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I was reading in the Express this morning (which is a free daily from Washington Post) that in order to pay for the Health Plan we'll have to tax the rich. Now as a middle class person, I am not a fan of wealth-redistribution, because it really causes more and more people to start to hide money offshore from the Government and in the end causes more issues.

On the same token, as a person who has lived in Britain for a few years, I can tell you the NHS over there is not the best. I remember having to wait 40 days to get an appointment with my GP. I ultimately ended up going to Urgent Care Clinic and forked over $200 because I had Strep Throat. I guess for those that don't have health care, this would be a better option of waiting for ever, versus never being seen...but I am not entirely sold on it yet.

I get really iratated when republicans say things like "healthcare will be rationed out". At this point the insurance companies are rationing out healthcare, they are the ones deciding who gets treatment and what treatment people get (based on what the insurance companies are willing to pay for).

Doctors and those providing the care should make the decisions. Also, every time I hear a republican, or any elected government official, speak against health care reform for the American people I am reminded that they have healthcare and therefore don't see the urgency in helping those of us who don't.

Again Obama wants to rush through legislation before the American people have a chance to understand the details. Not the transparant administration he promised. He wants all this major legislation rushed because he knows the majority of the American people would see it all stinks if they had a chance to know what is in it.
It will take decades to unravel the mess Obama is raming down our throats.
By 2012 voters will have a chance to taste what was forced down their throats. It will make them puke. Obama will be one term.

Our country desperately needs healthcare for everyone....and anyone that votes against this bill should be ousted from office.
Stop the wars and we'll have plenty of money to cover healthcare.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling. So don't take the time to read the 1000 page healthcare reform bill and don't figue how how to pay for it. It has to be passed!!!!

What happens if your current employer decides to join the government run program? You have two options:
1. Quit the job and look for a new job with employers still offering your current plan
2. Wait for some committee to decide on a wait period for your treatment

The true rate of taxation is the rate of expenditure.

Sorry, grandkids (and great grandkids). Our generation just didn't have the discipline to keep this country great.

Light bulb on! Let's let the President and his family and the members of Congress try out this plan first–If it's so wonderful, then the rest of the country can vote on whether they want nationalized healthcare or not

What a bunch of baloney they are trying to serve us. All sounds great doesn't it? Too bad they are empty words. Reducing the estimate to sucker everyone into thinking it won't cost that much. If they know what they are doing, Why is Medicare almost bankrupt? Medicare is crappy and they want all of us to be on a program even worse than that. When will you brain dead wake up and realize quality over quantity? It's not FREE. The politicians should be working on affordable and available health care coverage where everyone pays their own premiums if they choose to be covered. Problem is, most here want health care, but they don't want to pay for it, they want everyone else to pay for them.

Very good.

Just say "NO" America! I've been there and done that, and it will be a disaster!

Reform and Affordability?? Try simply passing the buck to other Americans to pay for it all. Tax tax tax tax. Oh, and if you'd rather not buy health insurance for whatever reason, the government will tax you 2.5% of your income. You will buy it, or else, say Nanny Government.

Instead of truly trying to reform the system, like allowing residents of one state to buy insurance from an out-of-state company (why is this illegal in the first place?), tort reform, and a crack-down on Medicare fraud, we're allowing the government to simply pass the cost on to our neighbors.

No, I know many people loathe 'the rich' but on paper, in 2010, a person making $1 million a year, living in California will be subject to a 38% federal income tax, a 6.2% FICA tax, a 5.4% health-care tax, an 11% CA state income tax, and a 1.2% state medical tax. That is 61.8% of their income, making them a slave to the government.

Is this what the Delcaration of Independence was about? Remember, that document describing the abuses of King George and the British government? Is this what the Constitution is about, that document limiting the powers of the government and championing individual rights?

Very sad.

I expect the Republicans to dig their heels in deep when it comes to a new Healthcare plan. The're all rich and don't seem to have a care in the world when it comes to the needs of common folk. The Republican party has become so out-of-touch with mainstream America. The people of this great nation deserve better!!

