Cruz floats amendment to Senate healthcare bill

[Emjay]

It's not that complicated if the people we sent to DC would just do what they promised in regards to the ACA.

True, but it's complicated because we sent some people to DC that we shouldn't have and we have to get all Republicans on board to pass this.

[Zman516]

  ...But pre-existing condition coverage (most likely w/o penalties) and subsidies continue.  More less expensive plans do not remove government from health insurance/health care.

The obvious solution to the Healthcare insurance problem is to remove the pre-existing condition (medicaid) part of their plan completely. It is not insurance, it's WELFARE. Since even the GOPe is hell-bent on it, it should be given its own special program and funded by reducing all Federal Pensions and Federal salaries by 10% or 15% or whatever percentage it takes to pay for it. Reduce all food stamp bennies by 10%. All EBT and other welfare programs by 10%. Let the Federal employees,  libtards and able-bodied layabouts who are always clamoring for more freebies help out the honest taxpayers for once.

[RetBobbyMI]

Yes.  It's a tenuous thing with zero Democrats willing to help their country but this bill should satisfy four of the Republican holdouts.

Anything concocted behind closed doors by either party can't be good. 

[Silver Pines]

It's not that complicated if the people we sent to DC would just do what they promised in regards to the ACA.

@txradioguy


Haley Byrd‏Verified account

I don't understand the "we have to pass this bill that'll make premiums go up 20% during an election year so we can win the midterms" logic



Topher Spiro‏Verified account

WOW. CBO: Premiums for a 64-year old with middle income go from $6,800 under ACA to $20,500 under BCRA ⚠️



Steve Deace‏Verified account @SteveDeaceShow  16h16 hours ago

 So if you're a conservative, you do realize GOP majority willing to risk every issue you care about on a (bad) Obamacare bailout, right?


Daniel Horowitz‏ @RMConservative  18h18 hours ago

 1) this bill is worse than doing nothing- political & policy wise.
2) Not an excuse 4 at least putting out a real repeal proposal and trying



Daniel Horowitz‏ @RMConservative  19h19 hours ago

 Latest podcast: GOP committing worst form of political adultery on health care, yet Clickservatives dont care



Ana Navarro‏Verified account @ananavarro  15h15 hours ago

 Trump PAC running ads vs GOP Senators voting "no" on healthcare. Political cannibalism. Better be careful dont choke while eating their own.


If Cruz, Paul, Lee, etc. hold firm on this, they'll be heroes, but they won't be recognized as such anymore than the Freedom Caucus by those who think anything with an R on it should be rubber-stamped, no matter how godawful it is.

[txradioguy]

@txradioguy


Haley Byrd‏Verified account

I don't understand the "we have to pass this bill that'll make premiums go up 20% during an election year so we can win the midterms" logic



Topher Spiro‏Verified account

WOW. CBO: Premiums for a 64-year old with middle income go from $6,800 under ACA to $20,500 under BCRA ⚠️



Steve Deace‏Verified account @SteveDeaceShow  16h16 hours ago

 So if you're a conservative, you do realize GOP majority willing to risk every issue you care about on a (bad) Obamacare bailout, right?


Daniel Horowitz‏ @RMConservative  18h18 hours ago

 1) this bill is worse than doing nothing- political & policy wise.
2) Not an excuse 4 at least putting out a real repeal proposal and trying



Daniel Horowitz‏ @RMConservative  19h19 hours ago

 Latest podcast: GOP committing worst form of political adultery on health care, yet Clickservatives dont care



Ana Navarro‏Verified account @ananavarro  15h15 hours ago

 Trump PAC running ads vs GOP Senators voting "no" on healthcare. Political cannibalism. Better be careful dont choke while eating their own.


If Cruz, Paul, Lee, etc. hold firm on this, they'll be heroes, but they won't be recognized as such anymore than the Freedom Caucus by those who think anything with an R on it should be rubber-stamped, no matter how godawful it is.

@CatherineofAragon

How can anyone in their right mind and with a straight face tell us with any modicum of honesty that this is a great deal or that it's the best we can do right now?

