As soon as President Barack Obama signs the health reform bill passed by the House last night into law, insured Texans will see immediate improvements to the insurance policies they hold, while some of the most at-risk Texans--who have the hardest time accessing insurance--will finally be able to receive the care they need.
These crucial reforms are a tremendous step forward for the American people in their ability to access quality, affordable care. These reforms are the very efforts Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbot are trying to prevent the people of Texas from receiving.
Adult children may remain as dependents on their parents' policy until their 27th birthday.
Children under age 19 may not be excluded for pre-existing conditions.
No more lifetime or annual caps on coverage.
Free preventative care for all.
Adults with pre-existing conditions may buy into a national high-risk pool until the exchanges come online. While these will not be cheap, they're still better than total exclusion and get some benefit from a wider pool of insureds.
Small businesses will be entitled to a tax credit for 2009 and 2010, which could be as much as 50% of what they pay for employees' health insurance.
The "donut hole" closes for Medicare patients, making prescription medications more affordable for seniors.
Requirement that all insurers must post their balance sheets on the Internet and fully disclose administrative costs, executive compensation packages, and benefit payments.
Authorizes early funding of community health centers in all 50 states (Bernie Sanders' amendment). Community health centers provide primary, dental and vision services to people in the community, based on a sliding scale for payment according to ability to pay.
No more rescissions. Effective immediately, you can't lose your insurance because you get sick.
The Statesman has an expanded timeline of some of the larger reforms. Should Rick Perry be re-elected, these reforms would occur during the next four years of his administration. Our governor would spend the next four years trying to prevent benefits from reaching the people of Texas.
Community health centers. Young people insured until age 27. No more lifetime caps on coverage. Keeping your insurance when you need it most. These are popular, common-sense reforms that the people of Texas need. Rick Perry doesn't agree with it. It's time to elect a governor who does.
Great Texas Progressive Lloyd Doggett just gave a strong, short speech in favor of the health reform bill on the floor of the House. (Some folks are getting error messages on the video -- try clicking through to YouTube.)
"So very fearful of being held accountable, the giant insurance monopolies have spent millions spewing out anger and spreading fear of reform. We have not seen such outlandish, outrageous arguments raised since the same forces failed to block President Lyndon Johnson from securing approval of Medicare.
"For Republicans our bill is too long or too short, it's too thick or too thin, never just right, because their real answer to reform is 'never, never, never!' Our determined efforts should not be derided as a four letter word, but you can certainly sum up our many, many pages with 4 words-'you've got health care.'
"With this reform, every insured American gets valuable consumer protections, and every uninsured American can become insured. 32 million Americans protected from the risk of bankruptcy from health care. This bill restrains soaring insurance premiums, reduces federal deficits, and strengthens Medicare.
"Our families deserved more, like the choice of a Medicare-type option, yet they will get so much more than what they have today. To this valuable reform foundation we must, we will, do more."
Rep. Doggett has been a leader pushing for a more aggressive, progressive bill to insure the millions of Americans who lack access to care, and help the millions more who are under-insured or fearful of losing what coverage they have. We are lucky to have him fighting so hard on behalf of the 25% of Texans who lack insurance.
Today will be a transformative day for the American people. Congress will vote on a historic health reform bill that will provide coverage for millions of uninsured Americans, end the practice of denial for pre-existing conditions, end rescission of coverage, set limits on out-of-pocket expenses, and force private insurance companies to spend more of our premiums on our own access to care. It will create an insurance exchange to help individuals exercise greater choice in their insurance provider. It will provide subsidies to low-income families, tax credits to small businesses, and lower costs for senior citizens.
Of course, historic votes can't happen without many members of the Texas Congressional delegation getting their two cents in. I'll be liveblogging some of the high and low points from C-SPAN today as we get closer to the vote, scheduled right now for around 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. CST. And for those of you who aren't C-SPAN or parliamentary procedure junkies, here is a handy guide to how the 7 votes in all will proceed.
A hodge-podge of facts before we get started:
Texas leads the nation in rate of uninsured residents at just over 25%.
Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation at 20.2%. Our Legislature cut CHIP benefits in 2003, some of which were restored in 2007.
One out of three Americans under 65 was without insurance at some point during 2007-2008. 80% of these folks were members of working families.
The Congressional Budget Office determined that the Senate bill plus changes up for a vote in the House today would LOWER THE DEFICIT by $138 billion. (Lower! As in, make less!)
