Health care insurance providers
Democratic National Committee:
- Mitt's Millions Can't Buy Iowans Health Care Reform
On the same day the Los Angeles Times reported that cancer survivors could be left out of the leading Republican presidential candidates' health care proposals, smooth talking Mitt Romney is slated to discuss health care at Des Moines University today. According to the report, cancer survivors "could not be sure of getting coverage -- especially if they were not already covered by a government or job-related plan and had to seek insurance as individuals" under the plans offered by John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson. [Los Angeles Times, 11/20/07]
For his part, Romney has consistently failed to outline a clear vision for how he would help the 47 million Americans who lack health insurance. Instead, Romney has been working overtime to distance himself from the health care plan he championed as Massachusetts governor and called "a conservative victory" as recently as 2006. In the face of criticism from conservative activists, Romney now calls similar proposals "socialized medicine," despite the fact that health care experts say they are "just like the Massachusetts plan." [Boston Globe, 4/26/07; Reuters, 10/5/07]
The new Mitt Romney has abandoned his old plan in favor of President Bush's failed health care agenda. Last month, Romney said he supported the President's decision to deny health care to 10 million children by vetoing Democratic efforts to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)--even though Romney himself expanded SCHIP funding as governor. [Kansas City Star, 10/2/07] Earlier this summer, Romney also recycled President Bush's failed plan for health savings accounts. [Washington Post "The Trail," 8/24/07]
Romney may not have a health care agenda of his own, but he does have a plan for using his vast personal fortune to woo leading conservative activists and interest groups. According to the Boston Globe, Romney's charitable foundation gave tens of thousands of dollars to "organizations influential in Republican circles last year." [Boston Globe, 11/20/07] This follows earlier reports that Romney gave $25,000 to the conservative Heritage Foundation in 2005, months before the Foundation's experts publicly supported Romney's Massachusetts health care plan. [New York Times, 3/11/07]
"Smooth talking Mitt Romney seems to think he can spread the wealth around and charm Republican primary voters and caucus-goers into ignoring the fact that he refuses to offer clear answers on issues like health care, immigration reform or the war in Iraq," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "Running from his own record and rehashing President Bush's failed leadership is hardly the brand of leadership the American people are looking for in their next president." - Bush Vetoes Health and Education Bill
Earlier I wrote about how your family owes $16,500.00 for the war in Iraq through 2008. Amazing, then, that President Bush decided that he will veto a health and education bill because he claims to be concerned about spending.
Speaker Pelosi pointed out that this was a "bipartisan and fiscally responsible bill" that provides "education for our children, assistance in paying skyrocketing energy costs, veterans' health care, and other urgent health research on cancer and other serious medical problems."
The Republican strategy is based on one premise: make sure as little gets accomplished as possible -- then try to blame the Democrats for the Republicans' obstructionism. It wasn't too long ago that Bush was complaining about Congress not getting enough done, in his opinion. Yet at every opportunity, from Iraq to education to children's health, he prevents as much as possible from getting done for the American people. And his Republicans in Congress aren't doing much better, attempting to block as much legislation from getting a vote as they can.
The strategy is obvious, but as recent election results showed, they're failing to fool the American people.
- Health Care Group Tells Giuliani To Pull Misleading Ad
From the Concord Monitor:
A state health care advocacy group has asked former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani to pull his latest radio ad, in which he cites inaccurate public health statistics.In the radio ad, Giuliani, a Republican presidential candidate, talks about his battle with prostate cancer, using it as a springboard to explain why he thinks his health care plan is superior to plans proposed by Democratic presidential candidates, which he calls "socialized medicine."
Giuliani's health care smear is just the latest in series of exaggerations:
But here’s what I don’t understand: Why isn’t Mr. Giuliani’s behavior here considered not just a case of bad policy analysis but a character issue?For better or (mostly) for worse, political reporting is dominated by the search for the supposedly revealing incident, in which the candidate says or does something that reveals his true character. And this incident surely seems to fit the bill.
The fact is that the prostate affair is part of a pattern: Mr. Giuliani has a habit of saying things, on issues that range from health care to national security, that are demonstrably untrue. And the American people have a right to know that.
- Dr. Jennifer Howse, President of the March of Dimes Foundation, to Deliver Democratic Radio Address
The President of the March of Dimes Foundation, Dr. Jennifer Howse, will deliver the Democratic Radio Address tomorrow. In her address, Dr. Howse will discuss the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) bill and explain the importance of the legislation to millions of children across America.
WHO: Dr. Jennifer Howse, President of the March of Dimes Foundation
WHAT: Weekly Democratic Radio Address
WHEN: Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 11:06 a.m. (EST)
Below are unembargoed excerpts for immediate release:
"Because our work is completely linked with access to quality health care, the March of Dimes steadfastly supports the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act. We believe it is critical to provide health coverage 10 million children.
"According to the Institute of Medicine, health insurance is the single most important factor in determining whether or not a child receives needed health care. Every child needs preventive care; it helps them become healthy, productive adults.
"The work of the March of Dimes touches every baby born in America. We do not consider children's health a partisan issue - it's every family's issue - and worry."
Below is a transcript of her remarks:
Embargoed until Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. EST
"Good morning. I'm Dr. Jennifer Howse, President of the March of Dimes Foundation. The March of Dimes is a nonpartisan organization with a long and proud history stretching over 70 years - we work hard to save the smallest and sickest of newborns and children, and equally hard to prevent childhood health problems in the first place.
"Because our work is completely linked with access to quality health care, the March of Dimes steadfastly supports the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act. We believe it is critical to provide health coverage 10 million children.
"According to the Institute of Medicine, health insurance is the single most important factor in determining whether or not a child receives needed health care. Every child needs preventive care; it helps them become healthy, productive adults. For medically fragile children, such as the half a million babies who are born preterm every year and who require costly care in neonatal intensive care units and have complex medical needs throughout childhood. For these preemies, coverage is truly a matter of life and death, not to mention a matter of families' financial survival.
"One of the reasons that we so steadfastly support this particular bill is that it is overwhelmingly supported by bipartisan majorities in Congress. And, among the March of Dimes, 3 million volunteers nationwide, are individuals from both ends of the political spectrum, and everywhere in between. As a result, we have valued relationships with Members on both sides of the aisle in Congress. This is certainly evidenced by our work to develop the CHIP Reauthorization and secure its passage in Congress.
"Let me tell you two more reasons why we specifically support the CHIP Reauthorization Act: First, pregnant women. This bill gives states a new option to cover pregnant women who meet the program's income guidelines. Maternity care allows health provid
