Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day Under the House bill, no one can ever be forced onto the public health insurance option. The only way someone would be in the public health insurance option is as a result of their own individual choice. | | Health Resources |
The Hidden Health Tax On Insured Americans can be viewed here. Under the Microscope With over 21 million people watching, President Obama’s Joint Address to Congress hit the ball out the park last night, according to national polling and loads of affirmative news coverage, paving the way for Congress to tackle one of this country’s most important domestic issues. As the President said, health insurance reform will "provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will to slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government." Read the transcript or watch the video Obama Plan Card for Members President Obama’s Health Plan Outline Health Insurance Reform Consumer Protections Letter from the late Senator Kennedy (D-MA) to President Obama, Delivered Upon His Death [5/12/2009]
Health Care Headlines Obama Pitches Need For Health Reform to Congress
Casting himself as a voice of reason in a bitter debate, he says the parties must come together. He emphasizes that even Americans who have insurance would benefit, and that costs would be kept down. [L.A. Times, 9/10/2009] Democrats Begin Rallying Members Behind Obama's Health-Care Call
Congressional Democrats on Thursday began their push to unify their ranks behind President Obama's outline for health-care legislation, hours after the president laid out that plan in a speech that was met with loud protests from some Republican lawmakers. [Washington Post, 9/10/09] Health Care Speech Reassures Some
President Obama hoped to reshape the national health care debate and give his reform proposals a boost through his address to Congress. For Anne Fredrickson, his plan worked. [USA Today, 9/10/2009] Obama’s Health Care Plan Builds on Others’ Ideas
“This is the plan I’m proposing,” President Obama finally said Wednesday night, months into the bruising health care debate that he initiated without ever formally laying down a measure of his own.
[New York Times, 9/10/2009] Read a related article. Four GOP Senators Stand, Applaud Obama's Death Panel Dismissal
Just a few Republicans joined Democrats in applauding President Obama's debunking of the "death panels" claim during his healthcare speech Wednesday, but which GOP members they were might be telling.
[The Hill, 9/10/2009] Baucus Tells Democrats of Plan to Advance Health Bill
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) told a Democrats-only meeting of his committee Wednesday that he plans to begin marking up a health care reform bill the week of Sept. 20, with or without a bipartisan deal in place. [Roll Call, 9/10/2009] AMA Letter a Shot in the Arm for Obama's Efforts
The American Medical Association has posted a letter on its Web site, urging President Barack Obama and Congress to reach an agreement on health reform. [Associated Press, 9/10/2009] EDITORIAL: President Obama Steps Forward
His speech to a joint session of Congress was rhetorically powerful in its insistence that reform must finally happen — for the sake of Americans’ health and the economic health of the country. We hope it was only the start of a sustained campaign to get this essential legislation passed. [9/10/2009, New York Times] OPINION: At Last, Firing Back at Health Reform
By E.J. Dionne
After a listless summer during which his opponents dominated the health-care debate, President Obama used a dramatic appearance before Congress on Wednesday to seize control of the autumn, the season of decision for the initiative he has turned into the central test of his presidency. [Washington Post, 9/10/2009] OPINION: Obama Pulling a Jimmy Stewart
By Tom Shales
On all the broadcast networks, on PBS (with a true, wide-screen, high-def picture that was striking), on the news channels and on C-Span, the effect, telegenically, was that of a president reminding a viewing nation that he's up to the task. [Washington Post, 9/10/2009] OPINION: My Take On Obama’s Speech
I’ve never seen President Obama so emotional during a major speech. He pulled heartstrings early and effectively with his description of how insurance companies deny coverage to desperately ill Americans.
[ABC News, 9/9/2009] OPINION: Patients Must Come First
By Rep. Steve Kagan, MD (D-WI)
Caring for patients was the reason I became a doctor, and the reason I will always put patients first.
[GreenBay Press Gazette, 9/6/2009] Boxer, Matsui Collect Tales of Californians’ Health Care Woes
Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer has been busy collecting the stories this summer, saying it's time to put a human face on the issue as Congress faces "a great golden moment" of considering whether to provide insurance to every American. "This is a great moment for us to do the right thing," she said Wednesday. Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui of Sacramento has been gathering personal stories, too. [9/10/2009] | 