Health Care Bill heads to President Obama's Desk

Health Care Bill Vote Passes 219-216 and No Republicans on Board. The historical health care bill passed the House of Representatives tonight. The bill is the same bill that the Senate passed on Christmas Eve. This is a disgrace. If this was such an important piece of legislation, then it should of had bi-partisan support. If however, everything the Democrats told us (about this bill) was a lie, then it should never have passed. We still really don't know much about this bill.

Here is what we do know:

The Senate Bill doesn’t indicate a public option, but is said to cost $940 billion over the next ten years. Yet Democrats say the bill will pay for itself. In fact they even say, the plan, (CBO projections) will cut budget deficits by more than $1 trillion in its second decade.

Really? How's that?

We Americans will now be required to have health insurance or pay a fine.

If they can't afford insurance now, how are they going to be able to afford insurance after this bill passes? If they can't afford insurance premiums, how will they be able to pay a fine, for being to poor to afford insurance?

"This is what change looks like," Obama said shortly after the votes. The passage of health care reform is "not a victory for any one party. ... It's a victory for the American people and it's a victory for common sense."
- CNN

It will subsidize insurance for a family of four making up to about $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

Medicaid will be significantly expanded, ensuring coverage to those earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or just over $29,000 for a family of four.

The bill hikes Medicare payroll taxes on families making more than $250,000.

Starting in 2013, it also imposes a 40 percent tax on insurance companies providing "Cadillac" health plans valued at more than $8,500 for individuals and $23,000 for families.

Look, I want America to have more affordable health care, but I just am not sure this bill was the answer. On the surface, this bill appears that it will do more to hurt the poor then to help them. That is not something, I cannot support. The downtrodden need a help up, not a fine from the government for being poor. As, I have said throughout this debate (and publicly over the weekend, in my previous post on this topic) there is just to many unanswered questions about this bill. Please, is there anyone that can make me feel good about this bill, that will soon be law? On the other hand, every critic, I have heard can afford insurance as it is, and sees no need for and kind of health-care reform. Those critics, need to have some compassion, and realize there is a whole other world outside their little tightly closed bubble.

Like most bills (like this one) passed by Congress the real answer to the problem, is somewhere between the two sides.

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