LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Senators opposed to public option use one – Medicare

Joe Beltran, Las Vegas

Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

I receive Medicare and VA health care, and I am happy with and grateful for them. Medicare is an example of the “public option” in health care reform legislation. It was surprising to learn that 150 members of Congress are participating in Medicare — a “public option” program.

Those receiving Medicare, according to Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., include those who oppose a public option in health care reform legislation, such as Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley and Jon Kyl.

Their positions in this debate — and the position of Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent — show the power of the lobbyists for the insurers and big drug manufacturers, which have deep pockets to pay for legislation favoring their profit margins.

Will Rogers had it right when he said, “We have the best Congress money can buy.”

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

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By Birdiedreamin

Nov. 16, 2009

3:29 a.m.

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it really is very simple...
you either support the public option...
or...
you support the greedy pig insurance companies and their very real death panels and the money grubbing whore doctors...
By vsestini

Nov. 16, 2009

7:04 a.m.

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When, oh when will these congressional representatives opt out of their goverment sponsored health insurance plan and join us in the plan that they have so generously set up for the rest of us? They tell us that the public option is not good for us, but freely use the goverment health insurance, a public option just for them; greed and selfish interests guide their every move be it Republican, Democrat or Independent.

They want us subjected to the same old private health insurance mess, but will not make any resonable moves to resolve the problems becuase it does not directly effect them or their families; they are secure in their own public opiton government sponsored health care plan.
By jlb101

Nov. 16, 2009

7:06 a.m.

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The law says that you have to participate in Medicare or their are penalties. Congress is not exempt.
By LarryVegas

Nov. 16, 2009

7:58 a.m.

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If you like this letter from Joe Belton, then you will love the last letter he wrote to the LV SUN:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Sorting through the health care hyperbole

Joe Beltran, North Las Vegas

Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Every day we are inundated with newspaper, TV and radio ads for or against health care reform, which includes a single-payer option. With the support of the powerful HMO lobby, the Republican National Committee and conservative media outlets have been constantly spewing horror stories, exaggerations, gross and cruel distortions -- including talk of euthanasia -- without contributing anything constructive. The main talking points of the "Party of No" are "it's too expansive" and "it's too expensive."

The costs of our country's health care system now are the highest in the world. Costs exceed $2 trillion annually and have been going up 6 percent a year. The result of doing nothing would raise the cost to $3 trillion and will double to more than $4 trillion in 12 years.

The government is paying for health care through emergency rooms, Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan and Veterans Affairs. With single-payer universal health care, we will be able to save money and reduce deficits.

Do we trust these insurance companies more than a patient's personal physician? The only concern of these HMOs is the "bottom line" and with the RNC, it is larger campaign contributions from these HMOs.

Fixing this country's health care system will be a long road. Come join us in this difficult journey or stay out of the way.
By Patrick_R_Gibbons

Nov. 16, 2009

9:20 a.m.

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If you're trying to paint them has hypocrites you fail. These guys are no more hypocrites than Barrack Obama for sending his kids to Sidwell Friends while cancelling a low-income private tuition scholarship program for K-12 kids in DC.

Besides government run care is a train wreck anyway: http://reason.tv/roughcut/show/a-red-ink...
By Rhooster

Nov. 16, 2009

10:30 a.m.

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Calypso Louie Farrakhan cannot run for President or Vice President because he was not born in the United States. He was born in a penal colony in Africa. The son of a prison guard and a scullery maid who was doing time for stealing coins from the poor box at the AME church. The proud parents trained the precocious Louis in double-speak in rhyme.
By LarryVegas

Nov. 16, 2009

1:41 p.m.

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A plan to slash more than $500 billion from future Medicare spending is one of the biggest sources of funding for President Obama's proposed overhaul of the nation's health-care system would sharply reduce benefits for some senior citizens and could jeopardize access to care for millions of others, according to a government evaluation released Saturday by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
By ghostcommander

Nov. 16, 2009

3:51 p.m.

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How many people are on Medicare? Twenty five percent of those people on Medicare have Medicare Advantage plans ran by private health insurers. How much does the government/Medicare pay these private insurers for managing these plans?