BREAKING: HR 4872 HCR Reconciliation Fix Passes!

The vote is 217-205 right now, so we know it will pass. This is the reconciliation package that the House will send to the Senate. It nixes the "pork giveaways" in the Senate bill while strengthening some insurance regulations and increasing subsidies to help working families afford health insurance.

The final vote is 220-211. The bill is passed!

It's all up to our Harry Reid now to get the job done. I know he will. :-)

NV-01: Shelley Berkley Officially Endorses Health Care Bill (HR 4872)

Now I was expecting this, but it's nice to see Shelley make it official.

“We are in a healthcare crisis, and the burden it is placing on families and businesses in Nevada must be lifted. That is why I will vote for health reform legislation this weekend.

“While not perfect, this bill addresses key obstacles that continue to plague the system. The cost of healthcare premiums is skyrocketing out of control, creating an atmosphere where only insurance companies can and will prosper and prevail. Without this reform, our individual citizens and businesses will continue to be devastated by unsustainable costs or barriers to coverage.

“Reforming the broken healthcare system is a critical element in our nation’s economic recovery. Healthcare costs must be controlled, access to coverage must be expanded and the quality of coverage for those who are currently covered must be improved. No one with or without health insurance should be forced into bankruptcy because of medical bills, or worry they will not be covered if they lose or change their jobs.

And let's not forget this:

Key healthcare reform benefits for Nevada’s First Congressional District:

• Extend coverage to 155,500 uninsured residents.
• Protect 3,800 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable healthcare costs.
• Improve Medicare for 90,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.
• Guarantee that 26,200 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other healthcare providers by $74
million annually.
• Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 201,000 families and 16,700 small businesses to
help them afford coverage.
• Allow 63,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.

Thanks, Shelley! I knew she would do the right thing. :-)

BREAKING: Dina Titus Will Vote FOR Health Care Reform!

Thank you, Dina!

“For nearly a year, I have talked with the people of District Three about the need for health care reform,” Titus said. “I have heard horror stories from small business owners who had to lay off workers because of rising health care costs and families that could not get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. While the legislation the House will vote on this weekend is not perfect, it makes critical reforms that provide common sense rules of the road that will give families and small businesses more control over their health care – not government bureaucrats or insurance company CEOs.”

“From the beginning, I have said I support legislation that reduces costs, strengthens Medicare, and increases choice,” Titus continued. “This legislation meets those goals, and where flaws still exist, I will continue to push for additional reforms. This bill will make real progress by preventing insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, closing the donut hole for prescription drugs, and giving families and small businesses the largest health care tax break in history.”

Titus had expressed concern about the Senate health care bill and wanted to see key changes to the legislation to benefit the Third District. The changes that have been included in the bill are closing the donut hole, removing special deals for certain states, changing the “Cadillac tax” so that it goes into effect later and has a higher threshold, and stronger consumer protections against discrimination for pre-existing conditions.

“During this process, the people of District Three have seen a barrage of ads paid for by special-interest money from insurance companies and those that benefit from the status quo,” said Titus. “I have always made my decisions based on what I believe is in the best interests of the people of District Three; and even in the face of more than $1 million of special-interest ads, this time is no different.”

Often when members of Congress are elected and make the sojourn to DC, they sometimes forget who sent them there in the first place. They sometimes forget who they're supposed to be working for. I'm glad that Dina Titus hasn't forgotten who's she working for.

I'm glad Dina hasn't forgotten who sent her to Washington. We the people did, NOT the HMOs, PhRMA, and the Chamber of Commerce! They may throw money into trashy ads attacking her for this, but we the people know why Dina is doing this and we will reward her accordingly.

So thank you, Dina! Those of us who actually live in the district and don't need insurance company talking points to speak will stand with you and make sure you're reelected this year so you can keep fighting for Southern Nevada's working families.