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David Stanley Ford

House’s health care bill faces sacking by Senate
OUR VIEWS Liberal bill far too expensive

THE OKLAHOMAN EDITORIAL    Comments Comment on this article33
Published: November 10, 2009

PASSAGE of health care legislation in the U.S. House on Saturday had President Barack Obama the next day urging the Senate to "take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line.” Unfortunately for backers of Obamacare, it won’t be that simple.


Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, is joined by (L-R) Majority Whip James Clyburn, and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Washington after the passage in the house of the health care reform bill. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Picture two sprinters trying to execute the baton transfer — with Gerald McCoy bearing down on them from their blind side. That’s the reception awaiting the House bill in the Senate.

Even with 60 Democrats populating the chamber, health care as crafted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other liberals has virtually no chance in the Senate. Its trillion-dollar price tag, tax increases and government-run insurance option don’t fit the leading Senate proposals Majority Leader Harry Reid is managing.

For example, the House’s public option is a non-starter in the Senate. Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut says he’ll filibuster legislation with any whiff of a public option in it. That’s why a number of senators uttered a three-letter response to the House legislation: D.O.A.

It’s significant that Democrats are struggling to get this kind of health care legislation through a Congress they control. It is decidedly unpopular with Americans who are wearying of deficit spending, bailouts and promises that big government is the answer to the economy, health care and other problems.

Yet despite polling that shows such disaffection with their approach, Democrats stubbornly press on, having talked themselves into believing Americans will be angry if they don’t fashion a federal overhaul of health care insurance.

Republicans can’t believe their good fortune! The far heftier price will come if Democrats defy public opinion with a program a number of experts say is a precursor to a government takeover of the entire health care system.

Instead of producing legislation that would strengthen private insurance while taking steps to slow rising health care costs, House leaders put on a partisan show Saturday. They passed a liberal bill that’s too expensive, cuts Medicare and does little to control medical costs.

It will create a new entitlement and lay new Medicaid burdens on the states. Washington will gather unto itself the authority to dictate insurance coverage models and, ultimately, prices. "The Democrats are turning insurance into a product that no rational person would buy and then forcing everybody to buy it,” National Review Online editorialized.

A simple baton pass from the House to Senate? Obama must have missed the U.S. men’s and women’s relay teams fumbling their batons at the 2008 Summer Olympics. That’s a more apt illustration of what’s

Instead of producing legislation that would strengthen private insurance while taking steps to slow rising health care costs, House leaders put on a partisan show Saturday. They passed a liberal bill that’s too expensive, cuts Medicare and does little to control medical costs.

