YOUR COMMENTS

Small businesses and self employed people cannot afford health insurance. Employers do not have to offer it and it is a huge burden on anyone to pay the full cost.

Our system is overpriced and is not the best. People often wait months for a diagnosis even with insurance, and then are limited in where they can go for care and who is allowed to treat them.

We need some small clinics, walk-in care centers, where affordable care is available 24/7 and may even be on a sliding scale.

We need something that caps the amount a person is liable for in the event of major illness or accident, a high deductible insurance that makes sense and is affordable.

The public option is one way to get started on building a health care system that works for everyone. Our system is overpriced and overwhelmed.
- Birgit J, Jaffrey NH

Hodes, Shea-Porter and Shaheen are all peas from the same pod. They will not listen nor do they care that the majority of their constituents are against Healthcare Reform as it has been proposed by the Democrats. There is a way to make Washington listen though. We can hit them where it hurts. Right in the old "Piggy Bank" or rather in taxpayer dollars. Let us all just take a week off. Send no Taxpayer dollars to Washington. Write your congressmen and let them know what you are doing. We can do this and we need to do it soon. Let all of those people who are part of the entitlement theft who think they can sit back and let other people pay for them, the lifers of Welfare and Foodstamps can pay the bills. It may hurt us for a week but if this bill passes we will be hurt for many years to come.
- John D., Danbury

Must be a great bill if you need to bribe a senator from La. with $300 mil of taxpayer dollars just to get it to the floor for debate... Why didn't Shaheen hold out for $301 mil for NH??? Obviously not doing her job!!!
- Hedge, Newton

Thanks Judd Gregg for standing strong and representing us!
- jG Fan, Raymond NH

Requiring businesses to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a tax if they do not provide health insurance to their employees is likely to increase unemployment and inflation. If you have health problems, you may be more likely to be fired and less likely to be hired if businesses are required to pay for health insurance. The older you get the more likely you may be fired if businesses are required to provide health insurance for their employees. Proving age discrimination or discrimination based on health may be very hard which I hope people will realize.

Businesses should NOT be required to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a tax if they do not.

People should be allowed to buy into Medicare or a health insurance plan similar to what members of Congress have. Monthly premiums could be based on monthly incomes and coverage options. Co-payments could be based on monthly incomes.

People should NOT be required to have health insurance or pay a tax if they do not have health insurance.

People should be allowed to deduct the full cost of their health care and health insurance from their federal income taxes.

People and businesses should be allowed to deduct the full cost of their donations to non profits that provide health care from their federal income taxes. The non profits could be health clinics. The non profits could be hospitals. The non profits could provide free prescription drugs. The non profits may provide many millions of people with quality health care. The non profits may reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs by many billions of dollars a year.

State governments should get to decide the maximum amount of money they have to spend on Medicaid because state governments and NOT the federal government have the power to decide how state government money is spent because of Amendment 10. Each state should be able to have different eligibility standards for Medicaid. Each state government should be able to decide its eligibility standards for Medicaid. Each state government should be able to decide how it is going to spend money on Medicaid. More experimentation by state governments dealing with Medicaid may significantly improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Many millions of people would be better able to afford health insurance plans if they are able to buy health insurance plans sold in other states. The more people participating in a plan the lower the premiums the plan may have. Each state government would still regulate health insurance companies to make sure fraud is not taking place and that the companies meet the financial standards the state government sets. Customer service may improve if there is a lot more competition in health insurance. The more things that Congress and state governments say health insurance companies have to cover the higher the cost of the health insurance and the fewer companies likely to provide health insurance. Too many regulations by Congress and state governments dealing with health insurance companies is the main reason why so many millions of people do not have health insurance.

If the highest federal income tax on people and businesses is NOT greater than 15 percent, it will be easier for people to afford health care and health insurance. Businesses will be less likely to fire workers in our country and then make products in foreign countries that they then import to our country. State governments will be better able to increase their taxes on people and businesses helping them to fund education, health care, infrastructure, and other things. I think 50 state governments spend money a lot better than the federal government.

