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Lincoln says health bill would reach uninsured

By The Associated Press

This article was published December 20, 2009 at 7:25 p.m.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln said Sunday that the health care reform bill would provide “meaningful coverage” for more than 400,000 Arkansas residents now without health insurance.

Lincoln, D-Ark., was among a group of senators who decided after intense negotiations to support the upper chamber version of the bill, which no longer includes a public option.

In a conference call with reporters, Lincoln said dropping the public option was necessary because of the projected cost and because it would reach relatively few people.

“It may not be the bill that I would have written, but through my hard work and the hard work of other members, the Senate bill has changed substantially,” Lincoln said, “and I believe this final product is a significant improvement from what we started with.”

The measure, which still has to go to conference committee to sort out differences between House and Senate versions, would enable more than 400,000 uninsured Arkansans to obtain coverage. The number includes about 77,000 children who would be able to get insurance if the bill becomes law, Lincoln said.

That would still leave about 50,000 Arkansas residents without insurance, but Lincoln said a lot of them are eligible for other programs but aren’t enrolled.

Lincoln accused the bill’s opponents of spreading scary but untrue rumors about the effect the bill would have.

“There has been a tremendous amount of misinformation from people who don’t want health care reform,” Lincoln said. “They don’t want to do anything.”

She denied claims that benefits for senior citizens will be cut, noting that Medicare recipients are guaranteed their coverage under the law. She said the bill would solidify Medicare funding for more than a decade.

Lincoln said more money would be available for home health and hospice care.

“There will be a lot of naysayers,” Lincoln said, adding that opponents haven’t offered constructive ways to provide health care to millions of uninsured Americans.

Lincoln is running in 2010 for a third term. She has more than $4.1 million in her campaign account.

No one from her own party has challenged her yet, but seven Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination, with former state Sen. Jim Holt considering a run. Holt was the Republican nominee when Lincoln was re-elected to the Senate in 2004.

With 60 votes lined up in the Senate, Democrats won’t need Republican help to move the bill forward. The first Senate vote is set for midnight Monday morning, Central time. Democrats will have to sustain the 60-vote majority for two more votes.

Lincoln seemed confident that the deal is done.

“This final Senate bill changes the way insurance companies do business to offer families more stability and to reassure our small businesses and the self-employed that health insurance companies will no longer dictate their bottom lines,” she said.

Comments on: Lincoln says health bill would reach uninsured

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gchambers_conwaycorp_net says... December 21, 2009 at 3:38 a.m.

Much Ado About Nothing............

While the whole media and Government is focusing us all on the healthcare "issue".....They ignore the largest issue we are faced with....

The mass exodus of American jobs to every spot on the planet where they can pay 20 cents an hur for labor............

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vern-miller_sbcglobal.net says... December 21, 2009 at 7:31 a.m.

THis is a very SAD day in history, that we have Senators across the U.S. and democratic senators in AR., Both Lincoln and Pryor that have voted against the will of the people!! This is tragic, because 68 % of us wanted a NO vote. This is taxation without the representation of the people. They are ignoring all of our pleas and could care less about Arkansans. We need to work hard to vote them OUT of office. They are elitist that only do this for favors and power!!

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Woody says... December 21, 2009 at 9 a.m.

The two AR Senators that were voted into their seats by loyal Arkansasans have lost much support through this ludicrous process of voting for the Health Care Bill. Not only will I, for the first time, contribute monetarily to their next viable opponent, I will also be encouraging others to do so. In visiting with a friend last night it will also be his first time to actively campaign against these Senators. Buying votes to get this bill passed is inexcusable. Why should Arkansas tax-payers subsidize NE Medicaid/Medicare so Ben Nelson would cast his vote for this bill???? Why would Lincoln and Pryor stand for it by casting their vote in support of it????????

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Ran2133 says... December 21, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

Never, for one millisecond, did I believe Blanche Lincoln would not vote with the Democrat Party on the "health care" bill. I just hope the voters remember this "liberal socialist" next year and vote her out of office. We need someone who will represent Arkansas, not the Democrat Party.

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manta says... December 21, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.

With 400,000 uninsured Arkansans, I don't know where you get your figure of "68% of us wanted a NO vote, vern-miller?" To do nothing", waiting for perfect legislation would be a win for the lobbyist and insurance industry.

Health care is rising nearly four time the rate of wages and inflation, and "to do nothing" would further jeopardize our economy and future.

Is Senator Ben (extortionist) Nelson a horses butt? You bet.

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c7pilot says... December 21, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.

The Democrats hope the electorate has a short memory but I don't think the seniors who got thrown under the bus will soon forget.

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manta says... December 21, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.

c7pilot, the electorate does have a short, as well as uniformed memory, as they elected the tyrant and idiot, "baby bush" twice, and then attempted to elect another republican after the nearly complete robbery of the treasury. Arkansas' forty ninth and continues to have no clue.

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niletx_cox.net says... December 21, 2009 at 2:19 p.m.

with electorate like manta arkansas will continue to be 49th

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manta says... December 21, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.

You are one of the people I was speaking of when I said "have no clue". We lived with your viewpoint for eight years without the hissy fit tea bag anger you folks exhibit, now the shoes on the other foot, I hope you enjoy wearing it.

