WASHINGTON (CNN) - Bipartisan support may have faded further from reality Saturday when the ranking member of the Senate Health Committee condemned Democratic health care proposals which he said would “make our nation’s finances sicker.”
In the GOP’s weekly radio and Internet address, Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyoming, said that a comprehensive health care reform bill should decrease costs and be deficit-neutral. He said that the Democratic bills put forth “fail to meet these standards.”
Democrats have proposed some cuts to Medicare which would be used to cover uninsured Americans. Enzi accused Democrats of “raid[ing] Medicare” and said “savings from Medicare should only be used to strengthen Medicare.”
“These bills would expand comparative effectiveness research that would be used to limit or deny care based on age or disability of patients,” Enzi said.
Enzi also said that his colleagues in the Senate have put forth amendments that would “protect Americans by prohibiting the rationing of their health care.” He continued, “The Democrats showed their true intent by voting every amendment down.”
After making clear Republicans’ dismay with Democratic proposals, Enzi urged President Obama and Democrats in Congress to “reject the go-it-alone path that they are currently on.”
From CNN Politics
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how classy on the day Edward Kennedy is laid to rest
What a slap in the face to our senior citizens. The democrats should be ashamed of themselves.......raiding medicare to buy votes.
The Elephants just don't get it. On a day where there's no place for political rhetoric, especially as it might apply to health care – the life's work of Senator Kennedy, the see the need to plow ahead with bashing the Democratic party's efforts to change.
Yawn. I've all but stopped commenting on healthcare until now. If the people of this country want to listen to the people who got us in this economic turmoil, my only statement consits of the following:
Do not whine about insurance companies or the cost of healthcare. Accept it, and move on.
so much for Rethuglicans waiting to spread lies on health care... Teddy's body is barely cold and they're at it again. how disgusting!
How do you know when a Republican is lying?
His lips are moving.
To Senators on both sides of the aisle, I hope that the gifts from K Street are worth selling your integrity for.
Another Republican Joke with a mouth
When are you Republicans going to start earning the pay WE THE PEOPLE elected you for
Wasting time criticizing our great president WITH YOUR LIES, is not what I would call constructive efforts
GET TO WORK YOU LAZY BUMS ...!!!!!!!!!
And what do we tell our citizens who do not have coverage? Foreclosure? Bankruptcy? Does anyone think uninsured citizens will save us money?
Universal health care for our citizens. Now is the time.
The AARP says that the democrats plan will make medicare stronger by passing health care reform. The republicans will use anything to scare seniors. That is all that got. It is sad that the party of no has no ideas of thier own so they have to tear down the democrats plan.
Sir,
Take a leaf from Sen Kennedy's life. Go out and do something beneficial to humans instead of blocking health care for the poorest and least among us!!!!!! Stop spreading lies and deceitful interpretations of the health bills.
JBM
Republicans must have a lot of stock in insurance companies because they sure don't have any concern for the welfare of average Americans. This speech probably had Ted Kennedy turning in his grave before he was laid to rest.
Where where these "fiscal conservatives" when we spent trillions under the Bush years on the war and failed to pay for it by giving tax cuts to the wealthy? War =OK, Health care for our citizens= Not OK?
To the President and our gov't officials. We should solved our economic problem first before we go to the next one. Its all good, if we have the money. How can we cure a headache when our stomach is grouling.
That is, "I'm so deep into the pockets of the health insurance companies, Pharma, and hospitals, that I'll say anything to derail any chance of health reform actually becoming law."
For all of their talk about "values," the GOP and their DINO co-conspirators are the most unprincipled bunch of politicians to come down the pike in a good while.
It has been tried and failed , so now is the time to cut the Republicans loose and for the Democrats to go it alone. It is more important that a good bill get passed than a bill that has been so compromised that it no longer makes sense. And for all those so called "democrats" in republican clothing either switch sides or get on the band wagon. No matter what, Health care is going to cost us. We either pay for it and get something for it or we let it get out of controll cost us more and we get nothing but larger bills.
Very bad timing. tasteless.
You couldn't wait one day?
Senator – then come up with something better. Even yet, why has it taken you and your colleagues so long to even address this(and I mean both sides of the aisle)? Such a shame that after all these years, health care for all Americans hais taking so long to become a reality – it only reforces my belief that in reality, the majority of you (not all) could care less about the average American. Glad that your health care plan as part of Congress gives you such comfort – too bac]d that it can't be extended to all Americans.
President Obama, don't let them derail you. You made this campaign promise in your election. Many people have voted for you because of this. It's not the 'go it alone'. You simply fulfill your promise, and the Republicans are not on board, so if you have to go it alone – then do it. You have the support of the people.
The Enzi position is:
1) Let the insurance companies and hospital corporations continue to rake in billions in profits that will drive Medicare bankrupt; let's do NOTHING.
2) Let Americans continue to lose their health insurance when they lose their jobs and when they change jobs; let's do NOTHING.
3) Let many Americans go without health care altogether, which is a form of euthanasia; let's do NOTHING.
In a word, Enzi's position is the same as that of ALL Republicans, let's do NOTHING.
Pathetic, Mr. Enzi, pathetic.
Enzi, get off the fence. Eliminate socialized healthcare. Abolish Medicare NOW!! If we can't have it, old folks (who oppose socialized healthcare) can't have it either!
"Enzi also said that his colleagues in the Senate have put forth amendments that would 'protect Americans by prohibiting the rationing of their health care.' "
Health care is already rationed. Some people should get it and other people don't. And Enzi wants to continue rationing health care, even as he plays word games.
NOT allowing all Americans access to health care is an especially slow and cruel form of EUTHANASIA. Funny how Republicans like Enzi support such barbarous practices.
In Mike Enzi's Americans, not only are some denied coverage, even people who work their entire lives can lose everything due to one illness.
Mike Enzi thinks that fair. I think Mike Enzi's position sucks.
I dare you to promote negativity about health care on our day of mourning for Teddy Kennedy. You Republicans are so PATHETIC.
The GOP has just about ruined this country during the rotten Bush years and these pathetic morons STILL DO NOT GET IT.
SHUT HIM UP
Abolish Medicare. NOW!!!
This is the same CLOWN that voted for Bush 98% of the time. How did that work out for us?