On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board,a provision in the new health care laws that creates a board of unelected officials to reduce Medicare costs. Tennessee Rep. Phil Roe is a longtime physician and author of the repeal effort. Roe tells us Congress should be eager to rescind this part of the law since the Congress would have virtually no oversight over this panel. He explains how the provision got into the law in the first place and why quite a few Democrats are on his side. Roe also details how care would be indirectly denied by this panel, not by denying treatment but by denying reimbursement to doctors who prescribe treatment rejected as being too costly. Listen here for the full discussion with Rep. Phil Roe.
Archives for March 2012
Neighbor Helping Neighbor
Late last week, a powerful storm system spawned deadly tornadoes across multiple states. Some of the deadliest storms struck southern Indiana, much of which is represented by Rep. Todd Young. He describes his reaction to seeing the devastation in the district and how many families and business owners are affected by the storms. The congressman also describes the inspiring spirit of the people he represents and the selflessness demonstrated at the darkest hours. Young explains why neighbor helping neighbor is preferable to waiting for federal assistance but also says critical aid is available through state and federal sources. He also discusses how anyone can help with the relief effort – either through donations or volunteering one’s own time and energy.
Sizing Up Super Tuesday
Mitt Romney won six states and a big percentage of the delegates on Super Tuesday, but a very narrow win in Ohio revived doubts about his ability to win broad support throughout the GOP. John Gizzi of Human Events explains the good news and bad news for Romney after Tuesday’s results, which candidate has the upper hand in the next few contests and whether the calls for Newt Gingrich to drop out are going to work or fall on deaf ears. He also disusses what role Ron Paul can still play in this campaign. Gizzi also takes us inside the primary defeats for Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt. Finally, he offers analysis on this week’s meetings between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu and whether the two men are any closer on policy than they have been in the past.
Three Martini Lunch 3/8/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review like the polls they’re seeing of Scott Brown consistently ahead in his Massachusetts Senate race and every possible Republican trouncing Democrat Bob Kerrey in Nebraska. They also savage Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for saying a military mission in Syria would require the U.S. to get “international permission” but not authorization from Congress. And they rant about the clear double standard in how the media cover disparaging comments about women based on the political views of the offender.
GOP Aims for Bigger House Majority
The presidential race is getting most of the attention in the 2012 campaign, but the Congressional races are also very important. In 2010, Republicans picked up more than 60 House seats and claimed the majority. As might be expected, both parties are predicting strong gains this year. Paul Lindsey is communications director at the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is tasked with recruiting and re-electing GOP candidates. Lindsey tells us why he’s confident that Republicans will add to their majority and not suffer the loss of many seats gained in 2010. He also explains why Democratic predictions of reclaiming the majority are nothing more than “chest thumping”. Lindsey discusses why redistricting based on the most recent census is likely to benefit Republicans more than Democrats and why the list of retiring members also works to his party’s advantage. Lindsey also tells us why he’s not worried about a surprisingly high number of GOP retirements in California.
‘I’m A Proven Fighter’
Republicans are making a fierce push to take the majority in the U.S. Senate in the November elections. One of the fiercest fights will be in Missouri as the GOP looks to defeat first-term Democrat Claire McCaskill. Right now, the leading Republican contender is former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman. She tells us why she believes McCaskill needs to be unseated and how her philosophy on jobs, the economy and health care stand in stark contrast to the votes McCaskill has taken in Washington. Steelman also makes her case for why she is the best choice for conservative voters among the Republicans in the race.
Three Martini Lunch 3/7/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review search hard for a good martini and decide that conservatives are at least a step closer to having a nominee to rally around following the split decisions on Super Tuesday. They also scold President Obama for mocking a press conference question that referenced his earlier statements that energy prices would rise under his plans. And they have some fun as MSNBC hosts get downright despondent at the primary defeat of Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich.
Iran Nuke in ‘Months, Not Years’
President Obama now says the United States will stand with Israel in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. But Obama also says he thinks crippling sanctions will make military action unnecessary and Iran is not all that close to completing a nuke. But Ohio Rep. Stave Chabot disagrees on both fronts. Chabot is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. He says Iran will have a completed nuke in less than a year unless they are stopped and he does not believe sanctions are doing the job. Chabot also believes Obama’s tougher stance may well be an effort to boost his re-election chances.
Obama’s ‘Bizarre’ Keystone Policy
Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry is continuing to push for the Obama administration to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. The plan was at least temporarily rejected by President Obama, who says Congressional Republicans imposed a timetable that did not allow to evaluate the impact of the pipeline. Rep. Terry says that’s wrong on a number of fronts. He says the environmental studies were already done and the State Department gave it’s blessing. He also says the 60-day deadline for Obama to decide was badly characterized in the media. Rep. Terry says the president really had 60 days once Nebraska figured out how to re-route a portion of the pipeline and that hasn’t happened yet. Terry explains why the pipeline should be a no-brainer for Obama and discusses what impact the start of the pipeline would have on energy prices.
Three Martini Lunch 3/6/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review like the resolve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and they appreciate President’s Obama’s renewed support for Israel – even if it is just an election year policy change. They also scratch their heads as President Obama offers more money to people who made bad home-buying decisions. And they enjoy some of the campaign tactics involved in an Ohio congressional primary.