Representatives explain health care vote
Jess ManciniPARKERSBURG - A health care reform bill passed by the House of Representatives will raise taxes and insurance premiums and cut billions from Medicare, said West Virginia's Republican congressman who voted against the landmark legislation Saturday night.
Calling it House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 2,000-page trillion-dollar health reform plan, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito said the speaker and the Democrats refused bipartisan cooperation on a health care bill.
"Legislation that touches every single American and would reform nearly one-sixth of our economy demands transparency and consensus," Capito said. "Unfortunately, the Speaker and our friends on the other side of the aisle chose to openly reject any semblance of bipartisanship in favor of a bill that will cost well over a trillion dollars, raise taxes on job-creating small businesses and cut nearly $400 billion from Medicare and Medicaid."
Capito said the plan will cut home health care by $56 billion and imposes a $143 billion across-the-board cut to Medicare providers.
"By gutting Medicare Advantage the speaker's bill blatantly breaks the President's promise that if you like your current plan you can keep it," she said.
The bill passed late Saturday night 220 to 215 along mostly a partisan vote with only one Republican voting in favor. West Virginia Reps. Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall, Democrats, voted in favor and Capito voted against the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
"This legislation would give all of our citizens access to affordable health care, contain escalating health care costs that threaten our economic recovery, and improve Medicare prescription drug benefits for our seniors," Mollohan said.
The bill prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and placing annual or lifetime limits on benefits. It creates more choices in health care coverage from private carriers and a public option unavailable to those who are covered by an an employer's plan.
"Seniors who have fallen into the prescription drug donut hole will see a reduction in their out-of-pocket expenses," he said. "Additionally, this legislation will shore up the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund."
Small business would benefit from the national insurance marketplace created by the bill by comparison shopping for the best prices, he said. A tax credit will be available to business to help them provide insurance, he said.
Without a provision prohibiting the federal funding for abortions, how several dozen Democrats would vote was in doubt, Mollohan said. Mollohan said he obtained the signatures of 28 members who wanted the provision and the House leadership relented and allowed a vote on the amendment that passed 240-194.
Also voting for the bill was Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-Ohio, who represents Washington County.
"I have long-said I would support a plan that brought stability and security to the health care system, lowered the cost of health care, and insured broader coverage, without increasing our deficit," Wilson said.
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Penguns
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11-12-09 8:47 AM
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agreed. but I am still just speaking for MYSELF. And yes, there are people out there that feel they are entitled to it. those are the people I have a problem with
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thatsjustme
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11-12-09 8:34 AM
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those who EXPECT it? like the corporate welfare handed out by the billions? people worry about a few people who don't deserve a meager benefit while the corporate crooks steal significantly larger amounts and the populous cheers them on and holds them up as bastions of capitalism.
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Penguns
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11-11-09 3:50 PM
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i was speaking solely for myself. not you. not paris. not even the virgin mary. I pay my taxes and do so in the knowledge that some of it goes to people in need. i have a problem with people that EXPECT it. Now talk about having trouble with grown up words....
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Penguns
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11-11-09 3:48 PM
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ouch!! i'm hurt.....<eye roll>
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thatsjustme
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11-11-09 1:07 PM
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the only idiocy in my comment is trying to talk to you using grown up words. i quoted your statement and commented on it. i expanded my comments to hope beyond hope you could see the relevance of your insult to working people and the silliness of defending those who least need it. if you don't get that, dude, we'll just call it a day on this point.
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Penguns
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11-11-09 9:26 AM
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i'm sorry, where did I defend pais hilton? that was a truly idiotic statement but it gave me a chuckle....thank you for that
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Penguns
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11-11-09 8:33 AM
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not sure what you are talking about. i said I enjoy knowing that my hard work goes to benefit others. do you have a problem with that?
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thatsjustme
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11-11-09 6:10 AM
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pen, does a cop in small town america work less hard than a money changer on wall street? does a nurse work less hard than paris hilton? you insult hard working americans when you throw around statements like "so I can give that money to other people that didn't work as hard for it". i would gladly trade a few percent on my taxes if i could increase my income by 10 or 100 times my current income. the greed of these people is unbelievable. it has nothing to do with wealth distribution, it has to do with what is fair. do you think it's fair someone like paris hilton who has never worked hard her whole life, gets a free pass from daddy and gets people like you to defend her greed?
