Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) Delivers Weekly GOP Address On Health Care

[AtlasShruggery]

GOP: a perfect acronym for Republicans.

GOP = Guns Oil & Poverty

GOP = Give Osama a Pass

GOP = Gang of Peverts

[prettyhawkz]

I don't find what he did with the stimulas package, which was put into programs and bogas programs, helping our economy at all!!!

And, as far as this health care reform. It don't work for Europeans, what makes you think that the government has all the answers to our medical needs. They can't even fix the problems they have with social security, in which they borrowed from, medicare and medicaid, in which these programs are very important to some of the American people.

[prettyhawkz]

Obama should of used his thinking cap when it came to the stimulas package.  In order to make a economy grow and help with debt, he should of gave the United States people, and only the citizens, the stimulas money to spend into the economy. That would help tramendoulsly with the debt not to mention with small businesses to keep them above ground so the ship won't sink. And, we need to mention the people who work for these small businesses...this would help them keep their jobs!!

[avibard]

what a liar this guy is! Jon, can you tell us about MURDER BY SPREAD SHEET?

[mutantstrain]

John

I am soooooo bummed I came to your dumb state.

One could easily call AZ "the White trash capital of the world". And a senator just as equally mentally challenged ... or just plain corrupt ... Im not sure.

Yes, John Im sure *YOUR* healthcare insurance is fine.

Thats because I pay for it.

Its a desperate situation for many of us, John. Wake up.

[Davesthe1]

If Congress doesn't pass health insurance reform in 2009, costs will continue to skyrocket for every American and every business. Without reform, more Americans will lose their coverage, more businesses will close their doors, and rising costs will continue to explode our deficit. With Obama's plan no more rejection, high deductibles or insuring only parts of your body in the hospital and get to keep you provider. Kyle does not stand for the people. He likes his Insurance kickbacks to much.

[prettyhawkz]

Your comment is very delutional on just about everything you say about Obama and his new health care reform. 1.) high deductables for only certain parts of the body is very bogus and far from the truth. I don't know of any insurance company that will do this or make this legal. 2.) rising cost will continue? hmm, when Obama spends continuously and spend more over + borrow upon borrowing and making stimulas packages into programs that don't need the stimulas!?

[JSTDG88]

Very Good,and no more that the truth.

Gladys D. Fernandez

[trazman09]

Is this man insane? We Americans spend way more per capita for our health care system than other countries, yet we have huge numbers of people with inadequate health care. Senator Kyl, lets stop piddling around and shake things up! Are you working for the people or are you a puppet for those lobbyists that have been hanging around?

[JSTDG88]

I don;t think so, you are the insane; you do not know how socialize care works. Let me give you only one example: The people have to wait months to received care for just a simple test; when the date of the appointment arrives; probably you are already dead. If that is what you want for you and your family go ahead and tell Congressmen and Senators to vote Yes for Health Care Reform. We will see all iin Hell.

[trazman09]

JSTDG88: Do you expect people to take you seriously? Your comments are virtually incoherent.

[blacksteel25]

What is the Republican Health Care Plan? I haven't heard it yet.I'm hearing this and thinking, didn't republicans say the same damn thing about Medicare and Medicaid. Yet they wouldn't dare get rid of these two services in favor of something else. The one thing I do agree on and I'm sure a lot of people do is that Health Reform needs to be done. It's been ignored for way too long.

[tjfgermany58123]

Lets print socialist health care money with legal tender care printed in small print. Backed in flawed hope and taxes. Dye it red for those bleeding heart liberals who want world peace. We'll be overrun by illegal allien doctors coming from those crumy South American countries. Why in no time malaria will be wiped out and we'll need to learn spanish of course to communicate with the majority.----I don't believe that crap i just wrote. I thought it be fun to be a Rush or Glenn Beck

[theiamania]

Republicans you had your chance and you did NOTHING!! So shut up

[djm9063]

theiamania you're an idiot...plan and simple....

[theiamania]

lol

[ottumwanurse]

Obama's polls numbers are dropping. He's at a -6 this week. All but the most hardcore Obama zombies are finally seeing BO for what he is. He's failing zombies, get used to your master falling flat on his face.

[nailerfx]

Kyle = TOOL

All Congress = Tool

All lying Scumbags

[btownhotties]

Stop fake tanning.  Once a government plan goes through you know you're fucked, right? Because it will work fantastically. 100% guaranteed and that's why you are fighting so hard against it.

