Democrats Folding????

[Derideo_Te]

The one's which you falsely claim were "disinformation" and "mischaracterization". You've now had two opportunities to specifically cite what was inaccurate and back it up with facts. The fact that you can't proves you lied and I was right.

Game. Set. Match.

These are you own words, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION], where you are deliberately mischaracterizing other people as "inept parent" and you then regurgitate disinformation that they "spend on frivolous items such as iPhone's and plasma tv's "!

Furthermore, inept parents who do not properly budget for potential healthcare costs and instead spend on frivolous items such as iPhone's and plasma tv's are not my problem and not your convenient sob-story.

Would you try again [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION]? Maybe try something built on fact and intellect instead of trying to play on emotion with false sob-stories?

That [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] is incapable of comprehending his own posts explains why he cannot substantiate his own allegations either.

Oh [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION], how humiliating for you sweetie. With each post, you expose your ignorance of the constitution, your own government, your own nation, and society in general. Here is a study from the government you worship sweetie:

• 80% of poor households have air conditioning. In 1970, only 36% of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
  
  
• 92% of poor households have a microwave.
  
  
• Nearly 75% have a car or truck, and 31% have two or more cars or trucks.
  
  
• Nearly two-thirds have cable or satellite TV.
  
  
• Two-thirds have at least one DVD player, and 70% have a VCR.
  
  
• Half have a personal computer, and one in seven have two or more computers.
  
  
• More than half of poor families with children have a video game system, such as an Xbox or PlayStation.
  
  
• 43% have Internet access.
  
  
• One-third have a wide-screen plasma or LCD TV.
  
  
• One-fourth have a digital video recorder system, such as a TiVo.

Oh, doesn't your heart just ache for these "poor" people who have aid conditioning to keep them cool while playing on their Xbox connected to their big screen tv's with DVD players? You fuck'n fool - you're such a lapdog to the official liberal propaganda...

Understanding Poverty in the United States: Poverty USA

What is Poverty in the United States: Air Conditioning, Cable TV and an Xbox

Once again, you lose sweetie!

Once again [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] proves that he regurgitates disinformation by quoting the discredited racist right wing Heritage Foundation!

 

[P@triot]

These are you own words, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION], where you are deliberately mischaracterizing other people as "inept parent" and you then regurgitate disinformation that they "spend on frivolous items such as iPhone's and plasma tv's "!

That [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] is incapable of comprehending his own posts explains why he cannot substantiate his own allegations either.

Oh [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION], how humiliating for you sweetie. With each post, you expose your ignorance of the constitution, your own government, your own nation, and society in general. Here is a study from the government you worship sweetie:

• 80% of poor households have air conditioning. In 1970, only 36% of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
  
  
• 92% of poor households have a microwave.
  
  
• Nearly 75% have a car or truck, and 31% have two or more cars or trucks.
  
  
• Nearly two-thirds have cable or satellite TV.
  
  
• Two-thirds have at least one DVD player, and 70% have a VCR.
  
  
• Half have a personal computer, and one in seven have two or more computers.
  
  
• More than half of poor families with children have a video game system, such as an Xbox or PlayStation.
  
  
• 43% have Internet access.
  
  
• One-third have a wide-screen plasma or LCD TV.
  
  
• One-fourth have a digital video recorder system, such as a TiVo.

Oh, doesn't your heart just ache for these "poor" people who have aid conditioning to keep them cool while playing on their Xbox connected to their big screen tv's with DVD players? You fuck'n fool - you're such a lapdog to the official liberal propaganda...

Understanding Poverty in the United States: Poverty USA

What is Poverty in the United States: Air Conditioning, Cable TV and an Xbox

Once again, you lose sweetie!

Once again [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] proves that he regurgitates disinformation by quoting the discredited racist right wing Heritage Foundation!

"Racist" and "Discredited"...

Now [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION] has moved from blatant to outrageous lies. The Heritage Foundation is one of the most respected institutions in America.

