Archived Comments

David 9/11/2009, 9:24 a.m.

Passage of HR3200 in the current form will only serve to further entrench "government" in the every day lies of the populace.

What business does the IRS (or any other department / agency), or a UNION have in healthcare? NONE!!  If they want real reform, mandate that every LEGAL CITIZEN have the option of choosing from the same healthcare plans as current government employees.

If someone CHOOSES to be uninsured, that is their perogative; however, when they make that CHOICE, their care is at their expense.  Not at the expense of the remainder of us.

Thomas 9/11/2009, 8:43 a.m.

I think this bill should be trashed and Pelosi and those Democrats like her be rope-tied to their chairs with their eyelids taped open and mouths taped shut and made to read every Republican proposal before making another move. I also think those in Congress call a strike on everything to get the message across to Obama.  America's citizens are about to call their own strike. Yes, we need health care reform and tax reform, but not at the cost of our freedom of choice and financial well-being of future generations.

Connie 9/11/2009, 4:52 a.m.

I keep hearing the word "affordable" health care coverage.  What determines what is affordable?

Steve 9/11/2009, 1:06 a.m.

I find it interesting that private companies will be required to provide disclosures in "plain language." I then it goes on to define that, among other requirements, plain language is readable by those with limited English proficiency. I feel that I have a good grasp on the English Language, yet there isn't a single paragraph in the bill that was easy for me to understand.

I am one of the millions of "uninsured" yet I have a HRA and have great medical coverage through a health-care cost sharing group. It is only about 1/3 the cost of traditional insurance. If this bill passes, I will be forced to either pay 3 times as much or accept the public option. NO GOOD, I DON'T WANT IT OBAMA!

Olgamary 9/10/2009, 11:18 p.m.

since when is it ok to shove and bully a certain way of doing things the 'only' way of getting things done???. this whole nightmare that is the OBAMANATION reminds me of a bunch of bullies trying to take charge of a lot of things they don't know too much about.  Wall Street, banking, the car companies, health care, the environment(green jobs) all were just fine before Socialism reared its ugly head.  God save us all if our health care goes that way, too.  I can only speak for myself but everything that the gov't runs is somehow riddled with waste ----the VA, postal service, AMTRAK, Medicare (nearly 40 yrs+), Medicaid....etc.
Why can't this stuff be written plainly---with no duplicitous meanings or inferences that need a bazillion lawyers to decipher?
Can this grand Republic get back the foundations set forth in the Constitution???
I pray that reason will prevail over all and that the Republic will continue and prosper the way our Founding Fathers intended.

Nathan 9/10/2009, 9:44 p.m.

I've just downloaded this.  I've just also downloaded the United States Constitution.  I find it reprehensible that today's government finds in necessary to invade my personal health objectives with an oppressive option that is 60 times the size of our Founding Document (amendments included).  Our Founders created a country with such brevity and strength using a document that is less than 2% the size of this health care monstrosity that will disable the able, enslave the healthy and utterly destroy the sick.  This must be stopped at all costs.  I want my daughter to live in a country without the shackles that this corrupt government has put on our yolk.

I want my government out of my daily activity, out of my bank account, out of my schools, out of my private sector job, out of my house and everything else that may prevent my life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

God bless America!  May His almighty will shun the Obama doctrine!

Judy 9/10/2009, 7:37 p.m.

My Congressmen (Blumenauer)said this would be covered by a tax on the wealthy and that middleclass would not be affected. If you stop and think about who it is in this country who own the businesses it is the wealthy. You raise their taxes and they will just pass it on to the consumer by raising their prices for goods and services. Or the employer will not be giving out raises so as to cover his tax increase. Once again the middleclass would pay. So the Democrats are wrong when they say the middleclass will not pay. No Government Run Health Care!!

Jan 9/10/2009, 7:10 p.m.