If the federal government and state governments stop taxing interest from savings accounts, dividends, capital gains, and estates, it will be easier for people to afford health care and health insurance. People will be able to save more money for their retirements. Americans and foreigners will be more likely to invest in our country and create jobs in our country. The more people working the more people paying into Social Security and Medicare. Businesses especially small businesses need capital to stay in business and pay their employees.

It makes more sense for the federal government to have low sales taxes on many products than to tax savings and investments. The low sales taxes could be used to help fund the military, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, free health clinics, infrastructure, education, and other things. The sales taxes need to be low because if they are high consumption might significantly decrease and unemployment might increase.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

They will do what they want. We no longer have representation. I would bet a pay check that not one of them could pass a test as to what is in that bill.
- Paul, Milford

40 million of us aren't covered by health insurance. That means that 260 million of us are. Why are we ceding good coverage for most of us in an experiment that raises taxes, limits coverage and explodes our debt?
- Randy Cheyne, Goffstown

Kevin seems to me like your company discriminates on age, nice to know.

To those of you out there who think this bill is better than what is quoted below explain why to me. Why these small fixes would not be better as a whole. Many people can afford insurnace but elect not to buy it, many of the number they have told us are uninsured are illegals. So they don't pay into the system why is it their "right" to have health insurance? As an Independent all this craziness has showed me my values are conservative and I will for my lifetime vote for a real conservative. I am sorry I was ever ignorant enough to buy into anything a Democrat would say. They only care about parties, not people. This is not aout covering people, it is about taking over more of the private sector. It is onlt a matter of time before we are right back to what our ancestors fled Europe from. It truly scares me.

At least Republicans are not voting for it, it is a start. Although we won't reverse something that is passed, we can elect the ones who will hopefully amend it to something that might have a chance of actually fixing what is wrong. It is amusing to me to see how many people think insurance companies and Doctors should be held as "evil" for making any kind of profit. Would these people work for free? Well it might well come to that one day at the rate we are going. So when they come for you and your "evil" profits there won't be anyone to defend your freedoms of rights. Whatever s[in you try to add to it, people will be thrown in jail as a direct result of not being able to afford health insurance. And this bill is entirely based on the fines dished out to Americans, that is how they plan top pay for it. When I am in jail you can pay for my meals, health care, and rent!!

(quote)Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said the bill costs too much for Americans. "It has higher premiums, higher taxes, Medicare cuts, puts 15 million more low-income Americans into a medical ghetto called Medicaid."

Alexander said Republicans prefers something simpler than the 2,074-page Democratic bill.

"If you expect Mitch McConnell to roll in a wheelbarrow with a Republican 2,000-page bill, it's not going to happen," Alexander told "Fox News Sunday."

"But we do have proposals to let small businesses to pool their resources, to reduce junk lawsuits, to let people buy insurance across state lines. And I think most people would be much more comfortable with us biting off what we could chew instead of this arrogance of thinking we can fix the whole system all at once."
- Stacey, Manchester

If healthcare is a "right" as all my liberal friends contend, then why was it not written INTO the constitution by our founding fathers?

It's because they understood that government had no business being in the healthcare business in the first place and (surprise!) people were sick then too.

No matter how good people have it, they will still find something to complain about. Next they will be crying for free housing for all and free transportation for all.
- Jim D, Hillsboro

David in Manchester spewed a bunch of numbers about the Iraq war because somehow that's supposed to make up for the debacle that is on our doorstep. He then accuses people who speak out against the debacle as being hypocrites. David, I will say the same of you. I imagine you were one of the people who whined every time Bush signed a check, but you seem to have no problem with the next three generations being overly taxed to pay for government-run health care (ot to mention a failure of a stimulus package and future cap-and-tax plan). David - I will ask the same question of you that I have of all liberals - none of whom answered me. Who is going to pay for it? I still have yet to see an O-Bot defend the Administration/Congress decision to allow THEMSELVES to opt out of socialist health care, but not the rest of us...at least not with threat of jail time or fines. Look in the mirror David, and you will see a true hypocrite.
- Mike, Temple

Kevin, Derry, that's why I can't find a job at almost 60 even though I'm much more qualified than any 22-year old in many different occupations. The insurance costs less for the 22 year old! What a flippin' outrage of stupidity you just posted and just proved your company age discriminates.
- judy, bradford

I think J. Shaheen and all the Senate should give us the total number of immigrants in their state that do not have health ins. They also need to tell us how many immigrants they have agreed to take this year. Also what the taxspayers are paying for now and what we are expected to pay for the future immigration that is in process.
- Linda, Derry

This is why my ancestors left Europe, because of train wrecks like this. Any way you slice this bill it is tainted baloney. This is all about controlling the American people; they will tell us when to use the bathroom next.

