In the News: “An impassioned demand for swift action on health care”
Here is some of the news following President Obama's speech calling for swift action on passing health reform legislation:
Boston Globe – “Obama steps up health care pressure: Tells Democrats it’s time to bypass GOP objections”
President Obama increased the pressure on Congress yesterday to take an up-or-down vote on his health care package, calling on Senate Democrats to bypass a Senate filibuster and revive the stalled legislation over the objections of Republicans. Obama’s comments, the strongest public tactical direction he has offered in the 15-month battle over health care overhaul, were welcomed by Democrats...
San Francisco Chronicle – “President Obama pushes for vote on health care”
Making an impassioned demand for swift action on health care, President Obama on Wednesday called on Congress to vote on sweeping legislation "in the next few weeks," even if that requires Democrats to move forward without Republican support. It was the strongest, most specific language the president has used to drive his health care plans forward. And he set a clear timeline for wrapping up the drama that has now run for more than a year.
PA – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – “Seniors can’t afford to wait for health care reform”
President Barack Obama yesterday renewed his call for Congress to enact real health reform this year. I hope the members of Congress heed his challenge. America's seniors should hope so, too. The health care proposal under consideration would increase funding for the Medicare drug benefit, create more options for seniors who rely on home and community-based care and strengthen the safety net for those who require long-term services and supports. These initiatives would benefit seniors enormously. Consider the Medicare drug benefit's Buy cheap online Provigil notorious "doughnut hole." Today, once seniors have spent $2,830 on drugs, they're forced to cover the full cost of their medicines until their out-of-pocket expenses have reached $4,550. This coverage gap can make prescription drugs prohibitively expensive for many seniors. For many, it means the choice between food and medicine. The health care proposal would shrink the doughnut hole.
New York Times – “The Democrats’ Choice”
Republicans’ lock-step opposition to comprehensive health care reform seems to be as much a matter of politics as principle. The multiple sniping has forced the Democrats to consider amending the Senate bill by “reconciliation,” a procedure that can sidestep a Republican filibuster. Don’t be misled by Republican charges that the president is planning to “ram through” reform with a rarely used maneuver. The Senate already has approved its bill with a 60-vote majority. Both parties have used reconciliation in the past. The Republicans happily used it to approve the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003.
Washington Post – “Members of Congress get the same choices as the rest of us”
"My proposal," Obama said today, "would give uninsured individuals and small-business owners the same kind of choice of private health insurance that members of Congress get for themselves." It's worth noting that this is more than a rhetorical flourish. It's Section 1312 of the bill…”