SCHIP Is Now Law
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President Obama takes us a step closer to modern, universal health care.
President Barack Obama signed into law Wednesday a bill extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children, after the House overwhelmingly approved the measure earlier in the day. The bill gives Obama a much-needed win on health care and taking a first step toward his promise of universal coverage.
The Democratic-controlled House passed the bill 290-135 on Wednesday, with 40 Republicans backing it.
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President Obama takes us a step closer to modern, universal health care.
Gee, that sounds suspiciously what a lot of the SCHIP expansion critics were saying…
J.
Forty new lepers for fatheaded Erick’s list? Hooray! Strike Force is go!
The Ctrl-Z president strikes again! Huzzah.
“walk it off”-repubs to kids in wheelchairs
“walk it off”-repubs to kids in wheelchairs”–jr
“Chuck, stand up, let the people see you!”- said the Democratic Vice Farkin’ Idiot to a man in a wheelchair.
Did he wave to Stevie Wonder at the inaugural ball?
I gotta admit, the SCHIP bill is the perfect solution. Why not expand a children’s health insurance bill to cover families making as much as four times the poverty level? And in some states over half the money goes to childless adults?
Yup, it’s the perfect solution.
Um… what was the problem again?
J.
“Peter, you gonna ask that question with your shades on?”
Hey, this is fun!
cover families making as much as four times the poverty level
Is there any talking point so discredited that you won’t repeat it?
Um… what was the problem again?
Little kids getting sick and their mommies and daddies not being able to do anything about it.
Is that a joke to you? You must not have kids.
Nope, Quaker, no kids. But thanks to SCHIP, I get to pay for health insurance for families that make more than triple than what I take home, and for “children” as old as their mid-20′s.
I feel so blessed.
J.
I get to pay for health insurance for families that make more than triple than what I take home, and for “children” as old as their mid-20’s.
And I get to pay for invasions of other countries based on bogus and cherry-picked intelligence.
You can keep the difference.
jr: “walk it off”-repubs to kids in wheelchairs”
Dennis: “Chuck, stand up, let the people see you!”- said the Democratic Vice Farkin’ Idiot to a man in a wheelchair.
Do you really see no difference denying health care to millions of children and someone making a gaffe, even a very embarrassing one?
Are you seriously trying to equate the two, or is that really just the best you can come up with as an opposing argument?
“Yeah, yeah, the Republicans want to deny help to millions of kids. So what? Biden once said something rilly stoopid.”
Forty Republicans joined in approval.
Fuckin’ Socialists.
Republicans criticized the cost of the legislation. They also said it will mean an estimated 2.4 million children who otherwise would have access to private insurance will join the State Children’s Health Insurance Program instead.
Because they should be able to afford it on their own, right?
Yes. Yes we do.
Jay Tea: “I get to pay for health insurance for families that make more than triple than what I take home, and for “children” as old as their mid-20’s.”
Quaker: “And I get to pay for invasions of other countries based on bogus and cherry-picked intelligence.”
Game over.
National defense is a Constitutional duty of the federal government.
Providing health insurance is not.
The appropriate phrase in the Constitution is from the preamble: “promote the general welfare.”
“Promote,” not “provide.”
Up next: a bailout for the insurance companies who will be severely affected by the loss of hundreds of thousands of customers who will suddenly find it so much cheaper (in the short run) to let Uncle Sam provide for their children.
J.
“President Obama takes us a step closer to modern, universal health care”…and bankruptcy.
Jay Tea: “National defense is a Constitutional duty of the federal government.”
Tea, please inform me… how was invading Iraq part of our national defense interests?
You LOSE! Good DAY, sir!
Nope, Quaker, no kids. But thanks to SCHIP, I get to pay for health insurance for families that make more than triple than what I take home, and for “children” as old as their mid-20’s.
I don’t get this. Are we supposed to feel BAD that you can’t spend your money on assault rifles, whiskey, donations to “sanctity of marriage” campaigns and abstinance-only programs? Cause if we are, it’s not working.
I must have misunderstood candidate Obama when he said infrastructure would be a priority. I thought he meant he was going to rebuild roads and bridges here in the United States.
Translation: Whaah! I’m a retard, and it’s all Obama’s fault!
“President Obama takes us a step closer to modern, universal health care”…and bankruptcy.
