Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) says that if the Senate does not pass a health care bill, the Senate will most likely not re-visit the issue for a “very long time.” He says before voting against a health care bill, one must think about the consequences of keeping the present system intact. (0:25)
Sen. Paul Kirk Jr. (D-Mass.), who recently took the seat held by deceased Senator Ted Kennedy, says if he were a member of the House of Representatives he would be proud to have passed “historical health care legislation,” and adds that as a new member of the Senate, he plans on being an active and vocal force in getting health care legislation passed. (0:19)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) makes a comparison between preventative care and wellness provisions in the Senate and House health care bills during a press conference Wednesday. He said that the Senate does more for preventative care. (0:19)
By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service
Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Tom Udall (D-NM) said Wednesday that health care reform legislation must include extensive measures to promote wellness and prevention.
“As I have said many times… we currently do not have a health care system in America, we have a sick care system,” Harkin said.
The Iowa Senator explained that simply treating illness after diagnosis is much more costly than using the same money to promote preventative treatment.
“Our aim is to recreate America as a genuine wellness society, a society focused on healthy lifestyle and preventing the chronic diseases that take suck a toll on our bodies and our budgets,” Harkin said.
Both Harkin and Udall have been long time advocates of promoting prevention, claiming that for every dollar invested in wellness, several dollars used for expensive treatments are saved.
“Our current system is clearly broken and unsustainable. We really have a disease management system,” Udall said. “We really must get out in front of these diseases.”
Harkin maintained during the press conference that both the Senate and House bills will be done and in conference by Christmas.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) says during a press conference Wednesday that he expects health care bills from both the House and Senate to be in conference by Christmas, but doubts they will be signed by the President prior to December’s recess. (0:29)
By Ravi Bhatia, Talk Radio News Service
If the public option on health care is viable and sustainable for the American people, then members of Congress and the Senate should sacrifice their own federal health benefits and use it themselves, said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and other House Republicans Wednesday.
“If this government-run plan is so good, why don’t members of Congress take the plan?” asked Wilson, during a press conference promoting an amendment to the Affordable Health Care For All Americans Act requiring all members of the House and Senate subscribe to the public insurance option offered by the legislation.
While Wilson admittedly does not support the public option, the proposed amendment is being interpreted as a way to make a point to Wilson’s Democratic colleagues.
“We know why the majority of the ‘Pelosi takeover bill’ does not provide this,” Wilson continued. “They do know that the government-run option will not be in the interest of the American people, either individually or for the American citizens at large. I’m just very hopeful that they’ll reconsider, that they will understand if it’s good enough for the American people, it’s good enough for Congress.”
Wilson added that the House is “shoving this bill through.”
Wilson went on to say that the House is “shoving this bill through.”
“Speaker Pelosi still has not informed us about what the amendment process will be for this bill,” Wilson said in a statement released Wednesday. “An issue as important as a health care overhaul that will impact every American is much too important through rush through without transparency or a democratic amendment process.”
Wilson garnered controversy when he shouted the phrase “you lie” during President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress in September.
By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) denounced reports that said she did not have enough votes for a “robust” public option Friday, saying the vote count has not been finalized and that any speculation about it is premature.
Pelosi’s comments came in response to an article published by Politico Friday morning in which Mike Allen reported that the Speaker had counted the votes and come up short on votes for a plan that included the plan.
“By no means is the count complete or has any decision been made,” Pelosi said in response during a press conference Friday.
The speaker did say that a robust public option is not the only way the bill could go and that conversations about the public option have begun to include discussions of a weaker version.
“At the end of the day we will have a public option in our legislation,” Pelosi said.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said that there has not been a count as to which version of the public option will be in the bill, but noted that developments in the Senate to possibly include a public option has given the House more flexibility.
“We are trying to inform our members of what we are trying to do, and we are trying to find out which one of these approaches will best suit the most people,” Clyburn said.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says people can’t expect members of Congress to just snap their fingers and produce a health care reform bill. He says it will take time. (0:31)
By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service
Civil rights organizations voiced their support of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor just one day after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 to confirm her nomination.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) joined representatives of various organizations in a press conference Wednesday to discuss the historic nomination and upcoming Senate vote.
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights President Wade Henderson said, “Her elevation to the Supreme Court would mark another advance on the road to equal opportunity that this nation has traveled from its founding; but, even more importantly, it would give Americans a Justice they can be confident will uphold their constitutional values, the rule of law and the principle of equal justice for all.”
Lillian Rodriguez Lopez of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda spoke about Sotomayor from both a professional and a personal perspective. Lopez fought back tears as she explained that while she, too, is a Hispanic woman from New York, she could only “pray to possess” the qualities and skills that Sotomayor possesses.
“I hope that next week that the members of the entire Senate will send a message of resounding support for Judge Sotomayor to the American people, to the Hispanic American people, when they vote for her confirmation,” said Lopez.
Reid said he is currently trying to cut a deal with Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) regarding the floor debate, but isn’t certain on how long the debate may last. He dismissed Republicans’ concerns over Sotomayor, asking rhetorically, “How many times do we have to listen to the same speeches on the same brief statements she made, on the same case that she talked about?”
Reid added that the Senate will be working long hours to ensure that the confirmation vote is one of the last things they do before they leave for the August recess.
By Matthew S. Schwartz
Legal Affairs Correspondent – Talk Radio News Service
The confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor may be a sure thing, but Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have requested a one-week delay in the committee vote.
Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he was “disappointed” by the delay, but “they have a right to put it over.” Republicans informed him over the weekend of their intent to delay the vote to next Tuesday. If the committee approves her, the vote will go to the full Senate floor.
Leahy stressed the importance of confirming Sotomayor quickly, as the Supreme Court reconvenes early next term to hear a case on the constitutionality of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill. “I hope that once she is passed out of this committee, there will be no delay on the floor, because she will have a very, very few weeks after she is confirmed to move to Washington” and prepare for the case, he said. “Delay would not help either her or the Supreme Court.”
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Al.) said that even with the delay, “Confirmation, if it occurs, will occur sooner than even John Roberts.” Chief Justice Roberts began his Judiciary Committee hearings on Sept. 12, 2005, and was confirmed by the full Senate on Sept. 29.
Just 10 members of the 19-member Judiciary Committee showed up Tuesday, the minimum needed for committee business to take place.
Leahy told reporters he doesn’t know how long the floor debate will last, but it should be quick because senators should all know how they plan to vote by the time the official debate starts.
