The non-partisan CBO now says the Baucus health care bill costs less and brings down the federal deficit. Will this get Republicans on board?

What bill? They said there wasn't a bill, it was in committee for a vote to be added to legislation. What are they doing up in Washington, DC? Get out and vote people. This is your chance to show we want change. The democrats used ACORN, we can do this all by ourselves by voting. Show our elected officials we mean business. It is proven the number of voter's who vote in off elections is low. Make a point, get out and vote. Show them how many of us are against health care, more taxes. This is really important, we can make a difference. Please, get out and vote. Take a friend, offer rides to those who can't get out to vote. If we do that, wow, we can make a huge statement. It will catch them off guard and take them by surprise. VOTE!

Ultimately, regardless of the price tag the program comes with, it would still be owned and operated through the government, meaning more government control....another move down the path of socialism.

tell the people that 400million comes out of medicare and you tell me if you think it will pass.

What part of "unconstitutional" do the Democrats not understand?

Demand for services or goods increases the cost of these items. The problem with healthcare today is the government programs create a demand without increasing the supply. I lived in a small Georgia town in the early nineties with three hospitals. One hospital acquired a MRI and the cost per use was $2800. It operated 24/7 unless there was no operator available and had a 3 month backlog. Within two years the other two medical facilities acquired MRIs and with 18 months the backlog fell to a week, and the cost to $950. Congress would do well to increase the number of doctors who practice not research. If you want a look at government medical monopolies check out your Veterans Hospitals and care. If the government gives you something for nothing most of us will receive nothing.

I agree with Beth we must all vote. I will only add its time to change the babies diaper, vote out the incumbent, if they are unopposed write in someone you know. The oftener you replace incumbents the weaker you make PACs and industry lobbying efforts. This in the long term is 'A GOOD THING'.

The party of "No" voting for a Democratic bill? Heck no! These are the same people who rooted against America when we competed for the Olympics. Right now the Republicans would vote against a Democratic bill honoring Ronald Reagan.

PLEASE show me ANY government program that when initiated doesn't come in WAY over budget. The very thought "big government" would keep costs anywere NEAR these CBO projections is a joke. Americans in huge numbers have made it clear they DO NOT WANT socialized medicine. The sad thing is,
since we have never EXPERIENCED socialized medicine here in the land of the free, those who are in SUPPORT of it have no way of knowing just how bad the quality of healthcare would be if a massive, inefficient government took it over. So much could be done to address healthcare costs without having big government take over the healthcare industry, which represents about 1/6 of our Nation's economy. We can develope a system that will meet the needs of the uninsured WITHOUT a complete takeover by a power-hungry, inefficient federal government, and many things can be done to reduce costs sort of government takeover. The very thought the the federal government would OWN your healthcare shoud be disgusting to free Americans.

WBT Morning News continues it's biased, one-sided reporting on this issue...they receive a press release from CNN or CBS and immediately, without any thought as to the truth of what it contains, they begin to spew half truths and untruths throughout their listening audience....this is precisely why I've switched to America's Morning News on 1660am....and now as to what WBT has left unreported....the CBO scores this as costing almost a trillion dollars over the next decade on top of a budget that is already how much in debt????I guess we'll have to go to other sources to learn that number...and the part about reducing the budget deficit....the truth here is that Medicare is over $40 trillion in debt in the coming decade and this number is not in the federal budget....so to reduce spending by $88 billion or $188 billion is nothing to a budget that is over $40 trillion in debt...and if that debt is not addressed in the next few years, by 2050 tax rates that are now 25% will need to rise to 66% just to pay the increase in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security alone....so, where is WBT's report on the hard numbers in the out years...it is sadly being consciously avoided...where are the reports on health care in Great Britain and Canada and all of the waiting lines and foregone procedures that their citizens must endure due to socialized health care...they are missing in action as well...where is WBT's report on the Constitutionality of a federal takeover of health care? is is missing as well. Maybe its a shortage of staff....maybe its a contractual agreement that dictates that WBT Morning News must only use reports from CNN and CBS..maybe its ignorance of the issue...and maybe its a biased viewpoint...at any rate, coverage of this issue on WBT has been very, very poor.

