Issues

Understanding Reconciliation

By ALAN FRAM (AP) WASHINGTON — Democrats are tying the fate of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul to a fast-track process that will

Created thru the Budget act of ‘'74, the reconciliation process was created to change current law, in order to bring revenue, spending and debt-limits into conformity with

Hair: Senate 'Obamacare' Concept Costs $829 Billion

Americans Had Better Prepare for the Consequences of a Public Option

Yesterday, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reported that the Obamacare bill still being drafted by the Senate Finance Committee will cost a whopping $829 billion

by Bradley A. Blakeman

Many years ago, the Supreme Court of the United States determined that when government undertakes to provide "public duties" for the benefit of all its

America's Healthy Future Act of 2009

Do You Know What Kind of Genes Are in Your Food?

Chairman’s Mark America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 Scheduled for Markup By the Senate Committee on Finance On September 22, 2009

No End Could Justify This Means

The first in a series of articles on Food Safety in the United States. The Lyme Induced Autism Foundation (LIA) has called on doctors

by Michael R. Shannon

I know a guy at Gold’s Gym who has a minor sports hernia. He says the injury is like a poultry pop–up timer, the kind

Revolt of the Ink-Stained Wretches

by Michael R. Shannon

Dan Rather and other journalists support the idea of a federal bailout for the newspaper industry. And journalists’ volunteering to become wards of the state

Democrats' Health Care Meltdown Continues

By: Connie Hair Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Chairman Emeritus of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is one of the driving forces behind the Democrat

Insurance Pariahs

Health Care's Small-Business Bullets

As a medical practitioner, I can’t really say that I like health insurance companies very much. In their dealings with doctors and hospitals, insurance companies

O'Brien: With no clear benefits, Americans sour on health "reform"

In his radio address on July 25th, President Obama highlighted a few key points to show he “cares” about small business. They were the same

In recent weeks the debate over the Democrats’ ambitious health care changes has turned decidedly negative for the proponents. In a beautiful occasion of irony,

Primary Care Doctors are Vanishing

As is common in government programs, expenditures for Medicare have risen sharply in recent decades. Medicare spending was merely $37 billion in 1980, but ballooned

The NICE Road Ahead

Americans are fatter, and sicker

At the debut of his own health care reform plan in June, Bob Dole recalled some words of encouragement from Ronald Reagan: Get me one

Health care in America costs too much. We all know this. Typically, the reasons for high costs are put down to inefficient care, mis-managed medicine,

Bachmann: DMV Healthcare

Healthcare and Small Business: Cost Matters

Submitted by: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann From what we’ve seen from the Democrats so far on health care reform legislation, it’s clear that they are more

by Tom Sullivan

The debate on reforming America's healthcare system is raging in Washington. And, policymakers are legitimately concerned with how Congress's solution will affect small business. Remarkably,

A Fresh Look at Swine Flu

In late April 2009, Americans heard about H1N1 or Swine Flu for the first time. The last outbreak of any remotely similar strain of influenza

Public Option

by Bradley A. Blakeman

The Government decades ago got into the healthcare business when they created Medicare and Medicaid. Has it worked? Does it serve the People as intended?

Now Serving Number 10,153

by Michael R. Shannon

Right now I take pride in being the ideal patient for Obamacare health care “reform:” I don’t go to the doctor when I’m sick and

Considering the Public Option

by Robbie Cohen

President Obama likes to say, regarding health care, “We cannot afford to do nothing.” Given the mounting costs and the unacceptable number of uninsured Americans,

Leavitt and Daschle Debate Health Care

A Debate on the Future of Health Care Reform

The Heritage Foundation Randy Pate On Tuesday, former HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt debated former Senator (and former Obama nominee for the top HHS

The Small Business Association Myles MacDonald Nothing seems more important to Congress right now than healthcare reform. Who better qualified to debate the issue

The Health Care Analogy

Update: Watch the AmericaSpeakOn.org Daschle/Leavitt Debate Live

Analogies help us understand and appreciate that which is almost beyond words, beyond adequate description. That which is complicated. A good comparison, simile or metaphor

Health care reformers seen revisiting employer tax break

Watch today's Health Care Reform debate between former Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, and former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Tom Daschle live.

