Yesterday President Obama went on the offensive for a final push on Democrats plan for health care reform at Arcadia University near Philadelphia. The speech was fiery and brought back memories of the type of speeches Obama gave during his election. The goal set by Obama is to have a reform bill on his desk prior to the Easter break. While we all can agree that reform is required in the health care industry to bring down costs and reduce premiums. President Obama has it right when he said, "The price of health care is one of the most punishing costs for families, businesses and our government. The insurance companies continue to ration health care…That's the status quo in America, and it's a status quo that's unsustainable" (http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/08/health.care/index.html?hpt=T2).
I do not think anyone, Republican or Democrat, will disagree with the assessment by Obama. Even though Obama appears to think differently when he said, "You had 10 years. What were you doing?" That is a great question but should not be the reason to forge forward with the Senate's version of reform. A few weeks back leaders from both parties sat down for a six-hour chat to come to a common ground on health care reform. Now the current Senate bill does not contain the items the Republicans spoke of during the summit. The message yesterday by Obama was the first time he was clear about the process to follow moving forward to achieve reform. Obama wants the House of Representatives to pass the Senate bill as is then after Obama signs the bill they will go back and "fix" the bill.
Why not use the process established to reconcile bills that pass Congress when language is different? The Conference Committee is supposed to convene when the bills differ and then re-introduced for both chambers of Congress to pass. Instead of this process the Obama administration wants to end run the process because they lost their filibuster-proof super majority in the Senate. Obama claims that his administration is doing what is best for America; yet Americans are voicing opposition to the bill through the election in Massachusetts and polling data too. If the reform is strong enough and is bipartisan the filibuster threat in the Senate by Republicans will be for not. Sen. Brown (R-Mass) has already proven that he will not play partisan politics.
I agree with President Obama that the status quo cannot be sustained. At the same time, I cannot support the use of reconciliation to pass legislation that will impact America like health care nor can I support the House of Representatives passing the Senate bill as is in hopes that a separate package of changes will be introduced and passed. The arrogance of our elected Representatives to think that Americans do not see what is going on is staggering. Since the U.S. Constitution was ratified it has been treaded on. We need to stand up to our two-party system and demand more from our elected officials. President Obama, I agree with you reform is needed, please do not follow the path of passage you profess rather allow the Conference Committee to make the changes and have both chambers of Congress vote on it. What is wrong with following this approach?
Did the Republicans give on any of the Democrat ideas they don't like?
ReplyDeleteIf Americans are so strongly voicing their opposition why aren't Democrats refusing to vote for it? Won't they fear losing a reelection? That is all they truly care about, right?
Anon..the Republicans do not have a choice in the matter when it comes to Democrat ideas. I had the luxury last year to watch the debate live after being laid off and Democrats ran the show and controlled the debate.
ReplyDeleteThere are Democrats that are refusing to vote for the Health Care bill. If they had not it already would have passed and been signed by Obama. Since starting the health care debate 17 Democrats have announced retirements instead of facing another election. Now I have not compiled a list of them to compare how they stand on the issue as of yet.
At the end of the day, the Democrats had all the votes they needed last year had the Democrats all voted for the bill. The trouble is that Blue Dog, Black Caucus and other groups of Democrats in Congress could not get on board with reform - unless of course a deal was struck.
The polls show it and recent high profile elections show it - people are voting for representation that is against the Democrat reform as being proposed. Americans are not saying reform is not needed; rather 55%, the last Rassmussen and CNN poll, do not want the reform being proposed.
Viper, are you aware the the healthcare bill is more of a Republican bill than a Democrat one? Truthfully, the bill in the senate is quite free-market based. The only thing that the Repubs are truly against is the regulation of premiums at the federal level. Whats funny is, is that many of the states have that same regulation. Dems actually threw in a bunch of Repub ideas to soften their stand on the issue and they haven't budged. The bill creates the mandate to require coverage, only because the Dems needed something to work with the insurers so that many of the regulations (which both parties agree to) don't end up costing insurers millions.
ReplyDeleteYour rassmussen poll is actually incomplete. The public doesn't like the healthcare plan being offered, until they are given the details of it. Then more and more people support it. I've read the senate bill, and I guess I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Expensive, sure right now, but healthcare costs right now are so high that it is almost a wash.
Also, I realize that you say you are bipartisan, however, you do realize that in the Repub years in congress they rarely listened to Democrat ideas and controlled the debate constantly.
Turn about being fair play?
Anon..don't get me wrong. I believe that the figure that is being floated around that 80% of the bill is agreed to just the rest of the bill that is up for debate.
ReplyDeleteI did take the time to read the Senate bill cover to cover even though I need to keep a dictionary online to get through it.
The one thing I do not understand about the bill is why we must wait four years (Senate version) before implentation while the government will be collecting taxes. This is why the CBO scored it to reduce the deficit.
The message America sent when they elected Obama was of hope, change and an end to Washington as usual. So I do not see that turn about being fair play; rather I see it as more of the same. Let's get serious about reform, let's do it right and let's not burden our grandchildren with anymore debt or entitlements that they have to pay for.
According to "RollCall.com", there are 17 house members retiring (9 democrats and 8 republicans) and 10 senators retiring (5 from each party). This doesn't even take into account the members of congress that are leaving to seek other offices. True, some reps want to be senators, but some reps and senators want other offices (ie governor of their state).
ReplyDeleteThe numbers may be a bit off but there is a larger point. Are they all retiring because they're afraid to face reelection? Can you chalk these all up to the health care bill? No. Your statement above ("since starting the health care debate 17 democrats have announced retirements instead of facing another election") is pure speculation based on absolutely nothing but your own fantastical ideas. Funny, but Sean Hannity was making the same claim not all that long ago ("the dems are running for the hills" "the dems are running scared").
Stop presenting opinions, speculation and lies as fact or implying the same.
Anon..."Since starting the health care debate 17 Democrats have announced retirements instead of facing another election" - is a fact. I am not saying that the health care debate is the reason why Democrats are retiring nor am I speculating; rather I am just saying a fact. You cannot deny that a lot of Democrats, and Republicans, are retiring and those anouncements have come since the debate of health care has heated up.
ReplyDeleteYou are inferring that I am implying that health care is why. I did not say that nor imply it and am not presenting opinion or a lie as fact. Just making an observation that cannot be argued. Am I not?
Different Anon here...why did you choose the beginning of the health care debate as your starting point for tallying retirements?
ReplyDeleteSeems odd that you failed to mention retirements by Republicans.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest piece of legislation to consume Congress last year was/is health care reform and it really heated up after the last election which is why I used it as a starting point.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I did not mention the Republicans is that many on both sides of the aisle have not been shocked by those retiring. Many, however, are shocked at those retiring on the Dem's side of the aisle. The reason vary why the shock but I think it has more to do with that the Dem's control Congress and no open themselves up to lose either chamber of Congress.