[AAL]

Let poor people die sick and suffering. It's what Jesus would want.

The Republicans have become the party of torture, debt, greed and sexual indiscretion. If they don't have a candidate for 2012 I won't be surprised.

[BigChiefLtd]

To AAL: Torture? Hmmm... let's see... waterboarding those who were part of the attack on America on 9/11? I think innocent citizens dying aboard planes flown into buildings is torture too. I think a peeon burning to death when a plane hit's their building is torture too. Jouralists being beheaded by an Islamic extremist is torture too. As for debt? Obama has spent more in his 1st 6months than all Pres. before him combined. Sexual indiscretion? U mean like Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Ted Kennedy?

[Wildkkat1]

Just look at everything the gov. touches, it is a disaster. Why should health-care be different. Do not let the gov. do this it will be another form of control, that is what liberals want. To control you!

[findelkind666]

I was born in Texas and now live in Germany.Here we have socialized medicine and I have never seen a problem with it. I pay half(about14% of pay check) and my empoyee pays the other half.If you are sick you go to the doctor and on a busy day might wait an hour.The doctor decided if you are able to work and if your not he writes you sick and you are payed for that period of time in full..That goés for everyone.WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT THAT?SOCIALISM IS NOT A BAD WORD.Equal treatment

[Weleski]

Exactly. The right-wing gets worked up about UHC, but the reality of UHC is much different than the scare tactics that Republican leaders constantly throw around.

The truth is, the Republican Party is the party of big business and they support our current for-profit system because it is good for their *real* constituents, e.g., the healthcare industry.

[Joe402]

we believe in teh free market we also have down's syndrome hurrrrrrrrr

[srilan07]

you dont need to be a rocket scientist to figure the whole issue we're trying to discuss here.. is it because you don't care if you're going to pay for other people's health care without them having to work and benefit from your hard earned money? come on, wake up man! come to your senses! do you really like the government to tax health care and pay for those people's health care that doesn't have jobs?? you must be a martyr..

[Weleski]

That's how it should be. I would gladly give up a larger portion of my paycheck in exchange for UHC.

And guess what, I also give money to homeless people. GASP! The Republican Party (the self-proclaimed party of Christians) has adopted a selfish and destructive mindset, i.e. "Forget about the homeless, uninsured, sick, hungry, and mentally unstable...just keep your hands off of MY money!"

They claim that the these issues can be solved without government involvement, but take a look around,

[quizerry]

Worst is this plan does not address the reasons for high cost and does nothing to reform regulations, mismanagement, fraud,overpayments. The entitlement programs we have now are estimated to be $80 trillion in the hole in the decades to come. Wouldn't it make sense to solve these bankrupt problems before we pile on new ones.

[Weleski]

[continuation of last post]

...we are *still* a nation full of homeless, uninsured (40+ million), sick, hungry, and mentally unstable. The idea that personal charity will solve these issues has already failed. It's a noble idea, but an absolute failure. These large, systemic issues require a unified approach. UHC *is* that unified approach.

Unfortunately, the Republican leaders will whip their gullible followers into a frenzy over the issue, and the healthcare industry will win.  Again.

[quizerry]

The figure is 47 Million of that 10 M are not U.S. Citizens, approx 15 M choose not to buy Insurance and 11 m are elgible for SCHIP or medicade and have not signed up for it. That leaves approx 10 to 15 M. Over 250 M are satisfied with the insurance they have. So does it make sense to spend 1.6 trillion on 15% of the population? Especially when we know Medicare waste billions every year and is going broke yet this plan is an expandtion of a medicare plan.

[ulstermandc]

We are already paying for the uninsured in higher premiums and emergency room costs. The debate is over how to do it more efficiently. Reform is needed in Medicaid and Medicare too.

[djm9063]

Weleski if you don't like the get the hell out of this country!!!! GO TO CANADA..GET CANCER and DIE!!!!

[srilan07]

MeLikeGoFast my point is very simple if you still dont get it.. that is NO to new health care reform.. common sense.. i guess...

