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June 8, 2011 in City
Toss health care law, says Rep. McMorris Rogers
SEATTLE – As Washington and other states adopt laws and adapt programs to prepare for federal health care reforms, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers argued Tuesday that may not be the best course of action.
“We need to repeal the entire law and start over,” she told a conference on health care reform sponsored by a conservative think tank, the Washington Policy Center.
The Eastern Washington Republican backs proposals by her party to allow health insurance to be sold across state lines, limit malpractice lawsuits, encourage healthier lifestyles and give states more flexibility on Medicaid programs. She voted with other members of the House GOP to repeal what’s formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a fact that earned her applause from a room full of health care professionals and insurance industry representatives.
More than a year after the law passed, it remains unpopular with a majority of Americans in survey after survey, she said. But McMorris Rodgers supports a plan to revamp Medicare, crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that, too, remains unpopular in public opinion surveys.
“Then let’s at least have a discussion about Medicare,” McMorris Rodgers said when asked if the same logic should apply to both unpopular plans. “We’re waiting for the Senate and the president to come up with their proposals. It’s important to have a debate, to put ideas on the table.”
When House Republicans met recently with President Barack Obama on the budget and increasing the debt ceiling, McMorris Rodgers asked him to stop calling the Ryan plan a “voucher system.” It is, Republicans said, an opportunity to expand medical insurance options for those currently younger than 55 and provide “premium support” from the federal government. Those 55 and older wouldn’t see any changes.
While the terminology dispute continues, both sides agree Medicare needs major reform because the revenue coming in covers only about half the costs, she said.
Before McMorris Rodgers addressed the group of about 300, state officials and health care executives explained several changes already made in Washington to meet deadlines for health care reform.
The Legislature this year approved a health care exchange, which will allow small companies and individuals not covered by medical care at work to shop for insurance online, comparing prices and coverage.
Washington state has seen about a 50 percent increase in Medicaid clients over the last 10 years – from 800,000 to 1.2 million – but is having some success reining in prescription drug costs, said Doug Porter, director of the state Health Care Authority.
Medicaid splits the costs for patients between the state and federal governments. In 2010, the state spent $100 million less on prescription drugs than it did in 2009, even though Medicaid enrollments increased, through a series of program changes, Porter said.
It now requires a second opinion for drugs to treat certain psychiatric problems in children, makes generics the first choice over brand-name drugs, has a lower reimbursement rate, and will only pay for new brand-name drugs if they are proven to be better than drugs currently on the market, Porter said.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
Scoutster on June 08 at 5:59 a.m.
Cathy says:
“Then let’s at least have a discussion about Medicare,” McMorris Rodgers said when asked if the same logic should apply to both unpopular plans…”It’s important to have a debate, to put ideas on the table.”
Great, Cathy. Name the time and date and we’ll be there!
soccermomsusie on June 08 at 6:07 a.m.
Yes!!! Obamacare needs an obamatronsilitus. And let’s end socialist Medicare (for everyone younger than me).
Thanks Cathy for not caring about the riffraff that comprises most of your constituents. Continue only listening to the Big Voter (the Almighty) and His angels (wealthy donors and corporations).
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
JBlim on June 08 at 6:10 a.m.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers today, 6-8-2011, at Noon, Red Lion In at the Park.
“A group opposed to her vote to revamp Medicare has announced plans to demonstrate.”
And by the way, she wants you to quit calling Ryan’s VoucherCare proposal a “voucher system” Got it? Don’t annoy her again.
hawken on June 08 at 6:54 a.m.
Camden is “cherry picking again.”
26 states have sued and won against Obamacare.
Using Obama’s math that we have 58 states, that equates to 45% of the states that oppose Obamacare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws
Using actual states (50), that equates to 52% of the states that oppose Obamacare.
Obamacare makes health care significantly more expensive for employers, consumers and taxpayers. Employers are better off to pay the $2,000 fine than pay for healthcare under Obamacare.
Of course, this is precisely what Obamacare is intended to do, by design. Eliminate competition by shifting healthcare to the government. Obamacare is designed to be “socialized medicine.” A “Single payer”, government monopoly. All monopolies cost more and are less effective. AVISTA anyone?
Obamacare needs to be “Repealed Now.” To sign a Senate petition go here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/firms-halting-coverage-as-reform-starts-survey-2011-06-06
At last report, only four more Senators are needed to repeal it in the Senate as done in the House.
JBlim on June 08 at 7:02 a.m.
Sorry, hawken, it’s the law, enacted by congress and signed into law by the president. Your state count is meaningless.
Where do you stand on McMorris’s voucher care plan to replace Medicare? I really don’t want to be worrying about health insurance company baloney when I get sick and old.
detroitdude on June 08 at 7:03 a.m.
