Results tagged “healthcarereform”

By a narrow final margin of 220-215, the U.S. House passed the health care reform bill late last night. With the vote almost completely breaking along party lines, only one Republican - Joseph Cao of New Orleans, LA - voted yes while 39 Dems (none from Illinois) voted no. In an email statement, President Obama said, "This is a night to celebrate -- but not to rest. Those who voted for reform deserve our thanks, and the next phase of this fight has already begun.''

The battle over health care is revving up this weekend as a deal among U.S. House Democrats has paved the way for a potential House vote on President Obama's health care reform bill. The deal would allow for an amendment to the public option portion that would prevent the the government's plan, as well as private plans involved in the government-run exchanges, from covering elective abortions. However, coverage would still be available in the cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. The amendment is expected to pass with support from Republicans and conservative Dems and gives Dem leaders hope of swaying enough of those conservative Dems to secure the 218 necessary votes to pass the bill on to the Senate. There are concerns, though, that there won't be quite enough votes to get the bill passed. Clout Street explains:

If Americans needed further proof that health care reform amounts to little more than partisan talking points and political bickering, Mark Kirk came to the rescue yesterday. A Politico report on the GOP’s feelings about a Democratic health care reform bill quotes Kirk: “Several dozen House Democrats risk losing their jobs if they vote for reform.” Kirk’s no stranger to ridiculous statements regarding health care reform; in August, he helped to spread the lie that proposed legislation would give federally subsidized health care to illegal aliens.

At least we can laugh at it all. Right?

Speaking of President Obama and the issue that may keep him from going to Copenhagen in October, he's planning a big media blitz this weekend. You can look for him on the Sunday morning shows across the major networks including CBS, ABC, NBC, and CNN. He'll wrap it up by stopping by David Letterman's show, the first time a sitting present has visited Letterman. [Tribune]

Sure, the First Lady is going and Oprah's mulling it over, but President Obama is skeptical he'll get to visit Copenhagen in October to make a last-second pitch for Chicago 2016 because he's got other things on his "to do" list. But to hear at least one member of the IOC talk about it, President Obama is the key to the whole deal for Chicago. An IOC member named Dick Pound (no, really) spoke at a symposium focused on the Olympics last night and said, among other things, "If you have a popular and transformational leader and you don't use him, you're not maximizing your chances. To the extent that the mayor and Pat Ryan can twist the presidential arm, they should do that. I think it could make a huge difference."

• There's still some skepticism as to whether or not President Obama will make the trip to Copenhagen on the eve of the IOC's October 2nd vote for the 2016 Olympic games.
• Speaking of the Olympics, in the latest edition of one poll that measures where city's rank with their bids, Chicago is now second behind Rio.
• WBEZ talked to local Congressmen to see where they stand on health care reform in the wake of President Obama's speech last night.

Man, it's been a rough summer for President Obama. As if the economy hasn't given him enough problems, the battle over health care reform has turned pretty damn nasty. And now a new poll by the Tribune and WGN shows that support for Obama in his co-home state is waning a bit. Of the 700 registered voters polled, 59 percent approved of the job he was doing, 33 percent disapprove, and eight percent had no opinion. Of course, the real split comes on how Obama's handled health care.

While opponents rallied and Democrats sweated, the debate over health care reform hasn't gone away. Over the weekend, Wyoming Republican Senator Michael Enzi, one of the leading GOP negotiators on the issue said that unless reform means lower medical costs without increasing the national debt, it's a nonstarter. "The bills introduced by congressional Democrats fail to meet these standards," he said. Nevertheless, congressional Democrats are readying to redouble their efforts to pass what may be the landmark social legislation of this administration. “You’ll see a groundswell once it’s here, and you’ll see we aren’t trying to ram this down anyone’s throats,” said House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina. He told Politico that Democrats will be focusing on negotiations and compromise will be key to passing the bill. And the White House is getting into the act as well, with Vice President Joe Biden appearing in a YouTube video to explain the importance of reforming the nation's health care system.

Mark Kirk, Illinois's 10th District Congressman and GOP front runner for the state's U.S. Senate seat, has been been trying to get in front of conservative rage at Obama lately. Earlier this month he held a press conference in a downtown Chicago federal building (in his capacity as a U.S. Congressman) to denounce the House version of the proposed health care reform legislation. Then, he called the bill partisan and expensive, and cited medical malpractice reforms as the key to cutting costs. This week he's upped the ante, lying about the details of the proposed legislation. "Should we provide taxpayer health care for people who are illegally here in the U. S.? I do not think we should provide federally-subsidized health care to illegal aliens," Kirk asked the crowd before rhetorically answering his own question. He failed to mention that the proposed legislation doesn't actually offer health insurance coverage for those in the United States illegally.

Governor Quinn and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis were among the democratic leaders at Federal Plaza Tuesday pumping up organized labor and liberal advocacy groups in support of President Obama’s health care reform proposal. Hundreds attended to unite against the current insurance system and build momentum for the president’s proposal. As no good rally is without counter-protestors, conservative activists like Eric Odom also made a showing, he told Chicago Breaking News: “We basically feel the legislation being pushed through (is) very dangerous”, and “We are really pushing for everybody to take a deep breath and really look at what we’re getting into and not just jump into something…that’s going to cost us for years to come”.

With the Health Care issue the hot topic on Capitol Hill right now, President Obama took to NBC's Today Show to talk about his proposal for Health Care reform and how he's prepared to do what it takes to ensure it gets passed.

In spite of his appointment to the U.S. House's powerful Ways & Means Committee, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis still has his eye on that vacant U.S. Senate seat that Governor Blagojevich someone will soon appoint. Says Davis, "Well Ways and Means is one thing, but the senate is another one." So, as we alluded to yesterday, we're one step closer to life imitating art? Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit. [WBEZ]

In a press conference originally scheduled to announce former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as his nominee as secretary of Health and Human Services - the same position Governor Blagojevich was hoping to buy himself - President-Elect Barack Obama found himself talking less about health care reform and more about Blago. About Daschle, Obama said, "As such he will be responsible not just for implementing our health care plan. He will also be the lead architect of that plan," noting Daschle will also lead the new White House Office of Health Reform; Obama also named Jeanne Lambrew as deputy director the new office.

Just a few weeks after Governor Blagojevich messed with our minds by suggesting U.S. Rep. Danny Davis was his choice to be appointed to President-Elect Barack Obama's vacant senate seat, it seems Rep. Davis has accepted the likelihood it won't be him and has earned himself a spot on the U.S. House's Ways and Means Committee. Davis was approved for the spot by House Democrats after promising to fight for healthcare reform. Davis' Chief of Staff Yul Edwards said, "It's great for our district. Given the number of hospitals we have and the need to create a better system of healthcare, his background and role in working on health for 30 to 40 years can be an asset." Davis' appointment assures Illinois will have a voice in the committee with Rep. Rahm Emanuel's appointment as Obama's Chief of Staff and the retirement of Rep. Jerry Weller. Is it a coincidence that every time we see Rep. Davis' name, we automatically think of Sen. Clay Davis instead?