I pray for the USA we are going to need it.
- Mary, Raymond

Let me see here, the majority of Americans and us in NH District 1 are against this farce and Carol Shea Pelosi voted yes, HMMM who does she represent us or the Party? I would luv to see the Obama-ites to chime in on this one. Just remember 879B for 31 M do the math comrades! and our reps and the admin don't have to join HMMMM!
- Ray, Raymond

By the end of fiscal year 2010, public estimates of total war spending in Iraq and Afghanistan will more than $1 trillion.
Conservative estimates for the actual cost of the Iraq war alone are likely to be more than $3 trillion.
Concerns about "dire fiscal consequences for future generations" because of health care reform would be touching if they weren't so hypocritical.
- David, Manchester, NH

Shaheen , Shea-Porter and the democrats are destroying our economy and our freedoms. The taxes, "fees" and penalties in this bill are horrific. With $12 TRILLION in national debt, we can't afford this bill. The bill includes taxpayer-funded abortions, health insurance for illegals, rationing and major cuts to Medicare. Shaheen could have stopped this bill and chose not to.
- Bobbi Spillane, Bartlett, NH

Glad to know that this new congress is so 'transparent' and ethical... oh wait, except for buying the Louisiana senator's vote...
- Mike, Manchester, NH

We are all headed for the P O R house...P=Pelosi, O= Obama, R= Reid
- Bill, Plymouth

They will take $500 billion out of medicare add millions of more people into the system and we will still be getting the same good health care. We have a senator and 2 reprsentatives that don't listen to the people. Vote them out.
- Gerry, Manchester

If you read about the history of the passage of Medicare, these were the same types of arguments. And gov't healthcare had been proposed by Theodore Roosevelt. I, for one, do not think that healthcare should be run by insurance companies that decide if you get treated if it hurts their bottom line. My premiums already pay for the uninsured. And emergency rooms are the most expensive way to treat people who can't see a doctor and wait until the are really sick.

I'm also sick of seeing cans at every store that asks for money so a child w/o insurance will live. What kind of society is that! What kind of "Christian" would be against a program that takes care of its people. Are they afraid "faith healers" will go out of business! If anyone in Congress is against the gov't being involved in medical care, then they should give up their subsidized, tax-payer funded insurance!
- bob in manchester, manchester nh

"I think it's unfortunate that the opposition has been so obstructionist that they're not even willing to debate the issue on the floor of the Senate,"

LOL.

Shame on Senator Shaheen. How about the fact that her party has written this bill behind closed doors without allowing any bipartisan input to represent the rest of us Americans, not just those who think like she does. The back room deal making and bribing of Senators to bring this bill to the floor is a travesty to our nation and all involved should be ashamed of themselves.
- jem, rye

This is an outrage. Should this pass, can we as citizens get an injunction and challenge it in court?
- Biff, Canterbury

It is a sad day for America. Flags should fly at Half mast all week long. The New Federal Socialist Government and the Democrats specifically have voted to take over our Healthcare. This was not just a vote to debate. There will be no debate. This bill was crafted in secrecy and the only debate will be how much of the taxpayers money can we give you Blue Dogs to vote for this bill. That's it and nothing more. Liebermann, Neilson, Landrieu and Lincoln all knew they were going to vote yea on this bill. They were just posturing for their constituents and holding out to see how much Obama will give them. When did Americans decide to stop taking care of themselves and let the Government do it for them? When did we start feeling that someone owes us? When the rule of entitlement programs came about that's when. It is easier to sit on your butts and collect a check every month than it is to get up and go to work everyday and earn a living and provide for yourself. The education system is to blame for that mentality as they have brainwashed the children that big government is good. Ever since they stopped teaching the three "R's" and started with this modern crap that close to the right answer is good enough was this countrys demise. They have not taught the children. They have sold them out. Oh I'm sure there are some who tried to teach the kids. When it comes down to it the blame falls on the parents. We let this happen thinking we were creating a better future for our children. God help us all.
- John D., Danbury

So, let me see if have this straight.........Gregg votes against opening debate on the bill but then has multiple amendments that he'd like to see added to the bill. That doesn't make sense.

