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Friday, March 19, 2010 | 5:17 p.m.
Shelley Berkley
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Shelley Berkley has become the latest Democrat to announce she will be voting for the health care bill.
Berkley's support wasn't seriously in doubt, as she has been a proponent of health care reform and said she wouldn't let the shortcomings of the bill stop her from supporting it.
Yet her reluctance to add her name to the yes column drew phone calls this week from two Obama administration cabinet secretaries to shore up her support.
She also received a phone call on Thursday from President Barack Obama.
Berkley, seeking a seventh term this fall, represents a largely Democratic Las Vegas district.
I used to like Rep. Berkley. This news is disappointing.
Bye Bye Shelley, it's back to private life for you..
ShelleyYou votes are for illegal aliens to become citizens and take more jobs away from American Citizens, shameful. Now you are for the worst and most expensive bill ever. I can't say that I've enjoyed you representing our state cause you sure haven't been doing any thing to better the citizens lives. I hear Mexico is looking for some fresh politicians, take a chance.
This is supposed to be news?
She's been a pinko all her life.
Wah, Republicans can go cry in their beers cuz this healthcare reform will be passed. Go cry somewhere else.
Did anyone ever think for a moment that she would not walk in step with Obama on this? They were ALL undecided because they didn't want to hear any grief until the last minute. I can see it now: Dina's and Shelly's Kosher Cupcake Emporium.
They are undecided until the Big Skinny Guy tells them what THEY will receive for their vote.
Couldn't expect anything else from comrade Berkley.
Looks like Shelley was bribed with Pelosi's botox. Won't help her because we will vote against her and she'll be out in November.
Strange to see all three Democrats in Congress give up their seats for Obama and Pelosi. Do they really think their base will show up in November? They are either still out of work, under employed, or have moved for greener pastures.
Berkeley and Titus are as doomed as harry and his baby boy.
Thank you, Rep. Berkley!
With both of Nevada's common sense Democratic representatives, Berkley and Titus, voting for HCR their support will be enough to get the bill passed.
This is a huge win for all Americans, President Obama and the Democratic Party who will get this done without any help from the Party of NO.
Sunday will be a great day for our state and the nation!
Thank you for your support.
Does John Ensign have a position on this bill?
...Does anybody care?
Didn't think so.
Yup, Berkley could be in trouble in November. Much in the same way that the St. Louis Rams could win the Super Bowl.
SB was out to lunch on this obscure issue since it has nothing to do with either Israel or Veterans.
anonymous...
Too funny!
Like the Haters would vote for Shelly anyway. Ha!
Gee I sure hope the Teabaggers don't get upset by all this.
Did I pay for that screwed up facelift she has?
hey doc holliday,
congress can pass this and the president can sign it. the good news is that the united states supreme court can find it all unconstitutional.
thank god for george bush and his picks to the high court.
Thank you Rep. Berkley for not allowing the ignorance of a minority to influence your vote.
HCR will NOT result in a government takeover of healthcare, and will NOT add a penny to the debt (in fact, it raises more money than it spends). I challenge any of you teabaggers to provide evidence to the contrary.
MS Shelly Berkley
You said the your voting YES wouldn't let the shortcomings of the bill stop your from supporting it. Why would it not be better to think it is best and a go starting point.
Would it not be better to just start over and get the Republicans involved when you start over. Going in step to fix the Health Care program.
Will you also tell use what you are getting to vote yes. What are the Obama staff and Congress offered you for your vote. Since you are so up front and thinking hard about your district's people. I hope you are ready to come back and live full time in NV returning to your former career field before your last election because so would be better off just to change your mind and not run for reelection for Nov. don't expect to Win reelection after this you have help destroy the America you grow up in.
Thank You for being are former Congresswomen District 1 for the State of Nevada.
It's nice to know that Shelley Berkley is actually listening to her constituents. She has my vote!
Howard Dean: Health Care Bill 'Bigger Bailout for the Insurance Industry Than AIG'
Top Democrat Urges Lawmakers to Kill the Bill and Start Over
"This is a bigger bailout for the insurance industry than AIG," former Democratic National Committee chairman and medical doctor Howard Dean told "Good Morning America's" George Stephanopoulos today. "A very small number of people are going to get any insurance at all, until 2014, if the bill works.
"This is an insurance company's dream, this bill," Dean continued. "This is the Washington scramble, and I think it's ill-advised."
