Health Care Is In The House

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Democratic Representatives say there is a rapidly closing window for passing health care. A health care bill, known as the Dingell bill, will come out Tuesday. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) mentioned that the bill is not exactly what he would have put together, but that he believes if the U.S. is going to do something about the problem, it must be better addressed.

“This is a great opportunity. If we waste it, I can’t tell you when it will return,” said Dingell.

Dingell was joined by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) for a health care discussion Tuesday. The Representatives agreed that health care brings a “unique American challenge” that requires an “American solution.”

Kind used a different analogy than that of Dingell and said they were trying to get healthcare “across the finish line.” No matter what the analogy, the point was clear that Democrats want to get the debate going, now.

Altmire said Republicans and Democrats are not that far apart in their ideas but a systematic reform is necessary. He said it would be nice to have Republican support and it would be a chance for them to be part of an important piece of legislation.

“It will not be a perfect bill but we hope it’s one that advances in the right direction which will lead to increased quality [health care] at a lower cost for all Americans,” said Altmire.

The Representatives highlighted aspects of the debate that bring about concerns such as: the costs, a level playing field for insurance companies, and a public option.

At this time, the New Democratic Coalition has not put out a position on a public option, according to Kind. He said it would be a tough sell for some members but that failure is not an option.

Is Cap-and-Trade the Answer?

Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News


At the Washington Post Company Conference on "Planning for a Secure Energy Future," Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) said, "We are the Saudi Arabia of coal." It's harmful, he acknowledged, but we have it in abundance and we’re dependent on it. If we don't use coal, China and India will. We should have committed to alternative energy 30 years ago, "but American attention to these matters goes on and off like the light when you throw the switch," he said.
Clean coal is a relative term. We can substantially reduce emissions, but how and at what cost will involve serious debate, he said.
"The Europeans have had at least two fine messes" applying cap-and-trade, Dingell said, adding that there are many options, all having flaws, and Congress will have a huge fight over them.
Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) said coal is a great energy source, "but it has one bad feature: if we burn the coal reserves that we know exist in this country and in China, the planet will cook." He said the coal industry needs cap-and-trade, because if it does not become clean, it becomes unsustainable. Cap-and-trade revenue could fund the necessary research. "The future of this industry depends on the existence of that research," he said. "These are job-creating opportunities."
We have overestimated the cost and difficulty of such projects, according to Inslee. We had to commit to the Apollo project, and then we succeeded. "We are on the cusp of enormous technological transformation, but it cannot happen at the pace it has to happen unless we have (the pressure that cap-an-trade would exert),” he said. “As long as we can burn coal that is not sequestered, it strangles in the bed all of these new companies that are champing at the bit to start getting going." "This pace of global warming is not Al Gore's schedule,” he said, adding that it is a fact of nature and it is happening much faster than had been predicted even one year ago.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said, "By the year 2020, our country is expected to need 40 percent more electricity generation than we're using today. Coal has to be part of that picture." It's about 53 percent of total national energy generation.
We are not building new coal plants, and China is building many, he said, “and they're not using carbon capture.”
Pointing out that efficient carbon capture is 10-15 years away, but cap-and-trade starts immediately and benchmarks begin in 2012, Upton says that the technology should precede the regulations.

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) agrees: "This is like (anesthetizing) the patient while the researchers are still trying to figure out how to operate." He characterized cap-and-trade as a redistribution of wealth from businesses to individuals. "Far from being a job creator, I think this could be a huge job killer."
He said that when cap-and-trade decreased sulfur dioxide emissions, circumstances were different.
All of the participants at the conference agreed on the reality and the danger of climate change, but debated whether various alternative energies are practical, and whether cap-and-trade should drive the reduction of carbon emissions or await more cost-effective technology.

U.S. health care "unacceptable" and "un-American"

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on “H.R. 3014, Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007,” in order to discuss how to improve the health of minority individuals in the U.S. Vice Chairman Lois Capps (D-Calif.) said that the U.S. needs this bill “now more than ever,” and that it is embarrassing that the U.S. cannot extend health care to every citizen. Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) said that it is time for Congress to put the best ideas and practices together and bridge the gap of health disparities.

Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) said that Houston has the third largest Hispanic population in the U.S. and the lack of access to health care for them continues to be a huge barrier. Green explained that half of the total uninsured population in his district consisted of minorities. Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) said that the existence of racial and ethnic health disparities in every aspect of health care is well documented. Dingell also said that “in a country as great as ours,” the idea that one’s ethnic or racial background factors into their chance of living a healthy and productive life is “simply unacceptable.” Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) said that the U.S. health care system is “unacceptable and un-American.”

Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said that prevention and control of diseases, along with protection and promotion of the health of the American people are the primary mandate of public health. Clyburn also explained that in 2005 a United Nations Development Program report entitled: Inequality in the United States Healthcare System, said that U.S. private-public health care system should not be used as a model for other countries. Clyburn said that he has seen too many friends and family who have died from diseases that the bill aims to address, and he came to testify on behalf of those who don’t have health care.

Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said that health care access and affordability is the number one issue the U.S. faces today. The health care bill, Moran said, is about “saving lives today.” Moran explained that Americans living in rural cities can also be considered minorities. He said that elderly, rural Americans are more likely to have a chronic disease and less likely to receive the recommended pre-screenings, preventive screenings, and checkups.