[ale] OT- that thread again. One last word.

[Jeff Hubbs]

Okay, this is what it takes to get ME to come down and wrestle in the OT 
mud...

Congressman John Fleming (R-Wankerland) is being a disingenuous jerk.

I propose instead that we petition to get US the same healthcare plan 
that CONGRESSMEN get!! From http://tinyurl.com/8pn7tk:

As soon as members of Congress are sworn in, they may participate
in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The
program offers an assortment of health plans from which to choose,
including fee-for-service, point-of-service, and health maintenance
organizations (HMOs). In addition, Congress members can also
insure their spouses and their dependents.

Not only does Congress get to choose from a wide range of plans,
but there’s no waiting period. Unlike many Americans who must
struggle against precondition clauses or are even denied coverage
because of those preconditions, Senators and Representatives are
covered no matter what - effective immediately.

And here’s the best part. The government pays up to 75 percent of
the premium. That government, of course, is funded by taxpayers, the
same taxpayers who often cannot afford health care themselves.

Also see http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2588181

I should point out that *my family* is covered under FEHBP because my 
wife is a Federal employee and it is because of that that she is still 
alive...she could probably make a lot more money in the private sector 
but no insurance company outside of FEHBP would cover her and in fact 
most any other insurance plan would have dropped her a long time ago. At 
least she can move from Federal job to Federal job anywhere in the 
country/world, which is more than most people with chronic conditions 
can do.

Fleming knows all this. All he's doing is showboating for his base, 
counting on having his base not know any better..."Programmed for the 
guts and glands / Of idle minds and idle hands."



wylde bill wrote:
> In case there's any doubt about the willingness of congress to exempt
> themselves from any foolishness they may get everyone else into, here's
> something a buddy of mine forwarded to me:
>
>
>         Subject: HR 615 - Please forward to everyone you know
>          
>         On Tuesday, the Senate health committee voted 12-11 in favor of
>         a two-page amendment, courtesy of Republican Tom Coburn which
>         would require all Members of Congress and their staff members to
>         enroll in any new government-run health plan. 
>         
>         Congressman John Fleming has proposed an amendment that would
>         require Congressmen and Senators to take the same health care
>         plan that they would force on us. (Under proposed legislation
>         they are exempt.)
>         
>         Congressman Fleming is encouraging people to go to his Website
>         and sign his petition.  The process is very simple.  I have done
>         just that at: 
>         
>         http://fleming.house.gov/index.html 
>         
>         Senator Coburn and Congressman Fleming are both physicians. 
>         
>         Regardless of your political beliefs, it seems reasonable that
>         Members of Congress should have exactly the same medical
>         coverage that they impose on the rest of us. 
>         
>         Please urge as many people as you can to do the same!
>         
>
>
>
>