Every Man has his price. Find that price and own the man.
Washington Post: “Change is never easy, but change is what’s necessary in America,” Sen. Nelson said at a morning news conference, announcing his support as a snowstorm raged outside.
Speaking at the White House, Obama said it appears that a vote is certain on a bill that would provide coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans. “After a nearly century-long struggle, we are on the cusp of making health-care reform a reality,” said Obama, who had dispatched senior administration officials to help lock down Nelson’s support.
Democratic leaders worked for days to hammer out a deal with Nelson. They reached a tentative agreement late Friday night. Under the deal, states could choose to prohibit abortion coverage in plans offered through insurance exchanges that the bill would set up for people who lack coverage through their jobs. The compromise is less restrictive than the abortion language contained in the House bill.
Nelson also secured full and permanent federal funding for his state to extend Medicaid eligibility to everyone below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill would require all states to do so, but Nebraska alone would not be required to pay a portion of the additional cost after 2016.
And there it is, folks, the price of Freedom. The Final Bribe.
Landrieu got $300 Million (The New “Louisiana Purchase”) . Joe Liebermann got some language related to “the public option dropped”(at least in the Senate, in that explicit language) and got lots of attention and I’m sure a little back scratching , and Nelson got a permanent handout.
Nelson deferred all questions on the provision to Reid, saying only that he was “comfortable” the deal took care of Nebraska.
Screw America, Nebraska’s ok.
Gee, that makes me feel so much better.
But another Democratic holdout, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), took credit for $10 billion in new funding for community health centers, while denying it was a “sweetheart deal.” He was clearly more enthusiastic about a bill he said he couldn’t support just three days ago.
And he’s the openly avowed Socialist!
Vermont and Massachusetts were given additional Medicaid funding, another plus for Sanders and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Three states – Pennsylvania, New York and Florida – all won protections for their Medicare Advantage beneficiaries at a time when the program is facing cuts nationwide.
And the Bribes continue:
And the majority leader rewrote a proposed fee on insurance companies to exempt nonprofit firms that spend at least 92 percent of premiums on medical service, a change that would benefit firms in Michigan and Nebraska. That change, made at the request of Nelson and Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), seeks to identify and reward “good actors,” Senate aides said.
“People fight for their own states. That’s the nature of a democracy,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
No, Congressman , it’s the People. Not the State.
But since your re-election is all that matters to you….
Compared to the Trillions they have spent this, I suppose Freedom was a cheap date.
And he won concessions for some nonprofit insurers and for providers of supplemental Medicare coverage from a new insurance tax, and he was able to roll back cuts to health savings accounts.
But all that lovely bureaucracy and crushing tax increases are still there.
Oh Joy.
The revised Senate bill would require every American for the first time to obtain insurance or face a financial penalty for failing to do so. Those without access to affordable coverage through an employer would be eligible to apply for federal subsidies and shop for coverage in the new state-based exchanges, starting in 2014.
So Buy it or go to be fined or go to Jail. The no choice “choice”.
The penalty for violating this requirement could be as high as 2 percent of a taxpayer’s household income.
AP: The package would rely on nearly $400 billion in new taxes. The nearly $1 trillion, 10-year cost would be paid for mainly with Medicare cuts and new taxes on insurance companies and other parts of the health care industry.
NYT: To help finance coverage of the uninsured, the bill would levy annual fees on insurance companies and manufacturers of medical devices and prescription drugs.
And of course, the insurance companies won’t pass along all these new taxes to you, the consumer. No, that never happens.
And the Taxes begin in 2010. Benefit in 2014. States have to pay likely hundred of millions of $$ all by themselves starting in 2016 (All other states have to partially pay for a Medicaid expansion to admit all adults earning up to 130 percent of poverty level, if they haven’t done so already), except Nebraska, of course.
Joyous Rapture.
We’re Saved!
Starting immediately, insurers would be barred from denying coverage to children with preexisting conditions. A total ban on the practice would take effect in 2014. Lifetime limits on coverage would be banned, and annual limits would be restricted until 2014, when they, too, would be banned entirely.
Which will raise the premiums. But no one seems to care about that.
You’ll be so happy that they government has come to your rescue that being stuck like a pig and roasted on a spit will be just a occassion for great joy and prosperity.
To appease fiscal conservatives, Reid strengthened cost-containment provisions by expanding the scope of an independent Medicare advisory board, empowering it to implement cuts if costs grow faster than an inflation-based target after 2019.
And of course, they’ll do it. 
It’s called “rationing”.
“I’m sorry Mrs Jones but you’re 85. We just don’t think that the operation that will save your life is economically worth it in the long run…”
The cost-benefit analysis is just not in your favor.
NYT:The federal government would provide $25 million a year for a “pregnancy assistance fund.” The money could be used for “maternity and baby clothing, baby food, baby furniture and similar items,” the proposal says.
And this they say will reduce abortions.
Look ma, if I get pregnant I get all kinds of free money!
And then there’s welfare, and Health care, and WIC, Food Stamps ad nauseum.
It’s all Free Money!
Being poor and having a kid never looked so profitable.
AP:“The best thing government could do to ensure more Americans have access to health care insurance is to institute reforms that would rein in costs and make health care more affordable,” said McCain, R-Ariz. “Regrettably, there’s nothing in this legislation that effectively addresses the problem.”
McCain suggested the Obama administration wouldn’t be in such a position if it had governed in a more bipartisan way.
“That’s why they’re in the position of having to purchase the last vote or two,” McCain said.
“A number of states are treated differently from other states,” Mr. Reid said. “That’s what this legislation is all about, compromise.”(NYT)
Seperate and unequal.
But Senator McCain, that was never the intent to begin with. Government, even incrementally, in charge of who lives and who dies was the goal.
And it seems Freedom is doomed.
When all this blows up in their face and they have yet another collosus on bankruptcy in the future it will too late.
Just remember it wasn’t their fault.
It was George W. Bush’s!!
Doesn’t that just make you feel so much better.
Let’s everyone have a Two Minute Hate!
Oh, and it was for the good of the people, despite that annoying 55-61% of people who were opposed to the whole thing!
You’ll never see that in the liberal history books.
And we can’t forget, because they haven’t, about the 12-20 million new Democrats..ahem Illegal Aliens..um, “Immigrants” that have to be added to the system and will undoubtedly be subsidized by you me (“The federal government”).
So it’s a Joyous Christmas Season.
The Season of Giving.
“This bill will do so many good things for so many people,’’ said majority leader Harry Reid.
Little Timmy is just overjoyed!
So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause. And lots of Christmas Cheer.
Courtesy of Sen. Ben Nelson and his Cornhusker Kickback.
So we can replace the politically incorrect coal in your stocking with Corn.
As a reminder of what once was a Free America.
Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!
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