by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Nov. 23, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

              Getting his 60 filibuster-proof votes Nov. 20 to continue debating health care reform, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), barely squeaked by, capturing not one Republican vote, including Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).  Republicans maintained nearly unanimous oppositions to Senate Democrats version of health care reform.  Estimated at $884 billion, the Senate plan, if passed, would have to be reconciled with the House $1.2 billion version, extending insurance coverage to nearly 50 million uninsured U.S. citizens.  Senate and House version included a so-called public option, where the government would foot the bill for insuring the nation’s uninsured.  Heading the group of centrist Democrats and independents, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) signaled his support for health care but opposition to passing legislation that harms the long-term growth of the U.S. economy.

            Reid’s Nov. 20 victory makes it more difficult for Republicans to oppose the legislation for opposition sakes.  “In the end, I don’t want four Democratic Senators dictating to the other 56 of us and to the country, when the public option has this much support, that is not going to be in it,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) on CNN’s “State of the Union” with John King.  Brown refers to Lieberman, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-Lo.), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).  All four senators have problems with the public option, where the government foots the bill.  All support health care reform as long as it doesn’t add to already astronomical federal budget deficits and doesn’t pay for abortions or illegal immigrants.  President Barack Obama has placed health care reform at the top of his domestic agenda, prompting a sharp opposition from GOP Senate colleagues.

            Congressional Democrats have drowned out open debate, blasting Republicans for not acquiescing.  While the GOP has been less than forthcoming, their proposals center on increasing competition in the private sector by (a) ending the insurance industry’s antitrust exemption, (b) allowing insurance purchases across state lines and (c) banning exclusions for preexisting conditions.  Republicans generally oppose allowing the government to compete in the private insurance market.  There are real concerns about hurting insurance industry profits, driving down share prices and contributing to more unemployment.  Democrats, zealous to get health care reform passed, haven’t considered the potentially adverse consequences to the U.S. economy.  With the federal government running a revised $1.7 trillion deficit, some GOP and centrist Democrats expressed more concerns.

            Neither House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) nor Reid have explained how they intend to pay for the nearly $1 trillion price tag over 10 years.  Pelosi and Reid have urged taxing the rich and their “Cadillac” insurance policies to account for the missing revenue, estimated at two-to-five times the original estimate.  Medicare, which was launched in 1964, turned out nine times more costly than the original figure   Other discussions have urged slashing Medicare subsides to insurance companies and hospitals.  “I believe there are a number of Democratic Senators who do care what the American people think and are not interested in this sort of arrogant approach that everybody sort of shut up and sit down, get out of the way, we know what’s best for you,” said Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kt.), setting the battle lines before the expected up-or-down vote by Christmas.  McConnell currently has the GOP caucus in lockstep opposing the legislation.

            Lieberman, who Democrats now count on for a crucial 60-vote filibuster-proof majority, is the only U.S. senator talking about repercussions on the U.S. economy.  “We have health care system that has real troubles, but we have an economic system that is in real crisis,” Joe said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with David Gregory.  “I don’t want to fix the problems in health care in a way that creates more of an economic crisis,” raising the real sticking point with health care reform.  Obama, Pelosi and Reid have talked about real savings in preventive care but they haven’t addressed the consequences of adding to the federal budget deficit.  With Barack considering a major escalation in Afghanistan, it’s going to be difficult to allocate the resources for health care.  Adding $100 billion to the military and another $100 to health care, could push the deficit to over $2 trillion.           

            Republicans in Congress will be hard-pressed to play obstructionist or ignore the health care debate currently raging in Congress.  Elected officials choosing obstruct do so at their own reelection peril.  Real issues related to spiraling costs, poor quality and diminished access require some sort of practical fix.  Democrats shouldn’t expect well-intentioned Republicans, as McConnell put it, to roll over.  Expecting Republicans to overlook potentially serious consequences would be equally negligent.  Centrist Democrats, looking to negotiate in good faith, must consider Lieberman’s worry about more damage to the U.S. economy.  “The one option which is not present in my judgment is the option of doing nothing,” said newly minted Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.).  Instead of railroading the GOP, Democrats should reconsider real GOP proposals before the final vote.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.