Incidentally, niletx, it certainly would not surprise me if we slipped to fiftieth. Go hogs.

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orthodoxDrew says... December 21, 2009 at 3:08 p.m.

the loud right wing extremist anti-neighbor minority lost. again.

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BamaFan says... December 21, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.

Where did Lincoln get the 400K figure?
I beleive a good number of those choose not to be insured.
Another freedom lostI regret that our representatives are going along with this socialist administration.

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manta says... December 21, 2009 at 4:51 p.m.

Despite the flaws, this administration is still better than the last one, which lead us into a unjust war based on intentional fabricated lies, lied about torturing people, falsely inflated oil prices (remember $1.00 gas), and finally systematically drove the economy into the abyss, leaving all their buddies rich.

Remember all the money spent by the Republican concerning Clintons impeachment? Remember winning a war in the last administration?

Do you happen to remember he left Mr.Bush with a surplus and Mr. "worst president in history" Bush and his cronies destroyed the economy.

Lets see a little justice and have some indictments of these thugs.
Now, thats what I'm talking about.

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locomojo says... December 21, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.

Woody says buying votes is inexcusable--look at open secrets.com or vote smart.com--it just as inexcusable to buy votes for one side as it is other--My first vote was for Eisenhower and since then I have voted for the man and policies and not necessarily for the party. I voted for Bush senior but never for that smartalec arrogant son of his whom I know personally. Votes are bought for your local sheriff, mayor, even schoolboard. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours--all theway to the white house and all points in between--votes are bought ON ALL sides --thats politics.

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actionman says... December 22, 2009 at 3:38 p.m.

Well unless I have missed something, all this does is force the uninsured to BUY insurance! Did I read this wrong? This doesn't give the poor anything, it makes them buy their insurance. Now if they could afford it wouldn't they already have it? Makes me wonder if they have to buy it, what will the middle class have to buy to make up the difference for those who can't or won't get insurance! Again did I misread this??

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ARAgitator says... December 22, 2009 at 5:17 p.m.

Yes, you did. Up to 150% of the poverty level become eligible for Medicaid, and 151-400% will get subsidies, on a sliding scale, to pay the premiums. It still is a massive giveaway to the Insurance ROBBERS, who provide the same "services" to health care as scalpers do to the events they re-sell - NONE!! Corporate Uhmerika (68 lobbyists for EACH member of Congress!) rules the country, and anyone who thinks otherwise is not paying attention or is just plain S.T.U.P.I.D.

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jaymac says... December 22, 2009 at 9:47 p.m.

Face it. Blanche doesn't worry about the next election. She has her AG position that she was given. After she loses the next election, she can wave the farmer flag in hope that Arkansans will think she's watching out for our state's economy. When that goes away with the next Pres election, she believes that Arkansans will forget her backing of this assinine healthcare bill and vote her back into office again.

WE ARE NOT THAT DUMB BLANCHE!!! WE WILL NOT FORGET!!!

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PaulfromEastEnd says... December 23, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.

I sent a email to both of our senators simply stating that all I wanted from them now was their resignation. if either one had honor they would do this public service so that we could have a special election to send to Washington someone who would represent the overwhelming desires of the Arkansas people. Congress had an opportunity to fix a problem but instead they are on the verge of creating a massive mistake that our children's children will be paying for. I am so disgusted with the whole group.

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PaulfromEastEnd says... December 23, 2009 at 8:31 a.m.

Oh by the way everyone seems to be focusing on Blanche but come election time for Mark Pryor, let us not allow ourselves to forget his vote.

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WildHare says... December 23, 2009 at 10:11 a.m.

Lincoln and Pryor did not Hold Out against King Obama very long, and Snyder was for this Tax and Power Grab from the beginning. They do NOT want to give capitalism a chance to fix our Health Care. They want absolute power,,,

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arkie_mom says... December 23, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.

From what I have seen in the past decade, capitalism wasn't doing ANYTHING to fix the extreme escallation of health care and insurance costs. Don't get me wrong, I believe in capitalism....but I also believe in a thing called greed. When greed goes unchecked everyone loses (except the greedy). Sure wish we didn't need a government to protect us from each other, but we prove over and over again that we do. I don't know whether this solution will work or not, but at this point I am ready to see if it will. Thanks Senators for having the backbone to DO SOMETHING, even at risk of losing political backing. We elected you to be smart enough to do the right thing for Arkansas - I, for one, hope you did!

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manta says... December 23, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.

I believe we are seeing the same crybabies who were complaining during the Clinton administration when he attempted to improve health care.

Nearly two decades later your back with the same complaints and no solutions while healthcare cost continue to rise at triple the rate of wages and inflation.

It was and is the taxpayers who have been called upon to bailout the unethical greedy capitalist, even as they receive undeserved and unwarranted bonuses.

Where is the justice found in all of this?

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joefeltner says... December 23, 2009 at 1:25 p.m.

THE STATE OF ARKANSAS IS IN NEED OF NEW SENATORS AND CONGRESS MEMBERS WHO WILL VOTE AS THE PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS ASK THEM TO DO, NOT AS THEY PLEASE. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER STATES THAT ARE IN THE SAME CONDITION AND I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL SEE A MASS EXIT FROM BOTH GROUPS IN 2010 AND 2012

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manta says... December 23, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.