Given the current make-up of Congress we need 216 votes to pass. There are a few empty seats right now.
The original House bill passed in November by a vote of 220-215, with lone Republican Rep. Joseph Cao casting the bipartisan vote in favor of the bill.
Note: the transcriptions below are on-the-fly, there may be minor errors, and anything that's paraphrased is not in quotations. Representatives in blockquotes, my comments below them. All emphasis mine.
Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, TX-18
In recent days, members of this body "have been called the 'N word,' and spat on. Just recently someone asked me why my braids are so tight. But I know there is a better way. ... We will be able to heal the land by voting this evening on a health care bill that will help those who cannot help themselves: single mothers, those with pre-existing diseases." ... Texas has the highest number of uninsured. ... "And so today there will be no shame in my vote because I will vote for those Texans who are not here and cannot vote for themselves."
It's true: Texas has the highest rates of uninsured residents. Everything is bigger in Texas--especially the percentage of folks who cannot receive affordable, accessible health care. Even in liberal Austin, we're over 18% uninsured, which is "good" for a city in Texas.
Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert, TX-1
"I'm very sincere." Anti-choice Democrats have been "sold a bill of goods." ... "There are people waiting to get the executive order struck down the moment it is signed."
Apparently in a deal to get anti-choice Democrats like Stupak, Dahlkemper and others to vote Yes, there will be some sort of Executive Order reaffirming that Federal funds will not be spent on abortion care for women. Unsure if this extends the bounds of the Hyde Amendment, an odious measure that prevent our poorest women from accessing their right to choose. Note: it's a "rider" attached to appropriations, not a law. It is also far past time we end these absurd anti-woman policies.
Republican Rep. Ted Poe, TX-2
"Today is a defining moment in this nation's history. ... Will we choose the path of individual liberty? Or choose the path of government tyranny? Will we choose to control our own health? Or will we choose to go the way of a European nanny state where government forces health choices on it? Do we uphold 'we the people,' or do we return to the chains and slavery of government and choose 'we the subjects'? ... The people have spoken against a more oppressive, intrusive government in charge of their health!"
There's a special irony in a Southern, White male Republican suggesting that Democrats are prompting a 'return to slavery.' Especially when anti-HCR callers have used highly racist language against members of the Black Congressional Caucus when voicing opposition to the bill. Also? Ted Poe has clearly seen V for Vendetta way, way too many times and seemingly has taken the wrong message from it.
Update 2:05 p.m.: A handful of House members have been debating some procedural challenges to the Rules for awhile, with back-and-forth between Chairwoman Louise Slaughter, a completely dishonest Paul Ryan, an overly excitable Ted Poe, and a "don't give me that ish!" Sheila Jackson-Lee.
Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, TX-18
"Edward Kennedy told us that he had a vision and a resolve, that the health care of Americans would no longer count on whether they are wealthy Americans. ... This is not an unfunded mandate, because we know so well that the CBO has said that this will take care of itself. It cuts the deficit $130 billion dollars ... It eliminates the Medicare donut, and insures 32 million people. ... 45,000 Americans die every year [from lack of insurance]. ... I cannot tolerate that and today we will heal this land and we will vote for the health care bill."
SJ-L had a chart with her! Good to see Democrats going toe-to-toe in the visual-aide department. Earlier speaker Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Edward Kennedy, shared a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: "Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and most inhumane."
Republican Rep. Ted Poe, TX-2
"This bill has special deals for special folks! ... [blah blah] ... Special deals for special folks! ... This bill is UNCONSTITUTIONAL! The Texas Attorney General will SUE the Federal government [to block this bill] because of special deals for special folks! This bill is UNCONSTITUTIONAL because it forces the American people to BUY a product! Where in the Constitution does it require Americans to buy something?! [something about mandating the purchase of donuts]."
Personally, I want to live in an America that mandates donut purchases, as long as accommodations are made for folks with special digestive needs. Also? I'm wondering how well a tranquilizer dart would do running against Poe as an independent. It'd be a compelling contrast. Also? If we can ever vote this guy out of office he should do used-car commercials. He's already got the delivery down pat.
Update 4:29 p.m.: Earlier, Republican Rep. Pete Sessions was granted "as much time as he can consume," yet for some reason just ranted for about a minute on deceptive trade practices, then called Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida a radical. (Shrug.)
