The long-awaited Senate Finance Committee version of health care reform (photo at left), better known as the Baucus Bill because he is about the only person who likes it, was finally released yesterday, raising the question--this is what we waited so long for? But then again, I guess something this completely and thoroughly bad can't be written overnight. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was the landfill where this particular piece of (ahem) legislation belongs.
The bad news is this bill contains the worst provisions possible all rolled into one. So much that constraints of time won't allow me to go into all of it, so here are just three--co-ops (and weak ones at that) instead of a public option, an excise tax on the so-called "Cadillac plans" that amounts to either a huge tax increase or benefit decrease for the middle-class, and penalizing employers for hiring people who qualify for subsidies.
Co-ops:
"The co-ops can only compete in the small group and individual markets...The co-ops are not allowed to contract with large employers, which is to say, they can't compete with private insurers in the largest market, and they can't get the purchasing power that would come from a serious foothold among corporate customers...The insurance industry is, in other words, being protected from not just public competition, but co-op competition."
Sen Jay Rockefeller sent a letter to Sen. Baucus which contained the following on the subject of co-ops:
..."there has been no significant research into consumer co-ops as a model for the broad expansion of health insurance. What we do know, however, is that this model was tried in the early part of the 20th century and largely failed...health insurance co-ops are not a real alternative to private health insurance and they are not a substitute for a strong public plan option, and we should not suggest to the American people that they would be.
I believe it is irresponsible to invest over $6 billion in a concept that has not proven to provide quality, affordable health care, when we know that a public health insurance option will rein in costs and save taxpayers billions of dollars."
The tax on the so-called "Cadillac plans:
This is a 35% excise tax on health plans which cost more than $8,000 for individuals and $21,000 for families. But here's the catch, for those of us who get our insurance through our employer, that takes in not only what we pay but also what the company pays, the total premium. I checked on mine and much to my surprise I have a "Cadillac plan." How I have a Cadillac health plan and drive an 11-year old Ford truck I'm not quite sure, but I digress..
This provision affects those (particularly us union thugs) who have accepted lower wages in exchange for better benefits. Large employers aren't going to pay this 35% tax on every employee, they'll just opt for a plan that costs less than the $8,000 limit. So, the end result would be we get the worst of both worlds, lower pay and decreased bennies. Thanks Sen. Baucus.
Finally, what Ezra Klein at the Washington Post calls "not only the worst policy idea in the bill, but one of the worst policy ideas I've ever seen," the "free rider" provision.
"Rather than a simple employer mandate that forces every employer over a certain size to provide health-care insurance or pay a small fee, the free rider approach penalizes employers for hiring low-income workers who are eligible for subsidies. That will create an incentive to do one of two things: Don't hire low-income workers, or hire illegal immigrants.
And it actually gets worse. The employer pays more if the low-income worker needs subsidies for his family as opposed to just himself. So it not only discriminates against low-income workers, but it particularly discriminates against low-income parents. Single mothers will get the worst deal, as they have lower incomes, and as you might expect, children who need health care."
OK, that's all the bad news. The good news is this pile of excrement probably won't make it out of the Finance Committee, much less the entire Senate, in it's present form. Republicans don't like it because...well, they don't like anything. Democrats don't like it because it was so watered-down to please Republicans who never intended to vote for it anyway.
The only people who do like it are the big insurance companies. But then again, they're the ones who paid Sen. Baucus $3 million to concoct this monstrosity, so they should.
The bad news is this bill contains the worst provisions possible all rolled into one. So much that constraints of time won't allow me to go into all of it, so here are just three--co-ops (and weak ones at that) instead of a public option, an excise tax on the so-called "Cadillac plans" that amounts to either a huge tax increase or benefit decrease for the middle-class, and penalizing employers for hiring people who qualify for subsidies.
Co-ops:
"The co-ops can only compete in the small group and individual markets...The co-ops are not allowed to contract with large employers, which is to say, they can't compete with private insurers in the largest market, and they can't get the purchasing power that would come from a serious foothold among corporate customers...The insurance industry is, in other words, being protected from not just public competition, but co-op competition."
Sen Jay Rockefeller sent a letter to Sen. Baucus which contained the following on the subject of co-ops:
..."there has been no significant research into consumer co-ops as a model for the broad expansion of health insurance. What we do know, however, is that this model was tried in the early part of the 20th century and largely failed...health insurance co-ops are not a real alternative to private health insurance and they are not a substitute for a strong public plan option, and we should not suggest to the American people that they would be.
I believe it is irresponsible to invest over $6 billion in a concept that has not proven to provide quality, affordable health care, when we know that a public health insurance option will rein in costs and save taxpayers billions of dollars."
The tax on the so-called "Cadillac plans:
This is a 35% excise tax on health plans which cost more than $8,000 for individuals and $21,000 for families. But here's the catch, for those of us who get our insurance through our employer, that takes in not only what we pay but also what the company pays, the total premium. I checked on mine and much to my surprise I have a "Cadillac plan." How I have a Cadillac health plan and drive an 11-year old Ford truck I'm not quite sure, but I digress..
This provision affects those (particularly us union thugs) who have accepted lower wages in exchange for better benefits. Large employers aren't going to pay this 35% tax on every employee, they'll just opt for a plan that costs less than the $8,000 limit. So, the end result would be we get the worst of both worlds, lower pay and decreased bennies. Thanks Sen. Baucus.
