Universal Health Care for America

[Guest Allister]

What about President Obama's September 9, 2009 promise not to fund abortions or conscience protections to remain in place. I guess Joe Wilson was right. Our President is a liar.

[Guest Tait Sye]

Statement by Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on Final Stages of Health Care Reform

 

“As a trusted provider of health care to millions of women and families, Planned Parenthood is committed to fixing our broken health care system and guaranteeing quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

 

“Nobody knows better than the doctors, nurses, and other health professionals in local Planned Parenthood health centers how urgently families need affordable, quality health care. If enacted, President Obama’s proposal would extend health care coverage to tens of millions of women and families, guarantee access to affordable preventive screenings for cancer and other life-saving tests, protect women against gender discrimination by private insurers, end the practice of dropping coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and significantly increase access to reproductive health care. The proposal also includes a commonsense provision to expand family planning under Medicaid, which would significantly increase access to essential preventive health care for millions of women.

 

Given the promise of health care reform to extend coverage to millions of Americans, it would be a travesty if the current health care reform effort resulted in the loss of reproductive health care coverage, including abortion, which most women currently have under private health insurance plans. If the current Senate language introduced by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) is maintained, it would result in the most significant restriction in access to abortion coverage in the nearly 35 years since the U.S. Congress first adopted the Hyde Amendment.

 

Under the burdensome Nelson provision in the Senate health care reform bill, it is anticipated that most private health insurers would no longer offer coverage for abortion. Since most women with private health insurance have coverage for abortion, the Nelson provision would take away coverage that women have now. For that reason, Planned Parenthood opposed the Nelson provision when it was proposed and continues to oppose it.

 

Congress must fix the Nelson provision as part of health care reform and guarantee that reform will not result in women losing benefits they currently have.

 

“Planned Parenthood is also deeply concerned about increased pressure by Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) and his anti-choice allies in the House to reintroduce the Stupak abortion ban. The Senate already rejected the Stupak abortion ban because women across the country spoke out in opposition to it.

 

“The White House and congressional leaders must ensure that the Stupak ban will not be enacted through any legislative bill or amendment related to health care reform or any other legislative or regulatory vehicle.

 

“We cannot let anti-choice individuals and groups use the reform process to achieve their narrow political agenda to end access to safe and legal abortion in the United States. Planned Parenthood praises President Obama for his leadership in moving health care reform forward. We stand ready to work with President Obama and the congressional leadership for health care reform that meets the needs of women and all Americans.”

###

 

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate more than 840 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.

[Guest Anne]

The Nelson language does the following:

 

* Requires every enrollee--female or male--in a health plan that offers abortion coverage to write two separate checks for insurance coverage.

* Includes "conscience clause" language that protects only individuals or entities that refuse to provide, pay for, provide coverage for, or refer for abortion, removing earlier language that provided balanced non-discrimination language for those who provide a full range of choices to women in need.

* Prohibits insurance companies by law from taking into account cost savings when estimating the costs of abortion care and therefore the costs of premiums for abortion care.

* Eliminates the provision in earlier versions of the Senate bill and in the original Capps language in the House bill to ensure that there is at least one insurance plan in each exchange that offers and one that does not offer abortion coverage.

[Guest David]

Ancient Hebrew Jewish culture had sense enough not to have abortions. They recognized that children were a blessing from God. Jesus spent His whole life immersed in a Jewish country and a Jewish culture. The Hebrew people (at that time) were so in agreement on this issue that abortion wasn’t even discussed much. There was no debate, it was just understood among them that you don’t do this.

[Guest ALWAYS RED]

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Our next guest, Congressman Bart Stupak has an enormous amount of power. He is the author of the amendment in the House bill that bars federal funding for abortion.

 

Congressman Stupak opposes the Senate bill, he says, because unlike his amendment the Senate bill does not go far enough to bar federal funding.

 

So now what? Moments ago, Congressman Stupak went "On the Record."

