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New Healthcare Bill Released
Posted by Randy | October 30, 2009


This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the new version of the healthcare bill. It will take some time to read the 1,990 page bill and even then it will be difficult to sort out and understand all the ramifications of so many different pieces of legislation included in such a large bill.  Since the bill was written behind closed doors by a handful of people and the proposals in the bill never debated, this bill and its parts clearly are constructed to bring a certain outcome – the government control of our healthcare.

While there are some worthwhile ideas in the new bill, it still cuts billions from Medicare, is paid for by over $700 billion in tax increases, gives bureaucrats the authority to restrict healthcare services, provides free healthcare to illegal aliens, mandates the purchase of health insurance with tax fines for failure to buy, and creates a government-takeover of healthcare that will drive private insurance out of business. And it comes at a cost of about $1,055 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office report.

Essentially, this is just a longer version of the same bill that was introduced earlier this year - the same bill that millions of Americans made clear in town halls across the county was not acceptable to them.

Americans deserve our best ideas and solutions – not an expansion of a bad bill they've already rejected. An undertaking of something as massive as healthcare reform should be done in small pieces, so we can take our time to make sure we get it right. You can read some of my solutions:

The text of the new healthcare bill, H.R. 3962 is available here.
Comments
The opinions expressed below are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent those of this office.
  • Beth Allman commented on 11/2/2009
    I think most of Americans agree with your outline concerning health care reform. I think the GOP needs to put together a bill, then SKIP bringing the bill to the floor and take it directly to the American people. Get on every TV show with the bill in hand and make it known what your plan is. Get out there with force and show in detail your ideas. There are millions of us waiting for some in Congress to get off their tail and start fighting back. Thanks
  • Michael Kristensen commented on 11/3/2009
    Wow, only $1,055 billion. I pray that this thing does not pass somehow.
  • Larry Coleman commented on 11/4/2009
    Michael, you nailed it. I think it is a trillion dollars. That is like as much as we spent on the Iraq War. What a waste of money when politicians vote to throw away money like that on a country that had no nuclear potential, was not involved in 9/11, had not radical empowered Islamic fundamentalist group, and did nothing to make us safer. Wonder how politicians vote for such waste.
  • Allen LITTLE commented on 11/4/2009
    I'M CLOSE TO THE TIME I MAY BE ABLE TO RETIRE AND THE COST OF MY PERSONAL HEALTH INS. IS A MAJOR HINDERANCE. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME HELP WITH THE COST FOR US YOUNGER (55 TO 65) SENIORS THAT HAVE PAID INTO THE SYSTEM FOR FORTY PLUS YEARS AND ALL WE ASK FOR IS A LITTLE HELP WITH HEALTH INS. COST SO WE CAN AFFORD TO RETIRE A FEW YEARS PRIOR TO 65. THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS FLAWED NO DOUBT BUT NOT BEYOND REPAIR. THANKS FOR STANDING UP TO THOSE WHO WANT THE GOV. TO RUN THE SYSTEM, THEIR TRACK RECORD DOES NOT WARRENT ALLOWING THIS. BUT IT DOES NEED FIXING. PLEASE KEEP AFTER THEM, WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU !!!
  • Tammy Steinert commented on 11/4/2009
    Many Americans DO want a public option. Most Americans are tired of insurance companies tripling their rates, denying coverage when they need it, the insurance companies have gotten ridiculous, denying coverage for babies because they are too fat or too thin. Yet these same insurance companies have billions to fight this bill, maybe that is where our $$ is going. Insurance companies goal is to make $$, not to make people healthy. I dont understand Congressman Forbes comments that this bill provides free healthcare to illegal aliens, but when I read the bill Sec. 347 states that no federal payment for undocumented aliens. Also, I can not find where it says that you are forced to participate ‘‘(h) CONSTRUCTION.— ‘‘(1) COVERAGE.—Nothing in this section shall be construed— ‘‘(A) to permit the Center or Commission to mandate coverage, reimbursement, or other policies for any public or private payer;" I think as do the majority of Americans a public option is desperately needed. Fed Ex and UPS have no trouble competing profitably with the US Post Office. So why should the Insurance Companies not be able to compete? I think the money saved from uninsured having to wait until they are desperately ill to go to the ER will be tremendous (who do you think pays for their treatment now? - us through outrageous hospital bills) Where was all the concern when our hard earned money was being spent bailing out wallstreet executives getting hundreds of thousand dollars in bonuses, why is it ok for them to get our $$$$ but not for it to help the people who REALLY need it?
  • barbara Bullington commented on 11/4/2009
    I BELIEVE THAT SOMEWAY SOMTHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS SHOULD HAVE TO BE RADIFIDED BY A 2/3 MAJORITY OF ALL THE PEOPLE. WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE TOLD WHAT CARE WE CAN HAVE AND ARE FINED FOR NOT TAKING THE GOV. INSURANCE, WE ARE BECOMING A DICTATOR GOVERNMENT NOT A FREE PEOPLE. PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN TO SEE IT IS DEFEATED.
  • William King commented on 11/4/2009
