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November 21, 2009

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Dina Titus backing House health care plan after changes

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 | 12:24 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

Rep. Dina Titus smiles during a visit at the College of Southern Nevada in Henderson Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009.

Sun Coverage

WASHINGTON -- Democratic Rep. Dina Titus dropped her opposition today to the House health care bills, saying changes have been made since she voted against it in committee in July and it has now won her support.

Titus had been walking a political line of supporting health reform, but opposing several elements of the House plan -- particularly its surtax on higher-wage earners she feared would snare many couples and small business owners in her Southern Nevada district.

The balance was a smart political move in Southern Nevada, where the congresswoman's district remains politically split. She will have to face voters next fall.

“For more than six months I have discussed the need for health care reform with my constituents, and time and again I heard from small business owners who are struggling to afford health care coverage,” Titus said in a statement. "After having serious concerns about the impact the first health care bill would have on small businesses, I am pleased that the new House bill takes important steps to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for the uninsured, employers, and those with preexisting conditions.”

The main objection for Titus had been the surtax on those making more than $280,000 annually ($300,000 for married couples) to pay for subsidies to help the uninsured buy policies. The new bill, which could go for a vote in the House in coming days, raises the threshold for the tax to $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for families.

The new bill also preserves an amendment Titus was able to insert during the committee vote that allows more small businesses to access to the new health exchange, where they can buy insurance policies for their employees.

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Dean Heller, who opposes the health care plan, joined South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson today to push for having members of Congress drop their existing health care coverage and join the public option plan that is one of the choices being offered to the uninsured in the House bill. MSNBC has the Heller story here.

Discussion: 58 comments so far…

  1. In other news,the sun rises in the east.

  2. I thought Titus could read. The Tea Leaves say shes gone next November. This isn't San Fransisco and following Nancy Pelosi off a cliff is not good politics.

  3. She always supported it. She is just playing games and lying.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMKlMrwc6...

  4. I wrote Rep. Taxus many times urging her to not support this bill. As soon as I get done with this post I'm going to voluteer for Joe Heck's campaign.

    Dina and Harry can start their own small business selling widgets. Good luck and I hope you do well.

  5. she got the call from obama/pelosi/reid...

    yeah..she is gone in 2010...

    joe heck...here i come too...

  6. There is no chance in hell she would not have voted for a health care bill, whether it had the provisions she objected to were in it or not.
    She thinks her constitutients are stupid and so she plays these games.
    Rembember, she is a professor- she is an elitist and she knows better than us.

  7. I agree "shes out" I know for a fact she has not even looked at the bill. She is being told what to do. Another puppet we can get rid of.

  8. I was hoping that Dina Titus would keep an open mind and read, I say READ, the bill before supporting it.

  9. Succumbed to political pressure like all the others. I also am ready to give Dr. Joe Heck a chance and send a message those who blindly follow Pelosi/Reid.

  10. Dr. Joe Heck has got my vote.

  11. You poor deluded fools. You all keep hoping she is going to lose and see how far that gets you.

    Nevada has gone blue and you either realize it or live in right wing fantasy land.

    At least Whiteboy has a sense of humor. That was a well timed joke. :)

  12. Way to go, Dina! Thank You for your efforts!
    Joe Heck? He can't even decide what race to enter. "Let's see here, which way is the wind blowing today, hmmm?"
    Joe would run for Dog Catcher if they had an election. He just wants to be a "Politician"!

  13. Did any of you threatening to vote against her vote for her in the first place?
    As for "reading" the bill, that annoyingly trite call to arms of the Beck worshipers that have little mind of their own, I challenge you all to read every bill, not just this one, but ALL the legislation that goes through each session of Congress, all versions, every word and comprehend without help every line and be able to on the spot explain it.
    Everything related in this story bodes well for rich people and small business owners. Why is that a problem for all you conservatives? That's a republican stance if I've ever heard one.
    Did any of you even read the story, or did you just see the title referring to Titus and figure it's a good place to voice an opinion that is already formed that she is bad for Nevada?
    I think I see the same names in every story about Reid as well.

  14. Good idea Titus !!!

    If you vote health care, you have my vote in 2010!!

  15. In politics you represent people who vote for you, the new minority are the employed and those who have health insurance. Anyone who runs for office in Clark County that has the support of the unemployed and no Insurance is going to win. Its a numbers game. You are allowed to vote even if you dont have job.

  16. RyMan wants conservatives to read every word of every bill that goes through each session of Congress.

    Maybe RyMan should tell that to the politicians who are voting on the bill. That's why we elect them in the first place.

    RyMan appears to be bitter and upset about something. Maybe the elections yesterday did not go his way and he foresees what is going to happen next year...

