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AP Photo/Harry Hamburg
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaks to reporters as Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., left, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, listen, on Capitol Hill Saturday (Dec. 19, 2009) in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 | 2 a.m.
In Today's Sun
Just as he made no apology for securing a special deal for Nevada three months ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made none Monday for enticing reluctant Democratic senators to support health care legislation with high-end sweeteners.
The only difference is that this time, it’s other states, not Nevada, getting the special deals.
To secure the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Reid gave the state permanent, 100 percent federal funding for a Medicaid expansion valued at $100 million. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana got a separate $100 million Medicaid deal.
Vermont and Massachusetts also got Medicaid enhancements, and several other states would benefit from other provisions tucked into the bill — including a $100 million competitive grant for a hospital that Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut would like to nab for his state.
“You’ll find a number of states are treated differently than other states,” Reid said. “That’s what legislation is all about. It’s compromise.”
But Reid’s Republican opponents in Washington and Nevada complain the majority leader has not done enough for his home state.
“As usual, Harry plays Santa Claus for other states, but he’s the Grinch Who Stole Health Care for his own constituents in Nevada,” said Danny Tarkanian, a Las Vegas businessman and former college basketball star who is among Republicans challenging Reid in the 2010 election.
“Harry Reid’s bill, which is a tax-hiking big government boondoggle, is a perfect example of why we should permanently ban pork.”
Nevada’s Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons also complained that Reid is doing more to help other states than his own. “Maybe he should move to Nebraska where he can do less harm to Nevada,” the governor said.
It is an incongruous argument from Reid’s detractors, who criticize him for loading up bills with extra spending, then complain he is not bringing home more pork for Nevada.
Nevada will also receive 100 percent Medicaid funding for the first three years of the proposed expansion of health care services for low-income children and families in the state-run program. But after that, under the health care bill, the state will have to contribute toward the program to receive the federal match.
Reid’s office has said that if Nevada needs full 100 percent funding beyond the first three years, Reid can work to secure it.
Thank you Reid for reminding the nation why we hate politicans so much.
What kind of a deal (if any) have you made for us here in Nevada Harry Reid ? I'm willing to bet that " you haven't done nothing " to quote the great Stevie Wonder,,,
Do you have a pre-existing condition? NOW you can't get insurance. With it, you will be able to. Reid is merely doing what all of our religious leaders claim to be doing and, with rare exceptions, are not: caring for those who need it.
Deal making sound like bribery. The neat thing about politics is that they are bribing people with the money of others. These Dems are crooks!!!!
There is no way that government can lower the cost of anything.
I wonder at what cost these "pre-existing condition" people will have to pay.
Is there anything in Harry's bill that mandates that the health insurance companies charge the same price to all?
If it is like auto insurance, the price will go up, up and away...
Now it turns out Medicare Advantage will be taken from seniors in all states EXCEPT Florida? Tax on insurance companies will exempt companies in Nebraska. All of us pay for these exemptions and I have to wonder how this can be good for anyone in Nevada. Picking winners and losers depending on who bribes Reid or supported Obama is not how a country should make its laws.
More Republican partisan sewage.
Old Saint Nick is at the door and is taking away all the goodies that Liberals thought they were getting for Christmas. We all will be left with a lump of coal when this thing is over...
CarsonNewshound????
Attack the substance instead of the typical lefty name calling.
The dems in power have quadrupled the deficit in one year. The president has said several times on TV that we are out of money yet he continues to pass bills after he promised numerous time to be fiscally responsible when he was running for office.
When has more debt gotten someone out of debt?
Reid doesn't care what you think he doesn't care if your covered doesn't care what it cost it just doesn't matter. He doesn't care if we vote for him see Senator Reid is what some may consider a political PIG. As for those who have ever been denied health care furnish there names. You can't because it didn't happen
Uncle Harry has "dealt" himself out of office. We all should remember the sage old saying, "Thou who smelt it, dealt it." This legislation stinks to high heavens and its got Harry's brand all over it.
Reid can't afford to bring any pork home to Nevada -- someone has to pay all the bribes he's making (Chinese will soon stop lending to us -- they know a poorly run investment when they see one!)
''(5) ASSURANCE OF SEPARATE PROGRAM.--In
carrying out this section, the Director shall ensure that the program under this section is separate from the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.
Premiums paid for coverage under a multi-State qualified health plan under this section shall not be considered to be Federal funds for any purposes.
''(6) FEHBP PLANS NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE.--Nothing in this section shall require that a carrier offering coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, also offer a multi-State qualified health plan under this section.
Direct off the Managers Amendment. Am I reading this correctly, they exempted themselves?
Deal-making indeed. Look at the picture heading this column. All old fogies, steeped in corruption, poltical favors, peddling BS and doing it on our money! Please, Nevada voters, vote this man out! For the good of our whole nation, vote him OUT! He and Pelosi are perfect examples of why our country is in the fiscal shape it's in. Their party affiliation is unimportant. Their view of our country is out of touch with "we the people". Congress has become a professional elite and no longer responds to their constituents, except the rich, powerful and influential ones. We need a grassroots movement to remove all encumbents. You folks in Nevada can lead the charge!
What a maggot