Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) reminds the public that it is his duty as a legislator “to help [his] constituency despite all the obstacles thrown in [their] path.” (0:37)
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.
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) gave a press conference on behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee concerning the current state of three Senate races.
Schumer pointed out that the Senate race between Al Franken and Norm Coleman in Minnesota is the closest race in that state’s history, with 206 votes currently separating the two candidates. He also pointed out that the state law requires a recount when races are this close, and said that both candidates should let the officials do their jobs. An “impartial recount must go forward,” said Schumer, criticizing the attacks and intimidation tactics that the right wing was using. He referred to a story that claimed 32 votes had been locked in a car overnight was “completely fabricated by the right-wing.”
In Alaska, the absentee and questionable ballots that are being counted have put Democratic candidate Mark Begich ahead of Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Although Schumer said he would not make any predictions, he was “cautiously optimistic” that Begich would win.
In Georgia, Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ala.) defeated Democratic candidate Jim Martin but got less than 50% of the popular vote. Under the state law in Georgia, this will require a runoff election between the two candidates. Schumer said he was pleased with the outcome and was hopeful Martin would win in the runoff, and concluded “We’ve added enough Democrats to the Senate to bring change to the American people.”
At a press conference on oil companies’ profits, Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says that big oil companies have not delivered anything to anyone despite their record profits. Schumer says that big oil companies form the most selfish and more hypocritical group of companies. Schumer addes that Exxon spends more money on its chief executive officer than it does on research. (0:42)
As the Joint Economic Committee gathered for a full committee hearing on “The Employment Situation: May 2008” Senator Charles E. Schumer (D- N.Y.), the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, and Phillip L. Rones, the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, discussed the increasing unemployment rates effect on the American economy. They explained how the economy has experienced the biggest single-month surge in unemployment since 1986, with Schumer going as far as describing it as “a tsunami hitting our economy.” (more…)
