Pingree says yes to health care,
Michaud undecided
The Associated Press
PORTLAND — Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine says she plans to vote for health care legislation this weekend but fellow Democrat Mike Michaud hasn't made up his mind.
Pingree said today the bill "will improve health care for seniors, strengthen Medicare, crack down on the insurance companies and make coverage more affordable."
Michaud, however, is still reviewing existing language and an aide says he intends to review any last-minute revisions that may come about Saturday morning. Michaud says the historic legislation has big ramifications and he wants to "give it the serious consideration that it deserves."
President Barack Obama has been lobbying lawmakers today in advance of the House vote, which is expected either Sunday or Monday.
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51 COMMENTS
Cadred said...
C'mon Mike, just say yes.
March 19, 2010 at 5:12 PM Report abuse
loonalone said...
Yeah, Mike.
March 19, 2010 at 5:16 PM Report abuse
BonusEleven said...
Pingree is a hizore! LMFAO..."c'mon Mike just say yes" he may as well, he's sunk anyway!!
March 19, 2010 at 5:24 PM Report abuse
Dilli_Gaf said...
Say yes, loose your jobs!!!
March 19, 2010 at 5:44 PM Report abuse
MoonbatNot said...
Being an independent and having called Michaud, to ask him to vote no on this bill that will bankrupt America, I hope he uses common sense and business 101. You can't continue to spend more than you take in and produce without destroying the country. Pingree's vote is easy in the land of the moonbat, but up here, we still have common sense.
March 19, 2010 at 6:01 PM Report abuse
anymitzy said...
Biggest expansion of the IRS since WWII, and even the pol-idiots voting for this bill know it won't cover 100%. So, will IRS care whether they harass someone not covered just by the nature of the law? He1! no!! Wanna bet some of "us" end up in Gitmo when we tell IRS in their monthly call that we're not covered?
March 19, 2010 at 6:10 PM Report abuse
TrueConserv said...
Pingree said today the bill "will improve health care for seniors, strengthen Medicare. Yes, and in order to do that all they have to do is take $500 billion out of the medicare system. Typical Maine Dem thinking. Hey ditzy broad, if you think this is so wonderful, how about YOU pay all the extra taxes for my care and take the same obamacare for yourself. Oh, I forgot, YOU'RE SPECIAL, and I'm just a dumb constituant.
March 19, 2010 at 6:13 PM Report abuse
BonusEleven said...
She won't be "special" forever!...ooops, I think she forgot that.
March 19, 2010 at 6:21 PM Report abuse
Jughead said...
Please vote no, Mr. Michaud.
March 19, 2010 at 6:30 PM Report abuse
Chumby said...
I'm wondering if Pingree had been checking out one of those new dispensaries? I thought Obama and Pelosi both agreed it would hurt Medicare. That's at least what Lynch said on Howie Carr this afternoon.
March 19, 2010 at 6:30 PM Report abuse
Govt2Big said...
Does anyone know if Donald Sussman told Chellie to vote that way?
March 19, 2010 at 6:40 PM Report abuse
Sam said...
One of the biggest sources of Medicare savings is closing that shining example of corporate welfare that was given to the pharmaceutical companies with Medicare part D. Bush's bill strictly forbid the government to use their high volume buying power to negotiate lower drug prices! Now the wingers want us to believe that taking this corporate welfare away from drug companies who have been price gouging us taxpayers is hurting seniors? Come on, if you're going to lie could you at least think up one that isn't QUITE so lame and obvious?
March 19, 2010 at 7:00 PM Report abuse
Myview said...
Pingree must be tired of the Washington scene. Come November she can come back to Maine permanently.Michaud wants to stay in Washington,however I wish he would vote yes too. We need a change in puppets.
March 19, 2010 at 7:26 PM Report abuse
anticon said...
Moonbatnot, did you actually just attempt with a straight face to say this bill was bad because it'd mean spending more than we take in? I mean, the bill's a weak compromise at best, i'm no fan...but at least come up with a more valid reason to hate it. The feds have been outspending what they take in for decades. Perhaps if this is so onerous, we shouldn't be spending more than we take in on "defending our freedom" from tribal infighting in afghanistan? I don't really care if it passes or not....but to be against it for strictly financial reasons rests on some pretty thick hypocrisy.
March 19, 2010 at 7:40 PM Report abuse
Dee said...
