Obama reax from WA & ID delegations
When a president talks, congresspersons listen...and then they talk, too.
Such was the case Wednesday night when Barack Obama talked about health care reform, and members of Congress talked about Obama's talk.
Go inside the blog to see what the honorables who represent the Inland Northwest had to say.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Obama gave a clear view that the current health care system can't keep going the way it is, which is pretty much what families and businesses already know.
“And while health care rhetoric and political posturing have been on the
rise, costs have too. In fact, the largest private insurer in Washington state
raised premiums by 17 percent last month. It’s clear that doing nothing
will solve nothing.
“The reform we are working towards will provide stability and choice to
families and businesses. It will mean lower costs, stable and portable coverage
and the promise that if you get sick, have a pre-existing condition or lose your
job, you will not lose your health care. Health care decisions will be put back
in the hands of patients and their doctors. And I support the President’s
vision of a public plan. "
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., also thought Obama made a strong case for reform.
"For the health of our citizens and our economy, we must extend health care
coverage to those who don't have it now while protecting the coverage of those
who do.
“President Obama understands the importance of compensating
health care providers the way we do in
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said the nation needs health care reform, but not a government takeover of the industry, or quick reform for the sake of reform.
"Since the beginning of the discussion, I have been advocating an approach that
is neither Democrat nor Republican, but that is right for American families.
That means reforms that preserve the special doctor-patient relationship, lowers
costs and makes our nation healthier.”
“We shouldn’t rush to do
something. Instead, we need to be sure we’re doing the right thing. I believe
the right health care reforms will preserve individual choice and make health
insurance more affordable for individuals, small businesses and their
employees. In addition, I favor reforming medical liability laws, investing in
health information technology and reducing waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare
and Medicaid and enhancing quality of services provided. "
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said he was concerned with Obama's support for a government option for health insurance, but thought there was common ground where both parties would agree.
"Throughout the last month, as I traveled in Idaho, many Idahoans overwhelmingly
expressed their concerns over the further encroachment of the federal government
into their everyday lives, particularly related to health care reform. They
shared their distrust of a government plan, losing their existing coverage and
not being able to keep their doctor. Ultimately, they said they want Congress to
take the time to get this right instead of passing the wrong bill too quickly
for political reasons
“Our national deficit is rapidly increasing and
health care is too big, too personal, too important to rush or get it wrong. Add
to that that many Americans are increasingly alarmed about the ever-growing
deficit... I
have concerns that President Obama’s three-part plan does not sufficiently
address this problem. In addition, the Congressional Budget Office has shown
that proposals in both the House and the Senate actually increase the deficit
over the next ten years.
“I
support fair insurance market reforms so that all Americans can have access to
health care. All Americans who are happy with their existing coverage should be
able to keep their plan and their doctor. Preserving access to high-quality
private health coverage, an increased focus on prevention and wellness
initiatives, delivery system reforms and bending the growth curve of spending
should be priorities in any comprehensive health care reform legislation
Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said it was an excellent speech, but didn't deliver on the promise of details.
“The president continues to promote the false choice of a complete government takeover or doing nothing. We actually have another option, targeting specific areas of our current system to make coverage affordable to all. We need to break down the specific areas and pass legislation that will actually fix problems. And we must know the consequences of that legislation for Idahoans before it is implemented.”
Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, called the speech a positive step to getting back to consensus and ending partisan bickering.
"I was encouraged tonight to hear the president speak about the issues which came
up again and again in discussions with my constituents: Disallowing the use of
pre-existing conditions to cut coverage or increase costs. Limits on
out-of-pocket expenses. No caps on coverage. And a requirement that basic
preventative care and education be provided as part of every insurance policy. I
am also intrigued by the president’s call for a new insurance exchange, the kind
of private-sector concept so many of my constituents support.