This bill appears to be intentionally vague and open for much interpretation by the reader, but more important,by the person who implements its provisions.  To place this much power in the hands of our government means catastrophic and irreversible results in our society.  I base this statement on language taken from the bill "reduce the growth in healthcare spending" (growth in healthcare has meant advances in detection and treatment); "for other purposes" what could this possible mean and is terrifying given the infinite possibilities; "health insurance exchange" (what will we have to exchange or probably more accurate, what will we give up); "risk pools" (this is to be defined by the Commissioner, again open for much lobbying).  These are but a few of the items I found not only offensive but alarmingly indicative of the direction our current administration would like for us to go...socialist control.  This bill mirrors the obsessive Democratic need for power and the money which accompanies such power.  To climb on the backs of the people the Democrats and President Obama hypocritically allege they are trying to help is not only criminal it is evil in its purest form. Deception is easily and openly received by individuals and groups who fall into one of two groups; those who are forever looking for their pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and those who stand to receive the financial windfall they believe they are entitled to (entitlement and earned are on opposite ends of a fairness spectrum).  True health care reform must occur in the following areas: medical tort reconstruction (when physicians are comfortable with utilizing their education, training, and experience to evaluate and treat patients rather than operating from a defense standpoint of what will protect me court then healthcare costs will go down); healthy lifestyle monetary incentives (a cooperative effort on the part of employers, health insurance companies, health care providers and health care facilities); the removal of Big Pharma lobbyists or a very tight cap on campaign and other political contributions they may make each year (Big Pharma, not hospitals and physicians account for a large portion of health care dollars spent); and the creation of a Social Security investigative unit which targets recipients who are fraudently applying for and receiving benefits and provides monetary rewards for whistleblowers.  Just to add to Social Security fraud....most investigations are directed at physicians and healthcare facilities trying to uncover overpayment and thus demands for overpayment returns.  As a nurse practitioner I have never heard of any such investigation resulting in an underpayment discovery with money given to the healthcare provider or facility.  It's a given you are going to have to pay something to CMS after one of these investigations.  Yet, I saw countless patients in my practice year after year who were on Social Security disability or on Medicaid who absolutely did not meet qualifications.  I have seen OB physicians treat a pregnant woman who was undergoing the process of obtaining a Medicaid number through an assigned caseworker yet deliver without a number and thus no payment for the obstetrical services provided.  I have seen private insurance companies have their own employees come off their employer sponsored plan to avoid the deductible, get on Medicaid, and then go back to the sponsored plan after delivery.  The incidences such as these are many.  NO GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED PROGRAM HAS EVER OR WILL EVER WORK!

Kimberley 9/10/2009, 7:00 p.m.

We have the best healthcare system in the world.

I would like to see: tort reform, freedom to buy across the statelines causing compeitition, as well people having major medical coverage,and freedom for businesses to choose to help with coverage or not.

SCRAP BHO BILL.  IT STINKS.

Steve 9/10/2009, 2:05 p.m.

Terrible bill, very intrusive.  Government should not be involved in health care.  Government is already too involved.

Michael 9/4/2009, 3:30 p.m.

The clear thinking people of this United States oppose this Bill wholeheartedly. We demand that this Bill be scrapped, and an entirely new one be written...with the full participation from Democrats and Republicans, as well. This Bill should send up red flares warning us that we will be losing our country to those that would undermine it. Please...SCRAP THIS BILL!!!

Bill 9/2/2009, 2:43 p.m.

I think it is great that the GOP is standing up to this socialist takeover of health care and health insurance. My fear is that some of your member will work with the democrats and Obama to get something done or worse will accept some of what the democrats want only because they took out some things out like the Public Option.

John McCain said the other day in his town hall that "we have to get something done" and I say no we don't, not at the expense of liberty not to mention our pocket books. Getting nothing done is preferable to moving partway to the democratic position. How come we never seem to get them to come to the conservative position to get something done? It always seems like the GOP is the party that is concilatory.

Well this issue and the debt spending will continue to blow up in their faces and provide real opportunity for the GOP in 2010 but if you guys make a deal and give the democrats cover the GOP will not take the house back like it should.

Stay strong and united as the country is now firmly supporting you.

Stephen 9/2/2009, 12:45 a.m.

Much Better than HR 3400.

Jeanette 9/1/09, 5:49 p.m.

Leave our Health system alone!!!!!!

Tim 8/31/2009, 6:52 p.m.

WOW free Healthcare!!!  I can't remember the last time I received something for free without some type of SCAM behind it.  Wake up America and take a stand.
David 8/30/2009 1:05p.m.
Message for you - SHUT UP

Jozette 8/30/2009, 8:30 p.m.

Well...am I to understand that the Obama administration will appoint Dr. Conrad Murray as the next Surgeon General?!? :)

David 8/30/2009, 1:05 p.m.

I think its a fabulous start to what has been a long time coming. The arguments about invasion of privacy, government taking over the health care system, people left behind, killing off senior citizens, etc, are simply not anywhere to be found in the bill. Its long because it needs to be. Support our president and realize that you have offered NO alternatives to this plan except to say its bad. Well put up or shut up as they say. I support it and our president.

Janie 8/29/2009, 10:04 a.m.

I admire Obama for his proactive role he is taking on this and think it will be good to give the private insurance companies some 'competition' which should drive the rates down and create better insurance plans.  Competition in any other business tends to do just that. people will still have a choice of private or public insurance and having choices drives prices down!

Susan 8/28/2009, 2:35 p.m.

