Trump's Full Court Press on healthcare

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:40 am

Carpet_pissr wrote:I can't bring myself to type "Ha!" in response to that as I would normally. The 'sad' to 'true' ratio is too high.

The Onion is doing a massive job being the true fool who points out the "King's" foibles. They aren't always on mark but they have been pinpoint accurate on this one.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:25 am

Carpet_pissr wrote:Thoughts and prayers it is, then.

Got it.

Thought: Wouldn't it be great if someone shot all of the idiots who allow this to go on and on and on?
Prayer: Please someone give me a gun so I can be someone!

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:57 pm

With Trump’s backing, House approves ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy

The House on Tuesday approved a bill banning most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, advancing a key GOP priority for the third time in the past four years — this time, with a supportive Republican in the White House.

The bill, known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, is not expected to emerge from the Senate, where most Democrats and a handful of moderate Republicans can block its consideration. But antiabortion activists are calling President Trump’s endorsement of the bill a significant advance for their movement.

The White House said in a statement released Monday that the administration “strongly supports” the legislation “and applauds the House of Representatives for continuing its efforts to secure critical pro-life protections.”

Of course, just because some Congresscritters voted for this bill, you shouldn't assume that they're actually anti-abortion when it comes to dealing with their own indiscretions.

Anti-Abortion Congressman Told Woman to Have One, Report Says

Representative Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, a strong and frequent critic of abortion, asked a woman with whom he was having an affair to undergo an abortion, according to a report published on Tuesday by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Mr. Murphy, 65, who is married with an adult daughter, confirmed last month that he “became involved in an affair with a personal friend,” according to a statement previously provided to The Post-Gazette.

The woman involved in the extramarital affair, Shannon Edwards, told the newspaper last month that her relationship with Mr. Murphy had ended. She said she had gotten to know Mr. Murphy when she volunteered to work on a mental health bill, which was signed into law late last year.

In a text message sent to Mr. Murphy on Jan. 25, Ms. Edwards assailed the congressman for hypocrisy. The exchange was included among several documents obtained by The Post-Gazette.

“And you have zero issue posting your anti-abortion stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options,” Ms. Edwards wrote, according to The Post-Gazette. The newspaper said that the text was sent amid what proved to be an “unfounded pregnancy scare.”

According to the newspaper’s report, a text message sent in response from Mr. Murphy’s phone said: “I get what you say about my March for life messages. I’ve never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don’t write any more. I will.”

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Oct 06, 2017 2:57 pm

What did the devil do today? Oh yes rolling back requirements for covering birth control. Have a sexist employer? Too bad. And also sorry the country has incentives to have your employer provide coverage so that you have little to no choice. What assholes.

Octavious · Post by **Octavious** » Fri Oct 06, 2017 3:39 pm

He has a goal to do a shitty thing at least once a day. So mission accomplished for today. He has not done a single thing so far that I don't totally hate. Not one f'n thing.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Fri Oct 06, 2017 3:48 pm

Maybe when he rolls back coverage for people under the age of 26 on their parent's plan it will strike a nerve...because I'm really out of ideas.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:08 pm

Smoove_B wrote:Maybe when he rolls back coverage for people under the age of 26 on their parent's plan it will strike a nerve...because I'm really out of ideas.

Strike a nerve with all those young folks who didn't vote before? I'd like to think so but I wouldn't bet my wife's employer funded health insurance plan on it.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:49 pm

Healthcare sold across state lines executive order incoming! Anyone care to handicap the odds of this surviving judicial scrutiny?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:06 pm

Executive order deployed - state AGs commence your lawsuits.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:09 pm

What was stopping it before? Is it really something an executive order can change?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:15 pm

The EO effectively orders rule making aimed at destroying the ACA. I'd liken it to him saying, "They won't sell the house? Release the termites. They'll sell when that heap falls over." Something I'm pretty sure he might have actually done. We'll see how this turns out but I imagine there will be a lot of judicial scrutiny.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:18 pm

Yea! Finally Americans can finally buy substandard health care at bargain prices!

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:26 pm

Here's an explanation.

Basically the order doesn't do anything now, it just directs relevant agencies to develop rules along the lines laid out in the order. One of the main rule changes that is envisioned is relaxing rules restricting "association plans" which are basically groups of employers banding together to buy health insurance. Previously those associations could pick the health insurance rules of any state (I think where they have at least some presence) and sell those nationally. Now they can't do that because they are classified as small businesses who must follow the ACA mandates. If they are reclassified as 'large employers', then they could.