Ed, I agree there are many things that could be done to bring down health care cost, but Republicans are not the ones to do it. Republicans had the Congress for 12 years and the White House for 8, and what got done? Nothing. You had your chance.

Financial cost is not the most important consideration in my mind.

It is the cost in lost freedom that I hope defeats any bill that does more than open up real competition without a government run or owned plan of any sort.

IM DEM has all the depth of understanding of a 2 year old without any understanding of the greater world around him. I would suspect he believes in the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause and that Islam is a religion of peace. (IT actually is a religion of peace...but only after all who don't worship Allah are either dead or living in dhimmitude). That of course is where you are allowed to live in Muslim dominated lands, but you must pay the Jizya (tax) and be subjected to living as a sub-human.

IM DEM, the republicans, at least on this issue, may be acting on principle. If they are standing against the healthcare and cap and trade because they want limited government, then I am proud of them.

If, on the other hand, they are merely operating on the same principles as the entire democratic party has operated for years - self promotion and obstructionism, then I am still disgusted with them as I have been through most of the last 8 years.

Only time will tell, but at this time, I find myself allied with them for their opposition to the democratic efforts to take power from people and put it in the hands of the executive branch.

Hey im dem. the olympics? thats whats important to you? with a war that this idiot is to incompetent to run all kind of problems in the US and he spends my money to go over seas to push for the olympics. I now that you dems need mommy government to take care of you because you dont know how to take care of yourselves. That is fine but leave us americans with self respect that want to take care of ourselves with out the government like the constitution says. you know that stupid document that gives us rights and gets in the dems way. No thanks i have to pay for enough of your programs i know you need them but i only get to pay for them so enjoy them comrad.

for you people that are for this administration,read walter williams' editorial in today's gaston gazette.it says alot for where this country is headed.

The joke is on us citizens, of course. The CBO estimate of $829 Billion cost is now protrayed as a deficit reduction? Remember when Medicare was introduced in the "Great Society" boondoggle? The 1990 cost estimate for Medicare was projected to be $12 Billion. The actual 1990 cost was $107 Billion. Multilpy $829 Billion by 9 and see if that number scares you. We are on the verge of making healthcare more expensive for everyone, of stifling innovation in medical technology, of chasing doctors to other lines of work, of increasing taxes and surtaxes and income taxes, of curtailing our liberties....for what???? So that maybe 10% or the population not covered today can be covered? And, our congressional "leaders" won't let us see the bill before it is voted on. Of course there is not bill right now, and Harry Reid has already stated that he will pass a "shell" bill that can later be filled in with details. It's fraud, deceit and outright lying every day in Washington. It's beyond partisanship; they are all operating in their own interests, not ours. Just think, the same fine folks that just voted NOT to remove tax cheat Charlie Rangel from his chairmanship of Ways and Means are working on your healthcare future in the House, and in the Senate such intellectual heavyweights as Roland Burris, Maxine Waters and Al Franken (!!!) are going to cast votes determining our future.

Go to WBT's home page, down the page on the left it has Video's. One video, "THOUSANDS MOB DETROIT CENTER, HOPE FOR FREE MONEY" Where did that free money come from? They had to call in crowd control and over 10,000 showed up for the free money. They ran out of forms, and there was only money for about 1,500 people. Did any one see free money for us? I could, as I know most of you could use that $3000.00. Get out and vote! The incumbents must go.

Mark, Republicans are enthusiastically indifferent about their principles. Remember DeMint's Waterloo comment?

PM, I was against the Olympics as well, but I did not gloat when we lost. I am against the war, too. But I don't celebrate when our soldiers die.

Did anyone listen to the callers on Keith Larsons show yesterday. It was a great show because Keith pointed out how hypocrittical the callers were. Callers claimed that they want things to be fair but they don't want to be charged more for health insurance if they are smokers. Keith's point was that we are all socialists when we benefit. Made me think.

Concerned, politicians act in their own interest? No, say it isn't so!. Quick, call the newspaper!

IM DEM,

Sadly, many of the republicans in office ARE politicians and not statesmen. But at least there Republican statesmen and I know of NO democratic statesmen.