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Marvin11
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11-10-09 6:41 PM
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I for one as proud Democrat in Wood County called Mollohan's Office and told him to VOTE YES. 70% of Americans want the public option. You republicans are in in the MINORITY now, guess you will have to learn to live with it. Oh...by the the way we Democrats took our country back from you last November, get used to it. REPUBLICANS...THE PARTY OF THE CORPORATIONS...
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Penguns
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11-10-09 8:46 AM
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i like the idea of busting my keester so I can live a good life, just so I can give that money to other people that didn't work as hard for it. that sounds an awful lot like spreading the wealth
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ttekceb
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11-09-09 9:45 PM
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((((((((((RMM26104)))))))))))) Michael Moore is an excellent propogandist dirt bag. Now I know why you think this way. Let us remeber also that Lying Jack-Ass is a Multi-millionair but will not even credit his succuss to capitlism. he actually said Cuba has excellent health care.You may want to do some of your own resaerch on Cuba an see how truly bad it is for those poor people. If you belive his crap then we all know who is ignorant. I also know that teachers in college like to indoctrinate young people to think the same was as they do. You may want to check out some of the medical headlines from the UK and see how wonderful "free health care"(in which is paid for by taxes by the productive people and even the poor pay a premium) Is and remember that they are taxed even worst then we are and they also have a lot of parasites on thier system. I am not judging you RM. I am simply debating your statements. Name calling doesn't achieve anything.
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RMM26104
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11-09-09 9:00 PM
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again...france gives there people free care, canada does...and even the freakin communist do. so why cant we? something is wrong there. oh and btw, i realize alot of young people are to lazy. its unfortunate. you*****sure cant count me amongst them though.
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RMM26104
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11-09-09 8:55 PM
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micheal moore movie sometime. we wouldnt even give 9/11 heroes freakin medical care!!! the cubans did!!!*****them commi ass cubans ****. they are so evil. i never condone communism, obviously it *****. but that is bad when the cuban communist gov't treats OUR heros better then WE do.
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RMM26104
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11-09-09 8:53 PM
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ttekceb quote "I realize that there are truly needy people but instead of feeling sorry for your self act like a true American and try harder. People in this country have no idea how good we have it. I have seen true poverty overseas it is not pretty. My point is the government is not the answer it is the problem. People need to take personal responsibility for themselves. I will teach my child the meaning of that"...wow...your ignorance amazes me. who are you to tell me i am feeling sorry for myself? you dont know me. you dont know how hard i work to try to be something in this life and make a difference. i dont make excuses. i work my ass off in school to not end up being a nobody bum. dont pass judgement on someone unless you have all the facts pal. i am standing up for all the people that can't or wont speak up against all the ignorant criticism. yes there are poorer nations then ours obviously. but there are also nations that help their people more then we do. watch a
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ttekceb
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11-09-09 8:46 PM
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Let us all remember also that when the House of Reps voted against thier constituents they gave us the finger and said we don't care what you want you will take what we will give you and you will like it
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ttekceb
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11-09-09 8:44 PM
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(((((RMM26104)))) My fried I know what it is like to be destitude and homeless. But instead of looking for a hand out I went out and worked doing what ever it took and did without cell phone ,Tv, cars, etc. People in this country are the most giving in the world. I know several young able bodied young people that wont work because they are afraid of losing thier welfare check all while sleeping all day and partying all night. I realize that there are truly needy people but instead of feeling sorry for your self act like a true American and try harder. People in this country have no idea how good we have it. I have seen true poverty overseas it is not pretty. My point is the government is not the answer it is the problem. People need to take personal responsibility for themselves. I will teach my child the meaning of that.
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Kendall78
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11-09-09 8:28 PM
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On the subject of Mollohan, I would love to know how many letters and emails his office got telling him to vote "no" on this bill in comparison to "yes".
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Kendall78
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11-09-09 8:25 PM
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Could we use a HealthCare change? Yes. Do we need to overhaul the whole thing all at once? NO. I have never understood why we need to overhaul it all at once. The Pres said that Medicare has enough waste to pay for it? Fine...how about they fix Medicare first and get it into the black. When that phase is done, expand the system by including 55 and up. If that can be done...do another ten years and so forth till all are included. Within 8 or so years everyone could be included.
