How did a great national debate that was supposed to lead to a major bipartisan reform lead to a bag full of cheap legislative tricks inside a $2.3 trillion dollar, 2,733-page bill that makes health care costs go up?
The word is getting out about these OUTRIGHT BRIBES for votes. Even the Democrats themselves are starting to complain about this obvious "Cash for Cloture" bribing going on. When Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) couldn't get past the reporters swarming Ben Nelson on her way to the cloture vote, she quipped, "I know I'm not as important as Senator Nelson. I didn't get the money for my state. I was too stupid."
Three states -- Pennsylvania, New York and Florida -- all got protections for their Medicare Advantage beneficiaries at a time when the program is facing cuts nationwide...
The Senators from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming will get the "Frontier Freebie" -- they'll see an increase in Medicare payments to hospitals and doctors, because "at least 50 percent of their counties are frontier counties,' defined as those having a population density less than six people per square mile."
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate health committee, got a provision inserted to increase Medicare payments to certain "low-volume hospitals" in Grinnell, Keokuk and Spirit Lake, treating limited numbers of Medicare patients...
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) was "persuaded" to drop his concerns after Senator Harry Reid offered his state a $10 billion grant for "community health centers" -- money that could easily be funneled to facilities that perform abortions...
Before a close vote last month, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) got a large break for her state -- an estimated $300 million in extra spending, in a move now derisively called the "Louisiana Purchase."
With the bill hanging in the balance, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) got a provision exempting his state from paying the usual share of costs for new Medicaid patients. The deal, dubbed the "Cornhusker Kickback," is expected to cost $100 million over 10 years...
Thank you, Senator McConnell !!!
buddy34 2 years ago
The word is getting out about these OUTRIGHT BRIBES for votes. Even the Democrats themselves are starting to complain about this obvious "Cash for Cloture" bribing going on. When Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) couldn't get past the reporters swarming Ben Nelson on her way to the cloture vote, she quipped, "I know I'm not as important as Senator Nelson. I didn't get the money for my state. I was too stupid."
buddy34 2 years ago
Three states -- Pennsylvania, New York and Florida -- all got protections for their Medicare Advantage beneficiaries at a time when the program is facing cuts nationwide...
buddy34 2 years ago
The Senators from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming will get the "Frontier Freebie" -- they'll see an increase in Medicare payments to hospitals and doctors, because "at least 50 percent of their counties are frontier counties,' defined as those having a population density less than six people per square mile."
buddy34 2 years ago
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate health committee, got a provision inserted to increase Medicare payments to certain "low-volume hospitals" in Grinnell, Keokuk and Spirit Lake, treating limited numbers of Medicare patients...
buddy34 2 years ago
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) was "persuaded" to drop his concerns after Senator Harry Reid offered his state a $10 billion grant for "community health centers" -- money that could easily be funneled to facilities that perform abortions...
buddy34 2 years ago
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) got a promise from Harry Reid to support his plan to expand eligibility for health insurance...
buddy34 2 years ago
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) got a kickback -- including a $100 million bonus for the University of Connecticut to do with whatever they want...
buddy34 2 years ago
Before a close vote last month, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) got a large break for her state -- an estimated $300 million in extra spending, in a move now derisively called the "Louisiana Purchase."
buddy34 2 years ago
With the bill hanging in the balance, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) got a provision exempting his state from paying the usual share of costs for new Medicaid patients. The deal, dubbed the "Cornhusker Kickback," is expected to cost $100 million over 10 years...
buddy34 2 years ago