Ohio Valley Reps Mull Health Vote
Two indicate support, one againstBy JOSELYN KING
Fact Box
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ON HEALTH REFORM
Editor's note: The following questions pertaining to the House health care reform bill were submitted Friday to U.S. Reps. Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; and Charles Wilson and Zack Space, D-Ohio. Neither Mollohan, Capito nor Wilson directly answered the questions; Space did not respond to request for comments.
- Will you vote for the House health care reform bill in its current form?
- Have you personally read all 1,990 pages of the House health reform bill?
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi initially said the House health reform bill would cost $894 billion over 10 years, but later estimates have raised that cost to $1.2 trillion. What do you believe the health care bill will cost?
- If the House leadership is unclear over the final cost of the bill, how can you be clear?
- The House version of the health reform bill is only a week old, but is already planned for a vote on Saturday. According to the bill, coverage will not start until 2013. Why does it appear that this vote is being rushed?
- Again, the bill has been public for a week. Do you believe there has been enough time for hearings, discussion or the opportunity for the public to view this bill, decipher it and then form an opinion?
- Has there been enough time for you to read it and form an educated opinion?
- What is your estimate of the number of people who currently are uninsured?
- How many uninsured are there in your district?
- Speaker Pelosi said the House plan will insure 36 million of the 44 million Americans currently without health insurance. How many people do you believe the House plan will insure?
- If Speaker Pelosi's numbers are correct, that leaves 8 million Americans without health care. If the House is serious about health care reform, why are some Americans still being left out?
- If the option for a government run health care program remains in the House bill, will you, as a member of Congress, choose to take that option to show your faith in the system?
- Are you concerned about the effect on senior citizens of massive funding cuts for Medicare?
WHEELING - Two local congressmen on Friday indicated their support for the House's $1.2 trillion health care reform bill, noting they believe the nation's health care system is in need of an overhaul.
U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., opposes the measure, however, as she believes Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 1,990-page bill ''amounts to a trillion dollar over-reach that will raise taxes on small businesses and cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid.''
"West Virginians believe that we need health care reform, but they're far from convinced that the Speaker's bill is the right way forward,'' she said.
The Intelligencer on Friday submitted 13 questions concerning the House health care bill to the offices of U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va.; Capito; and U.S. Reps. Charles Wilson and Zack Space, D-Ohio.
Mollohan and Wilson indicated they would support the bill while Capito opposes it. Space did not respond to e-mails or requests for comment left at his office.
None of the four members of Congress answered the questions as presented, instead opting to issue prepared statements outlining their stance on health care reform. Questions that were ignored include the bill's cost; whether or not members had personally read all 1,990 pages; whether or not members believed the vote was being rushed given that coverage under the bill would not begin until 2013; and why Pelosi's bill leaves, at her own estimates, 8 million Americans uninsured. Capito was the only member to answer whether or not members of Congress should be required to enroll in the government run public option plan if it is included in the final bill.
"If it's good enough for our constituents, then it should be good enough for members of Congress," Capito said of the public option. "Unfortunately, our Democratic colleagues have turned back Republican amendments that would have ensured that members of Congress are enrolled in any newly created government option."
A vote on the House measure could happen this weekend, and the interest by constituents is obvious as it took a number of attempts Friday to get through the phone systems in Congressional offices.
The vote initially was slated to happen today; Democratic leadership pushed that back until at least Sunday as they hope to gain the votes needed for its passage.
Mollohan seems ready to support the proposed legislation but said he has one caveat.
"I am firmly committed to comprehensive reform of our health insurance system and look forward to supporting it on the floor of the House," he said. "I am, however, working to strengthen language in the bill to prohibit public funding of abortion."
Capito questions what affect an expansion of the Medicaid program as specified in the current legislation would have on West Virginia's state budget. She believes this would create an additional unfunded mandate for the states.
Capito also questioned proposed changes to Medicare in the 1,990-page House bill.
"Nearly 70,000 West Virginians are on Medicare Advantage and the Speaker's bill will essentially gut the program clearly breaking the President's promise that 'if you like your current plan, you can keep it.'''
Wilson on Friday announced his support for the proposed health care legislation.
"As we wind down to the final hours of the health care debate, I have thought long and hard about what is in the best interest of my district," he said. "Emotions have run high on both sides of the issue for many months now and I have listened to a wide range of voices from across my district in order to best inform my decision. While the Affordable Health Care for America Act is not a perfect bill, there are benefits in it that are hard to ignore."
He cited ''figures'' that in the 6th District of Ohio he represents, the bill "will help almost 13,000 small businesses provide good health care coverage for their employees."
It also will close the prescription drug "doughnut hole" for more than 9,000 senior citizens, Wilson said, adding it will help 174,000 households in the district obtain better health care coverage.
Wilson did not disclose how he came to the numbers provided in his prepared statement.
