An Unprecedented Level of Obstruction
Posted by Jen Psaki on March 27, 2010 at 02:55 PM EDT
Faced with an unprecedented level of obstruction in the Senate, the President announced his intention to recess appoint fifteen nominees to fill critical administration posts. While the President respects the critical role the Senate plays in the appointment process, he was no longer willing to let another month go by with key economic positions unfilled, especially at a time when our country is recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Many of these fifteen individuals have enjoyed broad bipartisan support, but have found their confirmation votes delayed for reasons that have nothing to do with their qualifications. It has more to do with an obstruction-at-all-costs mentality that we’ve been faced with since the President came into office. Because of political posturing, these fifteen appointees have waited an average of 214 days for Senate confirmation.
This opposition got so out of hand at one point that one senator put a blanket hold on all of the President’s nominees in an attempt to win concessions on two projects that would benefit his state. And another nominee’s confirmation was delayed by one senator for more than eight months because of a disagreement over a proposed federal building in his home state. When that nominee was finally given the vote she deserved, she was confirmed 96 to 0. When you attempt to prevent the government from working effectively because you didn’t get your way, you’re failing to live up to your responsibilities as a public servant.
To put this in perspective, at this time in 2002, President Bush had only 5 nominees pending on the floor. By contrast, President Obama has 77 nominees currently pending on the floor, 58 of whom have been waiting for over two weeks and 44 of those have been waiting more than a month. And cloture has been filed 16 times on Obama nominees, nine of whom were subsequently confirmed with 60 or more votes or by voice vote. Cloture was not filed on a single Bush nominee in his first year. And despite facing significantly less opposition, President Bush had already made 10 recess appointments by this point in his presidency and he made another five over the spring recess.
A few more numbers to put this in perspective:
•These fifteen nominees have been waiting a total of 3,204 days or almost nine years to start their respective jobs.
•Even the most recently nominated of these fifteen individuals has been waiting 144 days or nearly five months.
•Jeffrey Goldstein was nominated to serve as the top domestic finance official at Treasury, a crucial position for fixing the economy and preventing another financial crisis. Goldstein has been waiting 248 days or over 8 months.
•Jacqueline Berrien was nominated to serve as Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC currently lacks a quorum and cannot fulfill its mandate to protect American workers from discrimination. Berrien has been waiting 254 days or over 8 months.
•Craig Becker and Mark Pearce were nominated to serve on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which protects American workers from unfair labor practices. The five member board has been trying to operate with only two members. Becker and Pearce have been waiting for 261 days or over 8 months.
The roadblocks we’ve seen in the Senate have left some government agencies like the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission impaired in fulfilling their mission. These agencies can now get back to working for the American people.
These nominees will remain pending before the Senate for what we hope will be the expeditious confirmation that candidates of their caliber deserve. But we also hope that this politically motivated gridlock comes to an end, because each day we dedicate to a strategy aimed at gumming up the works of our government is another day we aren’t doing right by the American people.
Jen Psaki is the White House's Deputy Communications Director
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Saturday, March 27, 2010
Harvesting the Winter Garden
Harvesting the Winter Garden
Posted by Sam Kass on March 27, 2010 at 01:00 PM EDT
After a long, and historically snowy winter here in Washington DC, we harvested our winter crop on March 10th. We have been enjoying the lettuce, spinach, turnips, carrots, and greens ever since. From the beginning, we wanted to demonstrate that a four-season garden was indeed possible even in Washington D.C. As it turned out, this winter was harsher than most and in fact more like the ones typical to Chicago, with the city experiencing over two feet of snow one week!
Farmers and gardeners around the world are extending their growing seasons through the very simple technology of hoop houses. We used a smaller version that is often referred to as high tunnels. The structures are simply a series of four or five metal bars arched over the beds about three feet high. Fixed to the bars is a simple plastic covering which traps the heat of the sun during the day to keep the plants from freezing at night.
We were cautiously optimistic that our hoop houses would protect the crops and were pleasantly surprised. All told we harvested just under 50lbs of produce. A modest harvest compared to what the summer had brought, but it is exciting to have been able to produce food during a long harsh winter. The lettuce and spinach are particularly sweet and delicious. We also learned a few things. For example, we planted our carrots a little too late. They were not as big as we had hoped, but the little things are tasty! We also discovered that the beds to the north side of the garden get considerably more sun the beds that the beds on south side. The sun is much lower in the sky and late in the day the southern beds are shadowed by surrounding trees. Next year, we will be sure to put plants that need more sun on the north side of the garden. Good lessons to learn, but all together a nice surprise.
Over the next few weeks we will be getting the garden ready for our spring planting. Seeds are being sprouted and at the First Lady’s request we have expanded the garden by 500 square feet so we can grow even more varieties of fruits and vegetables. Needless to say we are excited for Spring so stay tuned!
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Posted by Sam Kass on March 27, 2010 at 01:00 PM EDT
After a long, and historically snowy winter here in Washington DC, we harvested our winter crop on March 10th. We have been enjoying the lettuce, spinach, turnips, carrots, and greens ever since. From the beginning, we wanted to demonstrate that a four-season garden was indeed possible even in Washington D.C. As it turned out, this winter was harsher than most and in fact more like the ones typical to Chicago, with the city experiencing over two feet of snow one week!
Farmers and gardeners around the world are extending their growing seasons through the very simple technology of hoop houses. We used a smaller version that is often referred to as high tunnels. The structures are simply a series of four or five metal bars arched over the beds about three feet high. Fixed to the bars is a simple plastic covering which traps the heat of the sun during the day to keep the plants from freezing at night.
We were cautiously optimistic that our hoop houses would protect the crops and were pleasantly surprised. All told we harvested just under 50lbs of produce. A modest harvest compared to what the summer had brought, but it is exciting to have been able to produce food during a long harsh winter. The lettuce and spinach are particularly sweet and delicious. We also learned a few things. For example, we planted our carrots a little too late. They were not as big as we had hoped, but the little things are tasty! We also discovered that the beds to the north side of the garden get considerably more sun the beds that the beds on south side. The sun is much lower in the sky and late in the day the southern beds are shadowed by surrounding trees. Next year, we will be sure to put plants that need more sun on the north side of the garden. Good lessons to learn, but all together a nice surprise.