In case you've forgotten, Joe, the people of Arkansas did vote for these two Senators and four Congressional leaders. They are our elected representatives and generally aren't micro managed by the electorate.

Where were you and the "people of Arkansas" that you refer to, during these elections?

If your interested in the stupidity of Arkansans, then look no further than the election of Bush twice and attempted election of McCain.

Your tea bag is hanging out there for everyone to see.

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WildHare says... December 23, 2009 at 2:12 p.m.

Since this Administration will be spending more money than all previous Administrations combined,it is your children and grand children who will be crying [those lucky enough to have a job] paying 80% income taxes to finance a Bankrupt Nation.

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manta says... December 23, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.

"The sky is falling", said Chicken Little.

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Vibe says... December 24, 2009 at 8:33 a.m.

There is absolutely NO Constitutional authority for the Federal Gov. to REQUIRE citizens to purchase ANYTHING, much less something as full of graft and corruption as health insurance.
I'd love to see each and every aledged "public servant" that thinks it's perfectly fine to violate the Constitution,that they swore to uphold, booted out with extreme predjudice. Starting with Blanche.

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MrD says... December 24, 2009 at 12:42 p.m.

To Manta: You must be from somewhere than Arkansas. A native Arkansawyer (yes, I said it correctly, we are not Kansans) would not call his fellowmen stupid. A lot of people from somewhere else come in here and flaunt their egotistical superioty and try to tell us how to run our business when the states they are from are usually broke,have high crime rates and taxes up the iddiwah! If it was so good where you came from, why did you leave?
As far as Lincoln and Pryor and most politicians, Republicans included, they are in office for their own aggrandizment. How is it that so many go in with average finances and come out millionaires? Bribery is rampant and they are all with their hands out. We are rapidly becoming as corrupt as the Mexican government, if not already.
Futhermore, if the uninsured are in such a dire emergency, why is this insurance waiting 4 years to kick in? It appears to be a ploy to collect more money for the politicians to steal at the expense of our freedom to choose for ourselves. What are they going to do when nobody has a job because no one will want to go through the hassle of working and paying taxes. The congress is our Politburo just like in the old Soviet Union. They are going to tell us what,when,where, and how high.

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MrD says... December 24, 2009 at 12:50 p.m.

IT MAY BE TIME TO THINK OF WITHDRAWING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND BECOMING A SOVEREIGN STATE. IF ELECTED OFFICIALS NO LONGER REPRESENT US, BUT PASS LAWS IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ATTEMPT TO ENSLAVE US AND TAKE AWAY OUR FREEDOM, WHY SHOULD WE PUT UP WITH IT?

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Vibe says... December 24, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.

Mantra
"Do you happen to remember he left Mr.Bush with a surplus and Mr. "worst president in history" Bush and his cronies destroyed the economy. "
The "Surplus" was due to a more conservative (and in this case, a Republican) Congress, not the Pres. Particularly not THAT Pres.
Carter and Clinton "destroyed" the economy by coercing financial institutions to loan to those least likely to be able to repay those loans. Bush was far from perfect, but he cannot honestly be blamed for the bag he got left holding.

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Bootthebums says... December 24, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.

Healthcare reform is definitely needed in this country and could be achieved if the Democrats and Republicans would work together and include tort reform and allow insurance companies to compete across state lines, but the far left who's only agenda is to make history won't take a chance on offending lawyers or unions. Therefore, if this healthcare plan should pass, the citizens of this state will be paying not only for our plans (which will be considerably more than we're paying now), but for the Louisiana Purchase and Nebraska's Medicaid as well as the other billions of dollars of bribes attached to this plan. Taxes are going up. Keep in mind any increase in healthcare premiums and taxes on businesses are also passed down to us. Lincoln, Pryor, and Berry all jumped on the bandwagon of Reid, Pelosi, & Obama, but we're the ones who will pay unless this plan is stopped. And one last thought - how many people now who can afford health insurance don't have it because they'd rather drive a new truck. Many people really do need help. Let's find a way to help them and not pick up the tab for the irresponsible.

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agentorange says... December 25, 2009 at 12:24 a.m.

Yes I agree Manta is from that where they make that other picante sauce and probably help elect the clinton carpet bagger to the senate. time to bring back the tar and feather. we are done with politians and we are done with their tongue wagging mongrel supporters.

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Philosopherick says... December 26, 2009 at 8:44 p.m.

Blanche sold us out. She doesn't do as good a job of selling out her principles as does Senator Nelson. She settled for a Chair position of a sub-committee, while Senator Nelson got $300,000,000 of our money for his state's Medicaid program. Some people's principles are higher priced. Kick out all of the all of the Congressmen and Senators who are doing this to the American people, or in less than 5 years our medical system will not compare favorably with that of Mexico. Thanks, Blanche!

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manta says... December 26, 2009 at 9:27 p.m.

Gee, I take a day off to enjoy the holidays and I come back to fin myself slandered. It feels good. Nowhere in my post do I refer to Arkansans (Arkansawyer, ha, ha ha) as "stupid" but a couple of you give plenty of ammunition. especially when you butcher the Constitution. You from around here?