Sweetie, if you weren't such an ignorant twat, you would have read the articles and seen that those were from a GOVERNMENT STUDY. Those were not from a Heritage Foundation study...



You lose again twat...

 

[P@triot]

The "Welfare of the People" covers healthcare and the Supreme Court not only found it constitutional but it also upheld the right to tax you for healthcare, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION]!

"welfare of the people" does NOT exist in the Constitution sweetie. You will not find that phrase anywhere in the Constitution. My God, you are humiliating yourself in front of the world here (you do realize a website can be viewed by anyone in the world, don't you [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION]????).

Since you're really ignorant of the Constitution, I'm going to throw you a bone here and see if I can help you out. Did you mean "promote the general welfare" which is found in the preamble of the Constitution?

The "General Welfare" clause appears in both the Preamble and the text of the constitution, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION]!

The term "general welfare" appears twice you stupid twat - and neither time is is a "claus"

Furthermore, neither time is it mentioned as you misquoted.

It doesn't say "welfare of the people" you stupid twat. It says the GENERAL WELFARE.

And this is where your ignorant Dumbocrat talking point falls apart. If you "tax" one specific group to take their wealth and hand it to another specific group, you have not promoted the GENERAL welfare. You have promoted a specific minority group at the detriment of another specific minority group.

So, again, you lose ignorant twat. (This is a bloodbath now sweetie - everything you've slung against the wall in desperation that something will stick has been thorughly defeated with facts.).

Game. Set. Match.

 

[Derideo_Te]

Oh [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION], how humiliating for you sweetie. With each post, you expose your ignorance of the constitution, your own government, your own nation, and society in general. Here is a study from the government you worship sweetie:

• 80% of poor households have air conditioning. In 1970, only 36% of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
  
  
• 92% of poor households have a microwave.
  
  
• Nearly 75% have a car or truck, and 31% have two or more cars or trucks.
  
  
• Nearly two-thirds have cable or satellite TV.
  
  
• Two-thirds have at least one DVD player, and 70% have a VCR.
  
  
• Half have a personal computer, and one in seven have two or more computers.
  
  
• More than half of poor families with children have a video game system, such as an Xbox or PlayStation.
  
  
• 43% have Internet access.
  
  
• One-third have a wide-screen plasma or LCD TV.
  
  
• One-fourth have a digital video recorder system, such as a TiVo.

Oh, doesn't your heart just ache for these "poor" people who have aid conditioning to keep them cool while playing on their Xbox connected to their big screen tv's with DVD players? You fuck'n fool - you're such a lapdog to the official liberal propaganda...

Understanding Poverty in the United States: Poverty USA

What is Poverty in the United States: Air Conditioning, Cable TV and an Xbox

Once again, you lose sweetie!

Once again [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] proves that he regurgitates disinformation by quoting the discredited racist right wing Heritage Foundation!

"Racist" and "Discredited"...

Now [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION] has moved from blatant to outrageous lies. The Heritage Foundation is one of the most respected institutions in America.

Sweetie, if you weren't such an ignorant twat, you would have read the articles and seen that those were from a GOVERNMENT STUDY. Those were not from a Heritage Foundation study...



You lose again twat...

Too bad the FACTS expose your discredited Heritage Foundation as nothing but deliberate distortion and outright misinformation, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION].

Is The Heritage Foundation Credible? | Accuracy.Org

Heritage Foundation poverty analyst Robert Rector has issued widely trumpeted reports arguing that the poor aren\’t so poor — for instance, \”The Myth of Widespread American Poverty\” (1998). The reports contain false and misleading claims. Purporting to show that poor Americans rarely go hungry, Heritage relies on an outmoded 1991 Health and Human Services nutrition survey that understates the problem, while ignoring the more recent and complete Census Bureau survey that replaced it.

Heritage\’s main point — that \”there is a huge gap between the `poor\’ as defined by the Census Bureau and what most ordinary Americans consider to be poverty\” — is dubious.

