Senate Health Bill Would Make Bernie Madoff Proud, Says Thune

Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Claiming that Democrats are pulling ‘gimmicks’ on the American public, Senate Republicans on Friday blasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) health reform bill, which the Congressional Budget Office says will cost nearly $2.5 trillion after all the provisions have been enacted.

“In the words of the great Yogi Berra, 'this is deja vu all over again',” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). “They [Democrats] assume savings on the [Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act], which Sen. Conrad has described as a ponzi scheme of the first order...something that Bernie Madoff would be proud of."

The CLASS Act, S.697, sponsored by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), would amend the Public Health Service Act to create a national, voluntary disability insurance program under which all employees are automatically enrolled, but are allowed to waive enrollment. Establishing this new program is contingent upon Reid's big bill passing.

Thune his Republican colleagues were flanked by massive charts displaying the nation's current debt as well as potential debt increases that they argued would be caused by H.R. 3590, otherwise known as the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." With a major vote to determine whether or not the bill will proceed to the floor expected to take place Saturday night, GOP leaders are looking to convince a few moderate Democrats to join them.

“It would be our hope that our more moderate colleagues on the Democratic side would respect the wished of the constituents, rather than doing the bidding of Harry Reid,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). ”At the end of the day, this health care legislation will impact every American in extraordinary ways. We believe in a very negative way. We hope the views of the American people will be respected."

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.

New Republican Senate Leaders Appointed

By Learned Foote- Talk Radio News Service

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate Republican Leader, introduced two new GOP leaders on Thursday. Both were elected without opposition. 

Senator John Thune (R-N.D.), replaced Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) after Ensign resigned from his post as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Thune had previously served as the vice-chairman of the policy committee. 

Thune said that he and his committee will craft policy to counteract the Democrats in Congress, who he said are “proposing the largest tax-increase in American history, spending at unprecedented levels, exploding the debt, putting on a new energy tax, nationalizing one-sixth of the economy with the health care system, taking ownership interest in now over 500 companies, [and] calling for more unionization.” 

Thune also hopes to present a “forward-looking, positive agenda for America’s future.”  

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) stepped into Thune's vacated position to become Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, where she had already served at the leadership table. Murkowski emphasized the need to communicate the GOP message to the American people. 

Referencing the recent scandals surrounding the Republican Party, including the extra-marital affair that led Ensign to resign as chairman of the policy committee, McConnell said that he and the Senate Republicans will “do the people’s business; we don’t intend to be distracted by any other issues that may be out there.” 

DNC launches new website on McCain VP picks

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) held a conference call to announce the launch of its new website, www.TheNextCheney.com. Brad Woodhouse, DNC Senior Communications Director, said the website highlights Senator John McCain's (R-Ariz.) potential vice-presidential picks, aiming to illustrate that a combination of McCain and any of the choices only means "more of the same."

The website lists Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida, Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Senator John Thune (R-SD), Carly Fiorina, Fred Smith, and Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as McCain's roster of potential vice presidents, but Woodhouse said the DNC may add more to the list. Woodhouse said any McCain ticket means only "more of the same" seen from the Bush-Cheney administration. Mike Gehreke, DNC Research Director, said McCain will have a very hard time picking a running make who can differentiate him from the negative legacy of the Bush administration.

The “Gang of 10” create a “New Era” to tackle soaring gas prices

Members of a bipartisan coalition of Senators known as the “Gang of 10” held a news conference to discuss their plan to reduce gas prices, lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and strengthen America’s economy. The “Gang of 10” is led by Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), and includes Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Sen. Johny Isakson (R-Ga.), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).

All of the members of the “Gang of 10” said that the U.S. is facing a “critical challenge” because of skyrocketing energy costs and that this growing crisis undermines the budgets of families across the nation. They agreed that the issue is neither Republican or Democratic, but rather “an issue that affects us all.” Conrad explained that the “Gang of 10” is working together in a bipartisan manner to develop comprehensive energy legislation. He also explained that the New Energy Reform Act of 2008, better known as the New Era Bill, is an intensive effort to transition vehicles to non-petroleum based fuels by using “robust” federal commitment to conservation and energy efficiency. Conrad said that the bill addresses all aspects of the energy issue by aiming to convert vehicles to non-oil fuel sources, enhancing conservation, and creating responsible domestic energy production.

Chambliss said that the “Gang of 10” epitomizes what the Senate is all about. He said that they are making a true bipartisan effort to solve the two critical issues: supply and demand of oil and conservation. Landrieu said that the bill will do more to lower the price of gas at the pump than anything Congress has previously done. Isakson said that this is America’s second and last chance to solve the energy problem, and the security of the nation depends on this solution.

Thune explained that the group is focused on “going where the energy is.” He said that in 2007 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol were produced and 9 billion gallons are expected to be produced this year. Nelson said that the question “to drill or not to drill” is no longer that important because the U.S. needs to “do it all.” Corker said that the group recently sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and Finance Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) asking them for their cooperation in the effort and the bill. Pryor said that the U.S. is facing a very tough time where people can either “come together or be torn apart.” He explained that the “Gang of 10” decided to “come together and lead the way forward.”