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StumbleReid says reform bill will make health care a right, not privilege
Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Sen. Harry Reid delivers a speech about health insurance reform and the impending health care bill Thursday at UNLV.
Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 | 7:59 p.m.
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Sen. Harry Reid told a capacity crowd at his health care forum at UNLV Thursday evening that when reform legislation is signed into law “no state will have a better deal than the state of Nevada.”
Reid made the case that health legislation would provide insurance to those who don’t have coverage, make insurance more affordable for those who do and help small businesses with the rising premium costs.
“After six decades of waiting and six to eight decades of suffering, in just a matter of weeks health insurance reform will become law,” Reid told more than 500 attendees in the school’s Judy Bayley Theatre. “Truman, John Kennedy, Nixon, Clinton all tried. We’re going to get it done this time.”
He added: “Its about making health care in America a right and not a privilege.”
Both House and Senate versions of the bill would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and engaging in other unpopular practices, while mandating that all Americans buy policies — with subsidies to help low- and middle-income families afford it.
The Senate bill shepherded by Reid would raise taxes on the wealthy, tax the most generous health insurance plans and provide for penalties for those who fail to purchase policies.
Both bills seek to curtail the growth of health care spending, which, left unimpeded, will eventually bankrupt Medicare, the government insurance program for Americans 65 and older.
Reid’s top Republican 2010 challengers, former Nevada Republican Party chairwoman Sue Lowden and attorney Danny Tarkanian, both attacked Reid.
“Harry Reid’s failed policies in Washington are bankrupting Nevada,” Lowden said in a statement. “Voters won’t forget this and will turn their back on Harry Reid come next November.”
The Tea Party Express also used the event to raise funds for an ad campaign against Reid that it hopes to launch in Nevada next week with press conferences in Reno and Las Vegas.
Gov. Jim Gibbons, meanwhile, promised to sue the federal government if the health care legislation becomes law.
“Senator Reid is treating the citizens of Nevada and other states unfairly,” Gibbons said in a press release Thursday evening. “His health care bill is not only ill-conceived, but I believe it is illegal.”
Facing low approval ratings and trailing in public opinion polls, Reid’s campaign is hammering home the idea that Reid’s position as Senate majority leader helps him deliver for his home state. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan Washington newsletter, has named Reid “the most vulnerable incumbent” in 2010.
Though antipathy to Reid runs strong, especially among Republicans, the reservations-only UNLV event, promoted through Reid’s campaign and the Nevada Democratic Party, also served to illustrate that the senator has a rabid base of support.
A few minutes into Reid’s speech, a man rose to interrupt him.
“I have to make a point,” the man said. He was immediately shouted down by the crowd, with one elderly supporter literally attempting to push him back into his seat.
The man was dragged from the room by security. (Party officials cited UNLV’s “no protest” policy. Demonstrations, they said, are limited to a “free speech” zone outside the venue.)
Outside, the event drew about a dozen protesters, half of whom were upset over this week's wild horse roundup in Northern Nevada by the Bureau of Land Management. The others were affiliated with the LaRouche Political Action Committee.
Reid largely stuck to Democratic talking points. He noted that 80 percent of the 750,000 people who filed for bankruptcy last year did so because of health care costs. Seventy percent of them had health insurance, he said.
“No other country in the world has people who file for bankruptcy because of health care costs,” Reid said. “I repeat that doing nothing is not an option.”
In one of the biggest applause lines of the night, Reid also boasted that the legislation would eliminate anti-trust exemptions that the insurance industry has enjoyed for decades. Insurers, he said, would be subject to criminal and civil penalties for fixing prices.
He reached out to seniors, saying that despite Republican claims and widespread ad campaigns, Medicare recipients would not see cuts to their benefits. The legislation would also close the so-called “donut hole” for prescription drugs, Reid said.