 

[Derideo_Te]

"welfare of the people" does NOT exist in the Constitution sweetie. You will not find that phrase anywhere in the Constitution. My God, you are humiliating yourself in front of the world here (you do realize a website can be viewed by anyone in the world, don't you [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION]????).

Since you're really ignorant of the Constitution, I'm going to throw you a bone here and see if I can help you out. Did you mean "promote the general welfare" which is found in the preamble of the Constitution?

The "General Welfare" clause appears in both the Preamble and the text of the constitution, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION]!

The term "general welfare" appears twice you stupid twat - and neither time is is a "claus"

Furthermore, neither time is it mentioned as you misquoted.

It doesn't say "welfare of the people" you stupid twat. It says the GENERAL WELFARE.

And this is where your ignorant Dumbocrat talking point falls apart. If you "tax" one specific group to take their wealth and hand it to another specific group, you have not promoted the GENERAL welfare. You have promoted a specific minority group at the detriment of another specific minority group.

So, again, you lose ignorant twat. (This is a bloodbath now sweetie - everything you've slung against the wall in desperation that something will stick has been thorughly defeated with facts.).

Game. Set. Match.

The General Welfare Clause!

https://www.google.com/search?q=general+welfare+clause&rlz=1C1CHKZ_enUS438US513&oq=general+welfare+clause&aqs=chrome..69i57.5939j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

[MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] spouts mindless misogynistic insults because he has nothing of value or credible substance to support his drivel.

 

[TooTall]

This isn't a proposal to "delay Obamacare." It is a proposal to extend the deadline. PC uses a laser-like Drudge logic to construct halfbaked narratives from news stories.

I like how she and the other right wing knuckle draggers want to return to the "good ole' days" of the American healthcare industry prior to Obama--you know, annual double-digit cost increases, rising deductables, no coverage for prior conditions, etc.

These right wingers have evil intent.

"....want to return to the "good ole' days" of the American healthcare industry prior to Obama--you know, annual double-digit cost increases, rising deductables, no coverage for prior conditions, etc."

Let's see how long it take to prove that you are a dunce:

.Year *NHE Increase

2001 1493

2002 1638 9.7%

2003 1775 8.3%

2004 1901 7.0%

2005 2030 6.7%

2006 2163 6.5%

2007 2298 6.2%

2008 2406 4.6%

2009 2501 3.9%

2010 2600 3.9%

2011 2700 3.8%

*National Health Expenditures, in $ billions.
http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statist...NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/tables.pdf

So the rate of increase in health care costs declined after Obama was elected. Thanks for admitting your mistake.

What happened to your 'double-digit cost increases? Did you thank her for correcting your BS? And, what did Obama do to affect the rate of increase in health care costs?

 

[NYcarbineer]

Proving you wrong is the cake. Watching you writhe in denial is the icing.

btw, over in another thread you said that an elderly person with macular degeneration could not receive treatment unless the sight in the eye was totally gone...

...here you say that all that person would have to do is go to the hospital, declare their condition an emergency, and they could then not be denied treatment.

Question: Which is it?

Speaking of "writhing in denial" [MENTION=18701]NYcarbineer[/MENTION], I've noticed you've run from post #152. I wonder why that is...?

(Actually, I don't wonder at all - that was sarcasm. We both know it's because it's the knock out blow that proves you're a buffoon ).

Because it's absurd. You are claiming that there is no constitutional authority to regulate any private business in any way whatsoever.

No sane person believes that.

 

[birddog]

Once again [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] proves that he doesn't understand the concept of a civilized society! For that matter [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] doesn't seem to comprehend that taxation is both legal and constitutional!

Sweetie, taxes are to run the government. All responsibilities of the federal government (such as defense) are outlined in the Constitution and thus legal grounds for taxation. Healthcare is not one of them.

Want to try again?

The "Welfare of the People" covers healthcare and the Supreme Court not only found it constitutional but it also upheld the right to tax you for healthcare, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION]!

The congress did not pass it as a "tax," so it should be deemed un-constitutional!

