The Most Ethical and Transparent Congress ever

del

Diamond Member
Sep 3, 2008
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on a one way cul-de-sac
"The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history,"- Nancy Pelosi, Nov 7, 2006
Democrats Take Majority in House; Pelosi Poised to Become Speaker - washingtonpost.com

After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill; under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health-care bill to be passed.

"It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know," the speaker said in a roundtable discussion with bloggers Monday. "But I like it," she said, "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill."

House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it

this would be funny if it wasn't so sad.


we're fucked
 
xotoxi-albums-pictures-4-picture1434-we-did-it.gif

YAY CONGRESS!!!
 
"The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history,"- Nancy Pelosi, Nov 7, 2006
Democrats Take Majority in House; Pelosi Poised to Become Speaker - washingtonpost.com

After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill; under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health-care bill to be passed.

"It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know," the speaker said in a roundtable discussion with bloggers Monday. "But I like it," she said, "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill."

House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it

this would be funny if it wasn't so sad.


we're fucked

If these wingnuts pull this, we are fucked. Big time.

Funny. For an ethical and transparant Congress they sure do pull a lot of back room deals and sleight of hand.

So the bill will be DEEMED passed?? Wonder if we can DEEM them all out of office??

Jeeze. Our Govt in action. What a bunch of clowns.
 
"The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history,"- Nancy Pelosi, Nov 7, 2006
Democrats Take Majority in House; Pelosi Poised to Become Speaker - washingtonpost.com

After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill; under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health-care bill to be passed.

"It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know," the speaker said in a roundtable discussion with bloggers Monday. "But I like it," she said, "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill."

House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it

this would be funny if it wasn't so sad.


we're fucked

Yea del...we are fucked. Ironic your definition of sad...

THIS is fucked and THIS is sad...

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies

Fri June 5, 2009


This year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans will declare bankruptcy. Many people may chalk up that misfortune to overspending or a lavish lifestyle, but a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt are actually capsized by medical bills.

Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Overall, three-quarters of the people with a medically-related bankruptcy had health insurance, they say.

"That was actually the predominant problem in patients in our study -- 78 percent of them had health insurance, but many of them were bankrupted anyway because there were gaps in their coverage like co-payments and deductibles and uncovered services," says Woolhandler. "Other people had private insurance but got so sick that they lost their job and lost their insurance."

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies - CNN.com
 
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"The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history,"- Nancy Pelosi, Nov 7, 2006
Democrats Take Majority in House; Pelosi Poised to Become Speaker - washingtonpost.com

After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill; under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health-care bill to be passed.

"It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know," the speaker said in a roundtable discussion with bloggers Monday. "But I like it," she said, "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill."

House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it

this would be funny if it wasn't so sad.


we're fucked

Yea del...we are fucked. Ironic your definition of sad...

THIS is fucked and THIS is sad...

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies

Fri June 5, 2009


This year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans will declare bankruptcy. Many people may chalk up that misfortune to overspending or a lavish lifestyle, but a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt are actually capsized by medical bills.

Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Overall, three-quarters of the people with a medically-related bankruptcy had health insurance, they say.

"That was actually the predominant problem in patients in our study -- 78 percent of them had health insurance, but many of them were bankrupted anyway because there were gaps in their coverage like co-payments and deductibles and uncovered services," says Woolhandler. "Other people had private insurance but got so sick that they lost their job and lost their insurance."

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies - CNN.com

yeah, i guess expecting the most transparent, open and ethical congress ever to actually vote on legislation that will affect everyone is too much to ask. thanks for your valuable contribution.
 
"The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history,"- Nancy Pelosi, Nov 7, 2006
Democrats Take Majority in House; Pelosi Poised to Become Speaker - washingtonpost.com

After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill; under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health-care bill to be passed.

"It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know," the speaker said in a roundtable discussion with bloggers Monday. "But I like it," she said, "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill."

House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it

this would be funny if it wasn't so sad.


we're fucked

Yea del...we are fucked. Ironic your definition of sad...

THIS is fucked and THIS is sad...

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies

Fri June 5, 2009


This year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans will declare bankruptcy. Many people may chalk up that misfortune to overspending or a lavish lifestyle, but a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt are actually capsized by medical bills.

Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Overall, three-quarters of the people with a medically-related bankruptcy had health insurance, they say.

"That was actually the predominant problem in patients in our study -- 78 percent of them had health insurance, but many of them were bankrupted anyway because there were gaps in their coverage like co-payments and deductibles and uncovered services," says Woolhandler. "Other people had private insurance but got so sick that they lost their job and lost their insurance."

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies - CNN.com

Are you Nancy Pelosi?

Cuz the actual topic of the thread is 'the most ethical an transparent congress ever'.... it is not actually yet another 'we want nanny to take care of us' health care crap. 'K?
 
