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We wouldn't need illegal aliens working in this country if more than forty million abortions hadn't been performed since Roe v. Wade was made legal. One of those aborted fetuses might have discovered the cure for cancer.

44/jgar

well said,

Nice to see jews sticking up for themselves these days among the self proclaimed liberals.

Hello, I agree with the person who said GET It DONE! It is unfair to those of us with no health insurance at all to be kept waiting and waiting for what seems to be forever. Why isn't health care important to some people? Maybe they are lucky enough to have health insurance. Eugenia Renskoff

Uh, the truth! @ 43 -- statistics do indicate there are actual failure rates with almost all birth control methods, so it's hard to put it all down to women for getting pregnant.

But, the import of the slogan remains.

to THE TRUTH from Brooklyn

I didn't "purposely" insert race. We had a tiny mom & pop store in Brownsville, and next to us much later on moved in a black mom & pop shop and we often conversed. At that time, he had an Udi Amin poster in his shop and they had a certain attitude, you could say. But they learned that we were holocaust survivors, and I had grown up in the Projects in Brownsville, and I had sometimes been the victim of a bit of minor violence when I was the only white Jewish kid left in the Projects. And we became friendly. You're assumption is that race is all just a one-way issue. As one who was a fervent reader of "Muhammad Speaks" as a kid, I can assure you that there is plenty of prejudice to go around. No one has a monopoly on prejudice.

If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a non issue! For some reason some women are so pressured by their partners, they choose, NOT to protect themselves from the naked penis! Nasty, that is loaded and deadly weapon these days ladies beware!

First, to Jacob (8): An income of %250K is indeed middle-class, if you live, and pay taxes in, Westchester county -- and I have the brown-bag lunch to prove it.

I began by sending Brian an outraged e-mail re Engel's position but, after listening to him, I realize that he is taking the same view as Westchester representative Nita Lowey, whose office told a caller (me) yesterday that she "had to read the bill" before deciding whether she'd support it. So New York, or at least some portions of Westchester, is holding out for a better deal.

This is misguided. (See, I modified the e-mail language.) Lowey and Engels are ignoring the forest for the trees. Yes, the bill is not great for those of us who are already paying high taxes-- but so much worse, for all of us, would be for that bill to fail. We need health care, and the Dems can't lose this one.

It is too late to re-trade the deal. The public's patience is at an end; the bill has to pass now, not in two months. Last minute hold outs for pork, or changes that will benefit one or another constituency, will derail a process that, even now, has only a small window of success.

Stop trying to blackmail Pelosi, and get on board -- because we all know what you're up to, and even those of us who will be paying more for this bill do not want it to die.

JGARBUZ - why do you insert race in all your comments? would it have made a difference in making your point? why did you not just say a 300 lb man? That is part of what is wrong with the people in this country.

To LANVY

In the 1950s I was a small immigrant boy living in the Housing Projects in Brooklyn, but my family doctor made house calls. We didn't have to run to an emergency room for every minor crisis. I also had a chronic problem, and my mother dragged to what were essentially charity hospitals when needed. Now, there is no question that medical technology has improved and become far more expensive today, and medicines have improved to lengthen life spans. But I think the basic formula of keeping medicine private, but forcing doctors to contribute over 1/3rd of their time to these charity clinics and hospitals, along with a culture of philantrophy by the wealthy to contribute to their upkeep, would reduce costs and cover everyone with basic health care. Maybe not Mayo CLinic level care, but decent health care.

Another phrase from the good old days: When abortion was illegal, there was a slogan among the pro-choice supporters:

"If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament."

I am a registered Democrat and have been listening to Eliot Engel on Brian's show today. I am a left of center Democrat. Re Medicaid allocations, I support cost of living considerations when funds are allocated but do not support the proposition, as expressed by Rep. Engel, that the rest of the country "owes" New Yorkers compensation for our more generous Medicaid funding.

OK, I know this has been said:

The Senate bill, 1) written in the Baucus committee,2) by a Baucus special aide who worked as a VP for Wellpoint for two years before returning to Baucus's staff, 3) coordinated by Baucus's former chief of staff (with health insurance emphasis), Jim Messina, now an ass't chief of staff for Obama (with health insurance emphasis) is the health insurance industry's dream. They are willing to have a system where the very sick and the very poor are covered by government programs, while they get the younger, better off in their for-profit systems.

This bill, with its seeming protection in a few areas, may well drive young people and many others away from the Democratic Party. It will not bring costs down -- and it is designed to ensure those private profits.

Obama has made it frighteningly clear just how corporatist the Democratic Party has become.

We need more FDR/LBJ Dems, more Paul Wellstone Dems from the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party.

We're getting corporatist lackeys (ah, yes, a phrase from the good old days!) who feed the maw of the Big Banksters' with taxpayer dollar and now through mandates and subsidies will force the little people to buy the Big Health Insurance Parasites' (BHIP) junk insurance to avoid IRS troubles and fines, while taxpayers monies will subsidize the less well-off to buy the jumk insurance of the BHIPS. A profit protection plan, a BAILOUT for BHIPs! Just like the BAILOUT for Banksters. And enforced by Government MUSCLE.

