Alliance for America`s Health

download the bill before changes on the floor
download the bill after changes on the floor

Update 12/24/09 - The senate passed it`s version the health bill today. It passed on a party line vote with all but one republican opposed. Although the bill has come along way since the left passed their bill in the house. Just recently this bill took a hard turn right with the managers amendment. Republicans have been vocal with free market solutions, and the american people have been forcing the left to listen. Moderate democrats have been in the spotlight, and helped to push this bill in the right direction. Even with the public option gone, republicans could not support this bill due to fundamental flaws. Most notably lack of key cost control measures and the insurance mandate. Republicans lead by jim bunning have been fighting hard against the mandate since the bill was in the finance committee. Unfortunately jim bunning has been unable to produce any results. Strangely he was absent from the vote today. Now the bill will be merged with the house bill. Then it will end up back in the senate for more debate. The house bill is allot more liberal and includes the public option. There are exceptions, most notably strong language against federal funds for abortion in the house bill. The senate bill has watered down legislative language. After the health bill, the senate voted to raise the federal debt ceiling. Driving home the fact that we must lower health care costs with a financially responsible bill. The final bill has yet to be written. The left will be pushing for their bill. We need to keep up the pressure and make sure this bill stays on the right track.

Update 12/23/09 - Republicans officially state on the senate floor, they will challenge the insurance mandate on constitutional grounds. At the same time offering good faith negotiating votes. Moving the vote on the entire bill up one hour and agreeing not to filibuster, allowing for passage with 50 votes. Have republicans reached a deal to remove the mandate in the final bill?

Update 12/22/09 - Republicans have repeatedly pointed out the insurance mandate is unconstitutional. Senate republicans suggested they reached an agreement to pass an amendment to remove the mandate. They must be confident because senate republicans have agreed to move up the vote to the morning of Christmas Eve. Republican senator john mccain gave a passionate speech for physical responsibility and carrying out the american people`s will. He was also involved in a somewhat heated exchange with democratic senator max baucus. Senate republicans have called democrat`s tax and spend policies generational theft. Pointing out the transfer of wealth from future generations and younger americans to older americans. Among other provisions younger people will pay more for health insurance, so older americans can pay less.

Update 12/21/09 - More of the same today, as the senate prepares to vote on the entire bill. Senator john cornyn gave a great speech against government takeover of health care and insider washington politics. Promoting patient empowering free market solutions.

Update 12/20/09 - Senator lindsey graham is out in front, fighting to kill the left`s health bill. Stating this thing is not over, the american people`s opinion does matter. Hitting the left hard where it counts, the policies in the bill. Pointing out they are denying the american people the freedom of importing prescription medications. We need free market policies to ensure competition. Resulting in improved safety and lower(competitive) prices.

White house senior adviser david axelrod vs the left`s howard dean in the sunday news. David axelrod is defending the latest changes in the health bill. Howard dean continues his media push to bring back the public option and/or medicare expansion.

Update 12/19/09 moderate democrats introduce the managers amendment.

The defense budget was passed today, hours after last years ended. The budget also included earmarks with medicare money. Republican senate leader mitch mcconnell got the filibuster right but did not bring up the right side by side amendment. Moderate democrats introduced the managers amendment. The public option is out and insurance across state lines is in. Also money to medical students to forgive student loans for new primary doctors. Good to see moderate democrats recognize we need more primary doctors to prevent rationing. A patients bill of rights is included. Patients bill of rights sounds terrific and senators say all the right things. But a similar john mccain bill with broad bipartisan support failed in past years. I will be paying close attention to legislative language in the final bill, to make sure the amendment lives up to it`s name.

Update 12/17/09 - Howard dean and the left are against the health bill because it looks like it will not include a public option. The white house is not supporting howard dean`s version of the bill. Moderate senate democrats will not support the current bill because it is still too far left. The voice of moderate democrats, keith olbermann will not support a bill with the insurance mandate. Senate republicans will not support the current bill because it does not focus enough on cutting costs for the middle-class and small business. Seniors will not support a bill with the rumored big pharma deal. We need to lower costs and improve the safety of senior`s prescription medications. We have seen how this deal works too many times, to repeat the same mistake. Big pharma offers money to pay for drug subsides. But that money only covers the recent price increases. Big pharma is free to continue raising their prices far faster then inflation. The medications never get cheaper for seniors in medicare. Also keep in mind the deal only applies to brand name medications. Seniors could get medications for far less then the deductible in medicare, the subsides cost not save seniors money. On top of that big pharma will immediately send it`s army of lobbyists to washington, quickly removing the subsides. Then that subsidy will be gone, but the price increases stay. Competition is the only thing that will bring down the price of medication in medicare. So everyone is finally in agreement. We need a health bill, but the current bill will not pass.

