Dems Refuse GOP Efforts to Strip Bribes From Health Care Bill
Posted by Jim Hoft on Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 10:23 AM
Request denied.
Democrats yesterday denied GOP efforts to strike the bribes out of the nationalized health care bill.
Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) sought to to strip all the special interest deals from this bill and the democrats objected.
Senator Mike Johanns asked consent today to strike the special carve-outs from the Senate health care bill. Democrats immediately objected, thwarting the effort.
“There should be no special deals, no carve-outs for anyone in this health care bill; not for states, not for insurance companies, not for individual senators.
“All of the special deals should be removed. If the bill cannot pass without carve-outs, what further evidence is needed that it is bad policy? No senator should vote for the final cloture vote until all of the carve-outs and special deals are removed.
“Nebraskans don’t want a special deal, they want good policy. They don’t believe the Federal Government is the answer to every problem and they don’t like backroom deals.”
Below is a sample of special deals he offered to strike:
** Eliminating or reducing the Medicaid unfunded mandate on Nebraska, Vermont, and Massachusetts (starting on page 96, line 9)
** Exempting certain health insurance companies in Nebraska and Michigan from taxes and fees (starting on page 367, line 6)
** Providing automatic Medicare coverage for anyone living in Libby, Montana (starting on page 194 – section 10323)
** Earmarking $100 million for a “Health Care Facility” reportedly in Connecticut (starting on page 328)
** Giving special treatment to Hawaii’s Disproportionate Share Hospitals (starting on page 101, line 6)
** Boosting reimbursement rates for certain hospitals in Michigan and Connecticut (starting on page 174 – section 10317)
** Mandating special treatment for hospitals in “Frontier” States like Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming (starting on page 208 — Sec 10324)
** For the record, here is a list of the bribes discovered so far in the Obamacare bill from a Congressional source.
According to Reid, “A number of states are treated differently than other states. That’s what legislation’s all about: compromise”. Really? Rather than thoughtful policy, H.R. 3590 is the result of Democrat desperation and includes countless political handouts. In an effort to meet an artificial holiday deadline, the bill itself has come to look like a Christmas tree with goodies for all Democrat holdouts.
While over 10 states receive special deals, Senators from neglected states should be appalled, as their home state constituents will wind up paying for those “sweetheart deals” in other states, resulting in higher costs for their already-strapped Medicaid programs.
Below are highlights of the new special deals or earmarks bartered away to win Senate votes:
Ø The bill contains unfunded mandates to states through the expansion of Medicaid but this time with new special treatment for the states of Nebraska, Vermont, and Massachusetts. These states will receive Federal Matching Assistance Percentages (FMAP) bonuses such that:
1. Nebraska will receive 100% FMAP for newly eligibles indefinitely, making it the only state where the federal government will pay for all new enrollees. CBO estimated the cost to the federal government (additional funds to Nebraska) would be $100 million, which may look small compared to the other deals negotiated, yet over the long-term will cost far more, since funding continues indefinitely.
2. Vermont will receive a 2.2% FMAP increase for 6 years for their entire program, thus receiving an additional $600 million over ten years.
3. Massachusetts will receive a 0.5% FMAP increase for three years for the entire program, thus receiving an additional $500 million over ten years.
Ø Despite $120 billion in Medicare Advantage cuts, the Manager’s Amendment found a way for Florida residents, as well as some individuals in Pennsylvania and New York, and potentially Oregon, to be grandfathered out of receiving the cuts.
Ø Dorgan and Conrad’s “protections for frontier states” provision would, starting in 2011, establish a 1.0 hospital wage index and geographic practice expense floors for hospitals and physicians located in states where at least 50% of the counties in the state are “frontier”. Not surprisingly, states that qualify and benefit from the provision are Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Of the many problems with these “sweetheart” deals, is the door it leaves wide open for more federal involvement and financing of state-based entitlement programs. Sen. Harkin said it best when he stated “In 2017, as you know, when we have to start phasing back from 100%, and going down to 98%, they are going to say, ’Wait, there is one state that stays at 100?’ And every governor in the country is going to say, ‘Why doesn’t our state stay there?’…When you look at it, I thought well, god, good, it is going to be the impetus for all the states to stay at 100%. So he [Nelson] might have done all of us a favor.”
