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.
Zazi Plea ‘Fortuity’, Not Victory
Attorney General Eric Holder says bringing terrorism suspects into civilian courts was vindicated by the guilty plea and cooperation this week by Najibullah Zazi. But Kyndra Rotunda disagrees. She is a former U.S. Army prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay. She says a guilty plea is not proof that a guilty verdict would have come. She also says the Bush administration was wrong to try Zacarias Moussaoui and Richard Reid in civilian courts. Rotunda also says the Obama administration was out of bounds in stopping the military tribunal against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – and even removing the judge when he refused to halt the proceedings.
We Don’t Need A Performance
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert says it’s obvious the White House has no interest in a real bipartisan discussion on health care reform legislation, when it’s final version of the bill came out three days before Thursday’s ‘summit’. Gohmert fears the Democrats will ignore the will of the people and ram this major expansion of government down the throats of the Republicans and the public.
Obamacare Full of Political Favors
The Obama administration is proudly noting that the infamous ‘Cornhusker Kickback’ that secured passage of the health care bill in the Senate will not be in its preferred final version. But what sweetheart deals ARE still in there? The ‘Louisiana Purchase’ is just the tip of the iceberg. Arizona Rep. John Shadegg explains how the backroom deals that Americans hate are alive and well in the Obama health plan. We’ll discuss it all with Rep. Shadegg and get his reaction to Congressional liberals wanting to bring back the public option as well.
The News
Republicans and Democrats spar over the quality of Obama’s health care plan and debate the value of Thursday’s summit, five Republicans join with Dems on jobs bill, Defense Secretary Gates discusses civilian casualties in Afghanistan, family members of Pan Am 103 victims outraged as convicted bomber lives in luxury three months after he was supposed to be dead, Sen. Sanders and Rep. King under fire for recent comments.