A "conga-line" of Republicans just finished stating their opposition to this "flawed health care bill," including Texas Republicans Randy Neugebauer, Kay Granger, Pete Olsen, Jeb Hensarling, Ted Poe, and a few others. John Culberson punctuated his opposition by dropping a copy of the bill on table. (Dude, even Carrot Top is a better prop comic.)
There's a new timeline for the vote tonight, with final passage likely coming between 7:45 and 8:30 p.m. Central. (Other folks on the Hill suggest it may be as late as 10:00 p.m.)
Update 5:44 p.m. With 225 votes, the House passes the rule that will allow the body to simultaneously concur with the Senate Bill and pass changes that will be completed in Reconciliation. Now, we begin the actual debate on the contents of the bill. The only remaining hurdle will be a procedural one--the Republicans will attempt a motion to recommit, which would send the bill back to committee. Democrats can block this motion. Then it's on to the final up-or-down.
One aside as we wait for members of the Texas Congressional Delegation to take to the microphone: once this passes, are Republicans really going to campaign in favor of the bill's repeal? Will they go on record supporting denial for pre-existing conditions, rescission of coverage, higher out-of-pocket costs? The Republican Party previously opposed Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and so many other programs that are now an integral part of our society. They opposed civil rights, the Voting Rights Act, and so many other landmark pieces of legislation that have made our country great. They were wrong then, they are wrong now.
Update 6:47 p.m. General Debate. Bring on the crazy.
Republican Rep. Michael Burgess, TX-26
"It's really a shame we have this health care bill in front of us. [It pays for] 1700 new IRS agents, but not $1 for a new nurse or doctor. You may be getting your pre-natal care from TurboTax."
Gotta admit, that's a hell of a way to use your 15 seconds of fame. Also I think he may have confused a computer mouse with an ultrasound wand, which is rather alarming for a former doctor.
Republican Rep. Joe Barton, TX-6
"One party acting unilaterally can dictate the entire will of the American people. ...[The bill is] fatally flawed in terms of balancing the budget, and will take away coverage from millions of people."
Clearly Barton was asleep during the first 5 years of the Bush administration, which is interesting since he's held his seat since 1985. Also? If it reduces the deficit by $135B in the first ten years and $1.2 trillion dollars over the next ten, I am somewhat confused about what kind of math Barton is practicing.
Republican Rep. Sam Johnson, TX-3
"Today's vote defines what kind of America we want to live in ... [I fought for freedom, yadda yadda] ... Freedom from a $2.6 trillion Washington take-over of healthcare, freedom from skyrocketing taxes, freedom bureaucrats coming between you and your doctor, freedom from exploding debt, freedom from the government forcing you to buy health insurance. ... What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your children and grandchildren? ... Join me in this fight for freedom, vote no."
Big scores for use of buzz-words. Evidently Johnson wants to leave his great-great-children with the legacy of 25% of household incomes going to insurance premiums.
Republican Rep. Kevin Brady, TX-8
"Now the government's short on money. They started rationing care. ... Folks, this is Massachusetts, today. Higher costs, slower care, rationing. That's why Massachusetts said 'NO' to Obamacare."
Over 25% of Texas residents are uninsured. 20% of Texas children are uninsured. Our premiums have risen over 91% over the past 10 years. This is the status quo Brady wants to keep. And how does he support his view? By invoking Massachusetts, where only 2.6% of residents are uninsured, and only 1.5% of children. Sounds like Kevin Brady is the person trying to ration care, by preventing Texans from receiving the health insurance they need to access affordable care.
It's no secret that the House version of health reform is a stronger, more progressive bill. That's what happens in a body with strict majority-rule, and none of this Nelson and Lieberman courting needed to get to 60 cloture votes.
The bill now moves to conference committee, where leaders from the House and Senate work to resolve differences between the two bodies' legislation. The House version has better cost controls, as well as a public option. It is imperative that we keep the pressure on and keep pushing for a better bill that can pass both bodies and be signed into law by President Obama.
Congressman Doggett, TX-25, sent out the following statement after the vote:
"Opening up this Senate health care package reveals much good wrapped up with unwise taxes on employer plans and too little competition for insurance monopolies. Let's take time for a little Christmas cheer now that the Senate finally acted, but make and keep a New Year's Resolution in the House demanding at least a little more consumer and taxpayer protection."
Come Monday, let's keep the pressure on. Folks in Texas can volunteer with Organizing for America to make calls into swing-vote Senators' states, encouraging their constituents to call in favor of a stronger bill to come out of committee. Folks in Blue Dog Congressional districts can call their Representatives in favor of an even stronger bill.