I very much encourage Rep. Michaud to support the health care/insurance reform bill. I will be very disappointed in him if he does not do so.
March 19, 2010 at 7:40 PM Report abuse
Chris said...
The 3.8% tax on investment income, part of the nearly $600 billion in new taxes in the Democrats bill, could cause some Maine residents with very high incomes to consider becoming legal residents of a tax haven like Bermuda or the US Virgin Islands.
March 19, 2010 at 7:44 PM Report abuse
tim said...
A letter Thursday to President Barack Obama and members of Congress signed by more than 130 economists predicted the legislation would discourage companies from hiring more workers and would cause reduced hours and wages for those already employed.
March 19, 2010 at 7:52 PM Report abuse
DasBoot said...
I can't wait for all you people that support this to start crying when you get your bill and you will be getting one
March 19, 2010 at 8:11 PM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
All I can say is ...PINGREE $UCKS!
March 19, 2010 at 8:17 PM Report abuse
williealso said...
Mike vote no, e need you in Wshington to help with veteran benifits as far as Pingree goes, she been a loser since she moved to maine and how old do you have to be to lose the title of single parent? I am sick and tired of her saying I am a single parent, if she look in the mirrow she can see why she still a single parent, plus she has no class either
March 19, 2010 at 8:45 PM Report abuse
tenacity said...
Pingree the biggest ptut in Washington she's the local bicycle there....get her out of congress simply on character, she been snagging from any open pocket she can find....look what she raised a chip off the fractured rock -- paid to promote homosexuality...impeach and get this trailer trash out of Washington
March 19, 2010 at 8:48 PM Report abuse
EllenW said...
Lies, spin, name calling ... it appears that is all the Republicans have at this point. How about that?
March 19, 2010 at 9:18 PM Report abuse
EllenW said...
Lies, spin, name calling ... it appears that is all the Republicans have at this point. How about that?
March 19, 2010 at 9:18 PM Report abuse
Rex said...
Dumb sh#t She should of held out. Could of had Dennis on her lap in the jump seat on Air Force One.
March 19, 2010 at 9:27 PM Report abuse
jjp904 said...
Pingree is a one term Representative, just like Obama. Shejust doesn't get it and follows and does whatever she is told to do. No surprise to me and many other Mainers.
March 19, 2010 at 9:31 PM Report abuse
longpondloon said...
Pingready will stay in DC..Obama, Palosi & Reid are canceling the fall elections..
March 19, 2010 at 9:34 PM Report abuse
DTOM said...
Hey Chellie, Hey Mike - CBO: MEDICARE FIX MAKES IT RED WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional budget scorekeepers say a Medicare fix that Democrats included in earlier versions of their health care bill would push it into the red. The Congressional Budget Office said Friday that rolling back a programmed cut in Medicare fees to doctors would cost $208 billion over 10 years. If added back to the health care overhaul bill, it would wipe out all the deficit reduction, leaving the legislation $59 billion in the red. The so-called doc fix was part of the original House bill. Because of its high cost, Democrats decided to pursue it separately. Republicans say the cost should not be ignored. Congress has usually waived the cuts to doctors year by year. Friday March 19, 2010 - AP story http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Medicare-fix-would-push-apf-2700343586.html?x=0&.v=2
March 19, 2010 at 9:41 PM Report abuse
DonC said...
freekin baby killer
March 19, 2010 at 9:44 PM Report abuse
EllenW said...
DTOM - You're upset that insuring 31 million Americans who would otherwise remain uninsured might cost a tiny, tiny fraction of what 6 months of the Iraq war cost? How very Christian of you. To put this into perspective the estimate (given by Republicans NOT by the non partisan CBO) is that it MIGHT increase the budget by 0.17%! (Remember to make this alleged "over budget" number look bigger they are quoting the amount over a full ten year period). OK. I will gladly pay 0.17% more taxes to see that 31 MILLION more Americans are insured.
March 19, 2010 at 9:54 PM Report abuse
Philip said...
Rep. Chellie Pingree only cared about Rep. Chellie Pingree. I wonder what's in it for her. As someone once told me deals are made in elevators, bathrooms and bedrooms.
March 19, 2010 at 9:56 PM Report abuse
Dilli_Gaf said...
