POTUS on Health Care: ‘You Got a Better Idea? Bring It On’
EmailFrom Rachel Martin and Karen Travers:
President Obama ventured out of Washington again today to shore up support for his jobs program and ongoing efforts to pass health insurance reform and challenge Republicans and Democrats to work together.
Speaking in front of a crowd of about 1,100 at Nashua, New Hampshire, the President announced a proposal to take $30 billion of the bank bailout money, that's been paid back by Wall Street, and use it to incentivize community banks on Main Street to lend to small businesses.
"The more loans these banks provide to creditworthy small businesses," the President said, "the better a deal we’ll give them on capital from this Fund. Combined with my proposal back in December to continue waiving fees and increasing guarantees for SBA-backed loans, this will help small banks do even more of what our economy needs – ensure that small businesses are once again the engine of job growth in America."
Before the address, the President visited a local business, ARC Energy, an alternative energy company.
Accompanying the President on the trip today, was Karen Mills, the head of the Small Business Administration.
The President told the town hall audience that he "won't rest until businesses are hiring again, and wages are rising again and the Middle Class is thriving again…I'm not ready to cede the future to China or India , or European countries… I’m not willing to settle for second place. Not for the United States of America."
Health care was also front and center today and with just days until the Super Bowl, Obama used an extended football metaphor to drive home his message.
"We're essentially on the five yard line…we've had to go into overtime but we're in the red zone. We gotta punch it through," he said.
But Obama said he needs help. "Democrats can’t do this alone – the President can't do it alone. We’ve got two parties in this country. And that’s a good thing."
And the President set a new deadline for reform – the end of 2010.
"I will not walk away from these efforts. I will not walk away from these people. And I don’t think Congress should either. I think we should keep working to get this done – Democrats and Republicans together. Let's get it done this year!"
And he said, again, that he's open to any good idea when it comes to fixing the country's health care system." You got a better idea, bring it on. But what I will not do is to stop working on this issue because it's the right thing to do for America."
President Obama took about half a dozen questions in the town hall portion of the event, including one from a high school student who asked the President to grade himself on his administration's transparency.
The President said he tries to stay away from grading himself and copped to falling short of his promise to air all the health care debates and meetings on C-SPAN, but he said again that he believes his is the "most transparent administration in the modern era."
In response to a question about how to develop sustainable energy independence, Obama said today that the “controversial” cap and trade mechanism that was approved by the House could be considered separately in the Senate as it develops energy reform legislation.
“We may be able to separate these things out, and it's conceivable that that's where the Senate ends up,” the president said. “But the concept of incentivizing clean energy so that it's the cheaper, more effective kind of energy, is one that is proven to work and is actually a market-based approach.”
He also took a question from an audience member of Haitian descent who asked about America's long term re-development plan for Haiti.
The President said he would work with other partner nations to "determine how can we see if, out of this incredible tragedy, we can start actually rebuilding in a way that makes life even better for people over the long term than it was before the earthquake."
Besides the humanitarian obligation, President Obama said re-building Haiti is in America's national security interests, by bolstering the US image abroad to counterbalance jihadist propaganda. "When they see us devoting these resources and the incredible capacity that we have, to help people in desperate need, that message ripples across the world. And it means that when you've got a guy like bin Laden out there — screaming, blow up America — you know, it's a lot harder for that seed to take root."
-Rachel Martin and Karen Travers
Gulf of Mexico to Become Gulf of America? 
Can Mitt Romney Win Conservatives Back?
‘You Got a Better Idea? Bring It On’
___________________________
Start by retracting any deals made to buy votes or support.
Then, give me the ability to buy health insurance across state lines, shoring up a basic standard that all states must follow.
Do something in the way of tort reform besides conducting a “study.” Malpractice insurance rates and preventative testing (CYA) are able to be significantly reduced and are huge cost factors for practicing physicians.
That’s just to name a few.
Posted by: Jen B. | February 2, 2010, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
A better idea? Would we be able to present one that allows us to buy off certain senators and special interests? Just like Obama did?
Posted by: Axey | February 2, 2010, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
“Then, give me the ability to buy health insurance across state lines, shoring up a basic standard that all states must follow.”
The Republicans would NEVER go for that.
The whole point of selling insurance across state lines is to avoid all basic standards and the consumer protections states have enacted and go directly to the state with the lowest standard.
And even for that purpose the word “state” is not just the 50.
” The term ‘State’ means the 50
States and includes the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa,
and the Northern Mariana Islands.”
“Do something in the way of tort reform besides conducting a “study.” Malpractice insurance rates and preventative testing (CYA) are able to be significantly reduced and are huge cost factors for practicing physicians.”