And folks in Austin can remind our one Democratic representative, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, that even though this bill is far from perfect, it goes a long way to insure the 24% of Texans who lack access to care. This bill may well become the greatest social achievement of our time, normalizing access to quality, affordable care for all Americans. There is room to improve, but so it was with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and many other government programs that are now viewed as the fabric of our society.
Two years ago, despite our majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats could only dream of one day passing sweeping health insurance reform legislation. Today, a Democratic president makes that reform not only possible but probable. We must all keep working to expand those majorities and elect more and better Democrats, in order to have the votes to pass the legislative changes we need.
Very, very early this morning, the Senate took an historic vote to pass sweeping health reform. This version of the bill--while far from perfect--will help insure millions of Americans who currently lack access to affordable, quality care. President Obama sent the following email following the vote:
In all the back and forth, it's easy to lose sight of what this incredible breakthrough really means. But consider this: This Christmas, there are millions of Americans without health insurance who risk losing everything if they get sick.
There are mothers and fathers who wonder how they'll provide for their children because an illness has wiped out their savings. There are small business owners who worry that they'll have to lay off a long-time employee because the cost of insurance is rapidly rising.
If we finish the job, all this can change. We will have beaten back the special interests who have for so long perpetuated the status quo. We will have enacted the most important piece of social policy since the Social Security Act in the 1930s, and the most important health reform since Medicare in the 1960s.
Success of the final bill means that within the near future, millions of Americans will have affordable insurance coverage. Millions will be spared the fear of medical bankruptcy, and millions will no longer have to choose between taking their child to the doctor and paying the light bill. This change is a holiday gift we can all be thankful for, no matter what we celebrate.
President Barack Obama continued:
There is still more to do before I can sign reform into law -- a last round of negotiations and final votes in the Senate and the House -- and I'm counting on your help every step of the way. But for now, I hope that as you celebrate this holiday season, you remember that the work you are doing is making our union more perfect, one step at a time. For that, I am grateful to you.
After this holiday weekend, we all need to keep the pressure on, contacting our officials in the House and Senate. A stronger bill can emerge from committee, but we the people need to advocate for it.
The President's email thanked everyone who called and organized in support of health reform, and asked us to sign a letter of thanks to those Senators who voted in favor of the bill. After all, it is just as important to thank our elected officials for doing the right thing as it is to challenge them when they do not.
I signed the letter, and I left a note:
"Thank you. As a citizen of Texas, my Senators do NOT want me to have access to affordable, quality care. They do not believe that we need reform, and are satisfied with the status quo. Those of us in Texas--where we average 24% uninsured--are depending on this reform to give us access to care and coverage. Thank you for doing what our own Senators would not--standing up for change, and standing up for the American people."
We're one step closer to historic health reform. There are still a few important steps to go, we should all be happy with today's progress.
So much for staying in D.C. to stop health reform, even at the expense of her political career. Per CSPAN, Hutchison's motion to send the health care bill back to committee was tabled. Cloture has been filed by Harry Reid, and now we shift our focus to getting 60 votes in the Senate to end debate.
Update 4:29 PM: Oops. Not quite. Cloture has not yet been filed, and we're still working to get 60 votes on a good bill in the Senate. Per the comments, cloture was filed on the defense spending bill.
So much for Hutchison's recent ad, blistering eyeballs during football games and reality TV programs across Texas:
"I'm going to do everything I can do stop the government takeover of health care. And it's why I'm staying in the Senate through the primary, at risk to my political future."
Evidently, "everything I can" means a failed motion to table the bill. Impressive.
A note: I intentionally did not embed the video (though the image is clickable through to YouTube) because I wanted to share with y'all the ironic hilarious advertisement that appeared at the bottom of the screen. "Turn yourself into a cartoon," indeed.
Senator John Cornyn seems confused. On Fox News this weekend, he said that giving millions of Americans access to quality, affordable care was totally the same thing as being sentenced to a Soviet prison labor camp.
Yes. You read that correctly.
John Cornyn stated that the Democrats' plan to give all Americans access to health care is the same thing as being sentenced to a Soviet prison labor camp.
Here's the quote (emphasis mine):
It will limit people's choices to, in many cases, to a government-run program like Medicaid which is essentially a health care gulag, because people will not have any choices but to take that poorly performing government plan.
