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Mary Landrieu's vote will cost tax payers $100 Million

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by saltyone, Nov 19, 2009.

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saltyone So Mote It Be

ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports:

The $100 Million Health Care Vote?

What does it take to get a wavering senator to vote for health care reform?

Here’s a case study.

On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.”

The section spends two pages defining which “states” would qualify, saying, among other things, that it would be states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.”

I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill.

In other words, the bill spends two pages describing would could be written with a single world: Louisiana. (This may also help explain why the bill is long.)

Senator Harry Reid, who drafted the bill, cannot pass it without the support of Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu.

How much does it cost? According to the Congressional Budget Office: $100 million.
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Here’s the incredibly complicated language:

SEC. 2006. SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT TO FMAP DETERMINATION FOR CERTAIN STATES RECOVERING FROM A MAJOR DISASTER.

Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d), as amended by sections 2001(a)(3) and
2001(b)(2), is amended— (1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘subsection (y)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (y) and (aa)’’; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(aa)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (b), beginning January 1, 2011, the Federal medical assistance percentage for a fiscal year for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State shall be equal to the following:
‘(A) In the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), increased by 50 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5.

‘‘(B) In the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection for the State, increased by 25 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection.

‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State’ means a State that is one of
the 50 States or the District of Columbia, for which, at any time during the preceding 7 fiscal years, the President has declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and determined as a result of such disaster that every county or parish in the State warrant individual and public assistance or public assistance from the Federal Government under such Act and for which— ‘‘(A) in the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5, by at least 3 percentage points; and ‘‘(B) in the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection by at least 3 percentage points.

‘‘(3) The Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State under paragraph (1) shall apply for purposes of this title (other than with respect to disproportionate share hospital payments described in section 1923 and payments under this title that are based on the enhanced FMAP described in 2105(b)) and shall not apply with respect to payments under title IV (other than under part E of title IV) or payments under title XXI.’’.
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The $100 Million Health Care Vote? - The Note

You know, they really shouldn't be allowed to write these bills in such a language. Even if we had time to read the bill, we still wouldn't understand what the hell it said.

saltyone, Nov 19, 2009

#1
MLUTiger Secular Humanist

About time we got our share of the pork...

MLUTiger, Nov 19, 2009

#2
Rex_B Geaux Time

I saw that this morning. Pathetic.

Rex_B, Nov 20, 2009

#3
DJM136 fubar 24/7

Around 3 weeks ago, I saw a Yahoo story that quoted Mary as saying she'd never vote for a health care bill with the public option. I was surprised and pleased at that statement. I went to her web site "contact" and wrote her a short note about it and encouraged her to maintain her stance. Never heard any reply until yesterday 11/19. Today I hear about her selling out for $100 million of OUR money. Below is the unbelievably wordy BS WTF reply I received:

