Blog: Dermot Cole
Begich on health care bill
Published Friday, October 2, 2009
•Sen. Mark Begich says health care reform should not be judged entirely on whether there is a "public option" in the final bill or not.
Coverage on pre-existing conditions, the removal of lifetime caps on coverage and holding down out-of-pocket expenses are also key issues, he said.
Begich appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal program today.
"The goal has to be, whatever mechanism we put in play, that we make sure that it helps and holds accountable insurance companies on (an) affordable rate structure," he said.
He said one of the biggest problems in Alaska regarding health care is the lack of access for Medicare patients because the reimbursement rates for doctors are too low.
Regarding calls for tort reform, he said that Alaska reformed its rules, but the average cost for seeing doctors did not go down and insurance rates went from $6,000 up to $12,000.
Begich said he wants to see the details on the latest health care legislation tentatively approved by the Senate Finance Committee early today before offering an opinion on it.
For more, go to http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/02/WJE/A/23872/Sen+Mark+Begich+DAK.aspx
•Only about a dozen parents attended the latest meeting Thursday on a proposed school reform plan that could mean major changes in the structure of Lathrop High School.
The next meeting is Saturday at the Lathrop High School Library from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Web site www.lhsfuture.com has details on a recent survey of parents.
Principal Karen Gaborik said that those in attendance Thursday were asked to suggest key points for parents to consider as the process continues:
Among the comments:
•This is a program in motion - it is not too late to get involved. Decisions are still being made.
•There is more flexibility than the term 'pathways' or 'academies' implies
• Some university programs are very tight so the time to take electives is in high school.
•There are differences between the Hutch model and Lathrop model.
•Relieved that students won't be missing out on AP classes.
•Parent involvement is critical - parents need to be at these meetings.
•Parents can give input online.
•The district is supporting this for all secondary schools.
•While LHS is leading the charge, other schools will be following.
•Parents and staff need to know why we have to go down an academy path to offer these choices to students.
•The Food Network is in town, taping a show for "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," hosted by Guy Fieri.
When the show is taping at a restaurant, the crew posts a sign outside that says what is happening inside.
"By entering these premises you may appear in the series. By entering, you give Page Productions and the Food Network permission to use your image, voice and likeness in ALL media, for purpose, in perpetuity."
Mark seems to be going with the republicans and he is
wrong. Without the public option the reform is almost
worthless. Its only throwing more money into the coffers
of the private insurers and no real attempt to bring their
excesses under control. It will be a failure because the
insurers will game the system at every turn and we cant
count on Mark or the blue dogs to stand against them.
Hope the congress has more backbone and will insist on a
public option even as weak a tea as it is. The real
answer is single payer.
Why do they have to go down an academy path? Seems to me that over the past 40, 50, 100 years the current public education system, with its faults, has worked pretty well for the majority of students.
The goal of public schools should be a well rounded education. Those that want to excel are given the opportunity to do so through the AP courses and electives.
The kids don't need pathways, or academies, they need an education.
Why should a child, or the child's parents, have to select some sort of path at 12 years old!
It is interesting to read that the district is supporting this for ALL secondary schools, yet the meeting notice specifically focused on Lathrop students and future Lathrop students.
Isn't this really all about someone trying to make a name for themselves? Putting their stamp on the system! If they want to run an academy, go to work in the private sector!
Mark is doing ANYTHING but going with the Republicans. The man is a raving liberal who seems intent upon breaking the national economy with this ludicrous health care reform. Mark is totally unwilling to listen to his constituency. I know people who have been writing him frequently, asking him to please use good sense on this bill, to realize that you don't completely destroy a working system that 80% of the people say they are happy with in order in order to address less than 10% of the population, most of whom aren't even citizens of the US.
All of us who work for a living are looking at about 60% in combined taxes and health insurance costs by the end of the next decade if this thing passes ... it's the way it is in England. You have to pay for it somehow and "soaking the rich" won't even begin to pay for it.
The "public option" will become the only option for the majority of Americans if it is included in this bill. Remember that in Canada it is against the law to see a doctor not covered by their national health care system. Where do we go when health care is no longer readily available in the US? Thailand?
Begich Wants to see if health care reform will need this Bill he consigned to give Illegal's amnesty.
Mr. BEGICH cosigned this Bill with Harry Reid to insure the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Immigration Plans will be addressed by the Congress.
Harry Reid on Jan. 6, 2009 placed this Bill (S9 PCS) as place holder
And what is the intent of this bill?
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement "un-American." (Fox News, March 18, 2009; See Fox News video here
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.ht......
Stronger Economy, Stronger Borders Act of 2009 (Placed on Calendar in Senate)
S 9 PCS
Calendar No. 9
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 9
To strengthen the United States economy, provide for more effective border and employment enforcement, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 6, 2009
Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. KERRY, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. SCHUMER, and Mr. BROWN) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time
January 7, 2009
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
A BILL
To strengthen the United States economy, provide for more effective border and employment enforcement, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Stronger Economy, Stronger Borders Act of 2009'.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that Congress should enact, and the President should sign, legislation to strengthen the economy, recognize the heritage of the United States as a nation of immigrants, and amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) by--
(1) providing more effective border and employment enforcement;
(2) preventing illegal immigration; and
(3) reforming and rationalizing avenues for legal immigration.
Calendar No. 9
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 9
A BILL
To strengthen the United States economy, provide for more effective border and employment enforcement, and for other purposes.
Begich Wants to see if health care reform will need this Bill he cosigned to give Illegal's amnesty.
And all the illegal’s that get amnesty can vote for Obama and Begich.
The academy system works well for at-risk students -- learning disabled, for example. Kids who are not going to go to college and probably shouldn't will do well with this system. Unfortunately, everywhere it has been tried it has rarely worked for academically gifted students. Heritage Foundation did a study on this a while back. The one thing that stood out in the article for me was a straight-A student who had chosen the medical/science pathway as a freshman. She was allowed to switchout only at the end of the first semester, but she didn't change her mind on her chosen career until she was in her junior year, so she had to continue for three more semesters in a system that wasn't going to help her get into her major of choice. She had decided she wanted to be a lawyer. Here was a straight-A student graduating with a better-than-4.0 GPA and she'd just been told by two colleges that she would have to take remedial courses to qualify for the pre-law degree program. Sadly, she could have taken those courses in high school during those three semesters if she'd only had the option. Straight-A's, remedial courses.
Yeah, I'm not happy with this proposal, though I do have some hope for it in that they do seem to be planning for flexibility and the ability to change your mind. My daughter will graduate from Lathrop before this is an issue, but I think her little brother may remain in private school for high school so that he gets a well-rounded education.
twain,
You can't survive in Alaska politically unless you are a NRA and an anti-tree hugger zealot and recently unless you are anti-health care reform too- the dolts rule.
Single payer is of course the only way to attack the problem of absurd,repeating absurd, health care cost in America which affect everybody even though apparently many aren't unaware of it.
The present bill and the one that probably will pass is "almost worthless" but it is still better than the status quo.
It is a shame that we live in a country where "stupid is cool" but 'it is what it is' as some like to say.
dog
Diogenes FBKS..... You are right the public option is a shade better than what we now have and of course I want
any relief we can get, but I dont try to convince myself
that this will give us the kind of health care reform we so
despartly need.
Single payer is our only chance to throw off the stranglehold of the bloodsucking insurance companies. You
can see the result of the far right control of politics in
alaska for decades. We are noted for the unabashed corruption of our politicians, all rightys,being the biggest
slurping hog at the earmark trough,giving away our recourses
for pennies to big oiland electing a governor who became a
laughing stock around the country except for the right wing
religious crazies who loved her.
Yes our trip to the far right has been quite a ride. Our
only hope is the people will finally wake up and discard
this ideology of all for the rich into the garbage can of
history where it belongs.
dog - are you Dog the Bounty Hunter? I can see him saying the same things that you do.
I wonder if the Food Network is going to my favorite places
the Hilltop and Soapy Smith's. How to we get to recommend a couple places?
Too bad Louy's isn't still around. They had the best food ever.
Ah...the subs that the Midnight Mine used to make... And those terribly wonderful, topping-loaded, artery-clogging, but-oh-so-grand pizzas that were the hallmark of the Blue Marlin! Now, that was food worth writing about!
