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February 9, 2010

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Harry Reid: Health care bill won’t work for Nevada

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AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Children’s Health Fund co-founder and singer/songwriter Paul Simon take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, to raise awareness of the children who will benefit from President Obama’s proposed health care plan.

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 10:36 a.m.

Harry Reid

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WASHINGTON - No sooner than the Senate Finance Committee's chairman released his long-awaited health care bill today than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it's not good enough for Nevada.

Reid is concerned about the cash-poor state's inability to boost Medicaid spending as would be required under the bill.

“While this draft bill is a good starting point, it needs improvement before it will work for Nevada," Reid said in a statement. "During this time of economic crisis, our state cannot afford to shoulder the second highest increase in Medicaid funding."

Reid said he received assurance from the chairman, Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, that the formula would be changed before the bill goes to committee next week.

"I spoke to the Chair of the Finance Committee and he assured me that this bill will be improved for Nevada," Reid said.

"Let me be very clear, I will not bring a health insurance reform bill to the Senate floor that is not good for Nevada.”

One way the legislation plans to cover more uninsured is to make Medicaid available to more people. Right now Medicaid in Nevada covers limited low-income groups -- primarily pregnant women, children and seniors. The bill would expand care to include childless adults. But that would require a 5 percent increase in funding from the state.

Reid's concerns come after a back-and-forth he and Nevada's governor engaged in Tuesday via letters exchanged on the issue.

The majority leader's objection show just how difficult the task before Congress in trying to meet the needs of all lawmakers who have problems with the legislation.

Discussion: 142 comments so far…

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  1. the senate finance committee is in the pocket of the insurance companies...
    their bill does absolutely nothing but increase their already outrageous profits...
    listen up boys and girls...
    it's real 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...
    period...
    end of story!!!

  2. I am glad to see that Sen Reid is not simply jumping on board but he needs to go much further. The country and Nevada need health reform that reduces cost. I read part of Sen. Baucus's plan and I guess it conforms with the deficit nuetral promise of the President. However the plan clearly mentions that about $350 billion will be made in new taxes and $500 billion will come from nonspecific government cuts. I don't know about you but I haven't seen any proof from the house, the senate, or the president that they are even capable of making the cuts. Legislators and the President patted themselves on the back when they cut $100million out of a $1trillion bill.

  3. Sen Reid says the plan isn't good enough for Nevada. What about the rest of the country? There are many states in the same situation as that of Nevada.
    Sen. Reid managed to get 7 billion to build a high speed train from Vegas to LA, maybe he should give that money back. Along with the 30,000 for the mobster museum.
    Congress, government employees and union labor get to keep their Platinum, plans while the rest of us get the Deli version, take a number and wait. Along with dictates of who can have what. This bill must not be as good as they would have us believe. Also, once it passes, there is a provision whereby it cannot be repealed. That says to me it's not a good plan.
    Spending money and raising takes is all Congress knows how to do. They are extremely wasteful with our money.
    Thirty years is congress is too long for one person to be in office, the proof is in their power base. Lot's of arm twisting on those who would dare to disagree.
    Seniors will be very hard hit with Medicare cuts,we pay a hundred a month plus to have health care. We will not get our five dollar raise, but they will be taking more from our monthly allotment.
    If the President and Congress really cared about health care, they would scrap the plan they have and start over. In Plain Language.
    Congress needs to stop taking from the average citizens and giving to their friends.

  4. I like how this bill is going to force people to get insurance and then use the IRS to fine people who don't. Of course, people who don't pay their fines will be imprisoned or shot to death Ruby Ridge style by the IRS. Good idea. Real freaking smart.

  5. Let me see. Is Harry gonna trump McCarran? Does that mean that McCarran-Ferguson '45 is vaporized?

    Will it be Reid International Airport?

    Harry, this is a 15 rounder, and we just now got done with "Ladees and Gentelllmannn.."

    Ya up for it?

  6. phooie
    You br ing up a good point about seniors and Medicare. My opinion on this is that the gov't REALIZES that the baby boomers born during the years 1947 to probably 1952 (the majority generation that fought in Vietnam) are going to just suck it all up and they want to be ready for it. They don't want us to have what is our due. I remeber when I turned 40, 1949, that year the gov't numbers for people born during that year was 3.5 million! That's just one year. And figure that maybe 2.5 million will hit the Medicare eligible age at the same time for those born in '49. That doesn't include those born in the 2 years before and after. Nothing has been said about this but you can't tell me the gov't doesn't see this coming and is tryiig to stick it to us by trying to cut Medicare now. That age group is the majority of the populatoin in the U.S. (yeah - even more than the illegals!)

    I know that secondary insurance is a necessity when you get Medicare. I can imagine what is going to change by the time we get to that point,. We'll be paying $1000 a mon th premiums for gov't sponosored health insurance.

  7. Harry Reid has no idea what's good for Nevada or the nation. If he can't get exactly the bill he and his corporate bosses want, he'll whine and cry

  8. Any health care reform is doomed to failure unless it includes medical malpractice reform. We are the only country in the world where lawyers are allowed to suck millions upon millions of dollars out of the health care system for no good reason. What we need is no fault medical malpractice insurance without lawyers. Unfortunately, President Obama, a lawyer himself, and the rest of the Democratic Party will never offend the trial lawyers, who donate generously to the Democractic Party and Democratic candidates in order to guarantee that the process will continue to be designed to deliver windfall profits to trial lawyers at the expense of doctors, patients and every tax payer.

  9. It allows more illegals to get on Medicaid.

    Plus, it taxes the big unions' platinum health care plans.

  10. Give em' hell, Harry!

  11. Comment removed by staff.

  12. Very simple solution.

    Anyone who cannot get private insurance (pre-existing hangnail) should be eligible for Medicare regardless of age.

    Who can have any objection to that?

  13. tvegas..good, simple solution...

    Republicans will NEVER go along with that because it doesn't include a roll-back of taxes from today back to 3187 BC... It also would cut off their gravy train from the health care industry... clearly in their mind a non-starter..

  14. Reid did, however, take a large swing at the insurance industry. He said he favored repealing a law that exempts insurance companies from anti-trust regulations.

    http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug...

    Harry admits that there are serious problems with the laws governing the insurance industry. The reason he has not introduced legislation to remedy this problem is HARRY REID LTD. PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING 'TRUST'!!!

    Full disclosure Harry! Before you start voting on behalf of the Public Trust, tell us about your Interests and investments in the Harry Reid Trust without the cloak of Congressional 'rules' you approved for yourself...

    Is this bill not good enough for Nevada or Harry's retirement plan???

  15. My family already has good health care coverage. So if this reform goes through, do we get kicked off our current coverage and forced to take this crap coverage from the government? And if we don't take it, we will be fined $1,000? Doesn't make any sense. You can't force people to buy something they don't want. Oh wait, I guess you can in a SOCIALIST country.

  16. Hey Harry...socialism is no good for ANY state, not just Nevada!

  17. YES! Thank you, Senator Reid! Make sure that this health care bill works for us in Nevada. And please make sure the final bill has a strong public option so that we can choose the health care we want, not the insurance industry!

  18. whomever posted as "laquisha" is a total, absolute,
    100 percent, certifiable MORON/RACIST who must need to disparage others to feel better about themselves. Jerk.