Once again, the world laughs as we collectively chase our tail regarding health care. Every other nation figured this out long ago, and guess what, their citizens are happy with it in most regards. Expecting any system to be perfect is foolish. Obviously, you can see all the Canadians lining up to trade health care systems with us.
No, it’s more important to talk about Weinergate here lol, we have our priorities in order I see.
hawken on June 08 at 7:16 a.m.
Blim: Obamacare hurts Medicare as well. Which has been public information for only two or more years now. Read this, based upon Medicare’s Annual Report:
I’ve lost track of the actual number, but thousands of companies, mostly unions, have been given waivers from Obamacare. The number keeps increasing.
Obamacare is a “boondoggle” for business, health care consumers, taxpayers and Medicare recipients.
You should be worried about your Medicare in old age. Especially, if Obamacare is allowed to be fully implemented.
Medicare, as we know it today, is on it’s last leg. It will go completely bankrupt as early as 2018. Whether we reform Medicare or not, Medicare as we know it today is a dying dinosaur. Those who think otherwise are in a serious state of denial.
hawken on June 08 at 7:25 a.m.
Blim: I posted the wrong link for the 2011 Annual Medicare Report I quoted above. Here’s the correct link.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/medicare-trustees-cast-doubt-obamacare-h
JBlim on June 08 at 7:30 a.m.
” …In its official score of the Affordable Care Act, CBO found that the law would reduce the deficit by more than $100 billion — or about 0.1 percent of GDP — over the next decade and more than $1 trillion — or about 0.5 percent of GDP — in the decade after that. While this is the most deficit reduction enacted since the 1990s, it is smaller than these long-term effects… ”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/blog/10/07/08/Thinking-Long-Term/
hawken on June 08 at 7:38 a.m.
Blim:
It’s NOT the law for the 26 states. Since Obamacare has been ruled “unconstitutional,” those states are not currently required to participate.
I’m for significant reform to Medicare now. The best idea on the table is the voucher system.
The problem is that Democrats refuse to pass any Medicare reform of their own (Senate),,, and refuse to even discuss Medicare reform. No, they are using ‘scare tactics’ that little old laddies will be thrown off the cliff.
Liberals have no solutions,,,, no solutions for gluttonous, government spending,,,, no solutions for our massive debt,,,, no solutions for our chronic unemployment,,,, and no solutions for our inflation, getting worse.
schleufer on June 08 at 7:44 a.m.
yeah hawken there have been waivers to groups like unions. im sure you are aware of why yet you leave out the deatails so it makes it look like some sort scam/special deal. trumpka the head of the afl-cio did work out a deal for organized labor because they have already paid for health care through collective bargaining. they give up wages and other benefits so they can have healthcare while working and retirement. its my guess you wouldnt have a problem with them paying twice and at the same time give tax breaks to the rich?
cathy thinks throw the whole thing out is the answer so is she also talking about her government healthcare? i remind you people again to read the book deadly spin. its the words from a top health care exec who tells it all what they did to miss lead the public and it was all about the money, he also spoke of getting friendly republicans to go along with it. he didnt give those names so read the book and then see who walks the walk and talks the talk.
hawken on June 08 at 7:46 a.m.
Blim:
The CBO has revised and reported that health care WILL increase the deficit without further intervention. The numbers for Obamcare have never added up.
You can see the charts and numbers at the link above.
hawken on June 08 at 8:06 a.m.
More and more Obamacare is shown to be the “great government boondoggle” that many labeled it to be in the beginning (including me).
It took a Liberal House, Liberal Senate and Liberal President to ram it down our screaming throats when they totally owned government, the first two years of Obama. At the same time, no one actually read the massive bill. “We had to pass it before we could know what’s in it.” [paraphrase - Pelosi, then Speaker of the House].
Well, liberals passed it. Now, more and more we find out what really is in it.
Liberals tried to sell us a bill of goods by claiming it would reduce the deficit, lower health care costs and make health care available to everyone. It demonstrably fails on every level.
Moreover, it WILL result in health care rationing. If fully enacted, there will be government panels that decide who gets health care and who does not. These government bureaucrats WILL make decisions that should be made between a doctor and their patient.
Obamacare is about socializing our health care system and enlarging government power over individuals. It’s all based upon Liberal Left smoke and mirrors.
Ninch on June 08 at 8:23 a.m.
Thank you Hawken for your factual posts regarding Obamacare.
Correct, that the 26-state court case (being heard today in the 11th circuit court of appeals) cannot be applied to these states unless the original decision that Obamacare is unconstitutional is overturned.
FYI everyone who wants Obamacare— Over half the states before Obamacare had the following Obama “selling points already in place:”
1. High risk insurance pools. Note that Obamacare high risk insurance pools are not being utilized and so they lowered premiums and changed eligibility rules.
