-profit, which is an outright lie. The exchange has to be non-profit, not the provider.

[ProSense]

75. The information is from the bill, and

Members of Congress will have to participate in the exchange.

(D) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE EXCHANGE—

(i) REQUIREMENT—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are—

(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or

II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).

(ii) DEFINITIONS—In this section:

(I) MEMBER OF CONGRESS—The term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate.

(II) CONGRESSIONAL STAFF—The term ‘‘congressional staff’’ means all full-time and part-time employees employed by the official office of a Member of Congress, whether in Washington, DC or outside of Washington, DC.

more

Maybe you should reference the actual bill and not the blueprint.

[Exilednight]

80. I know you're scared of the blueprint. Someone might actually ............

hold Obama accountable.

President Barack Obama signed health care legislation into law on March 23, 2010. The law calls for the creation of state-based (the coverage that Congress will soon have) health insurance exchanges, which are virtual marketplaces where people can go to buy health insurance.

But during the campaign, Obama, promised to create one national exchange (the one Congress had), a significant difference.

During the run-up to the final passage, experts weighed in on important differences between a single national exchange and 50 different state-based exchanges.Many Democrats and groups advocating health care reform favored a single national exchange, so that the federal government could enforce uniform standards, even in states with minimal regulation of insurers.

[ProSense]

81. "hold Obama accountable"

You: "Fact: President Obama campaigned on a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have.

Fact: Preisdent Obama failed to achieve a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have."

You're going to hold the President accountable when you obviously don't know or are ignoring the facts?

[Exilednight]

83. I'm not ignoring facts, you are! Or, maybe you have a reading .........

comprehension problem. I'm not sure which it is with you.

You: "Fact: President Obama campaigned on a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have.

Fact: Preisdent Obama failed to achieve a national health-care exchange like the one members of congress have."

You're going to hold the President accountable when you obviously don't know or are ignoring the facts?

He campaigned on a national exchange.

Did we get a national exchange, or did we get exchanges that are suppose to be individually set up by the 50 states?

[Vinca]

43. Hmmm . . . I notice my health insurance bill remark was removed.

That hurts almost as much as the hip I can't afford to have replaced.

[Milo_Bloom]

52. Oh, that's right... well 1 out of 3 isn't horrible.

Wall street reform and the health care bill are compltely garbage, but the Student Loan reform was a nice step in the right direction.

[ProSense]

58. "Wall street reform and the health care bill are compltely garbage"?

Really?

[Milo_Bloom]

59. Yes, really.

Anecdotal evidence is no more valid as success than failure.

[ProSense]

66. "Anecdotal evidence is no more valid as success than failure." More:

Beginning next year, preventive care – including annual physicals, wellness exams, and tests like mammograms – will be free for seniors as well.

In other words, the Medicare actuaries believe that the cost-saving provisions in the Obama health reform will make a huge difference to the long-run budget outlook.

Failure?

[Milo_Bloom]

71. Yes, failure.

Your first link is just misleading. This is just a shifting charge... don't charge group A for X, increase charge to group B by value of X.

Your second link debunks itself, " Yes, it’s just a projection, and debatable like all projections. And it’s still not enough."

[ProSense]

73. So you're saying that

even when people pay less, they'll be paying more?

How is it "a shifting charge" if it applies to everyone, which free preventive care does. The seniors point is to highlight that even Medicare benificiaries will benefit from this.

[Milo_Bloom]

76. Yes.

There is no "free preventive care". The doctors are still charging the insurance companies, so the doctors are getting paid.

Is your theory is that the insurance will just "suck it up"??

The insurance companies are going to make up for this particular lost revenue by raising costs in other areas or just raising premiums.

So, yes, your $120 doctors visit will be paid for, but your premiums increased $10.00 per month... WHAT A DEAL!

Since there are no real effective cost controls in the measure (the 85% joke has been tried and failed many times already since all it needs is the insurance company to reclassify job titles) and all other measures simply require the industry to move IN CONCERT, just as they have done in the past... your "free" preventive care is NOT care and NOT free.

[ProSense]

77. "Is your theory is that the insurance will just 'suck it up'??"

Is your theory that even when costs go down they actually don't go down?

What's the point? Are you against people having to pay less?

[Milo_Bloom]

78. Costs aren't going down.

[flamingdem]

69. CNN has been crap with this citing "nothing getting done" in Washington

as a reason for the polls favoring Republicans.. which adds to the meme naturally. Stupid anchors.

[Dawson Leery]

85. Actually, it's health insurance reform.

The student loan law was a good catch though. The government did take that one from the abusive banks.