Saturday, August 22, 2009
6 Senators - Who Together Only Represent 2.6 Percent of Americans - Are Deciding the Fate of Health Care
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich notes:
It's come down to these six senators. The House has reported a bill as has another Senate committee, but all eyes are fixed on Senate Finance -- and on these three Dems and three Republicans, in particular. But who, exactly, anointed these six to decide the fate of the nation's health care?
...
It's not even as if the gang represents America. The three Dems on the gang are from Montana, New Mexico, and North Dakota -- states that together account for just over 1 percent of Americans. The three Republicans are from Maine, Wyoming, and Iowa, which together account for 1.6 percent of the American population.
So, I repeat: Why has it come down to these six? Who anointed them? Apparently, the White House. At least that's what I'm repeatedly being told by sources both on the Hill and in the administration. "The Finance Committee is where the action is. They'll tee-up the final bill," says someone who should know.
3 comments:
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I'm very angry about this. I have an opportunity to work in Asia for a few years.. I don't think I'll ever return. How can the middle class survive all this?
ReplyDeleteFrom the news this morning apparently we should hire Walmart to negoiate our health care plan. They began offering today a mail order perscription drug plan for $10 each. Seems like a better deal than Obama got behind closed doors.The whole health care thing is a giant farce but it might be the thing that wakes the populace up to the fact we are getting screwed again.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, this is a structural problem of the Senate itself. The small state senators will always gain and keep power because they face less opposition at home and can stay longer and get seniority. That was the idea after all - that this undemocratic body would act as a conservative force to protect the wealthy from the masses. It's time to get rid of it.
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