Reading in the WSJ about the current status of Obamacare and the finalization of a bill that that can be brought to the floor of the House and Senate. Some of the next steps for the bill are:
- After the House and Senate bills are analyzed by the nonpartisan CBO, further revisions are likely to ensure they meet the president’s broad goals, and to meet the concerns of Democrats, especially moderates, wary of the bills’ impact on the economy.
Centrist and millions of Americans will find it laughable that the Democrats will even do anything constructive about the bill’s impact on the economy.
Where is the Revenue stream to cover ‘subsidies for low and middle-class Americans’ AND expand Medicaid?
The bill is expected to expand health coverage to tens of millions of Americans by giving low- and middle-income Americans subsidies to offset the cost of insurance, and expanding the Medicaid federal-state insurance program to cover a broader swath of the poor
Centrist Notes this analysis on healthcare from a recent story in Politico.com
"There are billions in new taxes on insurers, device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies that come due in 2010.
Starting in 2013, insurers that offer family plans worth more than $21,000 a year would pay a tax, which unions say would hit middle class families. Beginning in 2014, the penalty on people who do not purchase insurance would kick in. The changes to Medicare funding, which Democrats say is aimed at redirecting wasteful spending but Republicans say would hit senior citizens, would be implemented immediately. (end quote)" (Read More)
- Republicans say the heavy spending on new programs in the health bill is a mistake at a time of large budget deficits, and they accuse Democrats of secrecy in negotiating the bill’s final contours."There’s a room with a few Democrats in it and some administration officials. And they are writing this entire bill. I don’t think the American people like that very much," Sen. John McCain of Arizona said Sunday on CBS’s "Face the Nation."
Centrist notes: Lets check in on the three Democrats who are writing America’s Healthcare future behind closed doors. The only thing transparent about Obamacare is the pledge that it wont add to the deficit.
The bill should be called robbing Peter to pay Paul because it will probrably take from the Seniors and Medicaid to offer subsidies for the young and health low and middle-class Americans. The young and healthy will pay the fine because its cheaper than buying insurance mandated by the government.
Via WSJ
October 26, 2009
WASHINGTON — Top Senate Democrats are close to finalizing their health bill and could unveil a measure as soon as early this week that would include stiffer penalties on employers who fail to provide health coverage.
Senate leaders plan to submit the bill to the Congressional Budget Office for a cost estimate as soon as Monday, and make the legislation public as soon as Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
Details of the legislation could change, but its broad outlines are becoming clear. Employers with more than 50 workers wouldn’t be required to provide health insurance, but they would face fines of up to $750 per employee if even part of their work force received a government subsidy to buy health insurance, this person said. A bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee had a lower fine of up to $400 per employee.
The bill to be brought to the Senate floor would create a new public health-insurance plan, but would give states the choice of opting out of participating in it, a proposal that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada backed last week.
The bill is expected to expand health coverage to tens of millions of Americans by giving low- and middle-income Americans subsidies to offset the cost of insurance, and expanding the Medicaid federal-state insurance program to cover a broader swath of the poor. Most people would be required to buy insurance or pay a fine, though exceptions would be made for those deemed unable to afford it.
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