Michael, I have developed my own plan to get people insured. Why not encourage companies like utilities to sell their insurance plans they offer to employees to the general public? Utility companies such as electric and gas companies (PSEG here in NJ) have great insurance. My father is an employee there. The government is a consumer just as all of us are consumers of electric and gas. In order to provide insurance to low income people the government could provide tax cuts to those companies willing to participate. Starbucks, airlines, hotel chains, and other companies who would be willing could also participate. Plus it would be good for their business as well because it encourages people to use their services. Just a thought.

Dennis is spot on. I have to agree that there are a lot of "RINO's"(Republicans In Name Only) in the GOP. Scozzafava and Sen. Graham are perfect examples. One could argue that she was even more liberal than her Democrat running mate, and then went on to endorse him after her campaign dithered. But even so-called "conservative" Repubs like McCain and former Speaker Gingrich reserve the title "RINO" by cutting deals with members of the Left. And when I see these kind of issues arrising more and more, I realize, the real issue isn't Left vs. Right, but Progressivism vs. Individualism. I see these Progressives on both sides of the aisle, and if you don't know what the Progressive way of governing is, I recommend doing some research on early 20th century Progressives starting with Theodore Roosevelt. We're at the complete polar opposite of what our Founders had framed for the US. This current administration has made trampling the Constitution a daily errand. And I'm not saying that the Bush administration was any better. "I've abandoned free market principles to save the free market system." -George W. Bush We need to get back to what our Founders layed out for this country, get the govt out of the free market system and out of the individual's life. I'm a Constitutionalist, not a Republican. Sorry, Chairman Steele.

Furthermore, I skimmed through the bill the Republicans put together on health care reform. It did not impress me. No public option, it seemed merely to be wording gimmicks dealing with variations on regulations and premiums. You need to make a bill that confronts the very real problems confronting health care. Tort reform, the shortage of nurses due to few medical instructors (since they can make more in the medical profession and with less education), and a lack of health care to key segments of the population. Even the major health care bill being touted will not reach everyone. To fix the economy and resolve the health care crisis you will need to begin considering reforms that have long been the domain solely of Democrats (though originally the Republicans were the original harbingers of some, before the 1920s when the parties switched sides on them). 1. You need to take a serious look at the impacts of free trade on global markets, as pointed out by former Secretary of Labor Ray F. Marshall. Free markets are a good idea inside a nation, but outside of it, without tariffs, U.S. workers can not compete for vital manufacturing jobs with the low-paid workers in Communist countries that have much lower minimum wages. Protectionism needs to be avoided as well, and there is one specific form of tariff I believe is capable of doing this. Taxing goods by the difference in national minimum wages. 2. End our presence in the Middle East. We are spending $700 billion on the Department of Defense alone. Only $200 billion is on personnel. It is small surprise that our deficit problems truly began following our Middle East wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We should NOT DEMILITARIZE. We can keep our military by bringing back troops but creating a voluntary, at-will employment program for them as border control guards. That way we make our borders stronger against drug and weapon smuggling, as well as terrorist threats, plus keep our soldiers sharp and essentially a ready force in case of future military issues, such as occurred in Darfur. What is more, it would be far more cost-effective, we could bring military equipment and supplies back to the U.S. and keep it in storage with military bases, and U.S. soldiers employed here inside our borders would be safer, reduce transportation expenses, stay employed at lesser cost and thus not add to the unemployment rate but actually decrease it, and even be able to spend the money we pay and have paid them for service time here on our economy, rather than overseas in Middle Eastern economies. 3. Place tighter regulations on the housing industry. Predatory lending is a huge problem. We do not need a huge variety of regulations, we can both recognize those just create unnecessary, bloated government and bureaucracy. Rather, I am talking about simple regulations that get to the heart of the problems. For example, to stop predatory lending, cap the amount mortgage loans can be raised above their original rates by 10 or 15%. That way hidden clauses and predatory practices can only do so much to pull homeowners into the spiraling debt payment plans that overwhelm them steadily beyond what they can bear. 4. We could replace both Medicaid and Medicare with a health care system that funds hospitals who voluntarily opt to participate to provide basic government services. These healthcare services could be spelled out. You see, a flaw with tax breaks is that they are still regulation but because they apply to each person, the bureaucracy and thus expense required is huge. Whereas simply overseeing the hospitals themselves would be easier. Furthermore, if you could base funding upon a rating system, where those receiving the hospital's services rate their experience, you could in essence make it a free market system, especially if you kept the private sector intact. Then it would act like the Post Office, where the U.S.P.S. provides basic services, but private companies can compete as well, likely providing the more advanced services not offered by the government version. In this way you would reduce health care costs from current levels, reduce bureaucracy, provide free basic health care to all Americans, and avoid the detrimental aspects of socialism such as decreased quality of care due to a lack of competitiveness, since it would be acting like a free market system.

Mr. Steele, first of all, the Republican partisanship was evident when Republicans chose to risk a pro-abortion healthcare bill just to spite the Democrats, by opposing Stupak's amendment. Do not be surprised if, by doing so, you have not only sabotaged your opportunities for cooperation with the conservative Democrats but also with the pro-life groups you have to come to take for granted. The reason so many conservative Democrats exist now is that frustrated Republicans deserted to the Democrat party, but continued electing conservatives. Just because conservatives are frustrated with the liberal Democrats, does not mean Republicans are safe either! The polls still show our frustration with you in even greater quantities. We are simply electing those who are sincere in standing right on the socially conservative issues as well as the economic ones best for our country - that have historically been Democrat for quite a while now. This may mean more conservative Democrats, Independents, or even 3rd party candidates in office. There is still a last chance for you to make amends and redeem your party. It is likely the Democrats will block senate passage of the healthcare bill because of the pro-life Amendment, or modify the house bill so drastically that when it comes back to the House, pro-choice Democrats will block it once more. If you are sincere about genuinely wanting healthcare reform, that is the time you need to actively work together with the conservative, pro-life Democrats. They will be seeking to work with you, and willing to listen. Then is the time for Republicans to work with them about the reforms most sought after by the GOP. Pass up this chance and it is likely you will continue to see the GOP locked out of all negotiations. The Democrats have a filibuster. You and I both know it is no simple disorganization on the part of the Democrats. This was simply pro-life Democrats standing up for their principles against their own party. This is your one chance, I believe, to break that filibuster and earn the cooperation of a segment of Democrats most similar to yourselves, not merely on this issue, but on future legislation as well. -Jz

The RNC sends me weekly requests for money and support. I was a PCO in Wa. state (until I was bounced out for being too conservative) and continued to support the party until the McCain debacle last year, which I worked for and supported financially in desperation. No more! I will not lift a finger to help banana Republicans (try carving a man out of one) demonstrate fealty to the Constitution and the Christian principles of our founding. A good start would be to discipline traitors like Rep. Cao and Senator Graham for their persistent betrayal of the above mentioned document and principles in the interest of getting their smug faces on TV. They must be stripped of their positions on committees and replaced with real republicans. Now you will say: that's not going to happen. I've already told you something else that's not going to happen. I'll tell you again, I will not lift a finger to help banana Republicans get elected.

Mr. Steele, it's apparent to me that, in spite of some stumbling and difficult diplomacy between the conservative and moderate wings of the party (read: the base and the frequent defectors), you genuinely would like to see the party become a conservative one. I'd like to encourage you to do everything you can to make this a reality, because the infighting is wasting time, and we need to be united to successfully push back this march toward socialism. Throw the full support of the party behind conservative candidates and the Republicans will not only present a united front, but a SINGULAR message of strength. No American will doubt where we stand, because we stand with them. Thank you for your tireless work!

I applauded the last minute efforts by my Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite on the floor last night to bring a motion for the support for seniors instead of trial lawyers, as it was categorized. But knowing the attempt was futile why did the GOP vote for the pro-life amendment(Mich. and Ind. Congressman)...the House Bill would have been defeated by those very Congressman and more, that introduced the amendment. It was stated there is NO guarantee that the amendment will be added to the language in Conference.

Thanks to Chairman Steele, for being a voice of reason! I am a primary care physician working in a small town private practice. I serve a poor and high needs population, and my practice is set up for service and not high profit. A majority of what I do is already wellness/ disease prevention care, and I do not need the government to make me do the "right thing". I do not think that the Pelosi bill will be wrong for the American people, I KNOW THAT IT IS WRONG FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! With the passage of the bill through the House yesterday, I am increasingly concerned. This bill may mean the death of my practice, and there are no physicians waiting in line to take my place. Mr Steele, please continue the fight for those of us who have no voice, like myself. Thank you for supporting more reasonable reform options. Mary Bradley-LeBoeuf, MD, FAAP

Thank goodness for a voice in free enterprise. The time has come for our elected politicians to opt-out of their public health (Obama)care and instead, get their private market insurance coverage like the rest of our constituents. Otherwise we run the risk of being called hypocritical frauds by the socialist left. Come on Chairmen Steele, lead the charge for our trusted politicians to denounce their own public coverage and take the correct path of private market insurance.

My bad. Representative Stupak is a Democrat. Wonderful! Man it only gets better! Ever think of voting against the amendment that insured Blue Dog Democrats an escape! You are such a bunch of dolts. Any predictions WHEN and HOW the abortions will be reinserted?