Millions will buy several votes for health care reform this Christmas.
Who says 'mo money can't buy votes this Christmas? Not Senator Ben Nelson (D-Ne), who announced he finally caved in to pressure from his own party to vote in favor of the health care reform bill.
Was it rumored threats of potential base closures in his state? Or did he deny those rumors, because he had a better offer on the table, namely millions of dollars in bribes?
Senate sources reported that Reid offered Nelson a deal similar to the $300 million he offered Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La) for her health care vote.
Just how much money buys a Democratic vote? Sen. Kent Conrad, a key Democratic leader involved in the negotiations with Nelson, said it will be "much more" than Landrieu's $300 million.
Bribes, threats, a strategic before-Christmas deadline and a looming snowstorm helped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid get verbal agreements for the 60 votes he needs to pass a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. health care system.
According to sources, every Democrat in the Senate will vote in favor. Not one Democrat will break ranks, apparently.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) ripped Democrats for deceiving Americans, by "jamming" a bill full of special bribes and earmarks to win over reluctant senators in their own party.
"This is an outrage," he said, adding that the Democrats know the bill is unpopular with a majority of Americans, or they "wouldn't be passing it the weekend before Christmas and in the middle of the night."
Sen. John McCain warned that the current bill does not address what ails Americans.
"The best thing government could do... is to institute reforms that would rein in costs and make health care more affordable," said McCain. "Regrettably, there's nothing in this legislation that effectively addresses the problem."
The week featured public brawls, bribes and threats of investigations from Republicans, while uber-liberals seethed over compromises Reid made to keep the bill moving forward towards a vote before Christmas. With Nelson's vote, Reid and Obama have the 60 Democratic votes they need to overcome a filibuster by Republicans.
Here's what the current version of the health care reform bill will do:
~ Require all Americans to have health insurance, or eventually face fines.
~ Prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to people with health problems, or charging them more.
~ Expand coverage to 30 million people now uninsured. Some will pay lower insurance costs, others will be paid for with new taxes on Americans, the insurance industry and medical companies.
~ Limit insurance company profits. Insurance companies will be required to spend 80 - 85 percent of premiums on medical care for covered members.
No benefits will begin until 2014, but new rules would take effect and new taxes would start being collected next year, if the final bill becomes law.
If the Senate passes the bill before Christmas, it doesn't become law yet. This version of the bill would go to a conference committee of senators and members of the House, which passed a much more liberal bill previously. The committee would marry both measures into one bill that would need to be passed again in both houses of Congress, before it could be sent to Obama to sign.
The uber-liberal factions of the House are very unhappy with Reid's negotiations, and they stand ready to put back into the bill key provisions they feel are necessary, including a public option and abortion coverage.
Will this version of health care reform will make it into law? One thing is clear: the battle over health care reform is far from over. Stay tuned for more threats, bribes and fights in the New Year.
Like this article? Want to be notified of more? Click "Subscribe" above, and befriend Kelly on Facebook ('energizersnobabe") and Sodahead ("Kelly Anderson, Reno, NV").
(Photo: http://www.fakemillions.com)
Need to brighten your conservative spirit this season? Here are some related articles guaranteed to make you cheer for the "right" side!
http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/the-palin-kiss-principle-keepin-it-simply-sarah/blog-210793/
Comments
They are paying hundreds of millions in brides....Theatening to close security air force bases that we know about and this bill will cost us nothing.....WAKE UP AMERICA
Thanks for updating the status on Medical Insurance industry today. But there Low cost medical coverage on group, family, or individual available at www.bit.ly/7bwEx2
WE, the American people, have to get our torches, pitchforks, and ropes and head to Washington to clean house or WE, the American people, will be doomed to serfdom by our wicked masters.
Hey Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Nelson, and all other Democrats who aren't listening to the people! Karma is coming and it's going to hit you HARD.
If a Republican did this the Dems would have them in court and on trial the next day for voter fraud or ethics violations in which both are accurate among other things in this case and all of the Democrats that voted for this should be in court RIGHT NOW! When are they going to stand up and start playing dirty politics like the Libs have done for years? Why are they such pansies? Grow a pair and put these people in jail or impeach them before they turn us into a country worse than Russia was under communism! Wake up and stand up people! Your elected officials don't care what YOU want! They care about POWER! They want to make you mindless, worthless sheep that's completely dependent on the government for everything. WHEN PARASITES OUTNUMBER THE PRODUCERS AMERICA'S FALL TO SOCIALISM IS IMMANENT. Stop griping about what you don't have and get off your butt and get a job and WORK for it! I hope Texas secedes from this insanity before it's too late.
America needs Texas a lot more than Texas needs America! I'm proud to say that Conservative values that have run our state for so long WORK! We don't need government bailouts here, everyone WORKS for a living! We have surplus funds unlike all the other states! California liberals and democrats should take up the Texas way of doing things and they wouldn't have to continue to rob their citizens at will for money. Californians should be marching to the capitol demanding their 10% tax be revoked. I'd like to see them try that in Texas cause everyone here would march to Austin and oust the leaders. Demand they do their job right and when they don't throw them out of office! Do you want to leave a better world for your children? Then I suggest everyone start now and join a movement to bring about change that's good for America! The Tea Party!
Hey! Thanks for posting an image of our Santa Million Dollar Bill! You can get them at www.americanartclassics.com.
Thanks!
Frank
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!