YOUR COMMENTS

The general assumption here is that when we return to the days of free market, unfettered capitalism, everyone will be Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. That is about as likely as your kid playing for the Patriots. The only thing that keeps us from all working for Bill Gates and Warren Buffet for five cents a week is our government. Rawls talks about justice decisions being made from behind a veil of ignorance - he doesn't mean stupidity. If you make laws, thinking that you are going to be on top, it does make the Cheney/Madoff/Abramoff dream seem desireable - until reality sets in. Who is sent off to wars for empire and raw materials? Your kids or Bernanke's?
- Robert, Deerfield

Nonsense. Without profits there are no jobs. Doh.
- RHarrisonScott, Riverside, CA

Is he even READING the same bill that the rest of the country is reading??????
He is either deceived or deceiving us!
- Kathy, Franklin

Dear Mr. Hodes,
Stop unsulting us by lying to our face every chance you get. We now understand, you don't believe in what most of us believe in, namely Liberty. In the case of Government Healthcare, you happen to believe in Fascism. That's too bad, but please at least stop lying to us about this not adding a dime to the deficit. This will bankrupt us, especially when you add cap and tax on top. Go ahead and keep voting to ruin us, our pleas are falling on deaf ears anyway. Just know this. Your days of not representing us are numbered.
- Keith R. Lacasse, Weare

Julie in Bedford:

I never said working for a living was easy--or that it is hard. It is what it is.

Sounds like you are learning about concept and business of risk management.

There is an old saying "you pay your money and you make your choice". Sounds like you've made your choice. Your business generates revenues and profits that offset your insurance costs--or you don't stay self employed.

You think insurance is expensive--& you have children? Try sleeping at night if they aren't covered. I'm sure you'll decide your children are worth the price you pay for your family's security.
- Paul, Sunapee

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 help many millions of people obtain quality health care. The non profits may help reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs by many billions of dollars a year.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

Here is a novel idea Mr Hodes. How about a national registry you can sign on to if you can prove you have no health insurance and you are an american citizen. Then this registry becomes a large group of mixed ages and health. Offer this group up for bid as a group to insurance companies. They would jump at the chance to have multi million member group to spread costs. As a member of this group you would probably be able to get a reasonable policy for $50 a month or less. As long as the government does not run it, it should provide affordable health care for all subscribers. As I have informed you via email previously. I will also be proud to vote against you in any election you run in.
- Mark Givens, Bridgewater, nh

Everyone supports free "GuMenT Run HelTH Kare" until they see how much it costs.

That's why it was 80% in favor when just the title of the bill was released...

And now it's 80% against when the contents of the bill were released...

It ain't just money its costing us.

Stop Government Greed.

(Rembember when the supporters used to quote the polls?)
- John II, Manchester

Mr. Hodes,
My husband and I work full-time and then some. We have two kids in college who work part-time and help pay for their gas, car insurance and college related expenses. Our property taxes when we bought our house 10 years ago was $3400, today it is now $7002. We will soon no longer be able to afford our taxes. We will have to sell our house because of the taxes not because we can't afford the mortgage payment. Please worry about how to fund schools in NH which makes up for the biggest portion of our taxes. Please Leave your hands off our healthcare.
- LouAnn, Concord, NH

Well, the usual liberal UL and conservative bashers have had their daily rant. Do you guys ever consider changing your rhetoric? It’s getting a bit old and you still don’t say anything except to let us all know how flakey you are.
Mr. Hodes said: “It will end lifetime caps so when Americans get sick, they can get the care that they've paid for. It will create a public health insurance option to compete with health insurance companies, resulting in lower costs for New Hampshire families. It will protect and preserve Medicare for our seniors, significantly reducing their out-of-pocket costs….This plan won't add one dime to the federal deficit, and it will not raise taxes on middle class families.”

The plan that Mr. Hodes voted for (but hasn’t read yet) will increase the cost of the average family’s health insurance; it will tax the middle class and all others to pay for those with “pre-existing conditions” who wait until they have a “pre-existing condition” to apply for health coverage. And it will increase the deficit to the tune of trillions. It does call for a $600 billion reduction to Medicare which can only result in rationing. It also deletes the multi-million dollar “doctor fix” and puts it in a separate bill so its cost won’t be counted toward the healthcare bill.
Any one of you who doesn’t understand that you cannot add 30 million people to the health care rolls and not increase costs needs to have a competency hearing.

