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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Senate Dems Shave $400B Off Health Care Bill

Plan charges employers who don't insure, has gov't option

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(Newser) – Senate Democrats outlined a revised health care bill last night that lops $400 billion off the price tag of an earlier trillion-dollar proposal. The plan trims costs, the AP reports, by including a government-run insurance option to compete with private insurers and charging employers $750 annually for each employee not offered insurance through his job. The proceeds would be used to subsidize those who can't afford coverage.

The revised bill will extend coverage to around 97% of Americans—a higher percentage than the earlier bill—Sens. Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd write in a letter to Senate Health Committee members, obtained by the AP. The Congressional Budget Office has carefully reviewed our complete bill," write Dodd and Kennedy," and we are pleased to report that CBO has scored it at $611.4 billion over 10 years."

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. moves a stack of documents comprising the health care reform bill and its amendments during a meeting last month.
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. moves a stack of documents comprising the health care reform bill and its amendments during a meeting last month.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Sen. Ted Kennedy has been absent from the capital for weeks but him and his aides have remained heavily involved in the debate over the health care reform bill.
Sen. Ted Kennedy has been absent from the capital for weeks but him and his aides have remained heavily involved in the debate over the health care reform bill.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh )
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We must not settle for legislation that merely gestures at reform. We must deliver on the promise of true change.
- Sens. Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd

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21 comments
VIEWING:
 
Fondue
Jul 2, 09 9:18 AM CDT
Keep up the good work. Keep cutting costs. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+6
IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
Jul 2, 09 11:23 AM CDT
I agree if we can keep the costs down this might turn into a good thing.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
Jul 2, 09 11:25 AM CDT
I was acutally impressed with the Barney Frank Interview on Oreilly the other day. He does have some good ideas about where to pay for this plan, which is good, he is going to save for some outdated cold war weapons, and other places. That on top of this 400b saved might actually make me support this reform. Now lets get the CBO all of the proposed savings and see what we get.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
ClearSight
Jul 2, 09 9:23 AM CDT
Big deal its still a bad idea.....government has failed with Medicare and Medicaid and now wants us to trust them with more? Its insane to do so.....I know I know , we have to do something, so we can FEEL good about doing something, only if its going to be a temporary feeling of doing something good......we can ignore the cost and long term damage as long as we feel good about it now.........idiots. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-9
IN RESPONSE:
DJM420
Jul 2, 09 9:33 AM CDT
right on, lets ignore the burgeoning extra cost of not providing preventive care or access to it, for countless millions who simply cannot afford 'private' insurance - - think about it 'idiot' WE ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR ALL THE FOLKS WHO DONT HAVE INSURANCE BUT MUST (AND DO) GO TO THE DOCTOR/HOSPITAL/ER - - so yes, something else must at least be tried...your status quo is not at all sustainable - if it is, give us some FACTS to prove it. otherwise, talk your 1/3 thought out opinions and keep them in your tiny head
Vote up! Vote down!
+3

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