And the New Players Are?
With the passage of a reform package by all of the Senate and House Committees, the action now moves to the floor for both groups. Who are the new players? What impact will they have the healthcare reform debate?
As a man truly in the middle, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), the one-time running mate for Vice President Al Gore and Democrat-turned-Independent, Mr. Lieberman is working with both sides of the aisle. On Tuesday, Lieberman expressed his reservations over the Senate Finance Committee’s bill on the Don Imus radio talk show. He noted that the proposed healthcare reform packages attempt to do too much during a time of economic recession, and the bill will actually raise the cost of healthcare coverage – a theme espoused by the insurance industry (see above), an industry with deep roots in . Lieberman’s comments only added fuel to the debate heard throughout .
Even among Democratic circles in the Senate, there remains a feeling of incompleteness. Though happy they were able to pass the Finance Committee proposal, many on the panel have expressed that the bill does not go far enough at improving healthcare. Liberals like Senator Rockefeller (D-WV) have vowed to introduce a public option on the Senate floor. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have said the bill does not make insurance affordable enough for the middle-class. Not to be left out, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) said he plans to push for an employer requirement to provide insurance to workers, and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) expanded upon his plan to allow the states an option for implementing their own healthcare plans, without mandating a national program.
Finally, rumor has it that the 14 Freshman Senators are considering a move to support the centrist position. If so, they will determine the healthcare debate in the US Senate.
Kevin Fickenscher, MD
The views and opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Dell Services or its affiliates.
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