But the really big one I want Mr. Hodes to answer is: How do you increase competition, thereby reducing cost, by eliminating competition? Because when the Government “option” is passed it will force out all other private plans – it says so right in the bill. So then the Government can charge what it wants, cover what it wants, deny what it wants to and raise money in any way it sees fit to cover all the masses i.e. illegal immigrants, it will uncover along the way. So what say you, Paul?
- Sandy, thornton

Stephen in Sullivan -
You think Insurance should not make a profit, correct? Okay so lets go with your plan, Let's take Doctors and make them give up profit, medical workers as well, lets make all of it free. Then we can move on to other industries, I mean it is only fair. No more paying for fuel, food, housing, whatever you do for a living has now become illegal to profit, it is evil in your America. You have to work the same hours for free. Let me imagine how well this country would be if it were all free!! Take away profit and working for better and the incentives are gone. Everything would fall apart. I don't think you understand economics and the system that works in this country. It is what has made it the best in the world. Truly if you want to see how your dream world works go to Cuba and live for a while. I have a step father who travels to Cuba by boat and it is not pretty. There are plenty of countries that are run into the ground because of policies like this. Weakening America and breaking our great system is not (Thank God) what most Americans want. And the Health, Cap & Trade, and many other bills are all designed to achieve this, especially together. The fact that they have to lie should say it right there. Our uninsured get better care than other countries, and they can get care. There is not one hospital in this country that will turn anyone away, not even with a hangnail. Many if not all cities and towns have help for uninsured. Hospitals have financial programs, doctors have sliding fee scales, and drug companies have free medication programs for those who cannot afford it. We do take care of the poor, if people choose not to use these avenues it is their choice. But they are there. Manchester alone has a ton of programs. We have a Dental and Health Center and both are based upon ones income. We have the Immunization clinics, and many other free programs. So to say there are people dying is bogus. you cannot make the health care industry free without it costing much, and it is reasonable to think if they do this we will not be seeing many future Doctors. When you work for free maybe then you can come back and tell the rest of us how wonderful it is!!
- Stacey, Manchester

Mr. Hodes Please give me a break! You are for the people?Ha ha, very funny!! Well then, this bill you just blindly voted for confuses me sir. So either you have not read the bill or you are lying. You can't have missed the fines on Americans. The fines which from all the research I have done I will be forced to pay because my rates are going to nearly triple per year. So not only am I at risk of losing the great coverage I worked my life to achieve, but you have made it impossible with your grandfather clause for me to legally buy insurance after 2013, and if that is not enough you have found a way to force me out in case this fails. The bill and this clause is set up to fail for private insurance. I have looked at the profits of most insurers, 3% is not that big a profit. They do need to make a profit. You and people like you are to blame for the costs, you lock us in too little choices by your regulations, and force the insurance to cover things most of us will never elect to do, then you stop competition. Why would you do that? Maybe as your other party members have stated you do not care if you lose your seat over it? Hmmm ... this sir tells me you know darn well we do not want this type of reform. We want real reform and you have allot of nerve lying to people about this. We are facing one of the worst economies in history and you and this entire administration have done everything opposite of what has been proven to work, you have added generations of debt to our children and grandchildren, and I thought Bush was bad. Instead of looking at what works, you take some out there theories and fail and fail again and again. You go ahead and pat yourself on the back sir while next year you sit in the unemployment line with the rest of us. Americans are waking up to what goes on in Washington on both sides, but your party has tried to shove too much down our throats and I truly believe it will show in the next election. You have ignored the people of NH in not having true meetings, ignroing letters,emails,calls, and finally out of desperation to talk to our reps many of us drove to Washington. Where were you sir? I am sure you were obeying your Pelosi commands, but you may want to be sure she follows through with whatever her or Reid promised because you will need that job. You are a traitor to NH and your editorial is a lie and a joke! It is an insult to us in NH that you have tried to destroy our state and are helping to ensure that America will no longer be the best health care in the world. I used to think people were crazy to say this destruction is being done on purpose, but common sense tells me it must be intentional because no one can be this stupid, and I hope more Americans take the time to learn the truths and not listen to what you have tried to spin. May 2012 go by quickly!!

To NH residents and everyone else:

I urge people to read this bill, skim it if you don't have the time to read the 2,000 plus pages, but please look at the language it has been written in. It is a disaster in the making and we all know what will happen when it comes to interpreting the bill. They are shutting the insurance industry up with threats of changing laws to ruin them, it is the dirtiest of politics and I am ashamed to have ever voted Democratic, never, ever will I again!! Please look at the wasted spending alone in this bill, it is too large and complicated to ever work. We can't get our government to be responsible with our tax dollars now, we cannot trust them to run this. They want to push this through so it cannot be undone, many have said they know it will be the last of their seat. They need to be held accountable for these actions. This is not just a threat to our health care system, it is a threat to our privately owned businesses, freedoms, and our privacy. the Health care can be done in productive ways and without so much government. I don't want government running my health care or my life. I am all for finding a way to help those in need, we can do it without killing our entire system, a system that is the envy of the world. Remember that Actions speak louder than words and take a good look at our politicians actions in NH and the country. We need real people to run this country, not power and money hungry jerks with a need to please their bosses. The people of NH should be what is important, and our Reps. have shown us we are not. Aks Mr. Hodes questions, like how much will our State be stuck with if this bill goes througjh. They are not telling us the trust they are weaving through it trying to make it look like they are, they think once they get it through we will just take it and forget. Please don't forget!!
- Stacey, Manchester