I refuse any health care reform which does not include Congress, the President, ALL Federal employees, and union workers under its coverage. If it is going to be "universal" then these groups must be included too! They might actually pay attention to what is written into it as well, which they obviously have not. There are so many things wrong with this Bill it is impossible to ennumerate them without it taking another thousand pages. At a recent Town Hall meeting, my representative Trent Franks reaffirmed that the Republicans tried to get a bill passed which would require everyone including Congress to be covered under this 'reform' but it did not pass. So try again! Stand up, scream, shout, holler, do whatever is necessary to STOP THIS BILL from ruining America!!! That is what we elected you for. Talk to your colleagues across the Aisle and show them how WRONG this is. This is not a bipartisan Bill, it is a totally Socialist bill, and must be stopped in its tracks. To every member of Congress and the Senate I say, "PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS BILL PASS. IT WILL RUIN THE AMERICA WHICH OUR FOREFATHERS WORKED SO HARD TO GIVE US."

William 8/28/2009, 10:52 a.m.

HR3200 has payoffs to unions and community organizers and buys support for the bill and votes in future elections. HR3200 establishes a convoluted bureaucracy for new government jobs and complete control over our citizens. We can not afford the cost of HR3200 with the current deficit and debt. Portable policies sold across state lines, tort reform,medical  savings accounts and catastrophic policies are no cost solutions to the problems.

Nancy 8/26/09, 3:21 p.m.

There are still too many gray areas. I am concerned about the cost of this plan, our government is already floating in red ink. I do not see any reference to Tort Reform which is a component that is essential for the avoidance of outlandish litigation and jeopordizes a doctors ability to practice with the framewok of this plan. Futhermore I do not see incentives for addtional dollors to help educate more primary/ family practice physicians or physician extendors (ARNP's and PA's).

James 8/21/2009, 3:02 p.m.

I think health care should be more affordable to us poor people. But I also think our government should stay out of controlling it. Same as our social security. Look what they're doing there. Giving aliens who never paid a dime into it social security, now they're going to make sure someone pays for their health insurance/me.

Debbi 8/21/2009, 3:25 a.m.

I think it  is a convoluted mess that is written in such a way as to make it mean anything that they want it to.

Loreen 8/19/2009, 11:40 p.m.

I saw the video of you ("Rep. Tom Price admonishes govt-takeover of healthcare") on utube and completely agree. The last thing America needs is for the federal government to grow even bigger than it is. Thank you for taking up this fight for us.

Susan 8/19/2009, 3:11 p.m.

This bill punishes my husband and I (under $70,000 AGI) with a 2.5% tax because we won't have government calls acceptable coverage. We carefully chose our coverage when my husband retired and are happy with it. This bill sets up a huge bureaucracy with built in entitlements, calling it the Public Healthcare Workforce Corps.  This bill will give huge powers to a new 'Commissioner of Healthcare'.  This bill will further regulate doctors and the healthcare industry which will result in fewer choices and eventually no choice for health care insurance other than the government! This bill has language like 'end of life counseling' which will open the door to government helping to make decisions for individuals!

Desmond 8/18/2009, 9:21 p.m.

As an Afro-American man it looks like neither party is interested in what my group has to say and I want you to know we have conservatives views too. This package has a lot of holes and isn't really doing the elderly and poor much by not allowing them choices in their health insurance policies and programs. Even the state and county run programs for the poor have choices but this federal program will be too controling. I don't see this program saving money but making paying people get less choices on insurance, poor hardly any choices and illegal aliens maybe too much health care. I want busineses to have rights too and state-county programs to do better but still work with the poor instead of federal health care programs.

William 8/18/2009, 4:50 p.m.

Tom tell our so call leader in our state to just take time and listen to you.

Tom 8/18/2009, 3:52 p.m.

Please note the job killer part of this bill.  Page 149-150: SEC. 313. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF COVERAGE.  A penalty based on gross payroll but not taking into consideration the bottom line of the business it is penalizing.  Profit margins are 1-2% at best in good economic times.  Where are small businesses going to get 2, 4,  or 8% extra to pay this tax.  Take me for example, I own and operate a small Senior Home Care Agency.  These senior citizens pay out of pocket for a caregiver so they can remain independent in their own home.  My payroll was $750,000 last yearmy income after expenses, (in this down economy) -$5500.00.  In fact in the 15 years we have been in business our best years profit was $60,000. That still wouldn't be enough to pay the penalty for healthcare.  I considered that one year a very healthy year and those profits have actually kept us going in some very down years.  If this passes there is no alternative 45 Home Care Aides on the unemployment !
 line and many senior citizens lining up for their end of life care at government run hospices.  Who wins?

Tracy 8/18/2009, 3:04 p.m.