  19. just look at all the stupid pathetic republican morons on this board...
    with their lies...
    with their fear mongering...
    pathetic...
    absolutely pathetic...
    listen to the brilliant birdie...
    it is very very simple...
    you either support the greedy pig insurance companies and their very real death panels and the money grubbing whore doctors...
    or...
    you support the public option...
    everything else is just noise!!!

  20. Birdiedreamin, do you really think a government run public option would be LESS corrupt than private insurance companies? And you think doctors and insurance co's are greedy, but politicians are not? I think you need to wake up, my friend. One group is more drunk on greed, and the other is more drunk on power. Both are drunk on both. Both are disgusting, IMO. One is not significantly better than the other, but we need real competition to ATTEMPT to keep providers honest. In addition, if our primary concerns are pre-existing conditions and high premiums, why don't we enact and enforce laws to address those issues. Not that simple, I understand, and I get the fact that there are other concerns, but it could be a lot simpler than starting a government run program. This huge overhaul is an excuse for the gov't to pretend like they're doing something constructive, when really everything they touch turns to crap. This whole idea that a public option is the only solution is such BS and is simply buying whatever BS your favorite politician is selling. There are real problems with health care that need to be addressed, and our only options are to do WAY too much, or nothing. There has to be an alternative.

  21. Birdiedreamin-

    Thank you! Medicare is the most efficient health insurance provider in the nation today. Their overhead cost is only 3%. Compare & contrast with the HMOs.

    It's simple, really. The HMOs want profit. Period. They don't care if people die because they can't get the care they need. The real "death panels" lie with the insurance companies!

    If everyone in DC was really honest, they'd be discussing a Medicare for All (also known as single-payer) system where no HMO could mess with people's health care ever again. But alas, they all want the insurance industry to remain alive and kickin'. That's why we at least need a public option for real competition.

  22. My 95 year old father who is on Medicare and dying was put in an ambulance last week by the nursing home where he is staying in North County San Diego, sat upright in a wheelchair in the ambulance with no seat belt and his oxygen misconnected and dumped off where my 89 year mother is living, with not even a phone call. They said his Medicare had expired . After examining the situation, and with a few phone calls to the hospital they agreed to take him back. They must have believed he had a duty to die. So much for Government run healthcare. Go for it Birdie--!!!

  23. How long before the ties with Reid, ACORN and SEIU are exposed? The $800 billion Baucus bill cuts $500 billion from medicare and provides $10 billion for union pensions. This is also another "unfunded" mandate to the states, sure these bozos in the senate can produce a bill, make the states pay for it. Furthermore, how can Harry say "it won't work for Nevada"? Has he asked Pelosi if it's ok.

  24. RobRBarron "Hey Harry...socialism is no good for ANY state, not just Nevada!"

    Could not agree with you more. You hit the nail right on the head.

    All the Socialistic plans put forth by this Socialist, thin skinned president has failed and is doomed to fail. Especially this bogus health care/ or I should say lack of care.

  25. TRANSLATION: (as he holds a gun to the head of hostage Health Care):

    If I don't get $25 million in my campaign chest withing 24 hours, this hostage is dead.

    Public reply: Do 'ya feel lucky today, PUNK?

  26. Poor harry. He is so far from being in control of the Senate, let alone anything else. They don't even have 50 votes for pushing this through.

    The public has actually gotten to many democrats and given them the courage to challenge the socialist scheme of this administration.

    Nevada will have it's voice heard on Judgment Day. November 2010. Bye, Bye harry.

  27. 2010 ---- Let's clean the house.... I you know what I mean?
    Out with these cool aid drinkers.

  28. "All the Socialistic plans put forth by this Socialist, thin skinned president has failed and is doomed to fail. Especially this bogus health care/ or I should say lack of care."

    All the socialism socialistically proposed by the socialistic socialists should be socialistically socialized! Socialism!

    http://www.lasvegassun.com/photos/2009/s...

  29. Harry Reid is a pimple on the butt of this state, and needs to be removed from office, right alongside of Nancy Pelosi who is a pimple on the butt of america,get them both out of office and try them for treason,cuz they have turned their backs on america for their own agendas.

  30. atd,

    "Thank you! Medicare is the most efficient health insurance provider in the nation today. Their overhead cost is only 3%. Compare & contrast with the HMOs."

    I think I've mentioned this before to you but the 3% number is inflated at best. Medicare does not count in outside costs like the IRS wich functions like the finance and billing department at a private insurance company. You aren't comparing apples to apples.

  31. Comment removed by staff.

  32. it is also subsidized, by force and quiet heavily, by young healthy people.

    And as far as efficiency is concerned...it is not efficient at all. As anyone can clearly see, costs have ballooned incredibly fast. Repeatedly, its costs have exceeded estimates and it is not financially sound at the moment (And hasn't been for awhile).

  33. Nothing the cockroaches in Congress puts forth will work. It is going to cost three times what the liars say and will not work near as well. Let's do it the honest American way. Everyone is responsible for their own healthcare. It is called freedom.

  34. What a noble idea .. be responsible for ourselves". But what about the free loaders who can't fend for themselves and rely on handouts from the all mighty government.
    Huge costs and poor care = Obama care

  35. Why is Harry concerned about cost?

    Nevada lawmakers can simply pass another increase to the room tax

  36. This is another Harry Reid charade, he's already said he'll pass a bill no matter what. Here one of his dem buddies says huge middle class taxes:

    http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/09...

    Another Harry Reid pet bill CAP & TAX is next up, only $1,700 per household in taxes:

    http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/15/...

    Is Harry re-elect me Reid being honest? How is that Stimulus bill working Harry?

  37. For those of you that continue to believe the bull about the greedy insurance companies. Any insurance company whose name ends with Mutual is a non profit co-op so tell me how they are going to sell insurance for less than zero profit. The insurance companies that are for profit operate on an average of around 3.5% profit. What would you invest in with only a 3.5% return? You should do a little homework before calling people names without knowing the facts. Stop believing everything you hear from the not so honest libtards.

  38. Now let me get this straight, Obama promises the Democrat's health plan will be revenue neutral, yet Reid says it will be too expensive at the state level. Do I smell a shell game here or what? Democrats have turned into a GIANT den of thieves. Looks like Reid will be outed in 2010...he's too old anyway!

  39. Hey Knowah... I take issue with you saying that Reid is too old... I don't think he is a day older then Polosi!!!

  40. So Reid wants other states to pay Nevada's Medicaid bill? Reid is a goner, send in the death panel.

  41. Insurance companies win again. Reid is right. Reject that bill!

  42. Sen. Reid:

    As long as the plan you stick me with is the same plan you are stuck with - We will be copacetic.

  43. People with pre-existing conditions who cant get coverage should be allowed to enroll in medicaid for a percentage of their income. Tax plastic surgery and junk food to pay for it.
    Problem solved. (I should run for congress)
    :-)

  44. birdiedreaming...you must be a far left drone...You must be so busy posting to have a job. Dude, get real. I feel sorry for you with all that raging hate which you spew on not only this subject but on lots of other sites' comment sections.