Paul, I hope you read these comments because you do not read your mail from the tax payers that pay you. By the way, how is that self appointed pay raise you all voted for? I can't afford a ad nor would I spend my money (in your case our money) on one. I will tell you so you won't be misled. I feel we need to boot out all of congress and senate, and in case you haven't heard lawyers are the first to go. There should be term limits and a clause that if you abuse your power and not listen to the American people and self serve yourself and your pockets ....YOU ARE OUT.
- Linda, Derry

Paul Hodes, go back to New York where you came from, you are not one of us.
- David, Keene

People over profits.

When all else fails the Democrats always try playing on our emotions to raise our taxes and now for government takeover plans and we can see where voting with emotions gets us as a nation. When that fails they bring out the foul mouthed name calling tactics.

I noticed yet another fine left wing rally took place the other day at the WTO meeting Mr. Hodes, complete with burning cars, smashed store windows, and total chaos. It reminded me of exactly what this administration is doing to our nation and economy.

But I will give you and this administration credit where credit is due. You have almost all the people I know who vote Democrat shaking their heads in disbelief and shame. But I have a feeling those of you in office don’t honestly care as the goal seems to be pushing through as much government and spending as you can while you can. I’m wondering if you already have your ticket to Venezuela bought and paid for and on standby.
- Deb, Derry

Classic koolaid logic out of Bob in Salem in the very first post! Including exhuming the I-gotta-be-dumb-as-a-boot lunacy of, "...death like panels." Then, in a majestic summation he threatens to vote with his eyes shut: "I will happily vote next November for just about anybody but you." Wow, that'll show us! Lol!

Real deep thinking there Bob and Hodes deserves it for repeatedly trying to explain the basics of a what a PROPER health care system should look like if we had one! How dare he try to protect Americans! I'm voting for Mickey Mouse in protest!
- Breven, Merrimack

I owe an apology to NSR and Tony, I really thought your postings were the most asinine, ignorant, ill informed postings of the day. Then I read Tom Labrie, at least your postings were coherent. Hey Labrie, I know I am paying your rent, electricity, taxes, cable, medical, sewer and registration on your no doubt late model car but please tell me I didn't pay for your computer. I just couldn't live with that burden!
- Allan, Rochester

Paul, Sunapee says, "Smell the coffee dude!" Lol!

Well "dude," it seems you have the stuffed nose! You can't smell how the current system run for and by big business is stinking up the place!

The President set excellent goals for congress to meet: deficit neutral full coverage for almost all Americans at a cost that they can afford, without putting the burden on the middle class, with reforms that should lower costs per illness over time. That's real progress.

Yes, after the national disgrace of Bush, it is almost unbelievable that a President gives a damn about ordinary working people. This one does, and so does Hodes.
- Gary, Concord

And do not forget he voted for tax and cap he said it wil save us $2000 a year and create 1000000(millon)jobs in this sate of N H alone so he shoud be our next con man i mean crongress man.
- cb, allestown nh

Two additional thoughts after posting a comment early this morning:

(1) No one has mentioned the devastating impact this bill would have on the NH budget (more than doubling our Medicaid burden). It surely would drive us to one, if not more, broad based state taxes -- no doubt to the great pleasure of the current state legislature’s leadership, not to mention Hodes, Shea-Porter and Shaheen.

(2) I marvel (nice way of saying that I am agast) at the condescending comments from our good friends on the left. Mr. Labrie’s diatribe stands out in particular. Clearly the man has his own ideas as the college-level answers to socialism questions.

John from Milford, do you not know, or chose to ignore, that ‘teabaggers’ is a pejorative description of a sexual act that most readers would view as offensive?

Tony from Manchester, calling people ‘chicken little’ does little to advance your cause.

NSR is, well, predictably NSR.

To all of you gracious people, we ‘pop-conservatives’ are better informed (many with economics and other advanced degrees), and we and have both the real facts and the vast majority of voting Americans on our side.
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- Steven, Swanzey

Paul of Sunapee...lucky for you, you have an employer that pays a portion of your health insurance. I am not for this plan Mr. Hodes voted for, but I do feel the need to correct your misconception that getting health insurance benefits through a job is an easy or simple task.

My husband and I are self-employed and employ about 20-25 people. A mix of full and part time people. Most covered by their parents health insurance policy. Ourselves, and a few others are not. Because we have fewer than 10 eligible people for a "group" policy, we are in the highest rate category. For my family of 2 adults and 3 children, we pay over $2000 per month for coverage. 100% out of our pockets. No big corporation to offset the costs for us. We are responsible people and have coverage and do not rely on welfare or medicade/medicare, Healthy Kids NH etc to help us.

