Another Abortion Vote Coming For The VA Senate

No surprises here, the only question is whether Dick Saslaw will allow another major abortion restriction to become law.

Comments

[SatirclAlx]

How is that the my right to control my own body ends up in the hands of someone named Dick?

[Steve Vaughan]

Is it conservative for the government to interfere in a private contract between the customer and their insurance company? What other instances are there where the state resticts the benefits that insurers can offer?

[James Young]

Steve, you must be confused. This is not about "the benefits that insurers CAN offer" (emphasis added); it's about "the benefits that insurers [MUST} offer."

Remember: it's BarryCare that we're talking about here. Choice has nothing to do with it.

[change]

If all he did was to make it so that abortions are not funded by taxpayers then what is the harm?
If someone wants to kill their baby, why should taxpayers be on the “hook” for it?
Can’t they pay for it themselves?

[cycling clothing]

I'm moving that link up a few inches to the perps' penthouse here, Dan. I'm so happy about Kasich. Let's just hope the disgust people feel in Wisconsin and Ohio lasts till November 2012. In Texas? Evidently too many think Rick Perry is kewt.

[warren]

If you don't like it, then don't buy an insurance policy through the State's exchange.

[Steve Vaughan]

JY-I'm not sure you're right about that. If you were, I'd have no problem. But this does appears to limit the benefits insurers CAN offer. It says that policies bought through the exchanges, which remain private transactions betweent the customer and the insurer paid for with the customer's money, can't offer abortion coverage.

[Not Taliban Bob]

Taliban Bob!

[Del. Patrick A. Hope]

The plans in the exchanges are not funded with taxpayer dollars. Not one cent. This provision added by the Governor amounts to telling private health plans which services they CANNOT offer. This is in contrast to mandating benefits they MUST offer, which has more to do with raising costs than anything else. This is unprecedented and will cause administrative problems for plans who would have to distinguish plans they offer in the private market and ones purchased through the exchange.

[change]

Del. Hope,
If no taxpayer money goes into; paying for subsidizing, supporting, funding, administrating (or any other mechanism to get taxpayer money), these “exchanges”, I would agree that McD is overstepping.

It is rare indeed, when government is involved in something, that the taxpayer does not shoulder some portion of the burden. Maybe that is why it is difficult for many to believe their money would not be spent in support of something they so strongly abhor.

However, since you are one of the guys (and gals) who write these bills, I will take your word that “not one cent” of taxpayer money will be spent in any manner whatsoever.

Thanks for the clarification.

[warren]

How is the government going to set up this exchange without spending any money?

[Del. Patrick A. Hope (aka 'Gonzo')]

There will be some administrative cost to create and maintain the exchange that has nothing to do with the generosity of benefits. I can assure you no taxpayer dollars will go toward the purchase of any health service offered. This is strictly a private contract between a willing provider and willing consumer.

[change]

I am a bit confused with the comment “There will be some administrative cost to create and maintain the exchange” and the comment “not one cent” will be taxpayer money.
Are you now saying that taxpayers who disagree with abortions would be paying “something in some way” for those abortions that they so strongly abhor?

You politicians write this legislation, isn’t it fair that we citizens be able to understand the meaning so that we can make an informed decision?

If, as you suggest, “not one cent” of taxpayer money would go to abortions then those who believe in the sanctity of life should have no problem.
However if, as you also suggest, “There will be some administrative cost” born by these same people don’t you think they might have some basis for argument?

[Accuracy, please]

Delegate Hope, who will be paying for the "administrative cost to create and maintain the exchange"? Taxpayers? If so you have defeated your own argument Also, are you guaranteeing that the government will never provide any financial assistance whatsoever to any person or business participating in the exchange?

[Del. Hope]

Change and accuracy, with all due respect, I don't associate the cost of maintaining the exchange in the same way. Following your same logic, if one were to take public transportation (e.g. Metro) to a clinic than I guess that is using taxpayer dollars in that instance too. This is nonsense. Taxpayer dollars is a non-issue here. The Governor is using this amendment to score points with the pro-birth crowd. It's shrewd but still outrageous that we could be the only state with this distinction in plan coverage.

[warren]

If it saves one life....

[GretchenLaskas]

I can see the argument now -- if you drove on an actual road to get to the clinic, you are using taxpayer dollars to help facilitate your abortion.

Maybe I shouldn't give anyone any ideas......

[Jared]

With all due respect to Delegate Hope, the entire point of setting up the health insurance exchanges is to subsidize the listed plans. If the exchanges were just a voluntary, semi-artificial market for privately purchased health insurance, it would be an almost pointless endeavor.

The CBO estimates that 25 million people will receive health insurance through health insurance exchanges nationwide, and of these, 19 million will be eligible for federal financial aid. Should employers respond by dumping current employee health plans, the numbers may run higher. Subsidies will be available, on a sliding scale, for all exchange participants up to four times the federal poverty level (roughly $88,000 / year for a family of four). The subsidy is paid directly to the insurer.

It is true that Virginia state government does not subsidize the health insurance plans on the exchange, but the federal government certainly does, and it is doubtful that anyone who opposes taxpayer funding of abortion is going to be satisfied with that distinction.

[Accuracy, please]

Jared, thank you, you have a far more accurate grasp of the law than the self-proclaimed anti-birth legislator Delegate Hope does.

[Valley Indie]

How is that the my right to control my own body ends up in the hands of someone named Dick?

Posted by: SatirclAlx

Do what you want to YOUR body. But when you wish to hire someone to kill another person that is inside your body, it's a lot more than just a "choice" affecting you.

[SatirclAlx]

Valley Indie, it is my personal regigious belief, protected by the FIrst Amendment, that life does not begin until first breath. Therefore, abortion does not equal "killing another person inside your body." Now, run along and go burn a Koran or something.

[Louis Vuitton Canvas Monogram Purses]

I’ve gone into hundreds of [fortune-teller's parlors], and have been told thousands of things, but nobody ever told me I was a policewoman getting ready to arrest her.