Coakley vs. Brown

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Something about a supermajority being needed to block certain procedural tricks the minority can use to kill a bill? I dunno. Don't really care much lol. My democrat facebook friends are sick with grief. I tell them the same thing I do about Jay Leno -- the people who liked Coakley so much should have shown up at the polls. If not, all I can do is accept the change.

I think there are a couple of other things at play: first, that Coakley really let down her supporters with the way she ran her campaign. Second, MA Democrats are probably realizing that the only Democrat Senator now is Sen. Kerry, who doesn't care AT ALL about Massachusetts. So MA Democrats don't think they have anyone truly representing their interests.

That said I think Brown will do a great job, and I'm glad he won.

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I would be extremely surprised if the health care bill went down, though. I've suspected all along that the House will simply concur in the Senate version of the bill and send that version to Obama to sign -- it's a relatively simple motion and House leadership should be able to rustle up enough votes for it. House members won't like doing it, but it's my best guess for how it will go down. There's also the possibility of reconciliation, but Reid has already said he wouldn't use it on health care, so I don't think he'll go there unless he has to.

Since you're probably the most knowledgeable person on the board about Washington politics: What do you think are the chances that they try to push it through before Brown is seated? Do you think that would only occur with some sort of reconciliation measure?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

The Senate Dems now only have 59 seats due to Brown, so they would have to flip a Republican (not happening) . . . .

I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility that the conference committee will at least try to come up with something that Olympia Snowe would support. But I agree that the most likely scenario is that the House concurs in the Senate version.

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility that the conference committee will at least try to come up with something that Olympia Snowe would support. But I agree that the most likely scenario is that the House concurs in the Senate version.

It is my understanding that Sen. Reid blew off Sen. Snowe and this really ticked her off. She has stated that she will not agree to the bill in any of its forms but her past indicates that she will turn on a dime.

The House may well agree to the Senate version but it faces a huge uphill battle. The two bills are different in many aspects and holding the votes might be a problem for Congresswoman Pelosi.

I believe they will start over and break the bill apart and vote on individual parts. This is probably what they should have done anyway.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Essentially a bill can be fillibustered unless 3/5ths of the Senate votes against it.

[agzg]

Yes I realized last night that I forgot about that rascally Fillibuster.

[FSUZeta]

has anyone read the bill in full?

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

has anyone read the bill in full?

I know one person who has for sure. Ha! Other than that, probably not.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Is there anywhere that we could read the bill if we so choose?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Is there anywhere that we could read the bill if we so choose?

The House Bill and the Senate Bill.

[Stanleypeep]

The media story I saw about it yesterday morning implied that this is essentially an election about national health care and that, since Massachusetts already has their own health plan, many are against national health care. What do those closer to this state think of this analysis?

Being from Massachusetts (granted I've only lived here 2 years) I LOVE the state's healthcare plan. I can't move even though I desperately need to because of it. I can't get healthcare without paying my entire life savings if I get sick. I'm a type 2 diabetic as well. Being that I'm in a tough business of entertainment and theatre, hardly any of the organizations I work for can afford to offer their employees healthcare. In order to keep my healthcare, I have to travel an 1hr 15 min. to work and then the same distance back. I live just on the border of Mass and RI.

People didn't vote for Scott Brown in Mass because they thought he'd save MassHealth (hehe play on words ), people voted for him because Martha ran a TERRIBLE campaign. Being a blue dog Dem, I voted for Coakley under duress. I came VERY close to voting for the Libertarian, or simply not voting.

I also think that people don't like the Senate health bill in general. It doesn't seem like its going to help anyone. Of course like myself, we all naturally are thinking of our situations, but there are a TON of people who really really need this healthcare. Especially with the job market and this economy. Without MassHealth, a lot of people would be without it and the insurance companies would make a BUNDLE like they are elsewhere.

[Stanleypeep]

Is there anywhere that we could read the bill if we so choose?

I believe its available on the senate website...its a pain in the a to find, and it also is wordy like all bills, but its worth a read. I'm not sure the exact number of the bill which makes it a lot easier to find.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Yes we do have a a large amount of illegal immigrants. However by law we are not allowed to refuse emergency care to those who require it. I have to yield the floor to somebody who knows better, but I assume that those countries that have universal health require proof of at least residency before they treat you.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Yes we do have a a large amount of illegal immigrants. However by law we are not allowed to refuse emergency care to those who require it. I have to yield the floor to somebody who knows better, but I assume that those countries that have universal health require proof of at least residency before they treat you.

Nope. I know Americans traveling in Britain and elsewhere in Europe who were treated there at no charge. Besides, residency =/= citizenship.

Caveat: The foregoing should not be construed to suggest any agreement with madmax/bigignorant.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Nope. I know Americans traveling in Britain and elsewhere in Europe who were treated there at no charge. Besides, residency =/= citizenship.

I think he was referring to non-emergency medical treatments. I highly doubt as a non citizen I can walk into a hospital in London or Paris and get chemo or a root canal.

[AGDee]

The health system I work for has a contract with the Canadian national insurance for bariatric surgery. Of course, we're just across the bridge from Canada.