Regardless of DeMint's choice of words on that statement...he is still one of the few (on both sides) who even realizes that we still have a constitution and still honors his oath to protect it. In this country, at least before Obamamania, we pledged oaths to our country, not to a Messianic leader.

There really is NO BILL and who knows what they will slip in in the dead of nite. This all hype. I do not have any kind of trust in the gov. Lets see if Reid still has the sweet deal he wanted for his state and 3 others not to be hurt by the health bill?

Socialized medicine aka universal health care has never worked anywhere, and never will.

Smoke and Mirrors. No way you can spend money that you don't have and claim that it will reduce the deficit. It may reduce what was projected by a lessor amount but overall it will cost you and me money. We originally projected to spend 1.2 trillion, now we are going to spend 900 billion so we saved 3 billion dollars and reduced our deficit by that amount. NO, you are spending 900 billion and increasing your deficit by 900 billion! You do not save when you spend, you save when you keep your money!

They say this bill will be paid for by new taxes and fees. And who pays these new taxes and fees so you can get health care? If you want health care it is available now, and it is the best in the world. All you have to do is pay for your own. Why should you have to pay for someone else? When does personal responsibility come into play?

Helloooo! How does a program cost $900 billion and result in deficit reduction? It raises taxes and cuts benefits by more than the $900 billion it costs! In this case, costs of medical devices, drugs, and God knows what else will be raised by taxes on manufacturers, Medicare services will be rationed, and it still leaves 25 million uninsured. Sounds like a great deal to me!

Of course, the costs will be multiples of what is forecast, revenues will be less as people and companies adjust their behavior to avoid the taxes, seniors will scream bloody murder over the cuts, which will be just as effective as all the other 'cuts' made over the last 25 years, jobs will be lost, doctors will quit, quality of care will go down for all--and these are just the outcomes that we KNOW will occur. The unintended consequences will probably be worse.

Mark,
You need to go to WBT and get the job of News Producer for all of the shows. You are an idiot and 1660 is probably proud to have you "on board". You wouldn't know journalism and entertainment if Katie Couric gave you a lap dance. Get off of WBT's case and if you don't like it, QUIT READING THE WEB PAGE AND LISTENING TO THE STATION. IM Dem, You and Mark are rapidly approaching your long awaited nominaton for the Nobel Prize for Urinal Logic.

I can't wait for socialized medicine. Although I am intellectually opposed to government intervention in anything I am at the point now that I want everything that I can get. I've paid and paid throughout the years, now it is my turn to take! So, bring on free medical care, extended unemployment benefits, mortgage assistance plans, all other social programs and any free cash you have around, I am ready to take.

Kathy, I.M.Dem, pratt and all the rest of you that believe that government should be the answer to all of our needs, I hope that you succeed as I am ready to get and not give. It is said that it is better to give than receive, right? So I am going to sacrifice my principals so that you all will have someone to give to, me! I will promise to feel bad every time you give to me so you can feel good about giving. This I will do for my fellow man. I promise to act needy so that you will feel that I deserve your help due to my need and that will make you feel so much better as you would have helped a needy person that deserved it. So open up your checkbooks and start writing. At least you will know where your money is going instead of supporting some organized charity that pays its executives millions. I also promise that when I feel that all of my needs have been met I will ask that you stop making contributions to my needs and find another needy person to give your aid to, but that is going to be hard as the more I get, the needier I become.

Loafer,
Well said. I hate that people think because they live in the US they are entitled to whatever their heart desres and that GovCo is obligated to make sure they have it. After you guys fill all of Loafer's needs, I would like to be considered next in line to let you feel good.

Anyone see the coverage of the people lined up to fill out forms to get assistance in Detroit? That is what government healthcare will bring.

I have traveled the world over and with a few minor exceptions (New Zealand comes to mind) Universal Healthcare is anything but universal or healthcare.

I spent a month in Ireland - waiting time to see a dentist with a toothache (per the people I was working with) was 6 weeks. Gall bladder surgery had a two month waiting list if it was "deemed" critical.

We need to stop governing by wishful thinking with more emphasis on wishing than thinking.

Mark

Sorry I got you and Mike mixed up. It was Mike I addressed the 1660 comment to. As for you, let me know when you run for office. I want to be your campaign manager. You will win.