Damn the CBO for stating the FACT that tort reform will have minimal savings as tort reform has been enacted in many states already.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 2, 2010, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
But Obama said he needs help. “Democrats can’t do this alone – the President can’t do it alone. We’ve got two parties in this country. And that’s a good thing.”
I simply cannot understand why this is such a big deal to him, other than he NEEDS the Republicans on the “Democrat side” because the bill stinks, the American public doesn’t want it in the current form, the financials won’t support it, and he and his party members don’t want to take all the heat for it. They (the Republicans) are scapegoats. I hope they will stick to their guns and demand that the voices of the people be heard, and appropriate changes made to the bill. If House and Senate Democrats don’t want to allow that, then the Republicans SHOULD be the “party of NO”. Right now it’s all we have to stop this giant snowball from getting bigger.
He says the Democrats can’t do this alone, the President can’t do it alone. Yet, until the Massachusetts vote came through, the bill was going to be shoved through with or without Republican support. Who do they think they are kidding? Someday, they WILL figure out that WE the people aren’t that dumb.
Posted by: Shoe | February 2, 2010, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
“You Got a Better Idea? Bring It On”
How about incremental reform, as he discussed with Republicans just the other day?
Posted by: Bob | February 2, 2010, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Hi guys,
I was featured in this Newsweek article, titled, “Young Voters May Ditch Dems Over HealthCare”:
Posted by: young_voter | February 2, 2010, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
I realise it is not pc to say this but what the hey.Obama is a liar.I must say,to be fair,that he is very good at it.
Posted by: bobmac | February 2, 2010, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
Damn the CBO for stating the FACT that tort reform will have minimal savings as tort reform has been enacted in many states already.
Posted by: Ryan C | Feb 2, 2010 5:16:30 PM
—————————–
Funny, because in a letter to Senator Hatch, Douglas Elmendorf (director of the CBO) said this:
Tort reform could affect costs
for health care both directly and indirectly: directly, by lowering premiums for medical
liability insurance; and indirectly, by reducing the use of diagnostic tests and other health
care services when providers recommend those services principally to reduce their
potential exposure to lawsuits. Because of mixed evidence about whether tort reform
affects the utilization of health care services, past analyses by the Congressional Budget
Office (CBO) have focused on the impact of tort reform on premiums for malpractice
insurance. However, more recent research has provided additional evidence to suggest
that lowering the cost of medical malpractice tends to reduce the use of health care
services. CBO has updated its estimate of the budgetary effects of proposals for tort
reform to reflect that new information.
Posted by: Jen B. | February 2, 2010, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
Jen B,
Google “Responses to Questions About the Effects of Tort Reform”
In which Hatch;s concerns are discussed.
The summary
“In
CBO’s latest estimate, the reduction in spending owing to changes in providers’
practice patterns significantly outweighs the induced increase in insurance purchases; as a result, the net reduction in health care spending incorporating all
three factors listed above is 0.5 percent.”
Like I said, minimal impact.
That does not mean its unworthy of pursuit, just stop pretending that tort reform is some sort of silver bullet or major piece of the puzzle.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 2, 2010, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
I never said it was a magic bullet. There is no magic bullet. If there was, it would have already been proposed. It’s going to have be a combination of several things. Offering only a study of tort reform is wasteful pandering. The benefits (even if minimal) are benefits with no drawbacks unless you’re a special interest.
If you’re only looking to wave a magic wand, then we should scrap the whole thing, because no one thing is going to fix the mess.
Posted by: Jen B. | February 2, 2010, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
“I was featured in this Newsweek article, titled, “Young Voters May Ditch Dems Over HealthCare”
You’re a young voter demanding healthcare reform who is upset with the President and the Democrats for not enacting such?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 2, 2010, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
“Offering only a study of tort reform is wasteful pandering. The benefits (even if minimal) are benefits with no drawbacks unless you’re a special interest.”
What are you talking about “offering to study”?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 2, 2010, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
The last I read, in the Senate bill, they offered to set up a panel to study tort reform as a way of claiming to address it. That’s what I was referring to.
Posted by: Jen B. | February 2, 2010, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
“The last I read, in the Senate bill, they offered to set up a panel to study tort reform as a way of claiming to address it.”
Maybe if the Republicans had not negotiated in bad faith (demanding inclusion of amendments only to vote against the bill, delaying tactics, filibusters of non related legislation to suck up time for health care debate…etc), tort reform may have come to the fore.
It may still as the bill is being negotiated.
My prediction is the bill could include tort reform while excluding even a hint of a public option and the GOP would vote against it.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 2, 2010, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
“You got a better idea, bring it on. ”
What a bunch of hokum.
