Health reform legislation ‘a bailout for insurance companies’

[Better Believe It]

Kucinich: Health reform legislation ‘a bailout for insurance companies’
By Stephen C. Webster
October 31, 2009

According to Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), the Democrats' health reform legislation is basically a sham.

Appearing on MSNBC's The Ed Show on Friday night, the House's most unabashed progressive condemned Democratic leadership for removing his amendment that would allow states to create their own single-payer systems. Then he called the entire legislative package "a bailout for insurance companies."

The amendment is missing from health reform legislation unveiled Thursday by Democratic leadership.

"Representative Kucinich was livid when he found out that his provision to allow states to create a single payer system was stripped," News Junkie Post noted. "Kucinich’s amendment passed the House Labor and Education Committee in July. 'No one gave me any rational reason,' Kucinich said. 'I can only assume the insurance company interests brought pressure to take it out. Otherwise I would have heard from someone.'"

"The vote was 25 to 19, with support coming from an odd mix of liberal Democrats who support single-payer on its merits and conservative Republicans who want to preserve the rights of states to regulate themselves," The Washington Independent noted at the time.

"The removal of the Kucinich amendment constitutes yet another capitulation to the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries who are already reaping billions of dollars from the bill," reads a statement from the congressman's office on Thursday.

http://rawstory.com/2009/10/kucinich-health-reform-legislation-a-bailout-insurance-companies/

[Laelth]

1. k&r for the Honorable Dennis Kucinich. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Life Long Dem]

2. Insurance lobbyist appear to be comfortable.

No uproar from them would indicate they got what they wanted. It does seem like they gave them too much.