    Oh, and Glenn Beck must be getting to RyMan. If you and the White House can't shut Beck up, then try to slander him and his viewers.

  17. Thank you, Rep. Titus! At least she cares about working class families here. Believe it or not, not all of us in the 3rd District are Seven Hills multimillionaires. Many of us want to see our government work for us.

    And RyMan-

    Heh. I doubt the usual suspects here will. Hell, not even most of the Republicans in Congress are reading the bill! In fact, one of them from Georgia boasted about voting against the bill and not even taking the chance to read it and understand health care reform.

  18. Was Titus a math major? She seems to get it that 61% Americans want a public option. Please GOP, listen to your felonious draftdodging crackhead (Rush), Bible-thumper/God-squadder (Sarah), and Mormon (Beck).

  19. Larryveags:

    Glenn beck is a raving bufoon.....beck, hannity and oreilly are the 21st century version of the 3 stooges.......just dumber than the originals.

    Those 3 are for the lunatic fringe, and pretty much everyone else ignores them or finds them comedic.

    let the idiots like beck keep talking, and keep palin going to, the comedy is priceless and the stupidity is endless!!

  20. Memo to all of the new volunteers for Joe Heck's campaign -- Better hope he doesn't fall too far behind in the polls. Based on previous history, he might end up switching over to an easier race if the sledding gets too tough. Like Henderson dog catcher, maybe.

  21. Bertsos-

    Ha! How did the official Beck-Palin candidate do in NY-23? Oh yeah, HE LOST! So much for last night being so great for Republicans. And hopefully if more Dems follow Dina's lead and make health care reform happen, they'll do just fine next year. A lot of Democrats stayed home yesterday, but I'm hopeful 2010 will be different if President Obama gives us good reason to vote next year.

  22. way to go Dina, you will now kill even more businesses in Nevada, thanks to increased fees (taxes) on small business owners. You folks who want government care beware, the more you give them (government) control, the less control you'll have over your own life. Just like the City Center uniforms with microchips in them. Pretty soon BHO will be calling you while you sit on the throne, to tell you to get off because your extended stay will cause a hemmorrhoid, and there is at least a six month wait to get a rx for the cream....I'm just sayin...:-)

  23. As a business owner and active citizen I would like to applaud Rep. Titus for her commitment of a positive vote on the healthcare bill.

    For those of you regurgitating Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh and their ilk, please make it clear what the other side has to offer other than a barrage of criticism. The only plan format I have seen from "conservatives" is: Don't get sick and if you do, die quickly. Also I would suggest that you tune you radio to a station other than KXNT as their xylophone is broken, it only has one key and that one comes out flat.

  24. Bertsos:

    If I were you, I would not be talking about the lunatic fringe...

    You guys on the far Left are a riot. If you do not agree with someone's political view, you bad mouth and slander them.

    Maybe you and your extremist followers will shed enough tears, the White House will take away FOX's broadcasting license.

    The more you guys cry about FOX News, the more people are turning to FOX News.

    Keep up the good work...

  25. The Democrats will attempt to push any healthcare bill regardless of what the bill contains. Based on the election results yesterday they are now faced with being removed come 2010 and they know this is their last chance to screw America over.

    Even if they do get it passed and signed into law the bill will be challenged in court and will never become law and if it does pass the legal challenges, a new bill will passed eliminating what Obama and clan did.

    I will say one thing, I honestly don't believe Obama will get through 2010, he will be impeached or he'll resign from office. He has done nothing for America as a whole, just a select few. American's for the most part won't tolerate his arrogance and stupidity much longer, he was voted into office and he continues to use the same old democrat excuse, it's not my fault, somebody else did it, I inherited these problems, etc" etc" etc..

    What the Democrats fail to realize we don't care what Bush left you; you took the job; now do it. Obama knew what he was in for and he told America he would be open, not succumb to K Street and provide cameras and live viewing for all of America to see, he lied again.

    Obama and clan are pathological liars and not very good ones at that, they've been caught in too many lies and they don't know what lie they've said anymore. The gig up and your free ride is over with.

  26. And along comes atdleft and thethinker to join Bertsos bash FOX News...

    I guess yesterday's election did not go their way, so they turn to FOX News to blame for their loses. Get used to it guys, the next election is right around the corner and more of the same is coming your way.

  27. Oh LarryVegas, you are just so wrong about all your assumptions and interpretations of what was written here today. It's okay. We still love you.

  28. http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_a...

    Go read it artards! Don't let the 1990 pages scare you, there is like 75 words per page. Apparently all legislators are tree killers regardless of party affiliation. The margins are like 3 feet wide on both sides of a page which leaves about 4 words per line.

    I am not joking. Go read it.

    Then hire a lawyer to decipher the gibberish parts.

