NYTimes 10pm/Democrats Oppose GOP Health Coverage Bill

[caligirl]

*Note the tone of Enzi's comments. I don't think he can get the votes to pass S1955, The Lose your Health Care Bill being debated now.


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 9, 2006

Filed at 10:00 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats threatened Tuesday to filibuster Republican-backed legislation they said would scale back health insurance for millions. Republicans said the measure would allow small businesses to offer coverage to more workers




"Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats also want to vote on amendments to expand stem cell research and extend the May 15 Medicare drug benefit enrollment deadline. If they don't get to vote on such amendments, a filibuster is likely.

''If we're not given the opportunity to offer amendments, I don't see how in good faith we could go forward with the legislation,'' Reid said.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and other critics said it would let small businesses buy insurance that overrode coverage requirements mandated by states.

Democrats blocked action on two other GOP-supported bills on Monday. Both sought to limit the amount of money that patients can receive from medical malpractice cases.

Enzi said he was open to compromises, but the bill's ultimate prospects were unclear. The debate is unlikely to conclude before Thursday."

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Senate-Health-Insurance.html

[lovuian]

1. Thank you harry... Universal Health we need it Democrats

we need it bad...

[mom cat]

6. Amen!

[rodeodance]

2. oh gawd, This bill MUST go DOWN!

[caligirl]

3. This article suppoorts the notion I had earlier today listening to Enzi

on the Senate floor. I picked up a vibe from his tone and even called his office, again x4, and critisized him for lieing about his plan. I just had the feeling from his tone he knows he doesn't have the votes. Then this news story tonight.

[depakid]

4. ''If we're not given the opportunity to offer amendments..."

That sounds to me like yet another Harry Reid sell out in the making.

[caligirl]

8. I don't think so, he knows Frist will never go along with a medicare

extension of the Rx dead line( seniors who aren't already signed up have 2 weeks left to figure out 70+ drug plans or face a stiff financial penalty), or stem cell research because Bush owns him right down to his puny little pathetic balls.
Reid is using this situation and the high visability of the current debate to hit the repubs over the head with their lack of compassion. He's lowering their chances for re-election in Nov.

[radfringe]

5. was watching the debate yesterday

aside from the issue of health insurance - the notion of NO AMENDMENTS to be allowed has me very concerned

although I would agree with no amendments IF those amendments were for things not related to the original bill - like a few million/billion dollars for a road to no-where - the amendments I saw were related to the bill (i.e. mamograms/stem cell etc)

and since when does congress allow NO amendments? seems to me some fast shuffling is going on for political reasons or for personal profit?


meanwhile.... Enzi's wife to have surgery to remove tumor
By The Gazette Washington Bureau
5/9/06
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/05/09/news/wyoming/45-cancer.txt

WASHINGTON -- Diana Enzi, the wife of U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., has been diagnosed with colon cancer and will undergo surgery later this month.

Doctors diagnosed Diana Enzi, 58, with a malignant tumor in her colon last week, a spokesman for the senator said. The cancer was discovered with a CAT scan and a colonoscopy.

She will undergo surgery on May 22 at the Georgetown Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to have the tumor removed.

----
good thing Enzi & wife have insurance....

and how much did Enzi receive from insurance/drug companies: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?CID=N00006249&cycle=2006

The top industries supporting Mike Enzi are:

1 Securities & Investment $145,261
2 Insurance $113,822
3 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $102,838
4 Commercial Banks $88,450
5 Health Professionals $82,053


Enzi also received some Abramoff money.... about $1,000 which he quickly "donated" when the Abramoff scandal broke
WayneMadsenReport.com Dec. 15, 2005
STATE BY STATE GOP SCANDAL SCORECARD
http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/gopscorecard.htm

[caligirl]

7. Nice to have this information , thank you.

[caligirl]

10. info passed on to very interested parties opposing this bill, thank you

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9. Kennedy on now saying debate won't take place for now, frist will say

something at 2pm eastern. Kennedy talking about disappointment that the senate won't get the chance to address some underlying iisues, Frist refusing amendment considerations at all. Ie a medicare deadline extension that would help seniors, an amendment to the Enzi bill like the Durbin Lincoln bill or Snowe's amendment that keeps mandated coverages. Frist is a tool to the my way or the high way Bush stupidity.

[radfringe]

11. Airedale as avatar?

we have an airedale - 10yr old female named Dax

[caligirl]

12. are they as high maintenance as a giant schnauzer? Our dog is

wonderful but geez do I wish he was easier to groom.

[radfringe]

13. yup

costs us about $60 at the groomers... we usually get her shaved down as opposed to the scissor cut

and the beard... oy vey - always tangled and hiding food in there...

I keep telling my partner just to cut the beard off -- but nope gotta save the beard... :eyes:

[caligirl]

14. I use a product called 'Stuff' before his bath and after and it makes

combing that beard easier. It separates the hair out and keeps it from tightening up during baths. Makes combing easier. We do our own grooming. Out here it would be 100 bucks a trip. Ouch.