More generally the envisioned rules are intended to allow the sale of skimpier plans, which would draw off younger and healthier people from the market, and likely create a death spiral.

Of course, regulatory rules have to go through an extensive process - it'll take a few months at least for the relevant agencies to develop the rules, then they need to go through an administrative comment and review process, and then there will inevitably be litigation. So it's the start of a long process.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:32 pm

Here's the quote of the day from Trump:

"I'm only signing it cause it costs nothing," he added.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:01 pm

Smoove_B wrote:Here's the quote of the day from Trump:

"I'm only signing it cause it costs nothing," he added.

That's true. It will cost his bank account nothing.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:22 pm

$iljanus wrote:Yea! Finally Americans can finally buy substandard health care at bargain prices!

"I demand the freedom to die in mountains of debt if I want to! I'm an American, dammit!!"

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:27 pm

Skinypupy wrote:
$iljanus wrote:Yea! Finally Americans can finally buy substandard health care at bargain prices!
"I demand the freedom to die in mountains of debt if I want to! I'm an American, dammit!!"

And implicitly this implies that I will be able to declare bankruptcy and pass that cost along to everyone else. FRRRRRREEEEEEDOMMMMMMMMM! #FreeRide #NoCares

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:35 pm

"But I don't understand why I have to pay so much! I have insurance! Trump said it's the best insurance!....Damn Obamacare!"

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:37 pm

Does ACA provide coverage for senile dementia?

Mike Pence chases down Trump after he forgets to sign executive order

Vice President Mike Pence had to chase down President Trump to remind him to sign the executive order on healthcare he announced Thursday afternoon.

Following Trump's remarks about the action, he turned to his left and walked over to lawmakers. He greeted them and shook hands as he moved to exit the room.

Pence sprung into action and swiftly walked over to Trump, and turned him back toward the wooden desk, where the order was waiting to be signed.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:43 pm

I like how that entire room is basically old white baby boomers. "Here's to fucking over our kids and grandkids again! And especially them minorities! We got ours!"

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:46 pm

malchior wrote:I like how that entire room is basically old white baby boomers. "Here's to fucking over our kids and grandkids again! And especially them minorities! We got ours!"

To be fair, their kids and grandkids will make out just fine.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 2:39 pm

malchior wrote:I like how that entire room is basically old white baby boomers. "Here's to fucking over our kids and grandkids again! And especially them minorities! We got ours!"

Speaking as a soon-to-be old white guy, I give a hearty "FUCK YOU" to the current crop of old white guys who are making all these horrible decisions to fuck over the rest of us.

Although, given what they're doing to healthcare, there's probably a good chance that I won't live long enough to truly be an Old White Guy(tm).

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:31 pm

Trump is playing a game of Jenga with our health care, pulling out individual pieces of the Affordable Care Act until the whole sucker collapses.

Captain Caveman · Post by **Captain Caveman** » Thu Oct 12, 2017 10:58 pm

https://twitter.com/samstein/status/918670553422204928

Unreal. Trump just killed the subsidies to the ACA. CBO had estimated that this would result in 1 million people losing insurance by next year, premiums rising 20%, and insurers fleeting the market. Oh, and it also adds to the debt.

He’s deliberately harming Americans out of spite.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:49 am

When will someone up there realize that 'threats, foreign and domestic' applies to Trump? He's lining himself up to be the largest cause of American deaths since WWII.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:51 am

Blackhawk wrote:When will someone up there realize that 'threats, foreign and domestic' applies to Trump? He's lining himself up to be the largest cause of American deaths since WWII.

Sounds hyperbolic, but it checks out. Ugh.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:12 am

Im surprised we haven't heard anything about assassination plots like we did for the last president.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:29 am

If I thought there was any coordination between the WH and Congress, I'd say that he's nuking the healthcare sector so that we'll beg for a Republican rescue. Except that O-care was a Republican idea in the first place and they don't have any better ideas, so that makes no sense at all.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:07 am

I love how the stories this morning are about how Republican members of Congress are expressing 'concerns' about the effects of cutting the subsidies on their constituents. First off - your actual repeal plans were just as bad. Hypocrites. Second expressing concern is pretty much like hope and prayer for mass shootings.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:53 am

malchior wrote:I love how the stories this morning are about how Republican members of Congress are expressing 'concerns' about the effects of cutting the subsidies on their constituents. First off - your actual repeal plans were just as bad. Hypocrites. Second expressing concern is pretty much like hope and prayer for mass shootings.

