Health Care Fight: What's Next – Join the Live Chat
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/02/liveblogfinal.copy.jpg]
Tonight on 360°, what's next in the battle over health care. Pres. Obama will sign the bill into law tomorrow. But a package of changes is headed to the Senate for reconciliation, where Republicans are vowing to do whatever they can do to stop it. We've got the raw politics. Plus, remembering a pioneering CNN photojournalist. Margaret Moth, 59, was fearless to the end.
Want more details on our health care coverage? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
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3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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good evening to all. i was up all night watching the debate,i'm glad the bill went through,and i pray the republicans cant do anything about it,and it stays in effect.my husband was diegnoised with large b-cell non-hodgkins lymphoma,and could not get no kind of insurance in the state of tennessee they told us if he was a woman with breast cancer,or curvical cancer he could qualify.he filed disabilty dec.of 2008.he appealed may of 2009.we have heard no more,and jan.19th 2010 he passed away and waiting for the bill to go through.now a brother recieveing diability for 2 years has been paying penalties for prescription plan aarp now is in stage 3 called the donuthole where he has to pay 100%untill he reaches 4,550.00 and then he'll be in stage 4.he has done paid in and shouldn't be paying so much.when is it enough.it dont have nothing to do with dem's and republic's,this is about american people.
At this point what to Republicans have to gain? Clearly they don't care about this country. They just want our President and therefore our country to fail no matter what the cost. How can they be trusted when they have unequivocally said that is their mission?
I am not sure why anyone would challenge the health care bill as unconstitutional by saying that people can't be "forced" to buy health insurance or be penalized if they don't. We have to pay property taxes whether we like it or not to fund public schools and local government. If you don't pay, the penalty is that they will come and take your house away from you. So if that isn't unconstitutional, then why would health care be?
I've heard there is a parliamentary Senate Rule that places a 20 hour limit on the obstruction tactics of unlimited objections and unlimited amendments being proposed beginning Monday morning.
Auto insurance is a state requirement and is not a federal law. The level of insurance varies by state and some states opt out utilizing "no fault" except in the case of gross negligence.
The primary purpose of insurance is to protect a consumer against unforeseen sudden events that would cause undue financial hardship.
A routine doctor visit is not an unforeseen, sudden event and should be budgeted for just like car maintenance. A heart attack is a sudden unforeseen event, like a car accident or house fire and should be covered by insurance.
Anderson
I am so disgusted with my fellow republicans that I will vote for democrats this November. Lead by John McCain and other bitter GOP, they embarrass me. President Obama and the dems in general, have worked long and hard for the common guy's healthcare and do not deserve all this flak. I hope and pray other republicans will share my feelings and tell the big insurance companies that own the GOP to take a hike. I apologize for the behavior of republicans. If they think all dems will be voted out this fall, I personally hope it backfires on them and they're sent home without jobs.
Well, I really hope that the Health Care Bill results in positive changes in the reality of life. Health care is so expensive. Especially for those of us who have medical conditions requiring regular doctors' visits, testing, and daily medication.
The CBO grossly underestimated the costs of Medicare and Medicaid. Today there are a huge portion of the budget. This program will be the same.
When we look back at the passage of the Health care bill years from now nobody will care about how it was passed., but that it was passed. Results matter over procedure.
It seems rather rabid that States struggling to not go bankrupt are going to waste hundreds of millions of State Revenue dollars in a Republican led effort to have the US Supreme Court rule the Health Care bill as Unconstitutional.
@christine romans – glad to see you on the show tonight, i'm a big fan.
@margie witt, Exactly!
i m from Bangladesh. president Obama'shealth care bill is past in house, i'm very happy for them who need it most.
i also like u r proggramme
thank u
Soooo, women shouldn't be able to CHOOSE whether to have an abortion, despite this being Constitutional precedent, but everyone should be able to CHOOSE not to have insurance, despite all the insane problems it's causing? Funny how they've spent over a year telling everyone that the bill would mean the gov't making everyone's health care decisions for them, but the ONLY thing in the bill that actually does this is the prohibition on abortions. Where exactly does the hypocrisy end with the GOP?
@Bob White
As far as I'm concerned no where in the nation are $250,000 + earners "Middle Class". That's just silly. That would make my paltry less than $40k a year poverty level and no one's saying that.
@Christine Romans....
That good joke!! LOL!!!!! Nice pick on him!!!!! That is long word from Iceland!!!
Oh yes!!! I do love best caption!!!! Nice job botth of Joey and TJ.
Auto insurance is mandated by the state, not the feds. The 10th Amendment argues that anything not specified in the Constitution as a federal right is by default a states right.
It's pretty obvious that these brazen, bitter politicians are hiding behind the abortion clauses to negate a bill that they really did not want really because they already are each well covered with health insurance and do not see the need to ante up to pay for someone else's. Simply put, they just don't get it!
It does appear that Iceland is having a hard time.
@Lori,
"I am starting to have respect for Tiger."
I think that many were waiting to hear a "real, sincere" apology from Tiger!
It seems like he has started to give that.
@emily
i appreciate your post re: the behavior of some republicans. how can they expect us to respect their philosophy or ideas when they behave the way they did last night and, frankly, through out much of the health care debate?
Bob White: I agree with you. The middle class will again shoulder the expense. The super wealthy won't feel it and will have the best accountants to figure out the tax loopholes and the lower class won't be expected to pay much at all.
And this will be expensive: you can't be supply health insurance to some 30-35 million people and expect to not have to pay for it.
I agree with Cessy-Chicago, This bill is not understood by anyone, or for that fact, everyone. As far as that goes, I agree with " no pre- existing conditions" they should be covered, and I feel that the elderly should be medically taken care of 100%. They have worked for years. They have had to maintain where I call home. And my wife and I work for this country, so my children can maintain this country so they can call it home, we all work for this country, and we all live here, and I feel that there should be a middle ground on health care. This country is facing so many larger issues, I am a true republican and in the military and protect it on a daily basis, as did the many men and women before me, and I am proud of it.
i love places and situations that have ice and fire flow together naturally – i have used that naming scheme in the past for some of my favorite items. i still think that few things can top nature's own beauty and grandeur.
@ Thomas – Accra
Great question!!! I would love to know who those 20 million people are also.
It is important to remember that this is what change looks like, we are making progress, its not perfect and it requires patience and maturity. While I am not well versed in the subject of whether this Healthcare bill violates our constitutional rights, I am well aware of the heartache of losing everything over not having adequate healthcare. I am still proud to be an American, I don't believe my rights have been violated but upheld and protected.
Congrats Joey & V. Very Funny Beat360! 😛
I am 66 and do not take drugs, but told I will have a penalty to pay if I ever get drug coverage in future. Mark Shurtleff said having to get health insurance would be a first. The Republicians voted to access a penalty for not having drug coverage. What is the difference? How can he say this isn't policial?
How can the repubs say this isn't just political. I can't believe they said they wont work with the president on anything now. Come on people are our representatives acting like kids on a playground?
Wow, there is a word for "hooked on phonics" 🙂
I'm a healthcare professional. If the state lawyers want to sue for forcing people to buy healthcare, can we sue when they show up on our ER tables with no way to pay for the service they receive? How about if there is a change in the bill that says, ok, you don't have to pay for healthcare and there is no penalty but the healthcare system can legally refuse to treat you. Fair is fair.
Fire and Ice...what an awesome picture!
For the first time in history we have a president who is actually trying to do something for the people and he is being stretched from every direction.
AMERICANs/REPUBLICANS are acting like a linch mob thugs; the lies, the name calling sets us back to the 60's; that sort of behavior in the white house is not acceptable and anyone who display this kind of behavior should be removed from the house, or inpose a heavy fine...that fine alone should pay for the deficit,
I think everyone has forgotten who put us in this mess...the previous administration.
Cool pictures of the volcano.
I am starting to have respect for Tiger.
Good evening fellow bloggers, A special thanks to Nicole,Vitor,Karin, Mark for your support and insight on our attempt to do what's right for America. It's hard to believe it took so much to get here and the fights not over yet! Lets keep our voices out there and make sure the bill stays healthy. Thanks again to the non-Americans who care enough to watch and comment. Your opinion and first hand knowledge validates we are on right path. Those that have something to loose (hateful Republicans-loss is ins. co. kickbacks) are protesting the loudest.
I thought Rep. Majority Speaker Nancy Pelosi looked positively radiant last night, she was really beaming with appreciation of all her fellow colleges and she made all of us Democrats so very proud. And must moments earlier Republican minority leader John Boehnr was bitter, livid and angry. Threatening Armageddon on America over his defeat.
I am paying for insurance and anyone can walk into an emergency room and use the services for free is that fair. I also pay for Medicare and Social Security next time ask the Attorney General if he will sue the feds so I can get that money back.
Anderson & those of you who are bringing up the car insurance versus health insurance...you DO NOT have to buy car insurance if you do not have a car! In this health insurance if you use it or not you WILL have to buy the insurance. A lot of people don't go to the doctors or hardly ever use insurance at all because they are not sick. So having to buy insurance will be a waste for them. If they don't feel the need for insurance why should they be made to buy it?
Cindy..Ga.
Following all Democrats that voted against the will and voice of the American people. There are so many sites! I am amazed at the number of concerned Americans.
Perhaps now that this legislation is done they can forget the bi-partisan efforts and just get done what needs to get done.
Repubs have made it clear that it is "Rule or Ruin"
Great that former Presidents Clinton & Bush are in Haiti (& together!)
If the Republicans really believe that the bill is such a bad idea, and that most people don't want it, why not vote on it. I think most people want it. I don't trust the polls. I think everyone polls their friends that have the same views as themselves.
I was told a majority of the population didn't even want this bill passed and that it was passed for purely political reasons... Is there some truth to that? I would think if the citizenry didn't want this to pass congress would just kill the bill in order to keep their voters votes where they want them....
Thank you all for your kind words regarding Margaret Moth... stay tuned until the end of the program.
The Grand Obstructionist Party is at it again. That's their only option since they don't have any constructive ideas.
I think this is wonderful, President Obama, has made another historic moment. The Republicans and the Protestors should be ashame of themselves with the behavior they are exhibiting. They are suppose be examples to the younger generation, their actions are totally unacceptable. Guys & gals you need to GET OVER IT!! You never said anything when President Bush was in order and did not do the right thiing.
President Obama is looking out for everyone and trying to make a better life for us! Thanks very much, President Obama, I am so proud of you!!
C'mon folks, get real, Americans deserve this! I am so happy for the Democrats, Senate and the House making the right decisions. Middle class people deserve a break also.
Im tweeting and watching ac360 it is tense out there
Miranda
My husband and I are both self employed and make under 60 thousand per year. We each have a doctors visit once a year and pay cash at the time of each visit. When there are times we have needed to go more than once a year we pay for that at the visit also. We do not have extra money to pay for insurance. We work hard for what we get and if we had extra we would love to take a vacation not spend it on something we don't use.
@Mike, formerly from Syracuse,
The behavior of some of the Republicans last night was really terrible.
It almost over shadows all of those that are really decent & hard-working.
(The name-calling, heckling, etc.)
@Emily
I agree with your Nancy Pelosi statement. I think it was all politics to her by that point. As we see today, she is receiving much of the praise for the bill passing.