 

[Derideo_Te]

Sweetie, taxes are to run the government. All responsibilities of the federal government (such as defense) are outlined in the Constitution and thus legal grounds for taxation. Healthcare is not one of them.

Want to try again?

The "Welfare of the People" covers healthcare and the Supreme Court not only found it constitutional but it also upheld the right to tax you for healthcare, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION]!

The congress did not pass it as a "tax," so it should be deemed un-constitutional!

Only the Supreme Court can deems something to be "un-constitutional". Since they didn't it is de facto constitutional and the law of the land.

The constitutional process for changing the law of the land is to win elections on your platform and then pass a repeal that makes it through the legislature and is signed by the president.

 

[Mertex]

What???

A Democrat Senator opposing "the One"???


1. "Jeanne Shaheen Calls For Obamacare Enrollment Deadline Extension

2. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called on the White House Tuesday to extend the open enrollment deadline for Obamacare because of the government's glitchy website rollout.

3. In a letter to the White House ...Shaheen said her constituents have faced "incredibly frustrating and disappointing" issues with HealthCare.gov,....

4. ... people that have tried, and failed, to enroll online may become frustrated and not return to the website to try again ...

5. Shaheen is the first Democrat to support an extension of the enrollment deadline.

6. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he would introduce a bill with a similar premise -- calling for a delay to the penalty that uninsured Americans will face if they do not sign up for insurance before the March deadline.

7. "It's not fair to punish people..."
Jeanne Shaheen Calls For Obamacare Enrollment Deadline Extension



The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceeding fine.

You know that nobody will be punished if it's not their fault they can't enroll - quit with the BS.

Funny, when Bush's fiasco with Part D to Medicare was happening, Rep Murphy of Pennsylvania was all apologetic and trying to get everyone to realize that new programs always start out rocky - but his memory is short, now he is whining like the rest of you.

Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania:
"Some of the things said will bear repeating several times over the next few weeks, and one of the points I want to talk about, as you have discussed as well, is misinformation that is sent out about this plan. Any time something is new, there is going to be some glitches. All of us, when our children were new, well, we knew as parents we didn't exactly know everything we were doing and we had a foul-up or two, but we persevered and our children turned out well....

But as we were signing up 27 million seniors at a rate sometimes approaching 400,000 a week, the system wasn't always perfectly ready for all of them, and there were some glitches, particularly for some folks who were dual eligible. But the point is HHS or Medicare responded, put extra people on board, worked out some of the glitches, and I am pleased to say that many of the seniors that I talked to are very pleased with this program.

- See more at: The Bumps In the Road Are Expected -- Take It From These Republican Officials & Leaders | Progressive States Network

 

[P@triot]

The "General Welfare" clause appears in both the Preamble and the text of the constitution, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION]!

The term "general welfare" appears twice you stupid twat - and neither time is is a "claus"

Furthermore, neither time is it mentioned as you misquoted.

It doesn't say "welfare of the people" you stupid twat. It says the GENERAL WELFARE.

And this is where your ignorant Dumbocrat talking point falls apart. If you "tax" one specific group to take their wealth and hand it to another specific group, you have not promoted the GENERAL welfare. You have promoted a specific minority group at the detriment of another specific minority group.

So, again, you lose ignorant twat. (This is a bloodbath now sweetie - everything you've slung against the wall in desperation that something will stick has been thorughly defeated with facts.).

Game. Set. Match.

The General Welfare Clause!

https://www.google.com/search?q=general+welfare+clause&rlz=1C1CHKZ_enUS438US513&oq=general+welfare+clause&aqs=chrome..69i57.5939j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

[MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] spouts mindless misogynistic insults because he has nothing of value or credible substance to support his drivel.

[MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION] is such a moron, she's posting links to OTHER nations charters...

Sweetie, if you're going to post a link, at least read it first. From your own link:

A General Welfare clause is a section that appeared in many constitutions, as well as in some charters and statutes, which provides that the governing body empowered by the document may enact laws to promote the general welfare of the people

That has NOTHING to do with the U.S. Constitution you lying Dumbocrat.

