It's done. Final passage of single payer health care bill in the Vermont House

[cali]

House Passes Universal Health Care Bill

Thursday, 03/24/11 5:50pm


(Host) After two full days of debate, the Vermont House has given its final approval to a health care reform bill that puts the state on the path of having a single-payer system as early as 2014.

The legislation now goes to the Senate, and Senate President John Campbell is pledging to pass a reform bill before lawmakers adjourn this spring.

VPR's Bob Kinzel reports:

(Kinzel) Moments after the House gave its final approval to the legislation, House Speaker Shap Smith, Senate President John Campbell and Governor Peter Shumlin held a joint news conference to celebrate the House's action.

Smith was the first to speak to huge crowd of lawmakers, lobbyists and reporters.

(Smith) "I'm pleased to announce that the House passed today House bill 202 which is an act relating to a unified and universal health care system 92 - 49. (Applause)

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/90416/

[spanone]

1. k&r...

[cali]

11. I love Shap Smith, the speaker of the Vermont House

He's not the most liberal rep but he's such a damned good leader. He muscled through the overturning of Gov. Douglas' veto of the marriage equality law, he shepherded the health care law through the house expertly. And he's fairly young- 45. I think he'll be in the U.S. Senate some day.

[russspeakeasy]

125. Somebody please let Mr. Obama know.

[tabatha]

2. Way to go!

Please lead the nation. CA next.

[walldude]

3. The Feds can't do anything about this can they?

I imagine it's ruffling some feathers...

Time to think relocation.

[bluestateguy]

7. Conservatives are the ones squawking about letting states opt out and devise their own policies

They should be careful what they ask for.

[JuniperLea]

14. The irony is delicious!

:rofl:

[Raksha]

15. Ummmm...whatever happened to states' rights?

I thought that was a traditional conservative issue. Or does it get applied selectively like everything else?

[Kablooie]

48. States have a right to choose Republican policies only. Not Democratic ones..

The fact that this is not the law doesn't change this fact.
Everyone knows that laws are only applicable to Democrats. Not Republicans.

[Volaris]

77. What you said at the end....

a state population can get a lot of pretty progressive stuff done, we just have to learn to make one hell of an argument for States' Rights. If that means taking that argumentative point away from the other side, oh well=)

[DRex]

129. "States' Rights" is an argument only useful for oppressing minorities.

You called it, it's a selective thing. The hypocrisy is so regular you can set your watch by it.

[Auntie Bush]

76. Ignore them...they're just a bunch of fools!

[JuniperLea]

12. Nope...

This possible outcome was actually written into the HC bill.

This is very good news for all! I know CA has a similar bill going to vote in the not too distant future, and there are many other states going for the gusto as well.

You need to nudge your homies!

[pinto]

23. We have a lot of support here in CA. One *big* stumbling block is the onerous 2/3 requirement

in the legislature for budget / tax bills. (R's) have one over the limit. Dem's need to flip one seat on the bottom line to move forward.

[walldude]

27. Colorado is working on something as well.. not Single Payer

but some kind of buy in...

Right now the state is suing me because we've been putting the kids on Medicare in my mother in laws name, since I'm over the Medicare limit and we can't get insurance. I can't wait to go to the "meeting" I have with them in 2 weeks. Have I got an earful for them.

[JuniperLea]

126. You go, Dude!

I can imagine the "earful" based on your awesome rants here;)

I see this as taking one for the team... what you did and your willingness to fight for it.

Best of luck to you!

Remember, Medicare is the health insurance policy the US is already forcing us to buy into.

[cali]

16. oh yes. it's ruffling feathers alright.

lots of them.

[Pirate Smile]

28. The President wants them to have the waiver that allows them to do it. He doesn't want to take it

away.

[walldude]

38. LMAO.. well that makes me feel better

The President never breaks a promise. And according to most of DU he's not in control of everything. So...

[salinen]

83. I never liked the term "flip flop"

but Obama is one.

[Motown_Johnny]

71. "Do" ? As in "Stop"?

Are you asking if Feds can stop this?


The federal ban on state run single payer health care was just lifted with the passage of health care reform.