He refused to consider anything resembling a government run single payer solution, which would have covered more people with better care with far less cost.
How he can say this with a straight face is beyond me.
Posted by: Flash Override | February 2, 2010, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
This debate is getting so old! Facts DEMS had 60 votes in the Senate.
The DEMS who met behind closed doors and would not let REP in on anything while the DEM had their little Lobby friends with me still couldnt pass this bill. Thats a Fact. Now 59 DEM and STILL cant get it passed. People not just in the REP party think this bill stinks! A DEM Majority in CONGRESS wont pass this bill. FACT! Quite blaming the REP for not passing Health Care, who are you fooling by saying its the REP fault. The term many DEMS use is “Rep blocking legistaion” are you kidding. REP cant block anything at all. NOthing. Zero. Find a better reason, like this bill stinks
Posted by: Ted | February 2, 2010, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
Yes, I have a better idea. Do nothing. That’s right, I said it! Do nothing! That’s a much better idea than (what we know of) the currently passed bills in the House and Senate. Every poll taken over the last six months on this subject overwhelmingly backs up that statement.
Or, how about this? Force insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. Sure, costs will go up but who cares? It’s a small price to pay for the of peace of mind it would bring, right? I mean, isn’t that the premise of a public option? Sure, we’ll all pay some more but it will be worth it, right?
This is all posturing. Obama, Reid and Pelosi reached way too far, lacked the skills to bring about meaningful change and now they will pay the price. The voting public is not upset because Congress and Obama failed to act. They’re upset because Congress and Obama attempted to ACT without LISTENING!!!
Posted by: Woody | February 2, 2010, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
You arrogant, tiresome, popinjay. Many
good minds have ideas. But you, in
the Wolf’s Lair with your liberal
sycophants refused to hear them. Andy
Stern and his ilk are at the Lair
daily, and you’ve shown they are the
most important voices. Road trip!!!
Campaign mode!!!!!
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | February 2, 2010, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
“Bring it on”. Obama, you can’t even
protect Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts.
Your party is praying that YOU can
“bring it on”. Time to run out and
tap-dance on the campaign trail.
That’ll get it done.
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | February 2, 2010, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
The DNC provided half a million dollars for Nelson “air cover”. A couple of unusual, off-cycle ads ran in Nebraska, defending Ben Nelson and the Obama Cornhusker deals.
How did the “NEBRASKA” Democratic Party was pay for them?
According to the “Nebraska” Democratic Committee’s latest FEC report, it received a contribution of $459,760.00 from the DNC. Here’s a screen capture from the FEC report, which can be seen in full (It’s the “Year End” for 2009). CHECK IT OUT! THIS HALF A MILLION COULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO OUR DEBT! THIS IS THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
Posted by: OBAMA'S "HOPE & CHANGE" = "HOAX & CHAINS"! | February 2, 2010, 11:45 pm 11:45 pm
They neeed to start over…the merged HC bills resemble nothing that the real democrats(DLC members) want and the republicans just cant believe their good fortune… there is no way that Pelosi and reid are goign to pass this by reconciliation that would be beyond audacious and there would be no democrats left in congress
Posted by: JG | February 3, 2010, 1:20 am 1:20 am
‘You Got a Better Idea?
Yeah. Free market competition among businesses. Profit-based incentives create and provide the best products and services for consumers. Competition creates new jobs and economic growth. This is the essence of free market capitalism, which has produced the most prosperous nation in human history.
Posted by: Sigmonde | February 3, 2010, 5:30 am 5:30 am
Our Demand
We, the American People
American Patriots All
Allegiance To Our Flag, in Accordance With Our Constitution,
For Love Of Our Country, One Nation Under God
are being portrayed as right-wing extremists,
a lunatic fringe element, and astroturf
we are everyday Americans
We, are the American People
In regards to this administration’s lobbyist-generated
back-room, closed-door, Healthcare Reform Bill,
to say Americans are ANGRY is the
“understatement of the year”
Enough already
Stop the insanity
Keep your politics out of our Healthcare
Healthcare reform done right utilizes the K.I.S.S. philosophy
and first focuses on four primary cost factors
Fraud, Tort, Billing, and Drug Prices
Healthcare fraud is said to cost taxpayers
hundreds of billions of dollars a year
With an intelligent database
there would not be this cost
Only idiots would add trillions of dollars
to a healthcare system that is leaking money like a sieve
without fixing the system first
Tort Insurance is quoted as between 4-6%
of the overall Healthcare cost
an estimated 120 Billion Dollars per year
Seems quite logical that to reduce costs
to take lawyers out of our healthcare
Billing hassle is quoted as 8%
of the overall Healthcare cost
With an intelligent database
there would not be this cost
Drug Price Reform
Americans demand the right
to obtain our prescription drugs
from the least expensive legitimate
pharmaceutical source on the planet
this is not subject to discussion
E-Verifying recipients for unemployment benefits
will save substantial amounts of money
and E-Verifying Driver’s License recipients
will help secure our country
and E-Verifying all workers will generate 8.3 million jobs
currently held by known illegals
all recipients, of any entitlement
federal, or state
must be E-Verified to eliminate most fraud
and preferably Bio-ID’d to eliminate all fraud
Need we remind Congress, and this administration
that Entitlements cost taxpayers 50% of our Federal Budget
Fraud in Entitlements alone
costs Americans more, each year, than both wars
and arguably, fraud costs Americans, more, in a single year
than both wars, in total, over the last ten years
FIX THE FRAUD FIRST before doing anything else
and we’ll save 1 Trillion Dollars a year
actually even more
in the meantime we will solicit
the input of all healthcare workers,
caring doctors, nurses, technicians,
and maintenance workers, et al
so they can tell us how to improve healthcare
and reduce the cost
in these very trying times
that are very likely to last for far longer
than any of us want them to.
