15 Responses to “The U.S. House passes historic health care bill with bipartisan support!”

1. kayinmaine
   November 8th, 2009 @ 10:34 am

   I love Congressman Mike Michaud of Maine! Here’s what he said in his latest press release on the historic health care reform vote:

   WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud issued the following statement on the pending vote in the House of Representatives on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. A fact sheet produced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on how this legislation will affect Maine’s second congressional district can be found here.

   Today, I will join my colleagues in taking another important step in a journey that began almost a century ago.

   After hundreds of meetings, hours of careful consideration, and lots of soul searching, I have decided to lend my support to the historic opportunity that confronts us today. Although I continue to have serious concerns with pieces of the health care reform package, I have decided that being at the table will more effectively advance the interests of the people of Maine than by standing on the sidelines. I will support the bill before the House today because this process must move forward.

   Three House committees completed their work and blended those proposals into the bill we’re considering tonight. I have taken the time to read and carefully study all 1,990 pages of the bill and the accompanying amendments.

   This bill is not perfect. Since August, I have raised several concerns over this legislation. Most specifically, I remain concerned about parts of the bill that cut Medicare and Medicaid. These cuts would unfairly impact Maine due to our unique situation as having one of the most efficient health care systems in the country, while receiving some of the lowest reimbursement rates for services provided. These concerns were raised by many in Maine, and I have made sure that they have been heard by the highest levels of government in our nation.

   This week, I have repeatedly discussed my concerns with the White House and directly with the President. I am pleased that he understood my concerns as they relate to Maine and pledged to work with me to address them in a meaningful way within the context of this bill as it moves forward. I will also redouble my efforts with Senator Snowe to ensure that rural access to health care is protected and strengthened in the State of Maine as both the House and Senate move forward toward a final bill.

   Let me be clear. My vote today does not guarantee where I will ultimately come down on the future conference report. But this work is too important to fail, and I could not in good conscience let the perfect be the enemy of the possible.

   To those in Maine who have legitimate concerns over the direction of reform – please know that I have heard them and that I will continue to fight to strengthen this legislation. But we cannot allow unfounded fear of death panels and government takeovers of health care derail this important opportunity. These claims were always untrue, and they are untrue today.

   We must come together and get the best possible bill passed so that the Mainers I represent not only have more affordable coverage – but coverage that meets their needs. Later tonight, I will say yes to expanding health care coverage to the thousands of small businesses and people in Maine who do not have it and, to those who do, making it more affordable and better. Today, I will say yes to ending the practice of denying coverage due to preexisting conditions and other abusive insurance industry abuses.

   Being able to get quality health care should never be a question for any American. The bill we passed today is a good step forward. It will help make sure that no American goes broke because they get sick or is ever denied coverage. This is an historic day, but more work lies ahead. I look forward to continuing to work toward meaningful reform that is good for Maine.

2. Meghan
   November 8th, 2009 @ 5:20 pm

   ONE Republican hardly counts as bi-partisan.

   Bullshit, it did count when the repubies got ONE lonely dem to vote for their crapola, so as usual a double standard is working here,

   bi partisan when the criminal repubies need it to be, but not when the liars and crooks in the party of NO don’t eh?

   stupid reich winger

3. kayinmaine
   November 8th, 2009 @ 6:34 pm

   Really? Well then how do you explain Joe Lieberman (a Democrat) being the ONLY Democrat to vote in republican bills under George Bush and the republicans doing pressers stating the bill was a bipartisan bill? Oh wait! It’s okay when republicans do this, huh?

4. kayinmaine
   November 8th, 2009 @ 6:34 pm

   One republican and one Democrat agreeing on the same thing would be bipartisan wouldn’t it? Bahhahahahahaha! This is fun.

5. pete in texas
   November 8th, 2009 @ 9:14 pm

   They passed a bill that the majority of the American People are against. It was accomplished by strong arm tactics and, hopefully, will result in the demise of madam pelosi. Never has one person done more to destroy the democratic party than her. We need a leader in the house not someone who is so crooked she is transparent.
   She will be exposed and than we can find a democrat leader who is good for the party and for the nation.

6. kayinmaine
   November 9th, 2009 @ 7:34 am

   The majority of the people want a public option. It’s in there, Pete. You’re part of the right wing fringe who supports the health insurance companies while the rest of us support the Americans who don’t have health care insurance and need it.

