President, GOP Spar Over Health Care Reform
Feb. 25, 2010 – President Barack Obama and federal lawmakers today discussed stalled health care reform measures in what amounted more to televised political theater than actual debate.
Having recently lost a filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate, Obama and Democrats temporarily have reversed course on health care reform efforts, having scrapped a public option along with a deal providing more than $100 million in Medicaid funding to Nebraska in order to secure the vote of Democrat Senator Ben Nelson. Because Nelson’s vote no longer is necessary to prevent a filibuster, Obama and Congressional Democrats reneged on pork promises to that state. Obama and Democrats have affirmed a $300 million payment to Louisiana previously promised to gain the support of Senator Landrieu (D-Louisiana).
Having suffered the political embarrassment of not being able to lead members of his political party toward agreement on efforts to rework the nation’s $2.5 trillion a year health care industry during his first year in office, the President is renewing his health care reform efforts despite lagging public support for what Obama previously said is his “number one” domestic priority. Leading Democrats have suggested pushing through a reconciliation measure based on bills already approved in the Senate and House of Representatives, but a public opinion poll released today by CNN suggests only 25 percent of those surveyed would support such an effort.
And several states are working on legislation directly challenging a key provision in bills approved exclusively by Congressional Democrats: Requiring all Americans to purchase health care insurance if they lack coverage.
Because both versions of federal health care reform legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate would require U.S. citizens to purchase health insurance coverage, several state legislatures are considering joining the Virginia Legislature in passing bans on insurance mandates. And more than a dozen state attorneys general are questioning the Constitutionality of the federal government compelling U.S. citizens to engage in commerce by forcing them to purchase health insurance or be fined.
The Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate earlier voted 23-17 to approve measures making it illegal to force individual to purchase health insurance. The GOP-controlled Virginia House of Delegates on Feb. 12 concurred with the Senate and forwarded the measure to the state’s Governor, who is expected to sign it into law.
With several recent public opinion polls showing a majority of American’s polled strongly oppose to current federal health care reform efforts, many state officials are feeling more emboldened at challenging federal health care reform efforts and mandates.