Senator Cornyn seems confused. Perhaps many great works of Russian literature have fallen on his head. Allow me to set the record straight.
Medicaid is NOT the Same Thing as a Prison Labor Camp.
Medicaid is a program that provides low-income and disabled Americans with access to health care.
The Gulag was a system of penal camps, where folks were sentenced without trial for offenses such as unexcused absences from work, petty theft, or anti-government jokes.
Medicaid helps approximately 40 million low-income Americans receive access to medical care.
The Gulag imprisoned over 14 million people in 24 years, with another 6 million receiving deportation and exile from Russia.
60% of nursing home residents and 37% of all live births in the United States are paid for in part or full by Medicaid.
25% of the Gulag's population in the winter of 1941 alone died of starvation.
Receiving Access to Health Care is NOT the Same Thing as Going To Prison Labor Camp.
46 million Americans currently lack insurance coverage.
Imprisonment in the Gulag resulted in meager food rations, inadequate clothing, and (get this!) lack of health care.
Mortality amongst uninsured Americans is up to 2 times higher than it is amongst Americans with private or public insurance.
Mortality in Gulag camps was 4-6 times higher than the average in Russia.
Approximately 45,000 Americans die each year from lack of basic health insurance coverage and access to care.
According to Soviet records, 1,053,829 people died in the labor camps between 1934 and 1953.
So if we really want to make analogies between oppressive political systems and health care, let's make sure that we're pointing our metaphors in the right direction. Now, the experience of an average uninsured American is not the same as the experience of a person sentenced to harsh labor in Siberia. But if John Cornyn does want to make fancy historical references, I'd suggest he compare Stalinist Russia to the health insurance corporations that deny people health care for having acne.
Has the Republican opposition to health reform really fallen to this point? Where it becomes acceptable discourse to equate going to the doctor with going to a prison camp? I don't have much faith in our junior Senator, but even for John Cornyn this is really terrible.
I mean really. We have to explain to our Senator the difference between health care and penal labor camps?
If death panels weren't enough for the Republicans, now Lamar Smith is sending robo-calls across his district claiming that President Obama will incarcerate people who don't buy in to the public option. Evidently Lamar has been spending too much time reading Free Republic and getting policy advice from Sarah Palin.
"Under the health care plan Democrats passed, if you do not buy the government-prescribed health insurance, you can be fined or put in jail for up to five years. Do you want the government to have the power to make you buy health insurance?" -- Lamar Smith
So, I did a little research. First off, the Senate's two committee bills specifically prohibit penalities such as jail time. One can be assessed a tax for refusing to enroll in any insurance program. But both the Senate Finance and HELP bills specifically prohibit any punishment other than a tax for not getting insurance.
This distortion comes from the House bill's reference to the general penalties for folks who willfully refuse to pay their taxes. However, in practice, if someone refuses to pay the health-insurance related portion of taxes for political reasons or as an act of protest, a tax which will only be assessed if they refuse to enroll in any insurance at all, they're not going to jail.
Now, it is true that in America (as with most developed nations), if you choose to use illegal methods to deliberately avoid paying the taxes you owe you can go to jail. This level of tax evasion goes beyond accidentally misstating your income--we're talking about deliberate efforts to knowingly disguise income to avoid paying taxes on it. (Like, for instance, my former crazed Neo-Conservative boss who hid millions of income in the Caymans. True story.)
So honestly, unless there are some "good patriots" out there planning a Wesley Snipes-level of tax evasion (whom prosecutors allege owes over $2.7 million in unpaid taxes) you're not going to jail for not paying your taxes. And really? If you have so much money you even owe $2.7 million in taxes? You can afford health insurance, and you're not the problem here. (Other famous jailed tax evaders? Joe "Girls Gone Wild" Francis and Richard "Survivor Winner" Hatch. Not a good club. Pay your taxes.)
An interesting side note: folks who refuse to pay all or part of their taxes in a form of protest against the government (war tax resisters, for example) have virtually no history of receiving criminal prosecution. So, tax-haters, you can even protest this penalty for refusing insurance by protesting the tax, and have no fear of going to jail.
This scaremongering from Lamar Smith sounds like the rest of our Texas Republicans in Congress, who spent most of the House floor debate yelling about how having insurance imperils our freedom. Ah, yes. Our freedom. Our freedom to be denied insurance for a pre-existing condition like acne. Our freedom to go bankrupt from medical bills. Our freedom to choose between paying for prescriptions or paying the rent.
