Universal Health Care Bill of 2007 [Passed]

[Verily]

Universal Health Care Bill of 2007

1. The federal government hereby establishes a single-payer universal health care program for use in the District of Columbia and all federal territories.
2. This program will be open towards any resident or citizen of the District of Columbia or any Atlasian federal territories regardless of previous health conditions, disability, citizenship status, criminal record, or economic status.  No person will be required to pay for access to health care.
3. All medical services, including preventative treatment and dental care, will be covered under this system.
4. All subsidies towards health maintenence organizations ('HMOs') are abolished.


(Sponsor: Ebowed)

[Verily]

This bill is far, far, far too vague. And I oppose single-payer, which is universally less effective than optionally tiered systems.

[Sensei]

Way too vague for my tastes. Verily is right.

[Speed of Sound]

Everything is too vague in Atlasia, if it wasnt, it would be tedious. Universal Healthcare is something that I came here to make happen, and I plan to vote aye for this. I gotta take care 'o my territories!

[Ebowed]

I motion to include "and drug addiction treatment" in Sec. 3

[Verily]

I motion to include "and drug addiction treatment" in Sec. 3

I oppose this amendment.

[Verily]

Everything is too vague in Atlasia, if it wasnt, it would be tedious. Universal Healthcare is something that I came here to make happen, and I plan to vote aye for this. I gotta take care 'o my territories!

Well, there are some concerns even at the territorial level that should be addressed, including taxation. The federal government will be paying for health insurance only at the territorial level (and in DC), but primarily at the cost of Atlasians in the five Regions who will not be receiving benefits.

I would like to amend this bill in some way to provide for all funds for the program to come only from taxes collected in DC and the territories and combined in a specific health care fund (which is part of the specificity this bill lacks). I'm still working on the wording.

In the end, I'd like for a universal federal program, but doing so would require a constitutional amendment as the Supreme Court has ruled against such sorts of programs in the past.

[Ebowed]

In the end, I'd like for a universal federal program, but doing so would require a constitutional amendment as the Supreme Court has ruled against such sorts of programs in the past.

Public Interest Amendment

[Verily]

In the end, I'd like for a universal federal program, but doing so would require a constitutional amendment as the Supreme Court has ruled against such sorts of programs in the past.

Public Interest Amendment

Nothing in the Public Interest Amendment suggests to me that we have the power to institute nation-wide universal health care.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

"Protection of those in employment" and "protection and preservation of natural beauty, biological diversity and other natural resources," neither of which appears to contain universal health care (unless we were to make it available only to the employed, and even then we stand on shaky constitutional ground).

[Platypus]

An argument could be made that the bill could lead to the preservation of natural beauty, and i'd love to see the arguments against it. That said, I would encourage the senate to hold odff on this until a better bill exists. Quality healthcare is a noble goal for our nation, but regions must have imput and a strong proposal put forward.

[Verily]

An argument could be made that the bill could lead to the preservation of natural beauty, and i'd love to see the arguments against it.

LOL. That would be a hilarious court case. "Humans are pretty!" "No, they aren't!"

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I'd like to hear a little more about how exactly this beyond major expenditure is going to be paid for.

[Sam Spade]

I'd like to hear a little more about how exactly this beyond major expenditure is going to be paid for.

[Ebowed]

I'd like to hear a little more about how exactly this beyond major expenditure is going to be paid for.

Imaginary Atlasian money.

[Sensei]

I'd like to hear a little more about how exactly this beyond major expenditure is going to be paid for.

Imaginary Atlasian money.

He's got a point.

[Speed of Sound]

I would like to take this moment to remind my fellow senators that the problem they refer to is of their own accord; a lack of any understanding about our economy leads to a lack of need for any serious establishing of money.

[Sam Spade]

So, what is exactly the point of this game again?

There's obviously no point in debating policy in this type of situation.

I call for a coup.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I'd like to hear a little more about how exactly this beyond major expenditure is going to be paid for.

Imaginary Atlasian money.

From which imaginary source?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I call for a coup.

Communist coup? Then I'm in.

[Speed of Sound]

I call for a coup.

Communist coup? Then I'm in.

Sam Spade, you never fooled me, I knew all along, you commie.

[Sensei]

I call for a coup.

Communist coup? Then I'm in.

Sam Spade, you never fooled me, I knew all along, you commie.

Me, too. Do you know how long I've been a closeted revolutionary commie? Let's get to couping!

[Speed of Sound]

I call for a coup.

Communist coup? Then I'm in.

Sam Spade, you never fooled me, I knew all along, you commie.

Me, too. Do you know how long I've been a closeted revolutionary commie? Let's get to couping!

Wait....gimme a couple days, I need to recoup.

[Platypus]

Oh noes! The coups are coming! scatter!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I'd like to hear a little more about how exactly this beyond major expenditure is going to be paid for.

Logically that would be scrapping all existing government healthcare programmes and subsidies, using the money from those to pay for this and, if there's still a shortfall, raising taxes.

[Verily]

After voting on Ebowed's amendment (which, my apologies, I forgot about), I will introduce an amendment as follows:

Federal Territories Universal Health Care Bill of 2007

1. The federal government hereby establishes a single-payer universal health care program for use in the District of Columbia and all federal territories.
2. This program will be open towards any resident or citizen of the District of Columbia or any Atlasian federal territories regardless of previous health conditions, disability, citizenship status, criminal record, or economic status.  No person will be required to pay for access to health care.
3. All medical services, including preventative treatment and dental care, will be covered under this system.
4. All subsidies towards health maintenence organizations ('HMOs') for operations within the District of Columbia and all federal territories are abolished.
5. This program shall be funded through taxes levied within the District of Columbia and all federal territories only.
6. The government of Atlasia shall establish a Federal Health Care Fund into which a portion of all tax income from said territories and the District of Columbia to be determined at a later date shall be deposited. Monies in this fund shall be used to pay for the provisions in this bill only.

(I'm leaving "to be determined at a later date" in there because I have no idea what percentage would be appropriate.)