Over the next few weeks we will be getting the garden ready for our spring planting. Seeds are being sprouted and at the First Lady’s request we have expanded the garden by 500 square feet so we can grow even more varieties of fruits and vegetables. Needless to say we are excited for Spring so stay tuned!
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Weekly Address: Two Major Reforms on Health Care & Higher Ed
Weekly Address: Two Major Reforms on Health Care & Higher Ed
Posted by Jesse Lee on March 27, 2010 at 06:00 AM EDT
The President looks back on a week that saw the passage of two major sets of reforms: one putting Americans in control of their own health care, and one ensuring student loans work for students and families, not as subsidies for bankers and middlemen.
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Posted by Jesse Lee on March 27, 2010 at 06:00 AM EDT
The President looks back on a week that saw the passage of two major sets of reforms: one putting Americans in control of their own health care, and one ensuring student loans work for students and families, not as subsidies for bankers and middlemen.
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Friday, March 26, 2010
More Than 250,000 White House Visitor Records Now Online
More Than 250,000 White House Visitor Records Now Online
Posted by Norm Eisen on March 26, 2010 at 02:41 PM EDT
In September, the President announced that – for the first time in history – the White House would release visitor records. Today, the White House releases its largest set of records to date – nearly 120,000 records that were created in December 2009. This release brings the grand total of records that this White House has released to well over 250,000 records. You can view them all in our Disclosures section.
Norm Eisen is Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform
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Posted by Norm Eisen on March 26, 2010 at 02:41 PM EDT
In September, the President announced that – for the first time in history – the White House would release visitor records. Today, the White House releases its largest set of records to date – nearly 120,000 records that were created in December 2009. This release brings the grand total of records that this White House has released to well over 250,000 records. You can view them all in our Disclosures section.
Norm Eisen is Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform
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President Obama Announces the New START Treaty
President Obama Announces the New START Treaty
Posted by Jesse Lee on March 26, 2010 at 12:30 PM EDT
After concluding a phone call with Russian President Medvedev, President Obama announced the new START treaty during a press briefing Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense Gates, and Admiral Mullen. The new Treaty, which he called “the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades,” is a major step to reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons and to set the stage for further reductions in global nuclear stockpiles and materials. The President has made the pledge to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons worldwide a key goal of his foreign policy approach, including a major speech in Prague laying out his vision during his first trip to Europe
President Obama explained the significance of the new agreement:
In many ways, nuclear weapons represent both the darkest days of the Cold War, and the most troubling threats of our time. Today, we’ve taken another step forward by -- in leaving behind the legacy of the 20th century while building a more secure future for our children. We’ve turned words into action. We’ve made progress that is clear and concrete. And we’ve demonstrated the importance of American leadership -- and American partnership -- on behalf of our own security, and the world’s.
Broadly speaking, the new START treaty makes progress in several areas. It cuts -- by about a third -- the nuclear weapons that the United States and Russia will deploy. It significantly reduces missiles and launchers. It puts in place a strong and effective verification regime. And it maintains the flexibility that we need to protect and advance our national security, and to guarantee our unwavering commitment to the security of our allies.
With this agreement, the United States and Russia -- the two largest nuclear powers in the world -- also send a clear signal that we intend to lead. By upholding our own commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we strengthen our global efforts to stop the spread of these weapons, and to ensure that other nations meet their own responsibilities.
Specifically, the new START Treaty will specify limits of:
•1,550 deployed warheads, which is about 30% lower than the upper warhead limit of the Moscow Treaty;
•800 deployed and non-deployed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers, submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons; and
•700 for deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons.
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Posted by Jesse Lee on March 26, 2010 at 12:30 PM EDT
After concluding a phone call with Russian President Medvedev, President Obama announced the new START treaty during a press briefing Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense Gates, and Admiral Mullen. The new Treaty, which he called “the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades,” is a major step to reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons and to set the stage for further reductions in global nuclear stockpiles and materials. The President has made the pledge to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons worldwide a key goal of his foreign policy approach, including a major speech in Prague laying out his vision during his first trip to Europe
President Obama explained the significance of the new agreement:
In many ways, nuclear weapons represent both the darkest days of the Cold War, and the most troubling threats of our time. Today, we’ve taken another step forward by -- in leaving behind the legacy of the 20th century while building a more secure future for our children. We’ve turned words into action. We’ve made progress that is clear and concrete. And we’ve demonstrated the importance of American leadership -- and American partnership -- on behalf of our own security, and the world’s.
Broadly speaking, the new START treaty makes progress in several areas. It cuts -- by about a third -- the nuclear weapons that the United States and Russia will deploy. It significantly reduces missiles and launchers. It puts in place a strong and effective verification regime. And it maintains the flexibility that we need to protect and advance our national security, and to guarantee our unwavering commitment to the security of our allies.
With this agreement, the United States and Russia -- the two largest nuclear powers in the world -- also send a clear signal that we intend to lead. By upholding our own commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we strengthen our global efforts to stop the spread of these weapons, and to ensure that other nations meet their own responsibilities.
Specifically, the new START Treaty will specify limits of:
•1,550 deployed warheads, which is about 30% lower than the upper warhead limit of the Moscow Treaty;
•800 deployed and non-deployed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers, submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons; and
•700 for deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons.
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That Syncing Feeling
That Syncing Feeling
Posted by Jason Djang on March 26, 2010 at 09:39 AM EDT
Just a quick update. The White House now offers, count'm, seven podcast feeds. We've just added a feed for First Lady Michelle Obama and Music & the Arts, an exclusive collection of performances at the White House.
If you weren't aware that we even offered podcasts, now you know. So if searching and downloading video and audio every day sounds like too much work, simply subscribe to a feed and sync up your iPod, Zune, or Acme media player. You can have Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' daily press briefings delivered to you automagically or keep up with the President's agenda with his weekly addresses released every Saturday.
Here's the complete list of our podcasts, most of which are available as either video or audio streams:
•Your Weekly Address - Stay in tune with the President's agenda with his weekly addresses released at the end of every week.
•Press Briefings - This feed will include occasional briefings by the President and other administration officials.
