My (Republican) husband and I have talked more about healthcare reform on the sofa in front of the TV tonight than we've managed to do over the last year--and I've been able to correct a few misconceptions on his part.

I don't know how much real "reconciliation" we'll see in the House chamber tonight, but my confidence in the power of living room sofa time is growing.

Maybe that's how it will happen--nationally, I mean.

Unconfirmed report is that it was retiring Republican rep George Radanovich (R-CA Fresno).

The insurance companies now own the healthcare system

Didn't they own it already?

and their insane rate increases will now be covered by the taxpayers--if we're lucky.

Its possible that, having cracked the completely US-centric (and completely ignorant of medicare) myth that govt shouldn't be involved in health care, we are now closer to passing stronger laws against rate hikes. We could even limit the amount of profit insurance companies make, much like is done in Germany and the Netherlands.

Space does not permit a detailed description of the Dutch and Swiss systems. But these countries, too, have married the financing and risk-pooling systems, which try to own up to the principle of social solidarity, with a delegation of the purchasing function to competing, private insurance carriers. In the Netherlands, the latter may be for profit or not for profit. In Switzerland, they are basically nonprofit, except for supplementary coverage for items not in the basic package.

All three countries offer their citizens reliable, portable health insurance based on the principle of social solidarity, but without a government-run health insurance plan like Medicare. The $64,000 question is whether America’s private health insurers would be willing to countenance the tight regulation required for that approach.

We're a long way from this, but we are closer today thanks to this, admittedly half-assed, bill.

He supported the first part, just not the reconciliation. Whatever.

....for voting yes. I'm so grateful for your leadership and for looking out for the people of our nation and of your fellow Tennesseans.
Thank you Jim Cooper, thank you!!!

Haslam: "...and if elected governor, I will pursue every means necessary to protect our state’s interests."

Wonder if that extends to adopting a state tax structure that will finally enable Tennessee to deliver basic human services?

And wonder why the Tennessee delegation consistently tries to sweep under the rug this root problem of an inadequate revenue stream in their continuing denouncements of "runaway costs" in Tennecare?

Eight doctor visits annually? Pick-and-choose which of your prescribed meds you'll be able to take? Yeah, right.