"Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) secured the pivotal 60th vote after acceding to the demands of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) for tighter restrictions on insurance coverage for abortions, along with increased federal aid for his home state and breaks for favored health-care interests...." - Washington Post
read if you like pain: Deal on health bill is reached
[Rude, offensive, but obvious invective ] you, Ben.
Having the last, and pivotal vote means that you have unearned and undeserved disproportionate political power to express a minority opinion and preference and impost it into legislation that affects the entire nation. NO ONE should have that kind of power. The weakness of the razor-thin 60 vote majority of Democratic Senate is sharply revealed that in the face of any unified Republican opposition, any ONE Senator can hold any legislation hostage for special interests or minority opinion.
Even though that might be a reflex rant at the news. The Dems seem to be happy that they managed to come up with some kind of Health Care reform bill so they can say that they DID; so what that it's an expensive, CRAPPY, compromised to death, monstrosity of a Bill? A bailing wire and spit piece of legislation that does not actually take on the horrid FAIL level of the Health Care status quo and massively knuckled to the Insurance lobby and conservative interests. *sigh*
As I understand the bill, I may HAVE to pay for health insurance for my older son, even though most of his needs are EXPLICITLY not covered in the majority of plans. And furthermore the overwhelming majority of Special Needs Health Practitioners accept NO Health Insurance, or they will starve to death as the Insurance Companies overwhelmingly deny most Special Needs Claims. At least in NY State and the Northeast in general, the trend may be different elsewhere.
However, I have to give the kudos to the Washington Post, for being more on top of this issue than my old favorite, the Venerable NY Times. My NYC roots are showing. The gray lady, falling on harder times, is picking up the rather flat and superficial AP news feed as much as they are doing their own reporting. Not a total Fail, just that the Post, perhaps due to proximity, has been doing better. As for TV Media, forget them, all biased and entertainment slanted, or propagandized to the point of uselessness.
"To get the 60 votes needed to pass their bill, Democrats scrapped the idea of a government-run public insurance plan, cherished by liberals, and replaced it with a proposal for nationwide health plans, which would be offered by private insurers under contract with the government.
The legislation also includes a proposal that would limit insurance coverage of abortion. The provision, which was the last piece of the puzzle to fall into place, was negotiated by the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, to win the support of Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, who is an opponent of abortion.
Under the agreement, states could choose to prohibit abortion coverage in the insurance markets, or exchanges, where most health plans would be sold...." – New York Times
Negotiating to 60 Votes, Compromise by Compromise
So some further coverage and actual INFORMATION, as opposed to the arm waving and shouting, mine included. You can finally get a decent summary of what's actually IN the bills. On first look, in our situation, we'd end up paying MORE for similar to our existing coverage. And even if we opt out... the PENALTY for the year, is about a MONTH of what our current fairly bare-bones plan costs.
But check out the crunchy goodness for yourselves - Interactive graphics, and reasonably clear writing relatively editorial free.
Wash. Post- Health-care reform: How the bills stack up
NY Times - Comparing the House and the Senate Health Care Proposals
Really should be working ( Yes, on a Sunday, isn't self-employment GRAND?), or doing holiday stuffz instead of ranting. But if I don't blow off this steam, will tend to stew in my annoyance.
Banzai, and Blessed Solstice