Maybe Rep. Weiner would care to comment on the relationship between the Democrats and trial lawyers, who have given a half billion dollars to Democrat politicians during the last decade. I wonder if this has anything to do with the Democrats’ constant refusal to include tort reform in any health care bill.

I’m going to guess that Weiner never thought he’d be ‘wailing’ on February 24, 2010. Looking back a year, I’m quite sure he saw himself drinking cocktails of 100-proof Liberalism all year long. Hasn’t worked out that way. And I’m quite enjoying watching it all unfold before me. Watching Libs wail is music to my ears.

I enjoyed this rare bit of truth from Congress almost as when Ted Kennedy said, to paraphrase, “what is it about poor people that drives you Republicans nuts?”. Or something like that. Actually, I might have to go listen to it again because it’s been the well known MO of Republicans forever to transfer the costs of running the country to the backs of the poor and middle class, and we so seldom as citizens get to hear who really works for the rich and rapacious.

Go Congressman Weiner!!! If Obama doesn’t start proving he’s not just another weak, triangulating DLCer, maybe a Weiner – Grayson ticket is what it will take to get the job jone – that and banning all private campaign contributions permanently.

I love it when one of these pols gets real and says it like it is. I know people on here make fun of Grayson but the people here in Florida love him. He tells it like it is. He could care less if he get elected again as long as he can do something while he is in office. That is the way they all should be.

felixw I agree with you about tort reform. I believe they should do something about it also.. However, having said that it is such a small percentage of savings it is hardly worth fighing for. I don’t think that comparing the lawyers to the insurance companies is a very fair comparison to begin with.

Well gosh, what about the Republicans who voted for the bill?

Tort reform could produce significant cost savings. Doctors often pay $15,000 to $20,000 per year on malpractice insurance. A typical case that goes to trial costs $100,000 to defend, yet the doctor is determined innocent 90% of the time. But the biggest cost is the amount of unnecessary testing and procedures that doctors require in order to protect themselves against possible lawsuits. This is estimated to amount to between $80 and $150 billion per year — roughly the proposed cost of President Obama’s health care plan.

Given the absence of real cost savings measures in the President’s bill, it is disgraceful that he refuses to consider fixing the tort law. It would lower costs, eliminate unnecessary procedures and serve as a clear sign that he the President is serious about bipartisan support.

Tort reform HAS NOT reduced costs in the 32 states that have already implemented it, and if enacted at the federal level would only affect health care costs about 1.5%. Who wants to have choices limited when a wife or loved one is maimed or killed through malpractice?

That being said, reforms are necessary that would allow doctors to use their reasoned professional judgment instead of treating their patients with lawsuit prevention in mind.

The equally unworkable idea of buying insurance across state lines would only accelerate a race to the bottom, with insurance companies flocking to the state with the weakest consumer protections.

Be a man, Obama, Medicare Part “E” for anyone that wants it to keep Wall Street honest.

Weiner may want to read Huffpo, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/24/special-interests-buy-the_n_475096.html

and then talk to Rangel, Reid, Hoyer and the others of his OWN team that are among the largest recipients of healthcare lobby campaign donations…In fact, if he were to read far enough into the article he’ll find the Dems accepted MORE money than Repubs from healthcare interests…

Weiners’ name is really appropriate.

You will never hear me excusing the dems that take the money from insurance companies. I think most of the pols are crooks no matter which party. But I bet if you check Weiner has a clean record.

tim what is the world are you doing on HuffPo????

First of all I’d like to say hi to all my little buddies from Dollar’s Dump. Since I’ve been accused by them of being a troll over here I thought I’d might as well register and post over here. I didn’t think they ever left the comfort of Dollar’s delete button. Hi grammie, olby sucks, ashley etc etc.

Now about Rep. Weiner. I commend him for finally standing up and saying what he thinks about the Repubs. I think every Democrat in the House and Senate should take a lesson from him and grow a pair and start standing up to the Repubs and telling them what they think of them. I’d like to see the Democrats tell the Repubs, either work for the American people or go sit in the corner and shut the hell up.

Great speech. Truth hurts, doesn’t it Repubs?

Both parties are crooks. That’s the reason for the tea parties. But since we currently have a black president, the far left feels it has to side with the Dems and belittle anyone who recognizes that both parties are crooks.

“But since we currently have a black president,”

writer, what the hell does having a “black” president have anything to do with it?

“the far left feels it has to side with the Dems”

Another thing writer, the Democrats are the left. In case you didn’t know that.

“Tort reform” is just something the Republicans like to throw around to show that they’re not just trying to shut down Obama’s health care plan out of spite. In reality, they (and anyone else with a serious knowledge of the issue) know that lawsuits account for a negligible fraction of overall healthcare costs in this country. It’s just the only thing they can address without pissing off the people who send their campaigns the big checks.

What is it with the Liberals in Congress, first the conservatives are in bed with Wall Street now with the Insurance companies. Lets check the campaign finances of Rep. Weiner and see where he gets his money from. Can he assure us he’s not taken any money from either group, or the big labor unions. We’ll beckheads.com for one would love to see his records.

Weiner’s anger is completely misplaced. His party runs the House, Senate, and the WH. If they want something passed they should pass it, the Republicans cannot stop them. And is Weiner angry at all at his party members who were bought with $100 millions in give outs to their states? Doubt it – they were bribed for a good cause.

According to Congress.org, Weiners single largest PAC contributer for 2009-2010 is NATIONAL COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION – PAC

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?id=412&cycle=2009-2010

Hmmmmm….

Tort reform could produce significant cost savings.

—

No, it doesn’t. At least not to the medical consumer. Texas has a strong, draconian tort reform law which shields doctors and institutions from accountability, to a very large extent. Malpractice premiums have been reduced, but no savings have been passed on. Since W shepherded the law through, medical costs have risen dramatically, and, if I am not mistaken, we have had the largest rise in health insurance premiums in the nation. Tort reform is nothing but a deceptive trade practice.

Everything Rep. Wiener said is demonstrably true.

However, he ought to have included some Democrats, as well. Particularly, the dishonorable, despicable Joe Liebermann ought to be included. Others, as well: Landrieu, Lincoln, Nelson, et al.

Yet the bill the Dems want to pass would force everyone to buy from the insurance industry…Hypocrasy now! ;)

It’s called compromise, Fidoohki. Any sensible person knows that it is only a matter of time until we go to a single payer system in the US. The cost of insurance and uninsured medical expenses is becoming unbearable except for the wealthiest of Americans or those who work for the wealthiest or largest corporations. Even they will soon be straining. The fact is, however, a single payer system is not presently sustainable, politically. I feel as if we are in February, 1941, knowing something very bad is going to happen to us soon, but doing nothing to ready ourselves for us.

Having said that, I agree that there is hypocrisy on the part of many Democrats on this issue.

Our entire political system is breaking, and I don’t see anyone, Republican, Democrat or (White) Tea Partier, doing anything about it.

Anthony Weiner is a liar both Republican & Democrat Party are the wholly owned subsidiary of AIPAC the American Israel Political Action Committee and AIPAC members owns Insurance, Media, Hollywood, Trade, Commerce, Judiciary, local governments, Domestic & Foreign Policy as well as the President of America.