Either you want a bill or you don't, Judd; make up your mind.
- Bill, Concord

"The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance, and large firms would incur large costs if they did not provide it to their workforce."

Read the quote above from the article and ask what effect this will have on American citizens. It will hurt the rapidly disappearing middle class hardest and many companies will either lay off workers or switch as many as they can to part time work to escape the mandate. Unintended consequences of a health-care bill gone awry.

Mr Reid is very out of touch with history and reality. Yesterday, in developing a rationale to bring this pathetic bill to debate, used the example of "can you imagine if someone had blocked the debate on slavery?" Not one senator, republican nor democrat called him on this. It was the democrats who wanted to keep slavery, so opposition to debate wold only have come from the democratic party.

Neither Congress nor the Senate determined what is causing healthcare costs to skyrocket before drafting bills to fix it. How do you fix a problem if you don't identify the root cause of the problem? This bill will help healthcare about as much as laws against drugs have kept illegal drugs out of our Country. We can not fault MrReid though as he does not represent the State of New Hampshire. We can only fault the lovely Jeanny (shaheen) who has a garaunteed healthcare plan different from the rest of us. If hardcore leftwingers want the socialized medicine of europe, then they too should advocate forcing congress onto this ruinous excuse for healthcare reform.
- Michael Layon, Derry

I agree with the Democratic Party on one issue , and that is for "reform", but not on the healthcare issue. What really needs to be fixed is a two party system that has not worked for years, campaign promises that are mearly reteric, out and out lies to constituants, deals made behind closed doors to seure votes and the most flagrant of all, the failure to listen and vote the will of the people. The reason why the Congress is so liberal and so extream to the left is because the majority of voters allowed Obama to carry the Democrats to power by voting the ticket rather than, at the very least, examining each and every candidate running for the Senate and House and what they stand for and their previous voting records. We need to do this going forward or the voice of the hard working middle class will be silenced forever.
- Jim Burns, Salem

Competition ALWAYS lowers prices in the long run and will save consumers from unchecked insurance company price increases.
- Greg Barrett, Manchester

Please note that a rider inserted into the bill deling with "natural disasters" earmarked 100 million dollars for the State of Louisiana. This effectively bought the vote of Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

100 Million dollars, 30 pieces of silver, I don't see the difference here.
- RH, Manchester

This is another Trojan Horse by the Liberats to take over everything in this country....autos, banks, healthcare, education. All they want is more power and to be re-elected. So the answer to broken Medicare and Medicaid system is to create another bureaucracy? If you love the DMV, the IRS, and the post office, you'll love this new abomination. Nice Fuzzy Math to make this sound like it's going to be cheaper than it really is. Remember the BigDig was only going to cost 2 billion. Multiply that by 15 to get the real figures when all is said and done. Our country is bankrupt.
- Eric, Merrimack

Welcome to the United Socialist States of America. This bill is not about healthcare it is about controling our lives. The democrats are traitors to our country.
- Dave, Manchester

I agree with all those who oppose this insane bill and it's unconstitutional amendments. It won't be effective until 2014, while in the next 4 years taxes will sky rocket. Lets plan to Change America one more time and get all those crooks out of office in 2010 and 2012!
- Jan, Lee, NH

Robert Tarr - Judd Gregg and others have TRIED to submit admendments but the Democrat majority will not allow debate on them or allow them to be heard. The Republicans have also submitted alternate plans that will not result in tremendous spending and loss of benefits but again, the Democrat majority will have nothing of it. How do we like our 1 party system?

In case you havent noticed, the MAJORITY of Americans are AGAINST the government takeover of healthcare, reduction in benefits and enormous tax hikes but it hasnt stopped them has it? Representative government? Not when you have the progressives and the unions supporting our politicians with money.