 

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

 

VAN SUSTEREN: Congressman, nice to see you sir.

 

REP. BART STUPAK, D - MICH.: Good to see you.

 

VAN SUSTEREN: Depending on which side of the debate you are on you are either the biggest hero or the biggest villain having to do with the Stupak amendment. Where do we stand? How many people do you have who are going to stick with you on the Stupak amendment?

 

STUPAK: At least 12 who voted for the bill before. That's why it is so important that the 12 of us who voted for health care before in the House continue to vote for health care.

 

And one of the objections we have is the language, the Senate language or abortion. We believe the Senate language provides for federal subsidies for abortions. Plus there's a language in there where you have to pay one dollar per month, every enrollee, to pay for in fun for reproductive rights which include abortion.

 

And that's totally against federal law. So we are saying take that out

 

VAN SUSTEREN: If the language remains in, and if the 12 vote against it, your 12, does that mean that Speaker Pelosi does not have enough votes?

 

STUPAK: She does not have enough votes. The speaker would not have enough votes if the 12 of us who have indicated we are not going to vote for it unless we change this language, she is short at least 12 votes.

 

VAN SUSTEREN: What do you think is going to happen?

 

STUPAK: Today I had a good discussion with Chairman Waxman, no agreements, no negotiations, just a good discussion. And I think those discussion will continue right up to the time of vote.

 

VAN SUSTEREN: Has the Chairman Waxman said don't worry, you are going to get the language that will satisfy you?

 

STUPAK: Chairman Waxman is concerned about my language, but he's also very concerned we don't have the votes. So we are trying to work out -- we are having good discussions. No negotiations because there is no bill. The president has to put his proposal in writing. There is not proposal.

 

The president could take this issue away and put it in there, here's my proposal Congress, no federal funding for abortion. That resolves the issue.

 

VAN SUSTEREN: It is abundantly clear where you stand?

 

STUPAK: We are not voting for health care if we do not resolve this language on public funding for abortion -- no public funding for abortion.

 

Read the rest of the interview.

[Guest Soldier of God]

I pray that Representative Stupak and these modern day apostles stay firm with their convictions.

[Guest Hill Staffer]

U.S. Reps. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), and George Miller (D-CA), the chairmen of the three committees with jurisdiction over health policy in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued the following statement today on a new report released by the Center for American Progress showing that the health reform legislation pending in Congress will significantly lower health care costs for businesses, add as many as 4 million jobs over the next decade, and increase workers' wages.

 

"This study confirms that the House and Senate health reform bills will control health care costs, strengthen our economy, and create millions of new jobs over the next decade. As President Obama has repeatedly said, the economic argument for fixing our broken health insurance system is just as strong as the moral argument. Today's employment numbers remind us that too many Americans are still losing their jobs and looking for work. This new data reinforces a key fact that too often has gone overlooked in this debate: our health reform bill is also a job creation measure. We are committed to working with the Senate and the White House on a health care reform bill that will uphold our commitment to affordability, accountability, and accessibility and also will create millions of new jobs."

The report estimates that "health reform that reduces premium growth will add between 250,000 and 400,000 jobs annually over the next decade."

 

View the report.

 

http://http//www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/pdf/health_care_jobs.pdf

[Guest Guttmacher Institute]

Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States

 

• Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.

 

• Forty percent of pregnancies among white women, 69% among blacks and 54% among Hispanics are unintended.

[Guest Guttmacher Institute]

Fifty percent of U.S. women obtaining abortions are younger than 25: Women aged 20–24 obtain 33% of all abortions, and teenagers obtain 17%.

 

• Thirty-seven percent of abortions occur to black women, 34% to non-Hispanic white women, 22% to Hispanic women and 8% to women of other races.**

 

• Forty-three percent of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 27% as Catholic.

 

• Women who have never married obtain two-thirds of all abortions.

 

• About 60% of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children.