The "clinton carpet bagger" elected twice by Arkansan, Moron. That better be a lot of "we" when you threaten people with "tar and feather". Speak for yourself. you redneck loser.

The last time Arkansas attempted to "succeed from the union" they had their butt whipped and the slaves were freed. The yankee Republican still dominate the hills of northwest Arkansas and have taken over your small shallow minds.

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LETSBEREALISTIC says... December 27, 2009 at 9:10 a.m.

Arkansas obviously has 2 and the country has many inept Senators that care about Party loyality more than their constituency or America.

It doesn’t take long in reading through this abomination, which only became available after the vote, to realize that the Liberals stuffed all kinds of extraneous “stuff” into this bill to make it less readable and more confusing not only for Citizens who want to know, but for anyone trying to interpret what this JOKE says. A third grader could have done a better job of writing it!

The so-called reform in the Bill passed by Congress on this Christmas Eve is not Health Care Reform but Health Insurance Availability (& Cost) Expansion.

This Bill contains:
- NO health care quality improvements for the patient,
- NO health care cost reduction or containment provisions, and
- NO health care treatment availability expansion contained is in the Bill.

The provisions that expand the Health Insurance availability don’t even kick in until 2014 and only increase the cost TODAY, which Americans get to start paying for now, of the Insurance through the HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS, MANDATES, Medicare Payroll Withholding, Medicare Benefits CUTS, and Numerous TAXES. Not to mention the attendant loss of jobs that will result due to the MANDATED higher cost per employee for a business.

Nothing to improve or provide health care for patients in need and "insurance" expansion doesn't start until 2014 but citizens get to start paying NOW, how many people will die from their illnesses in the mean time???

2010 has to be the year to take back America from the Liberals that are trying to destroy our Republic!

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Bootthebums says... December 27, 2009 at 9:19 a.m.

Congratulations to the 400,000 Arkansans who will benefit from this healthcare reform; condolences to the many, many more who are going to pay for it.

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cajunrabbit_hotmail_com says... December 27, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.

I guess our nobility (elected officials) did not check with the rest of the world to see how there socialized health care programs where going. I did a web such of other countries (England, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, ETC.) it would take too much time to list all the results here, but I’ll surmise it this way, in no case did the health care of the citizens of that country improve, but in all cases the cost to the citizens increased, wait time increased, and quality of care decreased. Do our elected officials think they can a better job than the rest of the world? Real health care reform would have included limits on prescription drug costs, limits on these ambulance chasing lawyers. I could go on forever, but the real reason for health care is one step closer to socialism.
A government big enough to give you all you want is strong enough to take everything you have....
-- Thomas Jefferson

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hogfaninflorida says... December 27, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.

Thank God that we now have a President that cares for all of the legal residents of the USA and want them to have medical coverage. I applaud him for what he has fought for and I hope we eventually receive. If our past President had of asked for this, this would have been no complaints and the amount of money he expended was never questioned.

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rivervalleymgb says... December 28, 2009 at 8:31 a.m.

I never cease to be amazed at how this has become nothing but a partisan issue. Listening to people that are blinded by party ideology is just so much gibberish! The Health Care plant that Hillary put forth in 1979 for Arkansas was nothing short of great. What happened? The doctors fought it tooth and nail! It was also another factor contributing to Clinton's defeat in 1980. It was a very simple plan that worked in the few places it was tried.

This is one reason that HillaryCare was so drastic a change. It was political payback to the then-current health care establishment.

Both Bushes were terrible Presidents. Obama is just as bad if not worse. I am still undecided on Clinton's two terms.

Obama came to office without understanding what goes on behind the scenes. He has not shown leadership, but is a follower, letting Pelosi and Reid set the agenda and force him to the view of the world that they have. I would not be surprised to see Obama pull us into another war just to divert attention away from his failure as President (so far), and to help keep the Democrats in power the next election. Most Presidents have followed this same path.

All our representatives are shallow egoist ne'er-do-wells that should all be voted out, no matter which party.

I am a native Arkansawyer and grew up in Arkansas politics. Politicians are only concerned about their immediate needs, not the public they represent. Both parties and all people regardless of their political philosophies need to understand that fact first and foremost.

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VolunteerFireman says... December 28, 2009 at 9:57 a.m.

While several of you argue and fuss with each other about how smart you are, a healthy round of taxes are about to be passed on our health care insurance, insurance you will be forced to buy if this bill passes.
I am not considered a wealthy person by any standard. That being said, I work the first 6 months of the year to pay for all of the taxes passed by state and federal congress, democrats and republicans alike. I don't want to pay a penny more in tax. Stop the waste in both capitols, Little Rock and Washington. It is hard for us to live within our means when the goverment keeps taking our means. The goverment should have to live within their means.
A message needs to be sent to every elected offical with your vote and pen, NO MORE TAXES.

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OzarkOzzie says... December 28, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.