Other than Rush, I have no use for WBT and biased poll questions.

I Am Dem: It is all how you look at it. I see the Republicans the party of yes. Yes to NO tyranny. Yes to guns. Yes to protecting our borders. Yes to protecting life. And your party could be just as easily the party of no: No to guns. No to protecting our borders. No to capitalism. See, it is all how you look at it.

Also, the healthcare bill is a farce. More dangerously: it is tyranny. More people oppose the bill than support it. That tells you alot about who these polititians really serve. Of course, it does not matter about the opinion of the people. This is a Republic-not a Democracy. The difference is rule by law rather than tyanny by mob rule. If they pass the healthcare bill-they will regret it.

idem i was against iraq but not this one. the attacks came from there. if we do not fight this one with everything we have the next attack will make the last one seem small. we lost more people on sept 11th than at pearl harbor somtimes we have to fight i just wish you dems would see that and grow a pair.

No to a public option, no to co-op's, close te current loop holes, allow insurance companies to cross state lines, and write custom policies so if one wants to obmit coverage on unnessary options

I'm still waiting for my bailout... if the failed auto-industries got money, and all the states "got" money (did they really - I don't see any new jobs in Charlotte!), I'd like to be bailed out for paying my bills on time.

more people are for the single option and health reform that are against it. there is more to this country than the wbt listing area,and this country is ruled by laws and not mobs, that is why the birthers, tea baggers, civil war reenactors, drugster koolaid drinking idiots, party of no is a has been with no one listing to them in the country any more. the religious right pushed the gop to the fringe area of their party and they are the ones to blame for their demise. keep following those fringe idiots and ideas. we love it.

...And we will not go down without a fight, either Pratt!! Actually, you are wrong about that, there are more people who do NOT want socialized healthcare. Get your facts straight!. You are correct about us being the party of no: NO socialism, NO to taking our guns away, NO to letting in the illegals, NO to listening to Europe, NO to surrendering (Americans never surrender), NO to TYRRANY!!! It doesn't matter even if socialized healthcare was popular in the polls-THE GOVERNEMT is NOT allowed to do this.

AND we will not take it sitting down.

@Will I Am

I'll take it sitting down, because I hate typing on a computer standing up.

I feel forced to sit down. Only way to protect where they are trying to push this. I'll do my protesting from my chair.

Will, if the Republicans are the party of "yes", then where is their bill? They don't have one. There is no Republican proposal out there other than sound bites.

Loafer, life is a cycle. You take when you are young, give when you are working and productive, and take again once you retire. I have no problem with that and hope you enjoy everything you get.

All you who say that the government is doing something unconstitutional: Please show me where the Supreme Court, or any other Federal Court for that matter, supports your finding. I find it curious that you consider yourselves experts on the Constitution and need some more credible sources.

pm, eight years! Eight years! WWII did not take that long. I prefer taking the $Trillion the war will cost over the next five years and pay for health care for the next ten years. Monitor Afghanistan from abroad and send drones when someone sticks his head out of a cave.

No bill renders the CBO analysis meaningless. Besides, what government program ever reduced the deficit. Seniors better find a grave because Obama is bound and determined to put them in it.

So, I Am Dem, you need the supreme court to tell you when something is unconstitutional? I though you Dems were intelectuals. How do you think the SC decides? People like me or loafer or Lisa or senior citizen bring a case to the supreme court. The truth is, you do not care if it is unconstitutional. In fact you would prefer that it is.

Will, nobody is proposing Socialism or socialized health care. Socialized health care is that the VA has and to some extent Medicare. Nothing in the Baucus proposal even comes close - unfortunately, I would like to add.

IMD,
GOP doesn't have a proposal because IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DONE. And I wish everyone would quit calling this health care reform. It's frigging health care INSURANCE reform. I wish they would reform health care in itself. Too damned expensive. And too many run to the doctor the minute they think they might have the sniffles coming on. That is one place where abuse takes place. Because they don't have to pay for it, they go to the doctor all the time. Hell, I don't even go to the doctor for flu, cold or anything else. THERE IS NO CURE! Let your body do it's work. Waste of an office visit $, drugs that aren't effective, and on and on. Insurance isn't a right, it's a privelege.