The answer is "no" to anymore government involvement in our lives.  There are  problems with insurance, sure.  But handing power over to unaccountable agencies within the government and creating huge bureacracies to manage the costs of health care is not going to do anything but harm. The phrase "Do No Harm" will be meaningless b/c doctors will little say in what treatment and tests they use.  Imagine under this how inflexible the system will be.  I thought insurance was inflexible.  There are ways to get some of these things without a reboot of health care.  

Address the inequity in the tax code that favors employee-based health care, make health care transportable, get rid of pre-existing conditions and somehow address those risks so insurance companies can stay in business.  Back the government regulations out where they prohibit free market rules.

This bill is too invasive, too large, too vague (which gives it a lot of room to be abused).  We must not accept it in any form.

John 8/17/2009, 11:18 p.m.

Consider reviewing and highlight in bold print the portions of the bill in question.  Example, page #, section #, etc.  This would help assist us in fighting against these areas thus making it easier to find and reference quickly. It would be helpful to take it to town hall mtgs. to speak with confidence.  I feel the Bill is too large which distracts people from wanting to read it!

Sharon 8/17/2009, 3:41 p.m.

I have read the House and Senate healthcare plans. I'm not real sure which is worse, they both put power over our personal lives in the hands of Washington politicians. This power grap allows them to rummage through our bank accounts, see how and where we spend our money, (they dont even know where tax monies are going). These plans say commissions to decide for us what coverage. They both use "community groups" (just say ACORN) to do surveys, assist with applications I'M PULLINMG MY HAIR OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER OF OUR LIVES !!!!!!!!!! WASHINGTON'S GRAB FOR POWER MUST  STOP  THIS IS RIDICULOUS..........

George 8/17/2009, 3:03 p.m.

Dear Congressman Price and the RSC team, thank you for posting H.R. 3200. I've devoted a Sunday afternoon to reading it. I'm on page 443 (through Medicare, Title II, Division B). It looks like I'll need two more Sundays to finish.
PROBLEMS WITH H.R. 3200 TO PAGE 443:
1. The bill calls for too many future studies that should have been performed before formulating the legislation.
2. Medicare Improvements are most often expressed only as changes to existing law, without any clue of specific goals and objectives.
3. Contracting is exempted from FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations) without justification.
4. The Health Insurance Exchange is created in a new bureaucracy under a new Commissioner, but Public Health Insurance bypasses the Commissioner and operates in an unspecified bureaucracy under the Department Secretary.
5. The notional Healthcare Smartcard that will permit an individual only "specific services by specific providers in specific facilities" is draconian and disturbing.
6. Ten pages (so far) devoted to end-of-life are overkill. (Pun intended.)

7. Medicare has been good for seniors, but it is expensive and has raised the cost of healthcare for all Americans. It's not clear that there's a fix in this torrent of words I've already read, but the horrendous future bureaucracy created by it will probably overwhelm any cost savings and will certainly detract from fair compensation for health professionals.

Robert 8/17/2009, 1:48 p.m.

This looks to me like a complicated ridiculous attempt to impose further suffocating restricions and regulations on the American health care system.  How in the world will this reduce costs?  It won't!

Mirtha 8/15/2009, 8:51 a.m.

The fact that Pres Obama wanted it rushed through without a written bill and without giving anybody a chance to read it before presenting it for approval tells me that "there's something rotten in Denmark."  The whole of this plan is a complete reversal of "caring" for people.  It destroys and unborn and kills the elderly and handicapped and reveals the disgusting "Hitler-like" characteristics of the author.  I don't see one thing right about it.

Tina 8/14/2009, 8:47 a.m.
If the government can't get Social Security  and the Post Office right, what makes them think that they can handle the diversity of everyone's health?

Paul 8/13/2009, 8:28 p.m.
This so called "Health Reform Bill" is a travesty. It is a repulsive intrusion into the basic rights of the American people with regard to basic self-determination of personnel health care. It will shoulder an onerous financial burden on generations to come that will not improve health care one IOTA! The only people that will benefit are those that can not afford health care and are Non US citizens legal or otherwise. Note sec 151 of said bill; IN GENERAL.-Except, as otherwise explicitly permitted by this Act and by subsequent regulations consistent with this Act, all health care and related services (including insurance coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act shall be provided without regard to personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services. So we have US Tax payers paying for the health care of illegal aliens.
For employers if coverage is not maintained on employees and excise tax will be collected and deposited in the treasury as miscellaneous collections. So fines and penalties do not even get earmarked to reduce health care cost! It seems they penalty monies can be used anyway the government wishes. So if I am illegal alien and I pay no taxes or have no income it seems the US Tax payer foots the bill.

