Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says Wednesday on the Senate floor that Republicans should have a say in the crafting of health care reform legislation. (0:13)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Wednesday on the Senate floor that a government-owned and operated insurance plan would create debt and put private insurers out of business. (0:26)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the American public is not in favor of a public option plan, and calls its inclusion in the Senate’s healthcare bill a bad idea. (0:14)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called upon his Democratic colleagues to slow down the health care reform process, pointing to the lengths of time it took the Senate to tackle other crucial issues.
“Some would argue that [health care reform] is a bigger issue than No Child Left Behind. We sent seven weeks on that,” McConnell said. “Some would argue that this is a bigger issue than Energy, we spent eight weeks on that.”
Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Thursday that he would support the recent announcement by the White House to provide senior citizens with a check for $250 if the move was payed for with Recovery Act funds.
“The stimulus bill is not working,” said Boehner during a press briefing. “If we’re going provide this benefit to our seniors, why don’t we take it from stimulus funds that clearly aren’t getting the job done?”
The White House suggested the $250 early Wednesday to counter the lack of a cost of living increase in funds received by Social Security recipients.
Boehner was joined Thursday by Senate Minoirty Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who disparaged the direction the health care debate has taken.
McConnell called upon his Democratic colleagues to slow down the health care reform process, pointing to the length of time it took the Senate to tackle other crucial issues.
“Some would argue that [health care reform] is a bigger issue than No Child Left Behind. We spent seven weeks on that,” McConnell said. “Some would argue that this is a bigger issue than Energy, we spent eight weeks on that.”
By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service
Republican Senate Leaders warned Democrats Tuesday that if the majority party is serious about using budget reconciliation to secure a victory on health care reform, they better watch out.
“You think the American people were upset in August, you haven’t seen anything like they’re going to be if this device is chosen… to jam this proposal with very little debate,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y). “Budget Reconciliation has been used to raise taxes, but has never been used to restructure one-sixth of the economy.”
Budget reconciliation is a procedure in which legislation can pass with a simple 51 majority and avoid a filibuster.
Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), a member of the Finance Committee, called the markup a work in progress. He also added that the Committee should not be constrained by artificial deadlines.
Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said during a press conference Wednesday that they look forward to welcoming back President Barack Obama to the Capitol tonight and hope that he’s been paying attention to public opinion. Leader Boehner concluded that after listening to his constituents during the August recess, “the American people want the current [health care] system to work better, but they don’t want big government to run it.”
McConnell also asked for a bi-partisan agreement on the final legislation, but voiced his opposition to any health care bill that raises taxes or takes from medicare.
McConnell also addressed the need for Insurance reform, which he said most Republican members are in agreement towards, with respect to pre-existing conditions, interstate competition and portability.
Leader Boehner stated that the aim of the President’s joint address may be to, “double down and put lipstick on this pig”.
Rep. Dr. Charles Boustany (R-La.) has been selected for tonight’s republican response. Boustany has worked for twenty years as a cardiac surgeon.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) criticized a meeting between President Obama and the director of the Congressional Budget Office, an organization that provides non-partisan analysis of Congressional proposals. He said that the meeting could compromise the CBO’s independence. (0:37)
By Learned Foote- Talk Radio News Service
The minority leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives—Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and John Boehner (R-Ohio) respectively—sought to preemptively counter an address set to be delivered by President Obama on health care reform Wednesday evening.
During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Rep. Boehner warned that Obama will “repeat some of the myths that he’s been repeating over the last several months.” He said that Obama will claim that the reform proposal will reduce costs, keep the deficit from rising, and allow Americans to keep their current health care plan.
The House Majority Leader cited a report recently released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to combat these arguments. He said that the plan will spend 1.6 trillion dollars in costs, increase the deficit by $239 billion, and give employers the incentive to move millions of Americans from private to public coverage.
Senator McConnell criticized a meeting that occurred yesterday between President Obama and CBO Director Doug Elmendorf. He said that the CBO should remain free of political pressures, and likened the meeting to “the owner of the team asking the umpires to come up to the owner’s box.”
The Republican leaders rejected the idea that their opposition is inspired by political attacks on President Obama. “This is not about the President,” said McConnell. “This is about the issue, and taking the time to get it right. He said that the President criticizes “unnamed” opponents of health care reform, adding“I can’t find a single member who is not for trying to improve America’s health care system.”
McConnell said that health care reform should take place on a “large bipartisan basis,” and mentioned some plans to cut costs, including preventing frivolous malpractice suits and encouraging Americans to lead healthier lives. He said that the high numbers of uninsured Americans could be reduced by equalizing tax treatment of individuals and corporations, since only companies receive deductibles by providing health insurance.
Boehner stated that the President should “scrap” the plan proffered by the House Democrats, and that negotiations should begin anew and include both parties.
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.”
