Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) thanks younger members of Congress for supporting the Affordable Health Care for America act. (0:14)

 

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By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Democratic Representatives say there is a rapidly closing window for passing health care. A health care bill, known as the Dingell bill, will come out Tuesday. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) mentioned that the bill is not exactly what he would have put together, but that he believes if the U.S. is going to do something about the problem, it must be better addressed.

“This is a great opportunity. If we waste it, I can’t tell you when it will return,” said Dingell.

Dingell was joined by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) for a health care discussion Tuesday. The Representatives agreed that health care brings a “unique American challenge” that requires an “American solution.”

Kind used a different analogy than that of Dingell and said they were trying to get healthcare “across the finish line.” No matter what the analogy, the point was clear that Democrats want to get the debate going, now.

Altmire said Republicans and Democrats are not that far apart in their ideas but a systematic reform is necessary. He said it would be nice to have Republican support and it would be a chance for them to be part of an important piece of legislation.

“It will not be a perfect bill but we hope it’s one that advances in the right direction which will lead to increased quality [health care] at a lower cost for all Americans,” said Altmire.

The Representatives highlighted aspects of the debate that bring about concerns such as: the costs, a level playing field for insurance companies, and a public option.

At this time, the New Democratic Coalition has not put out a position on a public option, according to Kind. He said it would be a tough sell for some members but that failure is not an option.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) discusses passing a healthcare bill in the House of Representatives. He says, “This is a great opportunity. If we waste it, I can’t tell you when it will return.” (0:30)

 

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Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

At the Washington Post Company Conference on “Planning for a Secure Energy Future,” Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) said, “We are the Saudi Arabia of coal.” It’s harmful, he acknowledged, but we have it in abundance and we’re dependent on it. If we don’t use coal, China and India will. We should have committed to alternative energy 30 years ago, “but American attention to these matters goes on and off like the light when you throw the switch,” he said.
Clean coal is a relative term. We can substantially reduce emissions, but how and at what cost will involve serious debate, he said.
“The Europeans have had at least two fine messes” applying cap-and-trade, Dingell said, adding that there are many options, all having flaws, and Congress will have a huge fight over them.
Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) said coal is a great energy source, “but it has one bad feature: if we burn the coal reserves that we know exist in this country and in China, the planet will cook.” He said the coal industry needs cap-and-trade, because if it does not become clean, it becomes unsustainable. Cap-and-trade revenue could fund the necessary research. “The future of this industry depends on the existence of that research,” he said. “These are job-creating opportunities.”
We have overestimated the cost and difficulty of such projects, according to Inslee. We had to commit to the Apollo project, and then we succeeded. “We are on the cusp of enormous technological transformation, but it cannot happen at the pace it has to happen unless we have (the pressure that cap-an-trade would exert),” he said. “As long as we can burn coal that is not sequestered, it strangles in the bed all of these new companies that are champing at the bit to start getting going.” “This pace of global warming is not Al Gore’s schedule,” he said, adding that it is a fact of nature and it is happening much faster than had been predicted even one year ago.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said, “By the year 2020, our country is expected to need 40 percent more electricity generation than we’re using today. Coal has to be part of that picture.” It’s about 53 percent of total national energy generation.
We are not building new coal plants, and China is building many, he said, “and they’re not using carbon capture.”
Pointing out that efficient carbon capture is 10-15 years away, but cap-and-trade starts immediately and benchmarks begin in 2012, Upton says that the technology should precede the regulations.

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) agrees: “This is like (anesthetizing) the patient while the researchers are still trying to figure out how to operate.” He characterized cap-and-trade as a redistribution of wealth from businesses to individuals. “Far from being a job creator, I think this could be a huge job killer.”
He said that when cap-and-trade decreased sulfur dioxide emissions, circumstances were different.
All of the participants at the conference agreed on the reality and the danger of climate change, but debated whether various alternative energies are practical, and whether cap-and-trade should drive the reduction of carbon emissions or await more cost-effective technology.

Coffee Brown, MD, University of New Mexico, for Talk Radio News Service

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee examined the current salmonella outbreak as a bellwether for food safety in America. Noting that “This is the ninth time we’ve had to do this in two years,” Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) made clear that there will be new legislation in response. “It’s Upton Sinclair (”The Jungle”) all over again, 100 years later.”
There have been nine deaths – the ninth was reported during the hearing- and 600-800 illnesses attributed to the same source: the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). 1500 peanut based products have been added to the FDA’s recall list, and consumers are likely to shun even those peanut products which are not implicated, because it’s hard to know for sure. The cost in dollars and lost employment is not known.
Stupak said there were failures at every level, including oversight, monitoring, inspections, and lack of FDA authority, but he placed the blame squarely on PCA. He produced e-mails showing that Stewart Parnell, owner and president, was aware{, at least for 18 months prior to being sent out, that the lab tests showed salmonella.} of lab tests showing salmonella in the batch before he sent it out, and for at least 18 months prior.. Parnell and plant manager Sammy Lightsey both declined to answer questions, citing their fifth amendment rights. Stupak stated he had more evidence than could be made public, because of an ongoing criminal investigation of the matter by the Justice Department.
Families of the victims testified:
Jeff Almer’s mother beat cancer twice: “Cancer couldn’t claim her, but peanut butter did.” He further stated that we need a system that is proactive, not reactive.
Lou Tousignant’s father died after eating contaminated peanut butter. He presented an eloquent memorial DVD and list of recommendations very similar to those being considered.
Peter Hurley is a police officer and father of a three-year-old, Jacob, who was seriously ill for 11 days. His salmonella infection was proven by DNA match to be due to peanut butter snacks made from PCA products. “It was like they were playing Russian roulette with the very young and the elderly,” he said.
Rep John Dingell (D-MI), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is sponsoring the FDA Globalization Act, which would provide increased funding, authority, and responsibility for the FDA. It would empower the FDA to mandate recalls, increase some penalties, and add “other safety provisions.”
It came to light during the hearing, that surveillance studies (testing samples for contamination), are ordered at the discretion of the food manufacturers, and collected by them. The testing lab knows nothing about the sample except what the manufacturer tells them. There is also no requirement, or routine process, for reporting contaminated samples to any health agency. The bill by Dingell would address these types of issues.

Sound: Chairman Bart Stupak (D-MI): PCA peanut products had tested positive for salmonella at least 12 times since June 2007.

 

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The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on “H.R. 3014, Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007,” in order to discuss how to improve the health of minority individuals in the U.S. Vice Chairman Lois Capps (D-Calif.) said that the U.S. needs this bill “now more than ever,” and that it is embarrassing that the U.S. cannot extend health care to every citizen. Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) said that it is time for Congress to put the best ideas and practices together and bridge the gap of health disparities. (more…)

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) says that the United States should search for more oil while conserving energy, but adds that both of these are long-term solutions and will not curb the current manipulation and speculation in the oil market. (0:29)

 

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