    No need to involve uncle sam any more that need be. Letting ins. companies to get customers across state lines and increase their risk pools lets them be far more efficient (better efficiencies maintain profits and help lower prices to customes). Then they really can insure all (with the young unfortunately subsidizing the oldeer and weaker brothers and sisters)

  45. I for one am not suprised by Senator Reid for the press conference held today. Comments made by the majority leader show how a politican such as him conducts himself in time of re-election. I've watched press conferences held by the senator and never has he mentioned Nevada and our citizens as much as now. I suppose the comments he made to the advertising director for the newspaper this little handout 'the sun' is printed with are directly related to why he is so far down in the polls. I say get THESE crooks and their bullish tactics out of congress immediately before We lose this country; whether its a republican or a democrat.

  46. Let me get this right...Your state advertises daily in California that you have no personal income taxes...no state taxes.....and some other workers compensation tax you don't have....You tell Californians to get the hell out of California and set up shop in Nevada. Now you have this coward Reid whining away about a bill that was formulated in a bogus manner by giving the GOP as much of a say as the DEMS in the special finance committee that created this DOA bit of legislation (not a one of the three gang of six Republicans will vote for it)..Reid acts like he had no control over that legislation though he is the leader of the Senate.... So now he says this is no good for Nevada meaning he needs to get the hell out of the way along with Pelosi and let somebody with a pair be the Senate leader representing ALL OF THE STATES and give Obama some real help...and then Mr. Reid can go on and on about poor old Nevada which is his way of saving his own hide for the 2010 midterms...... Well maybe if you had previously had some taxes in your freakn' state like 41 other states, you might not be this bad off. So you want more money from the rest of us to subsidize yourselves in this healthcare plan since getting gamblers from SOCAL and around the country has been basically not good enough... The only answer to this is for Calfornia to have full scale casino gambling EVERYWHERE not just on Indian reservations.....How's them apples, Harry? Why should anybody care about your fiscal problems when you don't have state or personal state income taxes...You can't have it both ways but neighboring states so far have allowed you to have it both ways.

    I would rather go to a casino on Coronado Island in San Diego than endure driving the I-15. I can take a train to San Diego.

    Nobody is feeling sad about you Harry Reid or the State of Nevada. We would welcome your service sector union members here in a heartbeat to work at full scale California Casinos from San Diego to Palm Springs to Avalon to Santa Monica to Monterey to San Francisco to Sacramento to our side of Tahoe.....EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!! Good luck in your reelection bid, Senator Reid.

  47. HEY, jamesNJ...
    You need to go to school and learn how to write so we can understand what the heck you are sayin'.
    You know what I'm sayin'?
    You Harry Reid Haters are soooo funny!
    Ranting and raving and moaning and groaning!
    As another poster pointed out, if Harry gave Y'all a million bucks apiece, you'd bitch and moan about that too.
    Hatin' on Harry is like a sport here in Nevada.
    Good news, SPORTS FANS! You'll be able to play your silly game for 6 MORE YEARS!

  48. Looks like someone is trying to make up 10 percentage point in the state polls.

    Nevada - kick this bum out!!!!!!!!

  49. Is Reid pretending to have READ this bill?
    I don't believe it.

  50. To Birdiedreamin-

    You said, "you support the greedy pig insurance companies and their very real death panels and the money grubbing whore doctors...
    period.."

    I would suggest that when you get really sick, don't call a doctor, call a money grubbing lawyer instead.

    "End of story"

  51. Don't fall sucker to the commentator "birdiedreamin", Rkaye. He/she is the biggest masterbaiter on the web.

  52. desert rat
    Good idea tax ing plastic s urgery. The State can do quite well with a tax like that!

    RUNWAY25L
    Maybe Cali casinos should start advertising here for help, do a job fair out here or in Primm. I'm sure they'd get a lot of interested people.

    ANd.....
    "Well maybe if you had previously had some taxes in your freakn' state like 41 other states, you might not be this bad off"

    Should have been done a long time ago - a 1% state income tax. But again - too many politicians on their knees and/or bending over for the casinos.....

  53. The "mini" version of the Bacchus bill which passed in Taxachusetts has ALREADY raised average policy costs forty (40) percent. (how to drive the privates out of business while looking you right in the eye and saying you support private healthcare) The projected "mere 100 million" cost to the "Commonwealth" is NOW over 500 million and growing. This from the Wall Street Journal, though even teh Bosotn Globe Democrat has been forced to admit it.

    NO healthcare option which has to be rammed down our throats "for our own good" in the dead of night along with a chorus of "you're a racist and evil monger if you don't buy the shell game"
    deserves consideration by a congress with OUR interest at heart. Note they are going to CHANGE IT AGAIN next week!

    If Reid & Co think they will ride to endless victory by giving the "if it's free, it's for ME" class "free" healthcare in return for votes they are WRONG. Reid, I suspect, won't be in office after the 2010 elections. Bye, Harry. DRAIN THE SWAMP IN 2010!

    PS, to the bird brain who used the term "money grubbing whore doctors" in an earlier post.. may YOU wake up in a hospital some day and find a guy wearing an ID tag with THAT on it leaning over your bed and saying " I hear you like to blog". HAAAAAAAAAAAA!

  54. Obama:

    How dare you try to tell me and my family how to take care of our health! How dare you insult the American Medical Profession, without a doubt the finest in the world! You are an ACORN idiot who Knows Nothing about health care. I am a doctor and I think you are crazy: You are driven by three complimentary delusions: (1) America is a racist country. This Lie has been promoted for decades to justify all manner of scams and it is time that the American people denounce this Lie and stop being courteous, polite, and deferential to it. They need to state emphatically when the claim is made, "I'm not listening to this insane BS anymore!" (2) The Medical profession in America is a bunch of money grubbing heartless elitists who have been so guilty of refusing care to poor Americans that they hardly have time to work in all the necessary fraud, waste and abuse. This is a Blatant lie but it is repeated enough with the usual liberal BS language ("overhaul," "reform," broken," "unsustainable,") to prevent its being condemned on its face; thus you have gained some traction with it. This is despicable. Your mind has absorbed these two lies to justify your (3) Megalomania, your appalling eagerness to steal the Freedom and Liberty of Americans for your own self-aggrandizement. It is only through the media's desperate need to recruit the Insane as raw material for their star-making machinery that you have progressed as you have. I am going to do everything in my power to see to it that you fail in every way.

  55. Hey Birdiedreamin
    Orthopedic surgeons and Neurosurgeons are amazing people of talent that ten thousand of you losers that call them names can't even come close to their value on this earth.

  56. Just a 'heads-up' to everybody here: do you honestly think Dirty Harry would have said all of that stuff in the defense of Nevada if he didn't already have a plan to make himself look good 'saving the day' and appearing tough in the senate? I guarantee you that he already had a deal worked out with the finance committee whereby he would make a raucous when the bill is released and then they would appear to make these changes on his behalf.

    He is in an election cycle and in desperate need of Nevada support. Did you see how many times he mentioned Nevada? Hellooooo? How transparent.

    He needs to be thrown out quicker than dog poop on fine china.

  57. What kind of idiot votes for this clown?

  58. It's going to be fun to sit back and watch the Democrats run from any health care bill proposed. Harry Reid's campaign for re-election is on the skids and he's not about to tick off independents or the handful of conservatives who might vote for him. In the end it is far more about career politicians than it is about health care for the masses.