Their plans called for taking cash from the socialist states, like California or Massachusetts and adding it to their coffers. Trump takes away the ice cream from everyone and sends them to bed with no subsidies for all.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:21 am

So help me understand...who does this actually benefit? I mean, we know it's going to be really bad for the demographic that Trump is consistently out to hurt (low income, mostly minority), but I'm not really seeing who will actually benefit from it. The insurance companies sure as hell didn't want this, it doesn't seem to be a win for the states, it adds to the deficit, and generally makes a clusterfuck for everyone involved.

Who is it that comes out the winner? Or is this just a case of him mucking things up out of spite, simply because it had the name "Obama" on it?

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:26 am

I believe the goal is to make aca collapse under its own weight because Obama.

Destroying the ACA is the primary goal. Secondary is to force democrats to the table to vote for something Drumpf can put his name on, because without the ACA, millions of constituents are going to be fucked.

Octavious · Post by **Octavious** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:28 am

The only thing that benefits is Trumps ego. He's so self centered and evil and he is going to do ANYTHING to mess up Obamacare. I think the republicans are going to have to try REALLY hard to spin this to not make them complete shit holes in this case. Sadly his base will cheer as poor people lose their coverage and rates spike even more. Eh screw it we're fucked.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:32 am

From what I've read, it's the insurance companies that are getting screwed this year. They've already had to commit to their rates and plans for 2018. Next year is when the consumer will get screwed as well. Seems odd to time it for the election like that.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:33 am

Octavious wrote: Sadly his base will cheer as poor people lose their coverage and rates spike even more. Eh screw it we're fucked.

Lots of his base rely on those subsidies that Fuckhead is eliminating, This will not end well for him or the Republiklans.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:36 am

GreenGoo wrote:I believe the goal is to make aca collapse under its own weight because Obama.

Destroying the ACA is the primary goal. Secondary is to force democrats to the table to vote for something Drumpf can put his name on, because without the ACA, millions of constituents are going to be fucked.

I think it's reasonably clear at this point that Trump's policy goals are limited to destroying anything that Obama touched, and enriching himself. There are lots of policy areas where Trump has real self-interests in preserving what's there, perhaps just patching it up and putting his name on it, but instead he's single-mindedly targeting everything that Obama did, even if it doesn't make any sense for him to do so.

This is also going to prompt another lawsuit that he might well lose.

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:39 am

tgb wrote:
Octavious wrote: Sadly his base will cheer as poor people lose their coverage and rates spike even more. Eh screw it we're fucked.
Lots of his base rely on those subsidies that Fuckhead is eliminating, This will not end well for him or the Republiklans.

You can be sure that the next year, they'll be back to offering all kinds of junk insurance options, just like they did before. They'll be very cheap, because they offer essentially no coverage, just like they did before. People will buy them because "I'm not sick now, and I'm not planning to be sick", and then they'll actually get sick and die bankrupt, just like they did before.

But Trump will call this a win because the premiums for non-sick people will be lower, and will blame everything else on Obamacare collapsing, ignoring that he doused it in gasoline and lit the match. His followers will be happy to blame the whole thing on Obama and the Dems because doing otherwise would be admitting that they'd been had.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 10:01 am

El Guapo wrote:
GreenGoo wrote:I believe the goal is to make aca collapse under its own weight because Obama.

Destroying the ACA is the primary goal. Secondary is to force democrats to the table to vote for something Drumpf can put his name on, because without the ACA, millions of constituents are going to be fucked.
I think it's reasonably clear at this point that Trump's policy goals are limited to destroying anything that Obama touched, and enriching himself. There are lots of policy areas where Trump has real self-interests in preserving what's there, perhaps just patching it up and putting his name on it, but instead he's single-mindedly targeting everything that Obama did, even if it doesn't make any sense for him to do so.

This is basically what I assumed, but was open to the idea that maybe there was an angle that I just wasn't seeing.

msteelers · Post by **msteelers** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 10:12 am

Trump only knows how to negotiate from a position of power. His entire reputation is built on it. From the Art of the Deal:

The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have. Leverage is having something the other guy wants. Or better yet, needs. Or best of all, simply can't do without

In his warped mind, he has now shifted the balance of power so that he has all of it again. He's already tweeted out that the "Dems should call me to fix!". He thinks that by destroying the ACA he now has all the leverage. That this harms people doesn't enter into the equation with him.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Fri Oct 13, 2017 10:15 am