Health Care Summit (Live Thread)

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Do you guys think this is anything more than a sham? Obama has already released his plan. This is nothing but a charade to justify reconciliation.

[Not not Mattaru]

Mr. Grassley, the government mandates plenty of things that both require people to buy things in a real sense and also in the sense of having to capture or decrease negative externalities....

[Acturus]

Ah ok this is the deal.. Rep. Ryan claims that the reform bill would pull billions out of funding for Medicare. He's also claiming that the CBO is partisan, which is bullshit. But anyways the big point he was making..

What would actually happen is that Medicare Part C (which is essentially private for-profit insurance that is subsidized) would revert to a standard private plan (i.e. the subsidies would be cut and used to fund actual Medicare coverage). This ends up reducing the money needed to fund Medicare's operation, which naturally would result in a smaller budget. Those people who had subsidized plans would see a premium increase as a result, but that would be offset by the savings created by the creation of the exchange and the increased size of the risk pool.

What sucks is that Medicare Advantage works very well compared to straight Medicare, and as a result of funding being pulled, there will be fewer benefits offered to the members, and/or increased costs.

It makes the Commercially run Medicare plans less like Medicare and more commercial.

I'm not sure how I feel about it though. Some of the additional benefits were absurd. I just know they like to try and contract at medicare rates, which basically pads their profits at the end of the day.

[Not not Mattaru]

Do you guys think this is anything more than a sham? Obama has already released his plan. This is nothing but a charade to justify reconciliation.

It's a trap.

I doubt it is a "charade" for reconciliation. If its result is that it helps make a case for reconciliation than that is fine. Its a debate, if you convince more people that what you are doing is justified it means you are winning the game.

[Cantih]

I will say, as a democrat/liberal, that except for the start over, Camp seems like the most reasonable republican in the room.
I know nothing else about the man though.

[Olo401]

Do you guys think this is anything more than a sham? Obama has already released his plan. This is nothing but a charade to justify reconciliation.

Reconciliation won't happen because it doesn't have to. The GOP has done nothing all day but prove that they're a bunch of partisan hacks, liars and obstructionists (with the very notable exception of Rep. Camp). Their choices now are to let the bill go through cloture and take their chances, or doom themselves to obscurity in November with a filibuster.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Reconciliation won't happen because it doesn't have to. The GOP has done nothing all day but prove that they're a bunch of partisan hacks, liars and obstructionists (with the very notable exception of Rep. Camp). Their choices now are to let the bill go through cloture and take their chances, or doom themselves to obscurity in November with a filibuster.

I wish could make an enforceable bet.

And whoever said the mandate is ok. I'll happily explain to you why it's not.

[Olo401]

I wish could make an enforceable bet.

HEY QALBERT!

I'll wager a five-day ban on this: Repubs will filibuster and get bitchslapped in the midterms.

[Not not Mattaru]

And whoever said the mandate is ok. I'll happily explain to you why it's not.

May have been me, and categorically it is neither. You don't need to explain it to me, I already know why you have your opinion, and I know why it is wrong.

Man, Rep. Boehner is so cheesy.

[Not Kuno]

We have the best health care system in the world by far

What the fuck

[Zhais]

best healthcare system in the world. Man this guy is smoking some dank shit

[Mizango]

"We have the best health care system in the world"

LOOOOOOOOL

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

May have been me, and categorically it is neither. You don't need to explain it to me, I already know why you have your opinion, and I know why it is wrong.

Man, Rep. Boehner is so cheesy.

Explain to me why I'm wrong then.

And your on Rhino, but define bitchslap first.

[Cantih]

"We have the best health care system in the world"

lawl

Best doctors/surgeons, maybe, but system, fuckno.

[Olo401]

Explain to me why I'm wrong then.

And your on Rhino, but define bitchslap first.

They won't take more than two seats in the Senate (total 43 seats) and/or fifteen in the House.

[Olo401]

Best Health Care System? Maybe..

Best Health Insurance System? FUCK NO.

OK meeting time.. bbl!

[Talint]

Reconciliation won't happen because it doesn't have to. The GOP has done nothing all day but prove that they're a bunch of partisan hacks, liars and obstructionists (with the very notable exception of Rep. Camp). Their choices now are to let the bill go through cloture and take their chances, or doom themselves to obscurity in November with a filibuster.

I am not nearly as confident.

The moment Specter defected (60 votes), there was immense pressure on democrats to succeed in passing legislation, as republicans were no longer necessary to compromise with. While I had a somewhat reasonable belief that it wasn't going to happen due to the conservadems, the voters will likely not see it that way. Don't think republicans won't hammer this as a talking point.

I also don't necessarily believe that elections are referendums on the party in power though. These midterms are going to be bad for incumbents in general, as opposed to one party. The democrats have the majority stake, so they will more than likely take the bigger hit.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

They won't take more than two seats in the Senate (total 43 seats) and/or fifteen in the House.

Alright deal.

[Not not Mattaru]

Explain to me why I'm wrong then.

First, display to me that you have educated yourself well enough on both sides in this regard so I know it isn't a waste of time.

[Mizango]

Oh god, moar McCain.