  59. Harry Reid pushed Obama's socialist Health Care takeover for 3 months despite popular protests against it by informed citizens who read the bill. Now he's running behind in the polls and decides to flip flop on the issue. He and Pelosi are part of the elitist cabal currently running Washngton. While people are losing their savings and homes, neither Reid or Pelosi have done anything to help small businesses create jobs. Both are out of touch and need to go.
    Good riddance.

  60. Why, why, why do so many of the great artists get sucked into some embarrassingly moronic public political affiliation? Yes Harry, when all else fails, then it's always about the children isn't it. Tell you what - just drop off the key Lee ...

  61. Hey Harry you want my vote then make E-Verify the law in Nevada! Send the illegals back to where they came from. They have invaded our country and are now working jobs that unemployed citizens could be working. Stop the invasion!

  62. Where did Reid think the increased Medicaid funding was coming from? The Tooth Fairy? Federal income taxes and Medicare, that's where. Less for seniors, more pressure on taxpayers. I doubt Reid or his family will forego their phenomenal Federal employee plan to wait two years for a hip replacement.

  63. Birdiedreamin - you must be out there, many good folks called you on it and I couldn't do better, but I would suggest you double up on your meds and stay out of a debate in which you know little to nothing, I wouldn't be surprised if you worked for some of the whores of ACORN. On another note, it should have read - Go to Hell Harry, not give 'em hell, he is one of the many parasites sucking on the good people of Nevada and others.

  64. I really like Harry but he's distanced himself from the mainstream voters in Nevada. The time for the Reids, Gibbons, and Ensign are over forever.

  65. Goodbye Harry
    throw the Democratic plan under the bus. It's still to late. Time to look for a new job. Nevada ia not gonna buy it.

  66. WOW, there are a lot of ignorant people on this site. But you have been putting Ried in office for years, so that was expected. You want to know what the "public option" will look like? I will tell, its very simple, just ask any veteran, which I guess most of you are not, how the socialized care is from the VA. I have a service related back injury, it took TWO years just to get treatment. Then another 8 months to get the surgery I needed. Then another 6 months to process my claim. So, lets get the numbers straight, I was medically retired in September 2005. I did not get the results of my claim until August 2008.

    Also, if you have been paying attention, the brilliant plan oshama has for cap and trade will increase every tax payer by at least 7%. You add this heathcare debacle to that, and you will likely see a tax increase in the 15-20% category. Enjoy you freaking idiots! Have a nice day........

  67. If we confiscated all the profits of all the greedy insurance companies, the money would pay for FOUR days of health care for all Americans. Adding in the profits of the 10 most rapacious US drug companies would provide another SEVEN days. Confiscating all the profits of ALL American companies in EVERY industry would cover less than FIVE months of health-care expenses. These numbers come from the current Atlantic Monthly magazine article by David Goldhill (The Atlantic, September 2009). It should be a required reading for anyone wanting to go beyond demagoguery and empty promises.

  68. By phooie
    9/16/09 at 11:14 a.m.
    Sen Reid says the plan isn't good enough for Nevada. What about the rest of the country? There are many states in the same situation as that of Nevada......................
    There are the needs of the country and then there are the needs of the politicians.. but based on your comments, you knew that already. :>) GBA I hope./

  69. I've been very disappointed about the "discussion" and "debate" on health care reform. There doesn't seem to be any way to have *any* input into the process. For example, Senator Reid talks about medical mistakes costing us lots of dollars, and not just court cases (although that's a big part of it). How about taking a page from the Federal Aviation Administrations and encouraging medical practitioners to adopt checklists as a regular and expected thing. Yet I've yet to hear this idea discussed by anyone. This is an idea the benefits the PATIENTS; yet no one seems to care much about patients. Checklists reduce the opportunity for errors -- ask any quality control engineer worth his salt.

  70. By genetics73
    9/16/09 at 8:10 p.m.
    If we confiscated all the profits of all the greedy insurance companies, the money would pay for FOUR days of health care for all Americans. Adding in the profits of the 10 most rapacious US drug companies would provide another SEVEN days. ............................................... Frightening isn't it ! GOOD POST. People google the Atlantic September issue. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/back...

  71. By geek89450
    9/16/09 at 8:44 p.m.
    I've been very disappointed about the "discussion" and "debate" on health care reform. There doesn't seem to be any way to have *any* input into the process. For example, Senator Reid talks about medical mistakes costing us lots of dollars, and not just court cases (although that's a big part of it). How about taking a page from the Federal Aviation Administrations and encouraging medical practitioners to adopt checklists as a regular and expected thing. ................
    Your expectation is valid but most, if not all, hospitals follow what they would deem to be best practices. This whole issue needs to be phased in a way to give the states the ability to implement various solutions to see what realty works. The Fed gov., all or nothing plan, will not and cannot solve this. They, our so called representatives of the people, are political and clueless. If as Obama says, there are billions to be saved, what the heck are they waiting for (ending a sentence with a proposition is not proper so sorry) so irrespective of political party, why isn't that being addressed?

  72. lets see, Reid is losing Nevada, so he now takes the side of main stream America to save his ass. I'll bet voters in Nevada don't buy it. To late Harry.

  73. Isn't it obvious to everyone?

    Harry Reid is facing a serious challenge in the 2010 election. From what I've read, he's behind in the polls.

    Harry is looking out for his own hide. The heck with Obama, the other dems, and their health care proposal.

    Harry is neither interested in the country, nor the people of his own state. He is interested in holding onto his seat in the Senate.

    He will do whatever it takes to hold on to it. He is running scared.

    End of story.

  74. Please keep in mind that mr. reed, aka Nevada Senator is up for re-election in 2010, harry is a slime and will do anything, say anything that he thinks might get him re-elected. Next he will promise a chicken in every pot

    The man is a disgrace to our country, this is the same person who told the world that the WAR WAS LOST.

    Harry, get your bags packed, turn the lights on at the old Nevada homested and prepare to return to Nevada cause you ain't going to be going there after the next election. Please tell Nancy to start washing the wine bottles, she may be qualified to do that cause she ain't coming back to dc either.

    BYE BYE HARRY

  75. Ha ha, yeah Harry Reid is talking tough. Truth is, we wouldn't be in this situation if he would just listen to his constituents. We don't want Government intrusion in our Health Care! If the guy would listen to his people. we're tired of listening to his gibberish and excuses. Just not good enough for me, he has to go! Nevada needs and deserves a fresh face in the Senate; a true leader.

  76. What a lot of people don't seem to know is that Medicare and Medicaid have been reducing their payment rates to hospitals and physicians since the 70's and are now way below what these providers of service need to charge private insurance so they can at least cover their costs. Private insurance has been subsidizing these government programs, that's why insurance premiums are going through the roof. Another government-run program that has the power to pay at rates less than the cost of services will increase this subsidy (and therefore increase insurance premiums further) or drive hospitals into bankruptcy and physicians out of the medical profession.

  77. It amazes me when people say they need this public option. Don't you understand that it is the "politically correct" way to say government healthcare? Do you really understand what it will mean to have GHC? Of course Obama says it isn't going to add a dime to the national debt, and you know how it is going to happen? Yeah, it's called health tax. The government is We the People. We will pay for our own free healthcare, each and every one of us. Right now, it comes out to 16-20 percent of our gross domestic product. I agree this is a little bit on the high side, but this is going to be taxed (yes, taxed) on top of what we pay now. How difficult is it to understand the reality of this. Tort reform is a start, the average doctor pays $200,000 in insurance ALONE, and that cost gets passed on to each and every one of us. Cross state line purchase of insurance is another way to reduce costs, there is a major scam on states and insurance companies there, so that could go away.

