By David Welna of NPR
November 17, 2009
Listen to the Story
When President Obama and congressional Democrats began their drive this year to revamp health policies, they promised to expand health care coverage and to make it more affordable.
The health bill passed by the House — and a similar measure pending in the Senate — boost the number of people [Read More →]
November 16, 2009
WASHINGTON — As the Senate prepares to take up legislation aimed at overhauling the nation’s health care system, President Barack Obama and the Democrats are still struggling to win the battle for public opinion. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows Americans deeply divided over the proposals under consideration and majorities predicting higher costs ahead.
But Republican [Read More →]
Nearly 60 percent of voters polled dislike Obama’s proposal.
By Paul Beebe, Christopher Smart And Matt Canham of The Salt Lake Tribune
November 16, 2009
If there was any doubt Utahns don’t like the health reform bills moving through Congress, a poll of registered voters commissioned by The Salt Lake Tribune should put the uncertainty to rest.
Fifty-seven percent [Read More →]
Democrats are emailing thousands of people who backed Barack Obama last year in two GOP-controlled Pennsylvania congressional districts, asking them to protest their representatives’ recent “no” votes on health care reform legislation.
— Thomas Fitzgerald — Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
Expansion of coverage would come with $23.5 billion in aid
By Aaron C. Davis — Washington Post Staff Writer
November 16, 2009
Wedged in the House health-care bill is $23.5 billion that looks a lot more like new federal stimulus spending than anything to do with national health-care reform.
The barely debated pot of money would allow Congress to continue pumping billions [Read More →]
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and an assortment of national business groups opposed to President Obama’s health-care reform effort are collecting money to finance an economic study that could be used to portray the legislation as a job killer and threat to the nation’s economy, according to an e-mail solicitation from a top Chamber official.
— Michael D. Shear — Washington Post Staff Writer
The best, most truthful studies always originate with a sponsor who dictates what the findings will be. That is why most so many consultant’s studies are worthless.
— Mike Kroll
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE of the New York Times
November 14, 2009
The abortion issue has put members of Congress who support abortion rights in a quandary over the health care legislation.
Do they stick to their longstanding principles and fiercely resist the legislative effort to limit access to insurance for abortions?
Or should they compromise on the issue and vote [Read More →]
In the official record of the historic House debate on overhauling health care, the speeches of many lawmakers echo with similarities. Often, that was no accident.
Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies.
E-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that the lobbyists drafted one statement for Democrats and another for Republicans.
— ROBERT PEAR in the New York Times
Five-term Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park delivered the national weekly Republican address today, blasting the Democratic-led House passage of a health-care reform package that he said does little to rein in costs and raises taxes in the process.
— Rick Pearson of The Chicago Tribune
By Andrew Malcolm & Johanna Neuman — Los Angeles Times blog
November 13, 2009
Lest anyone forget, while Michelle Obama’s husband talks diplomatic niceties all over Asia for nine days and Todd Palin’s wife pushes her book from Barnes & Nobles to Sam’s Clubs all across this country, the first lady, stuffy nose and all, stays back [Read More →]