TPM's Christina Bellantoni Goes on MSNBC to Discuss Passage of the House Health Care Reform Bill

[frostwolf1]

The public option was meant to bring competition to insurance companies, but with the restrictions set in the house bill, it's become more of a "dumping-ground" for high-risk individuals that would hurt profits.

Much of the bill's provisions are subtle handouts to the very insurance companies strangling our system.

This bill got watered down and butchered so much that it no longer accomplishes what it was meant to. I've lost interest and could care less where the legislation goes from here.

[1samothrace77]

cao(R) of new orleans voted for the bill in the house

[10thAngel]

wts msnbc, people are in FAVOR not against.

[asphyxiafeeling]

people are in favor of a Public Option, but only 45% of people are in favor of the current plan, (according to CNN, which probably polled a few thousand folks).

[10thAngel]

Aah that, what it was about.

[StoryBalloon]

This lady's head is WAY to wide. She's like a living bobble head with double chins.

[Mernie9]

Objective reporting. Well, I'll be darn!

[martinaoe2]

This will in time add to the distruction of the dollar.

[1samothrace77]

please explain how this occurs.

[martinaoe2]

Printing money for bailouts/war/social programs devalues the money. Once Govs abroad holding the dollars wake up and realise that the USA gov is devaluing their money that they are holding. More money in circ = less value of money. It will take time to adjust to the real level. But once they drop the dollar and the public/investers here and abroad dont trust it anymore it will plumet downwards over night. Dont underestimate fear. Buy gold my american friend, mark my words. Look how much it gaind

[10thAngel]

Thanks the existence of Federal Reserve for that.

[martinaoe2]

Yepp, It is actual fraud under the guise of government. Fractional reserve banking is even fundamentally fraud but still we let it happen.

[strawman007]

YaY!!!!! They have managed to criminalize health care!! Whats next?

[wmg111]

Hopefully stupidity.

[iwillspyonyou]

Those socialist dems are on the wrong side of history. Time to vote those traitors out.

[RodgersRevolution]

Won't happen. You Bushies have lost again. Get used to it.

[PersonalJesus348]

Lets give CA single payer then!

[nycityzen]

The path to Single-payer for all Americans is Single-payer for all states, one state at a time. Much like what Romney did in Massachusetts, only where he used the private insurance industry, states will use a single-payer model.

The current health reform bill is no victory for either the left or the right. I think all Americans should oppose this bill. Real progress will never be handed down from up high. It will happen the way it always happens--from the bottom up.

[nycityzen]

The public option in the House is not robust. It only allows between 6-11 million Americans to choose the plan. These are probably going to be lower income groups that have greater medical needs and thus drive up premiums. The rationale for the public option is that it will succeed so well that more and more Americans will demand it. However, Congress is designing it so that it can't succeed and thus never challenge the private insurance industry.

[RodgersRevolution]

How do you know what low income health needs are?

[nycityzen]

It's no secret that there's considerable evidence that shows low socio-economic status is linked to things like diabetes, obesity, shorter life expectancies and increased mortality.

[RodgersRevolution]

Wow thats new. Fat rich people are excluded because they can afford health care? That goes to show you the bias. Maybe if poor people could get health care they would be rich? I have known a lot of poor people. I think the median is anyone that makes under 35 thousand a year is poor. I do not see these "statistical" illnesses. Nor do I think the hospitals would get jammed up because of health insurance for people who need.

[nycityzen]

You can go to the WHO website and look up data and stats. You can also use google and find a number studies. I'd trust peer-reviewed data over what any individual's impressions are based on some people he/she knows in a limited demographic. The rest of your post is non sequitur, so i wont comment.

[RodgersRevolution]

There you go throwing around big words at the simple minded. Ok. LOL. Take care

[nycityzen]

I hate this kind of reporting. Focusing entirely on political process and through the lens of the left/right divide. Never on actual policy that means something to every American.

[jamesmaseobrown]

As a hard core liberal, I'm telling you this bill is no good as it satnds !!!

It's not robust and is an absolute give away to the insurance industry. The Obama administation revised it and limited the public option access to a very feww.

[Waranle]

She has a nice smile.

[junkforkaryn]

no amount of stunts or gimmicks will save the republitards. they are wrong, have been wrong, and always will be wrong for the american people.

[Richardgwm]

The Republican party is dead.

It was a suicide.