    Healthcare reform is supposed to make it more affordable for all of us, not cost us the same equally or else. Glad just Nevada is not liking this and Harry wants it changed, screw the other 49 states, glad he has that power, won't miss him for a minute in less than two years from now.

    Reign in the cost by opening up the market, 1300 insurance companies don't need government competition, they need competition with each other. This can be fixed without being government controlled very easily.

    Has anyone figured out how many government organizations and jobs it is going to have to be paid for on top of the actual cost in order to micro-manage all this? As something which might be some indicator of that, England's healthcare administration is the THIRD LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE WORLD. I think it is North Korea and the PRC armies that are larger. We are most likely talking about one million people to run this organization (figuring a 1 to 307 ratio, probably higher), so just add that cost (government jobs) on top of the healthcare cost for our Socialist plan. It's not on my top ten list.

  78. How much more money will we need dirty Harry?

    70-80 Trillion more?

    Would that be enough money?

  79. I say Harry Reid is not good enough for Nevada! Let's fire Senator Reid in 2010. Now if only California can do the same with Pelosi. After all, both Reid and Pelosi are multi-millionaires. Plus, when leaving the Senate and House, they will have premium health care for life courtesy of US taxpayers.

  80. You Nevadans still vote for this jerk? You are the laughingstock of the nation!

    For you Obama sycophants: the liar wants you to swallow the Public Option so he can do to your health insurance what he's doing to the cost of your tires by banning Chinese imports. Next time you buy tires, you'll pay 35% more. Next time you try to get private insurance, it will be GONE under Obamacare. Trust me! And wait till you see what Obamacare will cost you in taxes! Go ahead and scream for the Public Option, you lamebrains!

    You like to be pro-choice when it comes to killing babies. See what it will be like when it comes to Public (NO)Choice!

  81. This is a prime example of what's so pathetically wrong. 80 comments and counting say the same things:

    1. don't touch my underfunded Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security/Other Entitlement
    2. this government couldn't run a lemonaid stand
    3. how are we going to pay for this anyway
    4. who's going to pay for this anyway
    5. H. R. & Co. are just different flavors of moron/idiot/imbecile/crooked/incompetent jerks
    6. there isn't much that anyone in elected office will do to stop this socialist monstrosity
    7. we are already paying to much for all this anyhow

    What really torques me is that for the most part, everyone thinks they're owed a health care or medical retirement livin' - even if it's crappy - 'cuz they already paid into it, and they basically now want to get their money out of it.

    Fools.

    You have been duped. Years and years ago you or someone you know bought into this "entitlement garbage", AND kept the stupid moron imbecile jerks in office that wrote and voted for this entitlement dung. Free retirement! Free old age health care! Free nursing homes! Free Medicine for old people! All at low or no cost to you!

    Now it's "I WANT MY MAYPO!" And woe to the stupid moron imbecile jerk in office that's gone along with it, until, he sees the light and tells you, "Vote For Me and I'll End The Government Ponzi Schemes", and you think "No, You toucha my stuff anda Ima gonna Vote to enda u!"

    Where were you all, and your parents, 70 years ago when all this Ponzi crap started and has been kept up ever since? Eh?

    Why...you poor ignorant dummies, I can tell you where you were. You were buyin' into their b.s. and were tricked into blowing your dough on somethin' else, now weren't you? Partyin' down, booze, cigarettes, donations to charities in other counties who don't give a damn about you, big houses, big cars, bigger SUV's, big families, your over-the-top lifestyle, stock market gamblin', girlfriends, boyfriends, AND that always prevalent buck-blowin' dollar-drainin' spend-it-now grand-daddy of them all - that good ol' American Dream.

    And now you don't have a pot to p*ss in when it comes to you and your loved one's health care. And you now have to, BEG, the government to save you. Again.

    (Cue Flag, the scumbags need re-elected.)

    I bet, if you went into ANY public school classroom in the USA, you wouldn't find ONE class on self sufficiency, planning for your golden end-of-days, or anything like it.

    Nuthin'.

    Do you really think, in your most honest heart of hearts, your Golden Freebie Ship's Come In? That party boat left the dock - now that YOU finally get there. Guar-ron-teed.

    Start savin' your bucks. NOW!

    What govenment SHOULD focus on is on helping those who really need it, when they need it, as in like what's happening now to the country in this current job disaster. The government should step in and say "we'll catch you" FOR NOW, until you get back on your feet.

    That's NOT the freebie party train, now is it...

  82. Whey mah checks be?? Odumbo be done promised me mah checks!!

  83. Here's the cheapest and best health care reform that will bring prices down and make health insurance more affordable for everyone: Let health insurance companies compete accross state lines. Let Americans buy policies that THEY want, not what dictatorial state legislatures decide they can buy. Let Americans decide for themselves what exactly "health care" is for themselves. Frankly, for me, health care does NOT include acupuncture (for example), yet my state says that acupuncture must be included in any health care insurance policy sold in Maine. It's ridiculous. My right to think and to take care of myself and my family has been stolen by the state legislature controlled by Democrat/Leftist idealogues. I think they want private health insurance to fail.

    It's none of the federal government's or state government's business from whom or what I buy for health insurance coverage.

  84. Sounds like Harry is a racist - not kneeling to Dear Leader's demands for any and every level of socialism, no questions asked. Harry, wait until you see the bill for 'free' healthcare for illegals.

    It's a fun game you liberals have introduced! Hahaha!

  85. Hey DAK and WIZARD OF OZ!!!!
    Have you ever considered running for office???
    You make more sense than any of those 'BOZO's' in Congress....
    GO GREEN! RECYCLE CONGRESS!!!!!!!!!

    CAP AND TRADE CONGRESS IN 2010!!!!

  86. I think this is great news! We need to keep the throttle down on these people and when they all start to see that their own political futures are in danger, their tunes will change very quickly. If you want to reform healthcare, Sen Reid, perhaps you should make it so that the American people have the same plan as those of you in congress. Or, show us a plan good enough that you are all willing to give up your cushy federal benefits for. What is good for the goose is good for the gander, Sen Reid. The hypocrisy is astounding. NV it's time to rid the Senate of this embarrassment.

  87. Wow,
    Harry obviusly has hired handlers. Payback and accountability is unavoidable. When the investigations start in 2011, Harry is target #1.

  88. This healthcare plan will not work in any state of the union. Some have tried already. The Administration as well as the senate finance committee is in Bed with the insurance companies. Harry had so called town hall meetings ( yea the four seasons with a stacked crowd) and was not listening to the people. Public option will lower the health care that anyone receives. This is a subject that the federal government 1. should not be discussing, 2. has no power to enforce. The Federal government has no power to force anybody to buy anything.

  89. When is America going to wake-up and understand that Government is only good at one thing:

    Breaking stuff!

    In his speech to Congress, "The One" said that there will be no changes for those listening to his voice. His promiss is that he is going to "reform" healthcare, without impacting anybody who already pays into the system.

