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1pm TODAY - Frank Pallone Twitter Town Hall On Health Care Reform

by: Congressman Frank Pallone

Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 12:37:22 PM EST



Rep. Frank Pallone's Twitter Town Hall on health care starts at 1pm today, Monday, Dec. 21, and with the Senate's first vote on reform coming late this weekend, his timing couldn't be better.

How to participate: Sign onto Twitter and direct a question to @FrankPallone with the hash tag "#ttpallone" at the end.  The congressman will answer as many questions as possible and respond directly to your Twitter account. Keep your questions to 140 characters. - promoted by Rosi

As the Senate continues its debate on the long road towards reforming America's health care system the end is in sight.  Over the past year, there has been discussion, thought, compromise and ideas to get the best solutions to lower costs, reduce premiums, and make sure everyone has access to insurance. This debate has focused on the needs of everyday Americans - those struggling beneath a mountain of debt from medical bills - forced into impossible decisions between filling a prescription bottle or stocking their refrigerator.

I'm trying something new. On Monday, December 21st at 1:00 pm I will hold my first Twitter Town Hall.  As the Chairman of the House subcommittee and one of the chief authors of the House reform bill, I want you all to stay engaged in this issue. I want your input; your thoughts and ideas; your hopes and goals; even your criticisms. I hope you will join me.

I am optimistic that the Senate will vote out a bill shortly. After that, we will head into a  Conference Committee to merge and reconcile the two bills before it goes to the President.

The process for the Twitter Town Hall is simple.  At 1:00 pm, sign onto Twitter and direct a question to @FrankPallone with the hash tag "#ttpallone" at the end.  I will work to answer as many questions as possible and respond replying directly to your Twitter account (in 140 characters or less). Please visit Pallone for New Jersey and RSVP.  

Without the activists and bloggers in the netroots community staying involved with this issue I doubt we would have made as much progress in this time frame.  We all worked hard to get a reform plan in line with our basic principles of lowering costs and covering every American.  Please join me on December 21st at 1:00 pm so I can answer your questions and provide an updated perspective on the reform process.  

I look forward to answering your questions and opening up a lively discussion on what we need to move forward and get a comprehensive bill to President Obama's desk and be signed into law.  

To sum things up, on Monday, December 21st at 1:00 pm, sign on to Twitter and ask me a question about the health care reform legislation by using the following formula in your tweet:

           @FrankPallone - "question" "#ttpallone"

****************************************

my update, but only because it is from the Congressman to us.  A Tweet thanking us for liveblogging: Thanks to the folks at @BlueJersey for live blogging the town hall: http://tinyurl.com/ygmswa5 #ttpallone ---thanks to you for taking the time, Congressman --- Adam/clammyc

Congressman Frank Pallone :: 1pm TODAY - Frank Pallone Twitter Town Hall On Health Care Reform
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first question (0.00 / 0)
no surprise is about the public option, which he replied as follows:

I intend to push for the public option and insist on the House version as we go to conference.

I'd like to know a bit more about the process of conference, since the Senate (maybe Conrad) said the Senate version is pretty much the final bill.


Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


from tabbycat (0.00 / 0)
asks: Question- Can u clarify about mandates? How can there be mandates w/o a public option to keep ins companies honest

And his response: The exchange operated w/ private plans administered by fed gov't wld act like a lrge group plan & keep premiums low

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


from Piscataway 1974 (0.00 / 0)
Will there be a time for health care reform versus health insurance reform?

Reply: By reforming health insurance we'll also improve access to health care & encourage prevention & wellness.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


another from tabbycat (0.00 / 0)
what about the mandates? Are there penalties/fines like in the MA health plan that does not work

the reply:A penalty would be paid through your income tax if you don't have insurance. Mandating coverage lowers premiums.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


one from me re: mandates (0.00 / 0)
what if people can't afford the mandated coverage but are still under the mandate rules?

I'd like to know how someone can be penalized arbitrarily because of a mandate for coverage that they can't afford but the Gov't says they are required to have.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


another from me (0.00 / 0)
also on mandates, even if premiums are lowered, would the quality of coverage be expanded or remain similar to now?

