The Senate Finance Committee has approved a sweeping remake of the country's health care system,..................
Jesus had Judas:
The Republicans and the People of Maine have Snowe.
The Hill reported this morning that "Snowe's policy concerns include weighing how the bill, which imposes a heavy tax on high-cost insurance plans, would affect her home state, where healthcare coverage ranks among the most expensive in the country. She also has to determine whether the bill does enough to subsidize the healthcare costs of Americans who would be required under the bill to buy insurance, a concern she has repeatedly raised. And she must determine whether the cost estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) can be trusted."------Snow must not be to concerned about the state of Maine to pay for the $829B plan that would require most Americans to purchase insurance.
Congress is considering an array of tax increases, fees and penalties. In the legislative endgame, House and Senate bargainers will strike a deal on the exact mix of revenue raisers. Here are some of the principal proposals.
To pay for expanding insurance coverage, Congress is considering an array of tax increases, fees and penalties. In the legislative endgame, House and Senate bargainers will strike a deal on the exact mix of revenue raisers. Here are some of the principal proposals. To pay for expanding insurance coverage, Congress is considering an array of tax increases, fees and penalties. In the legislative endgame, House and Senate bargainers will strike a deal on the exact mix of revenue raisers. Here are some of the principal proposals. {msnbc} 10-13-09
Snowe joined the committee's Democrats to vote in favor of Chairman Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) health reform proposal, characterizing her vote as a move to support moving forward with landmark healthcare reform.
"The mark before us today produces bipartisan, landmark reforms," said Snowe. "The consequences of inaction dictate the urgency of moving a healthcare reform bill.
"I happen to think the consequences of inaction dictate the urgency of Congress," she added. "There are many, many miles to go in this legislative journey ... At the same time, they want us to continue."The Maine centrist maintained in her remarks that she remains opposed to a public (or "government-run") option in health reform, an element absent within the Finance bill but which serves as a centerpiece of the health bill reported out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will be charged with merging the two bills in the coming days and weeks, and Snowe insisted her support is conditional, based on changes that could be made as the Senate Democratic leadership moves the bill forward and it is amended on the Senate floor. Snowe insist that "My vote today doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow." {msnbc} 10-13-09
Like Judas who sold out Jesus for 40 pieces of silver, Snowe has sold out the voters Maine and the Republican Party". Is Snowe getting the equilivant of 40 pieces of silver from the Democrats in the way of a special consideration? Judas committed suicide. Has Snowe committed political suicide?
Reports estimates that premiums for the average household would rise to $17,200 a year by 2013 under the proposals compared with $15,500 without the reforms. Today's average annual premium is $12,300.
Reports also estimate that proposed taxes on the "Cadillac plans" – the more expensive health insurance plans, amounting to more than $8,000 a year for individuals and $21,000 a year for families. Also there are planned more than $ 400 Billion in cuts to Medicare putting the senior program at risk.. The reported cut to Medicare would be to pay for the expanding cost of healthcare,
McConnell Statement on Finance Committee Proposal
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
'The fact is, this proposal will never come before the Senate'
"Sen. Snowe called me this morning to let me know that while she continues to have serious, substantive policy reservations with this proposal, she wanted to keep the process moving. I share her concerns about the direction of this bill once it leaves the committee, and her call for transparency before we vote to proceed to any bill on the floor.
"The fact is, this proposal will never come before the Senate. But what we do know is that the bill written behind closed doors here in the Capitol will be another 1,000-page, trillion-dollar Washington takeover. We know it will slash a half-trillion dollars from seniors' Medicare, add new taxes and raise premiums. That's not reform." From the Office of Senator Mitch McConnell
In the best interest of the American people, hope and pray that Senator McConnell is correct.
