Next steps for ObamaCare: Senate, Coburn and Conference.
Yesterday the House passed what some will deem hallmark legislation by a minuscule margin of 5 votes. Pelosi's version of the health care reform (HCR) is the largest (2,000 pages) and most expensive version of any other bill we have seen to date, far outdoing the Senate version by almost two trillion dollars. Yes, trillion.
Here comes the fun part. Harry Reid has to now pass his version in the Senate and it's extremely unlikely he will be using Pelosi's version considering it is laced with mandates, crippling taxes and other surprises that people have yet to find. He will have to jam his own version through despite threats from people like Joe Lieberman and Olympia Snowe that they are concerned about the cost. Assuming he does accomplish that with enough amendments, the two bills are going to a conference committee. At this point they will need to be merged into the final bill and voted in both chambers of Congress. At this point things could get really sticky, because Pelosi's version only passed by 5 votes any mild changes could tip the balance. Because the post conference committee bill cannot be amended it will have to be perfect such that both the Senate and House could agree, a most challenging feat.
There is another glimmer of hope for those mortally afraid of this monstrosity in Oklahoma's Tom Coburn who has actually threatened to read the entire bill on the Senate floor. Although unlike the Politico piece, there is nothing threatening or strange about following procedure especially when it's being done by a registered doctor! This will not only delay the debate significantly, but will also expose all the hidden nooks and crannies thereby making the debate more legitimate. Do you think ANYONE in the House who supported the bill actually voted on it? Do you realize how perverse our legislation process has become? This is a slap in the face of not only the traditions of this country, but it's core foundation.
As a last note, those reading this and wondering whether I support health care reform at all, rest assured I absolutely do. However it does not involve expanding Medicaid which is already crippling state budgets or creating more agencies and departments. No, the rising costs of health insurance can be entirely blamed on government as it is - and minimal research can prove this fact. Although dismantling things like Medicare/Medicaid is next to impossible at the moment there are many ways to make health insurance more affordable. Capping malpractice liabilities, allowing insurance companies to be sold across state lines and expanding Health Saving Accounts can do wonders. We also need to return health care to what it originally used to be - interaction between patient and doctor. Currently we have interaction between patient, insurance and doctor and this leads to out of control costs and poor care. We can fix our system and we do not need to spend any additional dollars doing so.
Here comes the fun part. Harry Reid has to now pass his version in the Senate and it's extremely unlikely he will be using Pelosi's version considering it is laced with mandates, crippling taxes and other surprises that people have yet to find. He will have to jam his own version through despite threats from people like Joe Lieberman and Olympia Snowe that they are concerned about the cost. Assuming he does accomplish that with enough amendments, the two bills are going to a conference committee. At this point they will need to be merged into the final bill and voted in both chambers of Congress. At this point things could get really sticky, because Pelosi's version only passed by 5 votes any mild changes could tip the balance. Because the post conference committee bill cannot be amended it will have to be perfect such that both the Senate and House could agree, a most challenging feat.
There is another glimmer of hope for those mortally afraid of this monstrosity in Oklahoma's Tom Coburn who has actually threatened to read the entire bill on the Senate floor. Although unlike the Politico piece, there is nothing threatening or strange about following procedure especially when it's being done by a registered doctor! This will not only delay the debate significantly, but will also expose all the hidden nooks and crannies thereby making the debate more legitimate. Do you think ANYONE in the House who supported the bill actually voted on it? Do you realize how perverse our legislation process has become? This is a slap in the face of not only the traditions of this country, but it's core foundation.
As a last note, those reading this and wondering whether I support health care reform at all, rest assured I absolutely do. However it does not involve expanding Medicaid which is already crippling state budgets or creating more agencies and departments. No, the rising costs of health insurance can be entirely blamed on government as it is - and minimal research can prove this fact. Although dismantling things like Medicare/Medicaid is next to impossible at the moment there are many ways to make health insurance more affordable. Capping malpractice liabilities, allowing insurance companies to be sold across state lines and expanding Health Saving Accounts can do wonders. We also need to return health care to what it originally used to be - interaction between patient and doctor. Currently we have interaction between patient, insurance and doctor and this leads to out of control costs and poor care. We can fix our system and we do not need to spend any additional dollars doing so.
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