I read the ranting of you right-wing teabaggers and the insults and thinly veiled threats. And then I read the less-insulting but still mean replies of the so-called liberals. And the anti-tax "volunteer fireman...." Do you think your roads build themselves? Those are government-built highways, and the best highway system in the world. We also have the best economy in the world, because we're inventive, creative and industrious. We choose carefully the things we want to build together -- those things that we cannot build ourselves. This health care bill is a monstrous pile of moderation. There's no socialism in it. It's got compromise after compromise. Sure, almost all of those compromises are from Democrats, but that's because Republicans kept their ranks in lock-step and refused to come forward with any ideas. I mean listen to yourselves, you Republicans. As long as you continue to scream, "No No No," and shout down everyone else, your minority will continue to shrink. We need people who will offer ideas. Who wants to vote for people who call their opponent Hilter? Who likes negative nellies who cry foul every time they miss a shot? Come up with an idea for a change and an emotion other than hate, and I might listen to you again. And if you're truly from Arkansas, try thinking about civility. We all live in this state together. We're neighbors, not enemies.

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Snowbearus says... December 29, 2009 at 8:08 a.m.

I've read this article as well as all the comments that have been made and I have a few things to say about ALL OF IT! In my opinion, the biggest problem we face is the SAME problem that we have all faced since "the beginning of time". The real problem is that there are people out there that feel that they DESERVE to be treated better than others & there are folks who think that they are "owed" sustinence by others. We have corporate bureaucrats and executives that are bringing home MILLIONS of dollars each year, for WHAT? Do they actually think that they cannot be "lived without"? Then on the other hand, we also have a WHOLE BUNCH of lazy, no good, useless folks who think that everyone else should provide for THEM! That leaves the rest of us, the MIDDLE CLASS they call us, to foot all the bills. Have you folks ever heard of the "divide & conquer" technique? Well, this is what is going on here in our country. The "fat cats" feed the "useless cats" at the expense of the rest of us, and collect their votes like coins in a "piggy bank"! As far as I'm concerned, the ONLY people who deserve to vote are the ones who WORK FOR A LIVING! Those slugs who are living off of society, who would rather sit by and do nothing except wait for a government check, should AT LEAST have to get up and report to their local "town halls" and be assigned menial tasks like walking up & down the roads collecting dead animal carcasses and litter to qualify for their "FREE" money instead of lying around their (free) homes and sucking on the "teat of society".

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Snowbearus says... December 29, 2009 at 8:09 a.m.

(Continued from my previous "commentary")

Any "able-bodied" individual who is drawing a "free" check should at least be forced to crawl out of bed every morning (and perform some meaningful service to the rest of society that is being forced to support them through taxation)just like the rest of us who have enough pride and integrity to make our OWN living and not LEECH off of others! Now, there ARE folks out there that actually DO need help, and I am more than willing to render whatever assistance I can, but they are NOT the majority. It really gripes me when I am forced to stand in line at the local Dollar Store waiting on some "SLUG" to pull out their welfare credit card and use it to pay for Chee-tos, candy, soda pop, etc. This has actually happened on many occasions and I don't think that I should be forced to pay for these "SLUGS" to eat junk food! I can understand a program that provides healthy, "real" food to the needy, but when you see someone spending our hard earned tax money on junk, while dressed in nicer clothing & driving a nicer car than you have, it REALLY makes me ANGRY. Now, back to the other end of the scale - why should ANYONE ever receive a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR annual bonus on top of an already HUGE annual salary? Come on folks, just HOW MUCH MONEY do you NEED to survive? I am not a communist nor am I a facist, but I do think that we have some SERIOUS problems in our great country, and if the REAL problems are not addressed, things are going to get worse, or our current system may even collapse entirely! I'm fortunate enough to make a decent wage and be able to afford to get essentials, but I am by no means "wealthy", unless you consider the fact that I can honestly say that I am supporting myself, paying my taxes, and not "screwing over" my fellow Americans! Come on folks, it's time to get down the real ROOTS of our problems - everyone needs to learn to pull their own weight and not be consumed by greed! We people of the middle class are just about fed up with the whole lot of you top & bottom level "FEEDERS", and if you folks don"t ALL change your ways, the apocolypse is sure to come!

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Snowbearus says... December 29, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.

Now,..... Watch think "bout them "APPLES"?

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mbryan19261111 says... December 29, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.

The health care lobby has done a fine job of influencing those who will not take the time to make decisions based
on fact, just as it did to derail the Clinton health care proposal. They have been aided and abetted by politicians
who have their own paid-for-by the-people perfectly wonderful health care plans, but do not want the public to
have anything resembling theirs, and would-be politicians
ala Sarah Palin, whose rantings about death panels so ring
a bell with those who should know better. Upon admittance to any hospital or nursing home an older patient is asked if he/she has an "advance directive". This isn't anything new, as anyone who has had an older relative become a patient in either place can attest. Any attorney worth his/her salt will also ask an older client whether or not he/she wishes to complete a living will. The news media and tv personalities make their livings making mountains out of molehills.
Making greater profits is the bottom line, not providing adequate health care. Healthier children make better students and healthier people make better workers and taxpayers.
Take a good look at who is fighting health care reform and the gazillions of dollars they are spending to influence opinion. If it weren't for their excessive profits, they would not have the money to spend on lobbying politicians and advertising to influence the gullible.