When someone shouted, “Who’s going to pay for it,” Reid cited the findings of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and boasted that the bill cuts the deficit by $132 billion over the next decade — and by as much as $1.3 trillion over the next 20 years.
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are prepping to undertake negotiations to reconcile the two versions of the bill.
House leaders have expressed their disappointment that some key measures were dropped in the bill passed by the Senate last month, namely a public option, or government-run health insurance plan.
On Thursday, Reid, who presides over a 60-seat supermajority in the Senate, hinted that sacrifices would have to be made because 60 votes are needed to overcome Republican filibusters, a procedural roadblock to passing any legislation.
“We’re not going to let the perfect stand in the way of the good,” he said. “This bill trades a system of pay more and get less for pay less and get more.”
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People like Dina Palin Titus ruined the bill. No public option = a give away to big insurance.
Yeah...nice going Gried. Paid for with hundreds of millions in bribes to your Dummocrat cohorts. And hundreds of billions of cuts in Medicare and Medicaid despite the lies tonight.
Dirty Dealin' Harry may be the best friend a Cornhusker could have -- how much is your "reform" going to cost Nevada Harry?
Millions, hundreds of millions -- but wait a tick, what, where, how, who's going to pay the hundreds of millions?
Who do YOU think?
: {
If this healthcare thing includes "rights" for even one
ILLEGAL ALIEN or THEIR ANCHOR BABY OFFSPRING
then it's a
PIECE OF GARBAGE.
Will the Honorable Mr Reid be covered under the SAME plan? I think not...
Harry and his friends on the hill do NOT have to abide by ANY rules, or laws that the American people do. But............. WE THE AMERACAN PEOPLE CAN VOTE THEM OUT!!!!! WE also need to change the health care and other benifits for life that Harry and others can still cash in on after being voted out.
Free candy for everyone!
you have rights that are not defended by our congress. Heakth care is a privledge not a right . YOU HAVE TO EARN YOUR RIGHTS!!!!!!! WE do want _THINGS Handed to us. Only Harrys followers want FREE stuff. READ THE CONSTITUTION HARRY
Harry, you dont know how good many will feel when you are arse-kicked out of office. Sayanora you lying piece of garbage.
The congress, of course, has no authority to grant rights. Our rights are guaranteed by the Constitution. If congress can bestow rights, it can revoke them. That simply is unconstitutional. Harry Reid knows this but he has become accustomed to lying to his constituents when it furthers his selfish agenda.
Reid is treating us like ignorant sheep. After last year's election, why wouldn't he?
Harry Reid needs to be held accountable for his criminal activities in a court of law.
Typical speech from another elitist Democrat Senator to the little people! This is not a health care bill. It is a tax bill and a bill to control the behavior of Americans. Real reform would allow for the purchase of insurance across state lines, set up a pool for citizens with pre-exisitng medical conditions and have catastrophic health insurance protection. These bills have none of this, as a matter of fact what is's in the bills? How many Senators or House members have even seen or read the current combined bills? What we have is corruption at the higest level, hopefully voters will remember this in November!
Republicans offer nothing, They only care about the top 2%
America needs to make a constitutional ammendment if they want to make Health Care mandatory and tax the people without their approval. Ask the people and see how they vote.
shuttdlrl
Americans voted the GOP out.
No need to modify the constitution
We have national health care on our military bases. We need to let those who can't afford health care to use the military medical system. Let college students pay off their medical student loans by working at military medical facilities. Make our military medical facilities the best in the world. Health care should be for necessities not beautification. Cosmetic surgeries should be paid for by the individual not the taxpayer. Addictions should be paid for by the companies that encourage these addictions; alcohol, tobacco, pornography, illegal drug monies, etc. It is not the taxpayers duty to pay for addictions.
shuttdlrl
'He added: "Its about making health care in America a right and not a privilege."'
___
What utter crap. A "right" you will be forced to buy from private for-profit companies?
"Health care is a right? Where is that stated in the constitution?"
