WASHINGTON, July 14, 2009
House Democrats Unveil Health Care Plan
$1 Trillion Overhaul Proposed to Cover 97 Percent of Americans; Obama Pushes for Quick Action
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Play CBS Video Video Cost of Extended Healthcare U.S. healthcare costs are about $2.5 trillion a year or 16 percent of the national economy. If the Democrats' plan to extend coverage passes, who will get the doctor's bill? Chip Reid reports.
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is joined by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Pete Stark, D-Calif., Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and other House Democratic leaders (not pictured) at a news conference, announcing the introduction of health care legislation on Capitol Hill, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Right now, healthcare costs in this country run about $2.5 trillion a year, or nearly 18 percent of the national economy. With those costs rising, the Democrats' plan calls for extending coverage. So who gets the doctor's bill. CBS News White House correspondent Chip Reid reports.
In Michigan today the president was fired up over health reform, telling a cheering crowd, "We have no choice but to change the healthcare system, because right now it's broken for too many Americans."
In Washington, House democrats responded with a 1,000-page bill to overhaul American health care. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., called "landmark legislation" and "a defining moment for our nation."
Major provisions include:
Republicans condemned the bill. House leader John Boehner called it criminal malpractice.
"This so-called public option is going to force millions of Americans out of their private health insurance into a government-run plan," he said.
The bill seeks to ensure coverage of 97 percent of Americans. Experts say it will cost at least $1 trillion over 10 years.
It would be paid for through cost savings, including long-term cuts in Medicare and a new tax on those earning more than $350,000 a year.
Passing the bill won't be easy, because about 40 conservative democrats - enough to kill the bill - say they'll oppose it unless the cost is brought down dramatically
"I wouldn't say the health care bill is in jeopardy at this point but it's a long way from passing the House," said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark.
Mr. Obama praised the House action today without specifically endorsing every aspect of the Democratic plan. He said he'd like to see bills from both houses of Congress before the August recess. But it's unclear if he's going to get his wish.
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Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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The United States is the only one of the major developed nations that have health insurance.
The fact is healthcare in the other nations is way better than our system of insurance coverage with many getting some coverage and others not getting any....
For those arguing that drug abusers should pay their own...how selfish a person you must be....drug abuse is a disease.
The only reason our system is so screwed up is because of the greed.
I am so happy to hear the proposal by the House to tax the top 1% to hlep pay for the health care since they made the money from the backs of all of us. Their plan will actually cost LESS because it gets rid of a lot of waste and corporate fraud and stealing, their normal MO.
If your a vet(and so am I) you already have a choice for health care the VA or a private plan. Hey the VA is free, or is it that maybe their services aren't good enough for you? Is it because you might have to wait awhile to get a test done or see a specialist. I know it's my choice government or private insurer. My point is everything the government does ends up costing way more then projected. You have a 1000 page bill, how much pork is in those 1000 pages? Just like the stimulas package, what happened to all the jobs it was supposed to save and create. We'll see how great this plan ends up being. At least I'll have a choice for a few years, until the government takes over the whole health care industry.
I can never get anyone to say what is wrong with socialism anyway. They start blathering about Ho Chi Minh or the Soviet Union or other such nonsense.
Let's call it controlled capitalism or some such thing and get on with it. It is about time we reeled in the out of control big corporations who own and run our media and Congress, think they have human rights such as free speech, start invasions for oil and land and write our laws for their profit. When will we wake up?
My point on the universal health care issue is this,it's rationing. I live close to the Canadian border and I see, and have taken care of, Canadians who come here for care. There is a waiting list for simple procedures such as CT scans & MRI's. So, it's rationing that I don't want.
Here's a thought, how about we all, the populace, the peons, have the same health care that your dems and the rest of the politicians have. That works for me.
Think it will be good to have everyone covered......
Truth is 'people will still die in ER waiting rooms'....and...
The people they will hire to run this program are the same kind who give us poor government service now.
Either way, Congress lacks the intelligence to employ effective safe guards.
This is what you get with the Liberal Dictatorship.
Elect Republicans in 2010 for a new sense of fiscal responsibility, instead of constant wasteful taxing and spending
Here is an example of why hiring illegal aliens is not economically productive for the State of California
( or any other state for that matter ) ...
You have 2 families...
"Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal".
Both families have 2 parents, 2 children and live in California .
"Joe Legal"
Works in construction, has a Social Security Number, and makes $25.00 per hour with payroll taxes deducted...
"Jose Illegal"
Also works in construction, has "NO" Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".
Joe Legal...$25.00 per hour x 40 hours, $1000.00 per week, $52,000 per year
Now take 30% away for state and federal taxes........
Joe Legal now has $31,231.00
Jose Illegal...$15.00 per hour x 40 hours, $600.00 per week, $31,200.00 per year
Jose Illegal pays no taxes...
Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00
Joe Legal pays for him and his family Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance with limited coverage, $1000.00 per month
$12,000.00 per year,
Joe Legal now has $19,231.00
Jose Illegal has full Medical and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year
Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00
Joe Legal makes too much money is not eligible for Food Stamps or welfare
Joe Legal pays for food, $1,000.00 per month, $12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal now has $7,231.00
Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare
Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00
Joe Legal pays rent of $1,000.00 per month, $12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal is now in the hole, minus (-) $4,769.00
Jose Illegal receives a $500 per month Federal rent subsidy
Jose Illegal pays rent $500.00 per month, $6, 000.00 per year
Jose Illegal still has $25,200.00
Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.
Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.
Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's children both attend the same school.
Joe Legal pays for his children's lunches while:
Jose illegal's children get a government sponsored lunch.
Jose Illegal's children have an after school ESL program.
Joe Legal's children go home.
Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same Police and Fire Services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.
This is going to cover 97% of Americans, right? Then why are we still complaining about Medicare and Medicaid? Abolish both, and take all of the money that currently goes into both Medicare and Medicaid and put it into the new program. Then include all Medicare and Medicaid recipients in the "Public Plan".
Too complicated for most lawmakers, I guess.
We need to get the predatory insurance and hospital corporations out of the business of preying on the sick and needy. Our current health care system operates on disgusting scavenger practices draining dollars from those trapped into paying hiway robbery pricing.
Health care should be universally provided to all, with everyone recieving the same medical treatment plan as the next guy, with no loan-shark types taking a cut of anyone's paycheck nor balance sheet diagnosis' according to profit and loss statements.
What a wretched state of affairs the money grubbers have de-evolved our health care system into.
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