Will Healthcare Bill that passed House become Law? The ball in now in the court of the US Senate.

November 8, 2:33 PMAtlanta Woman to Woman ExaminerPatricia Walston

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Hoyer, Pelosi, & Miller
AP Photo: Alex Brandon

After what seemed a sporting match, the Democrats pulled off a narrow win with the score being 220 to 215. This win will take them to the next round of competition on the floor of the US Senate. Those watching the debate could have easily gotten neck strain as if watching a volley ball game or tennis match; as each side stepped up to the plate hoping to hit a homerun.

There was never any doubt as to where House Speaker and President Obama stood; but yesterday’s debate gave the man on the street a bird’s eye view of how the representatives in the House stood; both Democratic and Republican.

The Democratic team received their pre-game pep talk from their coach. After a meeting with the House Democratic leadership, the president said he told lawmakers that "opportunities like this come around maybe once in a generation." Kinda like saying, “Go team, go!”

"This is their moment, this is our moment, to live up to the trust that the American people have placed in us," Obama told reporters in the White House rose garden. "Even when it's hard, especially when it's hard, this is our moment to deliver." “Go team, go!”

And with a vote of 220 for and 215 against, the close vote must have been a little unnerving for the coach. It was reported that there were some hold out Democrats; and they did not know how they would jump. But the consensus is that it would not have gone to the floor if they were not sure of the votes. A good coach always knows his team players.

Almost immediately after the vote, President Obama turned “Booster Club President,” and turned the occasion into a fund raiser.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obama-turns-health-care-vote-into-fundraising-tool-69509202.html

Some of the hurdles the Democratic Track Team had to overcome were abortion and illegal alien coverage. Abortion coverage loomed huge in the consideration of the healthcare bill that was being debated in the House of Representatives yesterday, November 7, 2009. Here in Atlanta, individuals who are Pro-Life, as in other states, were holding their breath in hopes that this House Bill 3962 did not in fact cover abortions paid for with federal tax dollars.

Many say they have played the quarterback sneak or “shell game”or the “bait and switch” game with the language in the bill. There is a lot of misunderstanding on what the government option will or will not do and the incorporation of something called, “the exchange.” That has such a socialistic ring to it. Republican John Boehner of Ohio, coach for the Republicans, contends that what the American public is being told and what is actually written undercover in the bill is not the same.

There are both Democrats and Republicans who said they would not vote for this healthcare bill as it stood as they felt it plainly covered abortion; which was one of the promises that President Obama made to Planned Parenthood during his campaign. Many are upset at the wording of this bill which says one thing; but refers back to another section which uses language that would insure that there is government funded abortion. There were representatives on both sides of the aisle who opposed the federal government mandating that taxpayer dollars be spent to cover abortion.

The House allowed the Stupak Amendment to come to a vote and it was passed as an appeasement for pro-life Democrats to get their support for the rest of the bill. We can only imagine the language of the bill. Another amendment from the Republican side regarding abortion which was more explicit was voted down.

The amendment introduced by Pro-Life Democrats, which was passed, should ban federal funds for abortion except in the cases of incest, rape, of the health of the mother. That last part is a wide open invitation to broad interpretation. The “health” of the mother was not determined by the bill. What a bill says and how it is interpreted can sometimes be two different things. And a closer look at this amendment may show something entirely different.

House Bill: http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf
 
Another huge concern that Atlantans and all other cities and towns across the nation have is whether or not they will have to foot the bill to cover illegal aliens in this country under another language that some feel is sneaky play by saying that all those “residing” in America will have health coverage.
Watching the coverage yesterday on C-SPAN would have been entertaining had the reason for them being there not been so serious; and so important to just about every citizen in America.

The debate was sometimes heated and dramatic – and other times humorous as when Texas Representative John Shadegg held up a precious baby girl – probably a year old (or less) named Mattie. As he spoke, he waved her little arm and spoke as though she were speaking to the House; asking them not to put the burden of taxes on her future. Democrats and Republicans alike could only smile at the sight of such a precious baby. But after Rep Shadegg sat down, Rep. Henry Waxman stated what a beautiful baby she was and what a great ventriloquist Rep. Shadegg was.

To the average citizen “watching” political sausage being made, it was more like a volley ball or tennis game. It was nearly dizzying to keep up with first one side and then the other. The leaders allotted various “players” from their side to step up to the “net” and serve for so many minutes to express their views for or against the bill. It seemed quite rehearsed particularly when one time a representative asked questions of Rep Waxman, and he answered back as if they were in a play reading a script. He had to look down at his notes before answering one such question.