Changes for Sen. Ben Nelson (Nebraska)
Ø Nelson secured more than just 100% federal funding for Nebraska’s Medicaid expansion, the list of “sweeteners” (also called the “Cornhusker kickback” by Senate Republicans) includes:
o An exemption from the insurance tax for Nebraska non-profit insurers, with language written in a way that only applies to Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans (BCBS) of Nebraska (and Michigan). According to news reports, Nelson’s office states that BCBS “would pay between $15 million and $20 million less in fees under the Senate bill than it would have without a change.”
o An exemption from taxes for Medicare supplemental (“Medigap”) insurance providers. Specifically, Mutual of Omaha, will not have to pay taxes on Medigap insurance, while reports also indicate that this tax break will be extended to other companies.
Ø Some changes requested by Nelson would benefit people across the country, such as the inflation adjustment to the $2,500 cap on tax-exempt contributions to Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs) and exemptions for nearly 55 physician-owned hospitals that have a provider agreement to participate in Medicare by August 1, 2010 (pushed back from February 1, 2010).
Changes for Sen. Levin (Michigan)
Ø According to reports, Like Nelson, Levin sought an exemption from the $6 billion annual fee for non-profits, as non-profit insurers make up 76% of industry profits, but drew opposition from liberals. Ultimately, Levin got an exemption from the insurance tax for Michigan non-profit insurers, with language written in a way that applies to Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans (BCBS) of Michigan (and Nebraska).
Ø Furthermore, the amendment changes the extension of section 508 hospital provisions so that hospitals in Michigan (as well as Connecticut) have the option to benefit under them if it means higher payments.
Changes for Sen. Landrieu (Louisiana):
Ø Landrieu was one of the first Senators to secure a sweetheart deal, aptly nicknamed the “Louisiana Purchase”; she traded her support for bringing the bill to the floor for a $300 million increase in Medicaid funding for Louisiana. The underlying bill was cryptically written to increase federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster” during the past 7 years that have been declared a “major disaster area” — and is meant to replenish the decrease in federal money resulting from an “abnormally inflated” per capita income in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. This was due to an influx of insurance dollars, federal grants and increased labor wages.
Changes for Sen. Sanders (Vermont):
Ø In addition the Vermont FMAP increase, the amendment includes a provision pushed by Sanders to provide an additional $10 billion in funding for community health centers and the National Health Services Corps which he argues would provide primary care to 25 million more people.
Changes for Sen. Bill Nelson (Florida)
Ø As noted above, Nelson was able to secure a deal to keep Medicare Advantage plans enrollees in Florida grandfathered in. Notably, when McCain tried to offer an amendment to allow all enrollees to be grandfathered in, 57 Democrats voted against it.
Changes for Hawaii: The Manager’s Amendment singles out Hawaii as the only state to receive a Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) extension.
Changes for Sen. Lieberman (Connecticut): It amends the extension of section 508 hospital provisions so that hospitals in Connecticut (as well as Michigan) have the option to benefit under them if it means higher payments.
Changes for Sen. Dodd (Connecticut): It was a mystery until just revealed that Chris Dodd’s state will benefit from a cryptically awarded $100 million for a “Health Care Facility” at a public research university that contains a state’s sole public academic medical and dental school—criteria designed to apply to the University of Connecticut.
Changes for Sen. Baucus (Montana):
Ø Baucus secured a pilot program in the amendment to “provide innovative approaches to furnishing comprehensive, coordinated, and cost-effective care” to certain qualified individuals. A qualified individual “is an environmental exposure affected individual…who resides in or around the geographic area subject to an emergency declaration made as of June 17, 2009.” And who might these select few individuals be? Well, according to EPA, “On June 17, 2009, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson issued a Public Health Emergency (PHE) finding at the Libby Asbestos Superfund site in northwest Montana.” This provision would help residents of Libby by allowing them to sign up for Medicare benefits.
It is likely that this list of buy-offs is not exhaustive.
RNC Study Committee
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Published May 23, 2012 at 11:51 pm - 59 Comments
BurmaShave commented:
“It is likely that this list of buy-offs is not exhaustive.”
Indeed! Has anyone read this whole monstrosity? Anyone without self-dealing intentions that is. And even if you do read it, someone on the outside may easily not recognize some of the subtle graft lurking in its contents.