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lifecoaches says... December 29, 2009 at 9:23 p.m.

Fight the deceptive and negative rhetoric America. The health care reform bill is what America needs, the anti-everything groups are not being accurate in their bleating. If we leave things as they are with our health care, we will end up paying so much more because of the health care companies executives can cherry pick who they insure and raise the premiums to all others, so no one can afford their premiums. Employers are dropping their policies on employees’ one right after another already. If your employer can't afford premiums now, imagine what it will be like in a year. The conservatives and libertarians are bleating their same old anti-government speeches and we watch our protections from immoral big business rape us and gamble with our lives. This administration is desperate, because it sees what will happen to the American public if our fate is left up to a group of health care company executives that could care less about our lives than their huge profits. If the health care insurance companies and PHARMA can spend one million dollars a day to stop this legislation, can you imagine the huge profits that they are trying to protect?

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lifecoaches says... December 29, 2009 at 9:26 p.m.

The number of atrocities caused by health insurance companies' immoral outlook on huge profits is horrendous! We see the news stories about these atrocities but are told that that is the real world, or we will fix it next time, or if there is a public outcry, they fix it quick. What in the world are we thinking? Our fellow Americans are dying because of atrocities by HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES, and we are to turn our heads and say, Boy I am glad that is not me. That is a sickening idea! We have a responsibility to each other to do as we would like done. Come on America. Let us watch out for one another. We are a proud nation and nation of justice. We are a moral and compassionate nation. We are a beacon in the night for the unfortunates that need our help. All of our problems will be solved, maybe not in a day or month or year, but they will be solved. It took us eight years to get to this point and it probably will take a couple of years to get it fixed. We are just as blessed as always, so we will come out of this mess too.

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locomojo says... December 29, 2009 at 9:41 p.m.

thepitchpatch-yahoo.com speaks for me. It burns me to see money wasted on high-dollar food items paid for with food stamps. At the same time you see people out of work and about to lose their home and don,t have enough stamps to make beans and flour stretch. It burns me to see people unable to pay for their drugs and are turned away from the pharmacies counter. I am thinking of people that have worked hard all their lives and still have nothing and are really against the wall. Is confusing to me to see deaths occur right here in my little AR town to both democrats and republicans caused by lack of health care--from babies to artifacts like me. Common sense indicates almost all humans are going to need health care. It,s almost a given!!

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canyonog says... December 30, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.

Lincoln and Pryor have got to go! They no longer represent the will of the people of Arkansas. Never in my lifetime have I recalled such a heated issue as the health care reform bill. The vote for health care reform by our Senators has sealed my vote come next election. Neither will get my vote!

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wehavemettheenemyandheisus says... December 30, 2009 at 3:02 p.m.

Sen. Lincoln says, “It may not be the bill that I would have written, but through my hard work and the hard work of other members, the Senate bill has changed substantially,” Lincoln said, “and I believe this final product is a significant improvement from what we started with.”

Piling meringue on a piecrust filled with dung does not a chocolate pie become.

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smeasel55_aol.com says... December 30, 2009 at 3:10 p.m.

When the next elections come along, maybe a lot of the idiots that voted for this thing will have an opportunity to use the government healthcare since they will hopefully be out of a job. Unless we have to pay for their healthcare for the rest of their lives.

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ladybug3297_yahoo.com says... December 31, 2009 at 12:58 a.m.

YOU THINK WE ARE MAD NOW JUST WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION AND SEE WHAT ARKANSAN'S REALLY THINK OF YOU!

WE WILL NOT FORGET HOW YOU AND WASHINGTON TURNED AGAINST US, WE DON'T LIKE SOCIALISM-HEALTH CARE AND SUCH AND WANT PUT UP WITH YOU AND PRYOR ANY LONGER!

Conway Co. Arkansas Folks Will Not Forget You!

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ladybug3297_yahoo.com says... December 31, 2009 at 1:26 a.m.

Why not read what a Private Citizen back in the Fifty's said about medicine and health, it will surely enlighten some of you I pray!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5Fl3WYg-Y

This is a safe site called YOU TUBE, just highlight the above line and paste into your address bar, watch and enjoy!

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manta says... December 31, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.

Okay ladybug, I watched the video and it reminded me of the fear message in the movie "Reefer Madness" or the high school," dangers of sex" classes.

If your seeking enlightenment remember who make this record. Rob social securities lock box to pay for a military buildup and use it illegally in Iran-Contra and then not remember doing it.

Now look what trickling down.

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DJHall says... December 31, 2009 at 4:28 p.m.

The only time politicians really want your opinion is when they're trying to get your vote. The Democrats were fully united in favor of this bill, the Republicans in lock-step against it. Vote next fall for the party that time shows was telling the truth.

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Vibe says... January 1, 2010 at 5:34 a.m.

"Health Care" will be just like Social Security.

Your Social Security

Just in case some of you didn't know this. It's easy to check out.

Be sure and show it to your kids. They need a little history lesson on what's what and it doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts!

