Kennedy, Baucus stay on course on healthcare
As Congress returns today from a two-week recess, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Max Baucus reaffirmed their intention to push through a healthcare overhaul this year.
Baucus, a Montana Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat who leads the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, have been leading the charge so far. In a letter to President Obama, they announced what they called an "aggressive" schedule for their committees to draft comprehensive healthcare legislation in early June.
"We must act swiftly, because the cost of inaction is too high for individuals, families, businesses, state and federal governments," the senators wrote. "Comprehensive health care reform legislation will responsibly contain costs, improve quality, enhance disease prevention, and provide coverage to all Americans. We are committed to working with you, and with our colleagues in Congress, to enact legislation to achieve these long-overdue reforms without delay."
Obama has convened a White House summit on healthcare, where Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, made an emotional appearance. He has also set aside a "downpayment" on healthcare in his $3.6 trillion proposed budget.
The full text of the letter is below:
April 20, 2009
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
For nearly a year, we have been working together toward the shared goal of significant reforms to our health care system. We must act swiftly, because the cost of inaction is too high for individuals, families, businesses, state and federal governments. Comprehensive health care reform legislation will responsibly contain costs, improve quality, enhance disease prevention, and provide coverage to all Americans. We are committed to working with you, and with our colleagues in Congress, to enact legislation to achieve these long-overdue reforms without delay. We are writing to you today to let you know of the schedule for committee action that we intend to follow to meet this goal.
Since our committees share jurisdiction over health care reform legislation in the Senate, we have jointly laid out an aggressive schedule to accomplish our goal. Both committees plan to mark-up legislation in early June. Our intention is for that legislation to be very similar, and to reflect a shared approach to reform, so that the measures that our two committees report can be quickly merged into a single bill for consideration on the Senate floor.
The unprecedented level of funding devoted to health care reform in your budget this year leaves no doubt about your commitment to the goals of expanding coverage, reducing costs, and improving health and health care. We have a moral duty to ensure that every American can get quality health care. We must act to contain the growth of health care costs to ensure our economic stability; to help American businesses deal with the health care challenge; and to make sure that we are getting our money’s worth. With your continued leadership and commitment, and working together, we remain certain that our goal of enacting comprehensive health care reform can be accomplished with the urgency that the American people rightly demand.
Respectfully yours,
Senator Max Baucus Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Chairman Chairman
Senate Finance Committee Senate HELP Committee
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WE ARE THE RICHEST, COUNTRY ON EARTH: OUr greatest generation did the impossible, they saved our planet from the devastating claws of monsterous dictators. We have saved the lives of hundreds of millions as result of our amazing food production. we have always led the world in humanitarian out reach.Yet in this year 2009, we are still unable to provide all americans with life saving medical care. MILLIONS OF MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS ARE DYING IN CHAIRS RATHER THAN BEING SAVED IN A HOSPITAL BED. WhY? Because they cannot afford the giant pemiums for private health insurance. THIS IS UNGODLY!
You are so full of it! Go to Canada or England and see what there government run health care it like. Believe them all so, they can bankrupt this county. What do you think medicaid is? No one including illegals are denied health care. Wake up before we lose this country.
What do you mean millions of Americans are dyiing in chairs? What is your basis of fact for such a statement
If they (Congress) will give us the same health care they receive, it might be worth busting the bank for. However, we know what we are heading for is rationed health care with fewer and fewer people willing to become doctors. If socialized medicine is so great, then why do people all over the world come here if they have serious problems? Who wants to be a doctor if the government is going to tell you what to charge and who you can see.
I think that Americans are going to love the non-voluntary euthanasia that's being practiced in Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands and being debated in Ireland. Even Daschle said that older Americans are just going to have to get used to feeling old, rather than seeing a doctor when they want once socialized medicine is enacted. Boy... I can hardly wait to get cancer at 60 and be told that it's not really cost effective to keep me alive anymore... jumping up and down with joy for socialized medicine here!!!
Democrats plan to give big health benefits to 47 million additional people, increase the benefits to the other 220 million people, and reduce the cost to virtually everyone. They have not been honest about the cost. Why? Because if they were to do what they imply they will do, the cost would be 10 times what they say it will be. What is really going to happen is we will all get less health care. It will be rationed like it is in Canada. We will all pay a lot more in both taxes and premiums. Finally, healthcare will be increasing "managed" by the government. Just like they are telling the banks and car companies how to do everything.
Healthcare definitely needs big reform...however, gov't programs that provide great healthcare to the non-working class, while middle or low income working families cannot aford healthcare is a crime!!! What is the incentive here - don't work...live off the gov't?
There are many opponents of National Health Care who complain that Bureaucrats will determine what health care will be provided, However, we here in the USA have the most expensive health (care) insurance in the industrial world, yet when someone really needs care it is a bureaucrat in the HMO who determines what care the HMO will provide. A friend of mine died when her AAA rated insurance cut her off half way thru her cancer care - even though her doctor pleaded for the treatment to be continued.
It is the RIGHT of every citizen - not the privilege of the wealthy - in this country to have proper wellness and health care. When a 12 year old boy died (in Maryland I think) because his mother couldn't get $84 dollar dental care for her son who complained of a tooth ache, this young person ended up costing the tax-payers $250 thousand in hospital care before he died. Hardly the Christian or American way!
People do not understand what is going to happen if Obamas health care is passed. The reason millions do not have ins is because a good part are immigrants. Look at Canadas figures and statistics for healthcare, if the government does not think a test is necessary you will not get it, breast cancer is hi in Canada compared to other countries because more diagnostic testing is not approved. The government should not be in charge of our health care and we should not be supporting immigrants. This will be a national catastrophe Your physician will not decide what is necessary the government will Wake up America
Reagan stated the obvious more than 2 decades ago - the problem IS the government - too big, too intrusive. Anyone who thinks government control of ANY industry will benefit the AVERAGE American is delusional. Social security, post office, Amtrak, I could go on and on.....
I agree we need health care reform - but that means tart reform, less regulation, and allowing the free market to make it work, such as allowing people to form group health insurance across state lines, focusing on prevention, etc.
I don't want a bureaucrat in between me and my doctor. My medical is private and none of Obama's or Kennedy's business. Nowhere in the Constitution does it state that healthcare is a right or that taxpayers (yes I mean the 55% of us that actually DO pay federal income taxes should have to pay for the healthcare of the 45% that don't pay these taxes.
People can get insurance. They advertise it all day long for as little as $5/day (single) and $10 (family) but most would rather spend that $5/10 on alcohol and cigs. They expect the government to pick up their tabs. Were are priorities.
Healthcare from the government will eventually lead to rationing. Rationing means that only those that have a "chance" will be given the health care they need.
The elderly and the very sick will be the ones to suffer. Look at England and Canada. See what their death rates from cancer are, they same cancers that are cured everyday in the USA. Everything the government touches rots, the same will apply to health care. Does anyone thing that their familes will receive the same healthcare as the Obama and Kennedy families will. Don't be delusional. The politicians have nothing to worry about. WE DO
There's that con line again "WE MUST ACT SWIFTLY". The US Healthcare system is complex and looking at just how well the "swift", thoughtless and debate-absent actions of Congress and the Administration have worked to produce on the $700 billion non-TARP TARP, the $787 BILLION more-payoff than stimulus bill, the $410 BILLION pork-ridden omnibus spending bill, the outrageous $3.55 TRILLION budget. ENOUGH ALREADY, they think we're fools. It's a shame that we will need to wait until 2010 to VOTE OUT EVERY SINGLE SUPPORTER IN CONGRESS. They should be thrown out now in response to these power grabs.