Obama pushes reconciliation on health care, GOP says one bill should not overhaul one-sixth of the economy, Rep. Charlie Rangel commits another ethics violation and New York Gov. David Paterson ends his campaign as another scandal erupts.
The News
Archives for February 2010
Jobs Yes, Obamacare No
Ohio Rep. Bob Latta says his constituents want to see job creation, not a huge expansion of government in the health care sector of the economy. Latta explains how the Democratic health plan would hurt the people in his district and strain state resources. He also explains why he thinks the latest ethical mess for Rep. Charlie Rangel makes him unfit to keep serving as chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.
View from Inside the Summit
Minnesota Rep. John Kline, the top Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee, gives us his reflections on Thursday’s health care summit. Did this event accomplish anything or just showcase the various talking points? What were the key points the GOP wanted to convey? Why did the president dismiss all criticism of backroom deals and possible use of reconciliation? What happens next as President Obama imposes a six-week deadline to get this done?
Scandal Strikes NY Dems
Life has gotten even tougher for two embattled New York Democrats. Rep. Charlie Rangel is facing another round of alleged ethics violations – violations Rangel says were made by his staff and not by him. New York Gov. David Paterson is bowing out of his campaign to remain in office after allegations he tried to help a key staffer who reportedly battered his girlfriend. We discuss both stories and their fallout with Richard Benedetto, former White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. He also reported for Gannett in New York, including six years in the state capital of Albany.
The News
The bipartisan health summit sucked all the oxygen out of official Washington on Thursday. Where were the flash points? What were the key policy debates? What were some of the more bizarre statements? And was anything accomplished? Listen here for a full recap.
Huge Costs, No Choice
Texas Rep. Kevin Brady says Republicans were right at Thursday’s summit to point out that the real assessment of the Democratic health plan shows huge deficits that only get larger over time. He also says reforming a complex system one step at a time is far better then one massive plan. He also explains why the government will determine your health plan, even without a public option.
The Talking Points and the Truth
Georgia Rep. Tom Price, also a practicing physician, says today’s health summit has only shown that Democrats want government to make key health care decisions and Republicans want to empower people with those decisions. He says more attention needs to be paid to the impact of government mandates on health coverage. He says that fundamental disagreement means the two parties are not as close as Democrats would like to suggest. And we get his thoughts on Democrats possibly using reconciliation to get the bill done.
Online Tax Revolt
Jim Hoagland, chairman of the Online Tax Revolt campaign, explains what tax message tens of thousands of Americans are sending to Washington. What about the current tax code has people outraged? What kind of changes do they want to see? And how can you join?
Lots of Talk, No Deal
John Gizzi of Human Events discusses the bipartisan health summit and why he thinks it will do very little to help Democrats get the plan over the finish line. He also says the Democratic strategy of suggesting there are very few differences will fall flat. Gizzi also offers his opinion on Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown voting for the Democratic jobs bill and the latest news in the midterm elections.
The News
Republicans and Democrats finding very little common ground heading into health care summit, more and more Senate Dems warming up to reconciliation, Senate easily passes $15 billion jobs bill and the chairman of Toyota promises safety improvements in Congressional testimony.