Single Payer Health Care

Channel Zero · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:12 am

I'm tired of hearing how competition will fix the health care system.

The only competition we're seeing is who can one-up the other in terms of cost.

And you don't need tax incentives to move workers off of employer-sponsored plans, you need single payer.

And why the heck would a worker move away from a good employer sponsored program for something that would be less guaranteed?

Republicans repudiate single-payer health care

Quote:

By Andy Birkey , Minnesota Monitor | Monday, December 17, 2007

Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives released their plan for health care reform in the state on Tuesday. Attacking single-payer systems and government-sponsored programs, they claimed that freedom of choice and competition are the only solution to rising health care prices and a growing number of uninsured Minnesotans.

"Putting people into state and federal subsidized health care is not reform. It is not the cure for the rising costs of health care, nor is it a guarantee that consumers will continue to have access to quality health care," House Minority Leader Marty Seifert said in a press release Tuesday. "They must be engaged in taking responsibility for their own health. Government subsidies can not keep up with cost increases. Either taxes will increase dramatically or services will be rationed and waiting lists will become common if the government becomes the principal payer."

The Republicans' plan involves setting up tax incentives to move workers off employer-sponsored plans, rejecting a universally mandated health insurance program, creating a health data bank on a wallet card instead of medial files, removing state employees from state insurance plans and onto the private sector and shrinking the Department of Health and Human Services.

"Reform must ultimately rely on a market solution, not moving people into a state-sponsored program," Seifert said. "There are some individuals who need our help, and we need to help them. However, just enrolling more people does absolutely nothing to reduce the cost of health care. We have to address the disease to prevent the symptoms, and not just keep on giving away Band-Aids."
,,,

dori · **Posted:** Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:49 am

H.R.676

Title: To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] (introduced 1/24/2007) Cosponsors (90)

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

COSPONSORS(90), BY DATE

Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 1/24/2007
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/24/2007
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 1/24/2007
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 1/24/2007
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 1/24/2007
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 1/24/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/24/2007
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 1/24/2007
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 1/24/2007
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 1/24/2007
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 1/24/2007
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 1/24/2007
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 1/24/2007
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 1/24/2007
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 1/24/2007
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 1/24/2007
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 1/24/2007
Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7] - 1/24/2007
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 1/24/2007
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 1/24/2007
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 1/24/2007
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 1/24/2007
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 1/24/2007
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 1/24/2007
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 1/24/2007
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 1/24/2007
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 1/24/2007
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 1/24/2007
Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5] - 1/24/2007
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 1/24/2007
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 1/24/2007
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 1/24/2007
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 1/24/2007
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 1/24/2007
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 1/24/2007
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 1/24/2007
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 1/24/2007
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 1/24/2007
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 1/24/2007
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 1/24/2007
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 1/24/2007
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 1/24/2007
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 1/29/2007
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 1/29/2007
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 1/29/2007
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 1/29/2007
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 2/6/2007
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 2/7/2007
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 2/7/2007
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 2/12/2007
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 2/12/2007
Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] - 2/12/2007
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 2/13/2007
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 2/16/2007
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 2/16/2007
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 2/27/2007
Rep Udall, Tom [NM-3] - 2/27/2007
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 2/27/2007
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 2/27/2007
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 3/7/2007
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 3/21/2007
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 3/21/2007
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 3/27/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 4/17/2007
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 4/17/2007
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 4/17/2007
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 4/23/2007
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 4/30/2007
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 5/3/2007
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 5/8/2007
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 5/23/2007
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 6/12/2007
Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] - 6/13/2007
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 6/15/2007
Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2] - 6/26/2007
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 7/23/2007
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 9/6/2007
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 9/17/2007
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 9/20/2007
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] - 9/20/2007
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 9/20/2007
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 9/20/2007
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 9/24/2007
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 10/1/2007
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 10/9/2007
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 11/9/2007
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 12/11/2007
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 1/22/2008
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 4/22/2008
Rep Clyburn, James E. [SC-6] - 4/24/2008

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00676:@@@N

Channel Zero · **Posted:** Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:21 pm

Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, makes a case for continuing war despite our financial woes.

That being the case, we should not feel guilty for making that argument for better healthcare.

Gates: Financial Woes No Excuse To Avoid Funding Afghanistan War

Quote:

ANNE GEARAN | November 22, 2008 07:33 AM EST | AP

CORNWALLIS, Nova Scotia — Even in a global financial crisis, the world cannot afford to skimp on its obligations to Afghanistan, which wants to double the size of its army but will never be able to pay for it, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.
...

Mr. Gates, we have National Priorities. And we've played war games enough.

A Proud Liberal · **Posted:** Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:26 pm

Channel Zero wrote:

Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, makes a case for continuing war despite our financial woes.

That being the case, we should not feel guilty for making that argument for better healthcare.

. . . . .

Mr. Gates, we have National Priorities. And we've played war games enough.