"I have always promised my constituents that I will vote in their best interest," he said. "There are times that I have disagreed with House leadership when I felt like what they were doing would unfairly punish my district as was the case with the Cap and Trade bill earlier this year.
"I am never afraid to stand up for what is right. On this issue, what I believe is right is a health reform bill that will bring stability and security to the health care system, lower the cost of health care and ensure broader coverage. With those goals having been met, I am proud to announce my support for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act."
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Reactionary
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11-09-09 5:24 PM
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NancySI--Sorry to bust your bubble, but ObamaCare2009 ONLY passed in the House of Clowns!...The children had their shot, the adults will vote later.................maybe. In the Senate 2 things can happen, They will pass THEIR version or they won't. If they don't pass their bill,...Who Knows? If they pass THEIR version,it then goes to confrence to TRY to work out differences between the two bills. It will either pass or it won't.If they don't reconcile, it's over! If it DOES INDEED PASS,...THEN both houses of Congress have to vote on the confrense bill all over. In the end there will either be a watered down bill that only vaguely resembles the House bill or there will be NO BILL at all. Heard of this process on the news this evening. So it ain't over yet,....not by a long shot!
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TrollSlayer
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11-07-09 11:53 PM
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Gay-songs? So now NancySI reveals herself to be a homophobe. Nancy, you might as well throw in a few references to teabagging and reacharounds, too. Stay classy.
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 11:36 PM
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Nancy You and the other Socialists on here have clearly proven that you do not value property rights. Since you feel that you have a right to lay claim to the wealth and earnings of your fellow citizens, I must ask that you live up to your own standards and make your property available to your neighbors. Post your name, home address, phone, bank account, credit card and PIN numbers. Leave all of your jewelry, art, cash and expensive furniture and electronics sitting out in your house. Leave your front door wide open, with a sign in the yard. The sign must tell the homeless and drug addicted souls of Wheeling that they are free to help themselves to your property. Or, are you a hypocrite, like all liberals? Do you only believe in stealing OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY? You down wit OPP? H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E.
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 11:31 PM
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Madison, again: “The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.” “If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the general welfare, the government is no longer a limited one possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one subject to particular exceptions.” Think about something. Why would the Founders go to the trouble of writing, debating and ratifying a Constitution that clearly spells out the limited powers of the federal government, only to negate all of that effort with the addition of the words "General Welfare"? Why bother listing the renumerated powers? Why not just say "Congress to promote the General Welfare" and be done with it? The Founders clearly believed in limited government. The 10th Amendment bears this out.
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NancySI
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11-07-09 11:29 PM
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Health Care Passes-Lets look back at some of the intelligent posts from Gaysongs: Gaysongs-"The only way ObaMao gets his plan anywhere is to try to do it by "executive order" "The majority party in congress will use this to try to "sell" this healthcare thing, but it won't change the outcome. It still won't pass." "Poor Nancy can't get it. It's over for health care "reform"." "What I find absurd is that the majority party refuses to even entertain an amendment to prohibit abortion funding in this "reform" plan" "there won't be any bill at all because enough members of the majority party want to be re-elected." "Domestically, there will be no cap and trade, no health care "reform"" Gaysongs, wrong on Health Care Reform, WRONG on every post he has written. By the way, I think the car dealers DID get their money. Remember next time you waste time reading a Gaysongs post,,,its
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 11:18 PM
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From Thomas Jefferson: “Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.” James Madison-FATHER OF THE CONSTITUTION: “With respect to the two words ‘general welfare,’ I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.” "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”
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homer1
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11-07-09 11:17 PM
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"OLD CURMUDGEON" and "Littlebutthead" 11:09 P.M. THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL JUST PASSED ! "PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSING FLOW"
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 11:12 PM
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********** The Preamble is a statement. It is not a law or a right. The Constitution exists to place a limitation on the powers of government. If you don't like the Constitution, there is an Amendment process. Any other action, either violence of the use of liberal judges, is unconstitutional. I realize that the Constitution is a pain in the ass for you liberals. You like to say that it was written by slaveowners who thought of woman as property. LIES! Of 39 signers of the Constitution, only 11 owned slaves. None viewed women as property! I hear a lot of slander against men like Thomas Jefferson because he owned slaves. What you fail to realize is this. Slaves were considered property, an asset. TJ was in debt his whole life; his creditors would not allow him to free his slaves, as they were a money producing asset. Your bank, today, would not let you give away its' collateral. It was the same, then, for many slaveowners, many of whom were in debt like TJ.
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formerohvalleyresident
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11-07-09 11:08 PM
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Zipcode, who gives a phuck, it was 46% the day after and he lied through his teeth to get elected, that was the point you ignore, you retarded a s s wipe!
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wvhoopie
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11-07-09 11:07 PM
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The House has passed National Health Care Reform bill 3269. One step closer. 11:07pm
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TrollSlayer
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11-07-09 11:05 PM
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The interstate commerce clause? What does a health insurance bill have to do with “Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes”? Your suggestion is not original, but it is as ridiculous as ever. Just admit your party is ignoring the Constitution again. It will feel good to admit the truth for once.