•Speeches & Events - Keep up with all of President Obama's remarks, town halls, and press conferences in this comprehensive podcast.
•Features - Learn more about the ins and outs of the White House with this select mix of feature videos.
•Open for Questions - Open for Questions is a series of live chats with White House officials and the general public covering a wide scope of topics.
•The First Lady - Keep up with First Lady Michelle Obama’s activities and initiatives.
•Music & the Arts - Remarkable performances by great talent are a long-standing tradition at the White House.
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Posted by Jason Djang on March 26, 2010 at 09:39 AM EDT
Just a quick update. The White House now offers, count'm, seven podcast feeds. We've just added a feed for First Lady Michelle Obama and Music & the Arts, an exclusive collection of performances at the White House.
If you weren't aware that we even offered podcasts, now you know. So if searching and downloading video and audio every day sounds like too much work, simply subscribe to a feed and sync up your iPod, Zune, or Acme media player. You can have Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' daily press briefings delivered to you automagically or keep up with the President's agenda with his weekly addresses released every Saturday.
Here's the complete list of our podcasts, most of which are available as either video or audio streams:
•Your Weekly Address - Stay in tune with the President's agenda with his weekly addresses released at the end of every week.
•Press Briefings - This feed will include occasional briefings by the President and other administration officials.
•Speeches & Events - Keep up with all of President Obama's remarks, town halls, and press conferences in this comprehensive podcast.
•Features - Learn more about the ins and outs of the White House with this select mix of feature videos.
•Open for Questions - Open for Questions is a series of live chats with White House officials and the general public covering a wide scope of topics.
•The First Lady - Keep up with First Lady Michelle Obama’s activities and initiatives.
•Music & the Arts - Remarkable performances by great talent are a long-standing tradition at the White House.
Greenhouse Neutral Foundation Comment: - If you do not wish to exercise your right to post a comment on a listing by the White House, click the SHARE THIS and post it to your Twitter / FaceBook / MySpace or other media sites – you never know someone in your sphere of influence may just NEED to know about this featured release – Click the SHARE THIS – it’s easy, try it!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Health Reform and America’s Businesses: The Bottom Line
Health Reform and America’s Businesses: The Bottom Line
Posted by Secretary Gary Locke on March 25, 2010 at 05:35 PM EDT
Throughout the course of the health reform debate, amongst the President’s top concerns has been how the sky-rocketing costs of health care affect America’s businesses and the economy. The final health reform legislation is a reflection of that, and will help contain the costs that threatened to swallow up the budgets of businesses across the country. That is why the independent Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the bill would lower health insurance premiums and why the Business Roundtable estimated that provisions to help bend the health care cost curve like those in the bill could save $3,000 per person in health costs.
In the last few days, though, we have seen a couple of companies imply that reform will raise costs for them. Let’s look more closely at what they’re referring to:
•The concern stems from a corporate loophole that was created as part of the Medicare Part D prescription drug bill that passed in 2004. Under that bill, businesses were provided a 28% subsidy to help cover the cost of providing prescription drug coverage to their retirees.
•But a loophole in the law allowed businesses to deduct the value of that subsidy twice – they can exclude the 28% from their income and at the same time deduct the 28% from their income for tax purposes.
•The health reform legislation closes this loophole by allowing businesses to deduct this money once rather than getting a double deduction on taxpayer dollars. These businesses will still get a generous subsidy to help them cover retiree prescription drug costs and they still get to exclude that benefit from their income – they just don’t get a double deduction on taxpayer dollars.
•The President supports this subsidy to help seniors and believes that a change in its tax treatment won’t negatively affect seniors. But to be clear, this change doesn’t even go into effect until 2013, and while some companies may make accounting changes to book these changes now, the provision was delayed two years from the original Senate bill specifically to give companies time to adapt.
Perhaps most importantly, though, is that this change is part of an overall reform package that will provide substantial benefits to employers and their employees. Consider just a few of the provisions that will directly benefit firms:
•Reinsurance for early retirees starting in 90 days: The bill invests $5 billion in a new reinsurance program for early retirees starting this year that will directly reduce health premiums for large employers who offer coverage to retirees between the ages of 55-64. This provision is estimated to reduce retiree premiums by as much as $1,200, helping to ensure these plans remain affordable for businesses and their retirees.
•Reducing the hidden tax: By reducing the number of uninsured, the bill will reduce the hidden tax of about $1,000 per person that those with insurance pay to cover the cost of the uninsured who rely on emergency rooms to get their care.
•“Gamechangers” that will bend the health care cost curve: The bill includes several reforms that independent health experts agree will help slow the long-term growth rate of health costs. These provisions that create market forces that lead to more efficient care, like a fee on insurance companies’ most expensive plans, research into what works and what doesn’t, an independent commission to make sure Medicare costs grow more slowly, and other measures to reward quality of care.
•Tax credits to make health care affordable: the bill includes $40 billion in new tax credits for small businesses to help cover the cost of health coverage for their employees. According to the council of economic advisers, about 4 million small businesses will be eligible for these new tax credits, which will help not only reduce the cost of coverage but increase the competitiveness of America’s small firms.
When taken as a whole, the bill will reduce premiums and increase business competitiveness in the U.S. That is why the Congressional Budget Office projects that it will lower premiums for employer-sponsored insurance by zero to three percent, which using the midpoint of this range works out to about $10 billion per year in savings for large firms and their employees. That’s the bottom line.
Gary Locke is Secretary of Commerce
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Posted by Secretary Gary Locke on March 25, 2010 at 05:35 PM EDT
Throughout the course of the health reform debate, amongst the President’s top concerns has been how the sky-rocketing costs of health care affect America’s businesses and the economy. The final health reform legislation is a reflection of that, and will help contain the costs that threatened to swallow up the budgets of businesses across the country. That is why the independent Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the bill would lower health insurance premiums and why the Business Roundtable estimated that provisions to help bend the health care cost curve like those in the bill could save $3,000 per person in health costs.
In the last few days, though, we have seen a couple of companies imply that reform will raise costs for them. Let’s look more closely at what they’re referring to:
•The concern stems from a corporate loophole that was created as part of the Medicare Part D prescription drug bill that passed in 2004. Under that bill, businesses were provided a 28% subsidy to help cover the cost of providing prescription drug coverage to their retirees.