 

• The abortion rate among women living below the federal poverty level ($9,570 for a single woman with no children) is more than four times that of women above 300% of the poverty level (44 vs. 10 abortions per 1,000 women). This is partly because the rate of unintended pregnancies among poor women (below 100% of poverty) is nearly four times that of women above 200% of poverty* (112 vs. 29 per 1,000 women.

[Guest William Greene]

Regardless of the fact that the biggest reason Republican Scott Brown was elected to Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat was because he promised to help kill ObamaCare -- Democrats are still willing to use more corrupt tactics to get it passed! In fact, the liberals on the far left have their own interpretation of why Brown won: "people want more change... bolder change... more populism... and the public option is that in this healthcare fight." Check out this YouTube video where they state very clearly that the socialized healthcare "public option" is "back on the table" and will be passed by using the "reconciliation process" -- because in their minds, that's what "Americans want"!

 

Democrat Rep. Charles Rangel of New York stated that they are looking to start the process soon, and that he believed both chambers could muster the votes needed for passage, despite virtually unanimous GOP opposition. And Harry Reid said a scenario in which the House produces a reconciliation package "seems like a strong possibility." In fact, 17 Senate Democrats have been pushing Reid to use reconciliation rules to sidestep a Republican filibuster of health care reform.

 

It's obvious that Barack Obama and House and Senate Democrats meant for their so-called "healthcare reform summit" to be nothing more than a SHAM, and NOT a genuine dialogue. But their game has been exposed. Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona told CNN that "they've devised the process by which they can jam the bill through that the president has supported in the past, without Republican ideas in it." But the problem, Kyl said, is that "reconciliation is not the process for comprehensive bills like this. It's for balancing the budget!"

 

Don't be fooled by Obama's attempts this week to offer a "compromise" where he would paper a few of the Republicans' common-sense proposals over an unsalvageable bill. Like the dog-and-pony show they put on last week, the Democrats are once again playing games with taxpayers' money; as Sen. John Barrasso said, they're just adding "ornaments to a bill that is very unattractive to the American people."

[Guest Catholic]

Dear Reader,

Please pass this message along though the noise based on merit.

 

Mr. President,

I wish you and your family, support staff the very best. I danced in Lafayette Park the day you won the election. I voted for you based on your message. Now I feel betrayed. On September 9, 2009 Message to Congress you stated to the entire globe that no funds would go to perform abortions. I fear it is you who does not honor the Office you hold. I understand those who defend the Pro Choice movement. I marched with them. They fear the loss of insurance coverage of prescribing or terminating the pregnancy.

 

My path is purely Centrist. Reason and Faith can walk hand in hand. Why not go on the record and state your belief in this issue. Is conscious defined as Liberty? Are we more than just an organism hoping for the next life. Is the fruits of your love blessed to you?

 

I am disappointed that you cannot debate your position with Catholics. Yet, you are a disciple to the Lion of Senate. I wonder what Ted's last secret message to the Vatican was? As a Catholic his Sacrament of Confirmation was to proclaim our Creator's Commandment to protect life. Don't Eat from the tree of Life.

 

I Reason that Faith is a gift of the Creator. I believe that spreading the word of our Creator is my most important Liberty. George Washington stated that All need to put the Creater above the Party. We need to put People above Party. That is pure Democracy.

 

Mr. President,

I ask you to go into the Pit of the House and the Pit of the Senate and preach your final message on this issue. I cannot imagine you fail to see the slipery slope of taxpayers funding community abortion centers. Do you see the fear your are putting in Islamic, Hebrew, and Christian faith? Can you visualize a different picture? The World has not gotten over Hitler. Its on every discovery channel. So many are living in tents with no jobs.

 

It is fitting that your decision will come on Easter. This is the holiday Christ conquered the kingdom of death to live and reign forever. My our Creator bless you with wisdom on your judgment.