The Republicans had a copy of the huge, nearly 2,000 page document; on their podium sometimes lifting it as if they were in weight training; and saying it weighed in excess of 20 pounds. Some representatives used charts or posters in their demonstrations as well.

Some representatives from both sides appeared to be calm, orderly and expressed themselves passionately and eloquently; while there were others who turned red faced and was seemingly at the boiling point; almost threateningly. One could only wonder when the metal chairs would be slung about across the court. There was more at stake for these people than just serving their party agenda; maybe their jobs; or perhaps they heard the clock ticking before the next time out.

The Democrats continually stated how much money this bill would save while the Republicans refuted that and said that taxes, premiums, and medical fees would all go up - far exceeding what the Democrats indicated. The Republican Representative John Boehner of Ohio said that the passing of this bill would result in 5.5 million job losses in a time when unemployment was already at an all time high.

He went page by page reading from some of language that he called the misleading of what was said and what was actually written. Now, it is open season for Medicare and private insurance companies; and the brochure from Medicare would confuse a Philadelphia lawyer; as the saying goes. One can only imagine what the one in the future will be like if this bill passes the Senate. This writer has a copy of the first Medicare brochure sent to subscribers and it is less than a dozen pages – my how times have changed.

Many citizens felt there was a headlong rush to get this bill passed in the House so that it can be immediately sent to the Senate and then on to the President for his signature; but will not take effect until after the next presidential election in 2013. Will some of the players hear footsteps behind them in the next election as there will be others jockeying for their positions?

However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says that it may not be possible to get a vote onto the Senate floor before the first of the year. It seemed that the Democrats carried the ball offensively from the beginning of the debates while the Republicans seemed to be constantly on the defensive. Apparently the Dems scored a big touchdown with government option intact. But the wrestling match on the floor of the senate will ultimately determine the champions of the healthcare game with voters cheering on each side for the big “showdown.”

While many who are for this health bill for personal or political reasons, there are those who will look back on November 7, 2009 as a black day in history should this bill become law. They see it as more government control and more intervention into their personal lives.

Democrats spoke of the many decades they had tried to get government controlled insurance, with an air of accomplishment, while Republicans held to the statements made by former President Reagan in the 1960’s when he stated that if the US ever instituted government control health care it would be only the beginning of a complete government take over and that once implemented; there would be no turning back.

Many are concerned that if the government could not control “cash for clunkers,” (and their failure to keep their promise of sufficient H1N1 vaccine for all Americans who wish to have it), are totally incapable of handling health care for 300,000,000 people give or take an illegal alien or two. And like so many things by this administration, - blame it on someone else – it is the manufacturers fault.
The Democrats lobbed out the statement that their plan was supported by both the AMA (American Medical Association) and the AARP (American Association for Retired Persons); and the serve was then returned with the fact that the AMA only represented a small portion of the physicians and medical employees in America.

And coincidently in yesterday’s mail, members of the AARP received a brochure explaining their new Medicare Supplement Plan insured by United Healthcare Insurance Company. Hmmm. Many members of the AARP have torn up their membership cards which was reported to be as many as 65,000. One gentleman interviewed after the passing of the bill said that the support of the AARP was from their administration that had their own agenda and profits in mind; and not that of the AARP membership.

While House Speaker Pelosi vehemently proclaimed that Medicare benefits would not be cut; that they would see increased coverage and not rationing and no withholding of treatment because of age – Republican John Boehner said that was untrue as he read portions from the bill indicating otherwise.
Most of the distrust coming from citizens is that this bill does not “straight talk,” but says one thing that links to another which allows loose interpretation of the bill.

Another huge contention with this bill is the coverage of pre-existing conditions which Republicans felt was a wide open door for people to wait to purchase insurance after they became ill. Also, reading from the bill, the representative revealed the penalty of not buying insurance which would end up in a $250,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

Never in the history of our nation have citizens been forced to purchase anything; and according to experts of Constitution Law, they say that is it totally illegal; and now they are even tagging fines and prison sentences to this mandatory dictate.

If H.R. 3962 is passed and becomes law, those who are pro-life and persons of faith, fear this will be the biggest funding of abortions in the history of our nation. Many feel that people in this country illegally will also benefit from taxpayers which will only serve to a greater influx of people coming across the border for health care especially women looking to give birth to their child in America which would automatically make them an US Citizen. Forging ID’s is no problem it seems.

Many who are against this bill feel the voice of the people are not being heard and the several hundred in power are pushing their own agendas and not the will of the people.

