Why didn't President Obama submit specific healthcare legislation to Congress?

Proposing broad guidelines without specific legislative proposals just didn't get the job done as we are now discovering.

President Obama has frequently submitted very detailed and specific legislative proposals to Congress on other important matters.

What made this different?

A specific proposal means specific things legislators can attack day in and day out. One blue dog might not support the plan for some narrow reason, while another blue dog might not support the plan for some other narrow reason. TV ads would nitpick the bill and take the worst aspects (from their point of view) out of context.

On the other hand, if Congress itself comes up with the bill, there are fewer excuses for Blue Dogs and other moderates to oppose the bill (since they agreed to it at the negotiating table). If it works out, it will put Democrats in Congress on the same side, and they can use their numerical clout to pass the bill in both houses.

Of course, there are problems doing it this way too (such as gridlock in committee). The President is probably going to step in and get more specific on what he wants. But I am happy that Congress has more of a say in the bill this time around, given the 1993 experience.

people who are involved with the whole process. Supposedly, that is the way to build a consensus.

I think they chose this route to show that the process is open. That is why they are insisting on including republicans in the bill making.

Obama is more concerned with getting health care through. He know that history will judge him on this issue and so he is more apt to deflect praise and ignore derision.

Knowledge, judgment, and honesty are not high priorities of Better Belie It.

This has been another episode of Simple Answers To Simple Questions.

It explains in detail why they took this approach and I wouldn't do it justice if I tried to paraphraase it here.

And, yeah, like the commentor above me, it has a lot to do with the failures of the Clinton's efforts in the 90s.

I don't think so.

People were hoping that President Obama would lead this fight by spelling out exactly what kind of health care legislation he wanted.

He didn't.

so that you could school yourself on the facts of why they have chosen to approach this the way they have.

You seem intent on feeling let down.

Oh well, it was an informative read.

Yesterday President Obama delivered proposed legislation to monitor the nations financial system.

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Washington Post
July 23, 2009
Excerpt

The Obama administration on Wednesday also delivered proposed legislation to Capitol Hill that would create a structure to monitor risk across the financial system. Under the administration's proposal, the Federal Reserve would serve as the systemic risk regulator, but a Financial Services Oversight Council made up of various other regulators also would gather and coordinate information about systemic risk.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072203163.html

Well, you're now on ignore.

enjoy your isolation and unrecommendation

we've been waiting on since Truman. Who knew they would be such pussies though?

Do you really think President Obama is that naive?

I don't think he is but he certainly listened to a lot of bad advice.

I don't think Obama or any of us knew how much push back from Democrats he would get on a strong Public Option. Especially considering he campaigned on it. Everyone knew this was a big part of his plan. I really don't think any of us or Obama thought that would happen.

Why should this be any different.

:rofl:

healthy as the most unhealthy among us."

FDR realized that he, Eleanor and the kids would have been up Shit Creek, had they not been wealthy.

The average person keep their jobs. And no one in his Administration handed out billions to inner circle of top banksters unsupervised.

as we've seen even the committees in the same chamber can have differing views. I think on a bill like this where they're very differing views allowing Congress to take the lead has proven smart compared to Clinton this has been a smooth process.

Is he supposed to do things how the last president did or else?

Perhaps you're just too young or you're new to politics.

But, you'll learn given time and experience.

I wish you well and haven't given up on you.

Take care!

nt

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Well, I suppose if you're incapable of civil discussion and haven't any ideas to share on DU you have no recourse but to engage in negative personal attacks against other posters.

That's too bad.

Perhaps you can find some cheap trash talk board that meets your low standards but please don't carry on like that here.

OK?

Go have a pretzel, warrior, and don't do a Bush with it.

:)

I won't do that or unrecommend posts because that's undemocratic.

We're not supposed to have understood it.

n/t

Presidents propose legislation all of the time! But, Congress must approve, and can amend, such proposals before they can be signed by the President and become law.

So where did you learn that Presidents never propose legislation to Congress?

If someone here told you that, they mislead you.

Yesterday President Obama delivered proposed legislation to monitor the nations financial system.

-------------------------------------

Washington Post
July 23, 2009
Excerpt

The Obama administration on Wednesday also delivered proposed legislation to Capitol Hill that would create a structure to monitor risk across the financial system. Under the administration's proposal, the Federal Reserve would serve as the systemic risk regulator, but a Financial Services Oversight Council made up of various other regulators also would gather and coordinate information about systemic risk.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072203163.html

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June 11, 2009
Obama Administration Proposes Legislation on Say-on-Pay
by Robert Kropp

Legislation would authorize the SEC to require annual shareowner votes on executive compensation, and would require standards of independence for corporate compensation committees.

The first proposed legislation, according to a statement issued by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, will give "the SEC authority to require companies to give shareholders a non-binding vote on executive compensation packages." The second will give "the SEC the power to ensure that compensation committees are more independent, adhering to standards similar to those in place for audit committees as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act."

The second proposed legislation will require that corporate compensation committees have the same degree of independence as do audit committees under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which introduced specific mandates and requirements for corporate financial reporting.

http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2716.html

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White House proposes new pay legislation
Obama administration wants to give investors more say on executive compensation. But will the changes, including a new 'pay czar,' go far enough?
By David Ellis, CNNMoney.com staff writer
June 10, 2009

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/10/news/companies/compensation_geithner/index.htm

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February 27, 2009
Obama proposes mine cleanup reforms
Legislation would stop coalfield states from diverting funding
President Barack Obama wants to stop coalfield states from diverting money intended to clean up abandoned coal mines to other projects.
By Ken Ward Jr.

President Barack Obama wants to stop coalfield states from diverting money intended to clean up abandoned coal mines to other projects.

Obama plans to submit legislation to enact the change, and on Thursday submitted a budget proposal that includes language deleting the distribution of up to $200 million a year to states that have already reclaimed all of their abandoned coal sites.

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200902261113

How can this possibly be?

and the information they gave you.

But now, you do understand that Presidents can and do propose legislation to Congress .... right?

;)

and I think post #1 answered it well. I don't think Obama's approach has been a failure - now is the time, during the August recess, for citizens to make their feelings known to their representatives directly - the "job" isn't over.

Too bad the goon squad has chosen to go after you personally instead of engaging in an actual discussion.

Too bad DU has become a haven for bullies and sycophants instead of the serious discussion board it could have been.

is to ensure that nothing of substance regarding health care changes.

His *pretend* job is to convince us that he's on our side.

Presidents can talk about what they want in (propose) legislation and can sign it when it comes to their desk. Congress and the Senate make legislation and amendments and then banter about until they vote for or against the legislation.

LBJs model of how to get stuff through Congress -- and LBJ was very good at "managing" Congress.

Doris Kearns Goodwin recently wrote an interesting article about this, saying the O-team had been studying LBJs methods.

medicare for all".