Sir, the costs need to be leveled for all group policies, no matter the size. Why aren't we offered the same rates as a company with 500 members? Does it really cost any more to cover us? This is where we need reform. We need all procedures to cost the same no matter who is paying, cash, medicare or an insurance company. This is the reform that needs to happen.

We need clearly written policies about what is covered. We need people who do not abuse the system.

There needs to be reform, but on many, many levels.

But, simply getting health insurance through a job is not as easy as you seem to think it is.
- Julie, Bedford, NH

Paul of Sunapee...lucky for you, you have an employer that pays a portion of your health insurance. I am not for this plan Mr. Hodes voted for, but I do feel the need to correct your misconception that getting health insurance benefits through a job is an easy or simple task.

My husband and I are self-employed and employ about 20-25 people. A mix of full and part time people. Most covered by their parents health insurance policy. Ourselves, and a few others are not. Because we have fewer than 10 eligible people for a "group" policy, we are in the highest rate category. For my family of 2 adults and 3 children, we pay over $2000 per month for coverage. 100% out of our pockets. No big corporation to offset the costs for us. We are responsible people and have coverage and do not rely on welfare or medicade/medicare, Healthy Kids NH etc to help us.

Sir, the costs need to be leveled for all group policies, no matter the size. Why aren't we offered the same rates as a company with 500 members? Does it really cost any more to cover us? This is where we need reform. We need all procedures to cost the same no matter who is paying, cash, medicare or an insurance company. This is the reform that needs to happen.

We need clearly written policies about what is covered. We need people who do not abuse the system.

There needs to be reform, but on many, many levels.

But, simply getting health insurance through a job is not as easy as you seem to think it is.
- Julie, Bedford, NH

Now, if all the promises made here by Congressman Hodes come true, we will all benefit.
- Jonathan R. Seaver, Hinsdale

I want Paul Hodes to look me in the eye and say whether he read this entire bill or if he simply read the executive summary written by lawyers for Nancy Pelosi. Its a simple question... If he had, like I did, he would not have agreed to this legislation. Why? Because this is NOT good for the people of NH. If he did and still approved of this bill, then he needs to be removed from office.
- Dan R., Plaistow

We could have a state religion (Christianity of course,) ten unpaid-for wars going on in ten countries, police kicking in doors without warrants, and so-called conservatives would not dare suggest anything was wrong with that. They pick and choose their poisons, and generally prefer war to health care if money is to be spent. Go figure!

This brand of small-minded jingoist social control freak is what I call a "pop-conservative." They got their ideas from watching Fox Noise, not from books or university. Unlike real conservatives they love foreign war as long as there are lots of trumpets, and want to tuck you in at night, just to make sure you aren't with someone of the same gender. They have great conservatives like William F Buckley rolling in their graves with their simple-mindedness.

They rally round big ideas like "socialism," "the family," and "low taxes," but they have elementary-school understandings of these things. They couldn't answer three of five college level test questions on socialism, they have severe restrictions in mind on what a family is, and don't understand that corporate rip-offs running essential services for the benefit of a few execs and stockholders is indeed the same as a tax.

Pop-conservativism - it's the new big hard right trend. Can ignorance guide a national party? We shall see.
- Tom Labrie, Rochester

Paul Hodes is a disgrace for allowing his name to be attached to this embarrassing partisan diatribe--this is an insult to every NH voter's intelligence.

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NSR, Epping

I pay for my own health care insurance coverage via my premiums, & the value of my labor--w/ which my employer covers his share of my coverage costs. That will be the case until I retire, at which time I will have qualified for medicare like most seniors and folks that are disabled.

Folks that are poor & qualify for welfare also qualify for medicaid.

In our system, some people are responsible for their own coverage--the idle rich for example. Also young workers that choose to not participate or pay any insurance premiums.

Additionally, unemployed or underemployed people may not be covered--and to get coverage they need to find work; find ways to increase the value of their labor--or an employer that offers a competitive compensation package.

That is how our health care system works. And most every opinion poll shows that the vast majority of Americans are reasonably happy with the present American system.

This nation was founded on sound principles; two of the best were that citizens are best served by limited government and free enterprise. "Compassion" had NOTHING to do with it--so don't try to 'guilt' us into changing! Limited government & free enterprise have given our nation a standard of living that is the envy of the rest of the world--INCLUDING the rest of the developed world. Do you think they have it better somewhere else--some European countries for example? MOVE THERE--and take your "friends" with you!!

