Progressives Push For House Health Care Bill In End-Game Negotiations

[t0dd]

Progressives aren't happy with a number of developments on the health care front, but faced with a choice between the House health care bill (with which they have some reservations) and the Senate health care bill (with which they have major reservations), they're telling their leadership, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and the White House, that the House bill must prevail.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus has sent a memo to the White House and Senate leadership showing in no uncertain terms that they think the House bill should prevail over the Senate's. On the issue of abortion, CPC says both the House and Senate language should be scrapped, and replaced with less restrictive provisions.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/progressives-push-house-health-care-bill-in-end-game-negotiations.php?ref=fpa





IF ONLY these were real threats..

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Sure.

[TheWraith]

2. In other words, the progressive caucus would rather not have a bill.

Because that stuff is not going to pass the Senate. It probably won't even pass the House.

[t0dd]

3. Imagine the flip side of that

The corporatist Dems in the Senate would rather not have a bill than the House bill that would be infinitely more beneficial to the American people. But no no.. when House progressives band together to fight harmful legislation that caters to corporate interests, THEY are the ones being obstructionists. :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: The Senate bill should not pass the House either, and if we are left without a bill, that's what happens when you forego reconciliation

[slipslidingaway]

4. knr + 100 n/t

[laughingliberal]

5. Yeah, funny how that should cut both ways but doesn't around here

What about that: the Senate assholes would rather have no bill than to pass one that has a chance of helping workers or middle class families. Why isn't that the message? Just because Obama believes the better for the corporations the better it is does not mean the Congressional Reps must all follow in lockstep. Do people realize they won their elections, too?

[thotzRthingz]

7. re: "Just because Obama..."

you said:

"Just because Obama believes the better for the corporations the better it is does not mean the Congressional Reps must all follow in lockstep. Do people realize they won their elections, too?"

I agree 100%! PROGRESSIVES should stick to their guns, period... and if that means NO BILL passes, then so be it.

Two points:

1. I strongly believe that OBAMA and the SENATE will not allow "no bill" (they're already patting themselves on the back, for being on the brink of HISTORIC health care reforms)

2. specifically regarding "health care reform" ... OBAMA campaigned on a number of issues (transparency, universal coverage, and a PUBLIC OPTION to compete with FOR-PROFITs and their enslaved customers), and he has gone back on his promise. I do not take such behavior lightly, and he is fast losing my support!

[laughingliberal]

8. " I strongly believe that OBAMA and the SENATE will not allow "no bill"

I have to agree. This tracks strongly with something else I have tried to tell people lately. The insurance industry isn't going to allow 'no' bill for very long. The fear for Democrats is if we don't pass health care reform this year it will sit on the shelf for another decade. But this is not 1993. The insurance industry came to the table this time because they are about to enter 2 decades of declining customer bases even if employment was not so low. They have already just about priced themselves out of the market and this mandate was the only way to save them. Left with the status quo, the industry would die quickly. If this bill were killed they would be back demanding we reform the system within 2 years. After all, where are they going to go? There are no other countries ready to open their doors to them. How stupid would that be?

[Kansas Wyatt]

9. Then let the Insurance Industry fail.

Then the government would HAVE to actually set up REAL Health Care Reform.

[PassingFair]

10. Yep, by jamming it through via reconciliation as a budget matter.

Medicare for everyone.

[Laelth]

12. Agreed.

It would be better to do nothing than to pass this bill.

:dem:

-Laelth

[laughingliberal]

13. That's one option

They can, likely, hang on like this 5 years or so. But if we walk away they would, likely, be back in a more conciliatory mood within 2 years.

[Kansas Wyatt]

16. They blew a lot of cash fighting this time....

NEVER give in to them and keep bringing the fight back up.

As long as the American People stand up to them and the Government, they WILL lose.

Passing anything... Like the HCR/DLC (Union Busting) SHIT Bill, delays the Insurance Industry's demise and keeps them in the cash, at the expense of the American People for another 20 or so years.

Doing nothing hurts the Insurance Industry more and shoves the Government closer to actually doing the right thing for the American People.

[laughingliberal]

17. All true

So many people suffering, though, with the current system are just desperate to believe some help is on the way. Would that we could 'wo/man up' and call their bluff. I would just about bet we'd have a better reform bill passed before most of the provisions in this one would kick in.

No doubt in my mind the reason this was address this year to get ahead of the decline of their industry. As long as people still believe they are invincible they are just so grateful they have 'let' us make some changes. If people realized how much trouble the industry is facing over the next decade, would that have changed the trajectory? I think it would have. They would no longer be seen as negotiating from a position of power. It would not be we need them. It would be they need us.

[thotzRthingz]

11. if "LIE-be-man" (and many others) can halt real reform, with threats...

Then REAL PROGRESSIVES must stand firm (i.e., at very minimum: KILL the Senate's abortion-of-a-bill)... ideally starting over with SINGLE PAYER and stand firm on that, or be willing to do NOTHING!

I have to completely agree with your assertion: Insurance Companies have priced themselves way too high, and have poor prospects for future revenues (that's why we see them PUSHING "Medicare Supplementals" like crazy)! They are NOW salivating at the prospect of 31+ million more (relatively young and healthy) customers.

With SINGLE PAYER, the government holds all the cards... make no mistake about that! Representing some 300+ MILLION clients, COSTS can be forced downward (for everyone, across the board). Will it be "pretty"? I think not... but it will work itself out in the long term, and more importantly EVERY AMERICAN will be assured access to good health care (beginning with preventive medicine, incorporating alternative medicine, re-importation of cheaper drugs and pushing for GENERICS far sooner than currently allowed).

WE CAN DO THIS... if we have but the *WILL* to do so.

[dflprincess]

18. Re: Obama & Healthcare check out this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x420430

With this comment from Candidate Obama about 4:50 into the video:

(Thanks to DUers Freddie Mertz for the original post and slipslidingaway for calling attention to the quote)

"And we are tired of watching as year after year, candidates offer up detailed health care plans with great fanfare and promise only to see them crushed under the weight of Washington politics and drug and insurance lobbying once the campaign is over.

That is not who we are, that is not who we have to be, enough is enough, it time for us to change."

No doubt President Obama would find a way to deny he ever said that.

I'd like to believe the Progressive Caucus would stick to their guns - but they've claimed in the past that they were going to stand up for something - and then they cave. We can hope they're getting earfuls from their constituents and are starting to worry about November if they roll over again.

[slipslidingaway]

19. Came back to kick the thread and saw your post, thanks. n/t

[mmonk]

6. +100

[debbierlus]

14. Excellent point...

Love the eye rollies too!

[Hello_Kitty]

15. Yeah, might as well roll over and give President Lieberman whatever he wants. eom