Why do some people fight against healthcare overhaul is it because the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries product demand is primarily driven by the willingness of insures to pay for new medical treatments? again is it ethical when these same guys buy out generic companies not to release their affordable products in the market?. Here the looser are Peter the jobless, Joe the plumber, Nancy the dishwasher, whittiker the taxi driver! remember few weeks ago cnn reported that 72% of the American population has not college degree therefore they earn less or they have no jobs at all those are the voiceless people who needs the healthcare reform more than anyone else, its a shame with the Americans abundant wealth, the health care is ranked # 36 in the world according to WHO. Wake up America and say no to those fat cats fighting for what is rightfully yours!! AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE its your RIGHT!

Yes we can and yes we will.Go sit and cry on the sidelines all those that that for years have voted against it.The majority of real Americans have spoken.

It's time for hard working people making a good living to work their way backward, lest be caught up in some outrageous unfair taxation. Looks like it’s sinful to be successful.

It is the same ol' fear-mongering from Sen. Enzi and his predictable Party of No.

The majority in America wants a public option to increase competition, expand affordable coverage, and improve overall care.

Keep up the great work, Senate!

The GOP the party of No because they are sore loser on Nov 4th is doing everything they can to stop Obama's plan. Yeah the GOP now complaining about " Oh, the democrat are not being bi-partisan", when President Obama as invited them over to the white house more in 6 months, then bush ever did. All the GOP want is our country to fail, because they don't like the fact that a black man is running the country. NOW!! tell me how my a– taste.

I just returned from a trip to Great Britian. I had very lengthy conversations with several people there, who are very happy with their health care. I spoke with one gentleman, who told me of the fabulous care that his elderly mother had received while dealing with terminal cancer. She was provided with everything she needed.....treatments, medical equipment, medications, etc. and even nursing care.

When my husband and I were in our early 60's, we were in a situation of being unable to afford health insurance. My husband had a "pre-existing" condition (had a heart catherization showing no problems) and the cost for him alone would have been over $2000.00 a month. So for over 2 years, we had no insurance.......luckily nothing happened. It was pretty scary, to say the least. We feel very fortunate to have Medicare. I am behind the Democratics 100%.......The Republican party of "No Way – No How" will never do anything about it.

Hooray for President Obama!!!!!

Look at that, the party of no says no again. Shocking!

This Liberal Congress and Administration are only concerned with stamping their place in history. There's a reason seven presidencies and dozens of congresses have not acted on health care reform – because it is a terrible idea.

There is a time to make history, and a time to let history run its own course. Too bad this country is headed for disaster.

Good! I am so glad that our president is committed to its citizens rather than the Health Care industry. We need healthcare for all...not for the elite who can afford it. Mike Enzi talks negatively about the program due to $$...but, I betcha he was in favor of bailing out the banks or for the war!

Scare tactics from the GOP are not going to work this time around. To many people suffer without healthcare coverage. How many people have died because they simply couldn't afford being seen by a Dr.? Yet people like Enzi worry that people will have to wait? I would rather wait and be seen than die because I cannot afford it.

This Health Care bill is the biggest scam in History.

All the democrats who vote for it should be removed from office.

Its wrong and complete idiocy for a senator to allege that British laws are designed to kill elderly sick citizens. Let us solve our mess without accusing other countries. Already Canada wrote a protest letter to GOP to stop malicious tv lies about its health care which is truly better than the frauds we got here.

Every elected or appointed federal official should be required to sign on to the government run health plan, and pay the same as everyone else. One way to help pay for it would be to cancel any retirement benefits for all federal employees, and let them draw social security.

(I see that Kennedy got his gin soaked butt in on this idiocy).

It's about time we had a Universal Heath Care bill, forget the Grand Party of no.