Tell me something. Why should we trust the economic “wisdom” of people like you, who got us into this mess in the 1st place?
Face it, the only reason ultra-cons oppose this because it hurts their friends in the insurance industry and black market organ trading.
National defense is a Constitutional duty of the federal government.
Providing health insurance is not.
So the “…I get to pay for health insurance for families that make more than triple than what I take home…” argument was a Constitutional argument?
Look, you pay for stuff you don’t like. I pay for stuff I don’t like. That’s how it works. This is America.
“Promote,” not “provide.”
I got a couple questions for you Jay Tea.
Which section of the Constitution are you referring to?
Can you cite the exact phrase and tell us why it’s evidence of your claim?
The appropriate phrase in the Constitution is from the preamble: “promote the general welfare.”
Ah, yes. You’ve already answered the first question.
Proceed to question number two and tell us why the phrasing of the preamble supports your claim that SCHIP, unlike national defense, is not a Constitutional responsibility.
Oh fuck it.
Jay Tea, the preamble states:
And that’s where you apparently stopped reading, assuming that “provide” and “promote” have to different meanings here and so require different responsibilities.
But if that’s your reasoning, how do you account for the first clause of Section 8 which defines the powers of congress:
In this clause, Congress is authorized to PROVIDE for both the common defense AND the general welfare.
Have you ever read that clause, Jay Tea?
If you have actually read it, how exactly does it jibe with you rather narrow reading of the preamble?
Translation: Whaah! I’m a retard, and it’s all Obama’s fault!
Haw!
TFJ, sir!
Oh goodie, another opportunity to remind everyone that Mr. Jay is himself a beneficiary of socialized medicine in the form of a life-saving medical procedure that he could not afford.
Honestly, do you really think it’s a good idea to say anyting about the evils of socialized health-care when you are, literally, a walking, breathing, Limbaugh-talking point spewing testament to its benefits?
Again, I’m happy that my tax dollars paid to keep you alive. I just don’t understand why you’d want to keep other Americans from enjoying the benefits that you’ve already received.
I mean, you’re not a raging, bed-wetting hypocrite, are you Jay?
Gee, that sounds suspiciously what a lot of the SCHIP expansion critics were saying…
Maybe because that’s the point. Or is this another nutty conspiracy theory the boys and girls at HQ forgot to tell us about?
J.G.Thayer: “Gee, that sounds suspiciously what a lot of the SCHIP expansion critics were saying…”
Well, DUH!
Jaim, did JT really deserve our tax dollars? I heard he got the McDonalds extra value meal once, I know because someone went through his garbage (the same way Michelle Malkin went through Graeme Frost’s garbage). Does JT have cable Internet or dial-up? Maybe if he stuck to dial-up he’d have money for his health care rather than sloughing it off on taxpayers. Seriously, some investigation is in order. Michelle Malkin shouldn’t have to pay more taxes so that lesser con bloggers have health care they didn’t earn.
Up next: a bailout for the insurance companies who will be severely affected by the loss of hundreds of thousands of customers..
Fuck. Them.
“Fuck. Them.”–Duros62
Oh, hell yeah, Duros. Fuck. Them. And their workers. From the middle level managers, the salesmen, the analysts, the investment staff, their support staff, all the way down the ladder, even to the secretaries and operations personnel. Fuck them and their dependents too.
Mook.
Oh, now you’re the hero of the working classes?
Fuck you too.
I AM SO ANGRY!
Tom Daschle, and Nancy Killefer are two of the finest, and most competent public servants you could possibly hope for in these appointments. They have been assassinated by the Washington healthcare lobby through their paid Bush Republican henchmen in congress. These Bush republicans are the same people blocking the economic recovery plan put forth by the Obama administration.
I am BURNING MAD America. And you should be too. Tome Daschle and Nancy Killefer were exactly what we needed to help turn this country around and fix our economy, and catastrophic healthcare crisis.
If I were their boss I would tell them to get right back to Washington. And dare congress to not approve them. How ridiculous is it to reject highly qualified people that this country needs just because they made a mistake on their taxes. Don’t stand for that anymore America. They apologized, and paid their taxes, and that should be it. Their country needs them. But President Obama has to do what he thinks is best. I understand that. I’M JUST SO MAD at the anti American Bush Republicans.