Update 12/16/09 - Howard dean has decided he wants to attack the conservative / moderate democrat alliance that has created the political will to fix health care. He is leading the left with delay and filibuster tactics. What you do want? We are busy solving problems here. If they want to force a filibuster, then that is exactly what we will do! We won, look at the votes 51 wins. Republican senate leader mitch mcconnell needs to call up the dorgan, snowe, mccain and grassley amendment without the 60 vote threshold. The 60 vote threshold was put in place to prevent party line votes from dominating the senate. This is anything but a party line vote. Senate republican leader mitch mcconnell, most senate republicans and a number of senate democrats support the amendment. Only a few senators spoke in opposition, because of massive support among the american people. This is the exact situation the filibuster was designed for. Senators will make the right decision when forced to explain their vote live on c-span. Fox news reported early today, jim demint has already started to round up the troops for a filibuster.

A single payer, medicare for all ages amendment was almost brought to the floor of the senate today. It was withdrawn before the amendment was officially up for debate.

Update 12/15/09 - Just as it looked like the american people had the votes for a bipartisan amendment lead by mitch mcconnell and byron dorgan. The left starts a media campaign to kill the amendment and the 2009 conservative health bill. Howard dean leads the left`s attack on the progress of the 2009 health bill. They are mad all of their new entitlement programs are being stripped away. Today the left managed to defeat the highly popular prescription medication import amendment. They had already placed a side by side amendment that would have immediately reversed the amendment. But we never even got that far. The vote was close and the amendment is very far from dead. However howard dean and the left are claiming victory. Introducing single payer government run health care tomorrow.

Republican senate leader mitch mcconnell was not able to keep all republicans on board. Some senate republicans took the big pharma money, empowering the left. Thinking they can overcome their conservative constituents with big pharma money in the next election. Now is the worst time to sell out the american people and the republican party. Not only is this amendment widely popular but it also can stop the government takeover of health care.

Update 12/14/09 - Republicans came out swinging today. A group of senate republicans lead by orrin hatch attacked entitlement spending. Pointing out the large addition of people to medicaid. Adding more people to a broken system will not any solve problems. People need to be in charge of their own medical decisions and expenses. Besides the solvency issues, there is simply not enough doctors.

John mccain continues the fight to improve prescription drug safety and prices. In a press conference over the weekend, he expressed concerns with the amendment being watered down or counter productive amendments being added. He has since taken an even larger leadership role. Today he said we appeared to have the votes, but big pharma has convinced the white house to once again delay. Pharma appears to be aggressively seeking a deal to stop the amendment. I think we all want pharma to be involved and their industry to attract smart people with high results based salaries. The economy is in desperate need of a healthy workforce. The more people who can afford their prescription medication, the more the economy improves. As the economy improves, more people have jobs and can pay for their prescription medication. Pharma stands to gain allot of business.

Senate republicans and their leader mitch mcconnell have been pushing for this vote. Republicans appeared to have peeled away enough moderate democrats to pass the dorgan, snowe, mccain and grassley amendment. It is time for the left to stop the filibuster and make sure the american people come out on top. Democrats say they are for improving prescription drug safety and prices. Now is the time to produce results. Harry reid did announce at the end of the day he expects a vote tomorrow. When push comes to shove, the american people need to be the party to get the most from the deal.

Three top senate democrats promised to further address the medicare doughnut hole in conference committee. Now that democrats openly admit to more medicare spending when the bill leaves the senate. They need to stop claiming fake savings. We have legislation that will produce real savings. We need to go with the bill that lowers cost, not adds more people to a broken system.

Joe lieberman appears to have single handedly shot down the left`s latest medicare expansion proposal. Obviously an exaggeration, but this independent senator has allot of power in the current political environment.

Update 12/13/09 - Mitch mcconnell has taken the high road this weekend. Both saturday and sunday he outsmarted democrats, forcing them to try explaining why they are delaying a vote on an amendment to improve prescription drug safety and prices.

Update 12/11/09 - There continues to be a delay in the senate with no amendments. Senate democrat leader harry reid is blaming senate republican leader mitch mcconnell. Mitch mcconnell is blaming harry reid. Harry reid is trying to delay the dorgan, snowe, mccain and grassley amendment. The left is worried it will kill their version of the 2009 health bill. Instead of calling their bluff and letting the left destroy itself with delay tactics, mitch mcconnell has got drawn into a fight. This is exactly the type of partisan politics that the conservative people hate. Stop the petty fighting with democrats and start fixing the 2009 health bill.