Some people can't stay on topic.

The Democrats are a joke. A joke on the American people. And if there were any actual journalists left in the press they would be skewering these a-holes every night for moves like this.
Unfortunately the press hates Republicans and conservatives more than it likes a good story. So the Dems get a pass in this, the press reporting that "The GOP did it first". Which is a lie but who cares?
 
The american people also voted for the USA to not be the police force of the world and to not be into nation building.

Remember only fools believe political promises. They are specifically exempt from the truth in advertising laws for a good reason.
Politicians lie!
 
The american people also voted for the USA to not be the police force of the world and to not be into nation building.

Remember only fools believe political promises. They are specifically exempt from the truth in advertising laws for a good reason.
Politicians lie!

What ballot was this on?

For the record, Americans have always wanted a strong defense and increasing influence in the world. What they dont want is piddling police actions like Somalia that are ill defined and will always end in disaster.
 
The american people also voted for the USA to not be the police force of the world and to not be into nation building.

Remember only fools believe political promises. They are specifically exempt from the truth in advertising laws for a good reason.
Politicians lie!

What ballot was this on?

For the record, Americans have always wanted a strong defense and increasing influence in the world. What they dont want is piddling police actions like Somalia that are ill defined and will always end in disaster.

What ballot?
Bush promised those things when he ran for president in 2000.
 
The american people also voted for the USA to not be the police force of the world and to not be into nation building.

Remember only fools believe political promises. They are specifically exempt from the truth in advertising laws for a good reason.
Politicians lie!

What ballot was this on?

For the record, Americans have always wanted a strong defense and increasing influence in the world. What they dont want is piddling police actions like Somalia that are ill defined and will always end in disaster.

really? this commie bastard disagrees with you:

The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
 
Some people can't stay on topic.

The Democrats are a joke. A joke on the American people. And if there were any actual journalists left in the press they would be skewering these a-holes every night for moves like this.
Unfortunately the press hates Republicans and conservatives more than it likes a good story. So the Dems get a pass in this, the press reporting that "The GOP did it first". Which is a lie but who cares?

Some people can't think or feel. I surely wouldn't call the Republican party a joke. There is nothing funny about domestic terrorists. The GOP and the right have made it crystal clear their agenda is to destroy our president and win back power. And all the citizens of this nation that suffer are just collateral damage.

But Rabbi...I will say YOU are a joke. A human being without a brain...
 
Alls fair in love and Congress

At least it was when the Republicans controlled Congress
 
Yea del...we are fucked. Ironic your definition of sad...

THIS is fucked and THIS is sad...

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies

Fri June 5, 2009


This year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans will declare bankruptcy. Many people may chalk up that misfortune to overspending or a lavish lifestyle, but a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt are actually capsized by medical bills.

Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Overall, three-quarters of the people with a medically-related bankruptcy had health insurance, they say.

"That was actually the predominant problem in patients in our study -- 78 percent of them had health insurance, but many of them were bankrupted anyway because there were gaps in their coverage like co-payments and deductibles and uncovered services," says Woolhandler. "Other people had private insurance but got so sick that they lost their job and lost their insurance."

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies - CNN.com



This is absolute crap.

Reputable studies (including one from the Department of Justice), show that medical bills contribute to 17% or less of bankruptcies. The DOJ one was 12-13%.

The biggest proximate cause of bankruptcy is lack of income to service debt. It's not surprising given the "Everyone has a right to a house" Federal Policy that there is an increase in BK filings. Combine this with excessive credit card bills and the spike in unemployment - those are the real problems.

Yes, some people file bankruptcy because they are ill - the bigger reason is that they cannot work and have lost their income. These unfortunate people are being exploited by cynical politicians. ObamaCare will not restore their income (nor should it). Their bankruptcies could only have been avoided with sufficient rainy day savings. It's too bad our tax code makes accumulating savings increasingly difficult.
 
Yes, some people file bankruptcy because they are ill - the bigger reason is that they cannot work and have lost their income.
//

well that combined with the medical debts incurred that they can no longer pay.

and one can save all the after tax money they desire.
 
and one can save all the after tax money they desire.


Given that the total tax burden of the median American family is approximately 40% of income (double that of the 1950s), after tax savings are increasingly more difficult for many families.
 
Yea del...we are fucked. Ironic your definition of sad...

THIS is fucked and THIS is sad...

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies

Fri June 5, 2009


This year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans will declare bankruptcy. Many people may chalk up that misfortune to overspending or a lavish lifestyle, but a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt are actually capsized by medical bills.

Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Overall, three-quarters of the people with a medically-related bankruptcy had health insurance, they say.

"That was actually the predominant problem in patients in our study -- 78 percent of them had health insurance, but many of them were bankrupted anyway because there were gaps in their coverage like co-payments and deductibles and uncovered services," says Woolhandler. "Other people had private insurance but got so sick that they lost their job and lost their insurance."