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RMM26104
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11-09-09 8:05 PM
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PLAIN STUPID. AND FOR THOSE WHO THINK THE POOR ARE LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT...YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HARD TIMES ARE, SO GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOU A**. INSPITE OF POPULAR BELIEF, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE GOV'T ASSISTANCE, THEY TAKE IT B/C IT IS NEEDED. JUST LIKE ANY OF YOU CRITICS WOULD IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NEEDED IT.*****RIGHT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNED ON THE PRICIPALS OF HARD WORK. BUT IT WAS ALSO FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPAL THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. THE MOST BASIC ONE THAT EVERYONE KNOW. PEOPLE, WE ARE NOT EQUAL AT ALL. UNDER CONSERVATIVE RULE, THE RICH HAVE GOTTEN RICHER AND THE POOR POORER. THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS SCREWED UP. IT NEEDS REVAMPED IN EVERY ASPECT. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING A PROFIT, THAT IS ANOTHER PRINCIPAL WE WERE FOUNDED ON. BUT IT IS WRONG WHEN YOU LITERALLY DRAIN PEOPLES POCKETS. THE U.S HAS A SERIOUS EPIDEMIC CALLED GREED GOING ON THAT NEEDS TO BE CURED.
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RMM26104
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11-09-09 8:00 PM
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...wow..the response for this issue is amazing. thatsjustme there is no use trying to explain why healthcare for all would be a good thing. i have been trying basically all day. i will just say to the people against it: if you feel like paying high premiums and denied coverage b/c of a pre-existing condition ect, then by all means go ahead and take that. Mark my words though: the selfishness of most people in this country will be its downfall. everyone deserves healthcare as i stated earlier. Those who are blessed with being on the upper class have an obligation to lookout for those who are in need, also something i previously stated. conservatives are so afraid of a "red scare" that its sickening. We will not become socialist people. I highly doubt that. fact of the matter is:WE WERE UNDER OPPRESSION ONCE BEFORE. WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND IF NEED BE DONT YOU THINK WE WOULD FIGHT FOR IT AGAIN? AMERICANS WOULD NOT SIT BY AND LET SOCIALISM HAPPEN. THAT NOTION IS JUST
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ttekceb
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11-09-09 7:34 PM
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((((thatsjustme)))) I am guessing your weren't taught personal responsibility. Do you know Harry Reids bill has a 6 month waiting period. I bet you don't and what makes you beliive that the Govt that has bankrupted an robbed every entitlement program ever created could fix health care. Oh by the way Bush was ignorant thinking if he worked w Ole Teddy K with the prescription drug plan that ole Teddy wanted he might make some endroads towards Bipartisanship. You explain to me if this bill is so wonderful then why did they exepmt themselves???????????? HUH???????????????
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commonsense
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11-09-09 5:57 PM
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There is a need for health care reform, however justme must have gotten his facts from Olberman this evening. There is no possibility that the deficit will be lower after spending 2 million dollars a word on a health care bill that does NOTHING to lower expenses. The only slight possible way of lessening the deficit is to a)lessen spending or b) increase taxes. Since Obama said that he's not going to increase taxes, then said he would, then said he's not going to again, what is the other way that we'll lower the deficit? Could you please point to your sources or are you pulling this information out of your bottom? (and no "commentator" as a source, I don't use that hack Hannity as a source, lets find actual independent third party stuff instead of the groveling MSNBC pundits)
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IsItJustMe
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11-09-09 5:56 PM
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"Commonsense1"...I never called you a racist. Just stated that race IS a factor in all that Obama does. This whole forum, and the debate in general, is moot. If health reform is not passed, the hospitals and insurance companies will still get their outrageous fees..from you and me and anyone else paying the high premiums for insurance. Who ever thought that trying to do some good could cause such hatred. Socialism, marxism, fascism...call it what you like...Reform is needed!!!
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thatsjustme
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11-09-09 5:13 PM
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if a health care bill that provides insurance to 36 million who currently do not have it; stops insurers from not accepting customers with pre-existing conditions; ends the practice of recision; lowers cost; and on top of this lowers the deficit over a ten year period, is that a problem with the conservatives? would the cons have us do what they did for the 8 years prior to bho becoming potus? that of course would be to create huge programs that helped no one except big pharma (added to the deficit with no way to pay for it), launch an unfunded war in iraq costing more than a trillion dollars (kept off budget as though no one would pay for it), and give away existing surpluses to the richest in society. is that good government? someone has to pay the bill. who do the republicans suggest should pay? if we get improved health care and lower the deficit at the same time, that would seem to be a good thing.
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rocker
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11-09-09 4:25 PM
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Whaaaaa whaaaaaa, gimme this , gimme that, whaa whaaaa we have a right to free stuff lol. Yes folks its the GIVE ME generation.
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