LockandLoad commented:
We will see how many of the Representatives will be willing to walk the plank in January. By then, we will know all of the bribes that have been given.
Dell commented:
Amazing fact: I would be willing to bet that not ONE Senator (of the 100) has read the entire bill….and they certainly could not have read the entire bill before they voted cloture. Staff members (many of them!) were busy reading all night long and STILL didn’t finish it.
Only NOW are we discovering what’s in the damned thing and it’s not pretty.
Is this how we allow our government to operate? Like Chicago Politics, it stinks to high heaven.
bg commented:
++
via TRBO
Speaker in Doubt
[Why is Max Baucus again struggling with his temper on the floor of the Senate during the second round of filibuster palaver between the GOP and the 60-vote-armed Senate? Why Max heated? What does the GOP have to do with getting the bill sent from the Senate to the conference in January?
This is entirely a Democratic operation. They have the votes.
There was one GOP vote in the House, from a newbie from Louisiana who had no part in the writing or passing of the bill (220th vote).
All the pork, all the cash and promises in the bill are for the Democrats. The $1 trillion package favors everything the Democrats have planned and organized these last decades of being in the minority.
Also, there is room for plums for the troubled pols such as Chris Dodd
of Connecticut. John Fund, WSJ, speaking Tuesday 22 re the newly discovered $100 million in the bill that may be for Dodd only for a medical school of his choice.]
[..]
Mrs. Pelosi is now in doubt — officially. Best case for Mrs. Pelosi? What happens if the House is a tie? Remind that the Speaker does not have to
be a member of the House. Nominees? Jay Leno?]
more & videos @ link..
==
Lee Peters commented:
Reposting this parody (for bacon lovers): Obama Says “Giant Pork Sandwich” Will Reduce Health Care Costs: http://www.optoons.blogspot.com
Bob commented:
This is an outrage. Everyone should call the Senator today.
Just_Saying commented:
Amazingly blatant.
.
MainStreet commented:
US Code
201. Bribery of public officials and witnesses
(b) Whoever—
(1) directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official or person who has been selected to be a public official, or offers or promises any public official or any person who has been selected to be a public official to give anything of value to any other person or entity, with intent—
(A) to influence any official act; or
(B) to influence such public official or person who has been selected to be a public official to commit or aid in committing, or collude in, or allow, any fraud, or make opportunity for the commission of any fraud, on the United States; or
(C) to induce such public official or such person who has been selected to be a public official to do or omit to do any act in violation of the lawful duty of such official or person;
I say, jail them all.
Anonymous commented:
A simple question: isn’t this bribery, and therefore illegal? One would think that buying a vote would/should be an illegal activity.
Oh, silly me- that was in a pre-Obamanation USA! I’m certain when we are all re-”edjumcated” we’ll comprehend the wisdom of their actions.
Talon commented:
Harry Reid, bribed Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska with a corrupt, secret, backroom payoff that violates the US Constitution.
Article 1, Section 8:
1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
The US Constitution demands that all states shall be treated equal:
Article 1, Section 9: `No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another’.
And “Article 4, Section 4 states: `The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a Republican form of Government’.
(This means backroom deals are not approved)
Also under our US code Title 18 210 – Titled Bribery of Public Officials and Witnesses: Section B reads, `Whoever directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official (officials is defined as a member of Congress, Delegate or Resident Commissioner) or any person who has been selected to be a public official, or offers or priorises any public official or any person who has been selected to be a public official to give anything of value to any person or entity with intent
(a) to influence any official act; or
(b) to influence such public official or person who has been selected to be a public official to commit or aid in committing, or colluding, or ally any fraud or make opportunity for the commission of any fraud on the United States.”
Definition: DUTY [1913 Webster] 7. (Com.) Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of money required by government to be paid on the importation, exportation, or consumption of goods.
P. Aaron commented:
For exempting Blue Cross & Blue Shield from onerous federal taxes, Michigan’s Senator Carl Levin got a $48,000 campaign contribution from those same; non-profit Blues.
Ginger commented:
One big difference that is happening with this bill and the payoffs! This bill was hidden from every one as to what is in it. Would you not call that CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD? Every thing done behind closed doors.