Tony, Manchester:

None of us "chicken little's" have any idea if the bill will cause taxes to be raised or increase the deficit? WE DON'T NEED TO! The Congressional Budget Office (!) reported that the bill will cause unsustainable budgetary pressure. Besides--when has the government EVER managed do do ANYTHING with out losing money or under budget? Smell the coffee dude!
- Paul, Sunapee

What a joke!!! I am one of the voters you are protecting. I am over 180000 dollars in debt thanks to not being to afford Insurance. I have told the hospitals, Doctors and the bill collectors that I could not afford medical care. While the shouted through 3 Strokes and 3 Heart attacks. I have applied through every Charitable program, Medicaid and others AND BEEN TURNED DOWN time after time for any assistance. And Medicaid through the State, forget it. All you get is a blanket denial. They hold onto money and benefits like it is theirs. It's time to do over DHHS

I cannot afford the $99 a month medicare wants so I can get coverage for treatment. So how in hell's name do you expect to get me health insurance? Oh I know, The Harry Reid and Pelosi option is to fine me if I don't get it.

Thanks again Mr. Paul " Pork Barrel" Hodes. I wish that backbone you told us you were taking to Washington was ever packed.

And also thank you for the most useless website for a candidate or holder of public office ever had. I can't post or ask a question UNLESS I agree with you.
- Frank U, Manchester

Mr. Hodes

Here is a novel concept take away all the barriers to interstate commerce of health insurance you support. Once that is done get together with some of the other rich liberals and establish a non-profit health insurance organization. If the lack of profit motive is such a good idea no doubt people will flock to your plan like ants to a picnic. See how that free market principle will work. You will have so many people paying premiums you will be able to cover everyone. Those who can't pay you can suppliment with all the money you and the other rich liberals have. Profit drives inovation. Profit drives creativity. I would be terrified to think of the state of modern medicine Sans Profit.
- Brian, Wakefield

This health care bill is a good start but the only viable solution is a single-payer plan like Canada has. Fund it with a GST. Equal health care for all.
- Richard, Manchester

Tony and NSR, were you guys on the 7th hole of the Derryfield golf course last night Because you have clearly been smoking something. Or maybe it is just too much cool aid. Some progressive socialist calling ME un American because I prefer giving a hand up rather than a hand out. You and your ilk are the ones that don't believe in the "pursuit of Happiness" but rather the pursuit of my money. Hey NSR, a nickel here a nickel there and pretty soon we are talking TRILLIONS!
- Allan, Rochester

I love you tea baggers screaming about taxing and spending. It was fine when Part D prescription drug was passed under Bush and not hardly a word of complaint from the anti tax and spend crowd. It was fine to spend trillions on two wars , privatize the business of fighting wars, sugar coated contracts to favored corporations . Hardly heard a peep from the don't tax me crowd. Now there is a legitimate attempt to make a dent into a broken health care system and the anti tax crowd is out in full force. I'm on board pull up the ladder I guess. So what if forty million people don't have insurance. So what if medical costs are the number one cause of personal bankruptcy in this country. So what if the US spends way more than any other county on the planet for health care and our results are fair at best in comparison to other industrialized countries. Let's here some real solutions from the don't tax me crowd. No, banning medical lawsuits will not come close to fixing our problems.
- John, Milford

I gotta laugh, not one of the Chicken Littles posting here have ANY IDEA if the bill will raise costs, yet they yak on nevertheless. See, they are the same voters who put the axle-grease haired Ronnie Raygun in office, AGAINST THEIR OWN BEST ECONOMIC INTERESTS! Ha! So they can't be relied on to think clearly on economic issues. Mores the pity.

Your a good man Paul Hodes, keep up the good work!
- Tony, Manchester

Look at all the comments totally opposed to health care hat can help Americans.

All the greedy people afriad to lose two or three of their precious nickels.

Your taxes are thrown around to support wars, Halliburton, KBR - and never a voice raised in complaint.

But when poor people might actually get a health care that they can turn to....then all the anti-American rants and raves come out of the woodwork.

Face it - you only care about yourselves and your precious nickels and dimes. You don't care about anyone else.

If you're against health care reform, then you don't want to help your fellow American.

That makes you a lousy American, and certainly not a patriot.
- NSR, Epping, NH

80% of Americans polled say they are "satisfied" or "happy" with their healthcare plan - that really does not indicate a broken system.

None of the reviewing agencies, including the CBO, agree that the House plan will "not add one dime to the deficit." In fact, all show at least a short term ballooning of the deficit and most show a long term non sustainability - without massive increases in taxes or cuts in benefits.

Economically, it is illiterate to say that by expanding coverage and improving benefits will reduce costs. That is like saying I will feed more than my family with better food, but my costs will go down. Only in the surreal world of Washington, DC does that make an iota of sense.

Notice, now that everyone is laughing at them, Mr. Hodes and his cronies are no longer using the "eliminate $300 billion in fraud and waste in Medicare" charade. Even politicians see the sheer idiocy of that line of thinking.

If you are debt now, up to your eyeballs, there is no way to pay for this bill without affecting existing programs (Medicare) or increasing taxes. Again, Economics 101.

The public option, unless this is the one time the feds have caught lightning in a bottle, is unlikely to spur competition or reduce costs. Look at Amtrak, the USPS Big Dig, TARP, Stimulus and Medicare to see what happens when the US government endeavors to run something efficiently, cheaply or profitably.