  29. Hooray! We'll all have some sort of crappy health care. NO JOBS. Just health care. And our children will have to pay for this free health care. Great job congress.

  30. Hey Angry, you have got me all wrong. I am a retard not an "artards" as you wrote...

    I went to the site you noted and you are right. I bet there will be kick backs from the paper companies.

    I really got confused on the section about Native American Indians...

  31. health care will never be affordable if the republicans have anything to say about it.

    american health care cost more than any health care in the world.

    the republicans and the corporations don't want to change that...that's for sure.

  32. Clue to Larryvegas:

    Palin and your nutty boy beck supported the loser in the NY23 race........guess the majority don't see the world thru the cockeyed lens of Sux Spews, and those clowns !

  33. Larry if you read too many pages in a short period of time you start to talk like a lawyer and no one will understand a word you say.

    But the effect wears off after about 30 minutes of watching network reality shows.

  34. "Native American Health and Wellness Foundation"

    Anytime the American Federal gov't says something like the above, Native Americans should run and hide!

  35. THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN!!
    Know that you won your election because health care was a major concern for Nevadan's. Thank you for being pragmatic, for thinking this through.
    The lesson learned in upstate New York yesterday was that you were elected to do the great job you're doing. The right-wing tea baggers will NEVER support you. They lost. And WE can only continue to support you when you accomplish offering affordable health care plans available for us!
    NOW, we CANNOT delay this 'til 2013! The faster the naysayers and tea baggers see the good results of your work they will quietly crawl back under a rock as they accept their "government" medicare and social security!!
    Stuart & Robert Wyman-Cahall
    Las Vegas, NV 89142

  36. Clue to Bertsos:

    Obama and his sidekicks supported the loser in both the New Jersey and Virginia Governor's race...

    Guess the majority in both states had a good clear view of the Obama Administration Socialist agenda.

  37. I guess I fall into the class of people identified here as "Libs" even though I am a centrist. I watch Fox News and appreciate their accuracy. I also realize that O'Riley, Hannity and Beck are editorialist, not news. If you listen carefully to these three you will hear the seeds of hatred and fear falling into the fields of the herding masses. An example of this schoolyard bully attitude is what Rush did on vidio and microphone to Michael J. Fox, this was purely mean spirited and childish.

  38. Thank you, Dina Titus. Two facts that rarely get repeated, but should be: America has among the lowest, if not the lowest, quality health care in the industrialized world. We had the most expensive by anyone's honest measure.
    Uniquely in this, the country that I love: Giving the insurance industry a monopolistic control of life and death is not working, my friends on both the left and the right.

  39. She is toast.

    She knows it.

    So she is just going to be the lib that is always has been and now she is going to parade up and down the street in her short time in DC.

  40. TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  41. "I guess I fall into the class of people identified here as "Libs" even though I am a centrist. I watch Fox News and appreciate their accuracy. I also realize that O'Riley, Hannity and Beck are editorialist, not news. If you listen carefully to these three you will hear the seeds of hatred and fear falling into the fields of the herding masses. An example of this schoolyard bully attitude is what Rush did on vidio and microphone to Michael J. Fox, this was purely mean spirited and childish."

    I have to agree with you that Fox news does provide another side of news, which is nice for a moderate such as myself. Only bad parts are the stupid idiots who are commentators. I would say they're in the right and should try to be more fair and balanced. But it still provides a good chance to see the other side, just don't listen to the commentators, they're idiots.

    I like what Joe Wilson is doing here. I hope members of Congress get what the poor can get and not some Cadillac insurance.

  42. She got her marching orders. She doesn't DARE disobey Pelosi even though she knows it's going to destroy small businesses in Nevada.

  43. PPfffhhhahahahahaha dave202. Who are you kidding? Small businesses have been urging exactly this kind of legislation for decades. I'm donating to Titus today! Thank you Congresswoman Titus! Thank you!

  44. To darthbry, I am in the process of opening a new business here and find this one of the most attractive business environments in the country. How do you qualify your statement?
    To all of you who are screaming "SOCIALISM", I would suggest that you reference a book that I originally discovered in the library and is now available for free on the internet. It is called the dictionary; look up the word "option", then look up the word "mandate" and see how each word relates to socialism and the public option as related to healthcare. If you still can not figure this out, the Clark County Public Library has literacy classes available free of charge.
    To all who are comparing the outcome of three state races for govenor to a federal congressional race, I have a suggestion for you: Go to the grocery store, find a fresh apple and a fresh orange, pick up one of each, hold one in your right hand and one in your left hand: Now compare apple-orange, apple-orange, apple-orange and work on this until you can perceive a difference.
    To follow up on lvlarry, I am a member of AARP and pay my dues annually just like all other valid members. AARP does not have a montly membership (now get the word) option. Oops, I guess you got busted by a BS meeter.