    How do you "reform" something without changing anything?!?!?!

    How do you cut costs for everybody, while increasing the burden, without limiting services?!?!?!

    If ya'll would just LISTEN to what he is saying, you'll relise he's full of Shiite!

    For those of you who think Obama is going to "fix" healthcare, I have a tunnel for sale up here in Ma for ya!

    (The "Big Dig" - 10 years late, and $12 Bln over-budget. Thanks Teddy, the only guy in the World who can outswim Mike Phelps!)

  90. Wizard, you are right on track. What really baffles me is, as it turns out, this legislation is much more complicated than it seems it was originally thought. Who is going to be held responsible for initially trying to push this monstrosity through both houses without members even so much as reading it? These people are in their positions solely to represent the best interests of the people in their States/Districts. I am still trying to figure out how the first iteration of this bill would have affecetd my community and me. Now it is multiple revisions forward and getting worse for everybody. Bush isn't president anymore, but SURELY he must be responsible SOMEHOW!

  91. ToBirdiedreamin:
    I supose you're addressing me when you refer to physicians as "money grubbing whores". I've worked very hard to be a physician. I sent my youth from 22 yo to 30 yrs old in medical school and residency where I worked 80 to 120 hr/wk. taking care of the poor and today I take care non-paying patients on a regular basis. If I'm called to the Emergency Dept, I see whomever needs it, regardless of their status. If everone in this county worked as hard as physicians and did as much for their fellow citizens this country would not be in the shape it's in. I wonder what you do for a living and how much you contibute to the general good. Or is your jobs to spew hateful and ignorant rants?

  92. Good Lord!
    Who ARE you people who've posted these past ten or so "comments"?
    The Sun must have linked with some nut-job blog in the Appalachian hills.
    Can ya say HILLBILLY for me?
    Do ya play the Jug or the Washboard?

  93. To gmag39
    I have 12 yrs of postgraduate education. I play niether the jug or washboard. I'm too busy. How about you?

  94. Typical leftist strategy is displayed here. If you don't agree with dissenting viewpoints, rather than offer an ounce of intellectual debate, you simply resort to childish name calling. Well, all you babies will be crying come 2010 when the rest of us true Americans decide we want the U.S.A. back and embrace true reform based on the Constitution and not some socialists' whims.

  95. HonestDoc,
    You posted as I was writing.
    apologies to you.

  96. Go up and read "who's linking here".
    Holy Moly!

  97. For your information...
    Click on the name Thumper.
    Read his stuff.
    Unlike some "morons" here,
    I adhere to the Sun's policy of posting under a
    single username.
    No matter how many times you say something
    it does not make it true. Talk about
    Ad nauseum.

  98. To gmag39,
    Um, I'm not sure too many "Hillbilly's" have computers. Got'a buy the whiskey for that jug after all.

    I guess an education doesn't buy you a personality, manners, respect for your fellow American, or common sense.

    What an elite snob. (aka: "jack-ass")

  99. wndrtch...
    Do you have a ringer-washer out on the porch, next to your couch?

  100. Election time Harry Reid now needs you. He will say and do anything including pretending he is a moderate and loves you.

    Harry Reid is like all the rest on the left they move to the right so to deceive the people that love being told what they want to hear and then goes to Washington for six more years and makes your life a living nightmare.

    Obama sounded to the right of McCain to get elected and now he is to the left of Chavez. Talk about some fickle mixed up people...and we elect these people to run our lives? Please Nevada wake up and throw Reid out of office. Hasn't he hurt you enough with his phony land deals and nepotism?

  101. Wow, so if Nevada doesn't have the money for this where is the money coming from for his plan? Idiot doesn't realize the money for his plan comes from Nevada too through higher federal taxes? Deceitful! Oh yeah, we'll just borrow a few more trillion from the Chinese money tree. Good Plan Harry!

    PS If all those movie stars and musicians had a genuine bone in their body they would give ALL their money to the poor and live like the rest of the middle class. Put your money where your mouth is.

  102. Our addiction to Health Insurance is making us very sick. Health Insurance is expensive, health care is not so much so. Haryy Reid is not looking out for Nevada but for himself and his job, he is a politician afterall and that is what they do.

    The alternative to Health Insurance is a Health Security Organization or HSO. This organization model allows you to choose any provider of any kind for any reason, you contribute and pay for your services with your own money guided by prefoessional health care buyers to assure you get the best possible value for the services you seek.... or you can continue to give your money away to insurance premiums.

    Rationing is inevitable under any insurance model, because they make money by not spending it on you...It really is as simple as that.

    The Baby Boomer Bubble will put a demand on the system that cannot be accomodated under the current organization, and insurance represents the lowest bidder... in a demand market, the lowest bidder will not perform well at all, cash will be the king.... join the Equity Health Plan HSO and take control of your healthy future, and leave the costs and burden of health isurance behind.

    Harry Reid is obviously listening to the people of Nevada now. Be grateful for that. Does he know what is good for that state????? we will see.

    Daniel Francis, CEO
    Equity Health LLC

  103. Reid is a Racist !!! He doesn't agree with Obama's Healthcare opposition. Isn't this how it works??

  104. Here is what this Washington 2 step artiest released to the national press.

    "I appreciate Chairman Baucus' hard work over the past several months. His proposal is another important piece to the puzzle and brings us a step closer to having a comprehensive health insurance reform bill on the Senate floor. There will be a healthy and vigorous debate in the Finance Committee as Senators work to strengthen this proposal. I look forward to working with Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd as well as the White House in the coming weeks to forge a final Senate bill that lowers costs, improves quality, preserves choice and creates competition."

    How can you guys keep re-electing this guy? Is Nevada that full if suckers?

  105. HEY gmag39...Who said anything about hating Harry...I believe you are the one who lacks writing skills with your disjointed thoughts and non-sequiturs. Your are clearly unable to offer any valid response except to try to ridiclue and shout down views others may have that dont fit your narrow mind. Just like all the other far left drones. You need to learn to think for yourself and for that you need to brush up on your facts but that is probably giving you too much credit. I can just smell your low IQ.

  106. So...just re-calculate the costs and SHAZAM, we now have a bill that Vegas will put its arms around. Do they really think people in Vegas and the country are that STUPID??? Further reductions in costs=even more rationing of health care by the 'death panel', uh....sorry....commissioner (page 83 of 3200 bill).

  107. james...
    I'm busy educating myself.
    I'm checking out the stuff under
    WHO'S LINKING HERE?
    at the top of this story.
    Holy Moly!
    There are some REAL winners out there!!!
    Who said anything about hating Harry, you ask?
    SHIRLEY, you jest.

  108. OK...Where IS OBAMA's plan.. We were told LAST week that Obama is going to address joint sessions of congress and outline a PLAN...WHERE IS IT?? Now the Bacccus plan is released...but it looks like even OUR side is not onboard. OBAMA...GIVE US YOUR PLAN..we will support, but ENOUGH talk already...it is getting old. Shut the detractors up by releasing A PLAN!!!