   Denny Hastert R-IL was CROOKED. Remember him or were you not paying attention under George Bush? And then there’s Tom Delay! Remember him? Oh wait! Again, ole Pete just started paying attention when Glenn Beck told him to form armed militias against health care reform!

   Idiot.

7. pete in texas
   November 9th, 2009 @ 12:52 pm

   Well Kay you are wrong on all counts, you really should try to become informed instead of just lashing out at anyone who has a reasonable opinion.

   I am not a republican but neither am do I follow the democrats no matter whet they try to do, that what happens when you have an informed opinion instead, you actually think for yourself.

   This is a bill that few if any of our elected officials read, gave away several of the things it should have contained and was pushed through so pelosi could say she got it through the house regardless of what it contained.

   I support government assistance in healthcare but this is not it. You really should give up being a yellow dog democrat and become a thinking one.

8. kayinmaine
   November 9th, 2009 @ 6:20 pm

   Oh suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure you’re not a republican. Let me guess….You’re an “independent who leans right”? Yep! You betcha!

   There is plenty of time to perfect the bill. The goal right now is to get through committee, then through the Senate for President Obama to sign into law. Then it’s about getting more liberal progressives elected into office to make sure this bill will be the lowest cost insurance option out there for Americans to purchase!

   Implementation is 2013, did you know that wingnut? I doubt it.

   If conservatives are elected next year and so on, SAY HELLO TO HEALTH INSURANCE RAPING AMERICA’S ASSES EVEN MORE THAN THEY HAVE ALREADY! Oh, but you’ll be fine with that, right?

9. pete in texas
   November 10th, 2009 @ 1:03 pm

   I didn’t say I was an independent, I just said I am not a republican.

   If the government is involved in the implementation of a healthcare program it will provide less service at a higher cost.
   Wrong, the VA health care system proves your a right wing lying troll and nothing more, probably a stupid libertarian to boot
   I have tried to think of one thing the government has a hand in that works.
   Post Office is broke
   because of the downturn in the economy, which has reduced their income however they can’t as easily drop post offices or carriers because they are required to serve all americans, nice that you conviently ignore the reality of the situation.
   Amtrak looses $35.00 for every rider
   because of the way the republiscum lead by bush has tried very hard to destroy their business so they could be sold to the private sector, where passenger rail service failed decades ago,
   too bad republiscum won’t let Amtrak to follow the European example and make train travel one real option instead of trying to kill it
   SS is broke
   No, currently it is not broke, future projections claim it will go broke however since that has not happened yet yto claim it is broke is dishonest at best … the SS trust fund currently has a 4 trillion dollar surplus son tell the truth
   Medicare is broke
   No, since it is a federally funded program it can only be broke if congress refuses to fund it, however that hasn’t happened yet, so quit lying
   Medicaid is broke
   No , it is not same as Medicare
   GM is broke and now wants more money
   Yep, it is, since they actually followed the stupid greed over all lassez-faire capitalism meme they fucked up and went bankrupt. GM refused to change till they went broke just like the republiscum refused to change till they have become a rump party of NO in american politics
   Fannie Mae is asking for more money after causing the worst housing debacle in history
   another lie son, the wall Street scam wasn’t created in fannie nor did fannie play in the scam while Goldman, AIG, Lehman brothers, JP Morgan and Merril lynch fucked the entire planets economy up,
   Quit Lying son
   After approving 850 billion in a job stimulus program, unemployment is up but it did create 600K jobs mostly in government.
   Unemployment began rising in 2008 while Bush, Cheney, Paulson ignored it and even claimed the economy was sound. since employment is a lagging part of any recovery, this won’t change till the crap lassez-faire screw everyone for greed capitalism style of the republiscum and those they serve is crushed like FDR did in the 1930’s… but nice try at deflecting blame for the trickle down fuck every one but the rich economic system Reagan and both Bush’s pushed for decades till the whole system crashed, just like last time the stupid economic principles of lassez-faire ignore the consequences was tried
   Now lets make the government responsible for your healthcare, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

   I am a believer in fire all the politicians and start over. If they had to earn a living most couldn’t.

   Typical libertarian juvenile praddle, what else could you expect from somebody who is so wrong on so much?

   Well Kay you are wrong on all counts, you really should try to become informed instead of just lashing out at anyone who has a reasonable opinion.

   Sounds like somebody ought to take his own advice

   clif

10. Temple Of The Dog
    November 10th, 2009 @ 4:15 pm

    This Pete clown sounds exactly like the clowns from a site in Minnesota. Could be….but then all republicans are ignorant and sound the same.