•But a loophole in the law allowed businesses to deduct the value of that subsidy twice – they can exclude the 28% from their income and at the same time deduct the 28% from their income for tax purposes.
•The health reform legislation closes this loophole by allowing businesses to deduct this money once rather than getting a double deduction on taxpayer dollars. These businesses will still get a generous subsidy to help them cover retiree prescription drug costs and they still get to exclude that benefit from their income – they just don’t get a double deduction on taxpayer dollars.
•The President supports this subsidy to help seniors and believes that a change in its tax treatment won’t negatively affect seniors. But to be clear, this change doesn’t even go into effect until 2013, and while some companies may make accounting changes to book these changes now, the provision was delayed two years from the original Senate bill specifically to give companies time to adapt.
Perhaps most importantly, though, is that this change is part of an overall reform package that will provide substantial benefits to employers and their employees. Consider just a few of the provisions that will directly benefit firms:
•Reinsurance for early retirees starting in 90 days: The bill invests $5 billion in a new reinsurance program for early retirees starting this year that will directly reduce health premiums for large employers who offer coverage to retirees between the ages of 55-64. This provision is estimated to reduce retiree premiums by as much as $1,200, helping to ensure these plans remain affordable for businesses and their retirees.
•Reducing the hidden tax: By reducing the number of uninsured, the bill will reduce the hidden tax of about $1,000 per person that those with insurance pay to cover the cost of the uninsured who rely on emergency rooms to get their care.
•“Gamechangers” that will bend the health care cost curve: The bill includes several reforms that independent health experts agree will help slow the long-term growth rate of health costs. These provisions that create market forces that lead to more efficient care, like a fee on insurance companies’ most expensive plans, research into what works and what doesn’t, an independent commission to make sure Medicare costs grow more slowly, and other measures to reward quality of care.
•Tax credits to make health care affordable: the bill includes $40 billion in new tax credits for small businesses to help cover the cost of health coverage for their employees. According to the council of economic advisers, about 4 million small businesses will be eligible for these new tax credits, which will help not only reduce the cost of coverage but increase the competitiveness of America’s small firms.
When taken as a whole, the bill will reduce premiums and increase business competitiveness in the U.S. That is why the Congressional Budget Office projects that it will lower premiums for employer-sponsored insurance by zero to three percent, which using the midpoint of this range works out to about $10 billion per year in savings for large firms and their employees. That’s the bottom line.
Gary Locke is Secretary of Commerce
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The President in Iowa City: "We're Not Going Back, This Country's Moving Forward"
The President in Iowa City: "We're Not Going Back, This Country's Moving Forward"
Posted by Jesse Lee on March 25, 2010 at 05:15 PM EDT
This afternoon the President was in Iowa City, the place where he first announced his plan for health reform back in May of 2007.
THE PRESIDENT: …On Tuesday, after a year of debate, a century of trying, after so many of you shared your stories and your heartaches and your hopes, that promise was finally fulfilled. (Applause.) And today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did!
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, we did. Yes, we did. Just like the campaign that led us here, this historic change didn’t start in Washington. It began in places like Iowa City, places just like this, with Americans just like you.
It began when people had the courage to stand up in town hall meetings and talk about how insurance companies were denying their families coverage because of a preexisting condition.
It began when folks wrote letters about how premium hikes of 40 and 50 and a hundred percent were forcing them to give up their insurance.
It began when countless small business owners and families and doctors shared stories about a health care system that works better for the insurance industry than it does for the American people.
So this is your victory, because when the special interests sent an army of lobbyists to Congress, they blanketed the airwaves with millions of dollars of negative ads, you mobilized and you organized and you refused to give up. And when the pundits were obsessing over who was up and who was down and how is this affecting the Obama administration and what’s going on over in the House, you never lost sight of what was right and what was wrong. You knew this was not about the fortunes of one party -- this was about the future of our country. (Applause.) And today, because of what you did, that future looks stronger and more hopeful and brighter than it has in some time -- because of you. (Applause.)
President Barack Obama shakes hands along the ropeline after speaking at a health insurance reform rally at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa March 25, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Souza)
He went on to single out people in the audience, and people he had met along the way who reminded him why reform was so desperately needed. He talked about Darlyne Neff, a breast cancer survivor, and about Lauren Gallagher, whose father couldn’t get covered after her mother lost her job. And he gave a message to those talking about "repeal" of reform:
This is the reform that some folks in Washington are still hollering about, still shouting about. Now that they passed it -- now that we passed it, they’re already promising to repeal it. They’re actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. You’ve been hearing that. And my attitude is: Go for it. (Applause.)
If these congressmen in Washington want to come here in Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest. If they want to look Lauren Gallagher in the eye and tell her they plan to take away her father’s health insurance, that’s their right. If they want to make Darlyne Neff pay more money for her check-ups, her mammograms, they can run on that platform. If this young man out here thinks this is a bad bill, he can run to repeal it. If they want to have that fight, we can have it. Because I don’t believe that the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver’s seat. We’ve already been there. We're not going back. This country is moving forward. (Applause.)
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Posted by Jesse Lee on March 25, 2010 at 05:15 PM EDT
This afternoon the President was in Iowa City, the place where he first announced his plan for health reform back in May of 2007.
THE PRESIDENT: …On Tuesday, after a year of debate, a century of trying, after so many of you shared your stories and your heartaches and your hopes, that promise was finally fulfilled. (Applause.) And today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did! Yes we did!
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, we did. Yes, we did. Just like the campaign that led us here, this historic change didn’t start in Washington. It began in places like Iowa City, places just like this, with Americans just like you.
It began when people had the courage to stand up in town hall meetings and talk about how insurance companies were denying their families coverage because of a preexisting condition.
It began when folks wrote letters about how premium hikes of 40 and 50 and a hundred percent were forcing them to give up their insurance.
It began when countless small business owners and families and doctors shared stories about a health care system that works better for the insurance industry than it does for the American people.
