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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 09 2010 19:16 | LAST UPDATED Feb 09 2010 19:16 |
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The US House of Representatives approved a sweeping healthcare reform Bill on Saturday, backing the biggest health policy changes in four decades and handing President Barack Obama a crucial victory. On a narrow 220-215 vote, the House endorsed a Bill that would expand coverage to nearly all Americans and bar insurance practices such as refusing to cover people with pre-existing medical conditions. One Republican supported the measure, but most criticised its $1-trillion price tag, new taxes on the wealthy and what they said was excessive government interference in the private health sector. The battle over Obama's top domestic priority now moves to the US Senate, where work on its own version has stalled for weeks as Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid searches for an approach that can win the 60 votes he needs. Any differences between the Senate and House Bills ultimately will have to be reconciled, and a final Bill passed again by both before going to Obama for his signature. The overhaul would spark the biggest changes in the $2,5-trillion US healthcare system, which accounts for one sixth of the US economy, since the creation of the Medicare government health programme for the elderly in 1965. The vote followed days of heavy lobbying of undecided Democrats by Obama, his top aides and House leaders, and a deal designed to mollify about 40 moderate Democrats who are foes of abortion rights. Democrats could afford to lose 40 of their 258 House members and still pass the Bill. In the end, 39 Democrats sided with Republicans against the bill. The landmark vote was a huge step for Obama, who has staked much of his political capital on the healthcare battle. A loss in the House would have ended the fight, impaired the rest of his legislative agenda and left Democrats vulnerable to big losses in next year's congressional elections. - Reuters  CONTINUES BELOW TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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Billy Hill on November 9, 2009, 7:46 am
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This is done to the extent that corporations are permitted to draft the legislation which is put to a vote.
The US system of government also allows the appointment of individuals to positions within the White House, Congress, the House so that they can directly influence policy and legislation.
There are many instances of federal and state Judges having been placed in office by corrporates and special interests too. The most recent case was a few weeks ago, involving the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Association who funded 2 of the 4 Wisconsin Supreme Court judges and have fought hard to maintain the right to make unlimited campaign funds available for the election of judges.
Just how much of the "campaign funding" makes it's way into politicians and judges pockets via various established and almost impossible to detect mechanisms is something never discussed in the US. Last week for example, JP Morgan bank was found guilty of paying "close friends" of government officials for the awarding of municipal bond tenders and was fined US $ 700 million (R 5.25 billion).
The entire system of government of the US of A is corrupt and it takes a large stretch of the imagination or blissful ignorance to think of it as being democratic.
How do you think members of the US Congress amass fortunes like these? Most are "career politicians". 237 members of Congress are millionaires.
Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million. Next in line: Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), worth about $244.7 million; Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), worth about $214.5 million; Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), worth about $209.7 million; and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), worth about $208.8 million. 7 lawmakers have net worths greater than $100 million.
These 2008 figures were released on Saturday.