Bent Corner

Blogging from Williamsport, Maryland so you don't have to.

Tag: Anthony Weiner

Medicare for all

From the Physicians for a National Health Program:

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) is introducing a substitute amendment to the House leadership’s bill, H.R. 3200, that would delete the language of that bill and substitute the provisions of H.R. 676, the single-payer, Medicare-for-All bill sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised a full floor vote on Weiner’s amendment in the weeks or months ahead.

The Weiner amendment, unlike the House leadership’s bill, assures universal, comprehensive, and high-quality coverage, free choice of doctor and hospital, and no co-pays or deductibles through a publicly financed system similar to Medicare. Because of the massive savings on private insurance overhead and paperwork, the Weiner amendment would entail no increase in U.S. health spending, in contrast to the House bill’s $1 trillion price tag over 10 years.

Though adopting a single payer system like Medicare, only for everyone, makes the most sense, it will never happen. With that said, I commend Congressman Weiner for introducing the bill. Unlike many in Washington, he truly represents the people, not the corporations, in his district.

55 Republican congressmen who are against the public option are on Medicare

One of my favorite congressmen in the House, Rep. Anthony Weiner, Democrat from New York, has compiled a list of 151 members of Congress that already enjoy single-payer “public option” health insurance. It’s called Medicare. Included on the list are 55 Republicans who are against the public option when it comes you and me.

How hypocritical is that?

It seems ridiculous for people to denounce the idea of government health care when they themselves enjoy the benefits of government health care. If government health care is so bad, why are they on it?

You can see the list here. Surprise, surprise, the second name on the list is my elected representative to the House, Roscoe G. Bartlett. Why am I not surprised that Bartlett has a Medicare card in his wallet yet whines about the evils of government health care?