  109. I am an IT Consultant and have worked in that capacity for 24 years. I have worked Retail, Banking, Insurance, Engineering applications. For the past 12 years, most of the business has been Health Insurers because of the government regulations thru HCFA, HIPAA, Sarbanes Oxley driving up costs for Insurance companies just in IT. Who pays for that in the end? The consumer. I worked for a small heath insurer in 1990, they had 30 people in IT, now the have over 300 (and most of them are green card holders). The point is the government's meddling has driven up costs for health insurers and hospitals for government mandated Computer Systems. Another thing that keeps costs high (and helps Health Insurers) isforcing people to buy health care in their state and has created a Monopoly. The Federal Government mandated this (at the request of health insures). I submit that the government meddling created the problem and now the government is trying to fix the problem with more meddling. They should do the reform by steps - the system is too large to overhaul with one bill. Name me one thing you fix by tearing it apart and putting it together.
    I think a good start to reform would be:

    1. Cap torts for malpractice saving each doctor 1/2 million a year in costs and hospitals even more millions and thus allowing more doctors to enter certain fields that malpractice insurance forced them to quit.
    2.Do way with Hipaa, HCFA, Sarbanes Oxley and save billions in IT. Why does the government need all this personal information anyway?
    3. Do away with other regulations that have driven up the cost and created a monopoly by state. Start there.

    And don't give me the crap that deregulation forced the banking crisis and will destroy health care, remember I am in IT and saw the data (and I have been in multiple companies and multiple industries)- it was the REGULATIONS forced on BANKS sponsored by DODD and FRANKS to grant loans to BAD RISKS just so they could claim that minorities were buying more houses. It was the BANKS that ignored these incentives and regulations that are solvent. It is also the REGULATION that have DRIVEN UP health care costs!

    Public options are just going to be another Postal Service, or VA, or Medicare, or Social Security: all public options and all horribly mismanaged and bankrupt. As far as government controlled Health Care, look at the VA and Indian Reservations and see WHAT HEALTH CARE COULD BECOME. The government has already shown its incompetence in mismanaging, are we going to make it worse with 1/6 of our economy?

  110. gmag39
    please dont call me "shirley". Thanks, I always wanted to say that. Do you count yourself as one of those winners you refer to. I have yet to see you add anything of substance that shows critical though on ANY of your comments, just the usual rants and raves that frankly get old very quickly, just like your pal Birdie.

  111. My guess is that Reid is fully behind this fiasco they call health care but is pandering so he can have a chance at re-election. Like most politicians, that's all he cares about.

  112. Oh, James, don't get your undies in a bunch here.
    I'm just messin' with ya. HEY! Did you check out those links at the top of the article?
    under WHO'S LINKING HERE?
    The internets are FULL of angry, hateful folks.
    I do have to admit, before I cried, I laughed and laughed and laughed!

  113. Phooie wrote:
    "Sen Reid says the plan isn't good enough for Nevada. What about the rest of the country? "
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    The answer is real simple...
    Harry is facing an uphill battle for re-election in Nevada! Has to do something to turn the dropping favorablilty ratings, sees an opportunity and feints concern for his constituents and that the state can't afford the policy. Where was he with the auto bailouts, bank bailouts or the stimulus package, or the 7000 plus pork bills, or cap and trade? Guess those didn't cost Nevada anything....

  114. So Harry (representing Nevada) can't afford to pay or your/his Nevada Medicaid. Harry then decides that we here in Alabama, (Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, etc) who can't afford our own Medicaid, should be allowed to pay for your Medicaid. I'm just a stupid conservative so my head hurts when I try to figure out this type of pretzel logic. Can someone of liberal persuasion spell real slowly for me?

  115. Hey everyone, let's stop name calling each other.
    We do have the right of free speech. Even Jefferson knew that "I may not agree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it."
    I'm one of those baby-boomers, I have no plans on quitting work any time soon. I pay $538.50 per month for health insurance, HSA, $1500. deductible. I'm paying more and getting less. But, I need coverage.
    Small business will suffer if this bill goes through, because they go into a pool, for what is laughingly called a better rate. Not true. It drives up the cost of doing business, and can cost people their jobs.This affects the cost of medicine
    Harry Reid and the other members of Congress of 10 years or more, need to be traded in for younger models. We also need to control lobbyists groups who just love to giving politicians money and gifts to vote for their pet bill or project.
    The only sensible thing Congress can do is shred the bill they have and start over.
    I cannot fault doctors for this, the ones who saved my husbands life this past year were wonderful. But, the insurance rates they pay are obscene. Say, malpractice $$$$$$$, lawyers win, victims lose.
    Thirty years ago OB/GYN's were paying $250,000 a year for malpractice insurance. Don't want to know what it costs now. But one state, and I think it's Virginia has no Obstetricians, their insurance rates were so high they packed up and left the state.
    Every time there is an election I vote against the incumbents, and they keep getting reelected!
    Only 1/4 of the population in my town ever bothers to vote. They are the ones who complain the most. When I ask if they voted and they say no, I just respond "If you didn't you lost the right to complain. Your part of the problem"
    I believe one-tenth of what politicians say and even then I have doubts.
    What we need are solutions, and those who are so unhappy with this congress need to get up off their chairs and GO AND VOTE them out of office.
    I respect the opinions of my fellow blogger's, even if I may disagree with some of them. I would love to see at least 95% of eligible voters come out and vote in the next election.

  116. The pharmaceutical industry is behind this health care push. They see that more and more people are choosing alternatives to their poisons and some are doing so out of necessity. These people are finding that the alternatives are better than the drugs. If this continues Big Pharmaca will be in trouble. They would have to push their partners at the FDA to place more controls on alternative practitioners. The solution: penalize people for refusing insurance so they will not have the discretionary income to go buy their organic wheatgrass juice, garlic, carrots, etc. These people will be forced to pay for drugs and chemo that they don't want. Big Pharma knows that it is not the drugs that are keeping the terminally ill from dieing. It is because people who get a wake up call due to illness, start taking care of their bodies.

    The government have no choice but to follow Big Pharma's lead. Can you imagine what would occur if Big Pharma goes the way of the Big Thee? How much taxes would be lost? So here comes drugs, drugs, drugs. From the day you are born to the day you die.

    What I would like to see is a provision (a health plan) for people who don't want their poisons, but want a safety net for emergencies such as accidents. I definitely would not mind if they pump some drugs into me if I am unconscious or do whatever they do to resuscitate me, fix a broken bone etc. I don't think any one would mind that. But it should be a plan that doesn't cover treatment for preventable degenerative diseases like heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, etc. The cost for this kind of plane would be the bear minimum. The plan should give greater freedom of speech for alternative health, to advocate natural solutions.

    This is the best way reduce the cost of health care

  117. So Harry Reid, you want a health care reform bill which is good for Nevada?

    Start by taking Max Baucus' committee chairmanship away from him. The national media has proven, time and time again, that Baucus is simply a puppet of the insurance industry.

    Give the committee chairmanship to to Jay Rockefeller, who does want the full enchilada of health care reform which will benefit the hundreds of thousands of Nevadans who are unemployed, or employed with no health insurance, or denied health insurance because of pre-existing medical conditions.

    In case you haven't bothered to read the Sun and the RJ, Harry Reid, so few people in Nevada have health insurance coverage, there are at least 3 private hospitals literally starving to death because of lack of paying patients. And, of course, Nevadans without health insurance coverage are dying every month from lack of care.