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TrollSlayer
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11-07-09 11:04 PM
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wv26003, I sure DO believe the Constitution grants the government only the powers enumerated therein, as did the framers. So do real conservatives. So does anyone who believes in the rule of law. So does anyone who has the ability to read six pages and who has any common sense. Which excludes you. The Preamble is just that. A preamble. The powers of the government can be sited by article, section, and clause. The term “general welfare” has been misused for decades by liberals to overstep the powers granted by the Constitution. So I’m still waiting for you to tell me the article and section numbers that give the government the vast powers they will be granted by this health insurance scam.
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Thebudman
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11-07-09 10:16 PM
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Who's running against Mollohan in 2010?
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Shark88
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11-07-09 10:13 PM
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The nation's Congress is in need of an overhaul. Vote every jerk weed that supports this criminal act (masked as legislation) out of office.
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TruthSeeker
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11-07-09 9:10 PM
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former: You are still a moron.
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formerohvalleyresident
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11-07-09 8:44 PM
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All we heard from the Obamabots this week was NY23, NY 23, NY23!! DEM Bill Owens won a conservative district with 46% of the vote. How did he get it? He campaigned on the platform of OPPOSITION to government health care and $1.2 trillion in debt. Within ONE FRIGGEN HOUR of taking office, he announced he had CHANGED his position and now FAVORS the Pelosi plan!!!!! Moral: how does a Liberal win in a conservative district: LIE LIE LIE through his teeth! The voters of NY23 got hosed! Another example of seizing power at all costs!! It’s all about POOOOOOOOWEEEEEEER, not about health care for those who cannot afford it, stupid!
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Reactionary
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11-07-09 8:36 PM
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Ellis---"Never apologize; it's a sign of weakness!".......John the "Duke" Wayne.
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formerohvalleyresident
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11-07-09 8:27 PM
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Falsespeaker, I am truly sorry your parents met at a family reunion.
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Reactionary
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11-07-09 8:21 PM
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Trollslayer--2:10 post--Now you're making it way too hard on ole zippie there.You need to explain things s l o w l y . Goo Luck getting ANY answer from this A F T DUD! Former'Yes Gomer1 is thrilled to be an Obamabot! Just check out the posts. Ellis--7:15--Don't confuse the Obamabots with facts. wonder,...yes, I'm stirring IT,..........AGAIN! because you just can't stand it....LOL LOL lol
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TruthSeeker
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11-07-09 7:27 PM
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Ellis, you are just a pathetic old fool.
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 7:24 PM
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Wonder I am for health care reform. And I previously posted free market initiatives to reduce health care costs and increase access. But, my solutions do not give power to the government so, the entitlement mentality crowd (Social Democrat voters) will not go along. No one wants to have to pay for their health care yet, removing people from the true cost of anything leads them to use more of it, often in an irresponsible manner.
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 7:22 PM
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We supposedly have 44 million without health insurance. The Social Democrat party plan proposes to cover everyone, at low cost, and to include pre-existing conditions. Has anyone asked each and every doctor how they will provide the care? Spare me the polls, studies, etc. Common sense dictates that a nation with less than 900,000 doctors cannot possibly provide the same level of care to all patients if you dump 44 + new patients on each doctor. Of course, if you ARE interested in doctor's opinions, only 18% belong to the AMA. The doctors at the Mayo Clinic are OPPOSED to the Democrat plan. "The Mayo Clinic, world-renowned for its excellence in medicine, unanimously called the current plan bad for America. The united voice of the Clinic's doctors is significant. Many of America's best doctors practice medicine there."
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 7:15 PM
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I don't think anyone is opposed to "reform" if it is reform for the better. However, Pelosi's logic, or lack thereof, is strange. Let us examine the facts: 1) The bill will be posted online to give everyone enough time to read it before the vote. False. 2) The bill will be concise and easy to understand. False. 2,000 pages of bureucrat speak is too much to ask anyone. 3) The bill will not add ONE DIME to the deficit. False. It may not add to this year's DEFICIT but it will add to the DEBT, which will increase FUTURE deficits. 4) We have to pass the bill to help people now. False. It will not kick in for 4 years. 5) We will cover all Americans. False. 8 million will be left out-by Pelosi's count. 6) Taxpayers are the Golden Goose. We can keep milking them for money. False. This country is broke. If you took the combined wealth of every American and added it up, we would still owe $18 trillion in debt, and that is RIGHT NOW.
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Littlebeavis
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11-07-09 7:13 PM
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Like I said on here before, all you people who are for Obamacare - I hope you like your doctors Chinese and Indian because that's what you're going to get with Obamacare. Enjoy! (Especially the language!)
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TruthSeeker
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11-07-09 6:18 PM
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I said I didn't live in Wheeling. I do live in WV nearby. You are still a moron.
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