Where is the Dems' concern for the well-being of the people? Why work so strongly for the Corporate Persons (and their exceedingly well paid execs)?

Oh, yeah, right. Gotta get the big bucks in order to run campaigns... Will we have any real representation of the people unless we have public financing of political campaigns?

I'm so tired of the response the Republicans did this or that so we can be twice as bad... Yes, the republicans ran us into the ground. Now the Democrats are punching us in the face while we are on the floor. How about doing the right thing instead... The whole cesspool of congress needs to be cleaned out - throw Albany in as well.

[18] Jgarbuz- in the 50s, people did not live pass 85, population much less as ...uhhhh....the great wars kinda helped with that!! Minorities were not often covered...abortion not easily accessible.

So...NO...your idea for going back to the 50s is not sound.

In this current environment of layoffs. As a result with the unemployed losing healthcare insurance (after COBRA, we need a public option to have some minimum coverage. For some of us in the 40-50 age group who are struggling to get a job and attendant employer-based coverage that "time gap" is currently way too long. We can't wait for Medicare coverage and would still like to work. We desparately need health care insurance reform.

If it's FREE, give it to ME! Everyone loves "free." As someone once said to me, "Nuthin's free but ME, but you'll have to carry me." He was a 300 pound black man. Good lesson in life. Nothing is free. Everything carries a price, and one way or another, we shall pay.

The abortion discussion is a distraction from the healthcare issue...The repubs had 8 years to make changes, the did not oppose bush on anything...these childish stall tactics and ridiculous tea party gatherings are making me sick! Pass the healthcare bill NOW!

I dont want to pay for someone elses' VIAGRA, NIAGRA's ... or ABORTIONS necessary from the VIAGRA NIAGRA mix.

Leave it available...but not expensable.

WHAT IS SOOOO DIFFICULT!!

Health care for all New Yorkers would transform the landscape of or society. It's imperative that we do NOT vote no.

Yes, there are valid problems to the system proposed, however the is a huge majority of content that would help many many citizens of New York and the counrty as a whole.

Students stay under parents health coverage up to the age of 26, hospitals like St. Viencent's would not have so many un-insured cleints, families would be eligible for subsidies largely (90%) paid for by the federal gov. -10% would be from states 10 years from now.

Please support it!

Excellent response - Repubs are hypocrites!

On the Senate's bill being the start, that's unfortunately how it is given that we can't get anything new through the Senate other than modifications through reconciliation. Further, reconciliation can't even get to the floor for debate in the Senate until something becomes enacted.

Further, if the current proposal dies, the notion of doing anything will become radioactive for another decade. Your preferences are probably an improvement, but they have no chance of advancing next year or the following if the the current proposal fails.

Ed H.,
Let’s ban everything anyone could object to from the healthcare bill: Artificially created life (playing God), conception (very un-Christian), penis pills (lust), plastic surgery including vanity reconstructive surgery (vanity), transplants and therapeutic surgery for smokers overeaters and drunks (gluttony), medically unnecessary artificial child birth (cesareans), dermatological treatments (vanity), life support for lost causes (greed), and yes abortion. Basically, only pay for preventive care and life-saving measures. Think of how much money will be saved.

I am a supporter of Choice in reproductive rights. However, I don't think we'll ever bridge the gap if we allow Federal tax dollars to be used for abortions. It's too much fuel for the fire.

If the current Democratic Congress and Senate do not pass health care reform it would seem that that the American people have not been s--
over enough and we should elect Republicans for another dose!

Blah blah blah! Support the health care reform. NY got plenty with the TARP that kept Wall Street (NYC) flying. Help out the rest of America as they have helped NY. If you have a concern it should be to fight to add back the single payer option. Man up DEMO....

THE ABORTION DISCUSSION is to derail any effort to clean up attorneys, insurance Cos, and pharmas who have vested interested to do nothing RIGHT!

News flash Congressman....those of us with medical insurance are already paying for the uninsured individuals who have no choice but to go to Emergency Rooms for medical treatment.

I hear a bit of grandstanding in your threat to not vote for the health care reform bill.

How about I don't vote for you if you DON'T vote for the health care bill?

When Engel says that this bill could be bad for New Yorkers, I'm not sure who he's talking about. I'm self-employed and my health insurance costs $230/month and that comes with a $10,000 deductible. So if I can get some help from the government, or a cheaper plan, or a better plan for the same money. I'm all for it! Vote yes!

Why not vote for healthcare reform,get it passed and then work to correct the inequities? In the scheme of things, these inequities are not as important as the needs of so many. Why do we have the mindset to do it all in one effort?

BABY STEPS!

It sounds like Mr Engle wants to provide unlimited health coverage to everyone...