2. Coverage of children up to 24 to 26 years in age on parents insurance.
BTW: I support the Ryan premium-support Medicare program because the lower income people will get extra help to pay insurance costs/copays/etc. and will pay LESS than they do now… whereas the wealthier will still get premium-support and have to make up the difference. So much more efficient than taxing the wealthy and redistributing.
reservedparking on June 08 at 8:39 a.m.
Outside voice: “We need to repeal the entire law and start over,”…
Inside voice: “… so the insurance companies can reap more millions…”
Yeah, let’s start over.
schleufer on June 08 at 8:47 a.m.
in the book deadly spin the healthcare PR people came up with terms like socialist and death panels then they set up front companies to spread the word and like i said before they got friendly republicans to push it. it was all about the money.
monarch on June 08 at 8:51 a.m.
McMorris Rodgers is such a Hypocrite. She has government provided healthcare but denies it to the rest of the people. If she wanted a better law, why didn’t she and rest of the Republicans participate in making one when President Obama was trying to build a compromise with the Republicans. Instead, she followed the Republican tactic of not letting the president pass anything, even if it benefitted the people. And where was she on healthcare before President Obama? She and the rest of the Republicans, including George Bush, were content to let costs keep rising and the corporations keep collecting record profits. She, like the rest of the Republicans, work for the corporations, not the people.
Seagraf on June 08 at 9:20 a.m.
McMorris-Rodgers, owned…..by the Insurance, pharma, and agriculture. conglomerants. Note how she NEVER mentions the 30-50 milion uninsured? If you are a lower or middle class citizen and think she represents you, think again. She’s been bought and paid for. And the corporate oligarchy marches on filling the pockets of the super rich.
If I’m not mistaken, its about time for McMorris-Rodgers to cut a ribbon or mention the word “veteran”.
MrNatural on June 08 at 10:51 a.m.
Frankly speaking I know who not what needs to be tossed…
hawken on June 08 at 11:26 a.m.
Anyone wants to Real Obamacare can sign a petition to the Senate here:
http://www.repealhealthcareact.org/Default.asp?SourceID=7&bhcp=1
I just noticed that I posted the wrong link above.
At last report, we need only 4 more Senators to repeal it in the Senate just as it have been repealed in the House.
hawken on June 08 at 11:32 a.m.
For those who are not sure whether or not they are ready to sign a Senate petition to repeal Obamacare, watch this video:
You will see her photo and name just below Huckabee’s video which will play once you load the website.
Sally Pipes Author of
“The Truth About ObamaCare”
selkirks on June 08 at 11:54 a.m.
I’ll admit; I respect McMorris Rodgers. She’s done a lot of great things in the Spokane area. And having someone with such seniority in the House certainly helps.
But this is the last straw. She supports a Medicare plan that a majority of Americans (and a majority of Spokanites—her constituents) abhor. Sure, she’s helped a lot with federal funding for the North Spokane Corridor and other regional transportation projects, but she’s become misguided by her friends in Congress. It’s time for her to leave.
If she had wanted a better healthcare law, she would’ve worked with Congressional Democrats and the President before it was passed. She did not offer any alternatives/solutions/compromises. Instead, she chose to keep her mouth shut for political reasons. She didn’t want to anger her constituents and she didn’t want to anger her fellow Republicans and she didn’t want to anger her powerful lobbyist backers. She failed Spokane by failing to speak up. It’s time for her to leave. Period.
hawken on June 08 at 12:26 p.m.
selkirks
Your are trying to re-write history:
Liberals passed Obamacare when they owned the whole government. Republicans, McMorris included were literally locked out of the process.
You also say:
Also, not true but on this liberal, dominated, blog.
Medicare must be reformed or it will go bankrupt as early as 2018. One way or another, Medicare as we know it, is done.
garyc on June 08 at 1:02 p.m.
This is true. If lawsuits and repeal fail, many governors want to shape this as much as possible. So they have gotten started.
http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/GOP-govs-move-ahead-on-health-exchanges-1401155.php
Scoutster on June 08 at 3:04 p.m.
Hawken..
When they did have all the power (2001-2007), the “fiscal conservative in name only” gave us Medicare Part D.
That was the only significant health related legislation they could do.
Not very impressive, is it?
selkirks on June 08 at 3:35 p.m.
@hawken:
Look around you. No one supports the Ryan plan.
SMARTGUY on June 08 at 5:02 p.m.
The problem lies with eligibility, these programs were started for the poor not the well off. We need to set and asset and income restriction on recieving benefits. If you are not poor, pay for your own healthcare
PlanB on June 08 at 9:37 p.m.
McMorris-Rodgers has no idea what the Affordable Heathcare Act is, so she really can’t comment on its merits one way or the other.