11. pete in texas
    November 10th, 2009 @ 6:37 pm

    I assume you delete opinions that differ from your own and that is the reason my last post was deleted. It does appear you agree with me on government incompetence since you have yet to point out one thing they do with any sort of competence.

    Well son your assumption has made an ass outa you, cause

    First of all I don’t do demands of classical juvenile fooles like you,

    Second of all i don’t agree with ya at all foole.

    You take the stand that it is all republican’s who are at fault,

    Since they had control for 14 years in the congress and eight years in the white house along with the failed philosophy they pushed that if ya remove the goberment all would be well, Reagan’s second biggest lie ……….

    They did fer wall street and that crashed big time …… Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999 (all republiscum)repeal of Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, which allowed wall street to become a casino and hide from regulators their more onerous bets till the whole house of cards crashed

    Second they pushed real hard for privatization of goberment which is why so much fails like the private contractors who fucked up in Iraq while receiving billions of tax payers borrowed dollars.

    Or how contractors made billions screwing the residents of the Gulf coast especially Katrina victims, (hint the trailers that rotted in Arkansas), private contractors got paid well fer that screw up.

    Of course how they screech fer Amtrak to mimic private rail companies who failed totally at running passenger rail in the 60’s instead of how the Europeans and Japanese SUCCESSFULLY promote and operate passenger rail

    Or how they semi privatized the post office to see costs rise while you claim service is failing

    that was the dumb as dirt republiscum

    I take the stance that it is unilateral with both sides sharing the blame.

    which is why you sound so stupid most of the time

    Maybe we should throw them all out and put Kay in charge since she knows everything.

    See how stupid you sound

    Or maybe Cliff since he has been to Afghanistan and knows what the people there want.

    sorry but another wrong assumption pulled outa yer asshole son

    Never been to Afghanistan , many other places while serving but never there.

12. kayinmaine
    November 11th, 2009 @ 9:05 am

    Here’s the reality:

    THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES A GREAT SERVICE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, and it’s the citizens, WHO COMMIT FRAUD AND FUCK IT UP.

    See? Prove me wrong.

13. pete in texas
    November 11th, 2009 @ 9:16 am

    I guess since you stated you knew what the Afgan people wanted,

    Well shit fer brains they keep saying it, to the S Russians when they were there, British when they were there …. get the picture yet numbnuts?

    US out, that you had been there, my error because I forgot you speak without knowledge just conjecture.

    No cause I can read both English translations of both Pakistani and Afghan papers, something you seem not to have done … nice to see how ignorant you really are …. keep it up you make a good argument that right wingers are ignorant most of the time

    You have no answer to what the government does right so we will leave it that I am correct and you agree.

    Sorry son just because I don’t play your third grade games doesn’t mean we agree on any thing, try that crap on the freeper cl;owns and goofballs

    Stupid is as stupid does and you have yet to show something intelligent here

14. Temple Of The Dog
    November 11th, 2009 @ 11:02 am

    Geez Pete….do you ever pick up a newspaper and read it or watch anything other then the FUX entertainment channel? The Afghan people have wanted us out of their country for a while now just as the Iraqi people wanted us out of their country. Boy you are stupid!

15. pete in texas
    November 11th, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

    Doggie, your opinions like you do

    Stupid is believing what you read in the newspapers. If you believe what is in the newspapers Obama has an approval rating of 52% but another says 42% so what do you believe, the answer is what you choose to believe.

    Stupid is ONLY using Corporate owned US media to form

    I have yet to see a vote by the Afgan people on wanting us out but I may have missed that.

    all votes ain’t done by ballots, the original vote to create this country didn’t use ballots but bullets, and by that measure the afghans have voted out many foreign troops and their government lackeys

    Looks like our fearless leader is on the fence about what to do in Afghanistan so he must not have seen the vote either.

    No shit fer brains he just can’t figure out how to clean uop the total fuck up the republiscum lead by Bush and cheney made ovver there, sorta like the way republiscum fuck things up then dump their messes on others to clean up.

    See CIA-bay of pigs, Eisenhower/Nixon mess dumped om Kennedy,

    Vietnam Eisenhower/Nixon mess dumped on Kennedy

    Reagan/Bush Iraqi mess dumped on Clinton.

    Bush’s Somolia mess dumped on Clinton.

    Bush/Cheney Iraqi mess dumped on Obama.

    Bush/Cheney Afghan mess dumped on Obama

    Seems to be a trend here