OpEd:
The Disappointing Behavior of Congress
December 18, 2009 by Kyle BradyTags: Congress, Democrats, Healthcare, House of Representatives, Obama, Republicans, Senate
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Even with staunch Republican opposition to any legislation not borne as their own, the House of Representatives passed their version of a healthcare reform bill that stood as a decent start for the legislative process, public option included. While the bill had its flaws, such as a lack of support for abortions within the public option, victory appeared within grasp for the majority of Americans that have been clamoring for such legislation since President Obama proposed this action during his campaign. However promising the bill may have been, the Senatorial half of Congress has proven this so-called reform to be an exercise in futility.
The status of true healthcare reform, the public option, and regulation of insurance companies is quite simple: dead. For all intents and purposes, Democrats, Harry Reid especially, have shown a surprising lack of tactical brilliance by negotiating away any legitimate benefits to the American people almost before it started, all while insisting on a 60-vote passage of the bill, rather than the 51 votes needed for a reconciliation between the House and Senate versions. To many following the issue, the process of reconciliation seemed what the majority party was aiming for after the passage of the House bill, where the bills in each half of Congress could have flaws that would be fixed at a later date with a higher chance of success.
But recent behavior has shown otherwise, as the insistence on 60 votes continues: numerous Democrats have refused to vote for the bill for various reasons that range from the petty to the easily disproved, which has weakened the majority. Furthermore, those in power within the Democratic party have attempted to include Republicans on the making of the bill, despite the last eleven months proving they have no interest in cooperation, only obstruction – this has resulted in the stagnation of the bill and whittling away of any value it once had.
The public option is now considered to be dead, but insurance mandates still exist that would require the purchasing of private insurance by all citizens. There are little to no regulations left to place on the insurance companies. Medicare may be extended to those starting at the age of 55. Insurance companies will still have antitrust protection. How does any of this solve the problem that the legislation was created to address? As it stands, the only real outcome of the Senate’s version of what is decidedly not healthcare reform is a requirement to purchase insurance, and severe penalties for those that do not.
This is as much the Republicans’ fault as it is the Democrats’ – Republican obstructionism forced concessions almost immediately, and the Democrats have shown a considerable lack of spine. It is entirely unacceptable that passing legislation would take an entire year and yet have no tangible, let alone beneficial, results once passed, but this appears to be what Congress prefers. Special interest groups, lobbyists, and corporate pockets have all but prevented progress within the borders of America, and it didn't even require outside influence by nefarious forces.
When Congress’ finances are at stake, they seem to be willing to take quick and decisive action, no matter how much populist anger it may raise: TARP, the auto-industry, and various other situations have proven this since President Obama’s Inauguration. But when those financial interests do not wish to be disturbed, most Congressional politicians take it upon themselves to make sure nothing gets done within their supposedly venerable halls – Joe Lieberman is a prime example of such shamefully unabashed sellout behavior.
The House moved considerably quicker than the Senate, to much greater success, and for this they should be applauded, but one of the key reasons for this was that the methods by which the House operates allow certain voices to be ignored or limited if necessary. The Senate does not have these restrictions, and therefore the debate drags on endlessly to the great frustration of the American people, all while Senators pretend to be making great progress, participate in showboating, and taking extraordinarily necessary means to make a point that has been made many times over.
Unless there is a grand scheme, such as Senate Democrats secretly organizing a 51-vote reconciliation process that President Obama would be clandestinely involved with, true healthcare reform appears dead in the water and will exist as a shameful black mark on the American record for years to come. If there is no public option, no extension of Medicare to all citizens who wish it, and no regulation of insurance companies, then it is not healthcare reform – it's corporate expansion masquerading as social progress.
This is not the time to give up, however. The need is now greater than ever for Americans to attempt to make their voices heard by Congress, the Senate especially – the vocal and irrational minority that has hijacked such an important issue must be drowned out with the proclamation that citizens of the United States of America will not suffer being lied to, manipulated, and deceived. If healthcare reform cannot pass because of sabotage from within the Democratic Party by those that masquerade as liberals, progressives, or even moderates, for them there must be a reckoning.
Congress should be aware, Democrats and Republicans both, that many political careers currently hang in the balance due to their disappointing behavior surrounding the healthcare reform process, and that their party affiliation will not save them from being voted out of office in the next election – from this, President Obama is not excluded. In what was to be one of the defining moments of his Presidency, President Obama appears to be willing to accept any sort of legislation so it can be labeled as groundbreaking progress, and this is unacceptable to many of his greatest supporters that range from young to old, progressive to moderate.
Both 2010 and 2012 may end up being more of a race than incumbent Democrats had imagined.
Kyle can be found on Twitter and MySpace, or reached via email.