[7ceh]

Government out period. this whole thing started by LBJ with the expansion of social welfare and entitlement programs. The whole HCR = UHC sponsered by the government who created the mess in the first place under the context of making life better and serving man. Look how far we have come in feeding the beast, it just wants more and more and more. Reminds me of a twilight zone episode where aliens came down telling humans they want to help them by serving them, it was a cook book - HTSM

[7ceh]

It is quite simple, government stay out, period. The have made it a complex problem. This whole "great society" started under Johnson and the "beast" just keeps growing and growing and "they" keep asking to feeding and feeding it. Obama says he wants to "help mankind" kind of like the 1960's twilight zone episode where aliens came down with the idea "how to serve man"

[srilan07]

and also ask ur parents if they would agree to this new reform. they're working really hard to pay for ur education and other expenses, they can't afford to pay for other people's health care.. just plain common sense.. I know how it feels because im trying to raise two families.. i know its my problem but NOT other people's problem specially their own health care..

[srilan07]

lol then u guys work hard and pay for the poor people's health care... im not! im workin my ass off just to get taxed for health care??? i dont think so..

[adranus2]

How much did the insurance companies pay you?!

[kschluter1]

As long as Americans don't get beyond silly slogans (Socialism!), they will never get ANYTHING done. Like an ostrich with its head in the sand, we keep screaming "we're #1 and the rest of the world sucks!", while the rest of the world provides free (and topnotch) healthcare to its citizens, rides in trains that travel at 250 miles an hour!

[kschluter1]

Oh Gosh Golly,

I'm wondering why none of the Republican's are willing to give up their government "public" healthcare?

Could it be their getting a few "kickbacks" from the health insurance industry?

Just a thought........ks

[MeLikeGoFast]

The democrats arent giving up their government healthcare either.

WTH is your point?

[lietuven63]

If there are better ways to mandate health care, why haven't you done so for many many years? The USA is a great, country, and it's a shame that so many people have no health insurance while people in poorer countries have access to any doctor free!!Why are you afraid of the word social? It's simply taking care of the people's social needs. I think good health is the most important thing in a person's life. If you are healthy, you are a good worker, a good parent and a good citizen.

[tyro69]

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." Norman Thomas, American socialist

[JazzSingerMJ]

1 Cut medicare = use subsidies paid directly to the ins. companies to PAY FOR reform,

2 rush it through = get it done this year after 2 decades of doing nothing

3 $2 Trillion of extra costs? The bill is to be budget/deficit neutral

4 The CBO doesn't take into account unquantifiable costs savings only hard dollars, trillions, potentially

5 We have the worst health care of any 1st world nation and we pay more for it.

Why don't you creeps focus on helping/protecting Americans not ins. co profits!

[srilan07]

anyone who has their jobs are not obligated to pay for for those people who doesn't have jobs just by taxing health care! period! its much better to continue with the old way. pay for your own health care! period! no one has to benefit from other people's hard earned money. if you want health care i guess you should start looking for a job. Mr. Kyl is not putting fear into peoples mind. He's simply informing us of what is going to happen if this reform is passed.

[JazzSingerMJ]

Dude we have 46 million people that we pay for in the most expensive way possible (via emergency room care). Why not rationalize the system and reduce our taxes or have them go to something else like education or energy

[djm9063]

JazzSingerMJ is a total socialist idiot....DON'T BELIEVE A WORD HE SAYS....He is pulling statistics out of his ass.

[JazzSingerMJ]

Hmmm, I like the free market, it accounts for the greatness of our country, but I´d say health care in America is one of it´s greatest failures to date in our country.

Do you think dropping people from insurance because they get sick or denying them coverage is good policy. It´s great for the bottom line of insurance companies, but it´s a moral/ethical DISASTER!

[57haight]

Why not simply better fund Medicaid with a small tax on "over the counter" non prescription medications (aspirin; Tylenol; etc.). Eliminate the indigent status requirement for Medicaid eligibility. The new requirement for eligibility: a statement that your employer doesn't provide health coverage and a copy of your tax return showing you make under a certain amount. Once enrolled, 2% of your weekly earnings are deducted into the Medicaid fund.

Sounds simple, doesn't. That's because it is!

[StephanieVanRaden]

Your thoughts are the conclusion I have reached. It is a matter of more burden on the taxpayer. All an individual really needs to do is to look at the record of government run programs. Tax rebates could be given to small businesses or individuals to cover health care. We need to fix Medicare and Medicaid to insure coverage for the retired or early retirees Offering a Cobra Medicare program for younger retirees or Cobra coverage by the individual's current plan.