Dennis 8/13/2009, 3:54 p.m.
I am a board certified emergency physician with 30 years of experience and have seen "America's Emergency Safety Net" gradually erode. I have personally suffered episodic ill health due to work stress and am forced at the age of 56 to consider retiring from my specialty. Many of my colleagues are burned out and want to leave the specialty of Emergency Medicine. Government has mandated we see all comers but is reducing our compensation disproportionately.
Please help improve access to "real" emergency care and not increasingly overwhelm us more by your bureaucratic mismanagement. Lets for a moment agree to disagree.
Having worked in an Urban ER for 7 years that serves primarily the indigent, I have seen that providing Managed-MediCal in no way guarantees access to care. Instead, it puts up more HMO barriers, and many frustrated patients have no alternative but to seek non-emergent and non-urgent advice at an Emergency Department.
I am afraid that the currently proposed AAHCA of 2009 ("America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009") will guarantee coverage but does not guarantee timely access to care. Enrollees will be forced to stand in line at increasingly overcrowded ER's.
My plan would be to provide vouchers for the patients declared "stable" by triage standard and who could be safely directed to affiliate-licensed Urgent Care Clinics for timely rapid evaluation and care.
The problem is, at present, this type of referral would violate EMTALA, and ER's & Hospitals prefer the "bread and butter cases" waiting (for as long as takes) to fill in their "down-time".

Kristie 8/13/2009, 1:06 a.m.

I don't see what the actual insurance is or it's cost to us. If I understood one part right it reads that cost is based on income. The whole thing appears to me to be a way for the Gov to document everything about us and then offering money incentives to the health care profession to save money on caring for us. I take that to mean inadequate care and loss of Good Caring health professionals.

David 8/13/2009, 12:28 a.m.

The first line states it all "......and for other purposes."???  Who would sign a loan document without knowing the interest rate percentage?  DO NOT SIGN this bill!

Keep up the good work! Thank you for standing up for us, our children, and children's children!

Catherine 8/12/2009, 10:12 p.m.

I think the lack of details and excess government involvement is appalling in this bill.   Do not support it.

Karen 8/12/2009, 7:50 p.m.

First, why does it have to be so huge in pages and have paragraphs that keep running around in circles to find out the meanings.

Page 16 tells me that the government, not the market, would be in charge of whether your insurance was good enough, either with your employer or your individual coverage. If I don't like my insurance company, I can simply change insurance companies. Under this plan, if I don't have a plan in force before this goes in that "qualifies", I HAVE to have the public option!

I thought this was America!

Also, with the reduction in what Medicare and Medicaid will pay, there will be fewer doctors to get that service. As it is right now, in Washington state where we have Basic Health (a state low income health insurance for those who do not qualify for Medicaid), I could not find a doctor that would accept it in our area. I would have to go to Bremerton or some other town miles away. I don't have the time or resources to do that.

Also, the doctors that do take Medicare and Medicaid only will take a percentage of clients as they cannot afford to stay in business with the current reimbursement rate. Now enter in the baby boomers of which I am one, and even without the new health care reform, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH DOCTORS NOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE MEDICARE PATIENTS!

Also, what about the incentive for doctors to take on these low paying patients. There is none!

We need to change the WAY we pay our doctors. Not a fee per code but payment for time, expertise and pay them a decent earning.

Ryan 8/12/2009, 6:33 p.m.

The President's plan will just increase government, decrease the quality of health care, and kill jobs (and people).

Margie 8/12/2009, 6:08 p.m.

I just read 300 some pages of this bill and skimmed through several other sections.   I am very concerned and sickened by the thought of this bill actually passing.  On page 16 [section 102] I found "Protecting the Choice to Keep Current Coverage"  The next several paragraphs, however, seem to be saying that no new policies will be written.  Furthermore, no current private policies will be amended AND the private insurer may only offer coverage as part of the 'exchange-participating health benefits plan'.  Are you kidding me?  This is insanity.  HOW IS THIS PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE?

Karla 8/12/2009, 5:31 p.m.

This bill is going to destroy any of our options at keeping our own health insurance which we are totally happy with. Instead they should "use their brains" and go after the doctors, hospitals and private health clinics that are raping the system with fraudulent charges.My father in law was diagnosed with pancreatic liver cancer and was placed immediately in Hospice care, never to see his personal doctor again, however, his personal doctor continued to bill Medicare "two more times" for office visits! Naturally my mother in law did not pursue this as she was so distraught that she was going to lose her husband of 57 years in 4-6 months! Clean up the crooked health care professionals and all entity's before you mess with my healthcare. Completely opposed to socialized medicine ever. And definitely - GET RID OF PELOSI!

