Health Care Reform

Delay On Health Care Likely, Despite Bill Clinton’s Plea To Senators

Ronald Leave a comment

Former President Bill Clinton addressed the Senate Democrats in a private meeting today, but that did not change the reality, as Illinois Senator Dick Durbin made it clear that the most that can be hoped for by Christmas is that the Senate might pass its own health care bill.

But, of course, the conference committee must then reconcile the bills from the House and Senate, and that will not be an easy task. It might just be impossible, in reality.

Both Clinton and President Obama have made clear that the Democrats will suffer in next year’s midterm elections if no bill is passed into law, that even if the bill is not perfect, lack of action will be worse.

I tend to agree with this assessment, but the likelihood is that IF a bill finally does pass over many hurdles and obstacles, it will be in the spring of 2010, not Christmas! 🙁

The New Problem For Health Care Reform: The Abortion Controversy

Ronald 3 Comments

As if Joe Lieberman’s threat to filibuster the health care bill in the Senate if the “public option” is included was not enough, now Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska threatens to filibuster and fight against the legislation if abortion is allowed under the bill in final passage.

Many of the liberal Democrats who backed the House bill and allowed it to pass by 220-215 on Saturday night have made it clear that they would not support the final legislation IF abortion limitations are not taken out of the bill, and Senator Barbara Boxer of California has made it clear that she and other women senators in the Democratic party are working to prevent abortion restrictions in the final Senate bill.

So the abortion debate that has raged since Roe v. Wade in 1973 still simmers, and is a new obstruction to fundamental health care reform. It is looking as if the barriers to health care legislation are becoming so massive that it will not be possible to gain passage of legislation unless “reconciliation”, use of the 50 or 51 vote majority, is invoked to overcome any filibuster on abortion or on “public option”.

Since “reconciliation” has been used before by the Republicans under George W. Bush, it is reaching the stage where the Democrats MUST use it or face failure and dissolution of their mandate for change. If that happens, then the Democrats are doomed. If they use it, there will be anger, but the accomplishment of health care reform, despite controversy, will eventually assist the Democrats and President Obama, as the vast majority of Americans want such reform, so what must be done to accomplish it should be pursued.

Forget bipartisanship and catering to conservatives: It is time to play hardball and do what MUST be done!

The House Passage Of Health Care: What It Means

Ronald 1 Comment

Late last evening, the House of Representatives passed the health care reform legislation by a vote of 220-215, with one Republican vote, a Vietnamese representative from New Orleans, but with 39 Democrats voting with 176 Republicans in opposition.

Winning by only two extra votes than a bare majority, the House leadership celebrated the victory, but it is no guarantee that any health care legislation will pass this year.

Now the Senate will consider its own version of health care reform, but with likely only 57 Democrats supporting it, and Joe Lieberman, the independent, planning to take part in a filibuster with the 40 Republicans, which would prevent any action, unless “reconciliation”, requiring only 50 or 51 Democrats is invoked, which would alienate moderate Democrats and lead to bad blood in the Senate.

Even if legislation was passed in the Senate, it would then have to go to a conference committee to be reconciled with the House bill, and there are many contentious areas of the legislation, including the amended bill in the House banning abortion coverage except for the life of the mother, rape or incest, something bound to be controversial with liberals in both houses and with many women voters and liberal activists who would be against any such amending of the final legislation.

So the Democrats could splinter and their liberal backers could abandon them, but at the same time, if the Republicans continue to stand on the sidelines in total opposition, it could have a negative effect on their fortunes if the bill passes into law, with the likelihood of popular support once it is actually the law of the land.

So both parties are playing with a delicate issue which could affect their fortunes in 2010 and beyond! The long term future of President Obama is also at stake! Never a dull moment!

Republican House Women : A Disgrace To Their Gender And Congress!

Ronald Leave a comment

I am watching the House debate on the health care bill, and I am ashamed for the women of this country!

The Republican women are on C Span making fools of themselves, looking like total morons! They are so mean spirited and self centered, not giving a damn for their own gender or the American people! Where did the GOP scrape up these women who show so little concern and compassion for those less fortunate in this country, who need health care? These women are being totally dishonest in their propaganda attacks on the legislation being considered!

The fact that Ileana Ros Lehtinen of Miami could be stupid enough to join this group of Republican women would be condemned by her predecessor in her district, the distinguished Claude Pepper!

And the ultimate example of the stupidity and mean spirited nature of these Republican women is Michele Bachmann, who tells us the bill would be destructive of the “economic economy”! Huh? What a moron and embarrassment this religious zealot is, joining Sarah Palin as examples of why women like them should not have any power in our political system, since they have absolutely no brains or compassion and are a disgrace to the American political system!

At the same time, I wish now to applaud Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of New York, who is presently making a fantastic statement in support of health care and applauding the efforts of Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon (Yes, a Republican President) to promote better health care, setting a standard for what is now long overdue–true health care reform for all Americans!

There is no way I can see that the majority of intelligent, compassionate women in America will vote Republican after this disgraceful display of stupidity, selfishness, self centeredness and meanspiritedness being displayed by the Republican women members of the House of Representatives!