[JazzSingerMJ]

For a casual observer, Medicare/Medicaid may seem to be examples of poorly run govt programs, but look at the pile of crap health care system they're built on. Look at how the special interests have influenced policy to have billions of dollars shunted their way at our expense.  In this case the private companies have made the program work worse for their own bottom line.

[skybluesky]

agreed.

[lietuven63]

Mr.Kyl, you are trying to win more time to put fear into people's minds, you do not care about the people, all you care are insurance companies and who stand behind them. In your address you are not telling the truth, the President says different things about this health reform and I support him. What option do I have, if I am 63 and have no health insurance, haven't been to the doctor for 5 years?

[mimimike76]

And you believe this POTUS bozo???? He's a tax and spend democrat who doesn't know squat about what the average working middle class needs and wants. If the Democratic proposal is so damn good and brilliant , then all Democratic politicians should be willing to forgo their salaries and all of their savinigs and assetts to fund and join their proposed plan, and only then will you see them in an uproar. There are better ways to mandate health care rather then a socialistic approach

[maxs9742]

To continue with the old way of health care in this country will be a disaster. Look at the number of uninsured. Insurance company protecting there bottom line by denying coverage.

[homebody112]

In Arizona everyone without Ins. has an available program we call Access. People that cannot affored Ins. are elligible for this program and it is better care then most. Every Dr. and hospital accepts this and what in the world is Kyl talking about. Arizona has for many ,many years had this program it is and has been a program for low income and no income people. If it has worked for Arizona then what problem does he have with the whole country?  Check it out!

[JazzSingerMJ]

sounds good. How well is that program really working? What is it's costs. Are your publically elected officials touting it? If not, why not.

[djm9063]

JazzSingerMJ why don't you ask all your dumbass democrats to promise to dump their insurance benefits as congressmen and government employees and join into this socialized health bill? See what kind of response you get....they are going to keep their insurance benefits in tact I GUARANTEE IT.....

[JazzSingerMJ]

You can argue til you´re blue in the face, but you are on the wrong side in this one!!

THINK LADY! We´re in the middle of the pack. How is it possible to be in this great of a country and the overall quality of our healthcare be average or even below? We pay more than double the closest 1st world nation in cost.

It´s insane, stupid, immoral, and in my view inarguable to continue the status quo!

[Truthinmidamerica]

You need to think! I'll be glad to let you donate your money to support those who just don't want to work. Health care needs fixed, but not by a goverment entitlement.

[JazzSingerMJ]

djm9063, if I posted your racist rant sent directly to me on this board, you´d be embarrassed.

To answer your questions substantively, Yes, I am black, am working, and compensated very well for my skill set (in computer programming). But for those who aren´t regardless of their race, if they´re poor and don´t have health insurance, they get care in the emergency room. It´s not preventative, and so it´s very expensive, and you´re ALREADY PAYING FOR IT!

We can EASILY do better.

[djm9063]

JAZZSingerMJ, I DON'T GIVE A F**K what you have to say......WHY DON'T YOU TELL THE PEOPLE TO GET A JOB!!!....

[JazzSingerMJ]

If you really didn´t care you´d´ve posted that racist note you sent to me on this board for everyone to see.

djm9063, I take care of me, my family and as time permits I help others around me to live and to understand how to live.

But people are slow to change.

That´s what this health care debate is about, what this countries pockets of persistent poverty is about.  And in fact what your racism is about.

But the election of Obama to president tells me that over time things change.

[JSTDG88]

re we talking Racist?, or Health Care? Shame on you and them you color people says white are racists. Your answer proved the contrary. I used to work in Public Clinics in which preventing diseases clinics; indigents were and are been treated without money or insurance. If there are families without insurance is because they don't know or want to go to Public Clinics.People should find out what we are entitle to regardless of what Party

you belong. People without Medical Care is a

FALLACY.

[JazzSingerMJ]

JSTDG88 my racism comments have nothing to do with this debate. djm9063 sent me a private message with the n word all over.

I think the point is that clinics like you´re talking about (that give preventative care/advice should be the staple of our healthcare to prevent more expensive problems later).

Everyone gets emergency care whether they pay or not, but it´s expensive to do things this way. $1000 of taxpayer money go to this per (not sure if it´s person or family).