So, umm.... no. The feds can't stop this now.

[walldude]

111. Yes that is what I was asking...

Thanks...

[Freddie Stubbs]

103. The health care reform law spcifically provides for it

[Plucketeer]

123. Anyone know a good realtor in Vermont?

Seems there's an outpost of America there.

[pinto]

4. Congrats Vermont.

:thumbsup:

[peacebird]

5. Wow! I just wish Vermont were not so far north (way too cold in the winter)

[glinda]

54. Not for me. I love N and E and snow. Lots of snow. I am a perfect fit.

[Raksha]

6. One down, only 49 more to go!!!

:toast:

[Frisbee]

122. I say let Texas keep the current system....

in fact force them to. Then maybe all the teabaggers will move there and if they don't secede, maybe we can just give Texas to Mexico.

[aquart]

8. Bless Vermont. May its sanity long continue.

Maybe a chain-link barbwire electrified fence on the New Hampshire border would be helpful.

[Mopar151]

79. The river will short it out!

State line is 2 feet east of the high water mark on the Vermont side.

[FraDon]

127. Does that mean New Hampshire owns …

the Connecticut River on our east boundary?!

[Mopar151]

132. Yup. n/t

[bobbolink]

9. Cheers for Vermonters!

:toast: :bounce: :toast:

[Lasher]

10. I am going to ask elected Democrats in my state to do the same.

We've got a gubernatorial primary election coming up. I'll see which candidate(s) will commit to such an endeavor.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

18. Good luck........

I know none of my local reps would go for it. But, if you need a name on a petition, lemme know and you got it.

[Lasher]

35. Look in on the WV forum.

There's some scoop there on who is running in the Democratic primary for governor. The AFL-CIO just endorsed Thompson but it looks like he's big on tax cuts for businesses, which makes me wonder if he might be another fucking neoliberal like Manchin. I want a Democrat who puts his first priority on doing actual Democratic things like they're doing in Vermont.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

40. I saw that and I'm still undecided......

I kinda like Tomblin, but a good friend of mine who is on the WV ACLU Board is getting behind Natalie Tennant and has alot of good things to say about her. I know she was the Mountaineer when I was at WVU, and now the SOS, but I'm not going to let that be my only basis of my choice. I'm going to do more research and then commit when the time is right.

[Lasher]

41. I am doing research on that too.

Please share your thoughts in the WV forum and I will do the same. Foremost on my mind is to try to pick out a candidate who is not a neoliberal (AKA, anti-Democrat IMO).

[glinda]

55. MN. Gov wants it but all else is controlled by Repub majority. All they want is mining & nuclear.

[Scuba]

13. Fantastic! Congrats Vermont! n/t

[Ed Suspicious]

17. FANTASTIC!

I have a feeling if a couple states are able to follow suit the opposition in remaining states would fall like dominoes. Just had to get it started.

[polly7]

19. And, so it begins!

Great news!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

95. I LIKE this attitude!

:bounce:

[Arugula Latte]

20. Amazing, amid all the insanity in Wisconsin and elsewhere...

Great job, Vermont! :yourock:

[Sherman A1]

21. May I say.....

Yippie!

Well Done!

[fishwax]

22. congrats to Vermont!

:kick:

[Fire1]

24. I think Vermont is the only sane state left. n/t

[bigwillq]

25. K and R (nt)

:thumbsup:

[TheKentuckian]

26. Way to go Vermont! That's how you kick it sane style!

[Ohio Joe]

29. K&R - nt

[polichick]

30. Yay Vermont! Let's hope the rest of the country follows.

[Bluerthanblue]

31. so happy for you!

:hi:

[jwirr]

32. So now it has to go to the Senate? This is really good. Our pilot

program for the nation.

[cali]

33. yes. And the Senate has 20 dems, 2 progs and 8 republicans

the Senate is actually more liberal than the House.

[Selatius]

42. That's rare. Usually, the Senate is traditionally more conservative, at least in most states. nt

[cali]

50. Our new guv just came out of the Senate

and we just elected Anthony Pollina, a progressive and Peter Galbraith (yes, JK's son) to the Senate. In fact, both the House and the Senate in Vermont are pretty solidly liberal.

