Sanders: Insurance, Drug Companies Will Make Out Like Bandits, "Laughing All The Way To The Bank"

Run time: 08:48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMVTPY4Kek0   Posted on YouTube: December 22, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: December 23, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 1888

 
I've tried looking for the transcript but could only find a couple of articles with quotes...

Bernie keeps it real: the insurance cos are laughing all the way to the bank

On Morning Joe just before the close, Sen. Bernie Sanders made it plain: “the insurance companies and the drug companies are going to make out like bandits,” under the Senate’s version of healthcare “reform,” and he added, “they’re laughing all the way to the bank.” Asked how the American people are supposed to take that, Sanders continued to keep it real: “let me break it to you,” he said. “Big money interests control the United States Congress.” Still, Sanders said passing the bill is better than nothing, since at least under the health reform bill fewer people will die for lack of insurance. And he said it was even worse under Republicans.

From: http://blog.reidreport.com/2009/12/bernie-keeps-it-real-the-insurance-cos-are-laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank/#more-8909

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Sanders: 'Big money interests control' Congress

By Michael O'Brien

Moneyed interests "control" the Congress, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) lamented Tuesday.

Sanders, the liberal independent senator, said that health insurance companies and drug manufacturers are getting too much out of the Senate healthcare bill, but said he'd still vote for it in order to extend coverage.

"The insurance companies are going to make out like bandits. The drug companies are going to make out like bandits," Sanders said during an appearance on MSNBC. "No question about that. This is not a strong bill."

A number of liberal senators have lamented the strength of the bill, complaining about its subsidies to insurers in the absence of a government-run option to stay competitive with private health providers.

Sanders unloaded on Congress, though, for being too beholden to corporate interests. He said:

"The truth is -- let me break the bad news to the American people -- big money interests control the United States Congress. That's the reality. Some of us, for years -- I'm an independent -- have been trying to give the working class, middle class, low-income people some power. But the reality is, campaign contributions -- What do you think? We bailed out Wall Street; we're giving insurance companies, drug companies breaks here. But the choice that I have is whether you kill this bill and you allow 46 million people to continue without health insurance. I think that's the worst option."

More: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/73311-sanders-big-money-interests-control-congress

k&r

Ain't that a kick in the head?

hole with hitler and the rest of the worst people who ever lived. its my only consolation.

Of course primarily in the cas of Sen. Liebermen, than the truly decent Sen Bernie Sanders.

(Talking about the community health center provision NOT the whole Senate bill) Bernie might be pulling a silent coup.

25 million people will have access to these centers and they offer prescription drugs at VA rates to boot.

I am deeply impressed with Sen Sanders.

Hats off to you, Bernie. A great man.

.

there's no guarantee this community health provision won't get yanked out at the last minute. and there's a good chance that it will, considering what happened to the public option and medicare buy-in.

these community health centers are used primarily by low-income minorities and whites, who make up 90% of the patients. if you're in the middle-class income bracket they wont do you much good. if you need to see a specialist, they wont do you any good either because they offer only primary care.

That and Medicaid expansion are big chunks of lefty goodness in a mediocre crony capitalist bill.

They operate in California, anyone can go to them.

In fact, in several cases at times in my life when I was rather affluent, it was the local community clinic doctors who figured out the disease behind my mystery symptoms and cured me.

Right now, I have traded in my "up town" doctor for the doctor at the local community clinic, as the community clinic doctor is better.

Again, any one who wants to be seen in a community clinic can do so. It is simply that many people think that the community clinics have doctors who are of less calibre. And ironically, some very good doctors like the challenge of working with the working class. But they certainly won't shun an upscale patient if that patient turns up at their door!

PS The Community Clinic doctors seem to have a handle on who the best of the specialists are, as well. And are glad to make that referrral if needed.

Democrats sold out to special interests.

This was a huge mistake. If we were going to have to take a lickin over this then at least it should be something worth fighting for.

I find myself in a strange position agreeing with Repubs.

Kill This Bill

is progressive ha

community clinics?

I like Sanders. I disagree with him on this bill. In his case, I truly believe that he's doing what he thinks is best for the people, rather than insurance companies.

This mandate, if it ends up in the final bill, and maybe if it doesn't, is going to be a huge liability in 2010 and 2012.