I am afraid that we are loosing the battle over Health Care. We nee to concentrate all efforts on the next agenda item, Immigration. We (as republicans) must make a stand and SUPPORT "LEGAL IMMIGRATION" not amnesty. We need to let the public know that we are for lowering the hurdles that a legal immigrant must jump in order to become a "LEGAL CITIZEN". The Demoncrats are going to try and play the race card, against any effort that we (republicans) bring forward. The Demoncrats are going to push for amnesty to ensure that they get the votes from the "Newly Legalized Citizens" to continue to march "lockstep" (to quote the president) toward socialsism. We are the United States of America, and if we are not vigilant we will become the Unites Socialist States of America. May GOD bless us and watch over us in this, our time of need. Amen

The only Healthcare bill that should be passed is if it cancelled all free clinics and did not allow taxpayer money to be spent on Illegal,s Healthcare. All State Social Service monies distributed for Heathcare should be eliminated if not No Health Care Reform Bill

Okay its really simple. We know the insurance companies lie, cheat steal. They have been before congress to admit that. Thats why this national plan is being proposed. GOP leaders are angry because they are owned by insurance companies hence they must do this or not get elected. I and others are raked over the coals by these guys. The fault is yours and yours alone why we have come to a national plan due to all kinds of ridiculous things foisted upon us by insurance companies. Here is what you do. And again its very simple. You put an Opt out plan into it that lets republican states find other alternatives. Then, as you compete with the government plan it will balance both deals out. Then people will come back to the companies. Finally, if you dont keep prices affordable, people will move to the national care plan states. The End.

Sorry, I can't participate until late tomorrow. I have a question to the costs of the public option insurance. The family plan can cost as much as $1250 per month and have a $5500 yearly out-of-pocket limit. This is much, much more than most Americans currently pay. I think if you guys out there propose to your wives to spend $1250 per month on insurance she (the CFO of our household) would absolutely flip out. By the way, this is for the cheapest, basic plan, they will only get more expensive for better benefits. The prices for the individual plans are also sky-high. A fear that I have is that this will be a up-ended, bizzare regressive tax on the low-middle, middle and high-middle class. If you make $25,000 to $50,000 per year, Obamacare motivates your employer to drop you to the governmental insurance option. It will likely cost you lots more than you currently pay for health insurance. This analysis is for single coverage (a family study could also be done): Let's say the worker has a $440 per month insurance plan paid 75/25 employer/employee = $110 per month cost to the employee. Let's say there are 4 workers and a manager and the company considers to eliminate health insurance, and pay a penalty (8%) to Obama instead. Let's evaluate a worker making $20,600 per year (about $10 per hour). You now need to purchase insurance through the government option, costing you $90 per month. Your company saved $3900 by not paying your health care, and paid a penalty of $1650 to Uncle Obama (8% tax). The company saved $2350 per year and you save $250 per year going to the subsidized government plan insurance. Let's evaluate a worker making $26,500 per year (about $13 per hour). You now need to purchase insurance through the government option, costing you $160 per month. Your company saved $3900 by not paying your health care, and paid a penalty of $2100 to Uncle Obama (8% tax). The company saved $1600 per year and you pay an additional $600 per year going to the government plan insurance. Let's evaluate a worker making $32,400 per year (about $16 per hour). You now need to purchase insurance through the government option, costing you $250 per month. Your company saved $3900 by not paying your health care, and paid a penalty of $2600 to Uncle Obama (8% tax). The company saved $1300 per year and you pay an additional $1680 per year going to the government plan insurance. Let's say you are a worker making $44,200 per year (about $22 per hour). You now need to purchase through the government option, costing you $440 per month. Your company saved $3900 by not paying your health care, and paid a penalty of $3500 to Uncle Obama (8% tax). The company saved $400 per year and you pay an additional $4000 per year going to the government plan insurance. Now, let's look at the general manager, she makes $100,000 per year. You now need to purchase through the government option, costing you $440 per month. Your company saved $3900 by not paying your health care, and would need to pay a penalty of $8000 to Uncle Obama (8% tax). The company would need to pay a penalty of $4100 per year and you pay an additional $4000 per year going to the government plan insurance. Now, why would the company do that to the manager, pay more than they used to?. They might just offer a health care plan for the white collar workers, and not pay a penalty more than what they would save from just dropping coverage. Just offer the higher paid employees private health insurance, and drop everyone else on the governental option insurance. From the analysis, dropping workers onto the governmental option, making less than $25 per hour, or about $50,000 per year would benefit the company in less cost. But, workers making $13-$25 per hour ($26,000-$50,000 per year) would end up paying more for their health care than they did when the company paid part of it. Regressive taxation?! Table on page 4 of CBO report. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/106xx/doc10691/hr3962SubsidiesRangelLtr.pdf

The most important health reform congressional Republicans should be calling for: abolishing the obviously-unconstitutional Department of Health and Human Services. They should have done it when they had the chance (2000-2006). The least they can do is start working on it now.

Great! I'll be online