Frank 8/12/2009, 2:28 p.m.

time to honor thomas jefferson and have a revolution !! this bill is insane , inane and toxic to  the WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF THESE UNITED STATES .. 1017 pages of fish wrapping! let the american worker , retiree and honest hard working tax payer ENJOY THE SAME HEALTH CARE BENEFITS  AS THOSE IN CONGRESS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND IN OUR LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ..  ALL THE U.S TAXPAYER WANTS  IS TO SECURE EXACTLY THE SAME HEALTH CARE PROVISIONS  AND COSTAS THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ENJOY .. 1017 PAGES  OF  WHICH NOT ONE WORD  , SENTENCE OR IDEA IS READABLE OR AGREEABLE TO ANY AMERICAN TAX PAYER OF ANY AGE RACE CREED OR COLOR .. THIS CONGRESS AND THIS PRESIDENT SEE  THE HARD WORKING AMERICANS OF  TODAY AND THE RETIRED AMERICANS OF TOMORROW AS  CHEAP AND USELESS SLAVES , WHO DESERVE NOTHING  REMOTELY AKIN TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HEALTH CARE  PLANS .. WE ARE 5TH CLASS CITIZENS WHO CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE BOTH REPUBLICAN  AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICIALS  WHO ARE ELITIST AND DEBASED BY THE POSITIONS THEY HOLD AND CONTINUE TO ABUSE  WITH OUR VOTES  AND OUR HARD EARNED TAX PAYING MONEY .. GIVE  US THE LIBERTY  AND THE RESPECT AND THE HEALTHCARE THAT WE DESERVE  ~~~  GIVE US EXACTLY WHAT OUR ELECTED FEDERAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE .. 1 DOLLAR PRESCRIPTIONS  , THE USE OF ANY NETWORK  INSIDE OR OUTSIDE  THE HMO  OR PPO PLAN  AND  LIFETIME  MEDICAL COVERAGE  THAT COSTS   85 % LESS THAN  WE PAY TO PROTECT OUR SELVS  FROM ILLNESS AND DISEASE ...  GIVE US  EXACTLY  THE SAME PLAN  THAT COVERS TOM PRICE  OR OBAMA OR ANY OFFICIAL IN TODAYS SENATE OR CONGRESS ... WHY  DO WE ALWAYS GET THE LEAST AMOUNT OF COVERAGE  WHEN THOSE WHO REPRESENT US  HAVE IT ALL  .....

Angie 8/12/2009, 1:19 a.m.

I have read some of the health bill as well as listened to debates on certain issues in the bill. It is obvious to me that this is not a bill to help with health reform, but a means of taking over more of our freedom and giving this out of control government more control and power!

Although we lost a son to cancer a year ago, I am ever grateful for America's health care system and all that it provided for our son! Because of the innovative health care available here and the blessings from God, we were given five precious years more with our Son than expected.  I would not trade one day of those five years and all that we learned from our son who "chose" to fight to live over waiting to die by taking "pain pills".  I pray for that same type of courage that my son displayed for those who are fighting against this evil bill and trying to preserve this great land of the free!

James 8/12/2009, 12:07 a.m.

I have seen many of the proposed options for paying for this horror.  Among the proposals is to increase Tricare premiums, increase Tricare copayments and decrease covered services for Active Duty military personnel and their dependents as well as for Retired personnel. This is entirely unacceptable.  When most liberals were running to Canada to avoid the draft I and my fellow comrades-in-arms were defending our country.  A promise made then was that those who chose a military career would be entitled to free medical care in return for that service.  For the last 40 years those same liberals have systematically broken that promise.  The care that was promised must now be purchased through Tricare premiums, copays and payment to VA hospitals for many services.  And, the proposal is being considered to charge dependents and retirees for any service received at a military treatment facility.  Worse yet is they want to give medical benefits to those who never served.  To pay for his plan, President Obama intends to slash billions of dollars from Medicare.  Medicare already reimburses at a pathetic percentage of actual costs.  I know.  I work in a hospital.  Doctors will refuse to treat Medicare patients if in doing so they actually lose money.  Taking from Medicare will demand higher premiums and less coverage for our seniors and Medicare and Medicaid are already going bankrupt.  The funding ambitions of this administartion are simply pipe dreams.  Either this administration is lying or just plain stupid.  This bill is so complicated that even the legislators can't read and understand it and so must be defeated for that reason alone.

Darin 8/11/2009, 10:15 p.m.

I have a particular problem with the text on p. 167 about being taxed if I don't have "acceptable" coverage.  What happened to choice?  If I think my coverage is acceptable, then so be it.  The government does not know anyone well enough to know exactly what I or anyone else needs for coverage.  

The bill also alludes to having access to tax records which, if I understand it correctly, determines how much a person will pay out of pocket.  So if the government thinks I makes a lot of money on paper, then I can afford to pay a lot of money into the system.  Once again, the government does not know individuals well enough to make those kinds of decisions.  It should be left up to the individuals.