You cannot, by definition, "level the playing field" without someone losing - unless of course Hodes is proposing giving all of us the exact same coverage he enjoys as a Solon.

Regarding the ad hoc attacks against the GOP, with no details, by the way, it is not helpful, silly and Mr. Hodes needs new talking points.

Mr. Hodes might have been proud to vote for this. As a voter, I will be immensely proud to vote against him next November. My goal will be to do all I can as a voter to prevent such tepid thinking from becoming institutionalized.
- Bill, Concord

"exorbitant profits"? Really. The facts are now out. If you make any profit at all and are not in need of a government bailout, the Democrats will apparently assert that you are immoral and must be stopped.

It is becoming more clear every day that the goal of those in Washington is to exert control over every aspect of the economy and our lives.
- Jeff, Nashua

This healthcare bill is the biggest ponzi scheme ever!
- eric boyle, merrimack nh

When Paul Hodes and our other U.S. Representatives and Senators modify the proposed Health Care law to mandate that they also receive the same coverage I will then consider listening to their dribble!
- Bill Whalen, Sanbornton NH

I want to know how a guy like Hodes can get in office in the first place. That is what scares me. These socialists need to be voted out of office from school board and town councils all the way up.
- Dave B, Londonderry

Mr. Hodes:

Why is it that every plan that comes out of Washington that YOU insist is best for the people of NH always involves a reduction of our liberty and general quality of life?

If the health care is as good as you say it is, why do you feel it necessary to support language that fines and jails nh citizens that would have the courage to reject it?

Mr. Hodes, please... I'm begging you; stop trying to help us.
- Len Mannino, Milford, NH

"People Over Profits"?? Are you serious? You are spending money like there is no tomorrow and unfortunately for our children and grandchildren there will not be if you keep spending. I cannot believe the greed and corruption that exists in Washington. Stop the spending so MAYBE our country can survive, the path you are taking it on is pushing us further towards disaster. Seen how the dollar is doing Paul?
- Bob H, Manchester

I don't hate any company I do business with enough to want to take power away from him and transfer it to vandals like Rep. Hodes. He indicates that the theme of his campaign for Senate will be class warfare, in this first nation in the history of the world to have no mechanism to bind a citizen to a particular class. He'll also use unmeasurable terms like "affordability."

The Republican nominee can counteract this drivel if he or she is simply able to TEACH voters how Americans have prospered by doing business with one another without the implied threat of armed force.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Only one thing is certain. The mess that Hodes refers to as reform will make matters worse. Hodes also supported cap and trade and the stimulus bill. If you like those you'll love Pelosi's health care reform.
- jeff, deerfield

Put people over profits? Unless the ones profiting is Hodes or his cronies
- Dave, Plymouth

When will the 600,000 jobs you and Pelosi promised to "create" with the $787 billion "stimulus" you endorsed?

Oh, I know. It just needs more time.

Any comments on the $45 billion in reported Medicare fraud last year, while you are busy demonizing the oil -- I mean insurance -- companies in order to push through this bill, with all of IT'S promises?
- Ditmar, Hollis

AS I recall the bill, Insurance companies that provide the coverage will be taxed (charged, still a tax) so called Cadillac Coverage will be taxed (charged) and there was a 3rd one I can't remember. On top of that they (Congress) was going to cut $98 billion out of medicare. How does any of that make any sense? Health Insurance has problems but they aren't big enough to scrap the whole system. I don't care what Hodes op ed says, he is not telling the truth about what will really happen. We scrap a centruies old way of doing business to protect 15% of the population 1/2 of which choose to not have coverage. How about starting w/Tort reform? By the way what Law Firm did Hodes work for? Wasn't Shaheen one of those partners in that firm? That name rings a bell.
- Michael King, Epping

Paul Hodes "misleads" us when he claims this horrible bill helps middle-class families. What it does is transfer wealth and power from us to a progressive liberal ruling class. The endgame is a single payer system. The endgame is to weaken the average voter to a point they become entirely dependent on government handouts. I'm looking forward to voting against you come November Mr. Hodes.
- Mike, Dunbarton

Where to begin. The plan that Rep. Hodes voted for will not lower costs, it will increase them directly and by increasing our tax burden. Increased access maybe for a few at the cost of decreased access for the many. The plan did nothing for tort reform but since so many legislators are lawyers and receive significant funding from tort lawyers to keep the spigot flowing no one seriously should expect that ( I guess when lawyers make a 30% profit from often frivolous litigation thats okay, insurance companies at 3% is robbery?). There were many alternatives to the Obama-Pelosi care plan, and Mr Hodes couldn't be bothered to understand the reality behind them since he does not grasp the truth behind this turkey he did vote to inflict on the rest of us.
THere were so many steps that could actually have made positive changes that to be proud of the legislation actually passed is telling. Mr Hodes is more interested in being a good little liberal democrat than representing NH. Profit? there is nothing wrong with profit, especially when its a measly 3% average. Since the government doesn't need to make a profit it seldom demonstrates those traits that enable a corportaion to run effienctly, delievering high quality and timely service. Those are not products we can expect to recive from Government care. In short, anyone actually paying attention knows this bill is long on "promises" and short on everything else except the price tag. Shame on you Mr Hodes for voting for this bill, shame still for continuing to mislead NH about it after the fact.
- Jeff, Goffstown

