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Subscribe to RSSIn a speech in San Francisco today, Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty addressed the nation's top health-insurer lobbying group, where he criticized President Obama's health-care law.
Speaking at the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) conference -- for which he was reportedly paid by the health-insurer group -- Pawlenty said that the health care law is not financially sound.
“Within 15 years or less, the system will be financially bankrupt like most of the current entitlements are or will soon be."
He added that the law will be "one of the worst mistakes" and that the only way to fix it is to repeal the law.
"My approach is to say repeal the whole thing and start over. I think it is in philosophically, directionally, fundamentally flawed. The idea that the federal government is going to take into Washington, DC this chunk of our economy -- manage it, limit choices, limit options, create the oversight, regulate it, finance it, staff it -- I think will be 20 years from now one of the worst mistakes of the modern history of the country."
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WITH WHAT?
Anyone besides me wondering when one of our intrepid journalists are going to ask one of these clowns this question?
We've been hearing this out of the Teapubicans for a YEAR now! FINE you don't like it then - tell US how YOU'RE going to FIX it!
You know - inquiring minds and all...
What happened to the “Repeal & Replace” promise?
The House repealed it 5 months ago but not a peep about a
replacement bill. They repealed it with no plan to ever replace it.
The plan is simple...the GOP will keep the status quo as far as what was wrong with health care in this country and simply channel their inner "Chip Diller".
"Remain calm...all is well!"
Hey Pawlenty - it's not a public option!! So the private insurers do not want this business?? Does this at all make sense?
Dennis is Columbus: The same thing that happened to JOBS JOBS JOBS.
Republicans are against the American People, and are for corporations and businesses ONLY.
Republicans can't even stand to see the American People earn a decent wage because they think it takes WAY too much money away from multi-billionaire corporations.
ALL while Republicans were in control, the American workers' wages continued to stagniate, while corporations took in record profits.
Republcians want what President Obama STOPPED insurance companies from getting: Health insurers want a flat 15% of every American working person's gross wages, off the top, which is even more than the IRS gets from us.
American Girl,
Speaking of Jobs, with the talk about Texas and all the jobs created there that Gov. Perry is so proud of come to find out that Texas has the highest percentage of minimum wage jobs in the country.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/06/16/246892/perry-minumum-wage-jobs/
I'm curious Dennis.
When you post such drivel.....do you realize how ridiculous it sounds?.
Let me ask you....since you pretend to know.
How many independent businesses are in Texas?
What is the median income of people in Texas? Even with "the highest percentage of minimum wage jobs"?
How many people in Texas have jobs?
What is the current rate of unemployment in Texas?
thinkprogress? Demonstrated to consist of liars and to bend the facts.
Doug,
The medium income in Texas is $47,143 compared to $49,945 for the country Texas is 5.9% below the national average.
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?rgn=45&cat=1&ind=15
If you actually read the article it stated that the BLS reported their unemployment at 8.0% and that there are 23 states with lower unemployment rates.
I have friends that live in Houston and a branch of the company I used to work for is there and I have contacts there also. A close friend has lived there since 2000 and this is the 4th state he has lived in for an extended period of time as an adult and family man. My friend is not all that happy with Houston or Texas other than the warm winters.
I could care less if you provide a Conservative or far Right citation I will accept it until it can be proven incorrect or misleading.
Texas is just one example of the effects of right to work for less and less and less laws, virtually every right to work state has a lower median income than those without the law. Those poor saps work side by side with illegals and don't dare say a word, but then they vote republican again so it is hard to feel sorry for them. They won't stand up for themselves or the man next to them, they blame unions who try to help them, instead of the man they work for who is the one ripping them off, so what can you do for people like that? They got what they voted for, the right to work for less and less.
I live in Texas. I have real experience. You should really take a look at your "facts" and consider your post. I could point out the facts from your own words but I think it will be fun if you discover them on your own.
But hey, let me know if you need help.
Well that explains everything - take your lips off the tailpipe and come up for air will ya?
Nothing like being in the pockets of big insurance, T-Paw. Must give him a warm, fuzzy feeling to be paid to tell them exactly what they want to hear.
We're still waiting for the "Replace" part of the GOP House's "Repeal" bill. They campaigned to Repeal and Replace it along with jobs, jobs, jobs bills. They have yet to keep their 2010 promises.
Jody - it's just "change." You know the republicans are going to change Obamacare.
That is enough for you right - Change. Maybe he should throw in an occasional "hope" as well, you know get down to the real nitty gritty specifics you all crave.
Work awesome a few years ago, right? Sure it did.
Jody, the Tea Baggers that were sent to Washington have to yet to do anything, and they never intended on creating any JOBS JOBS JOBS because that would offend corporate profits.
You and I both know that there is no Republican "Replace" bill because big insurance doesn't want any bill at all, they want our money and they DON'T want to be forced to actually provide coverage. Insurance companies want to be able to claim that we were all imperfect at birth, we knew it, and therefore any illness is a pre-existing illness -- Claim Denied. THAT is the Republican "Health Care Plan."
