Deseret News | Reader comments: Bennett touts his health-care reform plan

Reader comments
Bennett touts his health-care reform plan

wallofvoodoo | 12:36 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard, he has had some doosies. What needs to happen is finding a way to keep costs down. Do you really thing employer raises will keep up with health care costs? We need to go the other direction and get some of the mega employers like Wal-Mart to pay their share for not providing affordable coverage.

Stewart | 12:42 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Remember Bennett is the guy that has sat on the Senate Banking Committee for the past 16 years, and voted for the "bailout." I would say that his credibility is a little low on just about everything. Remember too that he supported Comprehensive Immigration Reform, commonly referred to as Amnesty, in the Senate in 2006.

His credibility is about zero, and he needs to be removed in 2010. Have any of you been asked to leave his Provo office for trying to explain your position on an issue? I have and I wasn't even rude, but very polite.

Patriot | 1:33 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Thank you Stewart, I couldn't agree more. Mr. Bennett and his staff are very arrogant and refuse to get the message that the senator is supposed to work for the people. This man needs to be retired and fired in 2010. Preferably, I would like to see this done at the state Republican convention by the delegates.

Stewart, is right on the money....this man has zero credibility bewteeen his support of open borders and amnesty for illegals to his position on the banking comittee and the money he received from Fannie Mae.

Let's all unite and give this sham of a senator a good old Chris Cannon farewell.

Comments continue below

IM | 2:13 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Stewart - You need to go back and look at what Bennett voted for in the Senate on immigration. This wasn't for the passage of any bill - it was for closure. That means that the debate would have come to the floor of the Senate where we could have had the debate. His vote was to continue the debate, not for passage.

This is the problem. Folks weren't taught procedure in either House of Congress and therefore people don't understand what goes on.

dave4197 | 2:15 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

The plan is clearly headed in the right direction, if, as reported, individuals will become more involved in selecting and buying their own health insurance, and if, as reported, employers will pay a livable wage - including enough to buy insurance.

Some improvements for us to demand: Insurers cannot cherry pick their applicants. Health care providers must reduce their charges, their profits, while adopting new treatments quickly. Give us a range of insurance coverage to choose from, but require all to have at least a basic plan that covers catastrophic health problems.

C.W | 2:21 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

"Stewart" and "Patriot" are right on the mark with "Bailout Bob". I would only add that IF he comes out of the Repub. convention as the candidate AGAIN then we Repubs. are going to be losing a lot of votes to the Dems. come election time. Particularly if they field a candidate with ANY credibility! If Bailout Bob thinks the Utah voters have such short memories, he will be sadly mistaken!

As far as the health plan itself goes, notice how little detail the article contained!

There is an AWFUL LOT of blame to go around for the healthcare mess, but I will be opposed to ANYTHING that puts the whole burden for its solution on the general public.

Hospitals, HMO's, pharmaceuticals, doctors, etc. are ALL culpable in this mess of a health system and ANYTHING that doesn't make them shoulder some of the solution should not be passed. I'm sure we'll hear more about this issue under Obama but watch for anything that makes it all the FAULT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

mandates | 2:51 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Unless I missed it, Mr. Thalman left out the most controversial part of Bennett's plan--an individual mandate. He wants government to require every American to have some form of health insurance.

He said that the individual mandate is where Republicans need to compromise to get meaningful reform, but I don't think I'm a fan of mandates.

SB | 3:35 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Hey Bailout Bob - how about a 700b bailout for people to buy health insurance?

Only this time let's have the bankers pay for OUR bailout since we were so generous with them!

solved fast | 3:54 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Notice how quick Congress was able to pass the bailout for the bankers real fast, but any kind of health help, or reform takes years when it will benefit the MAJORITY of Americans?

I guess they need to make sure they don't upset any of their pharmaceutical buddies or some of the wealthy HMO administrators!

Bob needs to go | 4:29 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

We need to vote this guy out of office. His arrogance in thinking that he knows best, and his constantly ignoring his constituants needs to get him voted out of office. I hope that a decent candidate will rise up with integrity will run against him in 2010. Both he and Hatch need to go, but first Bennett.

BENNETT | 4:50 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

I'm organizing a group to kick out Bailout Bob. If you're fed up with him, please join with us. The minimum requested effort for participants is 2 evenings and an entire Saturday of your time in the 2010 election year when Bailout Bob goes to request his next term from the people. If you live out of state, you are still welcome to join us but there will be less you can do.

Please send your contact information to misc at datamoon net, (yes, net not com) with BENNETT in the subject line. I will send an acknowledgment, subsequently you will most likely not be contacted before 2010 when the group goes active.

Tanner | 5:34 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Bob Bennett is one of the best senators there is. He is not driven by ego, has no need for personal attention, and is pragmatic enough to look for real solution rather than out-of control partisan politics. I'm a conservative, have never voted for a democrat. We need more people like Bennett not to kick him out of office. I'm not in favor of the bailout. But the stopping the market freefall was all eliminating fear. They had to do something.

More Socialism | 5:41 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Come on, guys, believe in Bob. Cheer for Bob. Be Bob's friend.