What's even more disturbing to me is the suggestion that Obama keep Gates as Secretary of Defense. No cabinet level appointment made by the War Chimp should be carried over by Obama! That is NOT the change voted for by the people. If Obama wants to use someone from the Chimp's administration for Secretary of Defense, Collin Powell makes a lot more sense. Personally I would prefer Wesley Clark as a more realistic and pragmatic approach.

What Gates misses is that a primary cause of our financial woes is the war spending. No wars, no financial woes. Also no profits for the current take over Amerika.

dori · **Posted:** Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:18 am

Quote:

No wars, no financial woes. Also no profits for the current take over Amerika.

There is the nub of the problem. Profits.

How loudly can these people say we don't give a fig about anyone but ourselves?

Channel Zero · **Posted:** Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:32 pm

I'm wondering what a president Obama will do if a single payer bill does come across his oval office desk.

dori · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:12 pm

With 90 cosponsors of the bill, that is a possibility. Obama has not shown an interest in single payer. This could be interesting.

dee35ann · **Joined:** Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:53 pm **Posts:** 256

The U.S. Government owes $2.67 trillion to foreign governments and investors - 20% of our total GDP. And that number has grown rapidly. In 2001,China held $61.5 billion in U.S.debt. Now it has $541 billion, "says James Ludes of the bipartisan American Security Project in Washington,D.C. "In 2001, we owed Russia less than $10 billion. Now it's $474.4 billion. "The debt is sold to other countries in the form of U.S. Treasury securities. "We also have to pay interest on these securities," adds federal budget expert Doug Elmendorf. In coming years, a big chunk of our country's wealth will leave our economy and go overseas to pay back the loans. Will this outflow of cash affect our standing in the world? The U.S. emerged as a major global power after World War I, and the U.K.declined in part because we owed so much British debt. Ironically, today the U.K. is our third largest creditor.
COUNTRIES THAT OWN THE MOST U.S. DEBT
Japan $585.9 billion
China $541 billion
United Kingdom $307.4 billion
OPEC nations* $179.8 billion
Caribbean
banking centers** $147.7 billion
*Algeria, Angola, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, and
Venezuela
**Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, and British Virgin Islands

Source: U.S. Department of the treasury/Federal Reserve. For a complete list of U.S. creditors, visit Parade.com/intel

An interesting article I ran across in the Parade Supplement of our Sunday Middletown Journal owned by Cox Publishers (A very strong Republican - but I am seeing them swing a little from the center - but they still have a long way to go to satisfy me. They are hurting because not enough subscribers to make much of a profit. Cox also owns the Dayton Daily News.)

dori · **Posted:** Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:10 am

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=12772

Quote:

Obama Policymakers Turn to Campaign Tools
Network of Supporters Tapped on Health-Care Issues
By Ceci Connolly / Washington Post
Barack Obama's incoming administration has begun to draw on the high-tech organizational tools that helped get him elected to lay the groundwork for an attempt to restructure the U.S. health-care system.
Former senator Thomas A. Daschle, Obama's point person on health care, launched an effort to create political momentum yesterday in a conference call with 1,000 invited supporters culled from 10,000 who had expressed interest in health issues, promising it would be the first of many opportunities for Americans to weigh in.

Quote:

In seeking to translate its political skills to policymaking, the incoming administration faces potential legal and political pitfalls. It is not clear, for instance, whether Obama can legally use his list of campaign supporters in the White House; the database would probably become government property. So far, the transition team has gotten around that issue by encouraging people to register on its Web site, Change.gov. Those names and e-mail addresses go into a new database, which can be tapped to generate activities such as house parties, YouTube videos and viral discussions to rally support.

http://change.gov/page/content/discusshealthcare

58 pages of comments on our health care. No more comments are accepted, but I do like the form Obama's forum takes.

http://www.healthcare-now.org/

Organizing for National Single-Payer HR 676" One Plan, One Nation

http://www.healthcare-now.org/hr-676/

About HR 676

I don't think it is going to happen, but it is good that people are fighting for it!

dori · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:12 am

Quote:

Insurers Seek Presence at Health Care Sessions

When supporters of President-elect Barack Obama hold house parties to discuss ways of fixing the health care system over the next two weeks, they may find some unexpected guests.
............
Mary R. Grealy, president of the Health Care Leadership Council, which represents large health care corporations, said her group intended to hold community meetings in California, Georgia and Oklahoma, among other states. The council is a coalition of chief executives from 40 companies including Aetna, Ascension Health, CVS Caremark, Eli Lilly, Medtronic, Merck and Pfizer.

And...

http://change.gov/page/s/hcdiscussion

Quote:

Sign up to lead a Health Care Community Discussion in your home, community center, or even a local coffee shop, anytime until December 31st.

Set up your own party and serve eggnog and cookies to WellPoint's CEO

Single Payer Health Care

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