____
Where is it stated in the Constitution that police, fire, product safety protection etc is a "Right"?
YOU are one of the know-nothings.
So a guy got thrown out for speaking his mind then the mob cheers the fact?
Hey losers in attendance you should be ashamed for trampling on free speech.
Where with in the Constitution of the United States is it written that the Rights of the American Citizen are to be given to National Citizens with countries of origin from outside of the United States of America?
Where in our Constitution of the United States of America does it state that non-citizens of the United States won't have to pay for Health Care as the United States Citizens will foot the bill for all non-citizens who are currently breaking Federal Immigration Laws by living in our country illegally?
Where does it state in the Constitution of the United States that the American Citizens will foot the bill to provide interpretors at all medical facilities for non-citizens who are in our country breaking federal immigration laws but can't understand what American doctors would have to tell them as they recieve free health care?
Where is it written that providing American Rights to illegal aliens is written in our Constitution of the United States?
Harry, by passing this Health Care bill you are not upholding the laws as written within the Constitution of the United States of America.
Harry, not upholding written federal laws is the same as breaking federal laws that are written and are currently on the books.
You should be charged with these federal crimes and voted out of office.
I don't need an idiot like Harry Reid to tell me what's best for me and my family. I'm smart enough to figure that out for myself. I expect Harry Reid to tend to the needs of our State which at the moment are jobs and economic diversity. You are going DOWN next election Reid...
Once again the effects of too many hits to the head in his younger days.
Nick, my wife and I attended the forumn. Though we both work for government agencies, and one a healthcare agency,we lean toward the conservative side. Your comments about the Republicans are off base. Perhaps you should have taken the time to attend the presentation before you blast your concrete liberal comments off. The reform itself was an accomplishment considering the vast two party system we now call the US Government.
Harry Reid you are ONE SICK PUPPY.
1) I work real hard for my $$$
2) I work out at the health club to stay fit
3) I eat right and don't smoke
You want to reward the lazy, fat, mooching individuals on my back????
They call it a right? You arrogant ** Harry.
Wait till November Harry Greid, you corrupt dirtbag. We will put some people into office that will repeal that piece of garbage and ram it down your thoat.
See the wingnuts are out in force.
How do you people live with yourselves?
Reid's BLUNDER is not about health CARE is is about Health INSURANCE
Reid's bill will mean compulsory conscript of millions to fatten the insurers roll as set by the Feds, yet
Reid's bill will leave 28 million still without insurance
Harry,
When will you and progressives learn that no one can have a "right" to the efforts of someone else. Doctors spend substantial portions of their lives learning how to practice medicine, how can anyone walk up to a doctor and say, "I know you did all the work and spent all the years studying and that put your life on hold for 12 years to become a doctor, now give ME the result of what you did, I'm entitled to the fruit of your efforts. You owe me."
We are born with a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; not the right the make someone else sustain our lives for us.
If healthcare is a right, why don't the people from the 3rd world come to the US and sue us for not providing them their "right" to healthcare?
REJCO 100
"Denied that right"? Get off your lazy fat butt and pay your share
virago81, we have illegals from third world countries already here breaking federal immigration laws and the Senate has written Amendments into the bill for citizens to cover their exspenses so while they are breaking federal laws they can be covered with health care.
Our Constitution does not give rights to citizens from other countries, unless this health care bill is written so when the illegals are signing up for free health care in order for them to benefit from the rights the health care bill offers to our citizens this bill includes an amendment that gives all illegals the right to American citizenship.
How else can a national from another country get the rights of an American citizen? They themselves have got to become citizens.
Senator Reid the reason Truman, Kennedy, Nixon and Clinton couldn't get it "DONE" was because the "People" did not want IT...
to bad you don't realize that you serve the masses not your own desires.... This bill absolutely does nothing to help the cost problem...
