From Dan Foster at the Corner:
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) “will offer an amendment during Senate debate on the health care reconciliation bill this week to apply the reform legislation to the President, Vice President, cabinet members and top White House staff,” according to a press release.
Grassley said, “It’s only fair and logical that top administration officials, who fought so hard for passage of this overhaul of America’s health care system, experience it themselves. If it’s as good as promised, they’ll know it first-hand. If there are problems, they’ll be able to really understand them, as they should.”
Full release here.
This is similar to an idea many of you have heard me float, and I think that if for no other reason than it can consistently put the progressives on the defensive it is a plan that should be pushed repeatedly, no matter how many times it is defeated, and no matter how many times the President or one of his lackeys claims that the health plan they have now is “virtually the same” as the reform plan being unconstitutionally foisted on a public that doesn’t want it.
— Because were that truly the case, why can’t we just have what they’re having?
Naturally, the reform legislation should extend to members of Congress, as well — but I guess you can’t blame Grassley for wanting to steer clear of this mess, his being an elderly fellow and all.
Still, if you’re going to make a point, Chuck, why not go all the freakin’ way, you know?
(h/t bh)
Pshaw.
As if it would apply to the fascist whip-weilders.
It is a good plan although I agree, it should include Congress too. Make them say that the pigs in Congress are “more equal” than their constitutent pigs.
make all them enroll in medicaid
including the bureaucrats
Eventually, the Democrats too will have to go to (geograpical area X) for care once Obamacare ruins the American medical miracle. The spigot of American medical ingenuity will soon be turned off.
I will miss the Democrats.
“I will miss the Democrats.”
Then back to the firing range with you for more practice.
;-)
It is even more hypocritical than you imagine: Senior Congressional Staff specifically exempt from Health Care Reform bill.
They have no shame.
h/t to Dan for that nugget.
That’s what we have to do, Community Organize the Right and use the same Alinsky tactics that’ve proved so successful for the Left. Make ’em vote against that amendment on every bill from here on. Shame ’em if they don’t.
Oh, and ACORN is folding. Blaming Community Organized right-wingers. Good for us.
Stick it to ’em until they hurts~!
No shit. Can’t even make an empty gesture without covering his own ass.
OH NOES!!!!
I just realized!
Where are all those poor Canadians going to go now?
For the true measure of revenge, they should have to go to the VA for…*cough*… ‘health’ care.
It would be amusing to hear tales of how they accidentally removed Nancy’s legs when she went in for a root canal.
I’d be happy if I could exercise my first ammendment right to accept a bribe the same way that members of congress can.
costa rico where rush will be going
If you think that comment is over-the-top, then you have not been folloewing either the VA or the “British Health Sevices” very closely.
Where are all those poor Canadians going to go now?
Trust me on this one , they’re not poor .
Perhaps a little climate change is necessary to kick start Charles’ evolutionary development.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124906102&ft=1&f=1001
Trust me they like the idea of flying to Costa Rica, provided they can get the hockey games on satillite.
Even if he doesn’t apply it to Congress, sticking it to the Oministration is a good first step, because it’s targeted and narrowly focused.
Besides, if the Oministration goes all tu quoque on Grassley, the rest of us can apply the pressure to both of them.
See, doctors could flee to Mexico and set up clinics. They’d have all kinds of access to drugs.
Today is the 245th anniversary of the enactment of the Stamp Act.
Which was eventually repealed.
h/t Steyn
That doesn’t help Dicentra. Folks are gettin’ killed down there at a rate that makes our abortion clinics look like slackers. By the way? Mormonism, no problem. Foodstuff as a dowry? no problem. Abstaining from sex for a year? Can we talk?
# 11 Mr.W? My dad (Viet war vet) was in the VA for a cupla years, and the care he got was top rete. NOW? he won’t even go there for a new glasses prescription.
The food there( I was a kid) was 1st rate, and now? dry, rubbery sandwiches are the best you can get, The golf course has gone into the wild (GOD I loved playing there) and it smells like mildew.
I know why all these things have happened, same as I know why Walter Reed hospital had gone south, but do you? does anybody? Since NIXON our military has been on friggin’ medicare lite.
See STORMBRINGER for all things military
Sheesh…you thought y’all were gonna get a link? Cripes, the regs here know I’m incapable.
Charles? My dad? went from full blown PTSD to the top amature in mass with that golf course. Please sir? ask before speaking.
and swordfish, sideways
Too true Charles, why would we want to provide a golf course for those who have risked life and limb for us when we could pay to subsidize the insurance needs of all families of 4 who earn close to $90K a year.
Did you READ the rest Charles? Can you comprehend the change I’ve noted? This IS since the time of Nixon until 2 yrs ago. I’ve noted the entire downfall of the Bedford MA VA from the age of 7 to 47.