Dean sent shockwaves when he said Tuesday in an interview with Vermont Public Radio that the removal of the Medicare buy-in means Democrats should just kill the health care bill and start over.
"This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate," Dean said.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HealthCare/how...
Was there ever a question as to whether or not she would support the bill?
She's just another lapdog willing to walk the plank for Obama!
I don't think I've ever looked forward to elections as much as I do right now.
Anxious CEOs criticize inclusion of any public option in healthcare reform bill
Any kind of government-run health insurance program would lead to higher costs for employers, corporate executives representing a big-business group said Wednesday.
The Business Roundtable, an alliance of corporate CEOs, criticized the public option in a conference call with reporters as congressional Democratic leaders intensified their push to include a government plan in their healthcare reform bills.
"We're here to voice our strong opposition," said John Castellani, the president of the Roundtable.
Although the health insurance industry's opposition to the public option has received the most attention, business and healthcare groups are practically unanimous in their opposition and have been since the beginning of the debate.
Reid's proposed compromise did not satisfy business and insurance groups. Perez said it would take a "miracle" for Congress to devise a form of public option that corporate America could support.
Verizon Communications Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg, who chairs the Business Roundtable, said the group's members would keep pushing their agenda. "We don't believe the process is over -- far from it," he said. "We're going to start with this call and we'll go from here."
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/65161-...
Years ago the GOP fought tooth and nail against another Democratic plan and lost that battle too: Social Security passed under FDR with very little GOP support.
SS has kept millions from falling into poverty and was also labeled as an end-of -the-world-as-we-know-it socialist plot by the rethugs. It's performed as advertised and so will Obama's HCR.
Great time to be an American and a Democrat! Thank you, Mr. President!
From Americablog:
If health-care reform finally staggers across the finish line, it will be because President Obama and congressional Democrats recognized -- at long last -- the truth that has been staring them in the face for more than a year: They'll be better off politically if they just try their best to do the right thing.
No matter what the Democrats attempt or how they go about it, Republicans are going to complain, obstruct and attack. That's the inescapable lesson from this whole exercise, and it's hard to fathom why it took so long to sink in. The Democrats looked ridiculous, sitting around the campfire and singing "Kumbaya" while the opposition was out in the forest whittling spears and arrows.
You have to admire the GOP's chutzpah. George W. Bush governed like a steamroller as he enacted his radical initiatives -- massive tax cuts, a huge shift in the balance between privacy and security, an unprecedented "big government" takeover of education policy, an expensive and unfunded Medicare prescription drug program.
But the moment the Republicans were out of power, they discovered a moral imperative for the majority party to do everything in a bipartisan fashion.
Stuart & Robert Wyman-Cahall
Las Vegas, NV 89142
Shelley! No soup for you. Enjoy your last 10 months in office.
Obama has 2 and a half years to make us forget. Shelley and Titus don't have that much time.
Hey berkley i get to vote your butt out of office this november.....
THANK YOU SHELLEY, ANOTHER GREAT DEMOCRAT.
We will vote every republican crook OUT,
in November.
They are making up new rules to get this through. This isn't how a bill is supposed to get through. I guess it's ok to subvert the rules as long as it's something you really want. All these democrats are doing what they railed against a short time ago.
It's not the mean ol republicans that are stopping it up it's fellow democrats. Did you forget that democrats have a big majority in the House and had up till a couple months ago a super majority in the Senate and still didn't get it done.
Don't forget the health plan doesn't start for four years but the taxes start right away. A lot of you are morons for cheering this on. What sheep. You'll keep on bleeting while they lead you to get sheared and then you'll be "what happened?" Bunch of schmucks.
Teamster- I don't know what you're happy about. You're about to get a big ol tax on your cadillac union health plan if this passes. LOL
"Don't forget the health plan doesn't start for four years but the taxes start right away. "
Don't forget that republican operatives are spreading disinformation, as usual...
"Although some of the provisions in the reform bill won't be implemented immediately, here's what Democrats say would go into effect in the first year after passage:"
"Eliminating caps: If you buy a policy, a health care company will not be able to place a lifetime -- or annual -- cap on how much they will cover. This is will be especially important for those diagnosed with serious illnesses, such as cancer, who face steep medical bills."
"Pre-existing conditions: The Senate bill includes $5 billion in immediate support to provide temporary coverage to uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions. The money would help you until the new health care exchanges in the Senate bill are put into effect in 2014."
"Children and pre-existing conditions: Another thing that's going to be very important, CNN Senior Political Analyst Gloria Borger said, is that there will be no exclusion of children with pre-existing conditions."
"Dependent children: Your children will be covered until the age of 26."
"Children who are over 21 and may not have a job that pays their health insurance can still be on your policy," Borger said. "That's very important to a lot of families."
"Small business tax credits: Those tax credits are aimed at helping small businesses buy health insurance for their employees. Tax credits of up to 50 percent of premiums will be available to firms that offer coverage, according to the Senate's plan."
"Preventive care: All new insurance plans, Obama said, will be required to offer free preventive care in order to "catch preventable illnesses and diseases on the front end."
"Appeals process: A new independent appeals process will be set up for those who feel that they were unfairly denied a claim by their insurance company."
"Help for seniors: If you fall into the Medicare Part D Drug Benefit coverage gap, dubbed the "donut hole," you will receive $250 to help pay for prescriptions."
"They are making up new rules to get this through. "
No they aren't. NOTHING the Dems are doing to pass health care reform is new, and ever procedure has been used several times in the past, by both parties.
"It's not the mean ol republicans that are stopping it up it's fellow democrats. Did you forget that democrats have a big majority in the House and had up till a couple months ago a super majority in the Senate and still didn't get it done."
That's because the Dems have a big tent, Brian. We have both Russ Feingold and Ben Nelson, and those two rarely see eye-to-eye. Dems don't just blindly follow the leader, either.
I'll also remind you that Democrats tried for six months or so to hammer out a compromise with republicans in committees. I bet you don't know what the Gang of Six was, but you should really look it up.
This is the largest tax bill in history," the Republican leader fumed. The reform "is unjust, unworkable, stupidly drafted and wastefully financed."
And that wasn't all. This "cruel hoax," he said, this "folly" of "bungling and waste," compared poorly to the "much less expensive" and "practical measures" favored by the Republicans.
"We must repeal," the GOP leader argued. "The Republican Party is pledged to do this."
That was Republican presidential nominee Alf Landon in a September 1936 campaign speech. He based his bid for the White House on repealing Social Security.
*******************
Dana Milbank, today's WAPO
Berkley is another vote to turn a first class health care system into third world status. Taxes will be going up on everyone, care will decrease and outcomes will be the worse for it. Doctors and nurses will be leaving medicine and they will not be replaced as the schools cannot produce enough now.
I do hope she has had all of the plastic surgery she needs, it's not covered in the new health care bill.
The dishonor that this brings to her and her ILK will be legendary.
Don't forget that this will be the most massive job loss bill in history. Caterpillar said this bill will cost them an extra $100 million in the first year alone. What a nice blow to a company that already covers prescription drugs for 40,000 retirees. This bill will force job loss all over the country for massive corporations and small business alike who will simply choose to lower wages and employ less workers in order to comply with this government takeover of health care.
This on the heels of a recession is ridiculous.
Believing that this would go to the Supreme Court is a pipe dream. Seriously, you Republican pansies need to get over yourselves. You forced war down our throats, now we force this down your throats. You'll take it and like it and i guarantee that you are all talk when it comes to voting. Those Democratic candidates won't lose their seats because Repubes are all talk and no action.
Democrat Sheely Berkley's arrogance to ignore her constieunts in CD-1 will not go unnoticed. I will do everything I can to unseat this horribile representative to our district.
Folks, we can vote her out of office! We do not hacve to settle for this miseribile woman that is forcing us into her version of Socialism. Let's join together and get rid of our cancer aka Shelly Berkley!
Tea Party next Saturday! TeaPartyExpress.com
AND, we shouldn't stop there. Let's rid our city of ALL Democrats in November!
THANK YOU Shelley for voting in favor of this bill. One tweet I saw said this: "A bunch of Democrats lost their seats in 1966 b/c they voted for Medicare. I'm guessing they don't regret it." But you won't have to worry about any of that. Not only won't you regret doing what's right for America, but you won't lose anything either because we've got your back. Go Shelley 2012!
Shelly Berkley can consider her seat vulnerible after this ignorant move.
Dessertsun said "Democrat Sheely Berkley's arrogance to ignore her constieunts in CD-1 will not go unnoticed. I will do everything I can to unseat this horribile representative to our district."
I'll be doing everything I can to see her reelected as she listened to THIS constituent. I think she's done a splendid job for this district and state.
Thank you Shelley for standing up against the misinformed and fear mongerers and for America's well being and future.
