October 14, 2009 3:26 PM

Dems Juggle Rich, Poor Interests in Health Debate

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Health Care
(CBS)
Democrats in the House of Representatives represent the poorest and the richest districts in the country, according to a new analysis, as well as those districts with the most residents with health insurance and those with the least.

Holding together these disparate constituency groups is no small task, as is clear from the Democrats' struggle to balance their competing objectives for health care reform.

The liberal wing of the party is emphasizing reforms like the expansion of Medicaid -- the federal program that insures low-income Americans -- which should come as no surprise, given that Democrats represent nine of the 10 districts with the lowest levels of health coverage, according to the analysis from USA Today.

Moderate Democrats, however, are fighting back against tax increases on the rich to pay for those reforms. Some of those Democrats represent the nation's wealthiest districts. The House Democratic caucus represents 57 percent of households with incomes of $200,000 or more, USA Today reports. By contrast, Republicans reportedly represented 55 percent of those households in 2005.

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The Democratic agenda has evolved as the party has grown to include more wealthy Americans. Representatives like Jared Polis of Colorado and Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania have both, as members of the New Democrat Coalition, urged House leadership to avoid new taxes to pay for health reform, the Hill reports. The New Democrats describe themselves as "moderate, pro-growth members of Congress."

The health care debate puts the business-minded side of the party at odds with Democrats' traditional allies like labor unions, which are endorsing taxes on the wealthy and a mandate for employers to contribute to health care costs as ways to pay for reform.

It is unclear whether the trend of wealthy Americans skewing to the Democratic party will continue or not, USA Today concludes. Its wider tent, however, may not help the party in the near-term. Liberal advocacy groups have skewered conservative Democrats for their moderate positions on health care. And while Americans still disapprove of Republicans more, according to a recent CBS News poll a solid majority of Americans also disapprove of Democrats' handling of health care.

Add a Comment
by jsd330 October 14, 2009 6:51 PM EDT
Dems juggle rich, poor interests in health debate. That means the middle class will carry the load as usual.
Reply to this comment
by 6591Hou October 14, 2009 6:32 PM EDT
Politicians cater to their electorates, regardless of party affiliation. Statesmen make decisions on what is the right course for the nation and act on that, even at the cost of their careers or reputation (think FDR).
We have a large number of politicians with no statesmen to be seen.

We need elected representatives with something foreign to them all.... moral courage. The personality trait to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.
Reply to this comment
by stuart-johns2 October 14, 2009 5:15 PM EDT
Well, the objections to reform are not so much within the ranks of the democratic party despite the wealth disparity which is essentially a testament to the inclusiveness of the democratic party. The problem is the republican extremists who obviously feel that anything that the Obama administration wants to accomplish they want to destroy in an attempt to destroy Obama.

When it all comes down to it, the dems will unite. The dems are not the issue here.

And the penultimate line is that the healthcare reform policy has been hi-jacked by politics. The final line will be some type of reform that'll be virtually useless.
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