[Silver Pines]

@CatherineofAragon

How can anyone in their right mind and with a straight face tell us with any modicum of honesty that this is a great deal or that it's the best we can do right now?

@txradioguy

I've tried to figure that one out myself.  In my opinion, there are still a lot of people who are in the habit of believing Republicans are the good guys, and that anything they shove down our throats has to be an improvement over Democrat policy.  Even if it isn't, those habits die hard, or not at all.

[txradioguy]

@txradioguy

I've tried to figure that one out myself.  In my opinion, there are still a lot of people who are in the habit of believing Republicans are the good guys, and that anything they shove down our throats has to be an improvement over Democrat policy.  Even if it isn't, those habits die hard, or not at all.

I used to be that way.  But as time has passed I tend to pick and choose and have become more selective on whom in the GOP I think is a good guy.

[Emjay]

@txradioguy

I've tried to figure that one out myself.  In my opinion, there are still a lot of people who are in the habit of believing Republicans are the good guys, and that anything they shove down our throats has to be an improvement over Democrat policy.  Even if it isn't, those habits die hard, or not at all.

It's not a matter of Republicans being the 'good guys.'  Many of them are not. 

To me, it's a matter of cutting away at least some of the rot of the Obamacare bill and getting something better for the people.

Ted Cruz is well aware of the situation and if he thinks this bill with his amendment is a good one right now, then I'm on board with it.

A perfect bill would be nice but it wouldn't pass.

[txradioguy]

It's not a matter of Republicans being the 'good guys.'  Many of them are not. 

To me, it's a matter of cutting away at least some of the rot of the Obamacare bill and getting something better for the people.

Ted Cruz is well aware of the situation and if he thinks this bill with his amendment is a good one right now, then I'm on board with it.

A perfect bill would be nice but it wouldn't pass.

The whole thing is rotten...it should ALL be cut out.

The perfect bill WAS passed two years ago.  It just needs to be dusted off and sent to the President for his signature.

[bilo]

@txradioguy

I've tried to figure that one out myself.  In my opinion, there are still a lot of people who are in the habit of believing Republicans are the good guys, and that anything they shove down our throats has to be an improvement over Democrat policy.  Even if it isn't, those habits die hard, or not at all.

The Pubs are worse than the Rats.

The Pubs ran on a platform promising to repeal obamacare. They won a majority in the House promising to repeal obamacare. They won a majority in the Senate promising to repeal obamacare. Trump won thye Presidency promising to repeal obamacare. Now they say they don't have the votes to repeal obamacare and what's worse is by "fixing" obamacare they are creating a permanent role for the fed. govt in determining what an individual can and must do about their health care.

The Rats are straight forward about being socialists. The Pubs are worse because they claim they aren't socialists, but they enact policies that cement a socialist approach to govt.

[Emjay]

The whole thing is rotten...it should ALL be cut out.

The perfect bill WAS passed two years ago.  It just needs to be dusted off and sent to the President for his signature.

We all know that.  We also know that's not going to happen.  This Cruz bill is our best chance to get something done right now and even that's not going to be easy ... Susan Collins is wavering on it.

[Emjay]

The Pubs are worse than the Rats.

The Pubs ran on a platform promising to repeal obamacare. They won a majority in the House promising to repeal obamacare. They won a majority in the Senate promising to repeal obamacare. Trump won thye Presidency promising to repeal obamacare. Now they say they don't have the votes to repeal obamacare and what's worse is by "fixing" obamacare they are creating a permanent role for the fed. govt in determining what an individual can and must do about their health care.

The Rats are straight forward about being socialists. The Pubs are worse because they claim they aren't socialists, but they enact policies that cement a socialist approach to govt.

The Republicans are not worse than the Democrats.

Just wanted to get that straight.  It's one thing to be very disappointed in some of the Republicans ... it's another thing to be ridiculous.

[Emjay]

Ted Cruz is no longer fighting to get rid of Obamacare "root and branch" any more.  He's looking to lower costs, reduce the rate of Medicaid increases and allow states to opt out of the essential benefits.

