Increasing Deficits Causing Concern Over Health Care Plan

The Congressional Budget Office’s new estimate that the federal deficit will reach $7.14 trillion over the next ten years isn’t making Americans feel any more comfortable about supporting President Obama’s healthcare reform plan said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) in a conference call on Tuesday.

“We are running trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see, and with these updated numbers that CBO is coming out with, clearly the fiscal picture has worsened...and I think that animates a lot of people’s concerns about an expansion of healthcare.”

Thune, who has held a few town hall events on healthcare in his home state during the August recess, said that the country’s fiscal situation is causing some folks to oppose certain elements of reform, such as the public option provision endorsed by Obama.

“A real concern on people’s minds is ‘Why are we looking now at doing something that will add costs, build on programs that are already halfway to bankruptcy...and on an unsustainable trajectory.’”

Thune, of course, was referring to Medicare, the government's heath insurance program for senior citizens. He did, however, say that Senate Republicans are open to supporting Medicare spending cuts that would “find savings” for the plan.

Thune reiterated his support for a recent report put out by the non-partisan National Federation of Independent Business Association. The study concluded that the three healthcare bills that have passed the House would increase taxes, and as a result would harm small businesses across the country.

Thune stated confidently that no Republican will support a comprehensive healthcare bill, although he suggested that a more incremental bill could achieve bipartisan backing in the Senate. However, Thune sounded skeptical that Democrats would allow Republicans to be a part of the legislative process once the bill shifted back to the House.

Thune also expressed doubts over the possibility that Democrats may attempt to pass legislation through the process of reconciliation, which would require lawmakers to split the bill into pieces and then vote on the different parts individually.

“As a policy matter, they could do it. As a political matter, it’s really difficult. Americans don’t want to see something jammed through,” said Thune. He added that although reconciliation is hard to understand, many of his constituents would oppose its use by Democrats on the grounds that “something as large as healthcare could be passed on a party line vote.”

Thune articulated that Republicans want healthcare reform to address issues like tort reform and long-term sustainability of Medicare. He maintained that Republicans are supportive of provisions that would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to customers with pre-existing conditions, but suggested that most in the party are wary of a bill that includes any sort of mandate on individuals to obtain health insurance.

Obama Takes Town Hall Tour To Montana

In New Hampshire on Tuesday, President Barack Obama expressed his desire to put an end to what he called discrimination on the part of insurance companies that deny coverage to Americans with pre-existing medical conditions. At a town hall held Friday in Belgrade, Montana, the President discussed how his health insurance reform plan will extend coverage to folks who've been dropped from their plans as a result of becoming sick.

"It's wrong, it's bankrupting families, it's bankrupting businesses, and we are going to fix it!" said the President.

Like Tuesday's town hall, Friday's forum occurred without incident. Obama told the audience that the majority of town halls across the country have been similarly civil, but the aim of certain cable networks to produce "good television" has distorted the public's perception.

"TV loves a ruckus," Obama explained.

Obama also decried the cable networks for having a collectively "selective memory" when it comes to ways in which his administration's stimulus plan, which passed earlier this year, has benefitted the state of Montana. The President evoked the stimulus in an attempt to persuade the audience to trust the government to effectively implement and manage important programs, such as health care reform.

Obama took on opponents of his plan, insisting that special interest groups and their political allies are using fear tactics to try and derail reform attempts. The President then cited a scary statistic of his own, reminding the audience that 14,000 Americans have lost health insurance each day since the start of the recession. With his finger pointed at the audience, Obama warned, "that could be you."

Following his remarks, Obama took a series of questions ranging from how his plan would be paid for, to whether or not the plan would raise taxes on the middle class, to how the plan would affect Medicaid and Medicare.

The President was asked to clarify how a public option plan would affect satisfied private insurance holders. In his response, Obama deviated from the standard "if you like the insurance you have, you can keep it" talking point he frequently employs, stating instead that "you would more than likely still be on your private insurance plan."

One audience member, who confessed to being an NRA card holder and enjoying the cable news coverage of the health care debate, asked the President to explain how he would pay for his plan without driving up the federal deficit or raising taxes. The questioner added that he wanted to hear Obama's response directly because he's fed up with the "spin."

Obama replied that he was amused by critics in both Congress and on television who have complained that the nation can't afford reform. The President repeated his support for lowering the amount of itemized deductions that individuals making over $250,000 per year can take, but noted that even if that idea is adopted Congress still must figure out a way to account for roughly $30 billion in funding per year.

"We've got to get over the notion that we can have something for nothing," said Obama.

The President mentioned his plan to cut government subsidies to insurance companies that cover medical costs which could ably be handled by Medicare. Doing so, he said, would save taxpayers upwards of $177 billion over the next decade. Obama also discussed streamlining the medicaid process by forcing hospitals and physicians' offices to share patients' records electronically.

The President took a question from a health insurance salesman who asked why the reform debate has become about insurance and not overall care. "I can't do insurance reform by itself," remarked Obama, implying that overhauling the nation's health care structure would first require a reshaping of its insurance system.

Commenting that he was running out of time, Obama agreed to take one last question from a woman in the crowd. However, rather than asking the President a question about his plan, she read Obama the preamble to the Montana state constitution; a curious ending to an otherwise typical Obama town hall.