Your oppenents have taken a page out of the history book when the same fear mongering was used to try to defeat Social Security, Medicare and the Women and Civil Rights legislation. Since the New Deal they have predicted these progressive social reforms will turn us to Socialism. How sad. They only proved that each generation has its "Know Nothing Party" and its own lunatic fringe. They demonstrate little understanding of our nation's rich history.
Instead of standing with the greedy insurance companies your vote will help millions now uninsured. It will provide seniors in the donut hole some relief. Parents denied coverage for their children with preexisting medical conditions can be helped and the annual and life time caps will be removed. Your vote will prevent us from being denied coverage when we paid our premiums and became ill. It will assist small businesses to afford to cover their employees and become more competitive. They no longer will have to choose between providing wage increases or health care. It lowers the deficit in the long term. It levels the playing field by providing similar choice through an exchange of insurances now available to Congress. It will permit 26 year olds to be covered under their parents' plans.
We know the bill is not perfect, but when Social Security and Medicare was first legislated it had their shortcomings. Over time these social services were improved.
You stand on the right side of history and for that your consituents will work hard to return you to office. You can count on that.
Thank you so much Dina and Shelley, as always, you have my vote!
Hey DessertSun,
Will you be bringing the after dinner treats to the tea party? It sounds like you know a lot about sugary confections.
Thank you Shelley for representing us, the people, and not the insurance companies. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Representative Shelley for standing up for what is right for the American people and the people in your district. As far as the "no" party go to one of your "rich" insurance companies and "cry" with them. We will show you in November who is the leader, and guess what it's not the Republicans and certainly not the Tea Party. Go Democrats and personally, I love COFFEE.
And personally, I'd like to debate DessertSun on the issues. Sounds like a poor loser.
I thank you Shelly and my wife and daughter thank you.
Because of health insurance reform legislation, 32,000,000 Americans will gain health coverage.
Right now
Women between 55 and 64 lose their coverage when older husbands retire and move from employer-based coverage to Medicare.
In the past 6 months, the number of women losing health insurance as a result of their own job loss has increased by 45%.
2+ million women have lost their health insurance since the recession began due to their own or spouse's job loss
28% of young women with no health coverage.
"thank god for george bush and his picks to the high court."
Yea! Thank the court for giving Corporations the power to buy as many politicians as they can. All we need is Tort Reform now to give them more power than God.
What is funny is the Republicans all yell and scream Freedom and Liberty, yet they support these decisions and laws that take away more and more of our freedoms.
I really don't understand how "conservative" these days means no privacy, Big Corporations and super wealthy. Nothing for the average middle class guy. And they talk the ignorant into voting against themselves for these Republican "values".
Shelly and Titus are voting the way the majority of their constituents want them to. The majority voted them in, just for days like this. The majority will stand by them again.
Healthcare is just basic. America has fallen way behind in the world on Healthcare and Education. The Republicans that scream the loudest had NO solutions to offer for all those years we gave them control. Now they still offer no solutions, and when the Dems finally take over and actually do something, All the Republicans can do is yell a bunch on non-truthes and make threats.
All the naysayers should have done something when they had a chance. We went along with you when you lied to us about WMD's and Iraq. We went along when you cried that Wall Street going broke would end the world. You were wrong then and your wrong now to not give this a chance.
I love the slap in the face to all the crybaby Repubes. It's a beautiful day in Nevada with all of your awesome Democratic leadership. Thank you for voting and listening to the REAL constituents.
Thanks Representative Berkley for supporting this imperfect yet better than nothing legislation. It is a good first step in a series of reforms.
One day will we look at this issue and wonder why we it wasn't done earlier !
It will save lives and alleviate human suffering and is a demonstrative display of government doing something for the people.
I am against MOST government intervention but I do feel this issue is different and further measures should be taken because the insurance industry WILL find ways around the law.
Every time the Republicans are in charge they do NOTHING to reform health care. Then when the Democrats try to DO something they just seem to stand in the way and are really insincere because they could care less.
My pledge. I will switch from Independent to Democrat NEXT week if it passes. The Republicans have become TOO ideological and offer NO REAL solutions to any of todays problems. They will become obsolete unless they change their tune. What do they have to run on in positive terms ???