Steve 8/11/2009, 6:34 p.m.

I am trying to get more informed on both proposals but this statement about a bill coming from President Obama does not bode well as the President has no bill. In fact, he does not create bills or law you guys do and the Senate.

Please get the facts straight. I am going to have a hard time with trust from a group who begins slinging urban legend at the wrong person and cannot get something this simple right at the start. I have to consider what else, the RSC is willing to misstate, exaggerate, or simply not state truthfully..

But I am going to try to read this and the 268 page HSC initiative as well and compare them because in the end it does not matter where it comes from so long as what we get works!

Please consider stating correctly, where a bill comes from.

William 8/11/2009, 5:54 p.m.

ObamaCare is socialism at its worst and it is unconstitutional. If Congress wants to fix what is wrong with health care, get the government out of it. That is the real problem.

Cindy 8/11/2009, 2:49 p.m.
1017 pages of terms I don't understand. there is a law that we need to understand this bill.
Do not pass this bill.

Amanda 8/11/2009, 2:11 p.m.
How exactly do they think we can afford this. Our country is BROKE. Our people are BROKE. Our system is BROKE. This is rediculous....it's a joke. This will NEVER solve anything.

Michael 8/11/2009, 1:56 p.m.
This is a Statist program, one that enables much too much government intrusion into our lives and privacy.  I am actively involved in local GOP and am surprised with the misinformation the media, Democrat and labor have distributed.  Please see that these comments are shared with my (thankfully GOP) Representative, Capito, and particularly the Democrat leadership. Keep up the good work.

Kathryn 8/11/2009, 1:12 p.m.
I never thought I would live to see the day that the government would force us into universal healthcare.  I am a single parent who raised two sons.  I always had healthcare for my family.  I don't need government intruding into my life and my bank account.  NO THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eileen 8/11/2009, 10:14 a.m.

This is appalling.  I would like to see the blind democratic party organizers of this bill wait in line with their families, their elderly parents and grandchildren to receive less than mediocre health care service in our country.  

Perhaps they will enjoy the stress of the waiting game of "medical professionals" discussing what costly services they will not perform for them because of bureaucratic red tape in this plan.  It appears that the goal of this plan is "survival of the fittest" and the rest of Americans with any real medical problems be damned.  

We march ever so closely to the line of socialism in America under the direction of the questionable Obama.  Wouldn't Karl Marx be proud of us if this bill is approved?  While Washington, Adams, Lincoln, and others weep for the destruction of what our values of "freedom" have become.

Debra 8/11/2009, 6:49 a.m.

I have a college education, though not in legal or political studies, and I have read 500 or so pages of this bill so far. Regardless of what arrogant members of Congress have said, I am sufficiently intelligent enough to understand most of what I have read. (I have not checked back on all the statutes and pieces of statutes that they are amending-- changing 'or' to 'and' or 'inserting following').

I don't need "Two attorneys and two days" for me to understand that this bill is not about health care.  This bill is about reparation and the government taking total control of huge portions of our private lives!  

The hard truth for me is, "I would rather have NO health care at all than have the federal government have this kind of control."  That scares me far greater than the enormous cost.  

The federal government can never reduce cost on anything.  And why should Americans think Congress wants to do whatever it takes to make health care affordable??  They voted down the AIM act; they voted down the DeMint 'Health Care Choice Act'; they voted down the DeMint 'tax equity' amendment.

Congress had forced ever more "mandates" on health insurance- assuring that insurance will go up!  They have single-handedly created the rise in premiums all by themselves and then blame the insurance companies!  Insurance companies certainly make profits (no doubt more than they should), but Congress is by far the most guilty party.

I find it to be the most arrogant idea I have ever heard for a group of people who make no money, to steal vast amounts of money from hard working Americans for 'health care' and then trying to deny those same robbed Americans of any kind of care in regards to their medical needs.  And then look down their crooked noses and call us un-patriotic, mobs, terrorists, 'rednecks', etc. because we don't want their piece of crap.

The 'sucker fish' in California are getting a far better deal!

Naomi 8/10/2009, 11:27 p.m.

Thank you to all you are supporters and fighters for the American Freedom and American Dreams!  Mr. Tom Price, I have gained respect from you from following you on YouTube.com and also this website.

Thank you for all you who labor and put forth the energy to provide us the people with this information.

I plead that you will continue to make strides towards fighting for us.

Now as for this bill= this is going to enslave the American People- this is NOT A HEALTH Bill whatsoever= this does not show any evidence of how American people are going to have access towards becoming a "healthier" nation, better yet it gives government control over our bodies and that is not freedom.  Why would Commissioners, inspectors, generals, and others alike have anything to do with my personal health and decisions???