I think a lot of people are missing something obvious. This bill, according to the CBO will insure 94% of Americans. Leaving 6% without insurance. Currently 90% of American's are insured... we're paying 900 billion to insure 15 million people, while cutting benefits to seniors and taxing 10% of insured Americans 35% or more for their "excessive" benefits? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Exactly, Jim. We also cannot propose anything because only that be-otch, pelosi has the power to take up legislation. We don't have the power to propose legislation. Of course we will. One way or another.

IM Dem,
The republicans do have a bill, you just never see it in the state controlled AP reports. It's called the Medical Rights and Reform act. It focus's on reducing the cost of medicine to make insurance and healthcare more affordable instead of ramming a Obama controlled insurance bill down our throats.

Pratt,
Then why do the gallop polls show 53% of Americans are against any healthcare bill currently being offered by the democratic party? Why was there a march of nearly 1 million Americans on DC? I'm sure you don't believe that actually happened because only Fox showed the pictures from high up where you could see that numbers, while every other media center only showed small interviews up against buildings where you couldn't see the crowds.

Grow up folks. Use your minds, learns some basic economics. Between the healthcare bill and the knee cap and trade BS, we will be speaking Chinese before the end of the next decade. We'll have to give them everything when we can't repay our bonds.

I.M.Dem, you don't understand! I want from you. You should give me what I want. I deserve to get some of what you have. I have no other reason for wanting you to share with me other than I feel I deserve it because I need It.

When should I expect my check?

Loafer, you get from me every day. I pay taxes, taxes pay for roads, you drive on roads. You feel protected by the military I support, and the police I pay for protects you. If you are retired, I pay for your social security and Medicare, too. I prefer writing a few checks to the government and let them handle the distribution over writing a check for each on the millions who benefit from my success. So don't expect any additional funding directly from me.

Dan S. , what's the bill's number. I can't find it.

Dan S., your numbers are wrong.

Will, I rely on the Constitution to tell me who can decide what is constitutional, and you're not it.

Here ya go, straight from a government website. It's been out there since at least June and no one is reporting on it. It's as much a bill as the democratic "bill". Which is still just a shell with no legislative language actually written. The democrats want to vote on the shell and fill in the details later...

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/il10_kirk/centrist_leaders_unveil_medical_rights_and_reform_act.html

BTW CBO just released its no increased debt numbers. And it's true we won't increase the government debt, but if your HOUSEHOLD income exceeds 90k, you WILL pay at least 19,400 a year for health insurance. So much for cheap insurance...

IM DEM,
then give me the correct ones. Obama said 10% of Americans have no insurance, that's 30-40 million people. CBO said the bill would cover 94%, which again means we're paying 900billion dollars to cover.. well 10% is 30-40.. ok sorry 12-16 million people. Again where's the math wrong. I'm sorry do the decimals and skipping steps confuse you? Or am I using numbers Obama didn't say?

I'm still looking at the enumerated powers given Congress by the U S Constitution, and I just can't seem to find where they are given the power to be in control of healthcare. I know it was written a long time ago, but I can't find anything other than some vague intrepretation of promoting the general welfare that even comes CLOSE to giving government this kind of power.

I.M.Dem, why not skip the middleman and send the money directly to me? I don't care how many taxes you pay, just give me part of your assets. You obviously have no trouble asking for mine.

You are right Ed. The trouble is the General Welfare clause has turned us into a Welfare State by those that wish to stretch the definition.

Dan S. I did not say your math was wrong. I said your numbers were wrong. You believe Obama? Since when?

Dan S., you need to read up on the definition of a bill. Your reference is not a bill.

Ed, nope, your right, it's not there. But neither is your right to own a gun and a woman's right to abortion. The process, however, is well defined. Congress makes a law, the president signs it. If challenged, the Supreme Court reviews it. Pure genius.

Loafer, I have never asked you for any of your assets.

this poll is nuts..."health care bill "costs less""? Less than what? my family's freedom?
when are we going to get honest, thorough reporting on such an important bill?
Come on MEDIA, step up! you have been disappointing for the last 10 yrs.

lee, you need to start watching more Faux News. They have the news you want to hear. Of course, they lie, but that's just a minor detraction. Don't let that bother you.