Stupak called 'baby-killer' on House floor

[scandal 951]

Stupak called 'baby-killer' on House floor

Updated 12:12 a.m.

By Paul Kane

Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) acknowledged late Sunday night that a Republican yelled "baby killer" as Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) urged his fellow Democrats to vote down a Republican amendment on abortion services in the health-care legislation.

The remark drew immediate shouts of derision from the Democratic side of the aisle, as Stupak is considered the leading anti-abortion Democrat and held out his support for the legislation until President Obama issued an executive order restating the ban on federal funding of abortion.

Campbell, initially suspected as the lawmaker who shouted the phrase, told reporters that he didn't say it and believed that it came from a member sitting a row behind him, where the Texas Republicans usually sit. Campbell said he heard "a Southern accent".

"The people who know won't give it up," Campbell told reporters.

He said the remark was "clear as a bell."

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said he heard the remark and said it did come from in the area of where the Texas and California delegations sit. He said he believes he knows who yelled it, but declined to say anymore.

"I can make a guess," Barton said.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Stupak called 'baby-killer' on House floor

Updated 12:12 a.m.

By Paul Kane

Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) acknowledged late Sunday night that a Republican yelled "baby killer" as Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) urged his fellow Democrats to vote down a Republican amendment on abortion services in the health-care legislation.

The remark drew immediate shouts of derision from the Democratic side of the aisle, as Stupak is considered the leading anti-abortion Democrat and held out his support for the legislation until President Obama issued an executive order restating the ban on federal funding of abortion.

Campbell, initially suspected as the lawmaker who shouted the phrase, told reporters that he didn't say it and believed that it came from a member sitting a row behind him, where the Texas Republicans usually sit. Campbell said he heard "a Southern accent".

"The people who know won't give it up," Campbell told reporters.

He said the remark was "clear as a bell."

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said he heard the remark and said it did come from in the area of where the Texas and California delegations sit. He said he believes he knows who yelled it, but declined to say anymore.

"I can make a guess," Barton said.

I'm surprised that it's not Joe Wilson.

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm surprised that it's not Joe Wilson.

Joe Wilson would stand up and say it openly like a man.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Joe Wilson would stand up and say it openly like a man.

A shame too, because there were plenty of "You Lie" moments tonight with Pelosi, Obama, and several other Democrats.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The House Republicans were acting quite uncivilly throughout the night, often causing the gavel to come down and the one who had the floor to pause until they calmed down.

[mawilson 2,133]

The House Republicans were acting quite uncivilly throughout the night, often causing the gavel to come down and the one who had the floor to pause until they calmed down.

I don't blame them - this health care bill is sickening. Pun intended.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't blame them - this health care bill is sickening. Pun intended.

To whom? Your premiums will go down when everyone is covered vs. the old system where your premiums reflected the cost of millions of uninsured.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Joe Wilson would stand up and say it openly like a man.

Unfortunately he's Republican and therefore ghey, so that solves the problem.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

To whom? Your premiums will go down when everyone is covered vs. the old system where your premiums reflected the cost of millions of uninsured.

Insurance Premiums have nothing to do with the "uninsured."

Health Care COSTS might have a bit of a reflection on that, however insurance companies aren't going to sit here and pay more out just because the hospital might need more compensation for something. All rates are pre-negotiated based on 'actual' costs + a revenue cushion as well.

With medicare this is different. Medicare pays whatever the government thinks the hospital/doctor should get, and doesn't have anything to do with actual costs. This is why many doctors today refuse to accept medicaid or medicare.

[mawilson 2,133]

To whom? Your premiums will go down when everyone is covered vs. the old system where your premiums reflected the cost of millions of uninsured.

here

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

A shame too, because there were plenty of "You Lie" moments tonight with Pelosi, Obama, and several other Democrats.

YOU LIE!

[JimandChristy 1,689]

F****t, N***er and Baby Killer. How much lower do the Republicans and the tea party supporters want to go? Next they'll be up advocating gun violence.

Edited March 22, 2010 by JimandChristy

[mawilson 2,133]

To whom? Your premiums will go down when everyone is covered vs. the old system where your premiums reflected the cost of millions of uninsured.

Why would an insurance company lower their premiums? Even if you're right and the costs go down,

that's just more profit for their shareholders. There are no cost controls in this bill. Without

a public option, what's there to stop an insurance company from raising their premiums anyway?

Edited March 22, 2010 by mawilson

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Insurance Premiums have nothing to do with the "uninsured."

Nonsense. Insurance premiums are effected by the uninsured just as your car insurance premiums are effected by uninsured drivers.

People who were uninsured during any part of the year received $98.9 billion in care, of which $34.5 billion was “uncompensated care” (that is, not paid for either out of pocket or by a private or public insurance source). This represents 35 percent of the care received by the uninsured but only 2.8 percent of total personal health care spending of $1,235 billion in 2001.⁹ The other 65 percent was paid for out of pocket and, mainly for the part-year uninsured, by private and public insurance sources.

Uncompensated care accounted for 60 percent of the care received by the full-year uninsured, with almost all of the rest ($14.1 billion, or 35 percent) paid for out of pocket. The part-year uninsured also received a substantial amount of uncompensated care, $9.9 billion, which accounted for 17 percent of their overall care.

Even taking uncompensated care into account, the full-year uninsured received about half as much care ($1,253 per person) as the privately insured received ($2,484). While some of this difference is attributable to differences in age and health status between the two groups, research that takes these factors into account still finds about a 50 percent differential.¹⁰ Thus, even though uncompensated care is the primary source of care for the full-year uninsured, it does not make up for or offset the effects of being uninsured on access to and use of care.¹¹

^link

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Why would an insurance company lower their premiums? Even if you're right and the costs go down,

that's just more profit for their shareholders. There are no cost controls in this bill. Without

a public option, what's there to stop an insurance company from raising their premiums anyway?

There are cost controls in the bill, but I agree that a public option is going to ultimately be the best way towards keeping premiums low. That or opening up states to outside insurance companies.