November 19, 2009 Dear Mr. (my name): Thank you for contacting me about health care reform. As a nation, we have debated this issue not just for years, but for generations. The status quo is no longer an option for Louisianans who struggle every day with skyrocketing costs and few choices. If we do nothing, the federal government will simply go broke over the next several decades. If we do nothing, Medicare will be bankrupt in less than ten years. And if we do nothing, middle class families in Louisiana will be spending up to 60% of their household income on health insurance by 2016. While we have come a long way towards reforming our broken system, Senate health care legislation is still taking shape and your input is invaluable as I continue to advocate for Louisiana. As you may know, I have been a co-sponsor of the "Healthy American's Act" (S.391) which guarantees every American high-quality, private health insurance that is portable from job to job. I support the bipartisan principles in this bill, many of which are included in the current proposals before Congress. These common ground principles include consumer protections which prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions or dropping coverage if you become seriously ill. They will also limit out-of-pocket costs, ensure free preventive care, end gender discrimination, eliminate annual or lifetime caps on coverage and extend coverage for young adults. While most Members of Congress support these protections, there remains a great deal of work to achieve the right kind of health care reform. Let me be clear about what my priorities are as we move forward: " I support health care reform that will reign in out-of-control costs without out adding one dollar to the national deficit. We need to lower our costs if we are to stay competitive in the global economy. " As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business, one of my top priorities is to ensure affordable insurance and organized choice for small businesses. " A competitive marketplace will provide Louisiana consumers with access to low-cost, stable health insurance. We must increase competition and choice in Louisiana where today, the top two health insurance companies dominate 87% of the individual insurance market. Providing more and better private choices will help taxpayers hold insurance companies accountable and drive down costs. " Health care reform must provide subsidies to low-income and middle class families to purchase health insurance, thereby giving them greater choice and affordable coverage. " Health care reform must include legislation that ensures every child so vulnerable that they had to be placed in foster care has consistent and portable health insurance coverage. It must guarantee that foster youth are never dropped from coverage and create a safety net so they continue to be covered even after they age out of the system. Opponents of reform have circulated a lot of misinformation about what health care reform will mean. I'd like to set the record straight on a few things. Health insurance reform will not create a government-run system with rationing. The reality is that insurance companies are already rationing your care. Right now insurance companies dictate what services you can and cannot get, not based on what you need or the best treatment, but based on the kind of insurance you have. Moreover, given the uncontrolled costs without reform, there is no guarantee that you can keep your coverage even if you like it. I am fighting for real reform to make sure that everyone has stable access to health insurance even if they change jobs or get sick. Here are some other facts about the bill before the Senate: " Eliminating the fraud and waste in Medicare Advantage will not affect benefits for seniors. Medicare will be safe and stronger with reform. " Members of Congress will not be exempt from reform. " Reform will expand your choices, not limit them. " There is no panel to decide end-of-life care in any of the bills. " Reform will not cover illegal immigrants. " Taxpayer dollars will not be used to pay for abortion. Misinformation like this stopped health care reform 16 years ago, and since then our costs have sky-rocketed. Between 1996 and 2006 alone, the average annual premium for family coverage obtained through an employer increased by 85 percent. We simply cannot afford the status quo. I am also committed to a transparent and informed public debate on this key issue. In fact, I recently joined seven of my colleagues in a letter urging the Senate leadership for increased transparency and public engagement as the health care debate moves to the Senate floor. We asked that the complete budget score and entire bill be posted publicly online for at least 72 hours before it is brought to a vote. I believe it is critical that constituents have the opportunity to evaluate these policies and communicate their concerns or support to their Members of Congress. As the Senate discusses health care reform, I want to hear from Louisianans, answer questions and keep you updated about what I am doing. That is why I have launched several new outreach initiatives. These new activities include a weekly internet address available via YouTube at www.youtube.com/SenatorLandrieu. I will also be conducting telephone town halls and local radio talk show interviews. Additionally, my office sends out a weekly email newsletter with newsworthy items and surveys that give Louisianans the opportunity to send feedback on which aspects of the health care debate are most important to them and what specific issues they would like to see addressed. To sign up, visit my website at http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/. Again, thank you for taking the time to send me your input and concerns on health care reform. Health care reform is not about Washington games; it is about the millions of Americans throughout this country who pay thousands of dollars to insurance companies and then get cut from coverage when they need it most. In the end, my main goal is to ensure that whatever Congress does will lower costs to families, small businesses and the nation. I trust that you will continue to contact me on matters of mutual concern. With warmest regards, I am Sincerely, Mary L. Landrieu United States Senator P.S. I am excited to announce that my office is launching new e-newsletters to keep you updated on what I am working on here in Washington, D.C. If you would like to receive the e-newsletter, please go to http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail. Please include your zip code and interest areas so I can stay in touch about issues you care about most. MLL:jas
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DJM136, Nov 20, 2009

#4
mobius481 Registered Member

screw it, I'm on board. We're all going to hell in a handbag anyway, may as well get some perks along the way. My wife's a nurse practitioner who deals only with Medicaid so this will help my pocket. Since we're all looking out for only ourselves, and not just that, but only ourselves right now today, this is something I should support. Woot! Woot! Life is good.:dis::dis:

mobius481, Nov 20, 2009

#5
LSUDeek All That She Wants...

mobius481 said: ↑

My wife's a nurse practitioner who deals only with Medicaid
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Community health At least these stimulus packages are giving me work.

Here's a bull**** statement with absolutely no facts behind it:

If we do nothing, Medicare will be bankrupt in less than ten years. And if we do nothing, middle class families in Louisiana will be spending up to 60% of their household income on health insurance by 2016.
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LSUDeek, Nov 20, 2009

#6
PURPLE TIGER HOPE is not a strategy!

Mary Landrieu is a SELL OUT! It's time for her to be replaced.

PURPLE TIGER, Nov 21, 2009

#7
Bengal Buddy Founding Member

I am no Landrieu supporter and I wish she had voted against the measure, but what she voted to do was send the bill to the floor for debate. That's all. The real fight will come on the floor. It will be during the floor debate that Landrieu and other Blue Dogs fight against the public option and excluding abortion from the bill. If she fails to do that she has won her last election.

Bengal Buddy, Nov 21, 2009

#8
red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

Her job is to get Louisiana the best deal she can, not march in lock-step with the democratic party. She says this will bring 300 million to Louisiana. That's federal money that will keep the state from going bankrupt over its health care obligations post-Katrina. The feds were using the post-Katrina surge of income to deny Louisiana the funding it would have gotten if Katrina relief hadn't impacted state income the way that it did.

red55, Nov 22, 2009

#9
MLUTiger Secular Humanist

PURPLE TIGER said: ↑

Mary Landrieu is a SELL OUT! It's time for her to be replaced.
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She's a sellout because she's trying to channel money back to her constituents?

MLUTiger, Nov 22, 2009

#10

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