I've read through this bill and it looks like a great bill, but it'll never pass as long as Republicans control Congress. And to be fair, I'll say THIS class of Republicans for the following reasons:
1. It was introduced by Democrats (John Conyers of Michigan, Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, and US Virgin Island Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christiensen) marking it dead by party affiliation.
2. As long as the health insurance lobby is in the back pocket of Congress by way of the K Street Project, they'll weigh it down with riders and special interest earmarks.
3. Republicans will call it a burden on the current medicare system, that it will cost too much, and that they have to keep spending down. We all know there are other spending priorities elsewhere like tax cuts, tort reform to corporations from lawsuits in the event they actually do something to endanger the public, and helping oil companies like ExxonMobile break the $40 Billion dollar mark for record profits in 2006. Oops, I cant forget War on Error. Providing universal healthcare for Americans, building stronger levees and rebuilding New Orleans, funding stem cell research and actually funding education so that teachers can teach american children so they can know the material up and down versus memorizing material to pass a test have never been priorities despite the lip service. Sad to say that the US Congress helping Americans would break the bank but helping other countries without blinking an eye would not.
4. Even if it survives a floor vote and gets to the President's desk he'll threaten to veto the bill again sighting budget concerns.
Sorry, I didnt mean to get on a soapbox on this posting board but, as I said, with congress in the hands of THESE Republicans, this bill doesnt have a chance. If you have CSPAN, watch and you will see what I mean because the news has been cancelled on network news. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong and will gladly admit it. The only way this bill has a chance of passing in THIS congress is if its attached as a rider to a defense spending bill for Iraq and Afganistan. The reason I say that is because no one wants YOU to think they are voting against supporting the troops.
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