Sen. Baucus on Obamacare: "a huge train wreck coming"

[Redfairen]

A senior Democratic senator who helped write President Barack Obama's health care law stunned administration officials Wednesday, saying openly he thinks it's headed for a "train wreck."

"I just see a huge train wreck coming down," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., told Obama's health care chief during a routine budget hearing that suddenly turned tense.

.......

Normally low-key and supportive, Baucus challenged Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at Wednesday's hearing.

He said he's "very concerned" that new health insurance marketplaces for consumers and small businesses will not open on time in every state, and that if they do, they might just flop because residents don't have the information they need to make choices.

"The administration's public information campaign on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act deserves a failing grade," he told Sebelius. "You need to fix this."

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2013/04/17/top-dem-sees-train-wreck-for-obama-health-law

[GeorgeGist]

1. 'Affordable' is a bad joke.

[bigdarryl]

2. I'm sick of these Corporate Dems acting and sounding like rethugs

[benld74]

3. new health insurance marketplaces for consumers will not open in time!???

It is up to the states to either do it themselves or let the gubmint do it. HArd thing to decide for some,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[ladjf]

4. Baucus is a "train wreck" that has already happened. nt

[limpyhobbler]

5. Obamacare is too complicated.

We need a government health plan open for anybody and based on ability to pay.

Should be simple.

The only reason we got that complicated piece of crap is to protect the money and power of the private insurance and health industries. Max Baucus is a whore.

[Fearless]

8. Agreed

[Carolina]

6. Yeah, thanks

Bastard Baucus. You kept doctors and nurses for a universal health care plan from the table and had them booted from the hearing room.

Screw you and all of those like you.

[babylonsister]

7. Posted in '09, but sure sounds applicable to today...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6191942

The Max Baucus Health Care Lobbyist Complex


As the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus is at the center of the congressional effort to craft health care reform legislation, a top priority of President Barack Obama. The Baucus-headed Finance Committee has been singled out by advocates and news organizations as the toughest obstacle for the President’s health care priorities. Containing more moderate and conservative members may not be the only reason. The committee is packed with lawmakers who have close ties to the health care and insurance industries, receiving large campaign contributions as their former staffers turn around to lobby for the very interests whose issues — in this case health care — they previously worked on. Baucus, as chair, stands out in particular.

more...

[Cha]

9. Fuck off, Baucus. You voted against the background checks in Senate. Who

is the fucking trainwreck.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. The train wreck (if it comes)

Will be partly/mostly the result of Republican governors and state legislators throwing all kinds of kinks and roadblocks to its eventual implementation.