Rep. Dennis Kucinich thinks health care debate won't be resolved by Congress quickly

[AnOhioan]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

WASHINGTON -- Dennis Kucinich isn't among the optimists who believe a legislative fix for the nation's troubled health-care system is right around the corner.

Informal health care reform discussions at dozens of community events last month led the Cleveland Democratic congressman to conclude that debate on the issue is only getting started.

"The idea that there is going to be a massive change in health care brought about in a matter of a couple of months in a bill that keeps changing is not well thought-out," says Kucinich, who wants a government-run health care system to serve the entire nation and is disappointed none of the reform proposals under debate include that idea. "You really have to prepare people for this discussion. You can't shove something down people's throats."



Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/09/congress_returns_from_vacation.html

[Ian David]

1. They wouldn't be shoving anything down anyone's throat. America WANTS this. n/t

[AnOhioan]

2. That would depend on what is finally passed....

A public option-less plan that enriches the insurance companies? Or one with a public option that allows the American public a choice?

One I would be happy with, the other would be "forcing it down my throat".

[DonCoquixote]

3. I'm a little surprised

Considering that he plays Champion to the idealistic side of the democratic party, I am surprised that Dennis would say "you can;t shove something down people's throats." I thought the whole way we were to get anything passed, be it HR 676 or HR 3222, was to shove it down people's throats, because Dennis should know that even if you had the sort of bill and Angel could write, the GOP are simply goping to try and ride it out until 2012.

[Jefferson23]

4. His amendment is still going well? Under states rights to vote for single payer?

[ProSense]

5. "You...have to prepare people for this discussion. You can't shove something down people's throats."

Huh?

[Justitia]

6. Uh, um, yeah. Can't say I'm entirely surprised by the wording. -eom

[OHdem10]

7. Kucinich is correct.on this one.

It does not appear anyone on the Hill has done anything
but argue with green eye shades on over price.

When Baucus is just now coming up with that sick proposal,
do you really believe he understands what is involved
in setting up all these exchanges. He appears to be
kid who put off his homework until the last minute.
We spent 8 months with Baucus committee wrangling with
hardly any agreements . In 2 weeks they came up with a
whole plan.

[autorank]

8. Just found this - good for Dennis #5 hereb

He's one of the few intellectually honest people we've got in Congress. Here he is:



More from article:

" The Senate Finance Committee has promised to unveil a health-care bill on Sept. 15 that's likely to be merged with legislation that Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, helped draft in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

"Brown was asked by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy to co-author provisions in the bill that would establish a public health care option, a government-funded insurance plan that would be offered along with private plans in a new health insurance exchange. Brown said he will spend much of his time in Washington working behind the scenes to muster support for that idea. "