In a statement after the vote last night, Nancy Pelosi said, “Oh, what a night.” She thanked those who help ramrod the bill through; and President Obama. President Obama was probably sweating the close vote last night as they were still uncertain of the way some Democrats would vote. He was pretty sure the finish of this race would not be by a furlong; but a photo finish. It was well known he had a lot riding on this pony show.

The Republican National Committee released the following statement according to CNN news. “Today with help from their liberal House allies, President Obama and Nancy Pelosi finally got what they have been creating behind closed doors these past months -- a government-run health care experiment that will increase families' health care costs, increase the deficit, increase taxes on small businesses and the middle class, and cut Medicare," the statement said.

That didn’t sound so much like a challenge for a re-match; but almost like the throwing in of the towel.
Congressman Lynn Westmoreland and the two Senators from Georgia (Chambliss and Isakson) have all three expressed opposition to any funding be allocated in the healthcare bill to be spent for abortions. Those in Washington who are opposed to this funding are saying that it is President’s Obama’s stand that abortions should be considered women’s healthcare.

While others are saying that any money spent on women’s health care should be spent on preventative medicine such as mammograms and pap smears to insure the health of women as well as research and treatments for such things as breast and ovarian cancer. These health problems are not a choice – having sex and getting pregnant is.

Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) notes that the Capps Amendment, which allows federal funding of abortion, was incorporated into the healthcare bill. She says it is misleading when the bill says that federal dollars will not be spent on abortion; but incorporates the Capps Amendment. It remains to be seen if the Stupak Amendment will change this.

Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-Georgia), co-chair of the GOP's Doctors Caucus, co-sponsored an amendment that would automatically enroll all members of Congress in the public option. He acknowledged there was little chance the amendment will be considered. Using the theory; “what is good for the goose – is good for the gander – and it they think it is such a great health bill then they should be required to enroll in anything the public option offered.

Other Georgia representatives speaking in the debate were Linder, Scott, Price, and Lewis.
One issue that was important to the Republicans was Tort Reform which they said would cut billions from the healthcare budget and allow doctors and hospitals to perform their duties without the fear of massive law suits and high malpractice insurance. One representative was stated as saying that when asked why the Democrats had not gone after that aspect of healthcare reform, they were told they had enough going on without taking on the lawyers. Odd, when a huge percentage of our lawmakers are lawyers. However, there were several representatives who spoke on both sides who were doctors.

This administration made promises to the Pro-Choice people in return for their support during the election. Yesterday, may be the payback for those voters at the cost of not only millions more of pre-born children dying; but will now force the general public to pay for these abortions. President Obama stood in front of both Houses and emphatically said this healthcare bill would not fund abortions nor cover those in this country illegally. Or did he say no “federal” dollars would be spent. Since when does the federal government have dollars that did not belong to the people?

Desperate people are still waiting on some sighting of relief from the Stimulus Plan except those in the NEA. When the “throw down” comes, the American people will in fact know if he or Representative Wilson was right about who was telling the truth. Didn’t we have another former president who looked into the camera and lied?

Will the passage of the abortion amendment last night make this a finished issue or will the language of the bill circumvent that effort?

Woman to Woman: It is hard to understand why women and their families have had to hold fund raisers, run marathons, and come together all across America to raise funds for breast cancer research. They have raised millions of dollars for treatments for women with cancer; and yet women who do not care enough about their own well being (and the well being of a pre-born child) to practice birth control and who just lay back and expect the general public to pay for their form of birth control via abortion.

If this bill does in fact provide coverage for abortion in any form, we will be looking for the government to add to the already 1.2 trillion dollar cost of this health care bill on the backs of overburden tax payers. Pregnancy in the case of incest; and rape is less than ½ or 1 per cent, and there is a greater number of women who seek abortions because of complications with the pregnancy – which is almost nil as compared to those who use abortion as a method of birth control with some having as many as 4 or 5 abortions – that is not health care that is contributing to the ill health of the mother and the death of the child. One of the President’s CZARS wrote in the past that he would approve of women being limited in the number of children they could have and after that be forced to have an abortion.

Also, all who have read this bill say that in fact there will be limits, restrictions, and rationings of healthcare for those up in years who have worked all their lives paying taxes, insurance premiums, and now will see drastic changes in their healthcare. Will any of these issues be brought more into the light; and more firmly ironed out in the senate? Now the pressure is on senators; some of who will face re-election next year. Now the ball is in their court. See ya at the game! That seems to be the game of politics – to see who can win all the marbles. Or will the Republicans win in the end with a “Hail, Mary?”