Health Reform's Savings Myth

Relief won't go away, but changes likely, experts contend COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The tax-favored status of employer-provided health care coverage likely will be scaled back

A Band-Aid, A Bailout, Or Transformational Health Care Reform?

"Health-care reform is entitlement reform" has become a mantra of the Obama administration. The idea is that Congress can add a massive health-care program this

by Robin King

As we as a nation embark on what is likely the most bi-partisan of major, national spending issues, we should pause and evaluate what the

Still No Concrete Plan on Health Care From White House

New Technology for Healthcare Reform and Pandemic Preparedness

President Obama yesterday met with a group of health care lobbyists at the White House then emerged from the meeting trying to sell America on

by Robert Sambursky, MD

The new Administration has made clear that a top priority will be to improve access to and the quality of healthcare in America. Achieving these

Life Expectancy and Health

Ingrained in the American ethos is “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” – and, by tacit assumption, the longevity to achieve these latter two.

Access to Quality Healthcare Does Not Mean Spending More, Just Spending Better

The United States spends a greater share of its national wealth on health care than any other nation in the world. Americans spent $6,714 per

Heartbreaking Care

Heart disease is the biggest killer in the United States, western Europe, and many other parts of the world1. More than cancer, HIV/AIDS, and accidents,

If you liked HMOs...

End of Life Care in America

The Obama administration is saying that controlling costs is a priority for their health-care reform plans, and they seem to think that government could help

Health Care Reform - Keep Your Eyes on the Big Picture

Americans are afraid of death. Attempts to overcome this fear by using medical resources comprise the single largest portion of our national healthcare expenses. Many people say

by Deputy Secretary Tevi D. Troy

The stars are aligned for some kind of big health care deal, and the papers are full of discussions and speculations about a variety of

What is "Quality of Care"?

In the debate over health care in America, one common theme is that care in this country costs too much. Indeed, we spend roughly 16%

Troy: How Bush Prepared for the Outbreak

by Deputy Secretary Tevi D. Troy

Swine flu has presented the Obama administration with its first major public-health crisis. Fortunately for the Obama team, the Bush administration developed new tools that

Pandemic Flu Question and Answer Session with Secretary Leavitt

How Prepared is the U.S. for a Pandemic?

Secretary Leavitt Pan Flu Conference Call Question and Answer Session Q. Lisa Stark, ABC News Mr. Secretary, thank you

Assessment of States’ Operating Plans to Combat Pandemic Influenza

Comments of Governor Michael O. Leavitt Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2005-2009) Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

A Business Case for Healthcare Reform

Statement by Secretary Leavitt and Secretary Chertoff We are pleased to submit this summary report on States’ operating plans for combating pandemic

by Robin King

The healthcare alarm has sounded on both ends: cost for all and quality/access for some. Imagine the worst performing cost-inflation sector of

The Doctor is Out

by John C. Kalitka

In the wake of mounting payment delays and shrinking reimbursements, more and more physicians are turning away Medicare patients. One recent study shows nearly 30

A Trojan Horse for Government-Run Health Care

By: Special Contributor Governor Michael O. Leavitt and Jeffrey H. Anderson President Obama supports the idea of a “public option” for health

You Must Choose in the Health Care Debate

by Robin King

With all the new plans swirling around for health care reform, the most important one lies with every citizen, taxpayer, patient, ordinary American.

Beyond Health Care

Health Care: What I'm reading around the web..

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America has just released a new report: Beyond Health Care. At a time when

by Chris Jeter

Keith Hennessey provides some nice background and analysis of the health care debate that is heating up in Washington. This chart provides the frame for

What should conservatives offer on health care? Simplicity.

Thanks to decades of government

The Reluctant Optimist

I’m fascinated by the delicate “plate spinning” the Administration is using to avoid a calamitous crash. It feels like they keep adding another plate (a

The Health Care Come-On

Obama Nominates Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius To Head HHS

American taxpayers, right now, are a little bit like a young woman who regrets going a bit “too far” with the wrong guy. As we

Private Giving in the Age of Obama

President Obama will today nominate Kathleen Sebelius to be his Health and Human Services Secretary. According to the New York Times, Ms.

by John C. Kalitka

Among others, Larry Kudlow correctly notes that President Obama has declared war on investors, entrepreneurs and businesses. But there is another less heralded group standing

WHY PASSING STIMULUS BILL #2 IN AMERICA WILL BREAK THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM JUST LIKE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM