TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama Proposes New Savings On Health Care, To Pay For Reform
In his weekly Presidential YouTube Address, President Obama argued that health care reform must be done quickly. And to help in this effort, he announced that he will save $313 billion in various areas, to go for paying the short-term costs of reform:
"These savings will come from commonsense changes," said Obama. "For example - if more Americans are insured, we can cut payments that help hospitals treat patients without health insurance. If the drug makers pay their fair share, we can cut government spending on prescription drugs. And if doctors have incentives to provide the best care instead of more care, we can help Americans avoid the unnecessary hospital stays, treatments, and tests that drive up costs."
Pence: Dem Energy Plan A "Declaration Of War" On Families
In this weekend's Republican address, Rep Mike Pence (R-IN) lambasted the Democratic proposals for a cap-and-trade program:
"This national energy tax amounts to an economic declaration of war on America's families, small businesses and family farms. The American people know we can do better," Pence said.
No Obama Or Biden Events This Weekend
President Obama does not have any public events scheduled for this weekend. Likewise, Vice President Biden is spending the weekend in Wilmington, Delaware, and does not have any scheduled public events, either.
NYT: U.S. To Continue To Engage Iran
The New York Times reports that the Obama Administration plans to continue with attempts to reach out to Iran, in the wake of the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "Ahmadinejad could feel that because of public pressure, he wants to reduce Iran's isolation," said an anonymous official. "That might also cause engagement to proceed more swiftly." Meanwhile, Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom told an audience in Tel Aviv that the results "blow up in the faces of those who thought Iran was built for a genuine dialogue with the free world on stopping its nuclear program."
North Korea Declares They Won't Abandon Nuke Program
The North Korean government is stepping up its opposition to the international community in the wake of new sanctions from the United Nations. The country has now declared that it intends to weaponize plutonium; that to abandon its nuclear program is "an absolutely impossible option"; that the nuclear program is a "self defensive measure"; and finally: "An attempted blockade of any kind by the U.S. and its followers will be regarded as an act of war and met with a decisive military response."
Obama Pledges Aid To Zimbabwe
President Obama announced yesterday that the U.S. government will provide $73 million in aid to Zimbabwe, after he met with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House. "I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity that the prime minister has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe," said Obama.
WaPo: Key Lawmakers Reveal Investments In Health Industry
The Washington Post reports that nearly 30 key lawmakers helping to draft health-care legislation have financial holdings in the industry, totaling nearly $11 million. This includes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), with at least $50,000; Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), with between $254,000 and $560,000; and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), with at least $3.2 million.
AP: Sotomayor Impresses Senators In Interviews
The Associated Press reports that Senators have been impressed with Judge Sonia Sotomayor after their meetings with her, an often important step in the confirmation process. "Sotomayor noticed a bicycle figurine on a shelf in the office of Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and chatted about her love of cycling," the AP says. "She spoke in Spanish to Cuban-born Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla. She talked about losing her father at an early age with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., whose dad also died when he was young. She gossiped with Democratic senators who support her about how to handle potential critics and the trickier personalities on Capitol Hill."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
i'm not worried at all about sotomayor's confirmation. but the key issues for the democratic party are being eviscerated, or are in grave danger
on health care, obama needs to give a national speech specifically focusing on the public option and on the need for a REAL one, now -- as the kennedy allies are putting forward. i know it's not single payer, but hopefully it will mitigate the issue of health costs. he could draw a line in the sand w. congress and win
on energy, i have gotten to the point where i would prefer that they just pass the clearly positive (progressive) elements of the bill now, and then study things like flat electric rates and much stricter mileage standards and a very ecologically oriented subsidy (together perhaps w/study of a subsidy and tax scheme to supplement it)
there is much too much focus on things where the outcome seems foregone, and not enough on urgent issues that in the short term could have huge swings of difference, w/the right leadership
this notion of consensus and bipartisanship isn't working
June 13, 2009 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is actually to the advantage of those opposed to meaningful regulation of greenhouse gas emissions to pass a bill --- and make sure it is as weak as possible. The Supreme Court has ruled that the EPA may regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and that applies, of course, in the absence of specific legislation by the Congress. If there is no legislation, the EPA may set whatever standards it deems to be in the public interest.