They keep trying to blame the republicans of doing the same thing…… EXCUSE ME but I have not heard of the blatant way this bill was hidden. Big, big difference to me!First Fox kept the camera on Reids door and no republican was allowed. Then Fox was not allowed to put the camera on the door to show who was going in and out. Then Barry was having meeting with just demo rats! You decide!
shibumi commented:
Come on. If you spent all that time with Harry R. and got a bribe, you’d want to keep it too, wouldn’t you?
Can we just throw them all out and repopulate the Congress with random people from the phone book?
Ginger commented:
Do not fear evil.
Recognize it.
Confront it.
Defeat it.
Hedgehog commented:
This abomination is unconstitutional on so many levels that it is difficult to know where to start. That they would even consider it speaks volumns about their utter disregard of the Constitution and the rule of law. I read somewhere today that Reid inserted language that basically makes the Death Panels not subject to repeal. Why would Congress consider it neccessary to inser such language in a bill, and to essentially surrender any legislative remedy to an act. This is intolerable. They are essentially writing the Legislative Branch out of existence. They must have forgotten that the acts of Parliament which led to the Revolution were called The Intolerable Acts. Maybe they are just pushing to see what it will take to bring on a revolution. In any case, they are completely ignoring the Constitution, and what ever comes out of this mess should not be viewed as having the force of law. What they are doing is a violation of the law of the land and should be regarded as such. In the lexicon of totaliarianism, the sweetheart deals used to secure the neccessary votes are nothing more than “dispensations”, which are transitory in nature. The Senators who fell for this are fools (useful idiots) who have done a great disservice to the country, and who are complicit in this unconstitutional effront.
JonahVark commented:
I feel like a voice crying in the desert.
I attempted to send a message to several congressmen stating my concern that that the entire process of the health care bill violates the Constitution but some of them will not accept email unless they are from constituents ( Stupak was one). I’m asking concerned citizens to forward my letter to their Congressmen. Or write and send your own letter expressing similar sentiments.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?action=myreps&myzip=30004&submit=GO
Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am a 63 year old pro life Grandma. I don’t know much about politics but every fifth grader knows that the U.S. Constitution requires a separation of powers through the three branches of government, the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial.
I have seen videos and read articles that time and time again reveal that the current President has had undue influence on the process of the health care bill. It is extremely disturbing to me, that the PRESIDENT’S STAFF is involved in writing a Senate bill but Republican Senators are locked out. I don’t understand why the White House is allowed to manipulate the writing of a bill or to exert pressure on any Congressman to vote in favor of a bill. Isn’t this a violation of the Constitution? Would it be appropriate for a Supreme Court Justice sat in on the writing of a bill or pressured you to sign onto passing the bill? Of course not!
Then the present administration should never have been allowed to influence the health care bill. This may have occurred in past administrations but for the sake of righteousness it must stop NOW! I’m not a Constitutional lawyer but the entire process of this bill appears to be unconstitutional and should be thrown out.
Is there a Congressman or woman who has the courage to appeal to the Supreme Court to stop this legislation NOW before it progresses into mayhem and revolution?
Mad as Hell Granny
From Missouri,
The SHOW ME State
RubyTuesday commented:
Granny~
They’re counting on wearing us out and forcing us to throw in the towel. That’s the day America dies.
bigkahuna9 commented:
I would like to see billboards go up all over the country and especially in liberal districts saying..
Senate to America…Screw you America.. We will bribe who we want !!!!! We know whats best
Bobbi commented:
Maybe all the illegal aliens will move to Nebraska
Ruth commented:
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) brought the following to the senate floor:
Senate Rule #44 requires bill sponsors to publically disclose earmarks. Therefore, Sen. Reid should provide a list of the earmarks and who requested each one. Unfortunately, Sen. Reid has so far refused to do so.
We need great Americans from states with Democrat senators to FLOOD their phones and offices telling them to vote NO. This bill needs to be transparent, of both parties, and good for America and right now it is not.
Jim commented:
Hopefully this will make it easier to strike this farce down when the legal challenges begin.
bg commented:
++
Both Sides Now: Obama-Pelosi-ReidCare’s Unconstitutional! (Updated)
[Update: Erick Erickson at RedState.com informs that, at 3pm Eastern, “Senators Ensign and DeMint will force the Senate to vote on the constitutionality of the individual mandate in the health care bill. Along
the way, Senator DeMint just pulled another trick out of his hat.”
