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And We’re Adjourned

By Kate Pickert | @katepickert | September 22, 2009 | +

Opening statements took up the entire first half of the day. And more to come – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Pat Roberts will give their statements after the committee returns at 2:45 p.m. A few more highlights since my last post:

  • Republican Mike Enzi, a member of the “gang of six,” said the Baucus bill is remiss in not offering Americans the choice to carry only catastrophic health insurance coverage. These plans have very high deductibles, low premiums and are not considered comprehensive coverage, although they are relatively inexpensive.
  • Democrat Maria Cantwell expressed her support for reimbursing seniors more for home health care, which is cheaper than nursing home care.
  • Republican Ensign said the Baucus bill doesn’t do enough to make sure Americans have “skin in the game.” In other words, he said the current health insurance system provides too much coverage that doesn’t encourage Americans to take an interest in how much their health care costs.
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  • plukasiak

    Notice how Pickert hasn’t bothered to mention HOW MANY SENATORS HAVE COME OUT IN FAVOR OF THE PUBLIC OPTION?
    _
    Instead, we get a series of GOP talking points that make absolutely no sense when considered in light of the FACTS that are known about health care and how its delivered in the rest of the industrialized world.
    _
    Of course, Pickert has already gotten her agenda from the “Church of the Savvy”, and despite her gross ignorance of the facts concerning health care reform, she’s entirely qualified to regurgitate the health industry parasite approved talking points….

  • deconstructiva

    Hi, Kate (I was asleep earlier and missed your welcoming post). I’m the site’s token nice guy who doesn’t rant at the reporters but who usually posts to crickets, alas. That aside, with all of those opening statements taking so long – for procedure or pomp + circumstance? – no wonder they might be working all night. Are you, KT, and Jay going to tag team coverage there, even all night if needed? Are you three going to be squatting at the Senate with sleeping bags / duffel bag of spare clothes or a borrowed room / closet to work / sleep? Hopefully a Starbucks or all-night diner is nearby.

  • lupercal5

    dude calm the phuck down. its her first day here. gosh. at this point she’s barely doing any commenting. she’s just doing bullet reporting.

  • plukasiak

    the question is, why are all of her “bullet points” GOP or health care parasite talking points?
    _
    I mean, why no “bullet point” on Democrats who have come out in favor of the public option?

  • stuartzechman

    Kate Pickert:
    .
    Are the Senators unaware of just how much antipathy their viewing audiences have for these fatuous, self-aggrandizing, time-wasting statements?
    .
    Do they really not know?

  • agnomina

    I try to be polite too! But I’m relatively new. And polite is never as entertaining a read as one of Rusty’s crazy-go-rounds.
    -
    Anyway, howdy Kate, welcome to the neighborhood. These are interesting points from all the senators. Ensign kinda threw me, though. I’m not sure what he’s getting at – does he want people to pay more, so they know how much it costs? Or is he just pushing for more education about health insurance? Given he just said the problem is we have too much coverage, I’m not sure I’d want him heading up any education efforts, really.

  • deconstructiva

    Since I haven’t been awake long (literally), have *any* senators brought up the PO or similar items front and center in their “opening statements”? If no, or tried to bury them, then the senators are to blame… as usual. Didn’t some hottie at this site say (several times) not to kick the messenger?

  • plukasiak

    decon…
    I watched the opening statements only sporadically, but both Democrats I saw (Schumer and Menendez) strongly endorsed a public option.

  • square1

    Republican Ensign said the Baucus bill doesn’t do enough to make sure Americans have “skin in the game.” In other words, he said the current health insurance system provides too much coverage that doesn’t encourage Americans to take an interest in how much their health care costs.

    Yes, that is definitely the crisis that we are facing. Americans are getting too much treatment. Sounds like another winner for the GOP.

  • square1

    BTW, if any Democrat appears to grasp the sh_t-storm they will face if they pass a bill with mandates but without a public option or regulations to drive down private policy premiums, please pass that along.

  • Ivy_B

    Grassley might want to use the recess to consider the latest Iowa poll.

    http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003206732

  • deconstructiva

    New Will Ferrell / Jon Hamm video “supporting” HC insurance companies (not!) –
    http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/041b5acaf5/protect-insurance-companies-psa

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