 

ejaculate rex gloriae Christus infernum debellaturus intraret, et chorus angelicus ante faciem ejus protas principum tolli praeciperet, sanctorum populus, qui tenebatur in morte captivus, voce lacrimabili clamabat dicens: Advenistidesiderabilis , quem expectabamus in tenebris, ut educered hac nocte vinculatos de claustris. Te nostra vocabant suspiria, te large requirebant lamenta, tu factus est spes desperatis, magna consolatio in tormentis.

 

Alleluja

[Guest Mary]

Four or five weeks after conception, pain receptors appear around the mouth of the baby, followed by nerve fibers, which carry stimuli to the brain. By 18 weeks, pain receptors have appeared throughout the body. Around week 6, the unborn baby first responds to touch.

 

Between weeks 20 a nd 30, an unborn baby has more pain receptors per square inch than at any other time, before or after birth, with only a very thin layer of skin for protection.

 

Can you imagine the pain which the unborn baby feels as salt burns the skin?

 

It seems that we want to keep the discussion of this genocide out of main stream media.

 

Bless all of you who fight this legislation. May God forgive those who kill his little angels.

 

Blackburn, ST. Maternal, Fetal, and Neonatal Physiology. 2nd ed (2003).

 

Ibid. 573

 

Vanhatalo, S & van Nieuwenhuizen, O. “Fetal

Pain?” Brain and Development. 22 (2000)

 

“Expert Report of Kanwaljeet S. Anand, MBBS, D.Phil.” Northern District of the US District Court in California. 15 Jan 2004.

[Guest Wiki]

In the history of abortion, induced abortion has been the source of considerable debate, controversy, and activism. An individual's position on the complex ethical, moral, philosophical, biological, and legal issues is often related to his or her value system. The main positions are the pro-choice position, which argues in favor of access to abortion, and the pro-life position, which argues against access to abortion. Opinions of abortion may be described as being a combination of beliefs on its morality, and beliefs on the responsibility, ethical scope, and proper extent of governmental authorities in public policy. Religious ethics also has an influence upon both personal opinion and the greater debate over abortion (see religion and abortion).

 

Abortion debates, especially pertaining to abortion laws, are often spearheaded by groups advocating one of these two positions. In the United States, those in favor of greater legal restrictions on, or even complete prohibition of abortion, most often describe themselves as pro-life while those against legal restrictions on abortion describe themselves as pro-choice. Generally, the pro-life position argues that a human fetus is a human being with the right to live making abortion tantamount to murder. The pro-choice position argues that a woman has certain reproductive rights, especially the choice whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term.

 

In both public and private debate, arguments presented in favor of or against abortion focus on either the moral permissibility of an induced abortion, or justification of laws permitting or restricting abortion.

 

Debate also focuses on whether the pregnant woman should have to notify and/or have the consent of others in distinct cases: a minor, her parents; a legally married or common-law wife, her husband; or a pregnant woman, the biological father. In a 2003 Gallup poll in the United States, 79% of male and 67% of female respondents were in favor of legalized mandatory spousal notification; overall support was 72% with 26% opposed.

 

http://people-press....?analysisid=122

 

http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm

[Luke_Wilbur]

APE SHALL NEVER KILL APE!

[Guest GALEN INSTITUTE]

Let's cut to the heart of the matter: First, let's start by setting aside the extraordinary complexity of thousands of pages of health reform legislation. Next, let's throw out the labyrinth of details about the Senate reconciliation process. Not important.

 

Only one thing matters. And that is convincing the House to pass the Senate bill. Everything else is a side show at best.

 

If the House passes the Senate bill in a straight up or down vote -- "a simple majority," to quote the president -- ObamaCare becomes the law of the land. Nothing else matters.

 

The president wants the House to act by March 18, promising that problems would be fixed in subsequent legislation.

 

But if the House passes the Senate bill, then President Obama would be able to sign comprehensive health reform in the form of the Senate bill the next day, and the job is done. Any promises that it would be fixed after that aren't worth the paper they might, or might not, be written on.