Maine Refounders..... KILL THE BILL RALLY March 20, 2010 from 2pm to 4pm – Capitol Building Augusta Bring your signs and flags and prepare to make some noise about the health-care bill. This is our last chance to stop it. Organized by Amy Hale | Type: rally
March 19, 2010 at 9:57 PM Report abuse
reddevil974 said...
i think she want to retire early i mean how could she say yes to this bill and not even sign the brief for the McDonald vs Chicago gun case she is a idi0t
March 19, 2010 at 10:14 PM Report abuse
David said...
Pingree has proven herself to be a mindless drone. Mike, glad you are showing courage in the face of a completely idiotic piece of legislation!
March 19, 2010 at 10:34 PM Report abuse
EllenW said...
So reddevil974, are you are against states rights in general, or just in certain areas?
March 19, 2010 at 10:36 PM Report abuse
mrrogers said...
..............as a few Congressional leaders attend constituents' funerals: "He was such a hero, unselfish, voting me in and I was so proud of him supporting my no vote for healthcare!" Newsman interviews him and asks, "How did your constituent die?" Mr Senators' Son, says, "Ya all gotta know., well he didn't have healthcare and when he ended up in the ER it was too late. But what a hero this man was of limited means but a huge heart to vote for me, for the American Way, for the free market, to make sure businesses can make profits without offering healthcare for its workers which in turn makes them wealthy men, for insurance companies rights to gouge the US consumer, for healthcare for my 1st, second wives and their families, you know we all trade in the wife after we've been in DC for a while ! I truly feel blessed to call this man my friend!"
March 19, 2010 at 10:58 PM Report abuse
wingnut said...
Here is how it is going to work....vote yes and you will soon be unemployed. Vote no and and we might let you stay..maybe!
March 19, 2010 at 11:02 PM Report abuse
DTOM said...
Ellen - pick on someone else today. Not playing your games of 'distraction'.
March 20, 2010 at 8:03 AM Report abuse
DTOM said...
Before the Democrats who control Congress push through a trillion-dollar expansion of government-run health care, they might want to know the facts about how efficiently the government has handled health care in the past, and how much bigger the government will grow once the bill becomes law. When all is said and done, President Obama's plan mandates dozens of new entitlement programs and creates scores of new government offices, bureaus, commissions, and programs, all of which will have to be funded, staffed and managed at taxpayer cost. Moreover, an expansion of the federal bureaucracy at that rate will greatly increase the incidence of waste, fraud and abuse in health care. Already Medicare, which accounts for 14% of all federal spending, is rife with waste, fraud and abuse. Even Attorney General Eric Holder has said, "By all accounts, every year we lose tens of billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funds to fraud." Op-ed, Rep. Issa March 18, 2010
March 20, 2010 at 8:04 AM Report abuse
reddevil974 said...
no ellen but the right granted unto us by the creator god who ever or what ever you want to call him/her is extended to all the 50 states the health care bill does not extend rights to people it will take them away so explain how i am against states rights have you read the state constitution to be quite honest with you the acadia bill is unconstitutional i think all politics should be local and the fed govt should get weaker
March 20, 2010 at 8:06 AM Report abuse
DTOM said...
Dems Misrepresent CBO Savings Numbers; CBS Ignores The $1.2 trillion savings figure is nowhere to be found in the CBO report. "Democrats used the word 'giddy' to describe their reaction when they got the cost estimates from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO)," NBC's Kelly O'Donnell relayed Thursday night, but she could have been talking about CBS's Katie Couric and Nancy Cordes who shared the giddiness in touting the CBO numbers, favorable to Democratic spin on the health bill, without any caveats or reservations -- yet with a dose of exaggeration. Unmentioned by CBS, how the CBO can only go by what congressional leaders say they will do. In this case, that includes cutting $500 billion from Medicare over the next ten years, cuts few think will ever really occur, to say nothing of how every entitlement program takes on a life of its own which leads to soaring costs well beyond the initial estimates.
March 20, 2010 at 8:08 AM Report abuse
DTOM said...
FNC's Carl Cameron, on Special Report with Bret Baier, noted the caveats CBS skipped, including how the Democrats arranged it so the first ten years of the plan only have to provide benefits for the last six years: The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says it prepared only a preliminary estimate that is likely to change. It reported that the reconciliation package of fixes adds $170 billion to the Senate bill for a new, ten-year total, of $940 billion for only six years of actual benefits. The CBO says, only tentatively, that the federal budget deficit would come down $138 billion, but that at least $53 billion of that belongs to the Social Security trust fund. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703580904575132010839581020.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
March 20, 2010 at 8:09 AM Report abuse
DTOM said...