People are not buying it... cause its BS.. it will cost too much..

He needs to explain to people that we are responsible for providing the healthcare every person needs not the health care that they want.

We can not provide unlimited health coverage.. and that is what it sounds like the Democrats are going to do...
People will not buy that garbage

Go back to PRIVATE medicine with charity hospitals as was the case back in the 1950s before there was medicare and medicaid. Before medicare and medicaid, doctors would often charge patients in accordance to what they could afford. For those who had no means, they could go to charity hospitals where all doctors were obligated to contribute 20 hours a week of their time. Wealthy people did, and could contribute to these charity hospitals so that could have modern equipment such as MRIs, etc. Half of America's health system is already "socialized" or supported by public tax dollars, or by employer contributions. RE-PRIVATIZE the medical system and restore what existed prior to the mid-1960s.

This bill is a disaster for New York and New Yorkers, as well as all other states with large populations of illegal immigrants. Refusing to cover these people does not prevent them from becoming sick or injured, and our public hospitals are their providers of last resort--they cannot be turned away. Meanwhile, the bill will cut funds to such hospitals meant to reimburse unpaid care, claiming the new plan will cover everyone, patently (and explicitly) not so.
Special interests hold the rest of the country hostage: States are bankrupt, the largest budget item for most is Medicaid, but under the senate bill Nebraska alone will have their Medicaid tab picked up by the feds, which everyone else will pay for. And now the union plans will be exempt from this egregious excise tax, which everyone else will have to pay, although union workers have higher incomes. Whatever happened to equal protection under the law? They claim they will fix it later, but you would have to be an idiot to believe that.
Failure to fully support a very strong public option is a disaster. What we really need is a single-payer system, like every other civilized nation on earth, but this plan is just Potemkin healthcare, a shameless and cynical fiasco designed to let the cowardly congress and president "declare victory and go home."

GET IT DONE! Fix it later.

Please pass this bill. It's so important.
The big picture is what we need to see.

is the caller dense??? "If the healthcare does not pass, people will die??"

You're going to die...we all will.

The healthcare bill has been completely changed and altered to do NOTHING!!!

The cost efficient solution reduction in doctor's pay, reduction in malpractice, reduction in test, generic drugs...and let's open the availability of meds to international players.

If the Grayson bill to offer Medicare Buy-In is voted on in the House, will Rep. Engle support It?

Or, is he already a co-sponsor?

Ed H. - I am so outraged at men like you. As a woman, I want all options open for women. If the male species took more responsibility for their actions, maybe we won't need the abortion option.

In terms of this healthcare legislation, it is a total compromise without the public option. This country should have single-payer healthcare system now!

GET IT DONE!

When Social Security was first enacted it was deeply flawed. It excluded whole categories of Americans from coverage, such as farmers. But, it got fixed after passage and now it's the basis of our social safety net and hugely popular.

I want single payer, I want lots that won't be in the bill, but let's GET IT DONE and fix it later. Don't let this historic moment go by. Don't continue our inhumane policy of allowing 122 people to DIE every DAY in this country for lack of health care.

Why are we not getting a public option? Don't you think you all have failed us?

tax HFCS !

and trump today said tax goods from china 50%.

that would pay a lot of bills!

An income of over $250,000 is middle class?

A representative of Westchester indeed.

Every congressman is clamoring for a little attention (and leverage) on this bill.

But the bottom line is that this bill is an ABOMINATION for New Yorkers and the rest of the country.

Yes the bill is unfair. But the status quo is more unfair by an immeasurable factor. People are dying & being bankrupted by lack of insurance. If this bill fails, we'll wait another 10-20 years for a rational system. Please Mr. Engel, join the real world.

Thanks to the structure of our economy and government (not to mention the bailout), NY has plenty of money for healthcare. We just have spineless pols unwilling to go after the real money - massive amounts of capital sloshing around untouched until they eventually appear on the balance sheet of some wall street thug, at which point he's taxed at a lower level than the people who clean his toilets, teach his kids, protect his life, etc.

Congressman Engle should be ashamed of himself. As Sally mentioned, we voted for CHANGE. Opposition from the GOP is expected, but the real problems are being caused by the Democrats in Congress. As an ardent Obama supporter and campaigner, I am disgusted by these turncoats.

Ed H. Don't want an abortion. Don't get one. Simple. Keep your religion out of healthcare.

Why are democrats in congress subjecting their constituents to all of this bickering non-sense. We voted for CHANGE and we want it! The VERY POPULAR public option should NOT BE OPTIONAL!

Why oh why is this so hard? Expand Medicare to cover EVERYONE!

isn't NY always under changed?
http://www.taxfoundation.org/UserFiles/Image/Blog/ftsbs-large.jpg

ed h :how many kids have u adopted? culture of life?

Please oppose the health care bill until it at least contains a ban on tax payer funding for abortion, funding which 70 percent of people don't want to see.