Rand Paul's Response to Senate Healthcare Bill

[jllundqu]

I will add Sen. Paul's official response when he posts it, but we can use this thread to discuss.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/rand-paul...-repealing-it/

MSNBC’s Casey Hunt caught up with Senator Rand Paul in the halls of the Capitol Building this morning to ask his quick thoughts on the Senate version of the GOP Healthcare bill just released.

Paul was an initial and vocal critic of the House health care bill, and it appears that he is also frustrated with the version presented by his Senate colleagues, telling Hunt “looks like we’re keeping Obamacare, not repealing it.”

Why is this short and seemingly throw-away line so important? Well the GOP Senate has only the slightest of room to pass this bill as it will take only three Republican senators to vote against it to kill this version. Judging from Paul’s comments, it appears that he will not be voting for this iteration of the bill.

The Libertarian leaning Kentucky Senator has promised a statement shortly.

I'm guessing he is one of the 3 'no' votes as reported? lol.

Give em hell Rand!

[jllundqu]

Yep. Rand Paul is a 'No'.

I hope he holds out and really and REALLY pisses off the RINO GOP $#@!s.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...=.0e16b71b0519

WASHINGTON — Sen. Rand Paul says he and three other GOP senators oppose health bill as written, putting passage in jeopardy.

[jllundqu]

If it is him 'plus 3 other GOP senators' then that makes 4. That will mean they have a lot of power in the next week.

THIS is what we should be discussing on this forum.

[angelatc]

His GOP primary challenger will accuse him of voting against the repeal.

[jllundqu]

His GOP primary challenger will accuse him of voting against the repeal.

And his response will be "It wasn't a repeal at all, junior."

[jllundqu]

https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/pre...te-health-bill

Sens. Paul, Cruz, Johnson, and Lee Issue Joint Statement on Senate Health Bill


WASHINGTON – Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday responding to the release of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017:

“Currently, for a variety of reasons, we are not ready to vote for this bill, but we are open to negotiation and obtaining more information before it is brought to the floor. There are provisions in this draft that represent an improvement to our current health care system, but it does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs.”

[CaptUSA]

His GOP primary challenger will accuse him of voting against the repeal.

No he won't. Rand's not running again (at least for Senate) for 5 more years. By then, if this turd passes, they'll all be running from it. If it fails, then Obamacare gets the blame for the mess and Rand can, again, talk about a real answer.

[Occam's Banana]

His GOP primary challenger will accuse him of voting against the repeal.

No he won't. Rand's not running again (at least for Senate) for 5 more years. By then [...]

IIRC, Rand said he would voluntarily term-limit himself to two terms.

So unless I'm mistaken about this (or Rand goes back on his word), he won't be running again ...

[jllundqu]

Senators Paul, Cruz, Lee, and Johnson are all "no" votes.

[Brian4Liberty]

Rand Paul on the Republican Health Care Plan | Obamacare

[anaconda]

Rand Paul on the Republican Health Care Plan | Obamacare

In the opening of this segment Rand looks a bit like Bobby Kennedy. The hair and so forth. I think maybe Rand has lost a few pounds, too.

[anaconda]

Rand Paul on the Republican Health Care Plan | Obamacare

At 6:11 Rand sounds and looks just like Ron when he says "neh.." and kind of shrugs and waves his hands..

[Brian4Liberty]

Rand Paul on Republican Healthcare Proposal | Q and A

[nikcers]

If the Senate passes another unfunded government entitlement program I hope the U.S credit score downgrades. Stupid asses need to learn that there is no free lunch.

[CPUd]

[CPUd]

https://twitter.com/dougstafford/sta...00667279474689

[Working Poor]

To me insurance is such a rip off I can't understand why the insurance market hasn't been told FU by the people long ago. The people should not be bailing them out. I know a lot of folks own stock in insurance. I am sure they controlling holders vote more profits for themselves which translates to higher premiums. I don't think I should be forced to buy it.

[anaconda]

Trump" "They're 4 good guys and they're 4 friends of mine...."

[Brian4Liberty]

To me insurance is such a rip off I can't understand why the insurance market hasn't been told FU by the people long ago. The people should not be bailing them out. I know a lot of folks own stock in insurance. I am sure they controlling holders vote more profits for themselves which translates to higher premiums. I don't think I should be forced to buy it.

Yep, insurance itself is the problem. It is socialism by it's very nature. A big pot of money to be "shared". No one cares about the costs of services, thus prices and overhead increases are out control. Just because it isn't a forced, single provider government socialism program doesn't prevent it from having all of the same flaws.

[anaconda]

Yep, insurance itself is the problem. It is socialism by it's very nature. A big pot of money to be "shared". No one cares about the costs of services, thus prices and overhead increases are out control. Just because it isn't a forced, single provider government socialism program doesn't prevent it from having all of the same flaws.