Glad to see Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus and Harry Reid standing up for Health Reform when it counts. We need more Representatives like them willing to put the needs of their constituents first and do whats best for Nevada and America. It's amazing how the Republican Representatives here, Ensign and Heller can watch our young men and women go to war to fight for a country they believe in and give their lives without blinking while they sit on their hands and watch death after death due to a broken Health Care System and when they have a chance to do something about it, won't. At least the ladies and the old man have some balls. Time to replace Ensign and Heller with Representatives that have the American People and our progress at heart. When I met Senator Ensign, I really believed he had human compassion after listening to how good he was with a little boy at his breakfast. I have been waiting for a long time now for that compassion to come forward and to see him stand up like a man and pass health Reform for us leading his party to do something good for mankind. I hope God touches his heart before to late. Health Reform is going to pass with or without Heller and Ensign. I just hope they stand with Nevada and the American People and do us proud like Shelley, Dina, and Harry have.
Well Titus, Berkley and Reid are gone. When over 65% of Americans say no to THIS health care reform and they and others do not listen then they are out. It is not their decision whether to say yes or no it is our decision and we decided no. They by law, should take OUR decision and vote the way WE the people want it done. It doesn't matter if you are a Dem or Rep if you do not listen to WE THE PEOPLE, then you will be voted out. And for all of you that say we don't want health care reform, then you also have not been listening to WE THE PEOPLE, WE DO WANT health care reform just not what they are thrusting down our throats!! We are setting up OUR country for failure. Once that bill is past the rich will never pay for this, we the people will by paying higher prices for the big companies products. If it will cost Caterpillar. $100 M more for employee's insurance then they will raise the price of their machines which in turn will raise the prices of the companies who buy the machines. So now for instance that house built by the machines has risen in price. Or the farmer who plants his crops, all companies will be raising their prices and then we the tax payers will be paying for the big or small companies insurance not them. And the government will hire 16,500 new IRS agents to monitor us to make sure we buy insurance that is acceptable to the government. How are they going to monitor us? Bank accounts, credit reports, what? . Next is amenesty for the illegals per Obama. Thats just great. Think about it people!
Wow, you sure have a chip on your shoulder. The reason that there are members of Congress is because "We the People" cannot vote with common sense most of the time. "We the People" like to vote stupidly and cannot comprehend the majority of what Congress and the President are laying out there. Maybe if the majority of "We the People" got a college education, we would understand the reason that only a select few people can be a part of the House and Senate. Get over yourselves and get educated... and STOP WHINING!!!!
November 2, 2010 WE have the power to fire Democrat Shelly Berkley. Let's show her that our votes will no longer being taken for granted!
I find it ridicules the people that say "Back to private life" or "Time to rid ourselves of Democrats" or "Berkley will loose her seat".
So what's the problem? You just haven't been trying so far?
They all wanted their candidate to win but they couldn't. I voted for Rep. Berkley (a very nice lady), Sen. Reid (also a good person) and Rep. Titus (who I haven't meet yet, but hope to). No votes are taken for granted. Our representatives earned the votes they received and were elected by the people of Nevada.
Face it. You didn't scare them out of doing the right thing and voting the way they thought best.
So now it's time to get rid of the people that didn't vote the way you wanted and elect more representatives of integrity... Like Sen. Ensign and Gov Gibbons?
Wow wherehasmycountrygone, did you make up those numbers yourself or did you get them straight from the AM radio nut-jobs? I know the answer because you're saying verbatim what the nut-jobs tell you.
The Gallup poll has it at 45% Favor, 48% Oppose Obama Healthcare Plan.
Most of those people only hear the negative ads and the fear spreading. And people are afraid. It's time to stop living in fear.
Is it going to solve ALL of our problems? No.
Will it work the way it's supposed to? I hope so, but I can't say for sure.
Will things get worse if we do nothing? Damn straight!
And that dear friends is why the Democratic party has the majority in both houses and is in the White House. The Republican party spent 8 years doing nothing.
And things got worse.
On the Eve of this historic vote to pass Health Care. We look to the past at other very controversial bills. Where would we be today without Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Civil Rights to name a few. With the passing of this Health Care Bill we are leaving our children Legacy. Which only history will dictate how smart we were!
"With the passing of this Health Care Bill we are leaving our children Legacy"
Some legacy......add this explosion of government spending add in Medicare and Social Security with together have a combined over $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities.
Chug chang....on that credit card that our children will have to pay off.
I doubt that a child born today will when they retire get any benefits close to what people are getting today.
We are ensuring that are children are going to have to work much harder and longer for much less.
Thanks to Reid and Titus and Berkley.
May God have mercy on their souls.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment contained a personal attack.