Events Calendar
In This Section
Researcher says she found text on Shroud of Turin
Ohio native takes second place on 'Project Runway'
White House at odds with bishops over abortion
End of an era: Oprah ending show after 25 years
Kin want right to sue after man assumed dead
Sen. Kerry's daughter arrested in LA on DUI
Raw Video: Cop Crashes Into Car Killing 2 Teens
Hundreds of rotting deer in yard cause big stink (with video)
Most Read Stories
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
Investigators say nude video of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews shot in Ohio
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
Body with gunshot wounds found in Canton Township creek
Cleveland balks at new LeBron James mural
Sentencing in child porn case set for Dec. 31
Union president says Akron saved only $21,000 with firefighter layoffs
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Hey, somebody's gotta stick up for the Browns
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Richard Alonso-Zaldivar
Associated Press
POSTED: 04:34 p.m. EST, Nov 10, 2009
WASHINGTON: Former President Bill Clinton told anxious Senate Democrats on Tuesday to pass a health care bill soon because the U.S. economy can't resist the toxic combination of exorbitant medical costs and nearly 50 million uninsured for much longer.
"My argument was that this is an economic imperative," Clinton said after the closed-door meeting.
Addressing Democrats' insecurities about the complex legislation, Clinton said he told the senators "there is no perfect bill — you'll always have unintended consequences. There will be amendments to this next year. But the worst thing to do is nothing."
As president, Clinton tried but failed to revamp the nation's health care system. The spectacular collapse of Clinton's plan contributed to the Democrats' loss of control of Congress in 1994, but rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers admire him for having tackled the issue. He went on to win a second term in office.
"People trust him," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., one of the architects of the current Senate health care bill.
"His argument was that getting the best bill is not only good for the people, it's the best politics," said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., one of a clutch of moderates who hold the fate of the legislation in their hands.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said Clinton reflected on his experiences in the early 1990s and told senators "we got lost in the magnitude of the problem, and in search for a more perfect answer I lost the fight."
Clinton said he hoped all the senators understood his bottom line: "It's not important to be perfect here," he said. "It's important to act, to move, to start the ball rolling."
The House passed its health care bill Saturday by a narrow 220-215 vote. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is working on a final Democratic draft. But the combination of divided Democrats and Republicans determined to force delays under the Senate's arcane rules is making it less likely that President Barack Obama will get a bill this year.
"Our goal is to make sure it's out of the Senate this year," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the No. 2 Senate Democrat. The Senate bill would then have to be combined with the House bill and the final version passed by both chambers before it could go to Obama's desk. Finishing that whole process before year's end would be tough.
"They want us to finish quickly. We do too. But some of these things are beyond our control," Durbin said of the White House's desire for fast action.
Complicating the effort, abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil the shaky Democratic effort.
Nelson, the Nebraska moderate, said he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal money from going to pay for abortions. He is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House, which had more stringent language than that approved by Senate committees.
Reid, who is personally opposed to abortion, said the issue was being negotiated.
"I expect the bill that will be brought to the floor will ensure that no federal funds are used for abortions and that the conscience rights for providers and health care facilities like Catholic hospitals are protected," Reid said Tuesday. "I think we can work that out."
The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed. But it's prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.
Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance.
"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test — that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," Obama said in an interview with ABC News.
The House bill would bar a new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That's the basic rule currently in federal law under a provision called the Hyde amendment, which Reid said Tuesday had worked well.
The House bill also would prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money.
The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House.
___
Associated Press writers David Espo, Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Erica Werner contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON: Former President Bill Clinton told anxious Senate Democrats on Tuesday to pass a health care bill soon because the U.S. economy can't resist the toxic combination of exorbitant medical costs and nearly 50 million uninsured for much longer.
"My argument was that this is an economic imperative," Clinton said after the closed-door meeting.
Addressing Democrats' insecurities about the complex legislation, Clinton said he told the senators "there is no perfect bill — you'll always have unintended consequences. There will be amendments to this next year. But the worst thing to do is nothing."
As president, Clinton tried but failed to revamp the nation's health care system. The spectacular collapse of Clinton's plan contributed to the Democrats' loss of control of Congress in 1994, but rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers admire him for having tackled the issue. He went on to win a second term in office.
"People trust him," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., one of the architects of the current Senate health care bill.
"His argument was that getting the best bill is not only good for the people, it's the best politics," said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., one of a clutch of moderates who hold the fate of the legislation in their hands.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said Clinton reflected on his experiences in the early 1990s and told senators "we got lost in the magnitude of the problem, and in search for a more perfect answer I lost the fight."
Clinton said he hoped all the senators understood his bottom line: "It's not important to be perfect here," he said. "It's important to act, to move, to start the ball rolling."
The House passed its health care bill Saturday by a narrow 220-215 vote. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is working on a final Democratic draft. But the combination of divided Democrats and Republicans determined to force delays under the Senate's arcane rules is making it less likely that President Barack Obama will get a bill this year.
"Our goal is to make sure it's out of the Senate this year," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the No. 2 Senate Democrat. The Senate bill would then have to be combined with the House bill and the final version passed by both chambers before it could go to Obama's desk. Finishing that whole process before year's end would be tough.
"They want us to finish quickly. We do too. But some of these things are beyond our control," Durbin said of the White House's desire for fast action.
Complicating the effort, abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil the shaky Democratic effort.
Nelson, the Nebraska moderate, said he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal money from going to pay for abortions. He is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House, which had more stringent language than that approved by Senate committees.
Reid, who is personally opposed to abortion, said the issue was being negotiated.
"I expect the bill that will be brought to the floor will ensure that no federal funds are used for abortions and that the conscience rights for providers and health care facilities like Catholic hospitals are protected," Reid said Tuesday. "I think we can work that out."
The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed. But it's prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.
Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance.
"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test — that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," Obama said in an interview with ABC News.
The House bill would bar a new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That's the basic rule currently in federal law under a provision called the Hyde amendment, which Reid said Tuesday had worked well.
The House bill also would prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money.
The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House.
___
Associated Press writers David Espo, Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Erica Werner contributed to this report.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, Oh
Posted 06:16 PM, 11/10/2009
Congress needs to pass the right health care bill and this is not it.
Kookville, Oh
Posted 07:04 PM, 11/10/2009
If the GOP wants my attention they will first demand that insurance companies lose their anti-trust exception and guarantee all preexisting conditions be covered at reasonable rates that don't rise 10% a year. I intend to take part in the public option and I will dance in the streets when for-profit insurance dies and is replaced with not-for-profit insurance coop who are more interested in their policyholders health than their investors dividends and the CEO's bonuses generated by denying treatment and coverage.
Like Billy says, it doesn't have to be perfect now, just get the ball rolling. Make amendments later.
clinton, oh
Posted 09:02 PM, 11/10/2009
Clinton needs to shut up
Apopka, FL
Posted 10:10 PM, 11/10/2009
A question to "The Angler":
Should auto insurance be granted regardless of preexisting conditions? If so, why would you buy auto insurance until after you've been involved in an accident? Why would you buy health insurance until after you need it?
Also, do you really believe that the "not-for-profit co-ops" will not deny treatment? If that was the case then why would they need coops in the first place? If everything will be approved then there would be no reason to have people in place to approve things. But then, this would be the government that we are talking about so that would explain those non-essential positions. If, as you claim, that they would not deny treatments.
tallmadge, OH
Posted 12:54 PM, 11/11/2009
For those who thinks this is so great, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G44NCvNDLfc