[jwirr]

53. Lucky you. I moved to MN because it was a blue state and ever

since I got here we have been moving right. Hopefully this idiocy that is going on will stop that.

[MedicalAdmin]

70. YOU'RE the bastard that's responsible? Lol.

Move! Move now!

[jwirr]

117. LOL. I guess I deserved that one. I'll be good from now on I promise. nt

[dkf]

34. Maybe this is how we do it...one by one.

This will lessen the impact on jobs in that industry but move us in the right direction

[Auggie]

36. YES!

Hey, health insurance lobbyists and CEOs... FUCK YOU!

[Marnie]

37. One down 49 to go?

[supernova]

39. Congrats VT!

:applause:

Makes me rethink maybe I could deal with those cold winters.....

[anAustralianobserver]

43. I thought states wouldn't be allowed to do this??

Something about Kucinich or Sanders or someone trying to write this option in in an amendment and it being dismissed?

Or am I thinking of something similar?

Are there any catches to this or is it a real path to Single Payer for most states? If so this is the best news I've heard for ages.

Also does it include dental? (In Australia dental is not covered in our Medicare.)

[cali]

49. waiver.

yes, this is a real path to single payer- at least for Vermont. And I'm not sure about dental. good question.

[eomer]

67. Sanders is proposing a federal change to allow a waiver earlier than the current law provides.

Sanders, Leahy, et al are proposing a change to federal law to allow the waiver to begin in 2014 when most of the health care reform kicks in instead of 2017. This makes tremendous sense because otherwise Vermont would be forced to waste money implementing a system that would be in effect only three years before it is replaced by something completely different.

Here's a brief article about their proposal:

http://www.necn.com/01/26/11/Vt-delegation-introduces-health-care-sta/landing.html?&blockID=3&apID=00127035bb964560824ccc1d8a8b23f1

[Marrah_G]

44. Good Job Vermont!!!!!!!!!

[RainDog]

45. Congrats Vermont! great news n/t

[markpkessinger]

46. Congratulations, Vermont, from an envious New Yorker n/t

[cilla4progress]

47. Yay, Vermont!

Graduated Univ. of Vermont in 1977. What a grand, progressive state. Now living in Washington state - not too bad, but no Vermont!

Way to go ... hope it trickles on...

[killbotfactory]

51. Yay! I hope other states follow their lead.

[midnight armadillo]

52. 1st to single payer WINS

Why? Because if health care costs are cut due to much higher effiencies, then the state economy gets a big stimulus. Other states will watch for a few years to see what happens before trying the same thing. Meanwhile, VT will reap the benefits of the competitive advantage.

[90-percent]

110. Thanks for your sig line

Frank is my hero and that quote is among the most insightful and penetrating things Frank had to say.

Frank was a great American and a National Treasure! I discovered Frank at 17 and his values have been co-opted into mine. My hero and a major source of inspiration throughout my life!

However, in these times I think substituting "multi-national corporations" for "industry" would sharpen up the meaning a bit.

-90% Jimmy

[glinda]

56. Congratulations lovely State!

:bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast:

[suffragette]

57. Vermont leading the way!

K&R


:applause:

[ChoppinBroccoli]

58. WHEN (Not If) Vermont Shoots To The Top Of The Health Rankings...........

............how will the Republicans claim that single payer healthcare is akin to dogs and cats living together? They've been able to discredit single payer systems in other countries by perpetuating the myth that the care is sub-standard and that people in those countries flee to the United States for better care. When we see both doctors and patients flooding into Vermont to take advantage of its superior care, how will the Republicans ever be able to counter that evidence?

This is exactly what we needed. A State with the balls to actually enact a single payer system in order to show the rest of the country what it is all about. The success will breed more success, as more States will then follow Vermont's lead, and the "Socialism!!!" screamers will simply fade away.

[MedicalAdmin]

72. And it's sommuch BS

Canada has an ongoing problem with yanks going north for medical care. Not the other way around.

Sure canadiens come to the us for care ... And mostly it's paid for by their health insurance.