Who has visited the White House more than anyone else? Andy Stearn, president of SEIU. He visited the President 22 times that we know of. Why does the president of a union have that kind of access to the White House? Who gains the most from the takeover of healthcare? I am sure you can answer that question. Ask questions and dont settle for lies.
- Bob H, Manchester

You have to wonder if the citizens of this nation even know when they are being dictated too any more as we roll on towards a Hugo Chavez style of government.

Like those who sat on their steps and watched me get mugged in my youth I have little faith our new Politically Correct society will have the courage to stand up and be noticed as their new government forces their neighbors into this plan that was never discussed during the elections gets put into action.

And Mr. Gregg what plan of action is being considered from the Republican Party after the hollow words of opposition do nothing to stop this government takeover? Show us where in the Constitution forcing citizens to pay for health care has anything to do with personal freedom and Liberty?

How many days a year am I required to work to pay for government in order to be considered a good little citizen? Three million jobs lost and this leadership decides now is the right time to spend more money than any time in our history. A government that masquerades as a charity is anything but caring and the proof will be the punishment of your neighbors for not joining the cult and handing away their right too choose for themselves.
- Deb, Derry

Congratulations to our US Senate!! Or should I say congratulations to the "Clueless In Washington"? The Federal legislature apparently does not know how to read a bill in front of them nor listen to the vast majority of real people who are saying NO to this bill. Just remember next election who voted for this bill and VOTE THEM OUT!!!! And what about our state legislature which is going to be hammered with unfunded Medicaid claims that will bankrupt us. Awfully silent down in Concord!
- Mark Givens, Bridgewater

The majority of americans without health insurance coverage do want this, and that is who it is intended to help. There are those who would rather not, but we already pay for their care anyway...lets do it in a way that makes more sense
- Dorothy, Concord

"We can't afford it as a country," Gregg said?

Sure Judd, but we can afford unnecessary wars and thousands of our soldiers killed needlessly? Get real.
- Bill, Wolfeboro

Folks...listen, they have to ram this through now! They know that if they don't they won't get another shot because the 2010 elections will upset the balance of power currently in place (as many are disgusted with the Hope and Change they voted for). They will do it at any cost, just so they can say they did it. When the citizens ask why the huge expense and added taxes, they will say "you wanted us to change the system so we did, we gave you what you wanted....now elect us again."
- Dawn, Manchester

Other Democrat Senators came away with hundreds of millions of dollars for their home states. Shaheen brought us the bill.

Here's an excerpt from the Washington Post: 'Landrieu and Lincoln got the attention because they were the last to decide, but the Senate really has 100 Blanche DuBoises, a full house of characters inclined toward the narcissistic. The health-care debate was worse than most. With all 40 Republicans in lockstep opposition, all 60 members of the Democratic caucus had to vote yes -- and that gave each one an opportunity to extract concessions from Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid. '

It's too bad Shaheen and company can't see what a disaster this is and how they are going to make New Hampshire just like Michigan -15% unemployment.
- Jerry, Derry

I see no "REFORM" in this bill, so why is the media calling it health reform?

We have a health care system out of control mainly due to illegals and lawsuits.

If our government were that concerned they should address these issues first.

Doctors have to carry huge Insurance policies to cover themselves against "ambulance chasing" lawyers, and we the public end up paying for it.

When I came into the workforce 35 years ago, I received a health care plan from my employer at no cost to me. Never made co payments, never had paperwork to fill out. It was straight forward and easy to understand.

Nowadays it's a nightmare, and trust after Uncle Sam takes over it's going to be worse than ever.
- Harry, Atkinson