 

The White House is desperately trying to find every vote possible to get to the current majority number of 216 votes in the House to pass ObamaCare. The president cleared his schedule this afternoon for marathon meetings with House members.

 

Rep. Bart Stupak, Democrat of Michigan, said on ABC this morning that he and 11 colleagues who voted for the earlier version of the House bill will vote "no" this time if abortion language isn't changed from the Senate version.

 

"Let's face it, I want to see health care," Stupak said. "But we're not going to bypass some principles and beliefs that we feel strongly about."

 

But they and others are being told that if they want health reform, they have to take the first vote so the leadership has a bill to fix.

 

The package of fixes being negotiated between the House and the Senate is a distraction at best.

 

Once House members take the vote on the Senate bill, they have absolutely no control over what the Senate does next. The Senate may or may not be able to get a second bill passed to address concerns of the House.

 

And that means House Democrats will be on the hook this fall for a vote for:

 

* The Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, and every other vote-buying deal buried in the Senate bill.

 

* Abortion language that clearly allows federal funding for abortion and which the U.S. Conference of Bishops solidly opposes.

 

* The Cadillac tax on high-cost health insurance policies that labor unions hate.

 

* Weak enforcement provisions for the individual mandate that health insurers say will cause pools to disintegrate, causing premiums to skyrocket for those still buying policies.

 

And that's just for starters.

 

It would be the dupe of all time if House members were to be convinced that they must go first to keep the process moving forward, only to find that ObamaCare passes the finish line in the form of the Senate bill.

 

It will be interesting to watch them this fall trying to explain to constituents, who already have told them in no uncertain terms that they hate this legislation, that they were promised that they would have a second chance to take a vote to fix it.

 

In this game, there will be no second chances.

[Guest August]

According to the Christian Science Monitor, the planned resignation of Rep. Eric Massa (D) of New York on Monday may ultimately help fulfill President Obama’s goal of passing healthcare reform soon.

 

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0305/Eric-Massa-s-early-exit-from-House-may-ease-healthcare-s-passage

[Guest 84Saints]

Through all of the months of drama of Rangel’s ethics violations, tax evasion, and abuses, Pelosi has stood by Rangel–up to the very end–even being quoted as saying:

 

After huddling with Rangel for 45 minutes, Pelosi initially said, “No comment” when asked if Rangel remains panel chairman.

 

She later added, "I guess he is still chair of Ways and Means"

 

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/84627-rangel-wont-step-down-from-chairmanship

[Guest Francis]

The Missouri State House has passed House Joint Resolution 48 (HJR48). The legislation, known as the "Missouri Health Care Freedom Act" seeks to make public policy for the state that every person within the state of Missouri is and shall be free to choose or decline to choose any mode of securing health care services without penalty or threat of penalty by the federal government of the United States of America.

 

http://www.house.mo.gov

[Guest Cathy K.]

Fantastic job Missouri! I hope you lead the nation in this legislation and that all the rest of the 50 states will follow suit!! It's time the states took their rightful place in securing rights for their own citizens and told the Federal Government to keep their change!

[Guest Congressman Chaka Fattah]

"There's an old expression: 'Lead, follow, or get out of the way.' President Obama today has stepped up in a big way and asserted his leadership. Solid majorities in Congress and a national mandate from the voters are prepared to follow the President's lead and get this job done. Make no mistake: there will be a vote on healthcare. For the first time in history there will be a vote to provide coverage for the uninsured and those who have health insurance will be guaranteed the coverage they need. The nay-sayers have had their nay saying, ad infinitum, and, as the President said, 'Every argument has been made.' Americans deserve an up-or-down vote. Majority rules. When we move from procedural votes to the historic final vote on healthcare, I predict there will be more than Democrats providing Americans with the healthcare they need and deserve. It's time for those who are stuck on our old, dysfunctional healthcare system to accept these critical reforms or get out of the way. I echo the President's statement, 'Let's get it done!'"