Asshole
That’s a good way to fight back now. Why wait for November? Why wait until Obama tries to force another socialist program down our throats? Now is not the time to shrivel away. Now is the time to stand up and fight back harder then ever before. Now is the time to take the fight to them. Will you join us on a campaign to DESTROY THE MOUTHPIECE OF OBAMA’S SOCIALIST AGENDA, THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA? WE ARE IN A FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, A FIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE. Join the fight here,http://sosssn.blogspot.com/
#32 Tsk Tsk Charles. Hating the military and wishing the deaths of the poor uninsured all in one post.
Charles? are you brain dead or just like emotionally dead?
This isn’t about golf courses my leftist heroin addict friend, (left, heroin, same damed thing, both put you to sleep) This is about the continual degredation of the VA system.
To the regs, sorry about using big words, y’all know that ain’t my style.
SOSSN? Nah, I’d prefer a reasoned argument over a link beg. You need fighters? be it words or guns, y’all got one.
In other free speech news, Canada threatens to do to Ann Coulter what it did to Mark Steyn:
heh.
Charles? in 1972, My dad started a business that in it’s peak? took in about 900,00 a year. and YES, he attributes his healing to that hated golf course. We still went to the VA every week for his counseling and a round of golf for 10 fucking years. You have a problem with that?
Leftist/progressive/asshole.
Little Charles, time to come home. Dinner’s ready.
Blitz: Sorry, but my terms are my terms. No negotiating. :D
Hey Di…After the Steyn debacle? Those commisions in the not so Great White North are being laughed at even by the Quebequois. (hope I spelled that righr)
About Charles: don’t waste your time, Blitz. He’s either willfully obtuse or obtuse for real (as if it mattered which one).
And he’s set himself up as the arbiter of what constitutes “extreme,” and he’s going to help us rethink our extreme positions.
Which, of course, he does for both sides of the aisle. (I’d like to see which Lefty sites you troll, Charles, and how well you’re received there.)
He’s a weasel with language when he uses it and an ignoramus when he reads someone else’s words.
Go ahead. Read this comment by Jeff and guess how Charles “translated” it.
Blitz: Sorry, but my terms are my terms. No negotiating. :D
OK OK OK….But can I live w/you for that year? Cripes, the whole M thing is a learning experience anyway….
Duly read, and duly LOL’d Di. I knew he was a jerk, but hell, I engage jerks for fun.
How about we compromise and only allow card carrying union members access to VA golf courses? I’m sure that cost saving measure could up the subsidy ceiling to at least $95K a year.
I’m not a weasel, HAVE the language but prefer not to use it here due to typos and honestly? I’m just a HS grad. (and stupid mechanic)
Wierd thing? I understand the language and I’d have to thank Jeff for that. Since …wow? 2002? I’ve been here and at his other site, but never started commenting until say 2005. Maybe 6. This site has been an amazing learining experience for me, have tried to pass it on, but mostly what I get is…
HUH?
No Makewi, not possible.
Think about this man!! If only Union members were allowed access, who would mow the greens? Teamsters would bring in a dumpster truck, SEIU would bring in ACORN workers who would attempt to get the flag to vote….
and who besides Kenny from South Park would was the balls???
Or an even more radical idea, how about we fix the golf course up and see if we can make some money with it. I hear their are folks that actually pay money to play that game, hard as it is to believe.
Sure BMoe, as long as we use the profits made from that to fund more subsidies to the middle class. After all, someone has to pay for all this free shit.
Nah, I say we let it go and pay manbearpig the carbon credits.
G’nite folks, I have a damned Honda to chop in the AM….Don’t ask me why, my brother speaks Spanish, not me.
Even if they did that, Jeff – in our dreams – it would be like comparing Walter Reed to your local VA Health clinic. The political class would ensure that they received the best, while the rest of us would make do with the sort of doctors and health care they’d wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole.
oth, when members of the political class exempt themselves from the laws they force us to live under, you are no longer living in a constitutional democracy, let alone a constitutional republic.
I think war zone vets should get free golf for life on Uncle Sam’s dime.
But then I have different priorities than ol’ Chuckles.
Kdash apparently does not know the difference between employer health insurance and subsidies. SHOCKA
Charles finally woke up in a stupor from yesterday’s bender, and his asshattery continues apace.
“The political class would ensure that they received the best…”
One possible problem with this is, the best from whom? That is, from servicers who are also receiving the best (for if not, won’t these servicers feel some urge to disturb their masters)? And for those servicers receiving the best from some others, we ask again, from whom is this second set receiving the best? Yet more servicers who receive the best?
At some point we will either run out of the best to provide service, or someone is going to be feeling the pinch of having been shorted their due, and cascading upward we may expect pinch upon revenge upon pinch upon revenge until the series reaches the environs of the master class sitting atop the pile. Woe betide them on that day.
@10 Quebec …. they’ve gone OUTLAW!
