Comments on: House panel explores tragic clashes with private insurance bureaucracy

By: Keith Kuckler

Keith Kuckler — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:10:14 +0000

Hey, just follow the money. Baucus is a tool of the for profit/big pharma health care industry. He is the largest recipient of dollars from these guys in the senate, and, his key staffers all of have connections to the health/insurance/pharma complex. The MSM needs to expose this tool for what he is. Who ever said that prostitution was the oldest profession must have had him in mind. I have been a lifelong progressive democrat, but, if my party caves on health care, i am going to sit out the next election.

By: Eric Ferguson

Eric Ferguson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:34:05 +0000

The other committees got their bills done two months ago. Baucus is the reason there has been such a delay. Stephanie, you have a bizarre definition of “bold”. Mark, market reforms created the system we have. The problems were caused not by interfering with the market, but with letting it arrive at its natural result. For-profit companies couldn’t have come up with anything but what they did. They’ve had decades to fix the problems and prove me wrong, but instead and predictably, hey created the problems.

Whatever anyone’s ideological starting point, the undeniable fact is the health insurance industry has had decades to fix the problems, and have proven they won’t.

By: Mill

Mill — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:55:06 +0000

This panel should have been doing this work months ago. It seems bassakwards … first you draft a bill (Baucus) then you find out the need through hearings?!?

By: Tom Degan

Tom Degan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:53:17 +0000

I’m sure there will be some nice paying, cushy position for Baucus at some drug lobbying firm – Or the Republican National Committee – when he is defeated for reelection next time ’round, as surely he will be – as surely he must be.

People like Max Baucus define the reason I left that party almost a decade ago. They have forgotten that they are (or were) the party of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Pity.

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:15:07 +0000

So, a former PR rep of a major insurance company now employed by a progressive activist group is considered an expert on the mechanics of the health insurance and health care markets? Really? REALLY?

There are proposed market reforms (reducing state and federal pooling and benefit mandates that distort insurance product development and consumption, removing the prohibition of interstate insurance purchase, etc.) that don’t seem to be on the table, because a) the insurance industry wants to force everyone into the existing crummy system, b) Republicans are useless and clueless, and c) anything with the word “public” in it is like a shiny object to the dumber segments (well, the majority) of the Progressive Left.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:06:37 +0000

At least Baucus is taking the first steps in health care reform- even if that means he’s standing along on the podium. They’re may be an added tax and no public option, but at least its a start. Nothings final yet, but at least Baucus was bold enough to put something up for public discussion.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/on_an_island_for_health_care_reform

By: pudgmo

pudgmo — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:54:13 +0000

Stabbed in the Baucus
Thanks for nothing Max.