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David Stanley Ford





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Change it to free enterprise and transparency in the hospital business...that is the way to go. Keep the government out of the insurance business.
Joe, Luther - Nov 11, 2009 at 9:09 pm
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Convicted felons incarcerated have coverage and law abiding citizens do not. Call your representation and change it.
scott - Nov 11, 2009 at 8:28 pm
VA provides health care for them, why did they need health insurance?
Joe, Luther - Nov 11, 2009 at 7:22 pm
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"Democracy Now" reported a study showed that 2,200 veterans died last year bec they had no health insurance.Republicans like Tom Coburn are such hypocrites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jean, Fort Gibson - Nov 11, 2009 at 5:45 pm
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John The founding fathers knew trhey were not end all so they made a way to ammend the constitution. And it is not by just making a law in Washington
BERT, HENRYETTA - Nov 11, 2009 at 7:31 am
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John, the founding fathers did the best they could under the circumstances that prevailed at the time...It's always easier to find a better solution after the fact rather than before the fact.
Don, Calion - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:23 pm
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Don, the founding fathers did not see fit to give women, native Americans, other non whites, or non land owners the right to vote. Nor did they think it was a right of the people to elect senators. The founding fathers were not the end all for what is right and correct.
John, Norman - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:17 pm
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When we Americans decide that health care is not a right guaranteed to us by the founding fathers but is something worth striving for it will be then and only then that sensible people can sit down at the negotiating table and attempt to work out a solution that will benefit us all...Until that happens every plan brought to the table will be blown to smithereens.
Don, Calion - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:08 pm
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This editorial calls for "strengthening private insurance"....but 2 days ago the DOK editorial criticized AARP, which sells private health insurance from Aetna, UHC, etc. to its members. So what's the problem? Is it conservative inconsistency, or different people writing each editirial?
steve, Oklahoma City - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:01 pm
We will have to wait and see what the Senate comes up with. We need reform, but not a reworking of the constitution. We need healthcare for all, but not at the expense of our freedoms or the increasing national debt. We need more regulation, but not bigger government. We need to get involved and not sit on the sidelines anymore. We need truth in news media and less politics in the decision making. We need for our representatives to listen and heed the wishes of the people who elected them. We need to tell AARP to jump in the lake. They do not advocate for seniors, they sell Insurance. That is why they support the proposed house bill, it will raise insurance rates and will benefit their profits. We are going to spend trillions and raise premiums, all to insure 14million uninsured people.
willis, oklahoma city - Nov 10, 2009 at 12:42 pm
This ad brought to you by the heath insurance industry that comsumes a huge chunk of our gdp and provides service that ranks a couple notches above communist Cuba in efficacy at #37. All you delusional wingnuts chiming in I'll type real slow for you. Reforming the most expensive and corrupt health care system in the world should reduce cost. It's the ole invisible hand of the free market you all are always going on about. There is no competition now. We're all being gouged for even simople services. Access to heath care is a basic human right mean-spirirted skinflints. How it cares for the lest of us is the mark of a civized society. Don't go to church often, isn't that in the Bible?
David, Norman - Nov 10, 2009 at 11:57 am
Mike Dumd Okie Hicks? Are you speaking of those that have a car for everyone in the family with a drivers license? Where they are paying for gas, oil changes and other upkeep along with insurance? Are you speaking of those that have a cell phone for every member of the family that can talk along with unlimited texting? Are you speaking of those that have tickets to the OU or OSU ballgames? And yet they have no health insurace?
BERT, HENRYETTA - Nov 10, 2009 at 11:30 am
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Some people need help granted. But not able bodied people. It was out of my uncles control when his wife was slain after they were in a car accident. The other driver was uninsured. The Gov should have offered him some insurance for $1.99 per month just like the phone plan they offer.
scott - Nov 10, 2009 at 11:17 am
People will be fined for not having insurance. Fine. I remember Obama stating that health insurance will be "mandatory just like automobile insurance, everyone will have to have coverage". This works well now eh? Unisured drivers by the thousands putting people who take care of their resposibilities at risk every day. If you do not have and would like quality health care insurance make the choice to obtain a free education , trade, or skill and make yourself valuable to a company that offers it. Or sit and wait for a handout. It is all about choices.
scott - Nov 10, 2009 at 11:13 am
So you dumb okie hicks, bert, scott...So you believe everyone is able, should be able, if not able then to bad.. to take care of themselves, is that right? Most people would say they hope you are never in the spot where you need any help, but hey... I hope that is exactly what happens to you, could be something completely out of your control... oh wait.. you think you are in control of everything. Guess you forgot Nov. 2008
Mike, Oklahoma City - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:58 am