Update 12/10/09 - Some newspapers have reported the new proposed medicare expansion is a gateway to government run health care. I agree, but think it is less dangerous then the left`s government run health care for all ages. Conservatives have the left on the run. Look how much power moderate democrats have. They have forced the left to regroup and call an emergency weekend meeting. Democrat`s know their constituents want free market solutions. The more republicans practice what they preach, the larger republican numbers grow. What better issue then life itself, to gain the trust and respect of conservatives.

Senate majority leader harry reid suggested they might stop work over the weekend. He also announced the senate will take a short break from the 2009 health bill, to focus on budget matters. Senate minority leader mitch mcconnell wanted no part of the break. Stating the american people deserve they work until the 2009 health bill is done right. The republican leader wants to get back to work immediately on the 2009 health bill. Many senate republicans came to the floor to express strong feelings about finishing the 2009 health bill, and working weekends to get the job done right.

Update 12/09/09 - Pressure from conservatives has successfully divided the democrats. Moderate democrats are empowered and look to remove the public option. Replacing it with a plan that expands medicare to people fifty five years of age. The left is now weak, we need to form alliances with the moderate democrats. Republicans have the opportunity to kill government run health care, and implement our free market solutions.

Update 12/08/09 - Senate delays abortion amendment, to continue work on senior/medicare problems. Byron dorgan introduced a bipartisan amendment to improve safety, marketing standards and competition on prescription medications. Leading sponsors are olympia snowe, john mccain, and chuck grassley. More debate is scheduled for tomorrow. John mccain has been the most vocal advocate. Bringing up the subject everyday on the senate floor. He also has talked about the amendment every step of the way through committees. John mccain was also a vocal advocate throughout his 2008 presidential campaign. Strong advocate to improving the solvency of medicare, to make sure it will be there for seniors in future years.

Update 12/07/09 - An earlier bennet amendment guarantees in writing no medicare benefits will be cut and savings from medicare will be used for medicare. Some republicans and newspapers have pointed out the bennet amendment is nothing more then a promise. There in no enforcement mmechanism. The left still wants to claim fake medicare cuts. It makes their mandated public option look like it costs less. I still do not think senate democrats or republicans will negatively cut medicare. Not only will they not make cuts, they will expand medicare and increase medicare payments to doctors. Congress has already introduced initial separate high cost long-term medicare bills, on top of new medicare spending in the current bill. Why did the bennet amendment get all senators votes, but some of the same senators trash it? No senator will play politics on a vote that has strong support from seniors. Senators always listen to seniors because of high voter turn out. When the 2009 conservative health bill passes, it will kill the left`s government run health care for good. The medicare solvency debate will no longer be weighted down by an unpopular program. They will be free to spend on medicare without warnings about the federal deficit from republicans.

There was bipartisan progress today on a patient empowering amendment. The successful amendment enables potential customers to view individual surveys before purchasing health insurance. Their was also progress on banning federal funded abortions from republicans and some pro life democrats. The amendment is still up for debate.

Update 12/06/09 - Republican john mccain continues to take a leadership role in the senate. At a republican press conference today, he called out barack obama for not living up to campaign promises. John mccain challenged barack obama to debate the issues. John mccain continues the fight to produce results on his campaign promises. He is pushing for common sense legislation. Today john mccain focused on prescription medication importation. A subject he has brought up everyday on the floor of the senate. Cost saving policy, that will improve medicare`s long-term solvency. If seniors have the freedom to buy medication from countries with far lower costs, prices in the usa will dramatically drop. The quality of medication will improve. Americans will be able to buy medication from the countries they are made. No longer will middlemen continually raise the price of medication. No longer will you have to live within driving distance of canada, to receive medications at a reasonable price. No longer will manufactures charge americans five times the rate it charges canadians, for the same medications in a different color bottle. If they get away with that, what else do you think they get away with? No longer will redistributors sell counterfeit or diluted medications. Competition will force higher quality standards and reasonable prices. The usa has declared a national flu emergency. Despite shortages we can not get medicine or vaccines from other countries. Higher quality, safety, and less expensive health care. How the left opposes is beyond me. I think john mccain must be right, big pharma has struck a deal with the left. They do not have the authority to make such a deal. You may have agreements on their bill, but not the american people`s bill. I do think pharmaceutical companies and the american people can work together to come up with solutions.