So this is your victory, because when the special interests sent an army of lobbyists to Congress, they blanketed the airwaves with millions of dollars of negative ads, you mobilized and you organized and you refused to give up. And when the pundits were obsessing over who was up and who was down and how is this affecting the Obama administration and what’s going on over in the House, you never lost sight of what was right and what was wrong. You knew this was not about the fortunes of one party -- this was about the future of our country. (Applause.) And today, because of what you did, that future looks stronger and more hopeful and brighter than it has in some time -- because of you. (Applause.)
President Barack Obama shakes hands along the ropeline after speaking at a health insurance reform rally at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa March 25, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Souza)
He went on to single out people in the audience, and people he had met along the way who reminded him why reform was so desperately needed. He talked about Darlyne Neff, a breast cancer survivor, and about Lauren Gallagher, whose father couldn’t get covered after her mother lost her job. And he gave a message to those talking about "repeal" of reform:
This is the reform that some folks in Washington are still hollering about, still shouting about. Now that they passed it -- now that we passed it, they’re already promising to repeal it. They’re actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. You’ve been hearing that. And my attitude is: Go for it. (Applause.)
If these congressmen in Washington want to come here in Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest. If they want to look Lauren Gallagher in the eye and tell her they plan to take away her father’s health insurance, that’s their right. If they want to make Darlyne Neff pay more money for her check-ups, her mammograms, they can run on that platform. If this young man out here thinks this is a bad bill, he can run to repeal it. If they want to have that fight, we can have it. Because I don’t believe that the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver’s seat. We’ve already been there. We're not going back. This country is moving forward. (Applause.)
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What "Repeal" Would Do Away With
What "Repeal" Would Do Away With
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 25, 2010 at 04:17 PM EDT
Today in an opinion piece in the Des Moines Register, the House Minority Leader recycles the same tired, discredited rhetorical arguments about health care reform to try to make his case for eliminating the landmark benefits the President signed into law for American families this week. His op-ed runs the gamut of misleading rhetoric crafted to protect the insurance companies, who have spent tens of millions of dollars fighting reform: he calls health reform a “government takeover,” suggests there will be doctor shortages, and misconstrues analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.
Here are the facts: Health care reform ends the worst practices of insurance companies, brings down costs for families and small businesses, and expands coverage to 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured. It provides new investments to increase the number of primary care practitioners, including doctors and nurses. It provides tax credits of up to 50 35 percent of employer premium contributions to help small businesses afford coverage for their employees. And the CBO has confirmed that health reform reduces the deficit by more than $100 billion over the first decade, and more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
Once you peel away the layers of false rhetoric, the bottom line is that the Minority Leader and opponents of reform are fighting to repeal critical benefits for American families and small businesses. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the specific benefits they want to do away with:
Starting this year as a result of health reform, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. Health reform outlaws that practice for new health plans as well as grandfathered group plans. Moving forward, no insurance company can deny anyone coverage based on his or her health.
Starting this year, new health care plans and certain current plans will allow young people to remain on their parents’ insurance policy up until their 26th birthday. That means that young adults will enjoy the security of knowing they’re covered as they start their lives and careers.
Under health reform, starting this year, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of their premium contributions to help make employee coverage more affordable. Adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool. And starting this year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick or placing lifetime limits on coverage. Under health reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need. The list goes on.
So, the next time you see opponents of reform out talking about repeal, ask yourself: why are they so eager to do away with these benefits? And why are they standing with the insurance companies to protect the status quo?
Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director
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Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 25, 2010 at 04:17 PM EDT
Today in an opinion piece in the Des Moines Register, the House Minority Leader recycles the same tired, discredited rhetorical arguments about health care reform to try to make his case for eliminating the landmark benefits the President signed into law for American families this week. His op-ed runs the gamut of misleading rhetoric crafted to protect the insurance companies, who have spent tens of millions of dollars fighting reform: he calls health reform a “government takeover,” suggests there will be doctor shortages, and misconstrues analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.
Here are the facts: Health care reform ends the worst practices of insurance companies, brings down costs for families and small businesses, and expands coverage to 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured. It provides new investments to increase the number of primary care practitioners, including doctors and nurses. It provides tax credits of up to 50 35 percent of employer premium contributions to help small businesses afford coverage for their employees. And the CBO has confirmed that health reform reduces the deficit by more than $100 billion over the first decade, and more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
Once you peel away the layers of false rhetoric, the bottom line is that the Minority Leader and opponents of reform are fighting to repeal critical benefits for American families and small businesses. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the specific benefits they want to do away with:
Starting this year as a result of health reform, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. Health reform outlaws that practice for new health plans as well as grandfathered group plans. Moving forward, no insurance company can deny anyone coverage based on his or her health.
Starting this year, new health care plans and certain current plans will allow young people to remain on their parents’ insurance policy up until their 26th birthday. That means that young adults will enjoy the security of knowing they’re covered as they start their lives and careers.
Under health reform, starting this year, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of their premium contributions to help make employee coverage more affordable. Adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool. And starting this year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick or placing lifetime limits on coverage. Under health reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need. The list goes on.
So, the next time you see opponents of reform out talking about repeal, ask yourself: why are they so eager to do away with these benefits? And why are they standing with the insurance companies to protect the status quo?
Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director
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Live from Iowa City
Live from Iowa City
Posted by Kori Schulman on March 25, 2010 at 01:32 PM EDT
Today the President is traveling to Iowa City to talk about how health insurance reform will lower costs for small businesses and American families and give them more control over their health care.
Watch the event live at 2:00 PM EDT on WhiteHouse.gov
Iowa City holds a special meaning as the place where the President first announced his health care plan in May of 2007, launching a grassroots campaign for reform that led directly to the legislation passed earlier this week.
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Posted by Kori Schulman on March 25, 2010 at 01:32 PM EDT
Today the President is traveling to Iowa City to talk about how health insurance reform will lower costs for small businesses and American families and give them more control over their health care.
Watch the event live at 2:00 PM EDT on WhiteHouse.gov
Iowa City holds a special meaning as the place where the President first announced his health care plan in May of 2007, launching a grassroots campaign for reform that led directly to the legislation passed earlier this week.
