Why is Larry Kissell Voting Against Health Reform?

Submitted by AdamSearing on

Candidate Larry Kissell was singing a much different tune on health care reform last year than Congressman Larry Kissell is today. Take a look at our latest video.

(Link updated by James)

Comments

Why is Larry Kissell voting against this bill?...an answer:

Submitted by Foxtrot on

Larry Kissell, who I admittedly feel is a fine man, a good congressman, and someone I admire has said that the reason he is voting against this health care bill is because it is taking away hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicare and he made a promise to the people of the 8th district of NC to protect Medicare in any way he could.

I understand his reasoning and I feel for him having to suffer the ire of his fellow democrats because he is wanting to honor his promise.

That being said, I am disappointed Congressman Kissell will be voting against this. There are things he can do, in my opinion, to reduce the impact of this bill on medicare if he and collegues he has of like mind want to join together and offer up amendments and/or changes that could make this more palletable.

I hope that BlueNC contributors do not look upon Larry too badly for his actions and beliefs. He's a super congressman and a great democrat. Write him to suggest he try to find a way to support this bill. It is something long in coming and our country needs it.

I sense the disappointment on Kissell

Submitted by Foxtrot on

Yes, I could see here that there is a great deal of disappointment when it comes to Larry's "NO" vote on the impending health insurance reform bill offered up by Nancy Pelosi's group. I also am disappointed in this although my message here was more to ask that we, as a concerned bunch of political activists, send emails and write to and call Larry's office to offer up an alternative that we all can live with that will not violate his promise to his constituents or go against what we believe is one of the most important initiatives America has ever undertaken.

Thanks.

That's a good youtube video.

Submitted by Foxtrot on

James, I enjoyed watching that youtube video. I have been around the block a few times and know that there is a lot of spin and so forth in how it was presented, of course. Look, I'm an advocate for enacting a legitimate, progressive and functional health care bill. I am not a "follow-along", however. This bill might very well be one of the most important initiatives undertaken by our country ever. It has to be right. It has to be almost perfect. It can not be something that is enacted just to get a "win". This is more important than that.

Here's a link you might want to look at. I looked at yours, so now I want to show you mine (hmmm...that sounds kinda kinky, doesn't it? :) Just kidding, James.

http://kissell.house.gov/2009/07/congressman-kissells-letter-to-speaker-pelosi-on-the-health-care-re...

A good letter

Submitted by James on

From my reading, most of the arguments don't hold water, though I agree that funding for hospice care should not just be preserved, but expanded. I haven't been able to get to the bottom of whether the concern is a real one, or whether Larry's simply echoing the talking points of lobbyists for that industry. It's really hard to know.

Your concern that the legislation be almost perfect is misguided, I'm afraid ... unless you're ready to dramatically increase taxes, which I doubt you are. Whatever we do in healthcare will change again and again and again as we learn what works and what doesn't. Anyone who's pretending they can understand all the consequences of any legislation is crazy, especially something this complicated.

The alternative is to continue to leave 40+ million people living on the brink of medical bankruptcy, while costs continue to escalate out of control. Doing something is better than doing nothing, even if that something isn't almost perfect. There is no "almost perfect." There is "the best we can do" ... and then we work to improve it.

I have to leave it here to end the banter

Submitted by Foxtrot on

James, we're on the same side of this. Both of us want to have comprehensive health care reform in America. God knows it is needed and even the vast majority of the right (from what I've seen on polling numbers) believe health care reform is needed in America. That 40+ million, does that include some folks that I am not sure should receive taxpayer assistance (Illegal immigrants)? "Doing something is better than doing nothing" is unacceptable to me simply because it leaves out common sense and logic being replaced by partisanship and earmarks and political "payback" which needs to be taken out of something this huge and important. I understand the "we can get it right later" philosophy, but be honest, when has that really happened in American legislative initiatives?

"There is 'the best we can do'... and then we work to improve it" is pie in the sky. Let's get it right from the start. This is bigger than medicare, social security, VA medical care, in my opinion, especially knowing that it will grow exponentially as time progresses. LET'S GET IT RIGHT FROM THE START. That will take time. It is THAT important.

I think this is the 50% I said earlier where I'd piss someone off. Sorry, but it's my considered opinion, regardless.

enjoyed the video

Submitted by Fredly on

What a contrast between candidate Kissell & Reresentative Kissell!

Just to add another opinion, and as a Medicare enrollee...

Submitted by denno on

I tried to read the bill HR3962 at the 'Open Congress' site, but it's really long, and not being into legalese, is pretty much above my head. But after the endorsement of AARP, an organization I haven't looked to for much guidance on issues over the years, I would say there are NO dire events in store for us recipients. AARP really keeps any stances on issues away from public view, maybe to avoid any splits in their support. So every ten or twenty years, they get a gut check and back something. So, back to the point on Kissell, he's just another hack who could, and should have been a Republican. Qualifications: No ideas, No hope, No committment, Vote NO!

A reason he should vote against it

Submitted by SPLib on

REAL reform would fix one of the biggest problems with health insurance- its tie to one's place of employment. The House bill mandates that all but the very smallest employers provide insurance or pay a fine. Without fixing a fundamental flaw in the current system, the bill is fundamentally flawed.

Of course, it is also easier to hide the costs for insurance in what amounts to a new employer-paid payroll tax. Anyone with a lick of business sense knows taxes on businesses are always passed along to individual employees and customers, but we're already used to unknowingly paying tons of embedded taxes and really only get upset over the ones clearly articulated on payroll stubs and property tax bills.

Mandating employer coverage is a cop-out that doesn't adddress one of the major problems with our system and hides the true cost of health coverage from most people. If you want REAL reform, then freakin' do it right!!!