This Just In... Reid: Bill Will Have A Public Option -- States Can Opt Out

Greg Hengler
Blogger, Townhall.com

Reid cedes that the public option is "not a silver bullet." Wow, what inspired this unusual dose of Reidster humility?

Tags: Health Care

Breaking on TOWNHALL

Join the Debate

54 Comments So Far

Anton Chigur Wrote: Oct 28, 2009 9:38 AM

my thought as well .Lets just say no ,even if it passes borrow a page from the lefties and take the streets .

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

SJA Wrote: Oct 28, 2009 9:15 AM

Answer - Control

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

Anton Chigur Wrote: Oct 28, 2009 9:00 AM

Why are the dems deadset on passing a public option the majority of the public does not want ?

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

Careful with that axe, Eugene Wrote: Oct 28, 2009 6:55 AM

"If you want an example of Insurance companies having to compete with Govt. Look at Florida for an example;

The State has been providing a 'public option' for homeowners insurance. They basically have a 39 billion dollar unfunded mandate. The premium prices are far too low and when the next Hurricane hits, the state will go deep in the red.

In the meanwhile, all the private companies couldn't compete with the low price. They actually use mathematical formulas to evaluate risk/reward to set premiums. So, given the choice of setting prices at bankrupting rates to compete, or leaving the state, they all left..."

Me- Wow, totally good way of distorting the facts.

Scept had it right. The problem in Florida is...

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

Careful with that axe, Eugene Wrote: Oct 28, 2009 6:49 AM

Congress robs $5 B from the USPS coffers to give the Union and you think its okay for the middle class of america to make up the $2 billion per year?

My Postman is the laziest person I know right now. He has had 50-70 days off this year (lost track its been so many). Guess if I want to have all the days off I want with benefits I should deliver mail...

But glad to see you're all for pay based on seniority and not performance. Brought to you by the Unions of America.

Me- Oh my Gosh, you mean he gets decent vacation time and decent pay? The horror, the horror!

Please, I've worked in the private sector. Last job, I got edged out not because of performance, but because the girl they hired had a daddy who was...

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

sceptyczny Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 8:11 PM

nice folks, you 'conservatives'. LOL.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

NOTW Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 7:55 PM

The prices reflect the reality. AGAIN, what part of $39 BILLION of exposure the state of Florida has do you understand? Thats on top of being responsible for the publice infrastructure. So either they are really stupid and cannot run a business in Florida, or they are just hoping there wont be another hurricane...Good luck with that one. If you let the market dictate this, at some point people will buy smaller homes that had the $$ put into better structure to withstand the issue. Same goes for California Sceptic. I design structures for a living...

And the reality of healthcare in this country is very few take good care of themselves. And then they expect to have it all covered by great insurance. 70% of what ails people is a...

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

sceptyczny Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 5:59 PM

compete with, it is the fact that they have to insure high risks.

same thing in CA for earthquakes or fire...the premiums are much higher than for regular homeowner's insurance.

but someone has to take the risk, no? have you looked at the profits and exec pay of those 'poor' private carriers who 'can't compete'? It isn't a 'can't compete', it is a 'don't want to compete.' very big difference.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

NOTW Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 5:55 PM

If you want an example of Insurance companies having to compete with Govt. Look at Florida for an example;

The State has been providing a 'public option' for homeowners insurance. They basically have a 39 billion dollar unfunded mandate. The premium prices are far too low and when the next Hurricane hits, the state will go deep in the red.

In the meanwhile, all the private companies couldn't compete with the low price. They actually use mathematical formulas to evaluate risk/reward to set premiums. So, given the choice of setting prices at bankrupting rates to compete, or leaving the state, they all left...

btw, AIG also painted itself into a corner of bankruptcy by not following risk/rewards standards. Insurance...

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

NOTW Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 5:46 PM

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

The Plumber Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 10:15 AM

Will states be able to opt out of the tax increases as well?

If so, watch the producers move to free states, and the parasites move to nanny states. How delicious!

And for you idiots out there, here's what the Tenth Amendment says,

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Unless Congress demands an Amendment to the Constitution, Federal intrusion into healthcare is unConstitutional. Enumeration is a wonderful thing.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

SJA Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 9:38 AM

Don't you love it when those like Septic make fun of the Tea Party attenders. The best thing that could happen with California would be if the government sent a nice check and six months notice giving all the sane people a chance to leave. Then give Chavez a call and let him know that he can have this nice state will lots of people who will follow him willingly.

There would be a little problem though. I doubt that the new 3 minute shower rule would work well there. 3 minutes would certainly not be enough to wash off the stench from those like septic.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

pam in pa Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 9:19 AM

If only 500 People showed up for the teaparty in LA --It's probably because in the land of Hollywood (the city of fruits and nuts) there are only 500 SANE people left there.
The Liberals have been running the beautiful state of Calfornia into the ground for years with all of the regulations and taxes out the ying-yang. Pathetic! They are getting what they voted for (including movie star Arnie).

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

Careful with that axe, Eugene Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 7:24 AM

For all you guys whining about how the evil "Public Option" will have an unfair advantage over private insurance because it'll have a government subsidy.

The problem is, the private insurance industry ALREADY has a MASSIVE government subsidy. 220 BILLION in tax credits. That's what the government gives them back by exempting insurance premiums paid by individuals and businesses from income tax. If that WERE taxed as income, it would pay for the 1 trillion dollars over 10 years twice over.