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22 Pens
22 Pens
Posted by Lisa Brown on March 25, 2010 at 12:07 PM EDT
On Tuesday, the President signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, one of the most significant bills signed into law in the last several decades. Among the many stories generated by the passing of this landmark health reform bill were several that focused on the President using 22 pens to sign the bill into law. The fact that the Staff Secretary handles such bill signings has led a number of people to ask exactly what the Staff Secretary does. While the Staff Secretary can play a public role at the signing of a major bill, Executive Order or international agreement, the lion’s share of the office’s work is invisible to the public.
All of the paper that goes to the President (including, with rare exception, classified memos from the National Security Advisor), goes through the Staff Secretary’s Office. Working with staff throughout the White House, the Office compiles the President’s daily briefing book; reviews and edits briefing and decision memos, circulating them within the White House for input before they go to the President; handles executive orders and bills; and organizes the letters and background reading sent to the President.
The role of the Staff Secretary is often described as the last substantive control point before papers reach the Oval Office.” Does a memo merit the President’s attention given the demands on his time? Does a memo provide the President with the information he needs for a meeting? Are the various aspects of an issue clearly presented for the President’s decision? Are all the relevant views of the President’s senior advisors reflected so he can make a fully informed decision? The Staff Secretary serves as the “honest broker,” ensuring that the paper going to the President is ready for prime time and that no one who should be in the loop is cut out of the process.
The paper ranges from the mundane to the momentous. As of yesterday, President Obama has signed 147 bills into law. While each has significance in its own right, none matches the import of the health reform bill for Americans across the country. As the President said, “this is what change looks like,” and it is why I work for President Obama and why it is an honor to work in this office.
Lisa Brown is Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary
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Posted by Lisa Brown on March 25, 2010 at 12:07 PM EDT
On Tuesday, the President signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, one of the most significant bills signed into law in the last several decades. Among the many stories generated by the passing of this landmark health reform bill were several that focused on the President using 22 pens to sign the bill into law. The fact that the Staff Secretary handles such bill signings has led a number of people to ask exactly what the Staff Secretary does. While the Staff Secretary can play a public role at the signing of a major bill, Executive Order or international agreement, the lion’s share of the office’s work is invisible to the public.
All of the paper that goes to the President (including, with rare exception, classified memos from the National Security Advisor), goes through the Staff Secretary’s Office. Working with staff throughout the White House, the Office compiles the President’s daily briefing book; reviews and edits briefing and decision memos, circulating them within the White House for input before they go to the President; handles executive orders and bills; and organizes the letters and background reading sent to the President.
The role of the Staff Secretary is often described as the last substantive control point before papers reach the Oval Office.” Does a memo merit the President’s attention given the demands on his time? Does a memo provide the President with the information he needs for a meeting? Are the various aspects of an issue clearly presented for the President’s decision? Are all the relevant views of the President’s senior advisors reflected so he can make a fully informed decision? The Staff Secretary serves as the “honest broker,” ensuring that the paper going to the President is ready for prime time and that no one who should be in the loop is cut out of the process.
The paper ranges from the mundane to the momentous. As of yesterday, President Obama has signed 147 bills into law. While each has significance in its own right, none matches the import of the health reform bill for Americans across the country. As the President said, “this is what change looks like,” and it is why I work for President Obama and why it is an honor to work in this office.
Lisa Brown is Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Summer Jobs for Recovery
Summer Jobs for Recovery
Posted by Shama Hussain on March 24, 2010 at 04:56 PM EDT
Today the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) supporting the inclusion of $600 million for summer employment programs for youth in the House passage of the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010, saying that in addition to essential help in keeping America prepared for natural disasters, “It also takes another important step forward in the ongoing effort to help put Americans back to work through the expansion of a youth summer jobs program and offers continued support to America’s small businesses, which are the backbone of the American economy.”
From the SAP:
Summer Employment Programs for Youth
The Administration supports the inclusion of $600 million for the Workforce Investment Act youth program for summer employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth. This funding will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and help young people open the door to future opportunities, while enabling them to generate additional income during these difficult economic times.
The Administration has long recognized the importance of putting youth to work as a way of developing the next generation and strengthening the nation’s economy. The Recovery Act also aimed to create over a hundred thousand summer youth jobs to provide young people with meaningful work experience.
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Posted by Shama Hussain on March 24, 2010 at 04:56 PM EDT
Today the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) supporting the inclusion of $600 million for summer employment programs for youth in the House passage of the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010, saying that in addition to essential help in keeping America prepared for natural disasters, “It also takes another important step forward in the ongoing effort to help put Americans back to work through the expansion of a youth summer jobs program and offers continued support to America’s small businesses, which are the backbone of the American economy.”
From the SAP:
Summer Employment Programs for Youth
The Administration supports the inclusion of $600 million for the Workforce Investment Act youth program for summer employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth. This funding will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and help young people open the door to future opportunities, while enabling them to generate additional income during these difficult economic times.
The Administration has long recognized the importance of putting youth to work as a way of developing the next generation and strengthening the nation’s economy. The Recovery Act also aimed to create over a hundred thousand summer youth jobs to provide young people with meaningful work experience.
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Recovery Act in Action #4: A 48C Story
Recovery Act in Action #4: A 48C Story
Posted by Jared Bernstein on March 24, 2010 at 01:33 PM EDT
Editor's Note: In case you missed them, read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Today’s Recovery Act in Action episode takes place in Durham, NC at Cree, Inc., America’s foremost producer of LED lighting. It’s a tale of many important economic advances coming together: cutting- edge energy-saving technology, export-led growth, and most importantly, good manufacturing jobs here in the US. And at the center of the story is a Recovery Act tax credit that helped to pull a lot of this together.
Cree was chosen for a $39 million tax credit through this Recovery Act program, which is called the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit, nicknamed 48C for its line in the tax code. So far, the investments they’re using the credit to make, along with the private capital they’re putting into those investments, have led to 375 new factory jobs in the last year, and they’re planning to add 300 more next year.
Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu tour Cree, with Cree CEO Charles Swoboda, Durham, North Carolina.
The 48C credit has a unique characteristic that makes it especially important in today’s economic landscape. For years, we’ve used the tax code to subsidize the generation and use of clean, renewable energy. That’s a good thing, and wholly consistent with President Obama’s environmental vision.
