March Madness Has Everyone Shaking Their Head

Obama is a basketball player – usually, a couple of times a week.  So, despite the fact that the annual NCAA College Basketball Tournament has not yet begun, the President is on point to lead another type of “March Madness” that is sweeping the city. With less than a month left before the self-imposed Easter deadline to pass healthcare reform, both the White House and the Democrats in Congress are going for a full-court press to finish the issue.

Speaking to an audience at the White House last Wednesday, President Obama reiterated his demand to pass healthcare reform.  With a cadre of white-coated medical professionals standing behind him, his message to Congress was simple and concise – finish your work. Promoting his plan to overhaul the country’s healthcare industry, President Obama gave one of his most convincing speeches yet on the issue.  He clearly wants to put to rest the healthcare reform issue, which has dominated the better part of his first year in office.  Obama again requested that Congress move forward on an up-or-down vote on a healthcare bill and argued for the use of the reconciliation process.

Vowing to “do everything in my power to make the case for reform,” he continued his full-court press the next morning in a speech before Congressional Democrats. Hoping to align with the members in his own party, Obama is expending considerable political capital in a dash down the court to complete the reform he promised in his campaign.

So, will we see an alley-oop? Quite possibly. The good news for the President is that he seems to have some momentum on his side. After the reform process virtually broke down following the surprise election of Senator Scott Brown (R-MA), the White House seems to have regained some of its composure and is stepping up its plan to control any other fast breaks by the Republicans. The bad news for Obama is that history has a funny way of repeating itself.  President Obama has been here before! Since I started The Washington Report, I can remember four or five instances where healthcare reform was reaching a grand finale.  Points were tallied.  The opposition was dragging its feet, but the lead sputtered away.  Will we see it again?  Perhaps…

We should expect in the coming weeks an intense White House public relations campaign to convince Democrats to side with the President on his plan. Just like the real March Madness, Obama will be calling on all of his key players to come off the bench with a game clinching renewed energy to bring home a fourth-quarter – if not final second – win. Expect the secret weapon (aka First Lady Michelle Obama), Vice President Joe Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Special Advisor David Axelrod, and others to be unleashed to help seal the deal for the Administration.

We should also anticipate some critical horse-trading. With a midterm election approaching faster by the day, many Congressional Democrats are increasingly wary of supporting Obama’s plans for healthcare reform.  The question they ask?  What’s in it for me?  Policymakers will request – and get – favors ranging from campaign finance support to a stump speech or two in their district to support from Administration officials to post-election appointments. During the next few weeks, keep a watchful eye out for “I-help-you, you-help-me” favors.

Finally, don’t pass over those seemingly less-notable Members of the Congressional Democrat leadership who will now move into key roles for passing the legislation. The limelight will shift to the House, and lesser-known Congressionals could make a big splash (remember Joe Wilson?). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will be pulling out all the stops to gain Democrat caucus support for the Senate healthcare bill which will be the core of the reconciliation bill considered by the House. With the pressure on and the clock – and, the vote margin thought to be only one or two votes over the 51 percent margin – every Democrat vote is under scrutiny.

Just like the 65 basketball teams (NOTE: The NCAA may soon expand the number of finalists) who are preparing themselves to play on the biggest stage of their career, so the President and his team are entering the final quarter – if not minute – on the long road to healthcare reform.  With a month left before the Easter Recess (or, about a minute in political time), those of us who are consumed by the game are on the edge of our seat.  It’s game time in DC!!  We will either pass reform or likely wait another decade for a moment when reform is possible.  Is this package perfect?  Absolutely not!  Could we do better?  Absolutely!  Should we proceed?  I think so. We’ve got to start someplace, and it might as well be now.  After all, it is the time for March Madness. 

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.