  45. thethinker is thinking but not reading... I did not say anything about "montly" membership dues. I wrote that AARP was sending me a monthly dues statement. I guess I was not clear enough for you and should have said: AARP sends me monthly, a request for membership dues for me to join AARP. It doesn't make much sense to pay your dues monthly when dues are what... $16 per year, does it?

    I believe you said it right when you wrote: "I guess you got busted by a BS meeter."

    Yes, you appear to be a BS "meeter."

    Oh, by the way, in your own words, "If you still can not figure this out, the Clark County Public Library has literacy classes available free of charge."

    One more thing... What type of business are you opening up? A fruit stand? A fertilizer store?

    ou, my friend are a BS "meeter."

  46. We all make mistakes once in a while...

    Correction...

    You, my friend are a BS "meeter."

  47. To LarryVegas: Oh well, one mis-spelled word. I move through this world to claim progress, not perfection. And you are correct, I do meet BS on the road of life and tend to speak to its malodor.
    The business is an urban farm specializing in locally grown leafy green vegetables. If we decide to start growing tomatoes we will be growing fruit.
    By the way: Did you see that the horrible organization called the AMA announced today they now back the healthcare reforms? Also, try to copy and paste this into your browser http://blogs.rj.org/reform/2009/07/israe...

  48. Good luck on your new business. For sure, it is needed in the area. I have been buying fresh vegetables at Whole Foods Market. The quality is good but Ive seen better.

    I will let you be in charge of the "malodor." There's plenty of that around here...

  49. Watch for Las Vegas Urban Gardens opening around June or July. We will be selling to Whole Foods and directly to the individual consumer.
    Thank you for the prop on the business.
    As for malodor, I do not seek it out, and I do not run from it. I just hang and deal.

  50. Thank you Representative Titus.

    There is no perfect bill, no perfect forward march, but progress towards restructuring the United States to compete in the 21st century and control the long term trend of (a) rising healthcare costs and fewer receiving healthcare coverage, (b) bad behaviors by Big Insurance and Employers, (c)medical bankruptcies and more expensive long term outcomes for society as a result, in the most equitable manner for all of our society was an election mandate in 2008, and it would only surface in 2012 as a mandate, more assertive and decisive, if not addressed by this Administration and Congress. Again, thank you.

    The kinks within a very complex sector of the economy in which corporate stewardship and trust have been breached for too long can be worked out as outcomes become public information, moving the United States forward in the right way into the future.

  51. Gregory is sure pandering this morning. He must be expecting something free in it for him.

    Gregory is a socialist at heart who does not care about those who creates the jobs that make the economy of this country go...

  52. I am neither left nor right. I'm a conservative American. I believe in America and I believe in God.

    The one constant in all of this is that the Left wants to make bigger government (under the guise of creating jobs) that the tax payers will have to support. I know that since Mr. Obama has taken office they can't keep enough ink in the money printer. I know that Harry Reid does not represent the state of Nevada any longer. Harry supports his party and himself. Of course that is what he has always done.

    What I would like to see is this divided America go away. Left pointing at right, right pointing at left. Why doesn't someone step up to the plate and say "I'm going to do what is right for this country" and not play partisan politics. I hear politicians talking about us and them. We are in this together folks. To the very bitter end what our politicians do AFFECTS ALL OF US.

    I don't understand the rush they are in to pass this bill. If it's that important then it can wait a few months while they iron out the bugs. Apparently it's not perfect because MANY AMERICANS both left and right are against it.

    If we as Americans are against it it is up to those who we PAY (ie...politicians) to do what we pay them to do and that is our will.

    Right now they are trying to shove this bill down our very throats and I don't think it is fine tuned enough to do the job properly. It's waited this long, it can wait a little longer don't you think?

    And by the way, Harry, Nancy and a couple of other are going down in this next election because THEY DON'T LISTEN to their employers. And you may as well forget Obama getting reelected. He's already shown that he doesn't have the backbone to lead this nation. He never has finished anything in his political career. He's a good speaker and that is it.

  53. Goodbye Dina. I will not vote for you again.

  54. If John Wayne, Wyatt Earp, and Quasimodo were holding a gun on me I would never, have never vote for that hussy. She is a liar, crook, thief and those are her good qualities.

  55. We can do better than Dina Titus. Let's elect someone next year that will actually listen to her constituents. She just like our miserable senator Harry Reid. Both must go.

  56. Dina Titus is just another Obama Democrat lier that should be voted out of office along with Harry Reid! She is another Obama minion that will vote with the Democrat party inspite of what her constituents think. I will be first in line in 2010 to vote these Dems out of office and preserve our American freedoms.

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