The Battle For Healthcare Reform

LATIMES: The public and employers are staggering under the cost of the present system -- rising at more than twice the rate of inflation and expected to surpass $2.2 trillion this year.

After months of spadework and consultation with the interested parties, lawmakers begin the most sweeping healthcare debate in a generation with broad agreement on the need to control costs, improve the care Americans receive and expand coverage to nearly everyone.

But shadowing the debate, which is expected to dominate Washington's summer and extend into the fall, are the same vexing controversies that have derailed almost all previous efforts to reshape the U.S. healthcare system.

In one of their most controversial proposals, Obama and many, but not all, congressional Democrats want to create an optional government insurance plan that individuals could choose instead of a private plan. Supporters argue that such a plan would curb costs and improve quality by creating competition for the handful of private insurance companies now dominating the market. Few proposals ignite hotter partisan passions. --- Click here for REST OF THIS LATIMES STORY!... ---

LATIMES: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced his version of the nations health care reform legislation on Tuesday [, which would enact Pres. Obama's optional government insurance plan.]

Senator Kennedy's bill to revamp the way Americans are insured would require all Americans to get medical insurance, establish complex new insurance exchanges to facilitate near-universal coverage, and dramatically step up government oversight of the insurance industry. Kennedy's bill was received with furious criticism [from Republicans and even some so-called moderate (blue dog) Democrats.] --- Click here for REST OF THIS LATIMES STORY!... ---

The private insurance industry, supported by congressional Republicans, are complaining that competition from a low cost "single payer" public health care program would cut into their near-monopolistic lock on the health care marketplace and significantly impact industry profits. The insurance industry is lobbying congress to scuttle the so called "single payer" optional government insurance approach to health care reform, and instead pass federal mandate legislation that requires people to purchase private health insurance, enforced with fines. Read more at Insurance Industry Pushing For "Private, For Profit" Health Care Reform.

Talk Back On The Republican's Health Care "Rationing" Talking Point

Mastermind of conservative Republican talking points Frank Luntz authored a 26-page report in April advising Republicans on how best to frame the debate over health care reform TO KILL IT!

The memo is titled “The Language of Health Care 2009″ and it lays out the argument for “stopping the Washington takeover” of health care.” But if fully implemented it may very well stop health care reform:

This document is based on polling results and Instant Response dial sessions conducted in April 2009. It captures not just what Americans want in health care reform, but exactly what they need to hear to accept or reject a national health care plan. The report zeroes in on what worries Americans, like a national health care plan might engender health care rationing, and provides the words Republicans need to say to take advantage of those worries. Luntz say that from today forward, those words should be used by everyone. (Memo PDF HERE)

Listening to cable news tonight every Republican talking about Pres. Obama's universal health care insurance option used the word rationing. It you take the time to read Luntz's memo you will see rationing is a key fear word Republicans plan to use to turn public opinion against Obama's universal health care insurance option. The rationing argument has no basis in fact or reality, it is just a talking point plucked out of the air because a poll said Americans don't like the idea of health care rationing. (Ask a person what they fear most and then use that fear to scare them. )

Be ready to talk back if hear someone say Obama's plan will cause care rationing.

Gov. Perry To Order Special Session Of Legislature

KXAN Austin News in Austin is tweeting that Governor Perry will call a special session to deal with unfinished legislation! Perry is not saying what's on the agenda for special session... nor when it will begin.

My speculation on the unfinished legislation is that the Texas Department of Insurance, the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, the Department of Transportation, the Racing Commission and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corp. were due for "sunset review," during the 2009 legislative session - but the legislature didn't get around to it before adjourning on June 1st.

"Sunset review" is the process by which state agencies are reviewed every 12 years. If lawmakers do not pass bills to renew charters to keep agencies operating over the next 12 year period, they are automatically ordered to close down over the next year.

The Republican controlled legislature did not manage to get to the business of "state agency sunset review," and so, did not renew the charter on these 5 agencies. These agencies are now automatically ordered to close down by Sept. 1, 2010, under the Texas "sunset law."

Some reaction from lawmakers:

State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth: If the special session is to address critical issues such as agency sunset measures, “The sooner the better," he said. "But if this is for his right-wing ideological agenda, then he’s using state money for his campaign purposes and that’s wrong.”

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth: “The Sunset Commission staff is recommending that we need to do it soon,” he said. “Let’s do it now, rather than later on down the road. Having it after the primary would look like it’s being timed and held for political reasons. I don’t think that would be a good idea.” He said he hoped the session would be devoted just to the issues involving those state agencies now in limbo. “It would be absolutely horrible, bad timing, if we were to go back and do something as divisive as the voter suppression bill. Bringing that bill up would be the worst move he could make.”

Read more. . .

Republicans Say No To Pres. Obama's Universal Health Care Coverage Plan

A debate over creating a single-payer public option insurance plan as part of sweeping health care reform intensified Monday. All but one of the 10 Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee on Monday signed a letter to Obama expressing their opposition to the public option, which Obama strongly supports. In their letter to Obama, the Finance Committee Republicans said a public option would result in “a federal government takeover of our healthcare system, taking decisions out of the hands of doctors and patients and placing them in the hands of a Washington bureaucracy.” [The Hill]

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), has said that getting lasting reform signed into law will require broad bipartisan support, therefore, single-payer public option insurance plan is off the table because Republicans will not support it. Baucus has been a staunch opponent of any health care reform plan in which the government would provide universal coverage.

“The key to a bipartisan bill is to not have a government plan in the bill — no matter what it’s called,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters this month. “When I say no government plan I mean no government plan. Not something described some other way, not something that gets us to the same place by indirection — no government plan.”

Baucus has kept single-payer advocates out of Senate hearings and negotiations and has yet to endorse a compromise proposal by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) that would give Americans the option of buying into a publicly run plan that would compete with private insurers. Baucus furthered his efforts for bipartisanship with Republicans by promoting Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign health care reform proposals to tax employee health care benefits as income.

Sen. Max Baucus got some not-so friendly feedback from his Montana constituents over his efforts to keep a single-payer public option insurance plan off the table. Five separate accounts of public meetings back home in Montana, published in four different local papers, show Montana voters were downright hostile to Baucus' efforts to block a universal health care option. "Majority wants single-payer health care," headlined an account in the Helena Independent Record. At several of the public meetings, Montanans' ire was directed at Baucus chief of staff Jon Selib, who defended Baucus' stance as an attempt for bipartisan support for health care reform. [huffingtonpost.com]