It's a shame Sourdough Sam's hasn't rebuilt in time for this piece. And recently I was told (but mind you, this is only hearsay and I surely hope it is wrong) that the pies at Hilltop have gone downhill (no joke intended) a bit.
twain...I have to agree with your assessment of Begich. I will ashamedly admit I voted for him. Heck, against Unca Teddy I would almost have voted for Jack the Ripper. But anymore it seems in voting for Mark I voted for Ted Stevens Jr. DiogenesFBKS hits the nail right on the head. Unless you fit those characteristics he lists it is almost impossible to be elected from Fairbanks. Look at how Yon Dung keeps getting re-elected despite giving Neanderthals a bad name.
The only good thing about Begich....and I'm straining here...is at least he doesn't go around like some runty little thing in a Hulk tie, full of arrogance and self-importance though if he stays in office long enough, who knows?
Dobie..... yea I voted for him too, even knowing he was against single payer, only because the other choice was
totaly unaceptable. It tells you something about us that we keep sending that arrogant red neck young to DC and I have to
apologize to red necks for associating them with young.
Ohhhh, look at the new sweethearts. How cute.
Senate Finance committee member (donk) says health bill is "gibberish":
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/5493...
Big Daddys on Tuesday.
Or, so I've been hearing.
Mark the puppet is "One and Done".If Jaybird doesn't run for Gov.,look for him to run against Mark.Personally I'll vote for the Independent,
OK, so I went to the www.lhsfuture.com site, it has surveys about current stuff.
Why don't you give us the numbers that really count!
If this has been done before:
What were the graduation rates before and after the transition?
What were the college matriculation rates before and after?
What were the employment rates of students before and after?
What were the attendance rates before and after?
What were the dropout rates before and after?
No matter what you do you still have to teach the core academics, then you can focus student to what they think they want to do with elective courses.
And after reading the meeting announcement, I find it hard to believe that you brought in Jan Struebing, who may have a wonderful academic background, but is just a saleswoman trying to make a sale. If the program is truly working in other places you shouldn't have to bring someone in to get the faculty, staff, and parents to "buy-in" to the program.
The more I see and read about this "program" the more I see money being flushed down the drain.
Hill Top maybe,...Turtle Club?
My wife and I are on Tier 1 State retirement with the wonderful Alaska Care health insurance plan. We could not be happier with this so count us in the 80% of Americans who are okay with the present plan. But, both of us would be glad to see real health care reform including the government option or even single-payer. I guess we're just a couple of old liberal fools but for some reason we think in the richest nation on earth we should all work together a bit more and help take care of our fellow humans and even some of the furry little animals too!
I have a good friend who is a real prospector (and about to become a rich guy because he found it) and a long-time conservative and he supports fixing the problems with Medicare and then ...... wait for it......
Medicare for All!
Taters - you and your wife are both state employees - what a HUGE surprise
.
FREE MARKET REFORMS
– Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health-care treatments cost.
– Enact Medicare reform.
-- Adopt a system of Medical savings accounts
– Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts (HSAs).
Equalize the tax laws so that employer-provided health insurance and individually owned health insurance have the same tax benefits.
– Repeal all state laws which prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines.
– Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover.
– Enact tort reform to end the ruinous lawsuits that force doctors to pay insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
– Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health-care treatments cost.
– Enact Medicare reform.
Of course the Pelosi Reid and now Begitch Socialists won't have anything to do with improving the worlds greatest health care system in the world
They want a complete take-over of the system, wiping out any competition the Insurance Industry can supply, unionizing the whole Industry,
And creating 56 new Gov Bureaucracies to micro-manage us. We are Talking COMPLETE CONTROL, and most Americans know this and are not fooled by it .
We now have 3 Illegitimate Senators;
All Democrats..
Lautenberg...Franken...and now Begitch
Firth's company and Norcal, the other big Alaska malpractice insurer, are both non-profit operations owned by the physicians who get coverage. If malpractice costs decline one year, Firth's company sends its policy-holders a dividend the next year.
When Alaska enacted tort reform, malpractice insurance rates had been rising. But now rates are coming down and dividends are growing. In 2008, Firth said, dividends offset 30 percent of the cost of the premiums for their policy-holders.
