Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) who helped engineer the slim margin of passage for the health care legislation is going to retire. The pro-life member became a lightening rod for opposition after securing an agreement from Obama to ban federal funding for abortions.
President Obama reportedly called to ask Stupak not to resign as did Speaker Nancy Pelosi. With the legislation still unpopular with a large percentage of votes, Democratic members appear to be trying to avoid the issue on the campaign trail. In Stupak’s case, he reportedly said that, while the vote was not the cause for his retirement, he said retaining his seat would require too much of an effort.
Stupak was embarrassed by another member screaming “baby killer” during his speech on the floor, here.
For the full story, click here.
Bdaman,
Because Stupak needed a fig leaf in order to vote for the bill – i.e. politics.
Federal law already prohibited spending fed tax money on abortins, so he didn’t have to do anything but vote yes.
Then why all the bru-ha-ha over an executive order the Pres. O signed.
Bart stupidly played both sides against each other and effectively lied at the same time. He created the circular firing squad and “Ops,” could’n find a way out.
Federal law already prohibited spending fed tax money on abortins, so he didn’t have to do anything but vote yes.
Instead he pandered to the right offending the left, got lots of ego stroking Tee Vee time, then voted with the left infuriating the right. In the mean time, twice screwing over his fellow Democratic Congress men and offending everybody who he was willing to deprive of benifiting from the bill.
I doubt he has many freinds at the moment. And if his seat go to a Repug, as seems likely, he will have even fewer friends.
Bye Bye Bart. See you on Tee Vee some time.
Healthcare overhaul won’t stop premium increases
The new law doesn’t prevent rate hikes such as Anthem Blue Cross’ double-digit increase last year. ‘It is a very big loophole,’ says Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is pushing regulatory legislation.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-health-premiums13-2010apr13,0,6096091.story
Medical Schools Can’t Keep Up
As Ranks of Insured Expand, Nation Faces Shortage of 150,000 Doctors in 15 Years.
The new federal health-care law has raised the stakes for hospitals and schools already scrambling to train more doctors.
Experts warn there won’t be enough doctors to treat the millions of people newly insured under the law. At current graduation and training rates, the nation could face a shortage of as many as 150,000 doctors in the next 15 years, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
That shortfall is predicted despite a push by teaching hospitals and medical schools to boost the number of U.S. doctors, which now totals about 954,000.
The greatest demand will be for primary-care physicians. These general practitioners, internists, family physicians and pediatricians will have a larger role under the new law, coordinating care for each patient.
The U.S. has 352,908 primary-care doctors now, and the college association estimates that 45,000 more will be needed by 2020. But the number of medical-school students entering family medicine fell more than a quarter between 2002 and 2007.
A shortage of primary-care and other physicians could mean more-limited access to health care and longer wait times for patients.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304506904575180331528424238.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond
Health-Care Law Will Boost Premiums: Aetna CEO
Insurance premiums will rise under the new health-care legislation because people will opt for more expensive procedures, Aetna CEO and Chairman Ron Williams told CNBC.
“Premiums will rise as a function of different components … such as do consumers use more intensive services, like getting a pet scan instead of an MRI?” Williams said in a live interview.
He shouldn’t of said that, now he will have to go testify.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/36422279
Who knew that when Pelosi said they’d have to pass the bill so that people could find out what’s in it, “people” meant Congress?
Support for repealing O-Care reached a new high in Rasmussen (58 percent)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/march_2010/health_care_law
Baffled by Health Plan? So Are Some Lawmakers
In a new report, the Congressional Research Service says the law may have significant unintended consequences for the “personal health insurance coverage” of senators, representatives and their staff members.
For example, it says, the law may “remove members of Congress and Congressional staff” from their current coverage, in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, before any alternatives are available.
The confusion raises the inevitable question: If they did not know exactly what they were doing to themselves, did lawmakers who wrote and passed the bill fully grasp the details of how it would influence the lives of other Americans?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/us/politics/13health.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
“Health Law Bans New Doctor-Owned Hospitals, Blocks Expansion of Existing Ones”
“The rules fall under Title VI, Section 6001 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The provision is titled “Physician Ownership and Other Transparency – Limitations on Medicare Exceptions to the Prohibition on Certain Physician Referral for Hospitals.”
More than 60 doctor-owned hospitals across the country that were in the development stage will be canceled, said Molly Sandvig, executive director of Physician Hospitals of America (PHA).
“That’s a lot of access to communities that will be denied,” Sandvig told CNSNews.com. “The existing hospitals are greatly affected. They can’t grow. They can’t add beds. They can’t add rooms. Basically, it stifles their ability to change and meet market needs. This is really an unfortunate thing as well, because we are talking about some of the best hospitals in the country.”
The organization says physician-owned hospitals have higher patient satisfaction, greater control over medical decisions for patients and doctor, better quality care and lower costs. Further, physician-owned hospitals have an average 4-1 patient-to-nurse ratio, compared to the national average of 8-1 for general hospitals.
Further, these 260 doctor-owned hospitals in 38 states provide 55,000 jobs, $2.4 billion in payroll and pay $509 million in federal taxes, according to the PHA.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/64034
You want “Contradiction”. That’s down the hall. 😀
Dammit Buddha! How are we supposed to have an argument when you agree with everything I say! 😉
Slarti,
Also copy on where the fusion breakthrough is most likely to come from.