ree, Every poll I read is somewhat divided, the latest AP poll actually showed the public favored a gov't run health care so not sure where you get your info from.
Robert, you would get a subsidy because your low income so not sure what you are complaining about. nobody goes to jail, it is just added to your tax return. Unless you commit tax fraud you are fine.
It seems a bunch of people that have NO idea what is being voted on like to post there complaint.
Of course, the biggest factor in all this, the current health care system will bankrupt the country in time so a major overhauls HAS TO HAPPEN. Obviously Medicare for all is the most logical starting point but unfortunately would not get the votes needed because politicians just care about there own district and getting re-elected.
So far the comments on here are easily dismissed, layoffs by people making over $200k because of the health care tax? Really? We use the current health care costs where I work as part of the guideline for who we hire and let go. So, you think the 20% annual increases in health insurance costs NOW will NOT cause a layoff but a much smaller tax will? That's a great theory. The cost controls in the bill will moderate the annual increases and the savings there will more than offset the taxes so over $200k "people' will have no more cause to lay off, if anything, they will have less cause because the healthy people joining the plans will bring down costs, I know, I do the health insurance for my company, give me a 22 year old to add to my company plan and rates drop considerably.
The legislation does not go far enough due to political impossibility. They should have strict price controls, offer free education to those pursuing medical careers(they can get reimbursed 100% upon graduation) to increase the available doctors, limit lawsuit awards to needed care from the mistake + a maximum amount for pain and anguish,
Make halth care 100% non-profit, Doctors make less but have less expenses from insurance and student loans.
Commenting that you don't like this plan without and alternative major overhaul is rather pointless
- Kevin, Derry NH

The Democratic Socialist Party controls both houses with large majorities and the White House. There is nothing fiscally responsible people can do to prevent them from raiding the treasury to buy votes from those too lazy to work for a better life or too irresponsible to pay for their own insurance. Elections have consequences. We'll be paying for the hope peddler's snake oil for generations.
- Mike, Dunbarton

Ree in Manchester-- that's the part of all of this that is so scary. A strong majority of Americans do NOT want this bill. If they were making tweaks to the system, it would be one thing, but this bill puts 1/6 of the economy in the hands of government beauracrats that haven't run a thing right since the initial expansion of government in the New Deal. This is a TERRIBLE bill on every level.

Add the fact that Sen. Landrieu (and probably others) have accepted backdoor bribes from Harry Reid in exchange for votes, and this is not only an assault on the Constitution, but this is an assault on democratic government.

Stay engaged, America. We need to vote every single incumbent from BOTH PARTIES out of office in November 2010. This is not the change that the country overwhelmingly voted for last year.

RIP United States of America (1776-2009)
- Brian, Concord

This will benefit the politician, stockholders of Big Pharma and the growth of gov't.
Like TARP was a money grab by the politician to Wall St. Record bonuses paid out with taxpayer money.
Cash for Clunkers, payout to the UAW.
$4K rebate/car turns into $24K/car Thank you taxpayer.
We have gov't education, gov't housing, gov't finance, gov't auto, gov't media. All well run and efficient institutions. No waste fraud and abuse here. Like tens of billions/year just in Medicare fraud alone.
Now we just need gov't pajamas and slippers for the soon to come gov't bread line after the economic colapse.
Some of you may think this is wonderful now that you can get your elective surgeries, etc. But once amnesty for illegals has passed, watch the tsunami come over our borders.
Just the entertainment factor alone......
- Michael, Manchester

This will benefit the politician, stockholders of Big Pharma and the growth of gov't.
Like TARP was a money grab by the politician to Wall St. Record bonuses paid out with taxpayer money.
Cash for Clunkers, payout to the UAW.
$4K rebate/car turns into $24K/car Thank you taxpayer.
We have gov't education, gov't housing, gov't finance, gov't auto, gov't media. All well run and efficient institutions. No waste fraud and abuse here. Like tens of billions/year just in Medicare fraud alone.
Now we just need gov't pajamas and slippers for the soon to come gov't bread line after the economic colapse.
Some of you may think this is wonderful now that you can get your elective surgeries, etc. But once amnesty for illegals has passed, watch the tsunami come over our borders.
Just the entertainment factor alone......
- Michael, Sysyn

While certain people are getting a boost others are being handed a shovel and a already designated plot plan of their local cemetary.
I would assume they would like us to dig our own hole before we get too sick since GI (Government Insurance....much like Government Motors) doesn't cover chiropractic services, and they wouldn't want the poor cemetary worker to throw out their back.