[Guest GHarry]

Why is abortion no different from any other medical procedure. Conservatives on these boards have managed to give it iconic status because they hold the bizarre belief that a soul is magically inserted into the human egg at the moment of conception. This is nonsense, of course, but Democrats buy into it by sheepishly going along with efforts to restrict abortion funding.

[Guest carester]

I think that the problem is stubbornness on both sides, the "Stupaks" and the liberals. However, I think that Stupaks' position is supported by the great majority of Americans. Regardless how we feel about abortion per se, the majority of Americans DON'T WANT THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR ABORTIONS, plain and simple.

[Guest AllentownJake]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v130oXHgBlY

In this video MSNBC's Rachel Maddow poured on the heat to attempt to discredit Congressman Bart Stupak. Instead of focusing on the abortion issue, Rachel Maddow proved that she is no journalist, but rather a tabloid pundit.

[Guest greenzen]

Which is more important? 44,000 people that die every year without healthcare or the 1.3 million babies that are aborted?

[Guest LAW]

Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
March 6, 2010

This week, I asked Congress to schedule a final vote on reform that will give families and businesses more control over their health care by holding insurance companies more accountable. This comes after nearly a year of debate, as well as a seven hour summit with Democrats and Republicans where we had a public and substantive discussion on health care. Since then, I’ve said that I’m willing to incorporate some ideas offered by Republicans, and we’re eliminating special provisions that had no place in health care reform.

Now, despite all the progress and improvements we’ve made, Republicans in Congress insist that the only acceptable course on health care is to start over. But you know what? The insurance companies aren’t starting over. I just met with some of them on Thursday and they couldn’t give me a straight answer as to why they keep arbitrarily and massively raising premiums – by as much as 60% in states like Illinois. If we do not act, they will continue to do this. They will continue to drop people’s coverage when they need it. They will continue to refuse coverage based on pre-existing conditions. These practices will continue.

That’s why we must act now. That’s why the United States Congress owes the American people an up-or-down vote on health insurance reform.

The proposal we’ve put forward would end the worst practices of the insurance industry, lower costs for millions of Americans, and give uninsured individuals and small businesses the same kind of choice of private health insurance that Members of Congress get for themselves. And while it will take a few years to fully implement these reforms, there are numerous protections and benefits that would start to take effect this year.

This year, small business owners will receive tax credits to purchase health insurance.

This year, thousands of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions will finally be able to purchase coverage. Insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. And they will no longer be allowed to drop your coverage when you get sick.

This year, all new insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care to their customers – so that we can start catching preventable illnesses and diseases on the front end. There will no longer be lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care you receive. Young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ insurance policy until they’re 26 years old. And there will be a new, independent appeals process for anyone who feels they were unfairly denied a claim by their insurance company.

Finally, seniors who fall into the gap in coverage known as the donut hole will receive $250 to help them pay for their prescriptions.

What won’t change when this bill is signed this: if you like the insurance plan you have now, you can keep it. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. Because nothing should get in the way of the relationship between a family and their doctor.

If we act now, all of this will happen this year. Millions of lives will improve. Some will be saved. Many families and small business owners will have health insurance for the very first time in their lives. Doctors and patients will have more control over their health care decisions, and insurance company bureaucrats will have less. This future is within our grasp.

But we also know what the future will look like if we don’t act – if we let this opportunity pass for another year, or another decade, or another generation. More Americans will lose their family’s health insurance if they switch jobs or lose their job. More small businesses will be forced to choose between health care and hiring. More insurance companies will raise premiums and deny coverage. And the rising cost of Medicare and Medicaid will sink our government deeper and deeper into debt.

I don’t accept that future for the United States of America. I know it has been a long and hard road to this point. And we are not finished with our journey just yet. But we are close. We are very close. And so I ask Congress to finish its work. I ask them to give the American people an up or down vote. And let’s show our citizens that it’s still possible for Washington to look out for their interests and their future. Thanks for listening.