Our Social Security

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social
Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be
Completely voluntary,

No longer Voluntary

2.) That the participants would only have to pay
1% of the first $1,400 of their annual
Incomes into the Program,

Now 7.65%


3.) That the money the participants elected to put
into the Program would be deductible from
their income for tax purposes each year,

No longer tax deductible

4.) That the money the participants put into the
independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the
general operating fund, and therefore, would
only be used to fund the Social Security
Retirement Program, and no other
Government program.

Under Johnson the money was moved to The General Fund and Spent


5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees
would never be taxed as income.

Under Clinton & Gore

Up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are
now receiving a Social Security check every month --
and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put
away' -- you may be interested in the following:

------------
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the
independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the
general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically
controlled House and Senate.

Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax
deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.

-------

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social
Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, wit h Al Gore casting the
'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the
Senate, while he was Vice President of the US

--------

Q: Which Political Party decided to start
giving
annuity payments to immigrants?

AND MY FAVORITE:

A: That's right!

Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party.
immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65,
began to receive Social Security payments! The
Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
even though they never paid a dime into it!

---------

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it!

AND CONGRESS GIVES THEMSELVES 100% RETIREMENT FOR ONLY SERVING ONE TERM!


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jft1608 says... January 1, 2010 at 8:56 a.m.

I am sad that I was wrong about Sen. Blanche Lincoln . What She did was to sell her vote out to the President. This was against the the wishes of the voters of Arkansas. Why didn't she get the big buck - no pay deals that were given to the other democratic leaders? (Aren't you a little embarrassed that you sold out to early?0
I am one of the Americans who need better heath care but I want it be to at the cost of the people that have out priced the cost my insurance coverage, the insurance companies, not the working folks. And certainly not the US Government. The government has problems paying its current expenses let alone an insurance plan that it has no idea how to run. But we do get it, I am sure that there will be many committees that you can fill with expensive lawyers and other political hacks that you owe and they will be paid lots of big bucks to decide how to spend my children's tax dollars. Will you and your family be covered under the new "Government Health Plan". Of course not. Must be nice to sleep at night knowing that you make the rules.
Maybe if she would read her e-mail once in awhile she would read what the voters want her to do for us.

PS, your email is full.

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thuggetter says... January 2, 2010 at 9:11 a.m.

Manta is correct. Arkansas is 49th in nearly everything. What she won't admit is that the state is and has always been run by democrats. Democrats to her always do right such as paying taxes. Just look at the Obama thugs she loves so much...so sad...

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thuggetter says... January 2, 2010 at 9:23 a.m.

Manta, you just need to be quite. Everything you say can be disproved..Once again the repubs freed the slaves

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thuggetter says... January 2, 2010 at 10:40 a.m.

Freedom means more to us that have fought for it than the protected will ever know!!!!!!

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Studio22 says... January 2, 2010 at 2:05 p.m.

It seems funny to me how you liberal minds can continually bring up GW but fail to remember 4.5% unemployment under him. You also like to invoke his name everytime the current president is mentioned. Better yet, people above were discussing Arkansas Senators yet all you can say is BUSH BUSH BUSH. How about sitcking to the subject, the fact that these senators are not representing the people of Arkansas but are representing the Democrat Party.
Try to live one day without using the old GW argument. Argue for your current senators ..... or could it be that they are so bad that you cannot defend them?

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CaptialistPig says... January 2, 2010 at 6:36 p.m.

Manta you make me sick. You need to study Vibe's post's. Notice my user name created special for you. I am a small business person what provides jobs for a lot of people & I see how much assitance they receive. If they used this assitance to impove their lot in life it would be a good thing but they don't soon they will be out filing taxes to et the earned income credit & will buy a car that they will lose in 6 months. Most of my employees drive newer cars than I but have not money in the bank. Manta you ever been to a formor communist\socialist country? I have my wife is from one Ukraine. She will tell you what they are tring to do in this country is crazy. We get news out of Russia & they are tickled pink with Obama & his agenda because they know ( from experence ) what the end result will be then they will be the #1 country in the world!!!!!!!!!! Wise You can't spend money you don't have & get away with it forever

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scooter38 says... January 2, 2010 at 8 p.m.

An Ideal scenario would be that EVERY Senator , Congressman and Representative be Voted OUT and the New legislators spend the next at LEAST , Two terms REPEALING EVERY piece of Legislation , and TAXES this Out-Of-Touch bunch of Rip-Off artists has passed. Want a Clue ?... Look at THIER Homes , Then look at the homes of thier Bosses.... U S !
The exception to this scenario being Mike Ross , He is The example we need to use when electing the New Legislators.

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Chairman says... January 2, 2010 at 8:31 p.m.

I have a stepson who lost his house and is deeply in debt due to not having adequate health insurance. Why? He does not make enough money to pay for it, has a heart condition, and would not have any if we did pay for the insurance with its 10% annual increases. Will the health insurance bill help? Not in the short run, but in the long run yes. We just can't keeping doing the same thing and expect health care costs to go down or at least stabilize. There are parts of this bill I don't like but I think Blanche and Mark have fairly represented me and I will continue to support them; as I will my congressman, Mike Ross. Lets get on with working together. These are troubled times with even more hard times to come. God Bless America.