This ain't 2009 any more.

Now I'm wondering about the status of the Cruz proposed amendment.  Is that the bill that McConnell is talking about when he and Cornyn are now punting the vote down the road.

Because the opposing Senators mentioned in the story did not include Ted Cruz but did include Mike Lee and I would have thought Lee would have been on board with the Cruz amendment.

It's not only confusing but dispiriting.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Now I'm wondering about the status of the Cruz proposed amendment.  Is that the bill that McConnell is talking about when he and Cornyn are now punting the vote down the road.

Because the opposing Senators mentioned in the story did not include Ted Cruz but did include Mike Lee and I would have thought Lee would have been on board with the Cruz amendment.

It's not only confusing but dispiriting.

@Emjay

I agree.  I wish I understood what the six opposed to the current draft want.....other than camera time.

[corbe]

@Emjay

I agree.  I wish I understood what the six opposed to the current draft want.....other than camera time.

   It really doesn't require a great leap in Imagination to know a few crucial votes (Lee, Cruz and Paul) only wanted what the GOP promised US the last 7 years and also what President Trump stated repeatedly throughout his campaign-On Day One-REPEAL.

   Maybe I'm not being realistic here @Right_in_Virginia but you would never be able to convince me of that, I'm just to hard headed in my belief it was all just one big con.

[txradioguy]

   It really doesn't require a great leap in Imagination to know a few crucial votes (Lee, Cruz and Paul) only wanted what the GOP promised US the last 7 years and also what President Trump stated repeatedly throughout his campaign-On Day One-REPEAL.

   Maybe I'm not being realistic here @Right_in_Virginia but you would never be able to convince me of that, I'm just to hard headed in my belief it was all just one big con.

BINGO!!!!

[bilo]

The Republicans are not worse than the Democrats.

Just wanted to get that straight.  It's one thing to be very disappointed in some of the Republicans ... it's another thing to be ridiculous.

What's worse the guy who tells you he's against everything you believe in, or the guy who tells you he believes everything you believe in and then supports the guy who is opposed to you? In my book liars are worse.

Medicaid is becoming the single payer program the Rats want. It continues to grow under the Pub plan and the poverty base line keeps getting increased. The community rating and essential benefits part of obamacare is retained under the Pub plan. IOW, under the Pub plan the fed govt will tell you what you must buy and the fed govt will determine what the plan must cover. If you can't afford the one size fits all plan you will get the govt program medicaid. Of course in either case a govt panel will determine whether or not you get the care you need.

Sen. Cruz offered a really good amendment letting individuals opt out and buy plans they want, but I haven't seen any coverage or support for it.

If what's being offered right now ends up being the bill I would expect conservatives to not vote for it. If they do the only alternative I have is to not support them at the ballot box, or financially.

[Emjay]

What's worse the guy who tells you he's against everything you believe in, or the guy who tells you he believes everything you believe in and then supports the guy who is opposed to you? In my book liars are worse.

Medicaid is becoming the single payer program the Rats want. It continues to grow under the Pub plan and the poverty base line keeps getting increased. The community rating and essential benefits part of obamacare is retained under the Pub plan. IOW, under the Pub plan the fed govt will tell you what you must buy and the fed govt will determine what the plan must cover. If you can't afford the one size fits all plan you will get the govt program medicaid. Of course in either case a govt panel will determine whether or not you get the care you need.

Sen. Cruz offered a really good amendment letting individuals opt out and buy plans they want, but I haven't seen any coverage or support for it.

If what's being offered right now ends up being the bill I would expect conservatives to not vote for it. If they do the only alternative I have is to not support them at the ballot box, or financially.

So ... does anyone know the status of the Cruz amendment?  Was it passed and included in the bill or was it not?

[bilo]

So ... does anyone know the status of the Cruz amendment?  Was it passed and included in the bill or was it not?

From what I understand he offered it as a compromise, but no one seems to be promoting it.