Senator Reid tell me what happens when everyone drops their costly insurance policies (average $4,000 a year) and opts to pay the penalties (average $700 a year)? So why carry insurance at all... just wait until you need it and the companies or government will have to supply it.... you guys have no sense of business.. this stinks
and so did the corn-huskers bribe....
Our most precious "right" is the right to vote.
To vote people out of office who use OUR money to bribe others in passing atrocious laws. Bribes and backroom deals are NO way to pass laws but Gried has shown that's his way of doing things.
It's going to take more than 500 hand-picked clappers to get re-elected....a lot more....
Rights and obligations are different but sometimes get blurred by people trying to win the mob.
It's a fact when you are a fan of something your mind is almost impossible to change. The Dems and Repubs are going to be who they are so I won't try to argue based on party, especially like Nick.
No matter what party you are with, let me describe a right and obligation:
A right happens at birth and they are items such as freedom from ownership (preventing slavery and indentured servilities), freedom of equality (preventing discrimination of birth and exclusion from public capacities), freedom to make legal choices (what to eat, what to wear etc), freedom to not have others prevent you from your freedoms (preventing others from preventing you from having your freedoms like not having a nuclear plant cause you to have cancer) and similar items. They call these inalienable rights. Unfortunately getting insurance to help pay for medical costs for lifestyle choices or genetics isn't a right...
Obligations are keeping your blood pressure low, self medicating so you don't die, giving your children a good child rearing (imagine if this was a right how many parents would be in jail), insuring yourself, paying your bills, honoring your promises, being a good Samaritan, brushing your teeth, not burning yourself with coffee, etc"
There are combo rights and obligations. Child support is one of them. The right is for the child to be able to live. The obligation is for the parent to provide it. Governments will pass the obligations to parents as they aren't obligated to raise others kids. The amount of the child support is determined by ones income to how much they are obligated to pay. You can be thrown into jail for not paying because you are stepping on your child's right and the government deems this punishable if it covers this right. It's not illegal to pay less than another parent because your obligation is based on reasonable care based on income and lifestyle.
Never before have we tried to blur an obligation into a right like this. Car insurance isn't a right, but is a required obligation if one drives. If you don't drive or have a car you don't have car insurance, the government doesn't tax you for car insurance for living. If you chose to not have insurance and drive you will only be fined and given citations until you harm someone else stepping on their rights which at time you will be more severely punished for not living up to your obligation.
All you right wing cry babies are never satified.Harry Reid, good for you. The War mongers are the reason there are more Democrats in now. They still will have the majority for a long time.
The reason Democrats are in power is because Republicans embraced big government and proved to everyone that it doesn't work, again.
rejco,
Healthcare is not a right, just like you don't have a right to not get a cold, and you don't have a right to levitate in defiance of gravity.
You do not have a right to take from others by force and you do not have a right against nature itself.
Whoa! Is this like one of those Tea Parties?
Rejco,
Then eliminate the national science foundation that uses taxpayer dollars to fund some medical research.
Btw, there are lots of ways we steal from the poor and give to the rich. Sadly, the left supports almost everyone one of those policies.
That's not true at all. Law requires that hospitals provide emergency medical care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
You seemed to have health care and health insurance confused. Everyone has access to health care, not everyone has access to health insurance.
The problem is cost and the high cost has occurred because of silly government laws. More government laws will only add to that expense, whether it is paid at the doctors office, by insurance premiums, or in taxes.
Pat,
If you believe that EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, you are REALLY in need of a break from that deprivat...er,
"think Tank" of yours! COME OUT FOR AIR!!!
Don't you pay ANY attention to REALITY?
Please, Pat. READ. Look around. Listen to the health care/health insurance HORROR STORIES.
Are you blind, ignorant, or just so beholden to your very narrow political spectrum that you SIMPLY DO NOT CARE?
B.T.W., Pat,
How is that "Emergency Room Medical Plan" working out for the couple that is suing UMC because they were REFUSED CARE for the woman and their unborn child? Hmmmmm?
