This is a late-breaking news update on the status of the massive healthcare bill in the U.S. Senate that would mandate a virtual government takeover of the U.S. Healthcare System as we know it.
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Democrats in the Senate have successfully jumped one of the biggest roadblocks toward the passage of the bill by defeating an attempt by Republicans and Senator John McCain to remove the $500 billion dollars in Medicare cuts. This is being reported this evening in The Washington Times.
McCain had introduced a measure that would have sent the bill back to committee in order for Senators to fund a way to fund the 2 trillion dollar healthcare bill without the $500 billion dollar cut in Medicare.
By a vote of 58-42, Senate Democrats defeated the proposal, meaning that the provision containing the Medicare cuts will remain in the final version of the bill.
According to the Times,
Democrats argued that the cuts - totaling $464 billion over 10 years - would not affect the basic services guaranteed by Medicare, and instead would squeeze insurance companies and hospitals that are overcharging for the level of service they are providing.
FACT CHECK! The Democrats are lying.
Putting the squeeze on insurance companies, hospitals, and doctors will only push them to drop services to Senior Adults, thus intensifying the level of healthcare rationing already inherent in the government takeover.
In addition to the Democrats' success in keeping the drastic cuts in Medicare in the bill, the Senate Majority also successfully beat back an attempt by Republicans to prevent the government from setting up a centralized panel in Washington that will determine what services will be covered under the new system.
This will mean that a task force in Washington will dictate to patients, doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies what will be covered under this new and bold system of medical care where government has the final authority.
The bill will thus move farther along in the process, edging ever closer to approval.
Perhaps Patriots should get ready to take to the streets.
For commentary on other issues, visit my blog at The Liberty Sphere.
Comments
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Blah, Blah, Blah. More tired, washed-up Republican talking points from another rightie in the third world country called South Carolina. I thought you wingnuts would love putting the squeeze on Medicare, since you have opposed it from the start and would love to see it die. I do oppose cutting Medicare...I think corporations and the wealthy, the true welfare recipients thanks to the Republicans, should have to pay for Medicare for everyone (aka single payer). Better yet, I think we should socialize the whole system, such as they have in England. There should be no room for private profit in healthcare at all - I think profit in healthcare is a moral issue. And finally, patriots taking to the streets? Who the hell would do that in the name of what you argue for? I guess just those moronic teabaggers, with IQ's of 25 who cannot even spell their signs correctly and get duped into campaigning for the profits of health insurance pigs who just turn around and rip them off.
Bruce:
Duly noted. You have volunteered to become the first victim of the new US Socialized HELLthKill program, based on UK and Canadian models.
Enjoy your life while you have it, it won't be enjoyable for long.
Grow up Bruce.. you sound like a 6 year old brat with partial facts. Not even from SC yet you thrust your obermann like excuse of a response on us. Anon posting sure brings out the lame and weak minded. For what purpose do you wish to negate debate other than blind numb party line adherence. Your post gave me the first good laugh of the day.
Bruce,
Where do they grow idiots like you? We sure don't down here in South Carolina.
One more thing, Bruce,
We cannot abolish SS or Medicare without first putting something in place that will satisfy its intended goal. We have raised generations of Americans who depend on government to do both, so a massive cultural and policy shift must take place, which will take years of re-educating the public.
My opposition to any cuts in Medicare at this particular time is solely due to the reasons the cuts are being proposed and by whom. At present, those who propose these cuts are doing so to force Senior Adults onto a massive new government bureaucracy, ObamaCare. And if ObamaCare isn't approved, they simply want Seniors to die. Very convenient. One way or another they will prevent Seniors from getting care at all, or they will ration their care with ObamaCare. This is entirely unacceptable.
So, until level-headed solutions are proposed, I am on record OPPOSING any cuts to Medicare or Social Security.
I'm not from S.C. but I have to wonder if Bruce's I.Q. is above 25...
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