Enter Olympia Snowe. Her move is important, not because she's Republican (the Senate needs only 51 votes to pass this) but because she's well-respected and considered non-partisan, and therefore offers some cover to Democrats who may need it. Last night Snowe hosted a private meeting between members and staffers about a new proposal Pharma and Insurance are floating, and apparently she's already gained the tentative support of several Democrats (including Ron Wyden and Thomas Carper). Under Snowe's proposal, the public option would kick in years from now, but it would be triggered only if insurance companies fail to bring down healthcare costs and expand coverage in he meantime.
What's the catch?
First, these conditions are likely to be achieved by other pieces of the emerging legislation; for example, computerized records will bring down costs a tad, and a mandate requiring everyone to have coverage will automatically expand coverage. If it ever comes to it, Pharma and Insurance can argue that their mere participation fulfills their part of the bargain, so no public option will need to be triggered. Second, as Pharma and Insurance well know, "years from now" in legislative terms means never. There will never be a better time than now to enact a public option. If it's not included, in a few years the public's attention will be elsewhere.
Much the same dynamic is occurring in the House. Two members who had originally supported single payer told me that Pharma and Insurance have launched the same strategy there, and many House members are looking to see what happens in the Senate. Snowe's "trigger" is already buzzing among members.
No legislation is better than fake legislation. The first is a "fail" for politicians. The second is a massive FAIL for the public. I don't give two shits about the FKDP
's fund-raising strategery for the mid-terms; I care about sane health care policy.
Better an open wound, then a wound festering under a bandaid. At least the open wound has a chance of healing in the air, but the undressed, festering wound will create an even worse infection.
UPDATE Susie has more.
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Just last week
I called Wyden's DC and local offices to complain about his rolling over on health care...but this is just outrageous. He has NO re-election problems in ultra safe Oregon but he is an ambitious SOB. He must have backed Hillary since his COS was Hill's campaign chairman for Oregon, and he has been working on health care for a looooong time.
He was walking on air for a brief period when he thought he might be named Sec DHS after Daschle's nomination blew up. So the money question is: why would he do this?
What did his office people tell you about Wyden's strange stands
on the current health care vs. Big Health Insurance Parasite Protection debate?
Why has he gone to the dark side, working against the little people?
Probably just did the ol' pass you message on to the senator crap, right?
What are political analysts in Oregon saying is causing Wyden to crap out on us?
Could you ask to talk to whomever is doing policy analysis on health care?
Pols do the darnedest things....
This is outrageous
Maine has one of the strongest single payer movements in the nation. Snowe's action are in direct opposition to the wishes of her constituents. Shame on her. Shame on her.
It feels to me like
corporations that handle essentials are simply banding together and making as much money as they can before someone takes action. Like the price of gas skyrocketing during the Bush admin and the oil companies making huge profits. Now this. It just fels like the same thing. You know, Smith's conspiracy against the people.
It'll be as big a fail as auto insurance mandates. One third of Cali drivers aren't covered because they can't afford it. With health insurance premiums regularly topping $800 for even healthy people over 50, how many people will simply be uncovered until they qualify for Medicare? And what are the odds that you won't qualify for medicare if you haven't been paying insurance premiums?
It's very panful knowing that your national government would just as soon see you die.
"Someone needs to point out that elephants produce infinitely more shit than donkeys." Brad Mays
Olympia Snowe is not a girl.
I realize that "Maine girl" is some kind of state of Maine thingy. However, my hide has noticed a few times over the last day or so that it is getting chapped at the sight of a U.S. Senator, however deluded she may be, being called a "girl", however beloved and respected the caller may be by the rest of my organism.
Please spare my hide such chapping in the future.
It thanks you.
We will push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop.
It is a state of Maine thing
And I meant to constrast it's supposed cutesiness with the viciousness of the action (which is also contrary to the interests and the expressed wishes of the voters of Maine.)
See what happened when the same operatives running the HCAN't PR ran house parties in the State of Maine in 2005: people rewrote the polls to include single payer. The results:
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
olympia snowe
as a mainer who generally supports and applauds sen. snowe's positions, i was outraged by this. i called her office and registered my vigorous disappointment with this action. i encourage everyone to do the same.
zaphod