Bush's State of Union talk to target medical costs

[varkam]

January 29, 2006
The Seattle Times
Robert Pear (NYT)
Link


WASHINGTON — More than 12 years after President Clinton unveiled his plan to remake the nation's health-care system, President Bush is moving the issue to the top of the national agenda again and is expected to push a series of proposals in his State of the Union address Tuesday.

While Clinton was driven by a desire to guarantee health insurance for every American, Bush is focusing primarily on health costs, which he says are swamping employers and threatening economic growth. While Clinton favored a larger role for government, Bush's approach is built on the idea that placing more responsibility in the hands of individuals will create market pressure to hold down costs.

The debate has taken on new urgency as more companies struggle to pay for employee health benefits. Health-care costs have been a big factor in the troubles of the domestic auto industry, among others.

But some experts, Republicans and Democrats alike, say the Bush proposals, built around tax breaks, may drive up health spending and costs further by fueling demand for health care.

[Erika]

1. W wouldn't put a program into place that didn't profit big

business at the cost to the middle class and the poor.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. Oh great, he'll be dusting off his old "tort reform" rationale. n/t

[ClintonTyree]

3. That's bush's answer to everything.........

"tax breaks". And you can bet on who's going to be the beneficiary of those "tax breaks". Hint: Corporate America

I though he was going to tout his "economic miracle" during this SOTU, but I guess with all of the negative economic date streaming in lately that's been put on the back burner for now. :eyes: He's gotta' talk about something for an hour or so and there isn't enough good news about his policies to fill a 30 second spot. Being his SOTU speech writer has to be the most challenging job on the planet this year. I imagine there's a dartboard with 20 or so carefully selected lies printed on it.....throw a dart and make shit up, that will be about the extent of it.

[ShockediSay]

4. LIMIT LOBBY LAWYER FEES

and you'll bring down health care costs.

And/or tax them. If somebody says this limits free speech, then so too does verbal advancement of a criminal conspiracy or, for that matter, soliciting prostitution.

[depakid]

12. ???

Not sure what you're talking about- but if you actually think limiting attorneys' fees will bring down halthcare or malpractice costs, then you might want to look at states like Florida and Texas that have done it.

Hasn't stopped the rate of increase in either one of them. All its done is pad insurance companies' pockets.

[Quakerfriend]

5. ...While he continues to allow the insurance industry and big

pharm to have no limits on their profit taking!

[kurth]

6. He'll fuck it up

just like everything else he does.

[MichiganVote]

7. Republican Health Care= Progressive Euthanasia of Democrats

Tax breaks for drug companies

Tax breaks for health care companies

Tax breaks for hospitals

Tax breaks for physicians

[GoldenOldie]

8. Still waiting for that "trickle down"

As Judge Judy says, Don't piss down my leg and tell me it's raining.

[MichiganVote]

9. The State of Stagnation Buch speech is just another 'piss on you'

Love the Judge Judy quote

[gizmo1979]

10. This is the you don't need no stinkin

doctor plan.We're all screwed get your health care now while you can still afford it.We're in for some changes and they ain't going to be good.

[ninkasi]

11. I can only imagine how well that's going to be received

by Medicare and Medicaid patients who are being denied medications, or having to pay much more than they expected, once Bush's giveaway to big pharma, aka Medicare Part D went into effect. There's been a lot written about what a failure it is, and how chaotic it has become for elderly and poor patients. Any time Bush decides to "remake" or "reform" anything, you can bet the average American will be the loser.

Universal health care is the only way to provide adequate health care for all. That's the last thing conservatives will do. What will he talk about, other than screwing up health care more than it already is? How well the war in Iraq is going, or how well the average American is doing? No, he can't use those issues, because the war is a fuck-up, and the average American is doing worse than before Bush stole the election.

For him it won't be a problem, he'll just do what he always does, lie.

[applegrove]

13. Definitely a wedgie. He will try and reframe the health care system

issue. The GOP is terrified of that in 2006. Cause most Ameicans agree.