they will help save healthcare for us
Do not disregard, We, the American People
by continuing to act, deaf, dumb, and blind
to the overwhelming consensus
of the very people you profess to represent
First Fix Fraud, Tort, Billing, and Drug Prices
process the ideas of the healthcare people
and we can have a one page bill
for We, the American People
sometime after we back away from the abyss
and are back on our feet again.
to say now is not the time
is another of those
“understatements of the year”
Terrorists should always be
the responsibility of our Military and our CIA
Keep Gitmo open
it’s the perfect out of the way place
to keep terrorists, who would do harm to our citizens,
imprisoned by our military
and last, but not at all least
FREE OUR NAVY SEALS
punishing our Seals for punching a known terrorist
isn’t any consolation for the deaths of innocent Americans
and it doesn’t at all present the image of who we Americans are
Americans stand riveted behind our Military and our Intelligence Community
they must be encouraged to keep us safe
not deterred for petty offenses in the exercising of their duties
Heaven forbid if we, Americans, ever got our hands on terrorists
there would be no need for a trial
A Contract Of, For, and With, Americans
Patriots, it is our duty to educate all Americans
Posted by: Warof2010 | February 3, 2010, 6:12 am 6:12 am
The man can’t recognize bipartisanship when it’s beating him upside his head. Dems, Reps, and Inds are standing in line to protest this bill. It can’t get more bipartisan than that.
Posted by: smartlillena | February 3, 2010, 6:27 am 6:27 am
Republicans (I proudly am a R)need to lose the “tort reform” mantra, too.
Posted by: smartlillena | February 3, 2010, 6:34 am 6:34 am
This president behaves like a punk. I have a better idea. Go away! Leave us alone. Surely there are countries where a socialist demagogue with Narcissistic Personality Disorder is desired. Perhaps you can get a job there. We deserve better.
Posted by: mickeymat | February 3, 2010, 7:20 am 7:20 am
better idea.. give us all the package that the UAW and Congress have.. and convince the Chinese to pay for it.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | February 3, 2010, 7:52 am 7:52 am
A better idea for health care:
Let’s make health insurance more affordable for everybody without spending a gazillion dollars. People want to be in charge of what they buy and when they buy it and how much they pay for it.
Lets get government regulations that prevent this out of the way and let people choose freely for themselves.
Why shouldn’t me and my neighbors (and a million neighbors if we choose) be able to band together to buy group health insurance without being an employment based group? We could negotiate good rates like big corporations and unions do.
Because the government says a ‘group’ must be ‘people who work together’?
Time for that stupid rule to go bye bye.
Posted by: Joe White | February 3, 2010, 10:47 am 10:47 am
For those who oppose health care…I refer you to Mass. It has a health care plan and it is mandatory and it works. Why not have this for all? This is what Obama is trying to give the rest of the country…health care for all and unless it is mandatory…we will still be paying for those who do not get it. There will be plans that people can select what they can afford. You know that if the republicans get in, the first thing they will do is get a health care plan just to stick it to this president. Their objective has been since day one not to work with him and as a former republican I say that stinks. The country needs unity and if your party is more important than the
needs of the people…I am glad I left this party.
Posted by: talmag | February 4, 2010, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Obama isn’t trying to GIVE this country anything. The last I checked we’re allowed our own opinion. No pol is bound by public opinion but they’re doing themselves a disservice if they don’t keep one eye on it. They’re trying to salvage another term for themselves.
Those of us opposing health care are in the SOLID majority.
Posted by: smartlillena | February 6, 2010, 6:23 am 6:23 am