The Republicans picked up support for their health care "plan" from the National Association of Undertakers - who said, "Finally, a health care plan that can work for US!" Read it, it's true! http://www.borowitzreport.com/article.as...
turtle club would be the dive. I heard they are going to Country Cafe in North Pole. Dont know why. Maybe its considered a dive. YUCK
Obviously tort reform wasn't good enough. Review the current reform and improve upon it. I am sure insurance rates went up because we are paying more for illegals' healthcare thru the emergency room. The illegal doesn't pay for the $12 aspirin, the taxpayers do. Let's see, 1000 aspirin dispensed to illegals X $6 cost = $6000 unpaid. 1000 aspirin dispensed to taxpayers X $6 cost = $6000. However, Taxpayers with insurance pay ($6000 + $6000)/1000 = $12. Is this so hard to figure out?
Oh GAWD, get off your HIGH horse. "IF", you have Alaska Medical, then you've been part of the STATE OF ALASKA work for Alaska or be on welfare program. The REPs - DEMS are not trying to monopolize your medical care coverage. The GOV is seeking to provide some type of medical coverage to those who cannot afford $250 per month medical premium, which is putting hospitals answering non insured medical claims, into a bankrupt state.
There. Feel better? Are you still afraid?
geesh. research the facts and then make a statement
Taters, the Dems plan to make you pay income tax on your "primo" Health Care Plan from the State of Alaska. They will kick you into a higher income tax bracket as well. Good luck
with your "primo" health care plan when it costs you "real money" in additional income tax. Better look into the small print on their plan!
ALASKA RATES LOW
Firth's company and Norcal, the other big Alaska malpractice insurer, are both non-profit operations owned by the physicians who get coverage. If malpractice costs decline one year, Firth's company sends its policy-holders a dividend the next year.
When Alaska enacted tort reform, malpractice insurance rates had been rising. But now rates are coming down and dividends are growing. In 2008, Firth said, dividends offset 30 percent of the cost of the premiums for their policy-holders.
Too bad the carhop place down in Delta is closed for the season; they missed out on a nice buffalo burger with a blackberry shake.
love that place yota!!!!
Health care plan.
1018 pages of legislation to move the welfare means test decimal point 1 place left.
Which makes practically everyone eligible for welfare.
-------
I there are fewer cows grazing in the neighborhood pasture.
I guess the farmer put free hay in the cattle tuck and took some to the slaughter house.
----------"The problem with socialism is sooner or later you run out of someone else's money (aka -pasture hay)"
M. Thacher
From the BBC news -- I gather the country is bankrupt and the holy chop is about to take place because more people are ridding the wagon and pulling it.
I wrote the show a year ago and asked them to come and do Big Daddy's, Taco King, Hilltop and my two favorites The Monderosa outside of Nenana and Clear Sky Lodge by Anderson.
Power-Of-The-O said:
"dog - are you Dog the Bounty Hunter? I can see him saying the same things that you do."
He is my uncle, Power. He is dumber than a hundred head of sheep.. like many of the posters here. But I'd never thought of it before but how about Dog Chapman/Sarah Palin in 1012? Think those 2 near imbeciles could carry the Nation?
Speaking of Uncle Dog, Power.. you got any idea why Mexico was trying to extradite him for running Luster of Max Factor fame and fortune down? You won't find the answer if you google it.. takes a little bit of street moxie plus having been someplace besides across the county line, so to speak, to figure it out. IOW, the PR and PC cover story of him violating Mexican law was exactly that. You want to give it a go?
dog
Anyone know where Guy is TODAY???? Yes, that's more important to me then Sen. B! LOL!
Called Hilltop but "Suzi" knew nothing about it...Big Daddy's is a great idea!
Let's not forget Crabs Corner in Central....they have Killer Burgers....
So this is where the liberals are hiding. Talk about confusing.
I get my health care at the Turtle Club.
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I can think of a few dives that pass for outstanding establishments...
The Food Fountain...
Cookie Jar...
Gambardella's...
Hope to see Chowder House and the Bakery get the recognition they deserve! Good grub, good service!
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