HEALTH CARE IS NOT A RIGHT!!
Worst Majority Leader in U.S. history.
Just because everyone has access to health care doesn't mean they are going to take advantage of it. Some people's priorities are somewhere else and they don't pay attention to their own health or the health of their baby.
And then there are those people who should not reproduce because they are incapable of taking care of themselves more less taking care of a baby.
jSpence...WAAAAAA!
Michael...Trent Lott.
Larry.....WWSD?
gregory: Good Ole Boy Trent didn't write checks that are certain to bounce. Harry "Shovel Ready" Reid only cares about one job...his own.
Reid says reform bill will make health care a right, not privilege.
Harry thinks that he is important enough that he can rewrite the Constitution of the United States.
Maybe this is one of the reasons that our arrogant Senator is down in the polls and may not be re elected...
Sorry but the health care bill doesn't go nearly as far as it should.
It should eliminate health insurance companies altogether.
Right... The Obama health care bill didn't go nearly as far as it should have. It should have made it straight over to the trash can.
It is not the health insurance providers fault that some people do not have any priorities...
Gmag,
Not all hospitals are smartly managed or run with competent staff. No amount of government management will change that...especially at a already government managed hospital.
PS, there will always be horrible anecdotal stories. For everyone one you find wrong with semi private over regulated health care in America, I can find one for the mismanaged government run healthcare in England, or any other country. No system is perfect. They all have trade offs.
I think the trade offs for universal healthcare are far to expensive and in the long run, damaging to our ability to lift people out of poverty and solve future problems - including eliminating many diseases we do not have the technology to tackle today. To me, more government management in health care and in the rest of the economy will result in more people needlessly dying than in our current mismanaged and overregulated system.
You guys are idiots ...it's about access to health care at reasonable prices.
What about the Unions? They have some of the biggest benefits plans. Will they pay through the nose for it?
I love the title of the article:
"Reid says reform bill will make health care a right, not privilege"
I wonder what he will "MAKE" a right next. Will internet service be a right? Will cars become a right? Will own a boat become a right or an xbox360?
Seriously, when does it end and when are people expected to work and earn things?
Alternate photo caption:
Harry the "Ruse" Reid captured fleecing the public into believing his tax bill will reform a corrupt health care industry at a recent public appearance at UNLV.
: {
tvegas: walls are made to put Socialists like you up against. Do you want a blindfold?
mikegino:
Why don't you go and find some Dems or socialists and try that out.
See we have to all agree with you, because that is what is all about. Agreeing with you.
Your way or the highway. Right! Right Winger!
You are on the wrong side of history!
Freedom of speech is a two way street.
Elections have consequences. You don't like the way things are going, get politically active.
Don't espouse veiled internet threats.
I know you are probably a tough guy, that sleeps with a fire-arm, waiting for someone to break-in.
Wooooooo You are Scary!
You wouldn't last two minutes in bar room brawl.
You are such a tool for the right wing!
So, you say you like cheeseburgers and fries? You'd also enjoy a large peperoni pizza? Tough! Wait until your cholesterol count denies you the right to eat what you want. Should 85% of the People who are satisfied with their current health care systems be forced to pay for the 15% who are not? Whatever happened to democracy, majority rule?
You put a blindfold on a Liberal, spin him around three times and see if he can stick his tail up/on a donkey's rear end.
If you can't find a donkey, I bet the old dogg would volunteer for the job...
I was at the rally and I am fired up for this bill to become law. Thank you Senator Reid.
Since we are in a Center Left country now, The politics are moving in my direction, but not far enough to the left.
I want to see more movement to the left.
I want to see more corporations pay their fair share.
I want to see more Big Wall street banks pay their fair share.
Big Pharma and the insurance companies have to pay more.
Big Media, also has to pay more.
There is way to much Greed in this country and wages are too low.