We need to draw a line here- politics needs to stay in politics and health care needs to stay in the hands of those that provide health care- doctors, nurses etc.

This bill does not mention how many people will be negatively affected by this, needless to say many will be forced out of jobs, doctors will decide to leave their practice, and this will not solve taking care of ill, needy people that need care- this will ultimately increase the gap!  

There are examples of this type of system in other societies; this type of system and government control does not work!!!

The United States Constitution does not allow the federal government to take over the health care system, so why now?  What are they doing overturning the Constitution! I feel as though our president and other members in the house and senate are not concerned with the American people and helping out our overall situation, however trying to push their agenda and policies on us!  Our politicians and citizens needs to realize that health care is not a right it's a privilege.

NO TO THIS HEALTH CARE BILL!!!!  Please fight for our rights as we will also!

Barbara 8/10/2009, 9:19 p.m.

this bill is frightening. no republican should vote for it and i thank you for putting it out there. those opposed are not mobs or thugs or plants. we are concerned that this bill will not only bankrupt our people but also give us second rate health care. how can illegals be included? please fight this with all you've got.

Doris 8/10/2009, 7:11 p.m.

After wading through several pages of this abomination proposed by the "Majority Party" and Mr. Obama I am heartsick.  I never fell for his platform when he campaigned. Health care may need to be improved but this will totally wreck this country. What is being proposed is not working in Europe or Canada - why would we want to embrace it here - in a country based on freedom of speech, etc. I wonder how much longer we will have that.  Where is the provision for the politicians who want so badly to pass this bill to fall under it's provisions? ALL citizens or NOT?  If it is so great as they want us to believe why are they not included? I am sick of hearing the previous administration blamed for everything so they can ram things down our throat. Do they think we are that stupid? I have watched the debates in both house and senate on these bills and am appalled at how the minority party has been treated.  This is no longer a democracy under the present House and Senate leadership!
  - it is tyranny and there is no other word for it.  This is NOT bi-partisan legislation. Now we are asked to inform on our friends, family and nighbors if they disagree with the administration?   Have we forgotten what happened that brought on WWII?  I am a senior, widowed, hardworking who has seen my nestegg disappear and am terified at the prospects to come.  I am in cancer treatment and fear that if I have a recurrence there will be no treatment for me.
I hope all those who voted for the present legislators and administration are shaking in their boots as well.  We need to get back to being AMERICANS and working together to solve our problems.  Cut the party-line stuff - do the jobs you were elected to do.  How do we stop this runaway train of oppression?

Elliott 8/10/2009, 6:46 p.m.

Scary....NOT what "they" say it is....or does! I've written (e-mail & hard copy) and called both my Senators (Boxer/Feinstein)& Congressman (Waxman) and do not see any way they will represent my/our desires:  Tort Reform, stopping Medicare fraud, etc. and NOT pushing the Federal government into the healthcare business. There can be no "compromise" with weeny Republicans being bought off/agreeing to support the President. PLEASE give the message/lesson to your cacus

Roxann 8/10/2009, 5:34 p.m.

My first thought after looking through the entire document is "Mr Obama, you should be ashamed". Why oh why, would anyone want to bog down an entire nation with so many more rules to live by? We need less government involvement. What happened to we citizens getting the same healthcare as the congress? That was already ok for you- we citizens would probably accept that without any complaints.

Tillman 8/10/2009, 5:14 p.m.

no gvt. run health care

Sharon 8/10/2009, 4:52 p.m.

Seems like several Commissioners and Inspector Generals and Secretaries, have too much political power!!!!TOO MUCH POWER PERIOD !!! Its hard to believe that anyone sees this as any thing but POWER over individual lives. Not just their healthcare (or denial of care), but also the cost to families. These commissioners and generals and secretaries have NOONE watching over them except CONGRESS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO ONE IN WASHINGTON SHOULD HAVE THIS MUCH POWER WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LIFE !!!!!!! THIS IS GOING TOO FAR !!! WASHINGTON HAS NO RIGHT TO TAKE THIS FREEDOM AWAY FROM ANYONE !!!!!!!! ANOTHER POWER GRAB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SICKENING !!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE CONGRESS OR THE PRESIDENT DO THIS!!

Judy 8/10/2009, 4:26 p.m.

It took me 3 days to read Ann Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" so the people who are being paid BY THE PEOPLE (Congress) have an obligation to read this line by line.

The People's Choice Act of 2009 is a much better representation of what the American people want in terms of making health care in America "healthy".  This monstrosity of a bill contains nothing that will actually FIX health care.   Rep. Price, let's get this kicked back to where it came from and start over again.  I don't care if this takes to 2010, let's get it right.