Jody-are you really as ignorant as you sound? The Reps promised repeal and replace but they can't get past a Dem Senate and Obama will veto it anyway. And the Reps don't want to create jobs because it would interfere with big corporate profits. Read what you wrote and see how stupid you actually are. How can jobs be created when the largest part of our work force is govt employees. How sad is that the there are more gov't ees than private? Spending at the fed level has to stop and the dems need to wean the proliteriate off the govt teat! Entitlements are at an all-time high and this is just one area that needs stopped!
Insurance companies want to be able to claim that we were all imperfect at birth, we knew it, and therefore any illness is a pre-existing illness.
Insurance companies might call it the "Nobody's Perfect Plan" so that nobody's covered. Talk about wanting "something for nothing" -- there you have it.
Could we start with a basic statement of philosophy: does Gov. Pawlenty think that health care is a right or a privilege? Does he think each state can provide for its own citizens? What if one of his citizens gets sick in another state...what happens then? Americans are a very mobile people -- they move/relocate for jobs, for school, to be near relatives when they retire. If they are wealthy they have second homes in other states (ie, Romney in NH). Health care shouldn't depend on where you are when you get sick or injured...we should have some basic coverage no matter where we are. However, if Gov. Pawlenty believes that health care is a privilege that we should cover ourselves, will he pledge to get it on his own, without the group benefits available through government service?
What's the matter kate you got an issue with employer provided health care?
How about you, covered through your employer? That's cause you got a job, not because anyone owes you anything, right?
kate, is health care the only thing you are owed, or do we owe you other stuff as well? Tell us what and how much we owe you.
Also are you owed a Cadillac plan, basic coverage, or what? Any limit as to how much we owe you?
@Spanky: It isn't a question of what each individual is owed, Spanky, but rather what we owe to each other as a society. Investing in good health would have societal benefits far beyond the lining of insurance company pockets, or even lining yours. Imagine that.
If we took the entire pot of money that is currently used to pay premiums for employer-provided health insurance, added a little extra in for the grinches who don't provide it to their employees now, dumped it into a single-payer system, and eliminated the middleman so that insurance executives could taste what it's like to be forced onto unemployment insurance for a while, I'm willing to bet we could provide that "Cadillac" coverage for EVERYONE, and for less than it costs now. Considerably less, if the Medicare experience is any indication. In that scenario, WE the people have the leverage, and health care providers would no longer have the option to drop out. They either play or starve. If they play, they'll still make out well enough, and you'll still have money to buy gas, even when it goes to $10 a gallon. Win, win.
But be careful how you use the term "Cadillac," Spanky. It just might be interpreted as a sign that you consider the GM bailout to be a success and view the Cadillac as still being a viable prestige nameplate.
Just sayin'
Why don't they put this on the ballot at election time and let the people decide?
Are you in favor of a public option, single payer system in the US? Then do what the people want. Obama got elected in large part by his health care reform platform, unfortunately it turned out to be in the insurers interest vs the citizens. They are still having their double digit increases.
Nicely done First Read - keeping it lite. Libbie lite.
Ok I know you all loves you all things Weiner, as evidenced by the content around here of late.
So how about one of you whiz kids go find and interview Huma? Heck I'd like to hear what Billy C. has to say. I hear he is mighty pissed off at the little prick.
Oh and did you hear? 10 foreign countries have sued Georgia about it's immigration laws. Yep, that sound cool, we definitely want a foreign countries dictating our immigration policy.
Hey, did you hear about Alabama's new immigration policies? Nice, right? A story comparing it to Az would be great, don't you think First Read?
Of course you don't. Hey how's Obama doing with Hispanics these days?
Don't you have anything to say about this article? Anything?
Spanky
You used the word Hispanic.......... watch it they wil be calling you a Racist..
I thought I recognized you... lol
What's up with the new moniker steveiam?
Is this the 'new & improved' steve (numbers) or did you finally get thrown off the board under the other one?
This article bites. No substance. Hell even Feisty can see there is nothing to it.
Pawlenty is a silly diversion, but it appears that FR just doesn't want to talk about the substantive issues of the day. Perhaps its budgetary, in addition to just keeping it Libbie lite and focused away from all the bad stuff.
For intance Noid did you hear about the negative numbers out today? Yesterday it was NY, today another state. "unexpectedly" and all, but still newsworthy.
Tomorrow will have another round of doom and gloom. Should be fun to see how FR avoids the topic. Given the hour, this is likely the last entry of the day.
Feisty how do you figure those things out, ..Steve(numbers) steviam......you are very clever.
Todays word is "hibernaculum"...snake den!....re: a house in Idaho that a young couple purchased that was invested with garter snakes, snakes in the walls, crawl space, slithering around in a circle to keep warm.....Kinda reminds me of the Teapublicans.
Let's just say, they're not NEARLY as clever as they think they are! ;o)
Surprising about the snakes - usually the Teapublican's reside in a roach motel...