Pelosi oops I mean Hodes, this while addressing health care is right the way you and your comrades are approaching it is wrong. To the contrary you can't prove with facts one thing you mentioned. Factually:
* this bill will reduce services
* this bill will establish gov't health panels. they have already stated no mammograms until 50 not pap smears until 21.
* this bill will hurt small business.
* this bill will drive medical professions out and business out of the US.

So Hodes ole boy be a man and meet your constituents face to face and present this trash. It is plain and simple that tort reform, plans across state lines and precondition coverage are what is needed . Lets do that first.
- Ed, Brookline

Hodes: Stop taxing my hard earned money and stop spending my kid's future on programs for people who don't work. Stop taxing and spending. Stop spending. What part of this don't you understand?
- Jim, Stratham

How about putting people in front instead of special interests group Hodes? How about having an open town hall, instead of a screened telephone conference or a closed invite only debate? How about representing our tax dollars being mis-spent by the billions. I love your politcal strategy "I'm going to get elected by the people to the Senate by ignoring them..." And please get rid of that stupid Teamster Tractor trailer that shows up for you at every parade. We know the unions own you, please stop flaunting it in our faces we know they bought you.
- Andy, Milford

what paul hodes will not tell you is, what is the profit margin the insurance companies make ! 2% maybe 4%. he also avoids the penilties EVERYONE has to pay with government run healthcare! premiums collected by the IRS, nobody can opt-out with out paying $ penilties deducted from your pay AUTOMATICLY!
how much is paul hodes payed, and what other perks is he getting? lets look at what jokers in washington are making and why they will not go on this great health care plan they want us on!!! ?
- Paul Gagnon, manchester n.h.

The plan you support will bankrupt this country and its citizens. It will selfishly tax hard working families and individuals, and provide sub-optimal / poor health care akin to the Canadian, British, and other systems. You should be ashamed - period.
- Dave, Northwood

Rep. Hodes is mistaken if he thinks that the proposed House reform bill won't affect those of us, especially retirees like myself, who have private insurance now through their employer. My former employer, a large utility company, terminates coverage for retirees the first day of the month you are eligible for Medicare (a public option). This year the company hired a consultant to try to put all retirees and spouses under 65 onto SSDI that could be claimed eligible. They sent us forms to fill out. Anything to get medical coverage off their bottom line. So Rep. Hodes, it is certain in my mind that this large employer will drop retiree medical like a hot potato as soon as this new "public option" you want to create comes into being. With all those people then on the new public option, along with all the uninsured, how will costs be held down? I'll tell you how, by subsidies just like for the Post Office and Amtrak. And how is that paid? By our Federal income tax. So we will in all probability have to change insurances, may not get the same coverage we have now and will pay more in taxes, despite your claims.
In essence Sir, what we have here is the same thing as globalization. We cannot raise the standard of living in third world countries in the global market without downward pressure on the American standard of living. It is merely a balance and we have seen this in the last few years as good manufacturing jobs have fled to cheap labor. The same holds true of medical insurance. Yes we can insure the uninsured but it will affect those presently covered as the "balance point" seeks a new level. So those who have good plans now, having worked 30 or 40 years to achieve them, will have to settle for less to achieve the equilibrium. So why not be honest, Mr. Hodes, and tell us the unvarnished truth.
- John Linville, Wolfeboro

Hodes has written the the Marxist [Democrat] party line.

The system is not "broken" but the way Hodes sees it, it is broken because the Marxists have not taken enough of our money or freedoms.

Why should government be in the business of running private business, in this case insurance companies? There is nothing in the Constitution which gives Congress or Obama the authority to destroy free enterprise.

Save our country, elect a Conservative,
- Ken Klinedinst, Warner

Not one word regarding using taxpayer funds to help pay for abortions - that Hodes supported; Not one word about how this new system will be paid for; Not one word about the tab - 2.1 TRILLION Dollars to pay for this legislation; Not one word how this plan will be implemented. Not one word of a genuine thought from Hodes on this issue, just the comrade's party line... Anyone else wonder why Hodes conveniently avoids these questions?
- Jeff, Salem

People over profits unless the profits go to people like John Edwards and all the other lawyers that cost honest people untold billions of dollars every year with their garbage lawsuits. You know that Hodes has little or no respect for the people of NH. Why would he respect people that would vote for him? But, this is bad even for him.
- Leo, Canterbury

How about telling the TRUTH, about how much its REALLY going to cost, About how we ALL will eventually be forced into SOCIALIZED health care. WHERE"S YOUR BACKBONE NOW!! ALlLyou did was tow the party line to further YOUR CAREER!!!!
- Mike Hodgens, Keene

Poor Paul is being picked upon by all those evil outside interest!

