Dems push bill on health care, drug prices through House

[Greenbeard]

A few minutes ago the House passed, on a near-party-line vote, legislation to push down drug prices and help people enroll in coverage. Allegedly the GOP supported the parts of the legislation going after pharma, but just couldn't get behind the pieces helping people find coverage and curbing plans that discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. Priorities.

Dems push bill on health care, drug prices through House

WASHINGTON — Democrats pushed legislation buttressing the 2010 health care law and curbing prescription drug prices through the House Thursday, advancing a bill that has no chance of surviving in the Senate or getting President Donald Trump’s signature and seemed engineered with next year’s elections in mind.

The measure forced Republicans into the uncomfortable political position of casting a single vote on legislation that contained popular drug pricing restraints they support, plus language strengthening President Barack Obama’s health care statute that they oppose. . . .

Much of the bill focused on reversing steps — largely backed by GOP lawmakers — that Trump has taken to weaken Obama’s law , a statute he has vowed to repeal ever since his presidential campaign. The measure would restore money Trump has cut to publicize the law and help patients enroll for its benefits, block Trump’s expansion of the availability of low-cost, low-coverage plans and help states set up their own online marketplaces where policies are sold.

 

[HumblePi]

Under Jeff Sessions, the department wanted only to cut protections for pre-existing conditions. William Barr wants a full repeal of the ACA. That's right, Barr wants it all repealed including protections for those people with pre-existing conditions.

 

[AGENT J]

so said that partisan tendencies roots its head in issues like this (or any issue really)

i wonder how fast this stuff would change if members of congress got and had the same healthcare we did.

 

[Mycroft]

Political posturing.

Dismissed.

 

[dcsports]

so said that partisan tendencies roots its head in issues like this (or any issue really)

i wonder how fast this stuff would change if members of congress got and had the same healthcare we did.

It certainly is a shame. Unfortunately, Democrats have seized upon this as a wedge issue, and would rather play partisan games and present show bills than trying to actually work on any solutions.

 

[AGENT J]

It certainly is a shame. Unfortunately, Democrats have seized upon this as a wedge issue, and would rather play partisan games and present show bills than trying to actually work on any solutions.

LMAO ANYBODY that blames one side is part of the problem and anybody that thinks this is a one side issue is topically uneducated or biased.

 

[Nemiroff]

It certainly is a shame. Unfortunately, Democrats have seized upon this as a wedge issue, and would rather play partisan games and present show bills than trying to actually work on any solutions.

"Dems seized it as a wedge issue"??? In what leap of nonsense? Dems are trying to increase health coverage. Its been their stated goal since step 1!

It is Republicans who decided to dig in despite health coverage becoming increasingly popular amongst their constituents (but not the people they actually represent). This is just embarrassing as the only 1st world country that "cant afford it". We're supposed to be the greatest...

 

[Master Debator]

LMAO ANYBODY that blames one side is part of the problem and anybody that thinks this is a one side issue is topically uneducated or biased.

Agreed. This happens on both sides. The Republicans and Trump just did the same thing not to long ago shutting down the government for wall funding. These political parties sure do love their theater. That being said this more of the same we get with leadership from Pelosi. If Republicans will sign a bill reducing drug prices then make the ****ing deal and get it done.

 

[MTAtech]

It certainly is a shame. Unfortunately, Democrats have seized upon this as a wedge issue, and would rather play partisan games and present show bills than trying to actually work on any solutions.

DEFINITION: Wedge Issue -- "a solid issue that really effect people, that the other side is better on than my side."

The fact that the GOP was against health care reform from the beginning; did everything it could to stop and cripple the ACA, that improves the lives of tens of millions of Americans; now has gone to court to declare the ACA unconstitutional, can't be blamed on Democrats.

Trump campaigned on making health insurance 'cheaper, better, cover more people, etc., etc., etc.' but his actual plans and policies were all worse. It's something that FDR warned us about Republicans over 80 years ago:

 

[MTAtech]

Agreed. This happens on both sides. The Republicans and Trump just did the same thing not to long ago shutting down the government for wall funding. These political parties sure do love their theater. That being said this more of the same we get with leadership from Pelosi. If Republicans will sign a bill reducing drug prices then make the ****ing deal and get it done.

This is an example of the false balance -- "both sides are equally at fault," meme. Both sides are not equal. What do Republicans want?
Lower taxes on the rich, who fund their campaigns, regulation cuts on business and slashing the social safety net.

Now what do Democrats want?
Single-payer health care, publicly funded tertiary education and livable wages, lower income inequality and a clean and healthy environment.

I rest my case.

 

[Master Debator]

This is an example of the false balance -- "both sides are equally at fault," meme. Both sides are not equal. What do Republicans want?
Lower taxes on the rich, who fund their campaigns, regulation cuts on business and slashing the social safety net.

Now what do Democrats want?
Single-payer health care, publicly funded tertiary education and livable wages, lower income inequality and a clean and healthy environment.

I rest my case.

I didn't say both sides were equally at fault, I said both sides play political theater. Equally at fault for what exactly? The Republicans are backwards and racist and the Democrats are infinitely better both in policy and morality. That being said people need relief on drug pricing right now so holding that up to score points on Republicans is par for the course for the current Democratic party leadership and everything everyone hates about Washington. **** Pelosi.

 

[sangha]

I didn't say both sides were equally at fault, I said both sides play political theater. Equally at fault for what exactly? The Republicans are backwards and racist and the Democrats are infinitely better both in policy and morality. That being said people need relief on drug pricing right now so holding that up to score points on Republicans is par for the course for the current Democratic party leadership and everything everyone hates about Washington. **** Pelosi.

Which provision of this House bill was included to score political points?

 

[dcsports]

LMAO ANYBODY that blames one side is part of the problem and anybody that thinks this is a one side issue is topically uneducated or biased.

Good point. One that those on the left need to hear.

 

[dcsports]

"Dems seized it as a wedge issue"??? In what leap of nonsense? Dems are trying to increase health coverage. Its been their stated goal since step 1!

It is Republicans who decided to dig in despite health coverage becoming increasingly popular amongst their constituents (but not the people they actually represent). This is just embarrassing as the only 1st world country that "cant afford it". We're supposed to be the greatest...

Perhaps you missed it, but this was democrats who dug this up. They tried to pass the show bill.

 

[Master Debator]

Which provision of this House bill was included to score political points?

Much of the bill focused on reversing steps — largely backed by GOP lawmakers — that Trump has taken to weaken Obama’s law , a statute he has vowed to repeal ever since his presidential campaign. The measure would restore money Trump has cut to publicize the law and help patients enroll for its benefits, block Trump’s expansion of the availability of low-cost, low-coverage plans and help states set up their own online marketplaces where policies are sold.

Democrats view Obama’s law as one of their greatest recent achievements, and see efforts to strengthen it as perhaps their most effective issue going into next year’s presidential and congressional elections. They said Trump’s moves were part of his effort to erode the law, which has expanded coverage by about 20 million people.

Republicans weren't going to sign anything that strengthened Obamacare but they might of signed a standalone bill that addresses rising drug costs. So why didn't they pass a standalone bill on drug pricing? Well the first sentence of the second paragraph tells you why. Obamacare isn't just Obama's biggest victory it's also Nancy Pelosi's. Pelosi still hasn't come to terms with the fact that Obamacare is dead. The Republicans want to kill it and the Democrats want to replace it with Medicare for all. The only people still desperately trying to save it are the corporate beholden Democrat establishment.

 

[Greenbeard]

Perhaps you missed it, but this was democrats who dug this up. They tried to pass the show bill.

It's not a show bill. It's good policy and the House has now passed it

 

[dcsports]

DEFINITION: Wedge Issue -- "a solid issue that really effect people, that the other side is better on than my side."

The fact that the GOP was against health care reform from the beginning; did everything it could to stop and cripple the ACA, that improves the lives of tens of millions of Americans; now has gone to court to declare the ACA unconstitutional, can't be blamed on Democrats.

Trump campaigned on making health insurance 'cheaper, better, cover more people, etc., etc., etc.' but his actual plans and policies were all worse. It's something that FDR warned us about Republicans over 80 years ago:

The GOP was not against healthcare reform. They advocated for it. There was a lot in the ACA (estimates of 90% of the bill) that had strong bipartisan support, regarding quality measures, communication standards, etc. They could have passed this and had a big win, then moved on with a discussion on addressing coverage and cost. Democrats instead pushed forward and refused to cooperate on real fixes.

The ACA crippled itself - the exchange plans were designed poorly. It really has to be fixed before we can move forward with any significant changes. Yet rather than try to work together, Democrats are passing show bills and trying to use this as, yes, a wedge issue.

 

[dcsports]

It's not a show bill. It's good policy and the House has now passed it

It's a show bill. They passed it without working through the process, knowing it will never even make it to discussion in the senate. It's also likely horrible policy, but we don't know because they didn't really discuss or vet it. The highlights still don't address the problems.

 

[Greenbeard]

It's a show bill. They passed it without working through the process, knowing it will never even make it to discussion in the senate. It's also likely horrible policy, but we don't know because they didn't really discuss or vet it. The highlights still don't address the problems.

"The process" (multi-day committee markups) started several weeks ago and culminated in floor debate yesterday.

Markup of H.R. 1644, H.R. 1781, H.R. 938, H.R. 1520, H.R. 1503, H.R. 1499, H.R. 965, H.R. 1385, H.R. 1386, H.R. 987, H.R. 1010, H.R. 986, H.R. 1425, H.R. 9, Full Committee (April 3-4, 2019)

And no, it's not horrible policy. It's good policy. The GOP just finds helping people get coverage extremely offensive, it seems.

 

[MTAtech]

It's a show bill. They passed it without working through the process, knowing it will never even make it to discussion in the senate. It's also likely horrible policy, but we don't know because they didn't really discuss or vet it. The highlights still don't address the problems.

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]It’s a viable bill, duly passed by the House, who Republicans charge ‘is only interested in stopping Trump.’ The bill makes sense and helps Americans. There is no rational reason Republican Senators, who care about their constituents, as opposed to their donors, should reject it. [/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Greenbeard]

[FONT="][FONT="]It’s a viable bill, duly passed by the House, who Republicans charge ‘is only interested in stopping Trump.’ The bill makes sense and helps Americans. There is no rational reason Republican Senators, who care about their constituents, as opposed to their donors, should reject it. [/FONT][/FONT]

Helping people find insurance and protecting people with pre-existing conditions is a "wedge issue" for the GOP, apparently.

It puts a wedge between their nihilist politicians and the entire American public.

 

[MTAtech]

Which provision of this House bill was included to score political points?

According to Republicans, any bill that helps average working people and doesn’t enrich corporations or the rich, is a show bill to “buy votes.” You see, doing things that make lives better is buying votes.

 

[Master Debator]

The GOP was not against healthcare reform. They advocated for it. There was a lot in the ACA (estimates of 90% of the bill) that had strong bipartisan support, regarding quality measures, communication standards, etc. They could have passed this and had a big win, then moved on with a discussion on addressing coverage and cost. Democrats instead pushed forward and refused to cooperate on real fixes.

The ACA crippled itself - the exchange plans were designed poorly. It really has to be fixed before we can move forward with any significant changes. Yet rather than try to work together, Democrats are passing show bills and trying to use this as, yes, a wedge issue.

That's revisionist bull****. In a effort of misguided bipartisanship Obama let Republicans help craft the bill and then zero Republicans ended up voting for it. That said it was not a great bill but still a whole lot better than what existed before.

 

[American]

Under Jeff Sessions, the department wanted only to cut protections for pre-existing conditions. William Barr wants a full repeal of the ACA. That's right, Barr wants it all repealed including protections for those people with pre-existing conditions.

What does DoJ have to do with healthcare insurance?

 

[Greenbeard]

What does DoJ have to do with healthcare insurance?

They're trying to take it from tens of millions of Americans. (Texas v. Azar)

Very on-brand, as with the GOP members of the House virulently opposing helping people get coverage or protecting people with pre-existing conditions last night.