Legislator aims to ‘protect’ state from health care reform
Backlash to President Obama’s proposed reforms to the nation’s health care system is in full throttle in Louisiana, to the point where the state legislature may consider a constitutional amendment to try to opt out of the changes. The Advocatereports that state Rep. Kirk Talbot, a Republican from River Ridge, said yesterday that he is looking to propose a constitutional amendment in next year’s legislative session to “protect” the state from proposals currently being considered in Washington. President Obama has said he wants health care reform passed by the end of the year.
Talbot told the paper his constitutional amendment would say “Everybody in Louisiana has the right to buy their own insurance, get into the plan of their own choosing.” National Democrats have called for the creation of a publicly run health insurance option, to compete with the private sector in an effort to keep costs down. The change would still allow anyone to buy health insurance of their own choosing; however, some workers may find their employers switching to the public option if the plan can help them save costs. The plan would also issue tax penalties to businesses that don’t provide their employees a set level of coverage.
“This is kind of a way to throw the gauntlet down and stand up for ourselves as a state,” Talbot tells The Advocate. “I think you will see other states following next trying to exert their state independence."
... written by Taxpaying American Citizen , August 11, 2009 - 04:18 pm
Talbot is one of the few good legislators we have in Baton Rouge.
... written by JP , August 11, 2009 - 07:58 pm
I wonder if Talbot actually read what is being proposed in the health care reform, or is going on partisan talking points?
... written by another tax paying citizen but not American , August 11, 2009 - 08:06 pm
I am also wondering if Mr. Talbot read what is proposed in the health care reform ??? this reform is necessaryyou like it or not.
... written by Phil , August 11, 2009 - 09:19 pm
This reform is not necessary, way too expensive, and penalizes businesses. Why can't the government fix Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs before screwing something else up. Medicare supposedly has 30% waste. Fix that first. Fix Social Security. Fix Amtrak. Fix Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. What we have is a government that can't run anything about to "fix" something else. Of 46 million American's without health care, 24 million don't want it. So, the remaining 22 million could be covered by an expansion of Medicare coverage, much cheaper.
... written by KatherineIV , August 11, 2009 - 10:10 pm
Oh, puhleeze. Doesn't Talbot have anything better to do? Give me a break! Health insurance reform is SO overdue!!
... written by KatherineIV , August 11, 2009 - 10:13 pm
And as for "a government that can't run anything" --- where would banks, financial firms, automakers, and other linchpins of American capitalism be today without the government stepping in and bailing them out? So don't even BEGIN to talk about government "screwing something else up". Puhleeze.
... written by northsidian , August 11, 2009 - 10:36 pm
What is Talbot talking about. He is the government. See what they have done to Louisiana. He is so transparent!(re-election gimmick)
... written by nm , August 12, 2009 - 02:00 pm
Who thinks this is a good idea. Louisiana along with Texas, Calif. and Florida have the highest per person cost for medical care and La. also has some of the highest rates of cancer heart disease high blood preasure and diabeties in the county and this is good? What he should be proposins is what Alabama is doing, state empolyees have until11/30 to get screened for chronic illnesses if they want to keep state paid health insurance. After 2010 those at risk must show they are taking steps to imporve of pay a monthly fine. The porblem is our health.
... written by JZ , August 12, 2009 - 03:42 pm
The reason the banks and all the other bailouts were done, is because of government being involved. Health care run by government is a disaster. I can't wait until you people, (socialist) get your share of governmnent health care. May GOD bless this country as we will need GOD back in our schools and definetfly in our government. Just make sure you have the government, congress and all the senate on the same health care program the rest of the nation is on.
... written by ragin_cajun , August 12, 2009 - 04:04 pm
Katherine--
Banks, financial firms, automakers are 3 of the most highly regulated industries there are. I think insurance companies and hospitals would round out the top 5. I don't think the failure of highly regulated industries in a mixed economy are good examples of the shortcomings of capitalism.:) Do you?
As for health care reform. I have a GREAT idea! How about if everybody just pays their own medical bills. That's how I grew up. I was born in 1970, and my parents didn't have health insurance until I was a teenager. I well remember when you just paid your medical bills. If you couldn't afford it, you took out a loan and paid it back. Health insurance was an oddity, and the reason my family had it is my dad worked for an insurance company. Most of my friends' parents did not have any health insurance, and we all got braces on our teeth, tonsils out, broke bones set, hospital care after car wrecks.
... written by Gwyn , August 12, 2009 - 08:47 pm
Currently have over $100,000 in medical bills for seven days of hospitalization. Facing approximately $500,000 in cost to "fix the problem". Please send me the name of your loan officer.
... written by Phil , August 12, 2009 - 09:31 pm
Banks weren't in trouble until Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac forced them to take on mortgages loans for people who couldn't pay them back. This didn't happen in South Louisiana because the banks here were more conservative (gasp, did I use that anti-liberal word?) and refused to be forced to loan money to NINJA's (That No Income, No Job or Assets). The banks here went through the oil bust and remembered. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were run by criminals who happened to be good friends with the politicians, and donated lots of money to their campaigns. As for automakers, big Iron is a thing of the past. I see more foreign cars on the street than I do American made. Automakers were run by highly intelligent morons who didn't take the car they drove to the shop when it broke. And the unions ran up the cost of producing a car, while giving lots of money to their politician friends. Government in business is absolutely a mistake. Why don't you ride Amtrak to someplace and then tell me about government screwups.
... written by ragin_cajun , August 12, 2009 - 09:38 pm
You may not even need a loan office. I've had hospitals just send me a bill and not even ask me to put up money. I once spent 7 years paying back a hospital for a procedure. Never got a loan, just sent them whatever I felt like sending whenever I could. Never turned me over to credit reporting agencies or anything. If they demand payment, though, I'm sure you could get a loan from most banks in town if you have reasonable credit, a job history, a house, etc.
... written by Last Call , August 13, 2009 - 05:54 pm
I hope to be on a death panel so I can get rid of some Democrats. (There is always a silver lining)
... written by Town Hall Meetings , August 17, 2009 - 11:30 pm
I read all 1017 flippen pages of H.R. 3200! Makes you want to throw up! Lots more BAD then good. BAD....Sec.113-pg21-22, Sec.122-pg29, sec.123-pg30,sec.142-pg42,sec152-pg50-51,sec163,sec164,sec201,........this bad bill goes all the way to Sec.2521-pg1000... Those that support it must not have read it!! This is a non-partisan view...
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