If the democrats pass another obcenely expensive partisan bill and get the same lousy results as we have seen so far ( i.e., GM, Chrysler, Wall Street, Stimulus, on and on ), the Republican party will enjoy a landslide in 2012 like we have never seen before. It will be much more definative than this 60% " landslide" that brought this administration in.

I think it is ridiculous for the republicans or any American person to think we can achieve healthcare, energy or anything else without paying for it and this probably can't and won't be achieved without raising taxes. We can't just keep talking about it, and saying it can't be done. I know everybody is worried about the future and the burden this will place on the next generation, but if we don't do something NOW, the next generation will be in even worst shape. It is no longer good enough to just say NO!

Ahhhhhhh yes... Senators Kennedy and Dodd. Inspiration for the all-new McWaitress Sandwich being test marketed in MA, CT, and DC.

Hey Teddy, be honest for the first time in your life, if possible. Hypothetically speaking, will a citizen on the public option, diagnosed with brain cancer, be able to go to Duke Medical to receive the same treatment that you did?

Bueller??? Bueller???? Bueller?????

Here is an idea...how about be responsible for yourselves? Ever thought of that? Why is it that democrats think it is the governments duty to provide everything for them? Free health care, free mortgage relief, free this and that. Do you guys have any pride? I mean don't you feel bad mooching off of the system all of the time? It is embarrassing to read how all of you feel it is a right to have things handed to you. I guess you don't care since people with jobs actually are the ones having to pay for your sorry selves. Just a little F.Y.I. here...if you penalize success (tax) and promote failure (support with programs), your system will collapse. The people that actually create things and make money will leave and you will have to start providing for yourselves since the government will have no one to tax. Get a education, get a job, make money, provide for yourself and your family. That is the American way. Unlike your President's idiot wife I can honestly say I have always love this country. It is just in the past few years that I am beginning to despise it's wasteful, lazy, welfare attitude citizens. Either start acting like adults, or get out of my country. We don't need you here anymore ruining the lives of the citizens that take responsibility.

Yes, finally some progress.

We"re watching. A lot of people are running for re-election next year.

They vote this year, we vote next year. Just works out that way sometimes.

When is Ensign going to Resign?

And it was Kennedy that inserted the exclusion clause for members of Congress to keep their own health care system while forcing this garbage don't the American people throats.

That's right Ted, "we must continue the search for solutions that unite us, so that the great promise of quality affordable health care for all can be fulfilled."

We shouldn't be bringing a heaping pile to the Senate floor. We should keep looking. Doing something just for tha sake of doing it is not the answer.

If Sen. Kennedy was on the proposed healthcare plan, he would not be ailing – he would not be alive.

Now is not the time for radical reform. Take small steps and do it right. I guess Obama and the Libs don't want to do it right.

Let the GVT deal and resolve the issues with the programs they already control (Welfare, Education, Social Security, Budgets, etc) before creating a health plan for all Americans that will fail. I have NO fail in any of our so call leaders

Once those programs are up and running smoothly then I might be on board when it comes to health care.....until then NO GVT provided heath plan.

Comparing our system to Britains? Good choice Sen Enzi (R-Wy).

Overall:
Britain – 18th
USA – 37th

Life Expectancy:
Britain – 14th
USA – 24th
Your arguement is totally blown away by the FACTS!!!!

Price per Capita:
USA – 1st – YEAH!!!! WE PAY THE MOST!!!!!
Britain – 41st

Sen. Enzi, Your rebuttal to the facts? Oh yeah, you only have scare tactics. Just like your entire Republican Party.

Thank god for facts.

As a physician, I would like to thank these Senators for their leadership in moving health care reform forward. The system is desperately in need of change and too many of my patients face an uncertain future if we don't fix it. This bill will go a long way toward ensuring that everyone has access to affordable health insurance and give people the choice they deserve between the private insurance they have or a public health insurance plan if they prefer. That choice is essential if we want keep insurance companies honest and make them compete on quality..

