What Obama Must Demand from Congress on Health Care
September 3, 2009, 12:45PM
Congress returns next week to one of the fiercest and most important debates in recent memory -- whether and to what extent the nation will provide health care to all Americans, and how we will reign in the soaring costs of health care overall. But do not expect unusual courage from this Congress in standing up to demagogic lies and money-toting lobbyists. An unusually large portion is facing close races in 2010, both in primaries and in the general election. Republicans have many primary challenges from the right. A record number of Democrats, who took over Congress in 2006, hail from traditionally Republican or swing states and districts.
In order to get anything meaningful through this session of Congress, then, the President will have to give congressional Democrats far more leadership and more cover. Doing so is harder now than before the recess, when he was still basking in the afterglow of a honeymoon and 60 percent favorabilities.Yet it's not too late. Addressing a joint session of Congress next Wednesday is a good idea but Obama can't rely solely on his exceptional rhetorical skills.
He'll need to twist arms, cajole, force recalcitrant members to join him, threaten retribution if they don't come along.Most importantly, he'll need to be specific about what he wants -- especially about three things. I hope says the following next Wednesday, and makes clear to individual members that he means business.
1. I will not stand for a bill that leaves millions of Americans without health care. .............................
2. The only way to cover all Americans without causing deficits to rise is to require that the wealthiest Americans pay a bit extra.
.................................................
3. Finally, I want a true public insurance option -- not a "cooperative," and not something that's triggered if certain goals aren't met. A public option is critical for lowering health-care costs. Today, private insurers don't face enough competition to guarantee low prices and high service. In 36 states, three or fewer insurers account for 65 percent of the insurance market. A public insurance option would also have the scale and authority needed to negotiate low drug prices and low prices from medical providers. Commercial insurers now pay about 30 higher rates to providers than the government pays through Medicare, because Medicare has the scale to get those lower rates. A nationwide public option could get similar savings. And those savings would mean lower premiums, deductibles and co-payments for Americans who can barely afford health insurance right now.
We'll see.
more:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/robert_reich/2009/09/what-obama-must-demand-from-co.php?ref=fpblg
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