Our schools are failing and need to be over-hauled.
Citizens should live with dignity, and get fair shake.
How radical!
I am leftist liberal, and I have a right to say so.
When I don't have a right to free speech, then I live in a non-democratic country.
I have to right my point of view, and I don't care what Michael Savage, or Rush Limbaugh thinks of me.
I don't care what LarryVegas sez about me either.
He can say what he wants, and more power to him.
He is not going to change my mind, I am not going to change his. This is the way it is, and I am OK with that.
Anybody who disagrees with me I don't care and it is their right.
So, all you right wingers out there realize that my viewpoint is what America is all about.
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Thought are in the First Amendment.
So, if you don't like it, I have six words for you.
America Love It or Leave It!
Thank you Senior Senator Reid. Even though i am not a citizen, I now know senior Reid is here to protect my rights. Does anyone know if Senior Reid's new FREE Health care plan will cover cosmetic surgery. I was thinking a little breast augmentation for my wife, who speak little english but maybe this might help her open a few doors for her .
We already have some kind of mandated health care.Under Federal Law,when you are employed for a certain amount of hours you are eligible for health care benefits.But it is not free. Your employer pays for it (or you co-pay).
Health care is neither a right nor a privilege.The truth is somebody has to pay for it.What health care should be is affordable.I would only hope that our elected leaders would study other countries that have universal health care and provide affordable health care system that can exist with private health industry.
Does anyone else find it disgusting that Senator Reid chose to have his town hall meeting at a reservations-only UNLV event? Party officials cited UNLV's "no protest" policy as justification for removing someone for speaking out. Well that explains it, if you want to continue to ignore your constituents but also give the appearance that you're listening what better place than UNLV.
Meanwhile Senator Ensign is holding a town hall at the Summerlin Library and it's been announced on the news all week. Go figure.
I think dingy harry and his lacke'ies went overboard on this one. A few hundred party hack's and sniveling snycophants who already give dingy harry their grovleing servitude coudnt give 5 minutes to a lone harranguer on state and taxpayer funded property. Will I guess unlv as always been the socialist elite playground for the likes of the worst of the worst. What could dingy have to say that anyone with half a brain no what he was going to say. To me thats like going to the dump to see if thier's garbage and it smells. Dingy and cornies you smell bad!
Worst Majority Leader in U.S. history.
According to Reid everyone has a right to health care but not everyone has a right to criticize his politics or to attend his propaganda session.
no one making comments here even mentioned why Harry Reid would sneak a No Repeal, No amendment clause into His version of the Senate Bill forbiding the American people or Congress from ever changing it if it ever gets signed into law. Section 3403 This article can be read in its entirety in the Washington Examiner 12/23/09.
Hey Reid do us all a favor and just quit now. you have no backbone and are bad for Nevadans. please resign now and at least your last act in office would be honorable. you are the worst senator in USA history.
If this particular version of "healthcare reform" is so good, why don't the members of Congress put themselves in the package and drop their present fat cat, all inclusive, "free lunch" healthcare plan? Along with that, cancel their "retirement for life" plan and put themselves in a 401(k) situation and save up their own retirement pots, like the rest of us have to do? How about denying them the ability to vote themselves raises, while we are at it? Never happen; these people are a professional elite, elevated above and isolated from their constituents. AND WE LET IT HAPPEN!! The only power "we the people" have is our vote. VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS!
Do the whole nation a favor, Nevada and vote out ol' Harry Reid. He's outlived his time and is so steeped in party politics and corruption that he is incapable of the kind of governance this country needs today.
The health care debate has become so completely politicized, it's barely recognizable for what it once was.
We have a moral mandate, or we lack morals.
Everyone should have access to basic, available health care, as a matter of principle.
Anything less means we haven't evolved as far as we'd thought.
The Health Care in Las Vegas on a one to ten scale is about a three. I can't understand half the Dr's in this town anyway.