Alaska delegation divided on health reform
The Associated Press
FAIRBANKS – Alaska’s congressional delegation remains split along party lines on health care reform.
Because Democrats now lack the filibuster-proof 60 vote super majority in the Senate, they are seeking to pass the legislation with an up-or-down vote called “reconciliation,” which requires a simple majority.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said that would be a mistake.
“We should not utilize a parliamentary maneuver that would allow the Democratic leadership to circumvent the will of the American people,” Murkowski said in a statement. “While reconciliation is a process that has been used by both parties over the years, it has not been used for such a sweeping piece of legislation that comprises 17 percent of the nation’s economy.”
Democratic Sen. Mark Begich remains in favor of the action.
“Sen. Begich voted for and still supports the health reform bill that passed the Senate on Christmas Eve with a supermajority 60 votes,” spokeswoman Julie Hasquet told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
The White House has called for action on the broad health care legislation by March 18, a deadline unlikely to be met.
Supporters contend the legislation will extend health care coverage to millions and ban the insurance industry from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Critics say the plan will lead to higher taxes and premiums while increasing waiting periods to see health care providers.
Republican Rep. Don Young issued a statement saying the Obama administration is “force-feeding America” a bad bill.
“We should be starting with a clean slate and working in a bipartisan manner to implement commonsense reforms that expand access and lower health care costs,” Young said.
Young said he would like to see a model similar to used by Anchorage’s Southcentral Foundation, a Native health care organization that allows clients to e-mail doctors with questions and see nurses for routine matters.
Such a system would cut costs and improve accessibility, Young said.
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March 9th, 2010 at 10:59 am
The Obama Plan adds a middle-man mark up to provisioning of health care for the poor. If food stamps were issued through food stamp insurance that all were required to buy instead of directly from the government to the user it would simply add unneccesary taxpayer debt.
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March 9th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Call the Begich offices & let them know how you feel
Recall Mark Begich! at: http://www.recallbegich.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
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March 9th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
The hardest part about all of this “reform” is that no one is saying what IS in this bill. We hear all about what ISN’T (death panels, abortion, etc) and it has been confirmed by the CBO that premiums will actually increase at least initially. Obviously there is the mandate that the pre-existing conditions clauses be thrown out, but almost every state has an option for a pre-existing medical condition. As the legislators themselves say they cannot read the full 2000+ pages of the bill, how can the rest of us be expected to? If I knew what is actually being offered here, maybe I could get on board – unfortunately, the “just trust me” mantra makes me more worried instead of less.
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March 9th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
“Sen. Begich voted for and still supports the health reform bill that passed the Senate on Christmas Eve with a supermajority 60 votes,” spokeswoman Julie Hasquet told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
And the Honorable Senator Begich therefore doesn’t mind paying for it by rationing health care to seniors. And just who will decide how the grossly reduced Medicare benefits get doled out? You got it in one: Death Panels. Oh! We call them ‘End-Of-Life Consultations’ now. That sounds so much nicer than ‘Death’; it’s so much more PC for our liberal leftist socialist Senator Begich.
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March 9th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
The lesislators not only can’t read the bill they will not have to particpate in the end result. Furthermore the tax increases will start immediately with no benefit for us until 2014 if even then. Lastly Begich was elected to represent the citizens of Alaska by voting the party line he’s proved that he’s not worthy of office IE just another party hack.
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March 9th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
I think I will call Begich’s office and let him know how I feel. It’s good to see somebody has the backbone to stand up for Alaska. Thanks Mark.
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March 9th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Do not support the bill, free insurance for people who decide not to work is not fair.
Preexisting conditions cannot be covered by insurance companies upon demand of the person with the condition. What, How can you not buy insurance until ill then expect to be fully covered. That does not make sense.
There are so many problems and very few solutions that it should be defeated and if senators vote for it before it is understood and supported they will not receive my vote in the future.
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March 9th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Begich does not represent Alaska, he supports a position that even Massachusets voters voted against. He’s just a stooge for Pelosi and Reid.
Go ahead and contact his office, I did three times, for all the good that did.
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March 9th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Mark Begich will be the guest of honor here in Juneau on March 31 for the Juneau Democrats Jefferson Jackson Day dinner. Tickets are $100. Feel free to come and meet him and thank him for pushing health care forward.
I don’t expect the health care bill to be perfect, I just want to support anything that makes health care more affordable. Right now, it’s not affordable even with insurance.
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