Comments on: Schumer Promises a Public Option….or Not?

By: lambertstrether

lambertstrether — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:49:15 +0000

“The bills are pretty well defined now.” Good to know.

So “standing with the President” means ghetto-izing the public option with a means test that could stick you with your employer’s plan even if you want to leave it, and creates a pool that’s too small to keep the insurance companies honest? (As if that were even possible). That’s good to know too.

By: lambertstrether

lambertstrether — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:57:04 +0000

That’s what I like about the Dems. You really know where they stand.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:08:10 +0000

I think he will and I believe the bills will have a public option and some combination of them will become law.

I suspect Schumer is just trying to stay flexible in discussions with his fellow Senators. But, in reality, I don’t see that going very far. The bills are pretty well defined now and Blue Dogs are just gonna have to bite the bullet and stand with the President.

I do see, however, that the legislation should offer something in the public option plans for those who don’t want abortion covered. As long as it’s entirely optional it will help the Blue Dogs to vote for it.

By: TomThumb

TomThumb — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:46:08 +0000

I called Schumer’s office and spoke with an aide. He seemed to think Schumer was pro public option as per the CBS interview but he could not affirm that the Senator would take our pledge. I gave him my email and asked if his legislative aide could get back to me with a yea or a nay.

By: milly

milly — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:23:55 +0000

In 1961…I was in nursing school. Remember an elderly cancer patient on IVs and drains going into glass jugs….being sent home. I was told his insurance had run out. Blue Cross and Blue Shield.In NC.

By: hackworth1

hackworth1 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:11:18 +0000

Schumer’s fictitional American family, the Bailey’s would opt for a public option as they would be approaching bankruptcy by now. Republican and DINO policies have:

1. outsourced their jobs and eliminated their health insurance

2. hollowed out their retirement portfolios

3. deflated the value of their real estate to 1985 levels

4. and jacked up the cost of living

The silver lining is that there are some good deals on rental housing and they might now qualify for food stamps and section 8.

By: coach777b

coach777b — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:56:00 +0000

“nonprofit insurance cooperatives”, isn’t that code for the same old wolf in a sheep’s clothing. I can assure you that the insurance lobbyists, Pharma & Hospital folks will throw lot’s of money at Schumer and anyone else that buys this crap’ These Senators don’t seem to understand English. PUBLIC and OPTION. Look it up in your dictionary. What a waste.

By: cbl2

cbl2 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:51:58 +0000

some firedog did a much better job than I in pointing out Co-Ops would eventually be used as an example of P.O. not working. they are being discussed as regional entities with no national purchasing power and on top of it, I think they’ve thrown “triggers” in to that mix. And they appear to be binkies to the likes of Hagan, Conrad et al - and if Blanche Lincoln is suddenly for them we’ll know for sure what they are up to

don’t buy the hype :D

By: james

james — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:47:49 +0000

Schumer has always been about the shekels and ordinary people don’t have enough of them to interest him.

By: dakine01

dakine01 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:47:14 +0000

…nonprofit insurance cooperatives as competitors to established insurance companies.

Isn’t that what Blue Cross/Blue Shield is supposed to be in a lot of states? And I’m pretty sure there are others out there besides BC/BS that are “nonprofit insurance cooperatives.”

Yeah, that’ll fix the problem all right…