Ailing Kennedy Seeks Health Care Overhaul

Senator Tries To Forge Health Care Reform As He Fights From Home To Overcome Brain Cancer

(AP)  An ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy is trying to lay the groundwork for a breakthrough on health care reform next year, though many believe the enormous undertaking has been made even more difficult by the troubled economy.

Kennedy, aides say, has held several video conferences with lawmakers and staff in recent months as he fights from home to overcome brain cancer. His staff has held more than a dozen meetings in recent weeks with various advocacy and interest groups that will help influence the debate.

"We're carrying it out in his absence, but this is his doing," said an aide who was not identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly. "He's in constant touch with leaders in this effort. This is Senator Kennedy at the helm." The story was first reported by The Washington Times.

Kennedy doesn't want to repeat the steps that some say doomed health care reform under former President Clinton. That means acting quickly when Congress returns to Washington after the election and the holidays.

"There were at least two major factors in the failure of the '93 effort," the aide said. "One was jurisdictional fracturing within the Congress and the other was the time after the inauguration to get a proposal together. Senator Kennedy's analysis is that we need to avoid both of those features."

Kennedy is chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Sen. Barack Obama's health care plan will be the starting point in Kennedy's efforts. That's a big assumption given that the presidential race is far from over. The Obama plan features many changes that Massachusetts enacted in 2006, such as greater use of government subsidies to help people afford coverage. However, Obama would not require adults to buy health insurance, as Massachusetts did. Obama does have a requirement that children be insured.

Aides would not say where there has been agreement and disagreement among the various interest groups participating in the meetings.

Health care changes under both presidential candidates would be expensive, and the federal government is expected to generate an enormous deficit next year even without incorporating those changes. However, Obama is not letting economic woes deter him.

"It's not a question of arithmetic or accounting, it's a question of priorities," an aide said. "When AIG needs the money, somehow the money is found. When Freddie and Fannie need it, somehow the money is found. The theory is they're too big to fail. It can certainly be argued that the health care system is too big to fail, but it's failing for millions of people every day."

Kennedy, 76, underwent a risky, 3½-hour surgery in June to remove as much of a tumor as possible. He has been steadily increasing his public activity since undergoing six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

[cyndilu9]

Thank you Senator Kennedy - God''s speed to your recovery. The American Citizens appreciate your dedication and voice for our best interests! Even those who complain (conservatives) will benefit and have to thank you eventually.

God Bless you.

[incog-nito]

find this interesting. In that, Obama ''''claims'''' he doesn''''t believe in MANDATES, yet he IS going to mandate children''''s coverage.
I do not believe in ANYONE being FORCED to have coverage. The choice is OURS to make. NOT HIS.




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Posted by TimeTravelR at 02:15 PM : Oct 24, 2008

Wrong! Children can''t make their own choice, and they need health care, period.

[melpol1]

There must be something done about the swelling population of unwanted children---they are noisy and wild. It cost the welfare department 50 thousand dollars to raise a child to maturity while their mothers sit at home watching television and munching on candy bars. Many of those children wind up in prison or spend most of their life in drug rehabilitation centers. If nothing is quickly done the quality of civilized life will be down to zero and the treasury will be broke. One thousand dollars as a bonus to pregnant women to have an abortion would be a big savings and good start to save our quality of life. That is why an abortion bonus should immediately be given to women with an unwanted pregnancy.

[questionnews]

Insurance would be pretty cheap is Insurance companies would spend as much on operational costs as they do advertising.

[norepubs]

It speak volumes about republican greed,and indifference to the middle class. No news there...

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
Kennedy has been seeking health care overhaul since the 1950s. He''''s never been able to do it. Hmm what does that say about the democrats?

Posted by horse3farm at 02:42 PM : Oct 24, 2008

[superdem]

Health insurance is the biggest scam in America. These insurance companies have the biggest buildings in the most expensive cities in America, designed by the best architects. They have legions of high paid executives, they run expensive ads in magazines, they have huge budgets - all on the back of you and me who pay and pay and pay for nothing while we are healthy and working. But file a claim and see what happens - instant resistance, questions, high co-pays, elevated rates, denial of eligibiity, blah blah blah. We SHOULD have a national health health insurance system, run out of a government warehouse on a shoestring budget, by federal employees, who just pay for what you need, no fancy buildings, no high paid executives, no ad campaigns, just the service people need and have more than paid for. This would save billions over time, and pay for the system.

[robert2237]

TimeTravelR- I agree with you although I think all children should have health care I do not think we should force it on them, it is a parent decission not the publics.

[robert2237]

pattywagon4- Remember health care is a choice. I do believe that you should not be turned down due to a passed illness, you should not be charge for services you don''t need in a policy, and all children should have health care. But now when it comes to adults I have not problem furnishing health care if the following requirements are met and maintained. 1. A minimum of weekly drug, liquor, tobacco test, if they fail one, no more health care (I am a smoker but if I wanted free insurance I would not expect the public to pay for my stupid acts). 2. If they have a job then a part of their wages are to go to health care for them and their family. 3. If they have say hight blood pressure they would have to be attending a exercise class minimum 3 days a week. If not no health care. 4. If they are getting free health care no cable tv, no cokes, no junk food, they are getting paid by us working stiffs so we control their actions if they want my money.

[mrsark01]

That true we should not be forced to have insurance coverage but then we should not ask the state to pay for our medical expenses if we can''t.
No people I am a middle class citizen and I am tired of paying for everyone else expenses then it gets to the point I can''t pay for my own when they take everything I have to pay for people that are not responsibile for themself.

[horse3farm]

Kennedy has been seeking health care overhaul since the 1950s. He''s never been able to do it. Hmm what does that say about the democrats?

[sbelknap01]

You do not believe in forcing coverage for children? If your child is injured on the playground, you believe in forcing medical care, though, right? You just refuse to pay for it. Nice.

[timetravelr]

Obama does have a requirement that children be insured....
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I find this interesting. In that, Obama ''claims'' he doesn''t believe in MANDATES, yet he IS going to mandate children''s coverage.
I do not believe in ANYONE being FORCED to have coverage. The choice is OURS to make. NOT HIS.