Furthermore, from your same link:

The United States Constitution contains two references to "the General Welfare", one occurring in the Preamble and the other in the Taxing and Spending Clause.

Exactly as I told you - it is NOT a clause (how embarassing that you are this ignorant). The term "general welfare" appears in the preamble (as I educated you on previously) and in Article I, Section 9 (as I educated you on previously).

I've owned you with facts and exposed your ignorance sweetie.

 

[P@triot]

Once again [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION] proves that he regurgitates disinformation by quoting the discredited racist right wing Heritage Foundation!

"Racist" and "Discredited"...

Now [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION] has moved from blatant to outrageous lies. The Heritage Foundation is one of the most respected institutions in America.

Sweetie, if you weren't such an ignorant twat, you would have read the articles and seen that those were from a GOVERNMENT STUDY. Those were not from a Heritage Foundation study...

You lose again twat...

Too bad the FACTS expose your discredited Heritage Foundation as nothing but deliberate distortion and outright misinformation, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION].

Is The Heritage Foundation Credible? | Accuracy.Org

Oh sweetie - really? An article from March 17, 1999 by a radical left-wing organization?

It's 2013 sweetie - join us, won't you?

By the sweetie - from your own link: "The Heritage Foundation is one of our country\’s most influential and oft-quoted think tanks." There's a reason it is one of the most influential organizations in America - because the masses aren't easily duped by left-wing propaganda like you are.

Now how about you tell us again how the Constitution contains a "welfare clause" which says "the welfare of the people"?!?

 

[P@triot]

The "Welfare of the People" covers healthcare and the Supreme Court not only found it constitutional but it also upheld the right to tax you for healthcare

Preamble of the Constitution:
“promote the general Welfare” (promote does not mean provide)

Article I, Section 8:
“general Welfare of the United States” (this specifically cites what is good for the nation, not for parasites)

So now that we have unequivocally proven you are wrong - that leaves us with two questions:

1.) Did you lie or are you this ignorant of your own Constitution?

2.) Why do you insist on lying or speaking on a subject you know nothing about (depending on your answer to #1)?


Excerpt From: States, United. “The United States Constitution.” iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBooks Store: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=361557977

 

[P@triot]

The need to convert healthcare from a profit driven commodity that is beyond the means of the less fortunate to a "right" for everyone is a necessary social evolution.

First of all [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION], who the fuck are you to make that declaration?

Second, and much more important, if that's the way you feel - get up off of your lazy fuck'n ass, start a hospital, and provide healthcare as a "right" to those "less fortunate".

Or, get up off of your lazy fuck'n ass, become a doctor yourself, and provide healthcare as a "right" to those "less fortunate".

See how the free market works? The freedom to make your beliefs come to fruition without impeding on my freedoms and fucking up my healthcare.

Still waiting for you to answer this [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION]. It appears you conveniently "missed" this one somehow...

 

[Mertex]

Understanding Poverty in the United States: Poverty USA

What is Poverty in the United States: Air Conditioning, Cable TV and an Xbox

Heritage Foundation! Bwahahaha Even worse than Faux News.

 

[Michelle420]

"Racist" and "Discredited"...

Now [MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION] has moved from blatant to outrageous lies. The Heritage Foundation is one of the most respected institutions in America.

Sweetie, if you weren't such an ignorant twat, you would have read the articles and seen that those were from a GOVERNMENT STUDY. Those were not from a Heritage Foundation study...

You lose again twat...

Too bad the FACTS expose your discredited Heritage Foundation as nothing but deliberate distortion and outright misinformation, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION].

Is The Heritage Foundation Credible? | Accuracy.Org

Oh sweetie - really? An article from March 17, 1999 by a radical left-wing organization?


Now how about you tell us again how the Constitution contains a "welfare clause" which says "the welfare of the people"?!?

Who is the "General Welfare" for ?

 

[Mertex]

"Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all." -Frédéric Bastiat

But, but, show me where the Republicans have offered anything in its place?