It's SO much fun flicking on the lights and watching them scatter! lol
A declared candidate for President is a "silly diversion"?
The US spends more per capita than the rest of the developed world yet gets the worst results.
http://www.creditloan.com/blog/2010/03/01/healthcare-costs-around-the-world/
That's what happens when you have a useless middleman (the insurance industry) grabbing all the bucks they can while offering as little as possible.
TO: Da Noid who wrote:
A declared candidate for President is a "silly diversion"?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, Pawlenty doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of winning because he's already said on TV that he plans to use our Social Security Retirement money and health benefits to pay toward the deficit.
Pawlenty already lost the election much like McCain lost when he announced 100 more years in Iraq and that he wanted to bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iraq.
So yeah, Pawlenty is a "silly diversion" and I'd even go so far as to say Pawlenty is a "bad joke."
Say,
Is that the "original recipe" Feisty Redhead that gets collapsed all the time?? Or is it the "new and improved" Feisty Redhead that simply gets deleted entirely??
Spanky says "10 foreign countries have sued Georgia about it's immigration laws."
Spanky weren't those people trying to leave Georgia!
'Pawlenty to Health Insurers: I Will Repeal Obamacare' This is a likely headline in tomorrow's papers--the only problem is that it isn't news, nor is it surprising. I think Pawlenty could be a formidable candidate against President Obama, but only because he has repudiated all of his previous moderate Republican positions. He's licking the Tea Party's bal...conies.
He left MN $6 Billion in Debt, Remember the Bridge that collasped that caused deaths and the New Stadium for Millions that was built, and don't forget those Low taxes for the Rich, what a guy!
When will the Mainstream Media cover the actual news? Today's Republican Party wants to Repeal the entire United States Government while waving the flag with the stars and stripes. The Republican Party does not like Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment Insurance, OSHA, any federal regulation of the banking industry. I want to know what it is exactly that any Republican candidate likes about the United States Government. Come on. Be Honest. Step Forward and let's hear from some Republican.
The Republican Senate agreed to march in lock step to oppose everything that President Obama proposed so that they could run in the 2012 election on the platform that they had made his administration fail. The country voted in 2010 and elected a Republican Majority in the United States House of Representatives and the House has not presented ONE Bill to the Senate with a plan that would provide jobs and employment to the American People.
What is the difference between America and the United States? Let's hear somebody ask the question and let's hear some Republican Politician answer the Question!
When will the Mainstream Media cover the actual news? Today's Republican Party wants to Repeal the entire United States Government while waving the flag with the stars and stripes. The Republican Party does not like Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment Insurance, OSHA, any federal regulation of the banking industry. I want to know what it is exactly that any Republican candidate likes about the United States Government. Come on. Be Honest. Step Forward and let's hear from some Republican.
The Republican Senate agreed to march in lock step to oppose everything that President Obama proposed so that they could run in the 2012 election on the platform that they had made his administration fail. The country voted in 2010 and elected a Republican Majority in the United States House of Representatives and the House has not presented ONE Bill to the Senate with a plan that would provide jobs and employment to the American People.
What is the difference between America and the United States? Let's hear somebody ask the question and let's hear some Republican Politician answer the Question!
The United states is a group of Republican dominated States that believe in freedom and individual responsibility surrounded by a few decrepit, disgusting Democrat run states that are so broke and so heavily in debt that they have to suck off of the wealth of the Republican run states.
Remember when Humphrey Bogart climbed out of the water in the movie "The African Queen" and he had those black leeches all over him and he yelled "Get em off me"?? Boagrt was representing the Republican states in terror at the Democtatic leeches sucking his life blood.
America is what this great country will be when all the leeches are off our body and disposed of.
Wake up Ed and turn off the TV, you fell alseep during your Bogart movie and you got your movie and dreams all mixed up.
Edward-1075991, you got that totally backwards. You really shouldn't just make sh!t up.
Historically, "red" states pay in less in federal tax dollars than they take back from the federal government and "blue" states take in more than they get back from the fed. Which shows that it is the "red" states that are being subsidized by the "blue" states.
blah, blah, blah
The GOPhers are a joke and the media wants the people to think they are formidable their a joke
People should never forget that real health depends how well you take care of yourself and not what health insurance you carry but I agree health insurance is important for every one. Search "Penny Health Insurance" or online for dollar a day insurance plans.
dear tim
I hate to break it to you bubby but Americans don't like Presidents who are WHIMPS !!! and the next time that you criticize the "Mormon", have the balls to follow through !!! during the debate exchange between you and romney it appeared as if you had left your testicles in the green room !!!
p.s. I hope that you haven't lost them !!!
This blog site is so vicious...grow up your not in third grade your adults...stop calling names and act like adults.
may I suggest going back to FOX NEWS dear suzen. you may be happier there !!!
Dear Mr. Tim(pecker nose) Pawlenty, the one fact I know for sure is that my health insurance premimun has went up 275% in the past ten years. Is this what you are proposing if you are elected? This is unacceptable for me.