The other day I saw an ad supporting his healthcare position run by all those good ole Granite Staters at the SEIU! Not that Mr. Hodes would ever rely of huge out of state funding – nope, not our moderate Mr. Hodes!

The simple fact is that the vast majority of Americans have seen through his perfidious pabulum of prevarication. The latest Rasmussen poll shows nearly 2 to 1 are against this legislative travesty.

The simple fact, proven in poll after poll, is that most Americans want some change, but not the Obama-Pelosi-Reid-Hodes-Shaheen atrocity. Mr. Hodes is fond of quoting the former, but not the latter.

However, his richest comment is, "This plan won't add one dime to the federal deficit, and it will not raise taxes on middle class families."

If anyone seriously believes the cooked CBO numbers (MD fee increases taken out; only 7 years accounted for) they deserve what Mr. Hodes want to give them!

As if we voters should not have learned from his recent "yea" votes on Cap and Trade, Stimulus and the hyper-inflated budget... Waaay past time for Mr. Hodes to go!
- Steven, Swanzey

Far from perfect yet far better than what we now have...keep fighting and ignore the naysayers. With time, additional reforms will be possible. Can anyone say eliminate for-profit health insurance companies? I wish our Congress and President could...
- Stephen, Sullivan

Well said Paul Hodes! Bra-vo! No sign of weakness, no backing down, not an inch! I hope you wrote this yourself, it's exactly what I want to hear out of a Democrat Congressman.

The salient point is: "The reform plan is a uniquely American approach..,"

That says it all. Believe it or not, we Americans are actually competent enough to write a health care bill that improves on the current status quo business-welfare scheme.

Thanks Paul, great essay!

I
- Ruth, Bedford

Say, Mr. Hodes, how can you complain about profits and millions to insurance company CEOs, when just a few months ago you in the House of Reprehensibles failed to read or write fine print and thereby let the Fat Cats at AIG sweep in $165 Million after the BailOut? You're not minding the store you have, and now you want even more control?

You cannot properly control Social Security. You cannot properly control the Federal Prisons. You cannot properly control Medicare. You cannot properly control Medicaid. You cannot properly control Veteran's benefits. You cannot properly control Amtrak. You cannot properly control the Post Office. You cannot properly control our Borders. You twits could not even run the recent H1N1 Vaccine Program smoothly.

Worse, you and your Congressional Democrat Socialists refuse to sign up for the same health care folly you are trying to foist on us -- you have exception loopholes in the bill for yourselves!

Despite all your historic, well documented failures, and the failures of such socialism worldwide, how dare you say "the current health care system is broken?" What you call "broken" we call "imperfect." Therefore, you should just focus on those falling through the cracks in the current system, and nurturing competition in order to drive health care costs down. When you can efficiently do these, we'll talk about whether to entrust you with the whole system.
- Ed Holdgate, Live Free or Die Sandown, NH

Was this "Editorial" written by an adult? If indeed Mr. Hodes did write this and it isn't some SNL parody it is the biggest bunch of partisan hooie I have read since the last global warming address. Mr. Hodes, a little something for you to think about , the majority of voters (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2009/59_still_believe_government_is_the_problem)still agree with what Ronald Reagan told us in his first inaugural address, “In the present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” and your liberal votes represent the present government. We are getting angry Mr. Hodes with what you are trying to do to our country, real angry!
- ALT, Rochester

St. Paul, how come most informed Americans believe this plan is wrong for our country? You make it sound so good.
- Mike, Auburn

The bill that you support will:

1) Increase the budget deficit to unimaginable levels.
2) Reduce the number of Doctors.
3) Increase health Care costs for everyone.
4) Make a complete mess of of entire medical system.
5) Cause significant job losses.
6 Establish death like panels.
& Significantly reduce existing benefits to the elderly.

You supported this bill before you even read it or knew what it contained. Why, because you support Nancy Pelosi. Why don't you just come out and say you are a Socialist.

Did you ever consider supporting what your constituents wanted. Would that be a novel approach for you.

Instead of having open Town Hall meetings you were frightened by your constituents whom you called members of the Flat Earth Society.

In watching you in action I get the distinct feeling that you believe that you are smarter than we all are in your District. Quite frankly you are not and I recommend you apologize to all of us.

I do not need the National Chamber of Commerce nor big Insurance Companies to tell me anything about the bill you support. It's a turkey.

I have suggested this before to you. I believe you should seek employment in another position that you are better qualified to fill (not Senator).

I will happily vote next November for just about anybody but you.
- Bob, Salem