Nice weekend for something, part 2

[lblanchard]

It's not blue clear down to the horizon, but it *is* cloudless, and it's supposed to be warm. Yesterday I did many indoor chores -- laundry, dusting, mucking out bathrooms, etc. -- so this afternoon will be leaf-raking and tomato pulling.

I took one last crop of coleus cuttings yesterday, from two plants whose earlier cuttings aren't looking their sparking best. I think I'm still more or less assured a lot more lebensraum under the grow lights -- maybe even space to start some seeds in January or so.

I see the House passed the health care bill by a gnat's eyelash. With a 75 seat majority, Pelosi & Co. had hard work to pull together their five-vote squeaker. Some of the right-leaning punditocracy suggests this bodes ill for the fate of the bill in the Senate. I certainly hope so. My two senators are somewhat to the left of Michael Moore but I'll write them anyhow. (They might be feeling a little more centrist now that Pennsylvania elected a Republican rather than turn control of our Supreme Court over to the Democrats.)

Meanwhile, the Repubs have produced a much shorter bill that won't extend coverage to everyone but will have the virtues of a) actually making healthcare more portable and affordable for the 83% of us who have coverage; and b) according to the CBO, reducing the deficit. I don't understand why we can't do something like that first, and then work on whittling down the percentage of uninsured.

Speaking of health care: one of the sticking points in the current Philly transit strike? Under their current health care plan, they are limited to a mere 10 Viagra pills a month. Oh, the humanity! I'm sorry, but I don't read anywhere in the Constitution that there's an inalienable right to a chemically-enhanced stiffy at taxpayer expense. (More than 50% of SEPTA's support comes from the government.)

The governor has washed his hands of the negotiations and says that if they don't shape up he's going to pull the $7MM sweetener he offered for a quick settlement. The mayor is exploring the possibility of an injunction. I'm checking the air pressure on my tires and making sure I have a poncho.

Comments

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

We are completely at opposite sides on healthcare, especially since I am losing mine.

Here's a take on the Republican bill: http://mdcarroll.com/2009/11/06/reader-questions-doesnt-the-republican-bill-reduce-costs/

I suppose I don't think that this works for me because I will probably die, unpleasantly, within 3 years or so without health insurance to pay for my medications.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I don't know how things work in Texas, but in Pennsylvania there's a safety net called, I think, "Medical Assistance." It helps those folks who have fallen ill, are unable to work, and have exhausted their COBRA.

I play by the rules and pay five figures out of my own pocket each year, as you know.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

There is a Texas High Risk Pool--that's my only option when COBRA expires. It costs approximately what you pay, which I could not afford if I was not working at a relatively high-paying job.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I see. It's possible that the medical assistance program in Pennsylvania is only available for those who lost their jobs BECAUSE of illness.

I read the piece at the link you provided. I've seen much higher estimates for the reduced cost of defensive medicine.

EDIT: Next to taxes, my health insurance is our largest expense. It eats up almost 25% of my GROSS income.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

There is a city program, but I wasn't able to qualify for it last time, and I have heard that the requirements have tightened considerably since then.