In Mexico, Obama Addresses Critics, Critical Issues

In a news conference Monday in Guadalajara, President Barack Obama issued a direct response to those who have criticized him for not doing enough to ensure that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is allowed to return to power.

"The same critics who say the U.S. has not intervened enough in Honduras are the same people who say that we're always intervening and Yankees need to get out of Latin America....you can't have it both ways."

Aside from that, Obama's remarks, which addressed a range of issues, both domestically and internationally, from healthcare, to immigration to Mexico's security, were fairly nonconfrontational.

Joined by President Felipe Calderon of Mexico and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, Obama shared his view that North America is becoming defined less by its borders and more by its bonds, and vowed to support expanded trade between the neighboring nations in lieu of a more protectionist policy.

On immigration, Obama insisted that his administration is exploring ways of enhancing the nation's border security as well as creating pathways to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants already inside the U.S. He divulged that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is currently spearheading discussions with members of Congress in an attempt to make reforming the nation's immigration policy a top priority in 2010.

"We have a broken immigration system, nobody denies it," said Obama. He argued that the U.S. desperately needs reform in order to protect immigrant workers from being exploited and to subside political tensions with Mexico. The President assured that he will sign legislation only if the public deems it fair.

However, Obama did concede that immigration will most likely have to take a backseat to healthcare, energy and financial regulatory reform; components of an agenda he referred to as a "pretty big stack of bills."

On healthcare, Obama called the current debate between supporters and opponents of reform a "healthy thing." Although recent reports have placed the number of uninsured Americans at roughly 45 million, Obama estimated the number to be around 46 to 47 million.

When asked by a Canadian journalist to address comparisons between his plan and the system currently used by his neighbors to the north, Obama replied that "the Canadian model works for Canada, it would not work for the United States...we've got to develop a uniquely American approach to this problem."

Obama further disqualified the notion that his healthcare plan is modeled after Canada's publicly financed system.

"I suspect that you Canadians will continue to get dragged in [to the debate] by those who oppose reform even though I've said nothing about Canadian healthcare reform." Obama joked that "I don't find Canadians particulary scary, but I guess some of the opponents of reform think they make a good boogie man. I think that's a mistake."

Later, Obama praised the Mexican government for its efforts combatting violence caused by drug cartels, and promised continued support from the U.S. in aiding the fight.

"I have great confidence in President Calderon's administration applying the law enforcement techniques that are necessary to curb the power of the cartels, but doing so in a way that's consistent with human rights," said Obama. He reiterated his belief that the U.S. must reduce its demand for illegal drugs that enter the country through its southern border.

Sotomayor Confirmed, Senate Democrats Rejoice

By a vote of 68-31, the Senate voted Thursday to confirm Sonia Sotomayor. She becomes the nation's 111th Supreme Court Justice as well as the first Hispanic-American to serve on the court.

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), who has dealt with myriad of health issues lately, was the only member of the Senate not to vote.

"This is a remarkable thing for our country," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). "This is the American dream, it's a dream we all spoke about when we campaigned and today we made it real."

After nearly 18 hours of debate this week, 9 Republicans joined 59 Democrats in voting "aye," a gesture that did not go unacknowledged by their colleagues across the aisle.

Said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY.), "we salute our 9 GOP colleagues." He added that despite facing pressure, "they had the courage to say 'yes.'"

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said that the "Republican members of the [Judiciary] committee handled themselves with dignity."

All 31 votes opposing Sotomayor's confirmation were cast by Republicans. Leahy attributed such opposition to the fact that her nomination came from a Democratic President.

"Even if Obama had nominated Moses, there would've been votes against."

Democrats made the most of their opportunity to speak on such an historic day.

"This is truly a great day for the U.S. Supreme Court...a great day for law...and a great day for any young woman who says 'yes I can!'" said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid bragged that his party "made history by confirming someone as qualified as [Sotomayor]."

Schumer pledged his belief that Sotomayor is a leader who will "lead our country back to the mainstream."

Sotomayor will be sworn into the Supreme Court on Saturday, August 8 at 11 a.m. The court reconvenes for its next session on October 5th.

GOP "Distorting" Truth About Health Care Reform

Republican criticisms of democratically-backed health care legislation are “distortions” designed to scare the American public into opposing reform, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) during a conference call with reporters on Friday.

Van Hollen sought to paint partisan attacks against the plan as being futile, arguing that that the “campaign of distortion during the medicare debate years ago didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”

Van Hollen’s remarks illustrated how he and other Democrats have found a new buzz word with which to strike back at their detractors.

On the question of whether or not reform would mean granting health insurance to illegal aliens, Van Hollen replied, “The notion that the House bill allows illegals to get insurance is a distortion.”

As for concerns that the legislation would hurt small businesses, Van Hollen stayed the course; “The myth that somehow all small businesses will be heavily taxed is a distortion.”

Finally, Van Hollen addressed bi-partisan worries that the bill contains a mandate for taxpayer funded abortions, saying, “Republicans have tried to distort that issue, but that has been addressed.”

House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) echoed Van Hollen’s assertions, accusing Republicans of “inundating Americans with lies and distortions.”

“We’ve seen this all before,” Miller said. “Republicans are scaring people into thinking that the government is going to take over their health care.”