Finally, what Ezra Klein at the Washington Post calls "not only the worst policy idea in the bill, but one of the worst policy ideas I've ever seen," the "free rider" provision.
"Rather than a simple employer mandate that forces every employer over a certain size to provide health-care insurance or pay a small fee, the free rider approach penalizes employers for hiring low-income workers who are eligible for subsidies. That will create an incentive to do one of two things: Don't hire low-income workers, or hire illegal immigrants.
And it actually gets worse. The employer pays more if the low-income worker needs subsidies for his family as opposed to just himself. So it not only discriminates against low-income workers, but it particularly discriminates against low-income parents. Single mothers will get the worst deal, as they have lower incomes, and as you might expect, children who need health care."
OK, that's all the bad news. The good news is this pile of excrement probably won't make it out of the Finance Committee, much less the entire Senate, in it's present form. Republicans don't like it because...well, they don't like anything. Democrats don't like it because it was so watered-down to please Republicans who never intended to vote for it anyway.
The only people who do like it are the big insurance companies. But then again, they're the ones who paid Sen. Baucus $3 million to concoct this monstrosity, so they should.
I wouldn't even send this to the landfill. It would stink up the place.
You know, today Mary Travers from "Peter, Paul and Mary, died.
To me, from their generation, I think that so many of their songs are appropriate today in our fight for health care, fairness and taking care of our fellow man.
Another voice is silenced....
If Baucus were a judge (or a licensed attorney) in a courtroom setting, instead of the U.S. Senate, .... he'd have to recuse himself from everything having to do with health care reform.
He would be "in conflict of interest."
To avoid even the appearance of "conflict of interest" he should have recused himself anyway.
I guess this is the Baucus attempt to "pay it back". To the inusrance companies, that is.
Now is the time for the President to use the muscle of his office or as Helen Thomas said a few weeks ago, "Its time to grow some balls". The President has to do this or his agenda wil lbe manipulated by those in the Democratic party who have been on the take for years.
I am so pissed off at the idea of extending the abomination, the Patriot Act that its tough for me to stay rational. The President has to do what needs to be done to put in place the Insurance reform he promised, since hes backing down on so many other promises he made.
I'm just saying, lock somebody in the Lincoln Bedroom for 3 days and take all the TP. They'll support your healthcare reform. Just watch. :-)
I trust you agree it will end up where I said (last sentance of fist paragraph).
I don't think we can actually "trust" congress here. I haven't trusted them for years. That' why we NEED a president who knows how to get things done. Someone who knows how to "twist a few arms" AND "break a few kneecaps" (figuratively speaking, of course).
IF Obama IS that person, he will serve two terms.
P.S. And I mean breaking a few kneecaps "across the aisles" if necessary.
The failure of this bill to propose any substantive improvement in health-care availability is disheartening. In fact, this may be a step backwards. Those who receive employer provided healthcare would take a big hit.
Add this to Obama's recent decision to extend the more objectionable parts of the Patriot Act.
Artemus may be right in saying that Democrats have a death wish. This is not the change I voted for.
The Baucus bill will go to mark-up over the next two weeks, then go to the Senate floor for more amendments, assuming it even gets out of committee. Then it will go to a House-Senate conference committee, where it will get amended again. Right now, it does not appear to have sufficient support to be approved.
But I'm still confused as to why Max Baucus, heavily financed by the insurance industry, ended up being the Senate point man, unless Democrats have a death wish.
I think that Baucus just wanted to "put in his two cents". I think this is a case of "you get what you pay for". des, you're right, it's headed for the bottom of the bird cage.
Congress is/has been out of control for a long time. I am putting my faith in Obama to do something about that. It's one of the MAIN reasons I voted for him. These BAD legislators need to brought into line and made accountable. The GOOD guys need to unite and get back to the job they are well paid for.
But, until we get campaign reform and limitations on lobbyists, I think we are pissing into the wind.
Look folks. This is a ploy they use all the time. In a time of need they use thinly veiled legislature to screw us over even more. Why? Because they think we are all stupid. Granted there are lots of moronic people in this country, but they don't deserve to be exploited any more than the person that pays attention.
These politicians clearly use their position to take money from special interest to subvert their responsibility. Their responsibility is all their constituents, not the select few who can line their pockets with money.
Washington knows what it will take to insure every American has the health care they need. They would rather just spend OUR money on corporate subsidies and the military.
Are we really surprised at this result?
At what point does all this become treason?
The sad thing is this tool is sitting back on a nice health care plan paid for by our tax dollars, while he takes bribes from insurance corporations to kill us off slowly.
These goons in Washington D.C. have made their criminality the norm. Which is worse? The fact that they do it? Or the fact that we continue to let them get away with it?
Abject poverty and homelessness is on the horizon and total meltdown of American society is at hand. We go whimpering into the pogrom without a fight... Great
You betcha. Kick it to the curb.
Too bad we don't have as much money as insurance companies. We, too, could make big "donations" to the Baucus' campaign fund and end up with a bill that suits us.
This is the best that we can do??? I think not.
It is sad that our politicans can be so easily bought and paid for while Americans be damned.