Health Care Analysts: Obamacare Won't Meet Same Fate As Hillarycare

Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

While the heated debate over health care reform is often compared to the struggle that former President Bill Clinton faced in the early nineties, there are several key differences, according to a number of health care analysts.

"[President Barack Obama's] effort was initiated when the economy was in free fall, unemployment still rising, we were on the brink of a world wide financial meltdown," Urban Institute President Robert Resichauer said during a panel discussion at the American Enterprise Institute Friday. "In 1992 the economy wasn't chugging, but it was improving."

Resichauer said the current economic circumstances have forced the government to take extraordinary action, which makes the American public leery of the role government is playing in the economy's life.

Resichauer said that it is imperative to have a bipartisan effort on health care reform in order to win the support of the American public.

Health care attorney Dean Rosen said the political atmosphere surrounding the current debate also stands in contrast with Clinton's efforts.

"I think it will be very difficult to find more than a few Republicans in the Senate who are willing to do this," Rosen said. "It makes it a political necessity for this to be a Democrats-only enterprise. This was not the case in 1993 or 1994."

Ultimately, all panelists in attendance agreed that the current reform effort will meet a different fate than Clinton's.

"It is not whether we are going to have it, it is when and how," Resichauer said. "At least at a superficial level we have a lot more support on this than we ever have."

Pelosi: Congress Will Pass Healthcare Reform Bill By End Of Year

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

"Last night, President Obama delivered what I believe to be one of the greatest speeches ever delivered in the congress of the United States," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday at her weekly press conference. Pelosi said she is confident that few obstacles stand in the way of healthcare reform passing.

Congressional members understand the importance of this piece of legislation and they are willing to work hard to achieve healthcare reform, Pelosi said. "We have to resolve the remaining pieces of it, that is very much within range," she said. "We will take the time it needs to do that, and when we are ready we will take our legislation to the floor."

Pelosi said it is likely Obama will pass a bill by the end of the year. "It will be legislation...that will work for the American people," she said. ""I'm confident the President will sign a bill this year."

As a steadfast advocate of a public option provision, Pelosi said last week that a healthcare reform bill would not pass without one. "A public option is the best option to lower costs, improve the quality of health care, ensure choice and expand coverage,” she said.

However, Pelosi said that the current plan is not perfect, and that she is open to suggestions on how to improve it. "I don't think you ever really go into a negotiation and say that some things are non-negotiable," she said. "So far we haven't seen a better plan, but it could be out there."

Iranian-Americans Urge U.S. Government To Intervene In Security Of Troubled Refugee Camp

Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

The United States Committee for Camp Ashraf Residents called Thursday for the U.S. government to respond to the alleged mistreatment of Iranian political exiles in an Ashraf, Iraq based refugee camp by transferring control of the camp from Iraqi security forces.

"We have a contractual signed agreements with each of these refugees, we need to honor that," U.S. Army Col. Gary Morsch M.D. during a press conference in Washington, D.C. with the Committee. "We have a responsibility and an opportunity to do something."

The refugees of Camp Ashraf were recognized by the United States as "protected persons" during the Fourth Geneva Convention and were under U.S. military protection until January 2009 when the Iraqi government assumed responsibility for their safety. In July, 2009, a raid by Iraqi security forces wounded over 500 refugees with an additional 36 taken hostage. The hostages remain in critical condition and Iraqi forces are limiting medical resources, food and water supplies.

In response, many Iranian-Americans have begun a hunger strike to urge U.S. government officials to push for the immediate release of the 36 refugee hostages and have U.S. forces temporarily take over Camp Ashraf security until a United Nations monitoring post can be established. Hunger stiker Hamid Godarzi said they have been on strike for 37 days and will not quit until their demands are met.

"This is not simple for us to do. I am a senior research scientist in San Antonio, Texas and I left my ordinary life to be here," Godarzi said. "It is our responsibility to give a voice to the residents of Ashraf."

According to Godarzi, the White House has not issued a response to the hunger strikers.