Dems On Both Sides Of Abortion Issue Call For Common Ground

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

We need to come together to work out a solution to reduce abortions said a coalition of pro-choice and pro-life Democrats on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference to announce the introduction of the Ryan-Delauro "Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing The Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act", Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) said that this is a bill whose "time has come."

"You get into public live to solve problems" Ryan said. " With this legislation we are solving a major problem, a divisive issue in this country"

The 87 page bill would reduce the need for abortions through an increase in family planning initiatives, which would include better access to both preventative and postpartum care.

"This is not a decision that we take lightly. It is a morally complex matter of conscience that goes to our most fundamental principles. That is why this bill is so important," said the bill's co-author Rep. Rosa Delauro (D-Conn.). "It aims to break a stalemate that has impeded the progress on reducing the number of abortions in this country."

Speaking in support of the Ryan-Delauro bill were advocates from both ends of the ideological spectrum on the abortion debate, including the President of NARAL Pro Choice America Nancy Keenan and Pastor Dr. Joel Hunter who serves on the board of the World Evangelical Alliance.

"Americans want solutions not rhetoric," Keenan said. "The Ryan-DeLauro bill is a welcome and constructive addition to the call for common ground."

"[I] Challenge all well meaning pro-life people to support this bill," Dr. Hunter said. "[The bill will] make a measurable difference in the challenge and the tragedy of abortion in our nation."

Rep. Ryan called it a historic moment for Congress, and showed that progress can be made on even the most contentious of issues.

"I believe that this such a divisive issue that when we agree and find common ground on [it] there is no issue under this dome that we can't solve together if we are all willing to lead," Ryan said.

Dems Must Show Public That They Are Fiscally Responsible, Say Blue Dogs

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

The Democrats must convince the public that they are fiscally responsible on health care Blue Dog Democrats said Wednesday.

Members of the coalition spoke at a press conference following the successful passage of the Democrats 'pay as you go' legislation, which if passed by the Senate, will require Congress to secure funds for new projects by cutting spending from other programs.

"We can pass health care in a fiscally responsible way and make it deficit neutral. It has to convey that to the American people," said said Rep. Baron Hill (D- Ind.) "We have got to get back on the message that we are fiscally responsible here. Quite frankly we have lost that message but we are going to get back on track."

Hill said that the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), was ready to roll up his sleeves in order to make sure that the bill left his committee as soon as possible while also remaining deficit neutral.

"We are making progress, albeit slowly" Hill said. "I am optimistic that we can get something done sooner rather than later."

Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-Texas) said that although the bill did not go as far as he would like to have seen, it was a step in the right direction.

"To all of those who criticize this bill: This is only the beginning," Stenholm said. Anyone who thinks this bill will solve all our fiscal problems does not understand the depth...of the problems we have."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-M.D.) commended the Blue Dogs for their work on the legislation.

Giuliani: Ideology Has Overrun Reality For Democrats

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

"Ideology has overrun reality" when it comes to the Democrats' agenda said former New York city Mayor Rudy Giuliani Wednesday. Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute's discussion on 'Keeping America Competitive, Prosperous, Entrepreneurial, and Enterprising: Why Capitalism Works,' Giuliani said that he was fearful that the Obama administration was producing bad solutions to the economic crisis; solutions which will send America deeper into recession.

"If you think the idea is that government is going to be able to run financial institutions, banks, automotive companies....the entire health care industry, or energy better than private enterprise has been able to do... go look at what government has run." Giuliani said. "The government ran [social security] as a political program rather than an economic program...the political choices overwhelmed the sensible economic choices that had to be made."

Guiliani said that it was important to allow the private sector to fix the economy rather than the government through legislation such as the stimulus.

"It would be a terrible mistake if we allow this to continue, what appears to be an inexorable answer that government can fix this problem. It would defy history, it would defy the facts" he said.

Giuliani stressed that the biggest battles would be over health care and energy, as they would be the hardest to undo.

"We cant undo institutions," Giuliani said. "This is scary stuff."

Giuliani said that he was disappointed that the President has not brought more transparency to Washington as he promised he would.

"The whole argument for this health care bill is an argument for no transparency" he said."If it's so good, if it has such great ideas, whats the rush? Why not let it be examined in the market of free ideas?"

"I am afraid that we are embracing social democracy" Giuliani added. "Everything that has been done so far has taken this recession and extended it."

Energy, Health Care Bills Will Kill Jobs, Hurt Economy Say House GOP'ers

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

The energy and health care proposals currently being debated in Congress will be disastrous for the economy, House Republicans said at a press conference Tuesday. Speaking following the weekly House Republican conference, Rep. Mike Pence (R - Ind.) said that the Democrats seem determined to try and pass their bills despite the negative impact they'll have on an already challenged economy. If it were to pass, the American Clean Energy Act and the Democrats' health care plan would be a "disaster for this economy and a disaster for working Americans" he said.

"House Republicans are determined to step forward and demand that this Congress focus on putting this country back on its feet," Pence added.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said that there is a strong bi-partisan coalition opposing the current health care proposals.

"Either this bill fails or it changes dramatically," Cantor said. "If the bill fails it will be because of disagreement among the Democrats as to the proper direction to head as far as health care reform is concerned."

"This administration, this President has no one else to blame," he added. "What they ought to be doing is coming to work with us in order to reflect a much more reasoned approach to try and accomplish health care for the American people."

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio.) said that the "President is going to begin his barnstorming" on bills that will kill jobs.

"The stimulus bill isnt working, they bring along this health care bill that will cost 5 million jobs, and they bring this cap and trade bill up last month that will cost us 2.5 million jobs each year for the next ten years. This is not what the American people want."

Boehner called on President Obama to abandon current health care proposals and negotiate with Republicans in order to achieve economically feasible health care reform.

"Mr President, it's time to scrap this bill. It's time to start working in a bi-partisan way," he said.

Insurance Providers Must "Step Up To The Plate" On Health Care Reform, Say Dems

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

Health insurance companies have to be part of the health care solution, said Democrats on the Senate Finance committee during a press conference Wednesday.

"Insurance companies are the people who are just rapaciously, greedily, unstoppably making money by underpaying the patient, by under paying the provider and by overpaying, therefore, themselves," said Sen. Jay Rockerfeller (D- W.Va.)

Under the proposal currently being debated in the Senate Finance Committee, insurance companies would help pay for the health care plan in return for the expected 40 million new customers they should receive from reforming the health industry. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D- N.Y.) stressed that if the health care system was allowed to continue in its current state "even people who are covered are going to pay and pay and pay."

"Between 2000 and 2007 the profits of the 10 largest health care insurers went from $2.4 billion to $12.9 billion" Schumer said. "Our broken health care system is working very well for private health insurers but not for American consumers."

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich. ) said it was impossible to ignore the need to fix a system that delivers such large profits to the insurance industry while it fails to provide for so many people.

"We are committed, our majority is committed, and this President is committed to change the status quo," she said. "It does not work for people, it does not work for doctors and it is not working for the economy."

Stabenow said it is the time for health insurance companies to "step up to the plate."