But another part of that vision calls for the growth of new, clean energy industries, providing American workers with the opportunities to build the equipment of the renewable revolution here in the US. The 48C tax credit incentivizes exactly that: it’s a 30% credit going to domestic companies building domestic capacity to meet this new and growing source of demand. And that means instead of importing these goods, we can build them here for our markets, and like Cree, sell them abroad into others’ markets (80% of Cree’s revenue comes from exports).
The Recovery Act included $2.3 billion for the 48C program, but we quickly got more applications than we had money for. Given that a) we have a bunch of good applications we’d like to support, and b) we want to keep planting those seeds to grow new jobs today and new industries tomorrow, the President took the logical step of calling for a $5 billion expansion of the program.
Well, it’s one thing to hang around DC and try to make the case for the extension, but we thought we should also hit the road with the Vice President’s Middle-Class Taskforce and check this Cree story out for ourselves.
The factory was incredibly impressive. They employ about 1,500 workers in their Durham headquarters, and a couple of the engineers were kind enough to show me and Ron Bloom (the Administration’s Senior Counselor for Manufacturing Policy) part of the production process, the part where they test the LED lights to make sure they’re flawless.
They’ve got multiple layers of quality control and when it’s all done, you end up with this strip of LED lights, ready to go into a huge variety on end-user products. LEDs can light up your smart phone or your parking lot, and relative to conventional lights, they can reduce energy use by more than 60%.
We spoke to Cree’s CEO about the tax credit and he stressed two points. One, it was instrumental in their decision to hire 375 new workers this year and their plans to add 300 more next year. But it was also a critical motivator in bringing in private capital from the sidelines. Once investors saw that the Federal government was serious about seeding investment in clean energy, they were ready to take the plunge themselves. This public/private partnership is essential to bringing these investments, and the jobs they create, to scale.
Cree, the Recovery Act, and 48C are a true American success story. We’re going to do all we can to keep that story going.
LED chips being made at Cree, where Vice President Joe Biden is touring, Durham, North Carolina
Jared Bernstein is Chief Economic Advisor to the Vice President
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Posted by Jared Bernstein on March 24, 2010 at 01:33 PM EDT
Editor's Note: In case you missed them, read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Today’s Recovery Act in Action episode takes place in Durham, NC at Cree, Inc., America’s foremost producer of LED lighting. It’s a tale of many important economic advances coming together: cutting- edge energy-saving technology, export-led growth, and most importantly, good manufacturing jobs here in the US. And at the center of the story is a Recovery Act tax credit that helped to pull a lot of this together.
Cree was chosen for a $39 million tax credit through this Recovery Act program, which is called the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit, nicknamed 48C for its line in the tax code. So far, the investments they’re using the credit to make, along with the private capital they’re putting into those investments, have led to 375 new factory jobs in the last year, and they’re planning to add 300 more next year.
Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu tour Cree, with Cree CEO Charles Swoboda, Durham, North Carolina.
The 48C credit has a unique characteristic that makes it especially important in today’s economic landscape. For years, we’ve used the tax code to subsidize the generation and use of clean, renewable energy. That’s a good thing, and wholly consistent with President Obama’s environmental vision.
But another part of that vision calls for the growth of new, clean energy industries, providing American workers with the opportunities to build the equipment of the renewable revolution here in the US. The 48C tax credit incentivizes exactly that: it’s a 30% credit going to domestic companies building domestic capacity to meet this new and growing source of demand. And that means instead of importing these goods, we can build them here for our markets, and like Cree, sell them abroad into others’ markets (80% of Cree’s revenue comes from exports).
The Recovery Act included $2.3 billion for the 48C program, but we quickly got more applications than we had money for. Given that a) we have a bunch of good applications we’d like to support, and b) we want to keep planting those seeds to grow new jobs today and new industries tomorrow, the President took the logical step of calling for a $5 billion expansion of the program.
Well, it’s one thing to hang around DC and try to make the case for the extension, but we thought we should also hit the road with the Vice President’s Middle-Class Taskforce and check this Cree story out for ourselves.
The factory was incredibly impressive. They employ about 1,500 workers in their Durham headquarters, and a couple of the engineers were kind enough to show me and Ron Bloom (the Administration’s Senior Counselor for Manufacturing Policy) part of the production process, the part where they test the LED lights to make sure they’re flawless.
They’ve got multiple layers of quality control and when it’s all done, you end up with this strip of LED lights, ready to go into a huge variety on end-user products. LEDs can light up your smart phone or your parking lot, and relative to conventional lights, they can reduce energy use by more than 60%.
We spoke to Cree’s CEO about the tax credit and he stressed two points. One, it was instrumental in their decision to hire 375 new workers this year and their plans to add 300 more next year. But it was also a critical motivator in bringing in private capital from the sidelines. Once investors saw that the Federal government was serious about seeding investment in clean energy, they were ready to take the plunge themselves. This public/private partnership is essential to bringing these investments, and the jobs they create, to scale.
Cree, the Recovery Act, and 48C are a true American success story. We’re going to do all we can to keep that story going.
LED chips being made at Cree, where Vice President Joe Biden is touring, Durham, North Carolina
Jared Bernstein is Chief Economic Advisor to the Vice President
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For Victims of Domestic Violence, Health Care is a Lifeline
For Victims of Domestic Violence, Health Care is a Lifeline
Posted by Lynn Rosenthal on March 23, 2010 at 05:50 PM EDT
Sunday night’s historic vote on health care reform helps women across the board.
A greater percentage of women are more likely than men to be uninsured or underinsured and to struggle to make ends meet. In addition, those women who manage to get coverage are more likely to pay higher premiums than men. Women who suffer from preexisting conditions are often denied coverage altogether.
For all women, the advent of health care reform is a victory. For domestic violence victims, it is a lifeline.
Domestic violence causes 2 million injuries and more than 1,200 deaths every year . These women are not strangers - they are our daughters, our mothers, our sisters, our co-workers, and our neighbors. For victims of domestic violence, access to health care is critical. They need treatment for immediate injuries and ongoing care for related health problems. They need to be able to talk to their health care provider about the cause of their injuries without fear of losing their health insurance. Most importantly, they need our compassion and support.