He championed the bailout bill to save everyone's financial status. He encourages illegal immigration to save everyone. He wants to save the health of all.

When Bob says he will save us all, you should support him.

Small Business Owner | 6:25 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

I have a small business, an s-corp. I am not allowed, by law, to participate in a medical savings account, or cafeteria plan. But my employees can participate. In addition, I cannot pay all or a portion of my individual health insurance from my business. Unfortunately, due to the cost of group plans and the size of my business, I cannot afford to provide a group plan for my employees and my family.

I feel stuck! Why am I, a small business owner in America, restricted in so many ways from getting any tax relief for health insurance?

Meanwhile, congressional leaders have a sweet health plan for themselves. Nice to know they understand our pain.

I believe medical costs are due to overpricing of medical supplies and equipment, the number of illegal aliens that flood our emergency rooms with no ability to pay their bill, and insurance companies creating a system that benefits their bottom line at the expense of the patient and the provider.

Insurance companies do not care about patients, clients, or doctors. They care only about themselves. We have seen corporate greed on Wall Street. Insurance execs are exactly the same.

BOB | 7:17 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Never has one been so invisible as BOB.

Cons please save the litany of how much better we are because of this BUSH/CHENEY RELIC.

Here's to hoping the REBUBLICAN SHEEP send this GHOULISH INSIDER packing.

John | 8:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Stewart nailed it!

Bob Bennett has been consistently wrong (when he does anything at all).

It is the myriad maze of government regulations that have made healthcare and insurance such a mess. If they want to eliminate some of the rules, start by doing ONLY that. However, what Congress will actually do is make things worse, and drive costs even higher while driving doctors out of business from sheer frustration with the crap they have to put up with.

Proof?- Medicare is the alleged panacea for all- except try to find a doc who will accept new Medicare patients.

In case Bob has not noticed, his pal Ron Wyden is widely regarded as a near-socialist. Only the most gullible or ill-informed "conservative" Republican would be foolish enough to join forces with him. Watch Bob get rolled...again.

Obama and the new Democrat super majority will undoubtedly pass disastrous, confiscatory health care schemes. Let them do it on their own, not with the connivance of alleged Republicans.

Anyone but Bob in 2010!

Jess | 8:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Some questions about government health care?

1. Is there some way we can have tax shletered medical savings accounts?

2. Whatever new government program is developed, will this program pay for abortions, treatment for disease associated with smoking, STD treatment for the promiscuous, health issues related to gluttony, etc.? In other words, will the responsible be paying for the stupidity and selfishness of the irresponsible?

3. How will this program avoid the bureaucratic inefficiency of every other government program? How can we have confidence in a government health program when other government programs are so inefficiently run. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until the government runs it.

Small Business Owner | 8:50 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

I want to make something very clear. Businesses never have and never will pay taxes. All they do is collect taxes for the government. So when you "tax" a business all you have done is forced them to raise their prices or fire an employee. And when they raise their prices they are able to "collect taxes" from the poor and middle class for the government because those in power are too afraid to be upfront and honest and admit that the programs they want to fund are expensive and that everyone (including the poor and middle class) will need to pay in.

So just remember the next time you hear a politician or someone say "Let's make the businesses pay more" What they are really saying is let's force the businesses to raise their prices which increases inflation which increases interest rates.

C.W. | 8:52 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

The healthcare situation is such a MESS that I would propose that both parties put together a solution, and have the healthcare industry put together their solution, then have EVERYONE VOTE on it at the next election!
ANY plan is bound to make some enemies, but the BEST PLAN is one that would make EVERYONE take a hit.

All 3 plans could then be put before the voters, and all 3 plans could be scrutinized by everyone for their eccentricities before voting.

Remember - we can't count on any bipartisanship in the Senate because they showed us with the bailout that they COULDN'T CARE LESS what we think!

Gee Bob | 10:19 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

Hey Bob, lets focus on the financial thing that is still going on or have you forgotten.

uritaata | 10:21 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008

I am amazed that the wealthiest country in the world hasn't been able yet to provide the best health care for all of its citizens. It's not the lack of brain and potential solution. It's the lack of will, outdated ideology, cry wolf tactics and the political pressure of the health care industry.
In many case the technology and the know how exists to treat and cure afflictions, but the treatment is denied if is is not profitable.
Amazing how our large corporation cannot finance health care in the US but can provide extensive mandated health benefit to their europeans employees. Healthy people are more productive. Preventive medecine cost less. Good health coverage attracts employees. Too often only large companies can afford it while small business can't. Yet Small business are a vital part of our economy, No reasons to leave them on the side. Let's level the plain field. Universal health care is the wayu to go.

Stewart | 12:36 p.m. Oct. 21, 2008

It says that there are 21 comments. Where are they?

Senator Bennett has been on the Senate Banking Committee for 16 years. Where was he when he was supposed to be watching out for us. He voted for the "bailout." He is up for re-election in 2010 and we can only hope there are credible candidates willing to take his place. It is time for him to move on

Also, don't forget that he voted for "Comprehensive Immigration Reform," in 2006, commonly referred to as "Amnesty."

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