Americans For Prosperity held an event near the U.S. Capitol to tell congress and the White House to “Keep their hands off health care!”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says the Republicans have plans for healthcare like the Democrats. He says he would start with doing something about the serious problem of junk lawsuits against doctors and hospitals, then equalize the tax code and incentivize wellness programs. (0:57)

 

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says he doesn’t think Congress should raise taxes on anybody, but Congress should try to reduce the cost of health care. (0:26)

 

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By Laura Smith, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Friday declined the opportunity to comment on the scandal facing GOP Senators John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Tom Coburn (R-Ok).

“I don’t have any observations to make about the Ensign matter today,” McConnell said.

The Minority Leader’s refusal comes after the revelation that Ensign had a relationship with the wife of a former aide. Coburn has also been accused of advising Ensign to give the aide money in order to relocate to Colorado.

McConnell also touched upon the America’s Healthy Future Act, the markup of which concluded early Thursday morning.

“What we know for sure about this proposal, the core of it, is that it will include half a trillion dollars in Medicare cuts over 10 years and hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases on both individuals and businesses,” he said.

McConnell said these are the issues the American people were responding to during the townhall protests in August.

Sen Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) reads an email she received from a constituent named Kelly, who is staying in an abusive relationship because of her inability to provide health insurance for herself and her child.

 

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Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) discusses seniors’ spending habits at a conference on Capitol Hill held in order to garner support for a bill that would give seniors a one-time payment of $250 in 2010. (0:29)

 

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“Health care is at a crisis point,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI.) during a press call with reporters Tuesday, comparing healthcare to the 1991 film Thelma and Louise.

“The cars heading towards the cliff and we are in it. Our economy is teetering in it is health care costs.” (0:39)

 

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

The biggest debate on the fifth day of markup of the America’s Healthy future Act focused heavily on the “public option.” Liberal Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa.) introduced his amendment to Senate Finance Comittee Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) mark providing for a “public option,” or what he calls the “Consumer Choice Health Plan.”

The debate began with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) criticizing Rockefeller’s amendment, calling it a “Trojan horse for a single payer program [that] would lead to Washington controlling health care and monitoring prices.”

Rockefeller kept a stern attitude on his amendment stating that, “It would not be a government takeover.” However, the West Virginia Democrat refused to answer questions put to him by Hatch.

Heavy debate ensued on non-profit insurance programs from Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and how well they have worked in his state, and how poorly the US as a whole compares to other nations. Conrad made a compelling argument for the “Mutual” based system with non-profit companies that would attempt to provide for universal healthcare coverage.

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) further argued that Medicare rates would be fixed during the first two years under Rockefeller’s amendment – Rockefeller proudly held up two fingers. After the two years though, explained Bingaman, rates would be further negotiated, which would essentially adjust prices to fit in line with private companies.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) compared the health care plan to universities, saying that “There’s both a private university and public university…there should be a choice.”

Democrats agreed that Rockefeller’s amendment would build competition within the open market, while Republicans contended that it will bring price adjustments along with a government-run, single payer takeover of the entire healthcare system.

“This is a slippery slope to go down… it will lead to a government-run single payer option,” said Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.).

Markup is scheduled to continue late Tuesday night and will reconvene Wednesday morning.

Clemson University’s mens basketball coach Oliver Purnell spoke at the Coaches vs. Cancer rally in Washington, D.C. Tuesday.

“Join in our fight against this dreaded disease and join in our fight to have health care reform now,” Purnell said. (0:16)

 

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Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), Co-Chair of the 21st Century Health Care Caucus, says he firmly believes that President Barack Obama supports the idea that new health information technology measures should be included in his administration’s healthcare reform plan. (:30)

 

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