To quote my friend Daniel Ajl Kitrosser: “Happiness is a thing called healthcare. thanks mr. pres, paul krugman, fdr, ted kennedy and hillary rodham.” And the one and only Nancy Pelosi.
I couldn’t be happier about Health Care Reform passing. Well, okay, I could be happier if the Public Option was included, but I’m still incredibly happy it passed. The New York Times has a great piece up today explaining what it actually means for the “consumer,” check it out if you’re confused and interested to see what changes it’ll make for you: http://www.nytimes.com. For the uninsured, like me - even though after breaking my collarbone I thought I’d get insurance, I still haven’t gotten around to it - it basically means we’ll get fined if we don’t get insurance, so I better get it, and though I don’t know how much it will cost yet, I like this part a lot:
Moreover, people of any age who cannot find a plan that costs less than 8 percent of their income would be allowed to buy a catastrophic policy otherwise intended for people under age 30.
I think that sounds totally reasonable.
Also, enough with the Republicans being upset that they passed Health Care Reform without much Republican support. Digby says it best:
It’s fairly clear that Republicans don’t understand how democracy works. You campaign, people vote, you win elections, you get a majority, you pass legislation. They seem to think Democracy means that that elections are irrelevant, majorities are meaningless and that all legislation is contingent upon the permission of the Republican Party.
AMEN.
And finally, Health Care Reform probably passed because of the Health Care Reform Fashion show I hosted. And all the people out there wearing Health Care Reform shirts I made. JK LOL *wink wink.
Here’s the video from the Health Care Reform Fashion Show from Sunday, September 13. We’re sending it to the Obama Administration so they can see our support!
And here are photos of the successful show. We handed out 50 free Health Care Reform buttons and 25 pairs of Obama earrings, collected over 100 signatures on our letter of support, sold a bunch of Health Care Reform designs, and overall had a great time. For more photos, see my flickr album or facebook album.
Thanks everyone for participating or coming out to support Health Care Reform! How’s that debate on the Public Option going, Congress? Not so great?
Rockefeller, Schumer and likeminded liberal senators begrudgingly acknowledge the votes are not there in the committee for the public option.
But they intend to force their colleagues to take a stand on the issue and possibly face the wrath of powerful interests such as labor unions and grassroots liberal activists.
The vehemence of support for the public option among liberals can hardly be overstated. Rockefeller summed up that view on Thursday when he said, “A healthcare plan without a public option is not much of a healthcare plan.”
Schumer declared that he and likeminded liberals would triumph in the end. “The healthcare bill that is signed into law by the president will have a good, strong, robust public option,” he said.
More votes on the public option are promised once the bill hits the Senate floor.
The issue will then become a headache for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) instead of Baucus.
Before a healthcare bill even reaches the Senate floor, Reid will have to decide whether to abide by the Finance Committee position (no public option) or the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee position (strong public option).
Reid sent a clear signal that he is prepared to compromise on Thursday.
Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe’s (Maine), a crucial swing vote, has proposed establishing a “trigger” for the public option that would be pulled in markets with insufficient private competition. During a conference call with Nevada reporters, Reid described the trigger as a “pretty doggone good idea,” according to the Las Vegas Sun.
“My first choice is a public option, because I think it will create competition and make the insurance companies more honest,” Reid said. “My No. 2 choice is the trigger that Snowe talked about.” A trigger would be preferable to co-ops, Reid indicated.
I’m awfully skeptical of this trigger business. Especially because Nancy Pelosi says it’s “an excuse for not doing anything.” Why can’t these Republicans and the Blue Dogs just get on board? Even Bill O’Reilly supports a Public Option…
Call your senators! Tell them to vote FOR the Public Option so I can get Health Insurance! And call Senator Schumer to thank him: Charles Schumer (212) 486-4430. Say: I HOPE WE GET A GOOD, STRONG, ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION TOO, MR. SCHUMER. KEEP FIGHTING!