Not to mention the billions of dollars in subsidies paid to the insurance companies through Medicare Advantage. Or the billions poured into private insurance companies by federal and state government plans.

So, please, I find...

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

Careful with that axe, Eugene Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 6:07 AM

Axeman
In order for your logic to work, the public option would have to be a quasi-private company with a budget. Otherwise its an open ended funding that will eventually destroy the viability of the private sector. This has been discussed many times here already.

Me- Once again, please point out a situation where a government entity has put private equivlents completely out of business. Put up or shut up..

NOTW - And that is no gaurantee. Congress cannot leave Fannie and Freddie alone. And I explained to you the other day why the USPS is losing billions. Princess P and Mrs Reid made them transfer all those funds into Union Reserves. Now "we the people" are making up the huge losses. Isn't wealth...

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

NOTW Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 1:36 AM

Look at Spain. 6 years ahead with the same agenda.

Argentina is about to spiral down again also. They have the same anti-recipe of the left going on.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

tribeck Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 1:28 AM

Is it true that the proposed bill will NOT cover all americans? I thought the point was to spend 1 trillion so that ALL americans can be covered? I suppose the democrats are now realizing they can't sell that lie like they did the 875 billion bail out i.e. it was supposed to halt unemployment at 8% - oops!

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

NOTW Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 1:19 AM

We are losing that place in the world also. Seems like beltway libs dont care? Munck?

Brasil figured out how to turn vast plains of silty sand into productive breadbasket for China. They will become the breadbasket for China. And will reap the surplus. We're just in bed with China and seem to think they are picking up the bar bill.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

NOTW Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 1:06 AM

Elaborate on what a lib foodie eats? Curious about the diet and how wholesome and true to nature it is. Is it according to design?

Is it a regional/geographic lack that you don't eat from the list? A narcissistic issue to snub them then? Do you only eat fruit in the winter? (assuming you eat any.)

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

DIAMOND Z Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 12:39 AM

and money like bails of hay was loaded into john kerrys swift boat that was tied up at the pier,harry yelled cast out all lines and they took off across the bay.the demo-rat pirates of our time!lol.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

Riders on the Storm Wrote: Oct 27, 2009 12:13 AM

"What good is opting out if the states constituents will still be taxed for this boondoggle."

Nothing new about that. Add government run health care to the list of services that many of us are forced to pay for, but don't benefit from: public schools, welfare, social security disability, the national endowment for the "arts," Amtrak, food stamps, FEMA, etc.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

homer noble Wrote: Oct 26, 2009 11:50 PM

"Those big square states produce the food you eat."

No they don't. ~Munck the expert.

Four of the top 7 are generally square in shape and the leftist environmental wackos are working to shut down most of California.

Top 20 agriculture producing states by total receipts. The top 10 in the list produce over one half of the total agriculture production in the U.S. 2004

1. California 31,835,183 13.20%
2. Texas 16,498,398 6.84%
3. Iowa 14,652,946 6.07%
4. Nebraska 11,779,728 4.88%
5. Minnesota 9,794,912 4.06%
6. Illinois 9,708,304 4.02%
7. Kansas 9,502,727 3.94%
8. North Carolina 8,210,497 3.40%
9. Wisconsin 6,864,150 2.85%
10....

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

cottoneyed Wrote: Oct 26, 2009 11:13 PM

act as if he's important, a majority player. When in fact he's a nothing but a fringe player. A "twenty percenter"! Who's ideas are at such variance with an overwhelming majority of Americans, that his only recourse is to use the term, "asshats" as if it's a pronoun. Vocabulary challenged, this "twenty percenter", has "asshats" under his bed, in his morning cheerios, and when he picks his nose, which is often. Lunch, after all, is only a couple hours away! Our boy's "spontaneous" because he's not bright enough to formulate a plan. It's all, "asshats" and more "asshats", for this twenty percenter. Nothin' but a fringe player, that longs to be one of the boys, one of obama's boys! Ambitious, no doubt.

Permalink

Flag as Offensive

Post Comment

B2slim Wrote: Oct 26, 2009 10:47 PM

snakes obama pelosi reid, dem congress and senate sitting around the money pot dividing it up between themselves as they laugh their heads off at the cruel hoax they scammed on the legal good and decent middle class and senior citizens of the USA!

They need to be prosecuted and thrown into jail.

GET this, and then pass it on and on and on:

US Healthcare System Wastes $800 Billion A Year !

http://247wallst.com/2009/10/26/us-healthcare-system-wastes -800-billion-a-year/

THE Administration may not need to push a healthcare reform bill though Congress. It might be better off...

Allahpundit	Quotes of the day
J.E. Dyer	Contraception mandate: MSM stuck in “narrative capture”?
Tina Korbe	Sarah Palin at CPAC: The door is open …
Tina Korbe	Sheriff Paul Babeau: Fast and Furious scandal is far from over
Ed Morrissey	Breaking: Romney wins CPAC straw poll
Patrick Ishmael	Hot Air Survey: CPAC Edition

Townhall The Tipsheet Greg Hengler

This Just In... Reid: Bill Will Have A Public Option -- States Can Opt Out

Sign-Up to receive Updates from TH

Breaking on TOWNHALL

Video