[subterranean]

93. How will Republicans counter the evidence?

Simple. They will do what they always do. They will lie.

[Recursion]

112. They'll point to the costs

It's going to cost a lot. And the GOP will be hammering on that fact.

[rufus dog]

59. OBAMA SUCKS!

Over 50 responses and not one mention that Obama sucks, oh wait the opening came from that piece of shit HC bill.

On edit not one friggen instance of Obama being mentioned!

[diane in sf]

61. So maybe he was paying 12th dimensional chess!

[Amonester]

60. Congrats VT!!

At long last! This is very good news!!

K&R

[diane in sf]

62. California next I hope!

[democrank]

63. Go Vermont!

[onestepforward]

64. Congratulations Vermont!

Well done!

:toast:

[highplainsdem]

65. K&R

[Citizen Worker]

66. Congratulations Vermont. The first state to enter the modern era. We need to make sure it doesn't

end there.

[Enthusiast]

68. I pray that Vermont can

overcome resistance from Republicans to achieve a truly wonderful system so the rest of the nation will have a model to follow.

[Capt. America]

69. Mazel Tov Vermont! Can I retire there? I was thinking on becoming a gentleman farmer in retirement.

[Mopar151]

86. Could work out for you....

If you have some source of income from outside the state. If you stay away from resort areas and the enclaves of the rich (like Woodstock and Charlotte), You can stretch a buck pretty well.

[Recursion]

113. And you just exemplified the danger Vermont will face

This is going to cost a lot already; a lot more if people start moving there to get health care.

[rug]

73. Now, how hard was that?

[cali]

75. so far not so hard

and I don't see it being too hard in the State Senate, but I can't help but fear unforeseen obstacles.

[Recursion]

115. The hard part will be keeping it funded (nt)

[RoccoR5955]

74. Yet another reason to move to Vermont! n/t

[Overseas]

78. Yaaay !!

[abelenkpe]

80. Woo hoo!

Let's hope other states do the same. Esp CA :)

[Harriety]

81. Vermont Leads the Way

Happy for them. At least there is hope somewhere in the US for real health care reform.

[Safetykitten]

82. HCR devotees. We meant to do that!

[tpsbmam]

84. OMG, I'm so incredibly jealous! I love how states like WI and VT are showing us

the way out of darkness. It's the way it has been throughout history and how it is now -- I'm happy to be witnessing it first hand. Congratulations VT! I hope it doesn't take too horribly long for the rest of the country to look at the inevitable success in VT and get a clue. Bravo Vermont! Hell, the state gave us Bernie Sanders -- that alone tells you a lot about VT.

K&R!!


:bounce: :thumbsup: :fistbump: :yourock: :applause:

[harun]

85. Can you hear that UHC? It is the sound of inevitability...

[joanbarnes]

87. I'm moving to Vermont. Green Mountain State: Get ready for an influx of immigrants!

[Shagbark Hickory]

92. I have a feeling Vermont is going to become the next Florida.

Of course, if you're going to move to vt, you might as well move to canada. Same frigid temps but with better shopping.

[Recursion]

114. So what happens when a few dozen million retirees move there...

...and start using health care without significantly contributing to the tax base?

[Shagbark Hickory]

131. LOL. I dunno but I can't wait to watch this.

:popcorn:

The first thing that comes to mind is that old people and cold weather is like mogwais and water.
I think living in vt will get old in a hurry to anyone who's getting up there in the years. So there's going to have to be a lot of snow birds.

In other words, they will probably stay in vermont all of 4 months of the year then head down to hallandale beach. Will their insurance cover their expenses out of state? I'd love to know. And a sales probably wouldn't help pay for it.

They're probably going to have to pay for it through property taxes.

I think realistically, this will be run much like the trash collection in many cities. A private hauler gets the contract, paid for by the state. They pick up at everybody's house. A single private insurer will insure everyone. That's my prediction.

[vanbean]

120. Yeah, like me.

[uponit7771]

88. AMEN!!

[hifiguy]

89. Incredible! And it passed almost 2-to-1

With all of the insanity going on in this country, I hereby doff my hat to the good, sane people of the Great State of Vermont! :toast: :bounce: :beer: :loveya:

[cali]

90. we're the mouse that roars.