    Randy, Please vote NO on this health bill that is will destroy a very good health care system and bankrupt our economy. Patriotic American citizens DO NOT want it. This legislation will take away from retired veterans our tri-care for life supplementary medical insurance which is currently authorized by public law. Tri-care for life and medicare provide retires the health coverage they were promised by the government when they entered military service. Please do everything you can to stop this. Congress works for the American public not the other way around. This legislation violates the U.S. Constitution. It cannot charge someone for not buying health insurance. Freedom from tyranny is what I served 30 years in the U.S. Navy to protect. Tell Pelosi to go fry ice!
  • John Pigg commented on 11/4/2009
    Thank you Mr. Forbes for standing up for the senion citizens, and wanting to defeat the health care bill. We have to much government in our lives now. We sure don't need them in the health care business. We all have to remember that election day will be coming soon, and guess what things will be done, just like was done in Va. and NJ yesterday. Just remember yall work for us and we want forget. Thanks you again Mr. Forbes.
  • Charles Garrett commented on 11/5/2009
    Obama lies!!!!!! He said he wanted to do this to help the less fortunate but he stole everything we have, all our retirement fund is gone and he destroyed over 10 million jobs and still more are being destroyed. I have been unemployed for over a year. He made it so we don't even qualify for unemployment benefits by demanding we have three recorded contacts with prospective employers that don't even exist any more because Obama has destroyed those job opportunities. Obama's health care will have so many restrictions we will have to meet in order to qualify we will be left to die. I have no way to provide for my family's basic needs much less their health care. Obama is creating the problem by making us all less fortunate and unable to care for our own families then he steals the health care system to prevent any of us from being able to qualify for health care in his Communist system. IMPEACH OBAMA NOW and his Communist Congress. Obama is worse than a traitor because he wasn't even a natural born American citizen, he should have never been allowed to run fort office and now he has destroyed America. I don't want Obama's health care system. I want 100 fold restoration of everything Obama has stolen from me and my family. I want Obama and all his NWO trators to be put in the same FEMA Concentration Camps and executed by beheading on the same guillotines they created with our tax dollars to execute American citizens with. I want Obama's Patriot Act to be abolished and his Real ID Act to be abolished.
  • Donna Wike commented on 11/5/2009
    They took over the banks, then the auto industry - all unconstitutional, and so will it be if they take over our health care and our energy system. We've GOT to stop them before we become a Socialist nation! They should enforce the laws against illegal immigrants and create a Tort Control Bill to stop stupid law suits against doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Those things alone will drive health care costs down. And, the only reason those "bills" are 1,500 + pages is because of all the PORK they embed in them. I can read and understand the Constitution of the United States. It's plain and simple. So should bills be written.
  • Warren Spradlin commented on 11/5/2009
    It looks like to me that congress is encapable of putting together a health bill that will take care of the needs of the people. If congress in general and higher up, oppted out of the healthcare bill, because it just wasn't good enough for them and their families,why do they think its good enough for the American Public. There is not one president where socialized health care works. Why do we want to follow a plan that does not come close to taken care of the people. Why do we need now for the government to step in when our constitution says "WE THE PEOPLE" not we the government. I believe that congress is going to get a real wake up call in the next election, those that are paying attention to the people will get the message then. We don't need the government telling us what they feel is best for us, they don't know because they don't listen to the voice of the people. They are to busy letting someone higher up dictate to them how they are to vote. I really appreciate how you listen to the people.
  • Nancy Way commented on 11/5/2009
    I retired in 2004 - went back to work in 2005....why? Health insurance cost $571.71 per month.....It didn't take long to eat up my retirement (401K) account. So, even though I am not well I am still going to have to work every day. Several insurance companies told me straight, "I don't even want to quote you". What in the world are we seniors going to do? I still have two years before I can go on medicare - if there is such a thing then. Well, it's almost 7:00 pm (my bedtime) so I can have strengh enough for work tomorrow. GOD HELP US. I can really get mad when I think about the immigrants and lazy people who can get on medicaid.
  • Virginia Smelley commented on 11/7/2009
    I can not think of another time in my life where I felt such an uneasy feeling about my government. It is very dangerous to think that the government can take charge of something so important and think that NO ONE would be alarmed. Thank You Randy for keeping your citizens informed and all the hard work you have done on this and other important matters. I and my husband are retired and he has had a battle with cancer for the past two years, I do not want anyone except my husband and doctor making decisions about his health. May God continue to bless America.
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