On top of all this, the idea that anyone has ever come close to estimating the cost of any health care entitlement over the years is absurd, as this Washington Times article noted: In 1965, the House Ways and Means Committee estimated that the hospital insurance program of Medicare - the federal health care program for the elderly and disabled - would cost $9 billion by 1990. The actual cost that year was $67 billion. In 1967, the House Ways and Means Committee said the entire Medicare program would cost $12 billion in 1990. The actual cost in 1990 was $98 billion. In 1987, Congress projected that Medicaid - the joint federal-state health care program for the poor - would make special relief payments to hospitals of less than $1 billion in 1992. Actual cost: $17 billion. Con't...
March 20, 2010 at 8:12 AM Report abuse
DTOM said...
And history has shown that the farther out the CBO tries to project, the more spectacularly inaccurate they become. It appears that the Democrats are going to take these fake CBO numbers and try to convince reluctant congressmen that they can run on them in November. Good luck with that. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/18/health-programs-have-history-of-cost-overruns//print/
March 20, 2010 at 8:13 AM Report abuse
Ripple said...
what's next is Obama's plan to grant amnesty to all immigrants and illegals, opening the door for a flood of their relatives to move here and jump on our "free" Welfare system. Obama's has been quoted as expressing that Americans are living too good and now he plans to bring us down to a 3rd world level.
March 20, 2010 at 8:20 AM Report abuse
DTOM said...
Andy Stern, Pres. of SEIU - We now have a new metric, you know, the president says he wants to judge the new economy whether it increases the number of people in the middle class, whether we have shared prosperity not just whether we have growth which is a fundamental different philosophy than we have seen in our country up to date and clearly government has has a major opportunity to distribute wealth through the EITC [Earned Income Tax Credit], through tax policies, through minimum wages, through living wages. The government has a role in redistributing wealth or social benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, children’s health insurance. In other words and despite his many denials Stern wants essentially wants to transform America into a socialist state. The America Stern wants to live in isn’t necessarily wealthy — as long as we are all equally poor then that’s OK by him. http://www.newsrealblog.com/ March 5, 2010
March 20, 2010 at 2:09 PM Report abuse
DTOM said...
In February 2010, President Obama appointed Stern to sit on a National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1830 In 2008 Stern supported Barack Obama's presidential candidacy. His SEIU spent approximately $60.7 million to help elect Obama to the White House, deploying some 100,000 pro-Obama volunteers during the campaign (including 3,000 who worked on the election full time). Stern went on to become an immensely influential advisor to President Obama. As of October 30, 2009, Stern had visited the White House 22 timessince Obama's inauguration -- more than any other individual.
March 20, 2010 at 2:11 PM Report abuse
hallowellboy said...
If Michaud says "NO", the Maine electorate should say "NO" to him next time.
March 20, 2010 at 2:43 PM Report abuse
Retiree said...
Mike says no he is the smart one. Ms. Pingree has no clue, never has never will. We can vote her out as well anyone and I will if she votes yes.
March 20, 2010 at 4:09 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
Retire, No, YOU have no clue.
March 20, 2010 at 5:05 PM Report abuse
Mainedog said...
If Mike wants to be re-elected he'll vote NO, district 2 is a big union district with a lot of republicans and independents. Mike needs to vote NO to keep his job or he'll end up just like the guys he use to work with! The State of Maine has been under 40 years of Democrat rule in both the house & senate which is why healthcare in the State of Maine is unaffordable and there's no competition! When will you liberal weenies wake up and realize the feds can’t fix what the state screws up! The State of Maine needs a complete turnover in the house & senate so we can become friendly to businesses and bring some good paying jobs to the state. Once people are working the tax base with go up and create more revenue. Than the newly voted Maine State senators and house members can correct the bad legislation that the State of Maine has passed that prevents the competition by insurance companies. Until that happens the feds can pass any bill they want and it still won’t improve Maine’s situation.
March 20, 2010 at 5:53 PM Report abuse
Merrigan said...
Pingree needs to go and so will anyone else who votes for this bill. If they strongarm this thru, it will be repealed ASAP and the Ds locally and nationally will not recover for many many years. Vote NO Mike!
March 20, 2010 at 6:49 PM Report abuse