If we can only get an extremely watered down bill, we might be better off to let the EPA set absolute standards for emissions. This will hurt coal burners the most, and they are the real power behind the obstruction. In a way, this calls their bluff. The EPA could start by seeking a court order to stop construction by Duke Power of its huge new coal burning plant, which will not incorporate the latest emissions control technologies. This industry is the worst threat to both accelerating global warming and to public health from spreading coal based pollutants. Their lobbying and investment policies are as cynical and self-serving as the tobacco industry.
June 13, 2009 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/us/politics/14address.html?hp
"WASHINGTON — The White House said Saturday that President Obama intended to pay for his health care overhaul partly by cutting more than $200 billion in expected reimbursements to hospitals over the next decade —...
The administration expects to achieve the lowered hospital payments in two major ways, by slowing the growth of reimbursements. First, said Mr. Obama’s budget director, Peter M. Orszag, payments to hospitals will be reduced to try to encourage them to work more productively and efficiently.
Mr. Orszag said hospitals could figure out ways of treating patients “more effectively, through health information technology, a nurse coordinator instead of an unnecessary specialist,” for example. These “productivity adjustments” would account for $110 billion in savings...."
So let's see if I get this. How do hospitals operate efficiently these days? Pay slave wages to hospital workers or lay them off altogether. If you are hospitalized you are going to get a robot instead of a nurse and a "nurse coordinator" instead of a specialist.
If Obama isn't careful, he's going to turn me into a Republican.
I mean you are going to love the hell out of your hospital stay if the hospital can't afford nurses or physicians. And we'll be back to them kicking out new mothers within hours of having a C section.
I believe this is what the Republicans call "rationing care".
June 13, 2009 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
i'd be willing to kick in some of my own hard-earned dollars to personally buy you ride in a waaambulance.
you are the michael phelps of bitching and moaning.
June 13, 2009 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You must be a Republican.
June 13, 2009 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
You really have no idea what you are talking about. There is a tremendous amount of useless spending in the provision of health care. To see how it is not only possible but necessary to spend less to provide better quality care you should study what is done at the Mayo Clinc, Intermountain Healthcare, the Geisinger Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Group Health in Seattle, the Marshfield Clinic in WI.
June 14, 2009 3:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you cut reimbursements to a county hospital in Mississippi, they may fire their LPN and thus become more efficient. They do not become the Mayo Clinic.
June 14, 2009 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
True, if you are assuming across-the-board cuts in reimbursements. I read this a bit differently. Reimbursements for specialists could be cut dramatically while follow-up for chronic diseases by nurses would be paid--and perhaps upped. We'll all just have to wait and see on this one--although I do make note that the "very accurate" NY Times wrote this particular slant.
Furthermore, this burden doesn't fall exclusively on Obama, now does it? The State of Mississippi, known for their poverty while remaining "Republican" bears a fair amount of this burden. And I speak living in the great state of Missouri where rural health care was cut dramatically by our now-ousted Republican boy governor--to the complete dismay of the rural folk who continue to overwhelmingly vote Republican.
I will say, bluebell, you are like the boy crying wolf all of the time. Have you been doing this since Truman's days as Prez?
June 14, 2009 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Truman was President when I was born. I was hoping we'd get to universal healthcare before I die.
June 14, 2009 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stick around for Obama's term. If we don't get there, we'll be a heck of a lot closer....
June 14, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bluebell changing the reward system for medical providers is just as important as changing the insurance system. Fee for service results in doctors ordering far too many tests, drugs and procedures and hospitals basing their decisions on what the patient earns them not what is best for the patient. Keeping hospital beds filled doesn't = good care, it's just better for their bottom line.
If we start rewarding doctors and hospitals for best medicals outcomes instead of the number of procedures, tests, and drug regimens provided we'll have a much better and cheaper healthcare system.
June 14, 2009 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink