Sensible Approach to Healthcare Given Republican Filibuster – Small, Easy To Understand Legislation
So, now that Scott Brown has won in Massachusetts, the Republicans can filibuster anything and everything in the Senate. Obviously, this includes the current healthcare bill.
So what to do?
Let the Republicans filibuster? Sure. That’s an idea. Let them filibuster healthcare and Senate Democrats won’t put anything else on the agenda until they end their filibuster or the 2010 elections. If the latter, then the voters can decide whether they were happy with obstructionism or not. Obviously, this sort of “ballsy” move won’t happen.
But as Democrats with an *18* vote majority in the Senate and a commanding majority in the house, you need to start governing. Now!!
Most everyone believes the healthcare system needs reform. Well, here is what should be done:
Create small, separate bills w/ the following legislation:
1. No pre-existing conditional denial; no revoking insurance when a condition arises.
2. Guaranteed, subsidized catastrophic coverage to those out of work (i.e. taxpayer funded).
3. Cap on premiums/deductibles to avoid gouging high risk persons.
4. Ability to buy insurance from anywhere and port it to anywhere.
5. Guaranteed, subsidized twice yearly checkups and vaccinations for all Americans (i.e. taxpayer funded).
They would be simple and easy for anyone to understand. I would dare anyone, Republican or Democrat to vote against these. Because if they did, they would have to explain to their constituents why they voted against the person with diabetes who couldn’t get healthcare for insulin or the working Mom who was laid off and developed cancer and now cannot get insurance because she cannot afford it.
