Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) claims that Democrats have been targeting the insurance companies so that they are not forced to defend the contents of their health care reform legislation. (0:13)
Republican Senator John Thune (S.D.) predicted Monday that many in his party will support an amendment to the Senate’s health care reform bill barring federal funding for abortion.
“A lot of us on the Republican side will support that amendment,” Thune said during an afternoon press conference. “I certainly hope that it passes.”
However, Thune is wary that the amendment will garner the 60 votes needed for inclusion in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“The quesion is whether or not we can get to 60, which I think is very much in doubt. I think we can get to 50,” said Thune. “I’m enough of a realist, talking to both Democrats and Republicans, to believe that that is going to be a very heavy lift.”
Last Friday, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) stated that he does not believe the amendment will pass if it has language similar to an amendment provided by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) in the House health care bill.
The amendment may be necessary to secure the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who has aired dissatisfaction with the bill’s current language on abortion funding.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Ok.) added that he believes that language similar to the Stupak amendment approved in the House will end up in the manager’s amendment.
Travis Martinez – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Claiming that Democrats are pulling ‘gimmicks’ on the American public, Senate Republicans on Friday blasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) health reform bill, which the Congressional Budget Office says will cost nearly $2.5 trillion after all the provisions have been enacted.
“In the words of the great Yogi Berra, ‘this is deja vu all over again’,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). “They [Democrats] assume savings on the [Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act], which Sen. Conrad has described as a ponzi scheme of the first order…something that Bernie Madoff would be proud of.”
The CLASS Act, S.697, sponsored by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), would amend the Public Health Service Act to create a national, voluntary disability insurance program under which all employees are automatically enrolled, but are allowed to waive enrollment. Establishing this new program is contingent upon Reid’s big bill passing.
Thune his Republican colleagues were flanked by massive charts displaying the nation’s current debt as well as potential debt increases that they argued would be caused by H.R. 3590, otherwise known as the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” With a major vote to determine whether or not the bill will proceed to the floor expected to take place Saturday night, GOP leaders are looking to convince a few moderate Democrats to join them.
“It would be our hope that our more moderate colleagues on the Democratic side would respect the wished of the constituents, rather than doing the bidding of Harry Reid,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). ”At the end of the day, this health care legislation will impact every American in extraordinary ways. We believe in a very negative way. We hope the views of the American people will be respected.”
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) describes the Democrats’ health care bill as a great ponzi scheme; “One that would make Bernie Madoff proud. (0:49)
The Congressional Budget Office’s new estimate that the federal deficit will reach $7.14 trillion over the next ten years isn’t making Americans feel any more comfortable about supporting President Obama’s healthcare reform plan said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) in a conference call on Tuesday.
“We are running trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see, and with these updated numbers that CBO is coming out with, clearly the fiscal picture has worsened…and I think that animates a lot of people’s concerns about an expansion of healthcare.”
Thune, who has held a few town hall events on healthcare in his home state during the August recess, said that the country’s fiscal situation is causing some folks to oppose certain elements of reform, such as the public option provision endorsed by Obama.
“A real concern on people’s minds is ‘Why are we looking now at doing something that will add costs, build on programs that are already halfway to bankruptcy…and on an unsustainable trajectory.’”
Thune, of course, was referring to Medicare, the government’s heath insurance program for senior citizens. He did, however, say that Senate Republicans are open to supporting Medicare spending cuts that would “find savings” for the plan.
Thune reiterated his support for a recent report put out by the non-partisan National Federation of Independent Business Association. The study concluded that the three healthcare bills that have passed the House would increase taxes, and as a result would harm small businesses across the country.
Thune stated confidently that no Republican will support a comprehensive healthcare bill, although he suggested that a more incremental bill could achieve bipartisan backing in the Senate. However, Thune sounded skeptical that Democrats would allow Republicans to be a part of the legislative process once the bill shifted back to the House.
Thune also expressed doubts over the possibility that Democrats may attempt to pass legislation through the process of reconciliation, which would require lawmakers to split the bill into pieces and then vote on the different parts individually.
“As a policy matter, they could do it. As a political matter, it’s really difficult. Americans don’t want to see something jammed through,” said Thune. He added that although reconciliation is hard to understand, many of his constituents would oppose its use by Democrats on the grounds that “something as large as healthcare could be passed on a party line vote.”
Thune articulated that Republicans want healthcare reform to address issues like tort reform and long-term sustainability of Medicare. He maintained that Republicans are supportive of provisions that would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to customers with pre-existing conditions, but suggested that most in the party are wary of a bill that includes any sort of mandate on individuals to obtain health insurance.
By Learned Foote- Talk Radio News Service
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate Republican Leader, introduced two new GOP leaders on Thursday. Both were elected without opposition.
Senator John Thune (R-N.D.), replaced Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) after Ensign resigned from his post as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Thune had previously served as the vice-chairman of the policy committee.
Thune said that he and his committee will craft policy to counteract the Democrats in Congress, who he said are “proposing the largest tax-increase in American history, spending at unprecedented levels, exploding the debt, putting on a new energy tax, nationalizing one-sixth of the economy with the health care system, taking ownership interest in now over 500 companies, [and] calling for more unionization.”
Thune also hopes to present a “forward-looking, positive agenda for America’s future.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) stepped into Thune’s vacated position to become Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, where she had already served at the leadership table. Murkowski emphasized the need to communicate the GOP message to the American people.
Referencing the recent scandals surrounding the Republican Party, including the extra-marital affair that led Ensign to resign as chairman of the policy committee, McConnell said that he and the Senate Republicans will “do the people’s business; we don’t intend to be distracted by any other issues that may be out there.”
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) held a conference call to announce the launch of its new website, www.TheNextCheney.com. Brad Woodhouse, DNC Senior Communications Director, said the website highlights Senator John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) potential vice-presidential picks, aiming to illustrate that a combination of McCain and any of the choices only means “more of the same.”
The website lists Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida, Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Senator John Thune (R-SD), Carly Fiorina, Fred Smith, and Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as McCain’s roster of potential vice presidents, but Woodhouse said the DNC may add more to the list. Woodhouse said any McCain ticket means only “more of the same” seen from the Bush-Cheney administration. Mike Gehreke, DNC Research Director, said McCain will have a very hard time picking a running make who can differentiate him from the negative legacy of the Bush administration.
Members of a bipartisan coalition of Senators known as the “Gang of 10” held a news conference to discuss their plan to reduce gas prices, lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and strengthen America’s economy. The “Gang of 10” is led by Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), and includes Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Sen. Johny Isakson (R-Ga.), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). (more…)
In a press conference this afternoon Republican Senators and Congressmen launched an attack against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) by launching a new seven minute video titled “The Obama Iraq Documentary: Whatever the Politics Demand.” The video asks the question: Where does Barack Obama stand on Iraq? In the video, Obama’s own words are used against him to paint the senator as a politically expedient politician who will say and do anything to get elected. (more…)