I'm sure right now there's an actuarial assistant trying to figure out a way they can get all the dirt to fall back in the hole by itself, mixed with grass seed and miracle grow of course.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

It is crazy that a super majority is required to even discuss healthcare reform. Thank goodness the democrats have the guts to debate this critical issue. The majority in the country wants healthcare reform, but not all want one this radically liberal. Gregg’s plan to propose amendments is welcome news.
- Bill, Moultonborough, NH

Advocates of this bill, including Shaheen and turncoat Olympia Snowe, talk about history and destiny and "moving forward" because they LOSE when they talk about anything in this bill. Gregg and Republicans, including the U-L editorial writers, talk about specific parts of the bill and the disastrous consequences. This new transfer from achievers to excuse-makers only benefits Democratic constituencies: trial lawyers, foreign invaders, and unionized welfare-state bureaucrats. How many of the name-calling lefties who will file messages here, braying that the fight is over, are lawyers working for these vested interests?

Judy, $100 million of stolen money for Louisiana that Mary Landrieu can take credit for is not called bribery. It's called an earmark. Obama was going to eliminate them, have no lobbyists or crooks in the cabinet, and put all bills on the Internet so we could read them before the vote.

Dr. Sowell wrote last year that the first black baseball player was a stand-out; he had to be to break the color barrier. He thought it sad that the first "black" President would be so ordinary. No matter that this health-care takeover is one of many conflicting things that Obama said during the campaign, we surely did not elect him to get this.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

I wouldn't worry too much about the cost or the takeover of the economy. The way this government is spending our money we will be bankrupt in a year or two.

There are no jobs being created, no new companies hiring, and no cuts in spending, anywhere.

This Congress and Administration know exactly what they are doing. They are creating a catastrophe, and then they will really come to our rescue!

We cannot afford this bill, and we cannot afford the present medicare, medicaid or social security payouts.

Hang on people....
- Melvin, Keene

Calling Shaheen's office gets me the same song and dance. To sum it up she knows best what NH needs and refuses to listen to a majority of us who thinks this form of health reform stinks. Anyone in their right mind cannot see any good after reading this bill. The government is already pressuring government granted studies to release findings in favor of rationing health care. This is just a taste of what will follow when out brainless leaders vote "Yes". Call Shaheens office and tell her "No". You may not get anywhere but in the least get it on record. She does not care one bit about who this bill hurts, she cares about being part of major history which will ruin this country as we know it. Wake up people because if this bill goes through we will have government owning over 50% of the private sector and it will no longer be a capitalist system. We will become like other Socialist countries and there is no other way to see it!!
- Stacey, Manchester

Read the last sentence of this article. New taxes on companies and elected surgeries. Who pays that bill? Obviously you & I. For what? To benifit the 15% of which most chose not to purchase insurance. This is the biggest take over of the private sector in the history of this country. Well, like I always say, you voted for "hope & change" how do you like it so far?
- Michael King, Epping

Hello America. Shell-game? No, I'd call it a 'hood-wink". Very dissappointed with this vote, but not at all suprised. Welcome to the largest middle class tax levy in the history of the world - sans none. Oh, you don't see it that way? Stick around. When these $200,000+ earners start laying off even more people - it's going to get really ugly really fast. I've got to go with Judd Gregg on this - this is a tax deficit scenario completely out of control and growing daily in severity. My only real question is: how did Shaheen get elected as a Senator from NH? Or have the folks in Concord finally deceided to change the maps to read Massachusetts-North?
- BanjoJim, Keene

So raising taxes on the people making more money encourages people to work harder and make more money how?

Isn't it called bribery when $100 Million goes to Lousiana (no other state) days before the cloture vote, and then it's senator all of a sudden changes her vote to yeah?

So much for Obama's promise to change Washington and get rid of "business as usual." He's changing it all right but it ain't giving me much hope!
- judy, bradford

"Individuals would be required to purchase coverage or pay a fine, unless affordable coverage was not available." This reader would like to know Mrs. Reid, is how am I going to pay for coverage? I do collect disability and on average make about only $6,000 gross per year at my part-time job, which is a weekly payout of $120 before taxes, I also have four children. Am I going to have to pay a fine because I may want to OPT OUT of your plan? Many Americans are in dire straits and have a limited income of under $50,000 in America, certainly you can't think that Congress would place all those people in jail because they didn't take the health care plan the Government offered? It would certainly affect families and the economy greatly. Surely Sen. Gregg and others can make amendments to stop this pushyness...Only time will tell.
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

Im very afraid theyre going to vote this thing in even though the majority of the people dont want it.....
- ree, Manchester NH