Like many of you I have been trying to enjoy the after glow of this Beautiful historic election. But I see that the republicans in congress and their cohorts aren’t going to be good sports, and LOSER’S!
SO BE IT!
In spite of President Obama’s repeated offers, and gestures of collegiality to Republicans. Bush Republicans have seized upon every opportunity to stab President Obama in the back. And by doing so they are stabbing you, and the rest of the American people in the back. Well, you don’t have to put up with that. And you shouldn’t put up with that. President Obama has only been on the job two weeks. And he inherited two wars, and the worst economy since the great depression.
We had an election. And president Obama, and the democrats won BIG. And Bush Republicans lost miserably!
The Bush Republicans are the ones responsible for the worst economic crisis since the great depression. And the Bush Republicans are responsible for the worst healthcare crisis in American history. A healthcare crisis that is killing hundreds of thousands of you every year. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies.
President Obama, and the Democrats should take back all the concessions they granted the Bush Republicans, and tell them to put up! or shut up!
Everyone, start calling and contacting these Bush Republicans and tell them to stop blocking President Obama, and the Democrats recovery plan. And stop trying to block, and corrupt healthcare reform. Tell them to get on board with President Obama and the Democrats, or GET OUT!!
If these Bush Republicans refuse to cooperate I want all of you to immediately begin the process of removing them from office by every legal means possible. Including impeachment, and recall. I want you to bring the full weight and power of the movement down on their heads that swept President Obama, and the Democrats into control of the whitehouse, and congress. Take no prisoners. Use all the techniques you learned over this past historic election. Be flexible, creative, adaptable, and relentless like you were in the past.
To my cyber warriors I call on you again. You are among the best and the brightest. I call on you to move this fight from the cyber world to the living rooms, dens, and work places of the voters these Bush Republicans misrepresent. I know I can count on you. This is a fight worth fighting.
To my fellow World citizens. As an American I invite, and welcome you and your advise, input, and help. By delaying Americas recovery, and healthcare reform, these Bush Republicans are delaying our commitment to your recovery, and to being the better America for you that we aspire too.
I had hoped it would not come to this after our historic election. I had hoped that the Bush Republicans would respect the overpowering will of the people, and the World. But I guess not. All the Bush Republicans really care about is them-selves. Well, SO BE IT! Lets finish the job.
Sincerely
jacksmith — Working Class
Jay Tea: National defense is a Constitutional duty of the federal government.
Providing health insurance is not.
IOW, protecting your life from foreign bullets is, but protecting your life from domestic illnesses is not.
“Provide for the commom defense” is a Constitutional duty, but “promote the general Welfare” is not.
Got it.
You really are a mook, Duros62.
You don’t realize what an unbelievably idiotic statement that was you just made. I never claimed or implied I was a hero of the working class, but when you say ‘Fuck. Them.’, that’s exactly who you’re saying it to.
Dennis, it’s simple cost-benefit. The working class stands to gain a lot more from universal health care than insurance employees stand to lose. By your logic we’d privatize the police department, because, hey, not everyone will subscribe so lots more crime will go unchecked so those that can afford it will pay police officers a lot more.
“Provide for the commom defense” is a Constitutional duty, but “promote the general Welfare” is not.
Well, as noted above, it’s a little complicated than Jay Tea hack formulation would have it.
The Constitution clearly empowers Congress to “provide” for the general welfare.
The Constitution clearly empowers Congress to “provide” for the general welfare.
Apparently, “provide for the general welfare” now also means giving everyone in America a free digital TV converter.
If the founding fathers could see us now I’m sure they’d be swelling with pride.
I love it – I hope it’s twice as successful as it has been in Massachussetts and Hawai’i.
Their problem was that they didn’t have the right man at the helm. We apparently do now and it should be a resounding success.
when you say ‘Fuck. Them.’, that’s exactly who you’re saying it to.
Yup, exactly so.
I’ve had enough of the organized crime syndicate that calls itself “insurance.”
Pitchforks and torches are too good for them.
“Sir, there’s a mob forming outside, perhaps we should reconsider this.”
Yeah, I stand pat.
By your logic… – Parthenon
No, Parthy. I was only taking exception to the ‘Fuck them’ comment. How can one call himself a liberal and still say fuck you to that many jobs and their dependents. What, ‘hey, it’ll all work out for ya, don’t worry’. It’s not even that cociliatory, it’s that he doesn’t even give the first shit about them. Something he accuses conservatives of regularly.
