US Senate Passes Obama health bill

[mrstickball]

Jackson5050 said:

mrstickball said:
If the debate was enough, then how did we end up with this abomination of a bill? The Republicans tried to negotiate by offering alternate plans. The administration did not want them.

The Republicans made no genuine effort to negotiate with the Senate Democrats. I am surprised you would defend the Republicans. I always pegged you as a nonpartisan-I still do, although this makes your defense of the GOP more baffling. Regardless, the GOP was a laughingstock throughout the process. Their alternative plans were poorly constructed and embarrassing. The only worthwhile provision the GOP proposed which the Democrats had not already adopted was malpractice reform. Yes, I am vexed that the Democrats have not addressed it. Had there been a few Republicans willing to support the bill in exchange for that provision being included, I think the Democrats would have capitulated. Unfortunately, that did not transpire.

Also, if you do not want an "abomination" of a bill, then more debate will not accomplish that. The only thing more debate accomplishes, and this pertains to any bill, is more disparate provisions patched together attempting to satisfy every interest group. The negotiations and debate on healthcare began in April. I think ~8-1/2 months suffice.

How were the Republicans supposed to negotiate with the senate Dems? Every quote I've read is that they requested to meet with Pelosi and Obama concerning HC reform, and were never allowed into the discussion.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/52896

That links to 3 of the Republican bills - What were wrong with them to where they should not have been considered over the monstrosity that was just passed in the senate?

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/CBO-Prepublican-health-plan-would-reduce-premiums--69270747.html

What is wrong with this bill, which would cut costs, and not require an egregious amount of money to fund?

 

I understand the desire of insuring another ~36 million people, but when government healthcare is 80% more expensive than private insurance, I have serious doubts. I think that, regardless of party, we need HC reform, but by proposing a ~$800 billion dollar bill (like the dems did) is not going to fix the problem - it is only paying for the difference between those not insured, rather than tackling the root causes of the need for HC reform which costs nothing.