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thuggetter says... January 2, 2010 at 8:40 p.m.

scooter, you got it right with Mike Ross. I agree that we need to clean up both parties. Cappig said it all. Most people in this country had rather have a corrupt government take care of them than take care of themself. I too have been all over this world and know first hand how socialist countries work. Stupid americans just think they want government to take care of them.....

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roe53_hotmail.com says... January 4, 2010 at 8:59 p.m.

I question Senator Lincoln's sincerity of wanting the little man to get good health, as I wrote Senator Lincoln about a veteran of Vietnam War friend who the VA has committed numerous illegal acts against to cover up a physical therapist who was supposed to examining his body and while he was examining him told him he was going to "adjust" his back and illegally performed a chiropractic maneuver which he was not authorized to perform and broke my friends back, causing my friend sever pain daily since the 1995 incident. Then the VA refused my friend narcotics for pain until 2003 when a VA doctor told him he would lose the use of his arms if he did not have surgery. My friend filed a claim for benefits and the VA has prevented my friend from getting representation from his service organization for years, then Senator Lincoln confirmed that she knew they were doing the illegal act by her chief of staff getting the VA rep of Senator Lincoln to send the info received about a fraudulent felonies form the VA Regional Office said my friend signed that he never did and in November Senator Lincoln sent my friend a letter from her that enclosed the VA sent in July which stated they was waiting on my friends consent form, which proves that Senator Lincoln is a co-conspirator in a felony act, as she has my friends power of attorney to request said document...she still has not responded to my August 2, 2009 letter detailing the numerous illegal acts committed against my friend.

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safecherokeepilot says... January 5, 2010 at 11:42 p.m.

So the health care bill passed, eventhough most Americans didn't want it. But wait there's more to come. The next step will be even more difficult. What will happen to health care costs when illegal immigrants are declared legal and put on the new health care plan? Have those costs been calculated by our representatives? How will we pay? It has created even more incentive for millions more to flood across the border. What are we to do? Perhaps if we are old enough we can pass most of the debt on to our grand children. Does anyone care?
We must vote for genuine representatives next election. We must save our future generations by allowing them opportunity to prosper.

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cdawg says... January 6, 2010 at 3:33 a.m.

.
.
MOST AMERICANS DID WANT HEALTH CARE REFORM BY OVERWHELMING MAJORITIES.

So unfortunate that many in Arkansans were duped by the Koch Brothers propaganda campaign but hey! They got the bucks to twist feeble minds and they did it. Easy to create fear and hysteria. It's been done so many times there are now formulas for doing it.

.

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roe53_hotmail.com says... January 7, 2010 at 6:03 p.m.

my friend, Sam Braswell of Pine Bluff, wants to display his request to Senator Lincoln that he sent her on her online contact form. Here is what Sam sent her Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010...
Senator Lincoln,
Please have Ms. Donna Kay Yeargan contact me, as she said she would look into the criminal felony illegal acts that the Veterans Administration has committed against me over the last 15 years and was expecting a Congressional Inquiry and have my benefits immediately awarded for such illegal acts, as Senator Lincoln is now a confirmed co-conspirator for suppressing such acts, as her Veterans Rep Rod Sweetman called me after Donna Kay contacted me and assured me that she would review my file that I had been filing forms for years to represent me in my claims for benefits for years has been denied me representation and a conspiracy kept me from getting their representation, denying me my obviously proved malpractice claim for years. Mr. Sweetman called me and assured me that it had been changed to reflect the VVA as my service organization, which they locally confirmed, but when I called the Office of Inspector General in November and was told that the VFW still has my power of attorney. I called Rod again and caught him with his pants down, as I asked for representation from him in the spring and I was sent a letter from Senator Lincoln a month or two ago and received a letter from her with a letter from the VA in July enclosed saying they were waiting for a consent form from me to release a felonious form that I never signed when Senator Lincoln has had my power of attorney to perform such a request. I never have received the form 21-22 that they said I walked into the Regional Office and signed one week after I had filed a form 21-22 designating the VVA as my service organization to change to the American Legion. This proves Senator Lincoln is a co-conspirator and a prominent ethics litigation group is interested in filing a complaint against a member of the Senate Ethics Committee. All I want is my benefits and do not want to cause Senator Lincoln any trouble in a year she is up for re-election, but if I do not get my benefits I may be swayed by the ethics activist, as I joined their group recently.

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LETSBEREALISTIC says... April 9, 2010 at 4:58 p.m.

Manta - you are obviously a card carrying socialist and you must be a life time member of the Liberal Left. You statements are not factual but server your false premise well. After 9/11 under Bush we had no attacks on this country but under your massiah Obama this country has had one successful attack and one would have been successful if it hadn't been for citizen action with several other attempts in country because your favorite Administration was asleep at the wheel. Also, Obama has driven our debt throught he roof and threatens to bankrupt this country if the Right cannot stop the insanity of the Left, Obama has run the debt up more than all the Presidents before him put together. He promised much and says much but as Nelson said, Obama lies. It's only people like yourself that want the Government to take care of them due to inability to take care of yourself that you favor this sociallist agenda. Lastly, Bush's second priority behind National Defense, which Obama cannot spell, was Individual Rights and Freedoms which he protected vehemently and Obama has in one year greatly reduce individual rights and has plans to further reduce Americans rights if we don't stop him in Nov!

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