If they attached his amendment to the bill I would be a huge supporter. It would allow anyone to buy a policy that they want and can afford. I am in that small group of self employed people who only wanted catastrophic coverage in order to keep the premiums down. I used to provide the same to people I employed. obamacare ended that, I not only lost my coverage but everyone who worked for me as well. In my experience a lot of people who want pre-existing conditions covered and one size fits all policies are either all ready covered by medicare or get their insurance through their employer. I get pretty tired of "do gooders" demanding things that I have to pay for and that don't affect them.

[Smokin Joe]

From what I understand he offered it as a compromise, but no one seems to be promoting it.

If they attached his amendment to the bill I would be a huge supporter. It would allow anyone to buy a policy that they want and can afford. I am in that small group of self employed people who only wanted catastrophic coverage in order to keep the premiums down. I used to provide the same to people I employed. obamacare ended that, I not only lost my coverage but everyone who worked for me as well. In my experience a lot of people who want pre-existing conditions covered and one size fits all policies are either all ready covered by medicare or get their insurance through their employer. I get pretty tired of "do gooders" demanding things that I have to pay for and that don't affect them.

Pretty much in the same boat. My insurance company quit underwriting health plans. Mine no longer qualified. I could cover the deductibles and co-pay with one year's payments into an HSA and not pay taxes on that money and get interest, too. Small stuff got paid out of pocket, and we don't ordinarily take any medication. It worked. The Government broke it.

[Right_in_Virginia]

  .../

Maybe I'm not being realistic here @Right_in_Virginia but you would never be able to convince me of that, I'm just to hard headed in my belief it was all just one big con.

I really have no idea what this means @corbe or how it relates to my previous post.   

[corbe]

I really have no idea what this means @corbe or how it relates to my previous post.   

   Upon rereading it @Right_in_Virginia it does seem to be a bit discombobulated and though I would love to expound on it I couldn't possibly do that in the 144 character limitations of Trumpspeak.

[Silver Pines]

The Pubs are worse than the Rats.

The Pubs ran on a platform promising to repeal obamacare. They won a majority in the House promising to repeal obamacare. They won a majority in the Senate promising to repeal obamacare. Trump won thye Presidency promising to repeal obamacare. Now they say they don't have the votes to repeal obamacare and what's worse is by "fixing" obamacare they are creating a permanent role for the fed. govt in determining what an individual can and must do about their health care.

The Rats are straight forward about being socialists. The Pubs are worse because they claim they aren't socialists, but they enact policies that cement a socialist approach to govt.

@bilo

I can't disagree with you.  They're scum.  They lied for eight years about repealing Obamacare, all the while knowing they had no intention of doing so.  But still, like beaten wives who stand by the police cruiser and tell the cop they don't want to press charges, some voters are willing to come crawling for more abuse.  I really do not understand it.

And that's why the GOP can get away with this kind of thing.  It's why they'll never have to change. 

[bilo]

Pretty much in the same boat. My insurance company quit underwriting health plans. Mine no longer qualified. I could cover the deductibles and co-pay with one year's payments into an HSA and not pay taxes on that money and get interest, too. Small stuff got paid out of pocket, and we don't ordinarily take any medication. It worked. The Government broke it.

In the end I found a Christian health care co-op, Medi-Share. Unfortunately several employees weren't able to join because they aren't Christians. You are so right the Govt broke it.

[bilo]

@bilo

I can't disagree with you.  They're scum.  They lied for eight years about repealing Obamacare, all the while knowing they had no intention of doing so.  But still, like beaten wives who stand by the police cruiser and tell the cop they don't want to press charges, some voters are willing to come crawling for more abuse.  I really do not understand it.

And that's why the GOP can get away with this kind of thing.  It's why they'll never have to change.

I know the process is messy, but I sure don't see repeal happening. The best I can hope for is the ability to opt out. I'm so mad I can't put it into words to describe it. All my life I stuck with these guys. I campaigned for conservatives. I knocked on doors. I worked as an election judge. I attended party meetings. I donated to campaigns. Now after a lifetime of working towards the day when we would see conservative principals put into law we see they really don't want to. They just want socialism "lite" instead of the real heavy duty Venezuela type that always follows.

No more!