They are “going to ask the Senate to suspend its rules and consider another amendment to the health care bill,” which will require “a two-thirds vote of the Senate to consider. … The amendment would not apply to the health care bill, but would apply to all future legislation and would prohibit bribing Senators with earmarks in exchange for votes.”]
==
bg commented:
++
bg @ 1:40 pm #25
re: [The amendment would not apply to the health care bill, but would apply to all future legislation and would prohibit bribing Senators with earmarks in exchange for votes.]
I CRY; CLOSING THE BARN DOOR
AFTER THE HORSE GOT OUT BS!!
they need to do something NOW..
they always say they WILL DO something,
but they NEVER mange to DO IT, gah!!
==
bg commented:
++
re: [3. Massachusetts will receive a 0.5% FMAP increase for three years for the entire program, thus receiving an additional $500 million over ten years.]
Kerry: Health Care Reform Means Millions For Bay State
[Sen. John Kerry said he's tired of Republican criticism of the bill. He told NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu that Massachusetts will get an extra half of a billion dollars out of the deal.
[..]
Kerry dismissed charges that Massachusetts, the first state to implement universal health care in 2006, would be penalized. In fact, he said, the state’s reforms will be protected, benefits enhanced.
Federal subsidies will be extended to people and families up to 400 percent of the poverty level. Currently, it’s only 300 percent. New tax credits will be given to small businesses with less than 25 employees and provide health insurance. But the biggest news is that Massachusetts will get an extra $500 million over three years.]
REFORM CONGRESS IT’S CHEAPER & MUCH HEALTHIER FOR US!!
==
bg commented:
++
mystery solved..
sarc on/
NOW I KNOW WHERE MONEY TREES GROW!!
/sarc off
==
mike191 commented:
From president44 on this health care legislation :Every single criteria for reform I put forward is in this bill.” I guess that bribes,corruption,earmarks,special amendments,Presidents staff writes bill while Republicans are excused,sweetheartdeals and lack of transparentness are the new rubrics of reform from the Chicago way via Obama.
bg commented:
++
mark my words, that bill passes (and it will because it’s been a ruse on
US from the get go), par their course.. there will be no stopping them..
WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER OF ISLAMARXISM..
heck, we’re practically there now, as we
obviously don’t have a CONSTITUTION..
==
Chisum commented:
Health Care Stalled, Obama Looks To Pump Numbers, Twist Arms
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2009/12/health-care-stalled-obama-looks-to-pump-numbers-twist-arms.html
Elly commented:
Where do they think this money is going to come from??? Do they not have children, grandchildren? Do none of them know a single middle class family that is going to have to bear the brunt of this currupt business deal they call “compromise”?
I really truly do not understand – AT ALL – how these imbeciles think this could possibly be a good idea. It defies all logic.
This payoff money was not lying around put away in someone’s rainy-day ceramic pig. Has ONE of these senators offered an explanation on where their bribery money is coming from?? The answer is NO.
It was a poor attempt to reconcile their conscience over voting for a bad bill they know darn good and well, will be bad for too many people. And all these senators who have hopped the pie in the sky gravy train were duped – by a “Feel better about yourself now so you can forget how sorry you’re going to be later” LIE from Obama.
Randy commented:
“Changes for Hawaii: The Manager’s Amendment singles out Hawaii as the only state to receive a Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) extension.”
Maybe they got this because they are a party to the hiding of Obama’s true birthplace.
Sojourner commented:
bg.. inordinately hopefully?
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/12/an_intriguing_long_shot_could.asp
bg commented:
++
Sojourner @ 4:41 pm #35
re: [inordinately hopefully? ]
translation:
not a snowballs chance in hell, but miracle’s still happen??
newsflash.. MA is bought & paid for by the
powers that be, namely *Kennedy & Kerry..
*yes, he may be dead, but his money lives..
==
bg commented:
++
Chisum @ 3:11 pm #32
if i’m counting correctly, the HC bill has
passed 3x in just about as many days..
and believe tomorrow is a final vote..
==
Sojourner commented:
Inordinately hopefully??: a ‘bridge too far’ I know… looking for anything to hang onto and coming up with zilch.. this entire DemCare debacle wreaks and I abhor it.