Public unveiling of health plan closed to public

[msmith198025]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/29/house-democratic-bill-ceremony-closed-public/


Democrats repeatedly touted the openness of the development of their health care bill, which House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called "the most deliberative, transparent and open process" he had seen in his career on Capitol Hill.

A video posted on YouTube by Minority Whip Eric Cantor's office depicted a Republican staffer attempting to attend the press conference and being turned away by a police officer.

I found the last part interesting.

Of course it was the most "deliberative, transparent and open process". You hand picked who you wanted to be there....

And the very last part, It says it was just a staffer, ok, but I wonder how many repubs were on "the list".

[msmith198025]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9BKRSJO0&show_article=1


Officials said the measure, once fully phased-in over several years, would extend coverage to 96 percent of Americans. Its principal mechanism is creation of a new government-regulated insurance "exchange" where private companies would sell policies in competition with the government. Federal subsidies would be available to millions of lower-income individuals and families to help them afford the policies, and to small businesses as an incentive to offer coverage to their workers.

Large firms would be required to cover workers, and most individuals would be required to carry insurance.


Democrats issued a statement saying their measure "lowers costs for every patient" and would not add to federal deficits. They put the cost of coverage at under $900 billion over 10 years, a total that didn't include money needed to avoid a scheduled 21 percent cut in doctor fees under Medicare, and omitted other items as well.


The legislation would be financed by a combination of cuts in planned Medicare spending and an income tax surcharge of 5.4 percent on individuals making at least $500,000 annually and couples making at least $1 million.


While precise figures were not immediately available, it appeared the legislation would target the drug industry for more than the $80 billion pharmaceutical firms agreed to contribute toward health care in a deal earlier this year with the White House and key senators. But the industry managed to come away with a provision worth billions: 12 years of market protection for high-tech drugs to combat cancer, Parkinson's and other deadly diseases.

Medical device makers also took a hit, with a 2.5 percent excise tax on sales of their products that is reported to cost the industry $20 billion over the next decade. A $40 billion fee on those businesses was included in a Senate Finance Committee-approved version of the legislation, but Reid is considering cutting it by as much as half.

[Madtown HD Junkie]

Public unveiling closed to public:free-happy-smileys-:free-happy-smileys-:026::026:

Pelosi is the gift that just keeps giving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-P-lRoquGY&feature=player_embedded

[HDRoberts]

Gee, I wonder if the disruptive behavior of conservatives at town halls on the matter have anything to do with it?:)

[Madtown HD Junkie]

HDRoberts, it is a public building. It was more than conservatives at the town hall meetings too.

[msmith198025]

I merged these for us mad:thumbup:

[msmith198025]

HDRoberts, it is a public building. It was more than conservatives at the town hall meetings too.

No matter how many times this is said, people refuse to believe it.

[Madtown HD Junkie]

ty...my bad for not thinking you were all over it.