But can I live w/you for that year? Cripes, the whole M thing is a learning experience anyway
Nope. My way or the highway. I’m THAT worth it. :D
Naturally, the reform legislation should extend to members of Congress, as well
heard Drier on Hewitt this afternoon, members of Congress are going to go into the exchange. Executive Branch and Federal employees – no.
“Executive Branch and Federal employees – no.”
They already have an exchange.
Good. I’ll use theirs.
Kfed is a douchenozzle. That is all.
“We” is not the we you think we is, is we?
““We” is not the we you think we is, is we?”
Oops that should have been the “employer contribution,” not employee.
ZOMG – Merck has their own exchange. You stupid wingnuts are too stupid to understand the brilliance of khyphen.
Opposed to golf courses at VA hospitals? Probably opposed to active duty military personnel being able to get free elective cosmetic surgery, too.
If they wanted to go cheap the 30 million uninsured could just have been opened up for eligibility in TRICARE.
Who pays the employer contribution? We.
Who pays the employee contribution? We.
Who pays the Public exchange subsidy? We.
who paqys the Public exchange non-subsidy? We.
Who pays all of Medicare? We.
Who pays all of Medicaid? We.
Who pays for all private health insurance? We.
Who pays for SCHIP? We.
Who is we anyways? We is we. We is me. We is thee.
We is others, sight unseen.
We however are not the government. Oh noes.
Um – this is stupid. The law already applies to all of us. And it states that if you already have insurance, you can keep that current plan. So, I am unaffected — and so is Grassley, etc. Most Americans will not have new insurance. Good grief people.
Nice talking point there tony. Too bad when the reality of what is in that bill whacks it dead. But “good grief” don’t worry your head. Another finely tuned talking point for useless trolls will show up on your doorstep. Bright and shiny for a few minutes at least.
Better make double sure that your plan never changes. Not even a jot, tot, tiddle, or a comma. One change, any change, bye bye plan, hello public option.
Welcome to the Village. Be seeing you..
I don’t think Charles understands much.
“So, I am unaffected — and so is Grassley, etc. ”
Actually members of congress are not allowed to keep their current plans. They have to take a plan from the Act or from an Exchange created under the act.
You’re mistaken kdash. That was the amendment Tom Coburn tried unsuccessfully to attach to the Senate bill passed on Christmas eve, but was voted down in committee along, ahem, party lines…
Of course, if you have a link proving otherwise I’ll gladly admit I’m wrong.
Otherwise, be seeing you
I love it when the trolls cannot keep their talking points straight.
We have tony and kfed spitting out demonstrable lie – tony parrotting Barcky’s fundamentally dishonest claim that if you have insurance, you can keep it. Gee, how kind of you. As geoffb pointed out, that is true, until your coverage needs to change premiums, or available coverages, font on the policy, etc … Kfed is just lying.
Yep JD, It’s truly pathetic that they have to resort to such devices after seemingly winning the day…
It’s the epilogue to a pyrrhic victory.
“That was the amendment Tom Coburn tried unsuccessfully to attach to the Senate bill passed on Christmas eve, but was voted down in committee along, ahem, party lines…”
See page 157:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3590eas.txt.pdf
Under the heading “MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE EXCHANGE”
“Yep JD, It’s truly pathetic that they have to resort to such devices after seemingly winning the day…”
Pathetic.
Took corruption and dishonesty to cram this thing through – why stop with it now?
Yes, you are pathetic, kdash.
“Yes, you are pathetic, kdash.”
READ THE BILL! READ THE BILL! READ THE BILL!
You should be able to quote for us the exact language where Congress will be forced into the exact same exchange as everyone else will be eventually forced into, kfed. Your assertion, your burden of proof.
In short, I ain’t your bitch. Show your work.
“In short, I ain’t your bitch. Show your work.”
My bitch? Why are you such a weirdo? I said Tony was wrong. And then what? Bob says I’m mistaken. I’m pathetic. That was a nice chorus. And then I gave a link, a page number, and where in the page to look.
No JD. You’re not my bitch. Bitchy. But not my bitch.
So by the power of ctrl-c / ctrcl-v, I give you:
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE EXCHANGE-
(i) REQUIREMENT- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are–
(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or
(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).
Too fig a pdf for me to open but geoffb had a link to the bill in another thread. I don’t remember seeing the exchange section though.
I would go with geoff’s link though (who knows where kdash’s link has been).
fig=big
Danger, sorry been busy.
Ok, the passage in question is in the 906 page bill passed by the House at page 65.
It does not however seem to be in the 2409 page bill passed by the Senate being neither in the “Public Print” nor in the 2409 page “Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate”. Odd to me but strange are the ways of the Legislature.
Ok, the search didn’t find it because the Senate one breaks the word “Exchange” into two parts. Same just different fonts size and break points making searches more difficult.