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Scott how unamerican of you to do things on your own and not let the gov to get involved
BERT, HENRYETTA - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:48 am
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The House's health bill is NOT under consideration in the Senate. Somebody, somewhere is high on something. The Senate has its OWN bill to vote on. Did the editorial writer not take high school civics?
James, Plano - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:39 am
Scott, I don't think your wife needs to call any Okla. representatives to oppose a progressive healthcare plan. They are so out of step with what is going on in the rest of the country they will vote any way Glenn Beck says. Nobody is proposing making insurance a gift. In fact the current proposal will fine anyone who does not obtain insurance.
Wayne, Prague - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:27 am
My wife fell in the driveway and completely destroyed her wrist. It is being repaired and covered by my health insurance. I am covered because I chose to EARN this insurance coverage and did not receive it as a gift wrapped Christmas present. So my wife will be out of work for at least eight weeks. While she is away from work she is calling our representatives once a day letting them know we choose not to support anyone who supports this assenine legislation. I hope everyone who feels the same way would do the same. It is the only way to get their attention.
scott - Nov 10, 2009 at 10:20 am
In it’s zeal to undermine any change in healthcare legislation, the DO, says “Medicare cuts” in their editorial, which they want seniors to believe means cuts in benefits. Offering no explanation that these cuts are beneficial in cutting the deficit and involve trimming projected increases in payments for hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and others, including home health care providers and suppliers of motor-driven wheelchairs, while increasing some spending for doctors. Just more of the sleight of hand to upset seniors when there is nothing about which to be upset.
Wayne, Prague - Nov 10, 2009 at 9:06 am
Derky-derr, they took our jobs!
stinkerpants, Oklahoma City - Nov 10, 2009 at 8:58 am
I have heard that Pelosi has a November surprise. There are rumors that she is going to have free botox injections included in the health care package. She is going to start making infomercials that declare that any woman could soon look just like her! How can we defeat THAT!
BILLY, MUSTANG - Nov 10, 2009 at 8:57 am
Unemployment over 10% and climbing but lets focus on spening 2 trillion and 1/6th of our gdp. Tax revenue is declining so lets focus on something we can't afford and the only way to pay for such blunders will be to tax the same folks looking for work, I've got it lets raise taxes on groceries and gasoline, what a joke our leaders have become. The same as joe blow buying a house when unemployed. Fannie and freddie needs another bailout.
jeff, Harrah - Nov 10, 2009 at 8:16 am
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John i also remember when the republicans took over congress and they proved they were not much different than the democrats they replaced so the democrats came back as the majoirity. If they continue as they are now going it can swing again back to the republicans
BERT, HENRYETTA - Nov 10, 2009 at 8:05 am
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Two key words there John...affordable and everyone!!!
BILLY, MUSTANG - Nov 10, 2009 at 8:04 am
Hoo boy, we got some restless ones today. Anybody remember the election in '08? The majority of people placed in office representatives who wanted to do just this, provide affordable healthcare to everyone. And Sooners Win thinks the puny tea parties overrides that. HA! (And btw, we could discuss your screen name also, Sooners Win.)
John, Oklahoma City - Nov 10, 2009 at 7:57 am
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Dappie And you are the living example of your post
BERT, HENRYETTA - Nov 10, 2009 at 7:42 am
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Beam me up, scotty. There's no intelligent life in Oklahoma.
dappiesdad, dappiesplace - Nov 10, 2009 at 7:33 am
Millions of Americans are out of work, but the Congress not only voted themselves a raise and excluded themselves from participation in the health care bill, but they also raised your taxes to pay for this "legislation". I'm gonna start selling a kit that would allow the people to show their displeasure with the government. It will consist of tar, feathers and a rail. What you do with those items is up to you.
c, Noble - Nov 10, 2009 at 7:32 am
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Arrest every member of the House of Representatives who voted for this un-Constitutional "legislation" and charge them with violating their oath of office which charges them to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America.
c, Noble - Nov 10, 2009 at 7:28 am
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As I have said before, a Democratic majority and they cannot pass their own legislation.
scott - Nov 10, 2009 at 6:10 am
I hope so Sooner, OBama is doing everything he can to ruin America, Good to see people standing up to such stupidity.
Danney, Oklahoma City - Nov 10, 2009 at 3:15 am
BREAKING NEWS!!!
BREAKING NEWS!!!

The Statue of Liberty has just been renamed.
The new name is....

THE STATUE OF SOCIALISM!

The United States no longer offers Liberty and Freedom.
We offer SOCIALISM!

We are still being attacked by our own Government!

People, we rose up during the summer. We rose up at the TEA parties. We rose up at the Townhalls. We made our vocies heard. We were loud and clear. But did they listen? NO!
We sent e-mails. We wrote on blog sites. We wrote on newspaper websites like this one. But did they listen? NO!
But they will all hear us very soon. In 2010 thats when.
The day that they will hear us is, is the day these Socialists Parasites in Washington are cleaning out their desks because they got VOTED out in 2010. That is when they will hear us - that is the day they should have listened. Yes, they will all hear us very soon!
Sooners Win, Norman - Nov 10, 2009 at 12:57 am

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