Something is awry these days. Consider the evidence. The Republican candidate for a House seat in New York has drawn criticism from the likes of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R). A public health insurance option favored by President Obama, liberal groups and Senate Democratic leaders might be stymied by a group of Democrats and one wily independent. Polls indicate that support for a public option ranges between less than 50% and more than 75%. Republican tactics on health care reform negotiations have put the GOP at odds with “big industry interests.” Is there something in the water?
Today’s “Interesting Reads” steps in with a much-needed reality check. We consider the aforementioned scenarios, plus examine the state of government-run health plans currently in existence; who would be eligible for a public option; and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) decision to cloak the chamber’s final health care bill in secrecy.
- “Struggles in Both Parties Pit Ideals vs. Realities“: Republicans and Democrats are separately struggling with an existential identity crisis: “How much do political parties demand of their members? What compromises are necessary to build and retain coalitions large enough to win a national majority?” Republicans grapple with those questions over a special election for an upstate New York House seat, where the Republican candidate has drawn opposition from conservatives. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, must determine how much to compromise on a public option favored by liberals but opposed by some moderates, the Washington Post reports (Balz, Washington Post, 10/29).
“Grading the Public Options That Already Exist“: While proponents and opponents of creating a public option scream themselves hoarse advocating for or against the plan, ProPublica evaluates the government-run health programs that already exist and provide coverage for nearly one-third of U.S. residents (Shankman, ProPublica, 10/28).
“Polls and the Public Option“: Recent polling shows that 50% of U.S. residents support a public option. Actually, it’s 61%. Or is it 57%? Maybe it’s 76%. The New York Times‘ “Prescriptions” reviews the methodologies and outcomes of recent polls and finds a respondent’s answer is predicated on the order in which a question is presented, its wording and exposition given with it (Connelly, “Prescriptions,” New York Times, 10/28).
“The Anti-Corporate GOP?“: “From the time” health reform bills hit Congress, “Republicans found themselves opposite big industry interests” by almost “universally” opposing Democratic proposals while various industries continued to express their willingness to work with Democrats, Peter Suderman writes in Newsweek. What’s more, a review of “the big legislative battles of the past year or those on the horizon” shows that the health reform debate is not an “outlier”: on multiple issues, the Republican Party is on one side while “entrenched big-business interests” are on the other (Suderman, Newsweek, 10/28).
“Health Care: Most Wouldn’t Have Public Option“: “Lost amid the ideological battle for or against a public option” is the fact that “the vast majority of Americans would have no access to a public option even under its most expansive versions,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports. And those who would be eligible might not be able to afford it, according to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the Chronicle writes (Lochhead, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/29).
“Reid Largely Flying Solo in Effort to Shape Final Bill Now”: As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) awaits financial analysis on various versions of the chamber’s health reform bill, he’s been keeping most of his Senate colleagues “largely in the dark,” CongressDaily reports. “The secrecy might make sense as a strategy … but it does not make it easy to nail down senators on their votes on a motion to proceed to the bill,” according to CongressDaily (Edney/Friedman, CongressDaily, 10/29).
by Zach Swiss, staff writer
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