Texas Republicans want to preserve the status quo--24% of Texas residents uninsured, 20% of Texas children uninsured--the worst statistics of any state in the nation. These lies and distortions have been spreading around the Republican base, aided and abetted in part by one Sarah Palin, who in addition to fanning the flames of the "death panels" lie, has been promulgating the idea that Nancy Pelosi wants to throw good, honest tax evaders in jail.
Fact is, the average American family pays $1,077 per year to cover the costs of uninsured Americans, who--like those of us with insurance--still get sick, and are often forced into the emergency room as a result. So while the Republicans keep fear-mongering and riling up their base, Americans are dying from lack of basic care. Seems to me that I'd want my elected officials to focus more on that... Rather than suggesting that President Obama and/or Nancy Pelosi want me to go to jail.
He's at it again! John Cornyn, who really hates that the government funds social safety-net programs to help working Americans, has been positioning himself as a "staunch defender" of Medicare in the Senate health reform debate. From his 30-second TV spot that aired around Texas a few weeks back to his comments today, it's clear that Senator Cornyn would rather mislead the people of Texas than help them have access to affordable, quality health care.
CORNYN SAYS: "The question that I have and I--why in the world would you take money out of the Medicare program that is scheduled to go insolvent in 2017 that has tens of trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities, why would you take almost half a trillion dollars out of Medicare to create yet another entitlement program that no doubt will be -- will have many of the problems that we see now under our current entitlement programs? It just does not make sense if you are guided by the facts. ... Now, some of my colleagues have claimed that these cuts won't hurt patients, but many people, including me, disagree." -- Senate Floor, 12/2/09
But wait! John Cornyn is wrong:
FACT: The Health Reform Bill will extend Medicare solvency by five years. From the AARP, experts on policies impacting folks over 50: "In fact, budget experts say, without cutting guaranteed benefits, both bills shore up the solvency of the Medicare trust fund for five additional years."
FACT: Health Reform Will Enhance Drug Coverage. From the New York Times: "the various reform bills now pending should actually make Medicare better for most beneficiaries - by enhancing their drug coverage, [and] reducing the premiums they pay for drugs and medical care."
FACT: Health Reform will not hurt patients. Again, the AARP is on it: "This bill includes critical priorities for seniors - critical - ensures quality, affordable health coverage options for all Americans, provides and strengthens Medicare for today's seniors and future generations and puts us on a path to improving our long-term health system."
Let's all savor the irony of John Cornyn telling folks to be "guided by the facts" as he stands on the Senate floor and deliberately distorts them. All in a day's work for our junior Senator, I suppose. That leaves us with just one more bullet point:
FACT: John Cornyn would rather see the people of Texas retain our 24% uninsured rate than let a Democratic President pass a successful health reform bill.
As the House of Representatives continues debate on health reform, we've heard appalling untruths from Republicans and heart-wrenching stories from the Democrats. One of our great Texas Democratic representatives stood up tonight to oppose the Republican "alternative," that won't insure the 37 million Americans who lack coverage, and won't cut costs as well as the Democratic bill.
To help cover huge medical bills in Bastrop, Texas, they hold a Main Street pancake supper, an American Legion auction. Essential health care shouldn't depend on the kindness of strangers, the goodness of neighbors, and certainly not the just say "No" of Republicans or the weak tea parties brewed up by the insurance lobby.
Now, belatedly, they offer a scheme as skimpy as a hospital gown. They do nothing to help seniors. Their proposal is inefficient, ineffective, and wasteful. Masquerading as reform, their bill authorizes insurers to continue denying coverage for pre-existing health conditions, such as acne or a C-section. Republican obstructionism has, itself, become a giant pre-existing condition to any meaningful change.
This is a typical old time Republican medicine show--do a little for 5% of the uninsured, do nothing for the other 95% and leave the portion of American families uninsured largely unchanged. The only thing they propose more of is more insurance policy loopholes. Freedom? The only freedom they offer is the freedom to go broke from medical debts - the leading cause of personal bankruptcy.
24% of Texas residents are uninsured, the highest rate in the nation. We have the most uninsured adults, and the most uninsured children. Tonight, all Texans are lucky to have Rep. Lloyd Doggett fighting for our access to quality, affordable healthcare on the floor of the House tonight.
If you can't follow along at CSPAN, I've been live-Tweeting the highs and lows: @KathTX. I'll have some of the better comments from our Texas delegation tomorrow.