[orbitalman]

91. K and R

[masmdu]

94. CONGRATS !Give me a "D", give me an "O", give me a "M", give me a "I", give me a "N" give me an "O"

Which state will be next?

[SnakeEyes]

96. Hopefully

this works better than other examples of single payer at the state level, like Medicaid in Illinois and Arizona and Oregon etc, that have been exposed over the last year with out of control spending/going broke, rationing/denying care etc. If it's like the other states then we will never get single payer at the national level. The right will use the mocking "maybe it will work this time" argument.

[cali]

97. entirely different.

[SnakeEyes]

104. elaborate?

[felix_numinous]

98. K&R!!

[blackspade]

99. At least one state seems to be sane!

[avaistheone1]

100. Kudos to Vermont!

:kick:


k&r

[AllyCat]

101. Time to move to VT.

We would like to live in a sane place. First, we'll do what we can to fix WI. Then we are on our way :)

[bvar22]

102. Hi, Cali....old, cherished friend.

I know we haven't always gotten along on DU,
but I have always respected you.
Your BRILLIANCE, eloquence, and compassion have been like a BRIGHT STAR in a cold, dark night sky.
You are the rarest and most beautiful of posters anywhere ion the Internet.
I have printed out ALL your posts on DU, and saved them in a special box.
On dark days when I feel I can't go on, I pull them out and re-read them.
Your old posts give me the courage and inspiration to go on another day.
.
.
.
No matter what anybody says, I have always loved you.

Always YOURS in love and undying respect,
bvar22





PS: Can I come and live with you?

[Uncle Joe]

105. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, cali.:thumbsup:

[grahamhgreen]

106. This is the best news in a long time!

[KeyserSoze87]

107. Vermont is the best state in the country.

:kick:

[rox63]

108. Yay, Vermont!!!

VT was first in the nation with Civil Unions. Now it will be first in the nation with Single-Payor health care.

Over the years, I've toyed with the idea of moving to Vermont. I'm just one state to the south of VT. But I have an elderly parent that I care for here in Massachusetts. And I'm not sure where I'd find a job up there. Some day, I will take the plunge and move up there. But for now, the occasional visit will have to do.

[90-percent]

109. Apologies for being selfish

But, Dear God, can my Nutmeg State be the next to do this?

I am in Connecticut by choice because of the New Englandy stuff and the scenerey. Also because there's an awful lot of "my kind of people". Educated progressive liberal Open Minded Democrats.

It feels like home to me.

And 30 years ago it was in the top 3 machine tool manuifacturing states in the country. Now, they all make wonderful Lowes and Home Depots and warehouses. Bullard, New Britain Machine, Bridgeport Machine, Bodine Automation, Pratt and Whitney Machine Tool (my alma mater and founded in 1860)

Machine Tools are the "mother machines" and are the only machines that can replicate themselves. At the root of all manufacturing are machine tools.

-90% Jimmy

[lsewpershad]

116. We

need to recruit and elect progressives to every state legislature also executive and local govts.

[Mason Dixon]

118. This is the way states rights are suppose to work

If one state and it's people want an entitlement or some type of right or statute they should propose it; debate it and vote on it.

Three great things happen then
1 majorities aren't forced to follow the ideals of the minority
2 large states don't subsidize smaller states (ie Cali won't pay for vermonts law)
3 the slowed homogenization of our 50 states

[Mojeoux]

119. Yea Vermont Vermont Vermont!!!!!!!!!

Vermont Rocks!!!!!!Yea!
:toast: :party: :toast: :party: :bounce: :hi: :toast: :party: :toast: :party: :bounce: :hi:

[EC]

121. This really pisses me off

Wisconsin would have been next in line for single payer after this - if only we hadn't gotten stuck with Walker. We were well on the way with the Dem majority...now it'll take years again....


On Edit: I don't mean to disparage Vermont, I'm just jealous...

[Frisbee]

124. Or hopefully less, with sufficient successful recalls. n/t

[swilton]

128. Go Vermont!

You are so beautiful!

[Name removed]

130. Deleted message

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