Is there a psychological term for someone who readily accuses someone else of something he is already more guilty of? I’m really just shocked a liberal could be that way. He has to be the only one.
I’m sure there are liberals who don’t feel much love for Goldman Sachs or Merril Lynch either.
“Yeah, I stand pat.” Duros62
Of course you do. That example indicts everybody that works for an insurance company and everyone who depends on them. Fuck them, they should know what kind of a racket they are working for and go stand in line to put their application in somewhere else.
What industry do you work in Duros? I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with anything about what your profession is.
Well, since you ask, Dennis, I manage a small photo lab that is nested in an independent pharmacy, one of the few independent pharmacies left in the state.
I see people all day long getting screwed over by insurance providers.
If I could get the same coverage that my state representative gets, and it takes money away from Blue Cross/Blue Shield? Yeah, I’m taking it.
Just because I consider myself a liberal doesn’t mean my heart bleeds for everybody.
You don’t like my opinion? Fine.
Not crazy about some of yours either.
I see little old ladies in here all the time that have hit the “donut hole” (thanks, George!) of their coverage without knowing it and now have to shell out $80-120 for their medications.
Dave in SoCal: Apparently, “provide for the general welfare” now also means giving everyone in America a free digital TV converter.
You’re trying to sidestep the issue with a straw man. “If we provide medical care where will it end? Why, we’ll have to provide free TV and make sure everyone gets their own copy of the He’s Just Not into You DVD.”
I agree with you, providing the digital converters was a bad idea the gov’t shouldn’t have to pay for. But just what’s it got to do with providing health Care?
Dennis: What industry do you work in Duros? I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with anything about what your profession is.
Is that the standard to go by? Unless an industry is as pure as the driven snow, nobody who works for it can cast stone?
Bah.
Of course there are issues that can be taken with any industry. Bravo for making an obvious point that nobody was disputing.
But do you really want to stack up the examples that can be given about the health insurance industry against those of, for example, photo processing? There aren’t many other industries where the bottom line is directly improved by letting people suffer.
And, just so you know, the photo industry is tanking as well. There are loads of industries that have suffered with the advent of digital photography and social networking.
3 years ago, the trade show in Las Vegas cover 12 acres of convention center floor. This year about a quarter of that. Many companies that have been around for a very long time are now gone. Agfa, Minolta, Konica all gone. Nikon has stopped making film cameras altogether. Canon is phasing them out.
I feel for those people, not Blue Cross.
You’re trying to sidestep the issue with a straw man.
No, I’m just trying to point out how “provide for the general welfare” can be stretched to cover and justify just about anything the gov’t decides to give away or pay for.
I agree with you, providing the digital converters was a bad idea the gov’t shouldn’t have to pay for
I think it is. According to estimates, only 13-15% of TV viewers actually depend on over-the-air TV. What percentage of those 13-15% truly can’t afford to spend the $40-50 required for a converter box? I wasn’t aware of any means or income testing for people submitting requests for coupons.
providing the digital converters was a bad idea the gov’t shouldn’t have to pay for.
The broadcast spectrum belongs to the public, not the government. By switching over to all-digital, the government is reallocating the spectrum and auctioning parts of it off to corporations that will pay billions.
In the process, my TV becomes a doorstop. Why shouldn’t the government give me a tiny portion of the auction proceeds to upgrade my set?
Is that the standard to go by? Unless an industry is as pure as the driven snow, nobody who works for it can cast stone?–Sean D. Martin
Sean, no, but that’s not the point I was making.
But since you ask, isn’t that the whole chickenhawk argument at least some of the posters here love to make?
As to the photo industry, I don’t have anything negative to say about it. I hope good things develop soon, and hopefully we can see a clearer picture for its prospects, or at least they come more into focus.
I say, son, you made a funny!
Dennis: Sean, no, but that’s not the point I was making.
OK, but then you lost me on what point you were trying to make with responding to criticism of the insurance industry with “I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with anything about what your profession is.”
As to the photo industry, …
Wow. I wouldn’t even try that. At least not without a cup.
Wow. I wouldn’t even try that. At least not without a cup.– D62
I honestly figured you had another ten of those in your hip pocket.