The Republican healthcare plan.

 

[PoliticalChic]

Understanding Poverty in the United States: Poverty USA

What is Poverty in the United States: Air Conditioning, Cable TV and an Xbox

Heritage Foundation! Bwahahaha Even worse than Faux News.

Doesn't seem like there was any reason for you to learn to read, does it.

 

[PoliticalChic]

Too bad the FACTS expose your discredited Heritage Foundation as nothing but deliberate distortion and outright misinformation, [MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION].

Is The Heritage Foundation Credible? | Accuracy.Org

Oh sweetie - really? An article from March 17, 1999 by a radical left-wing organization?


Now how about you tell us again how the Constitution contains a "welfare clause" which says "the welfare of the people"?!?

Who is the "General Welfare" for ?

It means that bills passed under its must be designed for all citizens.

 

[TooTall]

Take away the inflammatory rhetoric and we most certainly are, PC. The need to convert healthcare from a profit driven commodity that is beyond the means of the less fortunate to a "right" for everyone is a necessary social evolution.

"The need to convert healthcare from a profit driven commodity that is beyond the means of the less fortunate to a "right" for everyone is a necessary social evolution."

1. As of 1986, under President Reagan, every single man, woman, and child in the nation had healthcare.
Clearly, you are talking through your chapeau.

2. "... a profit driven commodity..."
The use of this phrase indicates one totally immune to learning of the most basic variety.

It is only through capitalism that the United States had, prior to ObamaCare, the finest healthcare system in the world.

a. "Marxism rested on the assumption that the condition of the working classes would grow ever worse under capitalism, that there would be but two classes: one small and rich, the other vast and increasingly impoverished, and revolution would be the anodyne that would result in the “common good.” But by the early 20th century, it was clear that this assumption was completely wrong! Under capitalism, the standard of living of all was improving: prices falling, incomes rising, health and sanitation improving, lengthening of life spans, diets becoming more varied, the new jobs created in industry paid more than most could make in agriculture, housing improved, and middle class industrialists and business owners displaced nobility and gentry as heroes."
From a speech by Rev. Robert A. Sirico, President, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty.
Delivered at Hillsdale College, October 27, 2006
https://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2007&month=05


b. In "The Business of Health," Robert Ohsfeldt and John Schneider factor out intentional and unintentional injuries from life-expectancy statistics and find that Americans who don't die in car crashes or homicides outlive people in any other Western country.
And if we measure a health care system by how well it serves its sick citizens, American medicine excels.
http://www.davepetno.com/blog/index.php?itemid=30



In your honor, and with you in 'mind'.....


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAvBb-hnlIc]If I Only Had A Brain with lyrics - YouTube[/ame]

Can you explain how this allegedly "finest healthcare system in the world" which covered "every single man, woman, and child in the nation had healthcare" was able to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and would not provide a transplant necessary to save a life if the patient could not afford it?
Same question to you as I opposed earlier;

Where does making a profit off a sick child and driving the parents into bankruptcy fit into your "family values", PC?
[MENTION=30955]Rottweiler[/MENTION]

Read this and think again.

A California prison inmate serving 14 years for robbery received a heart transplant earlier this month, renewing a debate about who deserves to get desperately needed organs.

The taxpayer-supported transplant, expected to cost $1 million with follow-up care, occurred as 500 Californians waited for hearts. The operation saved the 31-year-old inmate from dying of a viral heart condition, said Russ Heimerich, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections.

Citing two court rulings in favor of inmate care, Heimerich said, "Our hands are pretty much tied. It's not a question for this department to decide."

He pointed to a 1976 U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring it "cruel and unusual punishment" to withhold necessary medical care from inmates. And he noted that in 1995 a federal court ordered prison officials to give a kidney transplant to an inmate whose request had been denied.

Prison system officials and spokesmen for an organ-sharing network confirm that numerous inmates nationwide have received kidney transplants. And, they say, such taxpayer-financed transplants are likely to increase as the prison population ages.