I dont like rationed care, I do not want to lose my employer backed health care and this is exactly what will happen if my employer is given the chance to SAVE money. All will be forced into state run care for the sake of a few million who choose not to be covered or work for an employer that doesnt provide care or are an illegal immigrant. look at california. why are they in such dire starights? well one of the manin reasons is that they continue to give give and give to illegal immigrants without getting back! in SC we soent more than 184 MILLION dollars in just one year on social services to illegal immigranst and did these same immigrants give anything back to the state ? NO. That is one of the main reasons why we are losing the price war in health care. we spend millions every year and in every state proividing medical care to those that are not even here legally and we, the taxpayer, arent supposed to complain about it? we pay for theiur care and yet cant afford to care for our own selves? im sorry but i am more important to me than an illegal immigrant is to me and i want my tax money to pay for My care and no one elses.

The health care reform. Reforms nothing. It just thrusts the government in control of health care plans and decisions.

It's out of comittee and on to the floor. Now we will see how successful the Healthcare lobby was at turning our Senators against us. Is it the will of the American people or a special interest group trying to save its own skin and protect its profit margins.
I truly hope the will of the people be done

Sen. Enzi also suggest that this bill will ration out care. What this bozo fails to realize is that majority of physicians and specialists perform procedures that aren't necessary. I know this because I work in a mdical billing office. If you go see a physical therapist for a hand injury, the only procedures that need to be done to you are:

-evaluation, ultrasound, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy

But in most cases, the patient is treated for the above procedures, plus: Hot or cold packs, paraffin baths, electrical stimulation. These procedures aren't aren't necessary yet you get billed for them. So if that's his definition of rationing out care, then who cares? Alot of procedures done in any medical office are luxuries and not necessities.

I hope he lives to see part of his life's work come true. I remember as a young girl, Ted Kennedy calling for healthcare as a right, and not a priveledge, for all Americans.

It is great to see progress being made on this hugely important issue, the fear mongering and whinning from the GOP will not work this time. The american people are tired of insurance companies profiting off of the misery of american families who are not covered or under covered.

If the GOP would align themselves with the middle class on this common sense issue instead of the insurance industry and big pharma , just maybe they will begin to be taken seriously by the voters again.

unfortunatly this will not happen.

Well, good............ He / They need to be exposed........

So many lives for NOTHING...........

A while back the Republicans complained about the Canadian health care system, and the Canadian health minister said they were telling lies and distortions. He had the facts and figures to back up his claims. Is Mike Enzi telling the truth about the British system, or is he spreading more Republican lies? Has any reader in the British system experienced what he is talking about?

Well, we all know the republicans will continue to try and destroy health care reform but think there is enough involvement, support from the American people that they will not be able to pull it off.
Go to ussenators.com and e mail your support.
All politicians need to know we will no longer allow or tolerate big business, lobbyists, special interests run our country and make crucial decisions for us. We must also let them know we demand
their support in the welfare of the American people.
Public option is a must. Without it health care reform will be a farce and, once again, the raping of the American people.

$600 billion – $1 trillion is substantially less than the initial bill of $1.6 trillion. Sen. Enzi's suggestion that this is a prescription for failure is beyond me. I don't understand his rationale of thinking this will drive cost up when it's sole purpose is to do the opposite.

The U.S. ranking of 37th in the world is a disgrace and needs to be fixed. I am not a proponent of employer mandated healthcare, but if it is used as a step towards the healthcare system Congress has, then we need to go for it. We need to be competing with the number one health care system, not number 36. I don't know if there is any good in our current system worth salvaging. If someone knows of something, please post it.

I would love to see the treatment plan Kennedy would be receiving if her were on this health care plan. He would have been told to go home and die. All the politicians should be forced to give up their private plans and go on the Universal health care plan. Obama promised we could all be on his plan, where is that option? That was just one of many Obama lies that the sucker punched voters fell for!

Has anyone READ the bill???????? I doubt it. This will bankrupt America forever.