Idea: House Dems should attach Universal Health Coverage to any Iraq funding bills

[stevietheman]

The Democrats should tell Bush, "If you want funds for Iraq, you'll have to establish single-payer health insurance too!"

If they cannot outright end Bush's War, at least this might be a good way for Democrats to extract some pain from The Chimp.

Doable?

[NMDemDist2]

1. dat's why u the MAN!!

i think that's an awesome idea!

:yourock:

[Vincardog]

2. Universal health must outlive this illegal occupation in Iraq. Still a good idea

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Intriguing! I like the way you think

[BayCityProgressive]

4. It WOULD be

a good idea EXCEPT...our Democrats can't seem to come to agreement on any plans. Some think giving tax breaks to business is enough, some favor the old Clinton plan and some favor single-payer. I think the party is in too much dissaray between the "old" and "new" dems on healthcare..

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Yah. *sad sigh* Without a strong leader to direct everyone

in a specific direction, we can never expect better than that.

[Cobalt Violet]

6. That would be nice with over 18000 dying a year from lack of insurance.

It should be a priority.

[BlueStorm]

7. It would be a great idea...

but how do you get Congress, especially the Repuke side, to agree to doing something like this?

Blue

[Kelly Rupert]

8. Not doable at all.

What would happen, of course, would be that the Republicans would refuse to sign off on it, and complain about Democrats putting irresponsible poison pills in crucial funding bills. We'd end up in a legislative stalemate, with Bush declaring intent to veto and demanding a bill that had nothing but funding, and the Republicans holding a filibuster to block it.

Nothing would happen in Washington as long as this was being held up. And the Democrats would blink first, because the public would be against them. Because no matter how great the potential payoff, nobody wants their representitive to use the lives of 150,000 soldiers as a bargaining chip in a game of political brinksmanship.

Besides, it would be irresponsible. A national health-care system would be an extremely complex, delicate undertaking. It deserves debate, refining, and discussion. It isn't the kind of thing you can--or should--ram through in two weeks.

[stevietheman]

9. If the Democrats don't already have a plan to execute, then all is lost.

If there isn't already a single-payer plan ready to launch, after all this time since we've known there's a major health care crisis, then Democrats may as well hand back Congress to the Republicans.

I think that alternatively, pushing for something like this would get everyone talking about universal health coverage, even if Dems have to ultimately capitulate on the Iraq funding. What we are sorely lacking is Congressional discussion about universal health care!

[dkofos]

10. Can't be done, won't be done

They can stop the war only by not funding it.