OK, but then you lost me on what point you were trying to make with responding to criticism of the insurance industry with “I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with anything about what your profession is.”–SDM
Just that you can dislike the profession, and believe me, I have my issues too, but to say ‘Fuck them’ ignores the plight of a lot of people in them that have nothing to do with the crappy things those insurance companies do and get away with.
Just this afternoon as I’ve been on this thread one of my best friends in my business sent me a Bloomberg message letting me know of his dismissal from a large insurance company. Great guy, smart guy, degrees, CFA, everything- doesn’t matter. Managed a particular type of investment class and had performed very well through the crisis that happened because he had foreseen many of the problems that we’ve endured. The company has taken huge hits to its inv. portfolio and his job was eliminated. Huge Obama supporter, huge Bush hater. Despite that, he is a great guy. And he knows now and knew even long before this that his company was nowhere near perfect; it’s just business.
Things suck out there. But that’s the point I was making to Duros. You can’t just say ‘fuck them’ because you don’t like some of their practices.
No, I’m just trying to point out how “provide for the general welfare” can be stretched to cover and justify just about anything the gov’t decides to give away or pay for.
Much like “provide for the common defense” can be stretched to cover and justify just about anything the gov’t decides to give away or pay for — only to large multi-national defense contractors?
It comes down to national priorities which are set, ultimately, by the people and, as citizens, the people we elect to represent us.
Jay Tea was trying to make the argument that a certain set of national priorities which a certain set of citizens care about — such as health care — are not even a valid function of government from the start. He based this on the language used in the preamble to the Constitution and the distinction between “provide” and “promote”. This is, of course, such a hackneyed right wing talking point I wouldn’t be surprised if Jay Tea had a macro set up for it.
What it fails to take into consideration is that in the section of Constitution that deals specifically with the powers of Congress, “promote” doesn’t even enter into it. See the quote above. If “provide” is the operative word here, the Constitution most definitely empowers Congress to provide for the general welfare in the same way it is empowered to provide for the common defense.
Now I’m no Constitutional scholar and if someone wants to make the argument that the general language of the preamble should be given more weight than later clauses in the Constitution that deal with the specific powers of the specific branches, fine. Go for it. Love to see it.
But as far as I understand it, Congress has the authority to PROVIDE for the general welfare. Arguing about how and how much it should provide for what, is what democracy is all about. To suggest, however, as Jay Tea tried to do, that such a discussion is de facto unconstitutional or extra-constitutional is, again as I understand it, either flat out wrong or something far more complicated than Jay Tea’s facile quoting of the preamble allows.
To put it simply, if you have a problem with national health care, fine. Make the argument. But these kinds of arguments are ultimately settled by elections and the legislative process.
You can bitch all you want about it, but quite frankly, our side is winning the argument with the American people.
Huge Obama supporter, huge Bush hater. Despite that, he is a great guy.
I love how you qualify that.
You can’t just say ‘fuck them’ because you don’t like some of their practices.
Yes I can. It’s my opinion. Who says I can’t have that opinion?
It is my opinion that health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies are in collusion to defraud the public in the biggest racketeering operation in human history.
Am I wrong? Maybe. But it’s my firmly held opinion.
Sorry about your friends’ job.Give him a TFJ from me next time you see him.
You can’t just say ‘fuck them’ because you don’t like some of their practices.
By the same standard, you can’t just say ‘praise them’ because they have some good people employed.
The health insurance industry needs major overhaul and if that comes at the cost of some decent people losing their jobs I, for one, could live with that. Because I think more people would benefit from significant changes in the system than will be harmed.
Huge Obama supporter, huge Bush hater. Despite that, he is a great guy.
I love how you qualify that.–Duros62
Try to get a sense of humor, D62. Good lord, do you come here to get MORE depressed?
Yes I can. It’s my opinion. Who says I can’t have that opinion?–D62
No one. So then what’s wrong with me saying your opinion’s fucked up?
Sorry about your friends’ job.Give him a TFJ from me next time you see him. –D62
Thanks, Duros. I will next time I see him. The last couple of years of the Bush term almost pushed him off the deep end.
No one. So then what’s wrong with me saying your opinion’s fucked up?
Um, you did. When you said “You can’t just say ‘fuck them’ because you don’t like some of their practices.”
Try to get a sense of humor, D62.
I come for the politics. I stay for the snark.