Health Care Reform, The AARP, And The AMA

Ronald Leave a comment

With all of the bitter attacks on health care reform legislation by conservatives and Republicans, the American Association of Retired Persons and the American Medical Association have come out in support of the House of Representatives bill, that has been denounced by one Republican Congresswoman as more dangerous than terrorism for America.

The preposterous nature of Virginia Foxx’s attack and similar ones by other GOP leaders and talk show hosts, and even entertainers such as Pat Boone and Jon Voight, is well documented by the strong support that health care reform is receiving from thoughtful Americans who realize that the lack of better health care is killing 45,000 Americans every year, and forcing many thousands into bankruptcy and other tragic results.

This is the most important piece of legislation since 1965 when Medicare was passed, after bitter attacks similar to the present battle. We are reaching the moment of reckoning as the year 2009 nears an end!

Senator Harry Reid And The Health Care Public Option “Opt Out” By States

Ronald Leave a comment

Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has announced that the Senate will consider a health care reform act with a public option, but allowing an “opt out” by states.

The politics of the Senate makes it difficult to accomplish a public option, since 60 senators are needed to avoid a filibuster, unless “reconciliation” is invoked, requiring only 50 or 51 senators, but provoking a lot more anger and partisanship.

Having said that, it is disappointing that the states will be allowed to “opt out”, as that will provide, inevitably, fewer choices on health care coverage in many states, particularly those that are poorer and more backward in social terms–particularly the South and Great Plains and some Mountain States. These are precisely the areas of less competition among health care plans, and should require the stiff competition of a public option.

The likelihood is that the Northeast and New England, the Upper Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and California will participate, which will promote more inequities and unfairness and division within this nation, which already has too many elements of the above.

It will mean that where one lives will decide a person’s opportunity for a fair and reasonable cost health care system, and in that sense, this decision of the Senate Majority Leader is disappointing. It is really catering to conservative and anti government interests, the precisely wrong message to send.

Negotiations with the House of Representatives and Speaker Nancy Pelosi may yet change this situation, and it is hoped such an eventuality occurs.

Chuck Hagel And His Party On Health Care Reform

Ronald Leave a comment

Former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, always one of my favorite Republicans, and rumored in the past to be a possible Obama Administration appointee at some time in the future, has come out in criticism of his party with their promotion of total opposition to anything the President is advocating, including health care.

Hagel calls that totally irresponsible behavior, which it indeed is. Hagel has always been a man of principle and conviction, so despite his friendship with John McCain, he says he felt uncomfortable about the Arizona Senator’s views on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and did not like the people around McCain, so therefore did not endorse and support his friend.

At the same time, he stayed neutral and did not endorse Barack Obama, although agreeing with him on many issues during the campaign.

It is still seen as likely that Hagel could be the next Defense Secretary when Robert Gates finally decides to leave. The nation would be well served if that appointment came about in the future.

Poll Shows Growing Public Support For Public Option

Ronald Leave a comment

A Washington Post–ABC News poll shows growing support for a public option, with 57 percent in favor and 40 percent opposed. This is a solid lead which should be taken advantage of to promote this alternative for those who do not have health insurance now.

This means that President Obama MUST come out fully for a public option, instead of the conditional support expressed over the weekend on talk shows by his surrogates, including David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, and Valerie Jarrett.

The attack on the public option during the August recess by the radical right has subsided, and now is the time to push ahead without a compromise, and if necessary, use “reconciliation” to accomplish what would be the greatest reform bill in a generation!

Banning Smoking In Public Places Essential, Based On New Evidence

Ronald Leave a comment

A new scientific study demonstrates that public bans on smoking lower the number of people who have heart attacks and heart disease.

Not only those who smoke, but also those exposed to second hand smoke benefit when there is a ban on smoking in theaters, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls and other public venues.

Seventeen states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, DC ban smoking in bars, restaurants and work places, while fourteen states ban it in one or two of the three locations mentioned above. Also, 350 cities and towns have similar bans.

Such a ban would cut health care costs dramatically, and realize that it would affect all Americans, as we end up paying for those who land in hospitals and other medical facilities because of their habit.

The war against tobacco in public places must be waged ferociously!

The Two Maine Senators: Again Open To Bipartisanship

Ronald Leave a comment

Again, the two women Republican Senators from Maine–Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins–seem to be on the way to bipartisan support of the health care bill, as they were of the economic stimulus bill last winter.

Snowe voted for the Baucus Senate Finance Committee bill, and Collins now hints she may also be willing to support the bill on the Senate floor.

The problem for both is their unwillingness to support a public option as costing too much and adding to the debt, so if the House bill or the Senate Health Committee (Tom Harkin of Iowa) wins out over the Baucus bill, they may yet vote no, but even the possibility of support is appealing to the Obama Administration.

Some observers also think that George Voinovich of Ohio, another moderate and getting ready to retire from the Senate in 2010, might be a possible vote for a health care overhaul.

At the same time, there is no hint that even one GOP congressman will vote for it when the House gets to the final roll call.

The growing impact of Maine and its independent streak politically, as evidenced through its two GOP senators and otherwise, may yet be the story of the year, depending on events yet to be foretold.