Bipartisanship! (sorta)

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/02/23/obama_presents_health_care_plan/

Today Obama unveiled his healthcare plan in a pre-emptive strike against Republicans ahead of Thursday's health care summit. The proposal is meant to foster debate with the Republicans while still being able to have the upper-hand if necessary.

In other words, Thursday is a showdown.

Republicans will need to come to the table with ideas, or true objections, or else Obama's plan has the ability to be passed without a filibuster, without a 60-vote majority, without even so much as the blink of an eye.
Yikes.

Now, from Obama's point of view, I can understand why he's doing this. 2009 was the year of the healthcare debate. He doesn't want to become the 44th president to fail the country in providing comprehensive healthcare coverage. He doesn't want to leave a bad legacy.

And still, I can't help but feel a little uneasy about the whole process. I know, I know, the Republicans have been the ones to continually block any progress for a year, and stalling the debate at every twist and turn. And yet... it still feels somewhat wrong to be going about the process like this. But I guess that's one for history to decide, right?

It certainly will make the Republicans cowboy up. Put up or shut up. Other cliche expressions with the word up. You get the gist.

Who knew legislation could be so exciting?

Somewhere Glenn Beck is crying (although it's probably on live tv)

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/02/22/brown_breaks_with_gop_to_support_jobs_bill/

Scott Brown, trying to prove he is as independent as the platform he ran on, is going to break with the Republican Party and vote for the Jobs Bill put forth by the Democratic Party.

On one hand, Brown needs to stay in lockstep with the Republican Party to appease party leadership.

On the other hand, he needs to not seem too red in a traditionally-blue state.

Thus, he votes for a jobs bill, despite admitting that he believes it is "not perfect".

Perhaps this is the dawn of a new congress. I would love to see more of this in the future from members of both parties.

Update: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/with-g-o-p-help-senate-advances-jobs-bill/?emc=na

Scott Brown went first, then the two senators from Maine jumped ship, and then 2 other Republican senators.

Feel like I'm witnessing the apocalypse right now. Maybe Obama will have more luck pushing through other jobs creation proposals and economic reforms.

Wow.

Obama: Healthcare is still relevant.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/health/policy/22health.html?hp

Published February 21, 2010

President Obama and the White House plan to unveil a new proposal today that would give the government power to block "excessive rate increases" by insurance companies and regulate the currently unregulated insurance market. The plan comes on the heels of Anthem Blue Cross of California's announcement that they are raising their premiums to 39 percent, an egregious and unheard-of figure. While the company claimed it is only doing what's best to keep it afloat in these tough economic times, national outrage was sparked when it was learned that this raise far outpaces any rate of medicare inflation.

The Obama administration wants to draw on this ire and bring the two parties closer together on the issue of healthcare. The Republicans, who up until this point have steadfastly declared "no" to any sort of compromise or proposal put forth by Democrats, will not want to be seen as in support of insurance companies steamrolling over recession-driven and blue-collar Americans. The nytimes is optimistic that this will finally be the straw that breaks the camel's back and forces Republicans to work with their democratic brethren in congress. I'm optimistic as well! Given the intolerance among both parties, and the Republicans' begrudging nature, I am completely optimistic that the Republicans will find some way to block this legislation as well, stall the healthcare debate, and generally not give two cents about the welfare of the American people.

Anyways, the proposal outlines a creation of a new "Health Insurance Rate Authority", which would comprise of industry experts, consumer reps, a health industry rep, a physician (a token sage), and "other experts like health economists and actuaries". Oh, and the secretary of health and human services. Oh, and did I mention that the board was only 7 people? I hope someone can double-up. Paging Dr.Krugman...

With this announcement, the White House hopes to keep healthcare in the forefront of American policy and national debate...urr sorry, I meant deadlock. No wait I think I meant debate. Is the public option in there? I get so confused. Death panels.

In all seriousness, President Obama is still trying to push his agenda forward without overstepping his boundaries in the executive branch. Republicans are going to need to come to the table with ideas if they cannot compromise. The idea for this regulatory board of executives sounds good in theory. They will issue a report every year with their findings and their suggestions for acceptable rate increases by private insurance companies. Obama and the Dems want to be seen as the protectorates of the American people, who only want to do what's best for the country. They want to capitalize on the issue of rising insurance premiums, and Anthem Blue Cross has just given them a golden ticket. Perhaps their strategy work this time. But I'll believe it when I see it.

If only Obama could declare a war on healthcare.

To be continued...