HR 4789 and The Public Option: The Way Forward

[FORD]

March 12, 2010

HR 4789 and The Public Option: The Way Forward

Rep. Alan Grayson
Rep. Alan Grayson

Congressman Alan Grayson represents Central Florida (FL-8).
Posted: March 12, 2010 01:42 PM


Health care reform -- here's where we are. The House of Representatives is about to vote on a Senate bill without a public option. It looks like the reconciliation amendment will not have a public option. The House bill had a public option, but once the House passes the Senate bill, that's history.

Which is why I introduced H.R. 4789, the Public Option Act. This simple four-page bill lets any American buy into Medicare at cost. You want it, you pay for it, you're in. It adds nothing to the deficit; you pay what it costs.

Let's face it. Health insurance companies charge as much money as possible, and they provide as little care as possible. The difference is called profit. You can't blame them for it; that's what a corporation does. Birds got to fly, fish got to swim, health insurers got to rip you off. And if you get really expensive, they've got to pull the plug on you. So for those of us who would like to stay alive, we need a public option.

In many areas of the country, one or two insurers have over 80% of the market. They can charge anything they want. And when you get sick, they can flip the bird at you. So we need a public option.

And they face no real competition because it costs billions of dollars just to set up a national health care network. In fact, the only one that's nationwide is . . . Medicare. And we limit that to one-eight of the population. It's like saying that only seniors can drive on federal highways. We really need a public option.

And to the right-wing loons who call it socialism, we say, "if you want to be a slave to the insurance companies, that's fine. If you want 30% of your premiums to go to 'administrative costs' and billion-dollar bonuses for insurance CEOs who figure out new and creative ways to deny you the care you need to stay healthy and alive, that's fine. But don't you try to dictate to me that I can't have a public option!"

And there is a way left to get it. By insisting on a vote on H.R. 4789. Three votes on health care, not two. The Senate bill, the reconciliation amendments, and the Public Option Act.

We got 50 co-sponsors for this bill in two days. Including five powerful committee chairman. But we need more.

Sign our Petition at WeWantMedicare.com.

Call. Write. Visit. Do whatever you can do to get you Congressman to co-sponsor this bill, and push it to a vote. Right now, before it's too late.

Let's do it!

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Rep. Alan Grayson: HR 4789 and The Public Option: The Way Forward

[FORD]

I read recently that Grayson was leading in the Republican primary in his district.

No, that wasn't a typo. Contrary to the bullshit myth pushed by the corporatist Republican moles within the Democratic party known as the DLC, Congressman Grayson is proving what Harry Truman said 50 years ago, and what Michael Moore said more recently, is the real truth. This is NOT a "center right" country, and if a Liberal Democrat is clearly on the side of the PEOPLE, then even Republicans will take him seriously. Alan Grayson might well be the best thing to happen to the House of Representatives since Dennis Kucinich.

[kwame k]

Wow, a four page bill, that won't cost the tax payers anything and can cover anyone who wants to buy into it.

No way in hell it will pass.....makes too much sense.

[sadaist]

You want it, you pay for it, you're in. It adds nothing to the deficit; you pay what it costs.

Seems odd to hear a Democrat tell individuals that they have to pay for something themselves without the government or the wealthy helping them out.

[sadaist]

Wow, a four page bill, that won't cost the tax payers anything and can cover anyone who wants to buy into it.

No way in hell it will pass.....makes too much sense.

It will cover anyone that wants to buy in AND can afford it. I thought the problem was that many Americans couldn't afford health care? Many Americans are unemployed. With no job, and not able to pay for health insurance now, how exactly does this help them?

Employed people would not need this "option". Obama stated in January that in 2010 his administrations primary focus was going to be jobs, jobs, jobs. Three months in and all he is still talking about is health care.

[chefcraig]

A seemingly altruistic gesture, coming from a Florida politician? I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop here. This is either a phony news story, or something extremely nasty is hidden deep inside this guy's bill, possibly written in invisible ink.

Be afraid, folks. Be very, very afraid.

[kwame k]

Because Medicare is already

In many areas of the country, one or two insurers have over 80% of the market. They can charge anything they want. And when you get sick, they can flip the bird at you. So we need a public option.

And they face no real competition because it costs billions of dollars just to set up a national health care network. In fact, the only one that's nationwide is . . . Medicare. And we limit that to one-eight of the population. It's like saying that only seniors can drive on federal highways. We really need a public option.

in place and is a nationwide, I would imagine that the cost of coverage would be a hell of a lot cheaper than what Insurance Companies are raping people for.

Look up or get a quote from an insurance company if you're an independent contractor....the monthly premiums are more than $500.00 a moth for a high deductible shitty coverage plan and forget optical or dental for that price.

Medicare is just one option and not a complete fix. Like he said it'll supplement the other options in congress and maybe between the three options Americans can finally have a chance at decent coverage.

[FORD]

A seemingly altruistic gesture, coming from a Florida politician? I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop here. This is either a phony news story, or something extremely nasty is hidden deep inside this guy's bill, possibly written in invisible ink.

Be afraid, folks. Be very, very afraid.

Everything I have seen and heard from Grayson over the last several months leads me to believe he's the real deal. Now, on the other hand, I really don't trust Debbie Wasserman Schultz all that much, and I wouldn't even use the name "Democrat" to describe Bill Nelson.

But even up here in "Liberal" Washington state, our supposed Democratic politicians often leave much to be desired (except for the lucky folks that live in the 7th congressional district)

[chefcraig]

Everything I have seen and heard from Grayson over the last several months leads me to believe he's the real deal. Now, on the other hand, I really don't trust Debbie Wasserman Schultz all that much, and I wouldn't even use the name "Democrat" to describe Bill Nelson.

But even up here in "Liberal" Washington state, our supposed Democratic politicians often leave much to be desired (except for the lucky folks that live in the 7th congressional district)

The Rogue's Gallery of Florida Democrats includes Alcee Hastings, a former federal judge who was impeached and removed from office for corruption and perjury. During the 2004 election, Corrine Brown handed out phony ballots to voters, misrepresenting the issues at hand and violating polling rules. Ron Klein got voted into office running against Mark Foley, who was in hot water for looking for sexual trysts by emailing male congressional pages at the time. Hell, Alan Grayson called the Federal Reserve Chair's senior adviser a whore on national tv. About the only one I trust even remotely is Bob Wexler, and he isn't even sure if he lives here or not.

[LoungeMachine]

Seems odd to hear a Democrat tell individuals that they have to pay for something themselves without the government or the wealthy helping them out.

Really?

Then you weren't paying much attention to Gore, Kerry, or Obama in the general elections in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

[knuckleboner]

Ron Klein got voted into office running against Mark Foley, who was in hot water for looking for sexual trysts by emailing male congressional pages at the time.

actually, tim mahoney took mark foley's seat. and, partly because he liked to admit to multiple affairs in his first term, he lost the election in 2008 to tom rooney, grandson of art rooney. (and therefore a republican that VA Beach can strongly support...)



as for the public option...getting both sides of congress to agree on any reform at this point will be a challenge enough. there's dick durbin saying he'll whip the senate to include a public option, if the house does...again.

of course, when he had 60 votes, dick durbin couldn't get a public option in the senate's side, so he'll have to pardon me if i'm a little leary of his ability to guarantee 51.

[FORD]

Yeah, Dick Durbin means well, but I remember that episode when the BCE had him literally in tears on the Senate floor (damned if I remember exactly why).

He's got more backbone than Harry Reid (who doesn't?) but I'm not sure I'd depend on him to be the ass-kicker that's really needed in the Senate right now.

[BigBadBrian]

Amazing...people thinking the govt could manage healthcare. It doesn't even do an adequate job managing Medicare for those that are already in it. God help us if we wind up in a pathetic mess like the UK's and Canada's system.

Obama is planning on cutting $500B from Medicare. How in the hell are we going to fund this? How much do you think people will have to contribute monthly to make this work? People won't be able to afford even this.

[ULTRAMAN VH]

Amazing...people thinking the govt could manage healthcare. It doesn't even do an adequate job managing Medicare for those that are already in it. God help us if we wind up in a pathetic mess like the UK's and Canada's system.

Obama is planning on cutting $500B from Medicare. How in the hell are we going to fund this? How much do you think people will have to contribute monthly to make this work? People won't be able to afford even this.

Correct, the government can't even build a fence to protect our borders. WTF makes anyone think for one minute they can take over and successfully run 1/6 of the american economy, (aka) Healthcare?

[LoungeMachine]

Correct, the government can't even build a fence to protect our borders. WTF makes anyone think for one minute they can take over and successfully run 1/6 of the american economy, (aka) Healthcare?

You think a FENCE can protect our borders ???



oh jesus