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

[ Parent ]
reply to my first question (0.00 / 0)
People should be able to afford coverage b/c of the expansion of Medicaid & the subsidies through the health exchange.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

[ Parent ]
from Russ Dahl (0.00 / 0)
How are the ins. companies going to be regulated so they're not raising rates unfairly?

The reply:The health exchange will increase competition that didn't exist before and that will keep rates down.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


re: Medicare expansion (0.00 / 0)
@Lizannewrites - Its a good idea, but the Senate has now dropped it so I don't see it happening as part of this reform package.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

re: Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates (0.00 / 0)
Q:What is your view on low Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement in NJ & what's being done to ensure seniors are protected?

Reply:In general the bill significantly improves reimbursement rates for both Medicare & Medicaid.

so that is good news.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


the $64,000 question from me (0.00 / 0)
would you vote for a final bill that contains much of the Senate provisions, Stupak amendment and no public option?

Not to pin him down, but the Senate bill has a lot of very very very bad things in it and is vastly different from the House bill.


Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


.....and the answer (0.00 / 0)
I am determined to fight for the House version in Congress & expect compromises to be made between the House & Senate.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

[ Parent ]
from Jay Lassiter (0.00 / 0)
Do you know there are gays and lesbians who are uninsured because we can not get married?

And the reply:he House Bill changes the tax code and helps provide equal access to health care for civil union partners.

....and yes, the Congressman supports ME.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


good deal (4.00 / 1)
this is a very satisfying answer.  To be honest, I had NO idea this was the case.

activist for hire.

[ Parent ]
yeah, at first.... (0.00 / 0)
I just saw his tweets and thought you and he knew each other, but then I looked at the exchange and was happy to see his replies.


Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

[ Parent ]
another on conf. bill from Lizannewrites (0.00 / 0)
Q:What happens 2 health bill after Senate votes on it? If it goes to conference committee could there be changes need to vote on

Reply:The House & Senate will negotiate a conference report bill which both houses would vote on.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


a good exchange here (0.00 / 0)
Do you believe the final HC reform bill will do enough to address underlying causes of rise in healthcare costs?

Reply:@abianchini23 -I will work to strip the tax on insurance plans from the Sen bill during conference bc of these types of concerns. #ttpallone

The tax on insurance plans which would cover the costs of the bill is insane, is what McCain campaigned on and what Obama specifically said he would not do.  And it raises taxes on the middle class.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


on the CLASS Act (0.00 / 0)
The CLASS Act will help elderly & disabled get community based longterm care & support. An important part of the House & Sen bill

This was something that the late Sen. Kennedy championed, and predictably is hated by republicans.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


from wildtownunited (0.00 / 0)
FrankPallone I am 38/s, earn $30k.I have Health insurance, but I cannot afford treatment due to co-pay. Any help in this bill?

the reply: @wildtownunited - The House & Senate bill caps out of pocket spending & makes health insurance more affordable.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


another exchange re: caps (0.00 / 0)
what is the out of pocket spending cap in the bill? Affordable 4 single earning $30k? My co-pays will be less?

And the reply: The caps depend on income levels & the size of your family, if you need more info call my office, 732-571-1140

good that he is offering up his office number to answer specific questions.  I have found his office to be quite accessible over the past year or so since I've been dealing with them.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


[ Parent ]
re: Congressman's role in conference (0.00 / 0)
Q from SerenSnow: are you going to be on the conference committee that smooths differences between the House and Senate versions?

Reply:Its not clear if there will be a formal conference committee. House & Senate may work out the differences informally.

Interesting answer here - no formal conference, but either the House accepts the Senate version ("ping-pong") or they each have to vote on a different bill than they originally passed.

So even if informal, there is a process and wouldn't he be part of that due to his position and crafting the original House bill?  Or will it be a few from each House behind closed doors?


Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.


conference question (0.00 / 0)
If the post-conference final bill is different from the Senate version, can the bill be filibustered to prevent a final vote in the Senate?

When you consider the history of how the Senate has operated during times of Republican control with there usually being enough conservative Democrats to foil any efforts to filibuster truly onerous legislative initiatives, are progressives more or less in agreement that the time has come to demand that the Senate do away with the filibuster since it doesn't seem to provide the moderation that it is supposed to provide in any remotely balanced way?


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