The story of the day is certainly Senator Ben Nelson’s shameless perfidy—giving up his pro-life principles in return for swindling taxpayers in the other 49 states into paying all of Nebraska’s future new Medicaid costs. The deal he struck would undermine both the logic underlying the Hyde Amendment and the logic underlying the Medicaid system. There is no conceivable policy argument for the way the new bill treats Nebraska, it’s simply a case of a senator’s vote being purchased with taxpayer dollars.
But the bigger and more significant story is what Nelson’s decision now enables—that is, the larger Reid health care bill, which now looks far more likely to pass the Senate (though it still faces a tough road after that). It’s easy to get caught up in the daily tactics and forget what we’re getting ourselves into here. The Reid bill is the embodiment of the Democrats’ attitude that they just have to pass something, whatever it is. About the only thing that can be said in favor of this bill is that it is something. Otherwise, everything that can be said about it redounds in its disfavor.
[More]
Related:
Steyn: I’ll Have A Blue Dog Christmas Without You
Reid 2.0: It’s Still a Budget Buster
Notes:
“Reminds me of ‘Trudeaupia’ back in the seventies.”
It looks like America is going to create their version of Canada’s quebec. The rest of the country gets the distinct “pleasure” of paying their tab for them.
The love of money is the root of all evil.
mid island mike
Tiger did it to those women and two senators are doing it to the taxpayers.
And the benefits of said bill don’t kick in till 2013, but you start paying NOW.
Next November should be interesting.
Congrats. to the big ‘O’ for finally bringing some form of universal health care to their country. Probably the last industralized nation to do so.
If they can spend trillions on sending someone into space and invading countries, they should be able afford this basic necessity.
All of their politicians have a taxpayer supplied health care program (including the Republicans), so why not those who cant afford or get it because of previous health problems.
There’s nothing wrong about trying to upgrade health care in the US but there IS something very wrong when Harry Reid insists everyone vote on the bill without anyone having read it.
They do that stuff in Russia…not in the US.
If lawmakers make that mistake they will pay a very dear price in the days ahead.
My view: they will end up looking like the Liberals in Canada — totally unelectable for decades.
‘Canadian Liberals unelectable for decades. ’ Why would they be electable when Canada already has a left leaning (minority) government?
“They do that stuff in Russia…not in the US.”
It will be the USSA if it isn’t turned around in 2010.
Few if any are denying that the U.S. health care system needs an overhaul. But the so-called Obamacare cure is going to turn out to be far worse than the disease. Oh ye uninformed (for whatever reason) supporters of Obamacare……..don’t just read the executive summary, read the entire report. It might be prudent to hold the applause.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/specialreports/2009/unCritical/uncritical-execsum.asp
The US citizens were stupid enough to be led down the garden path by Obama with his hollow promises for change and his MSM supporters.
Now they see how Obama plans to change America. By undermining fairness and democracy with corruption. He’s a liberal, that hasn’t changed.
You get what you deserve when you misplace your trust.
I guess most americans must have thought that anyone was better than Bush and their probably right, certainly the millions who dont have any Health care coverage as well as the ones tired of fighting unjustified wars.
As is always the case, this is about money and money only, not about universal healthcare. Healthcare is going to be unaffordable to the formerly covered, according to many reports, not just the 20-40 million approx. that had no coverage. Why do you think the bill was rammed through?? It’s looking like a premier money making scam involving one sixth of the American economy. Is this the plan for America to pay back China??
With payments to doctors being cut, what happens if a number of doctors opt out of the plan. Nothing in the Bill says that doctors must participate.
When Canada put in its medicare program, did any one province blackmail the rest of Canada, like a couple of States have done.
I feel very sorry for some uninsured person heading out to get free treatment today, or an abortion, or whatever, only to be told, sorry, wait till 2013.
Instead of dissing Canada, perhaps they should have really studied our plan. Even with its problems, it is better than what the Senate of putting in place.
Maybe Canada can entice all those doctors who will not participate, to come to Canada and set up practice.
When it comes to Obama Americans are coming down with a case of buyers remorse at an astonishing rate. There can hardly be a better example of ’be careful what you wish for’.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1209/Bush_closes_the_gap.html#comments