Healthcare vote update

[deathb4disco]

According to Redstate.com, four Dems who originally voted "no" on the health bill might switch to "yes".

One of the four is Bart Gordon of Tennessee. Some of you TN guys might want to give his office a call: 202-225-4231.

[Don G]

According to Redstate.com, four Dems who originally voted "no" on the health bill might switch to "yes".

One of the four is Bart Gordon of Tennessee. Some of you TN guys might want to give his office a call: 202-225-4231.

Hey DB4D, our congressman was all for this Bill until all the town house meetings..Here is a reply he sent to our letter that asked him to stand firm..Congressman Boucher is a Democrat..Their minds can be changed..

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

Rick Boucher

9th District, Virginia

NINTHNET@mail.house.gov

HTTP://www.house.gov/boucher/

Dear Friend:


Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding the health care reform legislation being considered by the Congress. I appreciate your taking the time to write and share your views with me, with which I am in agreement.


I opposed H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, when it was debated by the U.S. House of Representatives last fall. Reform legislation must ensure that Southwest Virginia residents continue to have access to the high quality health care services now delivered locally. I am opposed to numerous provisions in the legislation, including the government-operated health insurance plan outlined in the House bill which could place at risk the very survival of many of our region's not-for-profit community hospitals.

Last July, I opposed the health care reform measure when it was considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and expressed my concerns at that time. The bill passed by the House did not address those concerns, and, accordingly, I voted against the measure.

I also strongly oppose various provisions of the health care reform measure which was approved by the Senate in December, and I would vote against that legislation if it were presented to the House.

I reject the unsavory deals in the Senate version of health care reform. These special sweetheart arrangements go well beyond the bounds of normal negotiations. For example, it is unacceptable for the federal government to pay for Nebraska's share of Medicaid expansion costs when the other 49 states must pay for their own costs. Louisiana and Florida also received favored arrangements. There is no reasonable basis to provide that kind of discrimination in favor of one state to the disadvantage of the other 49, and these provisions must be removed from the legislation before a reform is approved.

Additionally, I am strongly opposed to the Medicare funding reductions which are included in the health care reform measure. Medicare is the only means by which most Southwest Virginia senior citizens obtain payment for doctor and hospital bills. It is essential that Medicare continue to meet their health care needs. I am concerned that the Medicare funding reductions included in the health care reform legislation would lessen the level of medical care available to the residents of Southwest Virginia through Medicare.


Health care reform legislation must also benefit both the uninsured and individuals who currently have health insurance. It is not acceptable to benefit one group at the expense of the other. For example, I am opposed to the provision in the Senate legislation which would tax insurance companies for providing higher-cost health insurance plans. I am concerned that this cost would be passed along to the policy holders in the form of higher insurance premiums and would threaten employees' access to health insurance.

Reform is needed, and I believe that we should reach out to our Republican colleagues and draft health care legislation upon which both sides can agree. Bipartisan participation is needed on a measure of this scope which affects every American, and the best ideas of Democrats and Republicans alike should be drawn upon to fashion the final legislation. That did not happen as the House and Senate bills were constructed.

My goal in health care reform is to ensure that the legislation builds on the current employer-based health insurance system on which millions of Americans depend and that it does not limit the availability of private insurance options.

Finally, the House-Senate conference negotiations on the health care reform should be viewable by the public and carried on C-SPAN. I am strongly concerned about the absence of transparency in the negotiating process. Citizens should have the opportunity to read and comment on the proposed final version of the legislation before it is considered by the Congress. I have joined with like-minded colleagues in conveying that message to the Speaker of the House, and I hopeful that the Congressional leadership will heed this request.

I am hopeful that bipartisan legislation can be approved that creates affordable access to health care for all Americans and does so in a way that meets these goals and enables the continued delivery of the excellent care now offered in our region.

Thank you again for contacting me, and I would welcome your further comments and suggestions. With kind regards and best wishes, I remain


Sincerely,





Rick Boucher

Member of Congress

RB/cd

[deathb4disco]

Their minds can be changed.

Agreed. I hope that's true for these four. There's a lot of arm-twisting going on right now.

The link at Redstate also mentioned the Dems were ten votes short of the necessary 216.

[oldwun]

I just sent Bart Gordon an email about how I feel about this healthcare mess. Here is his email address.

Congressman Bart Gordon's Online Office

[deathb4disco]

I just sent Bart Gordon an email about how I feel about this healthcare mess. Here is his email address.

Congressman Bart Gordon's Online Office

You can also go to this link:

The Hugh Hewitt Show

At the top right of the screen, there is a "Say no to Obamacare" icon. Click on it, and you can send an email to your congressman and copy about 58 "blue dog" Dems at the same time. They have draft letters already set up for both. You can edit them as you see fit.

[drifter106]

So if they don't get the thing to the floor by the end of the week don't they go into their Easter break? Something tells me that BO is pushing to get this done so the H of R don't go home and get an ear full from their constituents. Man they sure are trying to get this thing thru...in a BIG hurry. Even if it passes, you know we will see it in the Supreme Court...

[fishingpox]

I'd like to know why if this health reform bill is so good; why do elected officials have to be bought of wiff pork money....

[deathb4disco]

I'd like to know why if this health reform bill is so good; why do elected officials have to be bought of wiff pork money....

... and why, if it's so good, won't it apply to them?

[SpeckWick]

Scary stuff for sure. What's wrong with taking their time and getting it right? Why does everything have to be done RIGHT NOW with this administration? Remember "too big to fail"? How'd that one work out? Socialism at it's finest.

[J_ROW]

Don't remember who posted this or where I even seen it , but its well worth posting again so I'm posting it again. Best post I ever seen so I copied and saved it.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.