I don't know that people voluntarily sharing private resources to indemnify one another is "socialism." And, they should care about price and there should be a huge incentive to do so. If you pool your money with me and then I get sick, you don't want me spending recklessly on services that are above equilibrium free market price points. And in a free market insurance companies will compete for subscribers and experience only normal profits.

[Brian4Liberty]

I don't know that people voluntarily sharing private resources to indemnify one another is "socialism." And, they should care about price and there should be a huge incentive to do so. If you pool your money with me and then I get sick, you don't want me spending recklessly on services that are above equilibrium free market price points. And in a free market insurance companies will compete for subscribers and experience only normal profits.

IMHO, any time resources are pooled it is a version of socialism. It isn't always forced by government (but sometimes through other means of coercion).

In theory, people should care about prices. In practice, it's a different story.

Let's take an example of auto insurance. A car gets in a wreck. The insurance company recommends an "authorized" repair shop. The repair shop gives a quote that is at least twice as much as it should cost, often much more than that. The person getting their car repaired doesn't care as long as it gets fixed. The insurance (sales) agent doesn't care, as long as the customer is happy. The person who OKs the repair at the insurance company doesn't care, as long as they get their paycheck. The executives don't care, as long as they get their salaries and bonuses. Shareholders have no say or visibility whatsoever.

Nobody cares about the cost, therefore there is no price competition or market price discovery. The result is soaring prices. This is the essential problem with all government goods and services, but it is not limited to government.

[anaconda]

IMHO, any time resources are pooled it is a version of socialism. It isn't always forced by government (but sometimes through other means of coercion).

In theory, people should care about prices. In practice, it's a different story.

Let's take an example of auto insurance. A car gets in a wreck. The insurance company recommends an "authorized" repair shop. The repair shop gives a quote that is at least twice as much as it should cost, often much more than that. The person getting their car repaired doesn't care as long as it gets fixed. The insurance (sales) agent doesn't care, as long as the customer is happy. The person who OKs the repair at the insurance company doesn't care, as long as they get their paycheck. The executives don't care, as long as they get their salaries and bonuses. Shareholders have no say or visibility whatsoever.

Nobody cares about the cost, therefore there is no price competition or market price discovery. The result is soaring prices. This is the essential problem with all government goods and services, but it is not limited to government.

Great example but this seems to be an imperfect market for one reason or another. Wouldn't an upstart auto insurance company be able to severely undercut it's competition by "authorizing" it's repair shops based upon price? A simple matter to ascertain free market value of repairs. Then just contract to send them lots of business.

[anaconda]

Why does Susan Collins talk like she has severe Parkinson's Disease? Her head shakes back and forth, too.

[Natural Citizen]

Rand's likely the only one up there that makes me give a heck anymore.

[anaconda]

Dean Heller of NV makes it 5 senators against.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/cong...e-bill-n776091

[CPUd]

Dean Heller of NV makes it 5 senators against.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/cong...e-bill-n776091

The Trump PAC is going after Heller for "failing to repeal Obamacare". They know better than to go after Rand.

[anaconda]

The Trump PAC is going after Heller for "failing to repeal Obamacare". They know better than to go after Rand.

Would be cool if courage proved to be contagious and 5 senators against morphed into about 8 or 9.

[r3volution 3.0]

Rand won't fold.

Assuming the "moderates" do, that leaves three, and Lee's the decisive vote IMO.

If he sticks with Rand, so will Cruz, as he won't want to be the sole guy responsible for passing it.

If Lee folds, Cruz will too, since he's up for reelection next year and (short term) it's probably easier to pass than oppose.

No he won't. Rand's not running again (at least for Senate) for 5 more years. By then, if this turd passes, they'll all be running from it. If it fails, then Obamacare gets the blame for the mess and Rand can, again, talk about a real answer.

Exactly

The Trump PAC is going after Heller for "failing to repeal Obamacare". They know better than to go after Rand.

I hope they do. The more people know that Rand opposed this 4-5 years from now, the better.

Yep, insurance itself is the problem. It is socialism by it's very nature. A big pot of money to be "shared". No one cares about the costs of services, thus prices and overhead increases are out control. Just because it isn't a forced, single provider government socialism program doesn't prevent it from having all of the same flaws.

Insurance isn't socialistic and isn't the problem. The problem is the state subsidizing demand through medicare/medicaid/ACA while simultaneously restricting supply through professional licensing, restrictions on the construction of new hospitals, the FDA (aka Big Pharma's state sponsored cartel operator), and the protectionist ban on imported drugs, to name the major factors. Medical insurance existed and worked just fine in the past. People mistakenly blame insurance because it's gotten more prevalent in recent decades, but that's an effect of the massive price inflation in medicine, not its cause.

[CPUd]

Should be on soon:

https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/878947448437256192

[nikcers]