Update 12/05/09 - Senate minority leader mitch mcconnell announced at press conference, republicans will continue to fight for home health care in medicare. Republicans spend at least half the day on that very subject. Gaining momentum from the public, republicans now look not only to protect but also strengthen it. Continuing to reference the efficiency of home health care. Pointing out, one day at a hospital could pay for forty three days of home care. We need to make investments that make medicare solvent long-term. Most senate republicans appear to have strong opinions about the subject. Often representatives of rural areas fight the hardest. Many republicans have implied on the senate floor, they will not vote for a bill that negatively affects home care in medicare. Later republican john ensign offered an amendment to lower lawyers contingency fee in medical liability cases. The amendment is still up for debate

Update 12/04/09 - Yesterday all senators from both parties agreed not to cut any medicare benefits. They also agreed to use savings from medicare fraud, waste and abuse cuts to improve medicare`s long-term solvency. All one hundred senators voted for an amendment that puts their guarantee in writing. Senate republicans are not yet satisfied seniors will not suffer negative medicare changes. Republicans want to further protect home health care agencies. Pointing out care at home is less expensive and often preferred by seniors. Republicans with large amounts of rural constituents, point out sometimes home care is the only option.

Update 12/03/09 - Both parties agree there is fraud, waste and abuse in medicare. Both parties believe medicare will be broke in approximately eight years. A bipartisan amendment that guarantees in writing no medicare benefits will be cut passed with unanimous content, all one hundred senators voted. The amendment also puts money from fraud, waste and abuse cuts back into medicare. Senate republicans have continued to point out billions of dollars in cuts to home health care. Home health care agencies are not hospitals. They do not get the large amounts of uncompensated emergency room care. Hospitals will get a huge increase in revenue, when those patients have insurance. Home health care will not and has already been cut to shreds. Republican chuck grassley offered an amendment to protect home health care options. The amendment was defeated on a party line vote. Republican orrin hatch spent the second half of the day, fighting to strip the bill of the left`s tax and spend amendments. Recommending free market, patient empowering alternative solutions.

Update 12/02/09 - The health care bill continues it`s slow but steady crawl. Twelve days since debate on the floor officially started, still no amendment has been voted on. The first successful amendment looks like it will be based on work from a bipartisan group of women. The focus of the amendment is women`s health. It includes language that would reverse the recent november 2009 breast cancer screening recommendations from a george bush government panel. Days of debate on the senate floor but surprising little fighting. There has been disagreement on a few major issues. Most of the talk has not been on the two proposed amendments. Both parties are voicing their opinions on the controversial issues. They appear to be tackling the deal breakers first.

Update 12/01/09 - Senate republicans continued efforts to strip the final health bill of new spending on government programs. Republican`s first amendment would remove all cuts to medicare. They pointed out congress has a history of failing to produce fraud, waste and abuse savings. Arguing democrat`s "cuts" would result in more medicare spending not less. Also resulting in failed savings being added to the federal debt.

At 3:00pm on 11/30/09 the senate returned to the 2009 health bill, after a week long break for thanksgiving. After approximately 4.5 hours, both parties decided to end debate on the floor.

Update 11/23/09 - Support for the democrat`s health bill continues to fall.

Rasmussen poll shows support for the democrat`s health bill has dropped to 38%. 56% of the american people oppose the left`s bill. The more republicans counter the left, the higher our support grows. We have the majority of the people and the momentum. The vast majority of americans are with us on the policies. Now all republican senators have to do is practice what they preach.

Update 11/23/09 - A fox news poll appears to have suffered a fraud attack. We need to protect the integrity of polls. Otherwise our enemies will fake poll results to soften us up on terrorism, the second amendment, physical responsibility, health care, immigration, etc...

Update - Democrats have brought their version of the 2009 health bill to the floor of the US senate. Now conservative republicans finally have the opportunity to pass our bill. Piece by piece through the amendment process on the floor of the US senate live on cspan and foxnews.com. Each amendment resulting from years of hard work on free market health solutions. Senate republicans worked hard in the finance committee on the 2009 health bill. But that was just an opportunity to set the ground work. The floor of the senate with the american people watching, is where all the action takes place. Everyone saving their best moves for the big game. When the bill hits the floor is the time we have the most influence. It is where one vote can save us from government run health care. One vote can uphold the constitution. One vote can save the lives of millions. One vote can protect the hide abortion amendment. One vote could propel a person from senator to president. One vote can bring a senator`s constituents 300 million dollars. Lets make sure the right senators control the money. We need to use the money to solve problems, not temporally fund entitlements. We should be making investments that save us money.

Update 11/21/09 - After two days of debate on the senate floor, motion to debate the health bill passes. The pre-debate debate was covered by foxnews.com and cspan2.