  118. But who are the uninsured? A friend of mine says the uninsured on his current hospital in patient list (a private local hospital) include the following (he gets these patients when he takes emergency department (ED) call for patients that need to be admitted to the hospital but don't have a doctor):

    Mr. Smith, 52 years old, a chronic alcoholic who was so drunk that he pissed off his neighbor who punched him, knocked him down, and now the guy has a brain bleed.

    Mr. Jones, 49, also an alcoholic, has end stage liver and kidney disease and now has respiratory failure requiring emergency dialysis

    Mr. Brown, 47 years old, had a heart attack 3 years ago. Never took the aspirin, generic heart meds ($4/month at Wall Mart), kept smoking and now has had a big stroke and will need 100 days in the hospital before his Medicaid application is approved for his new disability at which time he will go to a nursing home.

    Mr. Pink, 41, had a blood clot problem identified several years ago. He was given a county card which gets him free medical care at all county clinics including Quick Care, Leid Clinic, and UMC. He never followed up. Now he is in a private hospital (where the county won't pay, at least not the doctor) with chest pain and likely a heart attack.

    Any questions?

  119. So it's too much for Nevada to pay for, but okay for the rest of the country? Is that total BS or what?

    Between the power hungry Democratic-Socialists, the corporate interests hoping to profit, and the welfare class that thrives in our culture of entitlement, some version of this claptrap passing Congress may be inevitable. I only hope that after the 2010 elections it's quickly and mercilessly rescinded, and geneuine reform taken on!

  120. The government needs to get out of the banking industry, the automobile industry and certainly the heathcare. Do we all remember when the government took over a brothel? They couldn't even make a success of that!

    Harry Reid has already shown where he stands. He needs to be defeated next election. We need Reid out and Pelosi out for sure.

    Our veterans can't get medical care, the government doesn't care about our senior citizens. When is enough going to be enough?

  121. Birdiedreamin:

    I wonder if you still think the doctors are money grubbing whores when you need serious medical attention?

    How about growing up and actually debating something instead of sounding like a schoolchild? Not quite sure why people cannot see these public options in other countries and the problems they have. We certainly need to fix healthcare, but we have to be very careful how we do it, and try to understand the short and long term ramifications of each possible way to do so.

  122. I think I just fell in love with Joel Weymouth. ;-)

    Great, great post!

  123. Medicare the "Most Efficient" ba ha ha bwa ha ha ha...

    3% over head with 80 billion in FRAUD!!! now thats government efficiency at its best!

  124. Yea! That's it! Give em hell Harry! Tell them that we want the same health plan that YOU get!

  125. Well good morning to you too Harry! Here's another tidbit...It won't work for the rest of America either.

  126. President Cockroach's Traveling Socialist Freak Show is losing its red wheels.

    Cockroach lost Van Jones, then ACORN fell while promoting child enslavement and forced prostitution. Now Nasty Pelosi is having a public emotional meltdown. Stay tuned! More to come...

    Reid is an embarrassment to Nevadans and the polls all show the result. Adios, Harry!

  127. Obama wants to cut out all the inefficiencies and waste from medicare. Who runs medicare? The federal government! If they are so good why don't they DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

  128. how could you people in Nevada keep voting for this sleaze bag. Was he once a great senator? I see no greatness the man is a complete fool.

  129. Reid is posturing because he knows if he supports Obamacare, he will not have a prayer of getting reelected. Danny Tarkanian already leads Reid in the polls. So, rather than support the bill, Reid has generated an out that makes him appear to be a caring senator concerned for his constituents. Baloney! He was backing Obamacare until Tark began getting thousands of dollars in support of his election effort.

    Any way you slice it, Reid is history.

  130. Harry,
    Do us all a favor. Take your full pension, your special health care, and all the millions you stole from us and just ride off into the sunset.
    I'd love to be there when you meet St. Peter!

  131. Why isn't anybody insisting on the most obvious solution? Congress has to mandate that they themselves will fall under the plan, no exceptions. Right now they will be able to keep their current healthcare plan, so they don't really care what we get. Why can't I be allowed to keep my high deductible, low premium policy that already has covered a major surgery with extended hospital stay? It costs me less than the insurance payment for my pick-up.

  132. "Obama wants to cut out all the inefficiencies and waste from medicare. Who runs medicare? The federal government! If they are so good why don't they DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!"

    Excellent stunning point.....

    On hand they are saying that Federal government will do a great job in running everybody's healthcare.

    In the next breath, they say they are going to pay for this new government healthcare program by fixing the current government healthcare program.

    Hmmmmmmmm.....1 + 1 = 3 in ObamaCare.

  133. Republicans are a bunch of inbred redneck hillbillies. What is this crap, keep it the way it is? Is it working? No! We need change. Not more wars.

    Speaking of stupid Republicans, I can't believe how many stupid rep. parents raise a stink about Obama's message to the kids. Has this ever happened with past presidents? Nope. Why? Because majority of Republicans are racists baby-boomer or older generations that are just stupid as the dirt they farm on.

    Grow up or go move to the south with your hero Bush.

  134. Henderson:
    You make me proud... I bet you made your parents proud when you rant: "...are racists baby-boomer or older generations that are just stupid as the dirt they farm on."

    Henderson, you are just another Bush Basher willing to trash anyone who doesn't agree with you bigoted ideas...

  135. HendersonFamily....it is funny that you call people "stupid" and yet you make this ignorant statement: "Has this ever happened with past presidents? Nope"

    Yes it has.

    The Democrats held Congressional hearings and protested Bush's speech to high school students.

    You do seem to be an expert on stupidity.

  136. Reid is full of it. He doesn't support bills where illegals won't get healthcare.

    Section 246 of H.R. 3200 prohibits "undocumented aliens" from receiving health care, but does not prescribe a method for preventing illegal aliens from receiving health care. It goes without saying that illegal aliens will have no difficulty circumventing this rule and receiving taxpayer-funded health care under this act.

    It appears that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi feel that American taxpayers and the American government should trust illegal aliens not to sign up for free health care. Trust is earned not given. It is like the new phrase democrats use for illegal immigrants, undocumented workers is like calling a burglar and unwanted house guest.

    Apparently, we are supposed to trust illegal aliens who have paid thousands of dollars to participate in a criminal conspiracy to get into the country in the first place -- or they have lied on their tourist, temporary worker and student visa applications and broken their visa promises to go home by a stated date. We are suppose to trust the illegal aliens who have lied on their work application to break the law and obtain jobs. Who have stolen U.S. citizens' identities and have participated in criminal counterfeiting conspiracies to obtain jobs. But somehow, according to Nancy Pelosi, these same people wouldn't think of violating a written paragraph in the health care law that says they are ineligible to participate.

    Ronald Reagan coined the phrase, "Trust, but verify." I think his words apply here. Yes, we should trust people as most people will not be lying. But we should verify their identities just to be safe because not everyone will tell the truth.

    One has to love how Democrats lie without any remorse or guilt. They write bills with vague language so that when it fails they can blame somebody else for their stupidity. They'll kowtow to their constituents that they've done their job knowing damn good and well they're liars.

  137. This is the point of Constitutionally protected states' rights. Pass modest Federal reforms to help the minority who have insurance problems and then amend the program through state legislation to meet local needs. Different states have different needs.

  138. I wonder if Simon was singing "bridge over trouble water" to the rat. Care bill won't work for nevada, I hope the same goes for you to!

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