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies - CNN.com



This is absolute crap.

Reputable studies (including one from the Department of Justice), show that medical bills contribute to 17% or less of bankruptcies. The DOJ one was 12-13%.

The biggest proximate cause of bankruptcy is lack of income to service debt. It's not surprising given the "Everyone has a right to a house" Federal Policy that there is an increase in BK filings. Combine this with excessive credit card bills and the spike in unemployment - those are the real problems.

Yes, some people file bankruptcy because they are ill - the bigger reason is that they cannot work and have lost their income. These unfortunate people are being exploited by cynical politicians. ObamaCare will not restore their income (nor should it). Their bankruptcies could only have been avoided with sufficient rainy day savings. It's too bad our tax code makes accumulating savings increasingly difficult.

Reputable studies? Where are your links?

Why is it you right wing pea brains always site studies to refute the carnage being perpetrated on the middle class and they always lead back to the same right wing think tanks...you know, the same ones that provided 'Reputable studies' that cigarette smoking had no link to lung cancer?

Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
Edmund Burke
 
Here you go:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS,

Washington, DC.

Hon. CHARLES E. GRASSLEY,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.

DEAR SENATOR GRASSLEY:

This responds to your letter, dated February 5, 2005,
requesting information from the Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST)
concerning medical debts of those who file for bankruptcy protection and the recently published
study in the Health Affairs journal (“Market Watch: Illness and Injury As Contributors to
Bankruptcy”).

It is the practice of the U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) not to comment on data collected and
analyses performed by outside researchers for reasons that include difficulties in verifying their
data and research methodologies. It is noted in the cited study of 1,771 filers that very broad
definitions of “medical bankruptcies” are used. The authors considered a “Major Medical
Bankruptcy” to include cases in which debtor reported any of the following: illness or injury as a
reason for filing bankruptcy, uncovered medical bills exceeding $1,000 in the past two years, loss
of two weeks of work-related income due to illness or injury, or mortgage of home to pay medical
bills. The authors considered “Any Medical Bankruptcy” to include cases containing any of the
factors above or birth or death in the debtor's family or birth or death in the debtor's family or
addiction or uncontrolled gambling.

Enclosed in a description of related USTP data and a summary of findings from analysis of a
similar but larger sample of bankruptcy cases (5,203) utilizing data from official records during
approximately the same time period as the study cited above. It should be noted that reported
credit card debt also may reflect medical-related debts, but are not shown in these findings.
In general, the data describing medical-related expenses contained in official documents filed
by chapter 7 debtors reveal that slightly more than 5 percent of their general unsecured debt is
medical-related. The conclusion that almost 50 percent of consumer bankruptcies are “medical
related” requires a broad definition and generally is not substantiated by the official documents
filed by debtors.

We hope this information is responsive to your inquiry. If we can be of further assistance,
please do not hesitate to contact this office.

Sincerely,

William E. Moschella,
Assistant Attorney General.


USTP DATA (from DOJ records)

The USTP database contains 5,203 no asset chapter 7 cases that were closed between 2000 and 2002. The database includes cases filed in 48 States, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico proportionate to chapter 7 filings in each location. The database contains no cases from North Carolina and Alabama, because those States are served by Bankruptcy Administrators. Nearly all of these cases had been filed about 4 months prior to closing.
On each petition we reviewed Schedule F of the petition to see if any medical debts were listed. This would include where the creditor was a doctor, hospital or other treatment facility, medical collection agency, or if the debt was in any way identifiable as being medical in origin. This accounting would not have identified medical debts charged on credit cards, placed with certain collection agencies, or paid prior to the bankruptcy filings.

FINDINGS
All Debtors (N = 5,203):

54 percent listed no medical debt.

Medical debt accounted for 5.5 percent of the total general unsecured debt.

90.1 percent reported medical debts less than $5,000.

1 percent of cases accounted for 36.5 percent of medical debt.

Less than 10 percent of all cases represent 80 percent of all reported medical debt.

Cases Reporting Medical Debts (N = 2,391):

Among the debtors reporting medical debt, the average medical debt was $4,978 per case.

78.4 percent reported medical debts below $5,000 (average of $1,212 for this group).

21.6 percent reported 80.9 percent of the total medical debt.

Medical debts accounted for 13.0 percent of the total general unsecured debt for those reporting medical debt.


abiworld.net/bankbill/eoustdata.pdf

More info:

The Medical Bankruptcy Myth — The American, A Magazine of Ideas

Medical Bankruptcy: Myth Versus Fact -- Dranove and Millenson 25 (2): w74 -- Health Affairs

You can also download the pdf of Aparna Mathur's white paper.

RealClearMarkets - The Healthcare Bankruptcy Myth
 
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