Yet until last night, insurance companies in eight states and the District of Columbia could still discriminate against victims by declaring domestic violence a preexisting condition. Domestic violence victims in those states faced the real risk of being denied health care at the very time when they needed it the most. Because of last night’s vote, domestic violence victims in those states will no longer face discrimination.
All across the country, this bill will help domestic violence victims get the health care they need. They will not face gender discrimination or lifetime caps on benefits. They will not face the struggle of paying too much for health care while trying to rebuild their lives after suffering domestic violence.
Victims of domestic violence should not have to worry about access to health care. Because of last night, we can make sure that they won’t.
Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women
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Posted by Lynn Rosenthal on March 23, 2010 at 05:50 PM EDT
Sunday night’s historic vote on health care reform helps women across the board.
A greater percentage of women are more likely than men to be uninsured or underinsured and to struggle to make ends meet. In addition, those women who manage to get coverage are more likely to pay higher premiums than men. Women who suffer from preexisting conditions are often denied coverage altogether.
For all women, the advent of health care reform is a victory. For domestic violence victims, it is a lifeline.
Domestic violence causes 2 million injuries and more than 1,200 deaths every year . These women are not strangers - they are our daughters, our mothers, our sisters, our co-workers, and our neighbors. For victims of domestic violence, access to health care is critical. They need treatment for immediate injuries and ongoing care for related health problems. They need to be able to talk to their health care provider about the cause of their injuries without fear of losing their health insurance. Most importantly, they need our compassion and support.
Yet until last night, insurance companies in eight states and the District of Columbia could still discriminate against victims by declaring domestic violence a preexisting condition. Domestic violence victims in those states faced the real risk of being denied health care at the very time when they needed it the most. Because of last night’s vote, domestic violence victims in those states will no longer face discrimination.
All across the country, this bill will help domestic violence victims get the health care they need. They will not face gender discrimination or lifetime caps on benefits. They will not face the struggle of paying too much for health care while trying to rebuild their lives after suffering domestic violence.
Victims of domestic violence should not have to worry about access to health care. Because of last night, we can make sure that they won’t.
Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What's in the Health Care Bill?
What's in the Health Care Bill?
Posted by Macon Phillips on March 23, 2010 at 04:37 PM EDT
On the day that President Obama signed health insurance reform into law, a lot of Americans are researching the final legislation and how it affects them. As the President helpfully pointed out in his speech earlier today:
Go to our Web site, WhiteHouse.gov; go to the Web sites of major news outlets out there; find out how reform will affect you. And I’m confident that you will like what you see -- a common-sense approach that maintains the private insurance system but makes it work for everybody; makes it work not just for the insurance companies, but makes it work for you.
So we want to make sure you don’t miss a bunch of health care reform resources on our website:
•Frequently asked questions
•A title-by-title health care reform bill summary
•A list of all recent blog posts about health care
•Links to full text of the health care bill: H.R. 4872 - Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 and an area to submit your comment on the legislation
Today, White House Director of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle sent an email update (you can sign up for them here) outlining key benefits of health reform for individual Americans that take place soon:
FROM: Nancy-Ann DeParle, The White House
SUBJECT: What Happens Next
Good afternoon,
Since the House of Representatives voted to pass health reform legislation on Sunday night, the legislative process and its political impact have been the focus of all the newspapers and cable TV pundits.
Outside of DC, however, many Americans are trying to cut through the chatter and get to the substance of reform with a simple question: "What does health insurance reform actually mean for me?" To help, we've put together a list of some key benefits every American should know.
Let's start with how health insurance reform will expand and strengthen coverage:
•This year, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. Once the new health insurance exchanges begin in the coming years, pre-existing condition discrimination will become a thing of the past for everyone.
•This year, health care plans will allow young people to remain on their parents' insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.
•This year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and they will be banned from implementing lifetime caps on coverage. This year, restrictive annual limits on coverage will be banned for certain plans. Under health insurance reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need.
•This year, adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.
•In the next fiscal year, the bill increases funding for community health centers, so they can treat nearly double the number of patients over the next five years.
•This year, we'll also establish an independent commission to advise on how best to build the health care workforce and increase the number of nurses, doctors and other professionals to meet our country's needs. Going forward, we will provide $1.5 billion in funding to support the next generation of doctors, nurses and other primary care practitioners -- on top of a $500 million investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Health insurance reform will also curb some of the worst insurance industry practices and strengthen consumer protections:
•This year, this bill creates a new, independent appeals process that ensures consumers in new private plans have access to an effective process to appeal decisions made by their insurer.
•This year, discrimination based on salary will be outlawed. New group health plans will be prohibited from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that discriminate in favor of higher-wage employees.
•Beginning this fiscal year, this bill provides funding to states to help establish offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals in the process of filing complaints or appeals against insurance companies.
•Starting January 1, 2011, insurers in the individual and small group market will be required to spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Insurers in the large group market will be required to spend 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Any insurers who don't meet those thresholds will be required to provide rebates to their policyholders.
•Starting in 2011, this bill helps states require insurance companies to submit justification for requested premium increases. Any company with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance exchanges.
Reform immediately begins to lower health care costs for American families and small businesses:
•This year, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help make employee coverage more affordable.
•This year, new private plans will be required to provide free preventive care: no co-payments and no deductibles for preventive services. And beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will do the same.
•This year, this bill will provide help for early retirees by creating a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees age 55-64.
•This year, this bill starts to close the Medicare Part D 'donut hole' by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the gap in prescription drug coverage. And beginning in 2011, the bill institutes a 50% discount on prescription drugs in the 'donut hole.'
Thank you,
Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform
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Posted by Macon Phillips on March 23, 2010 at 04:37 PM EDT
On the day that President Obama signed health insurance reform into law, a lot of Americans are researching the final legislation and how it affects them. As the President helpfully pointed out in his speech earlier today:
Go to our Web site, WhiteHouse.gov; go to the Web sites of major news outlets out there; find out how reform will affect you. And I’m confident that you will like what you see -- a common-sense approach that maintains the private insurance system but makes it work for everybody; makes it work not just for the insurance companies, but makes it work for you.
So we want to make sure you don’t miss a bunch of health care reform resources on our website:
•Frequently asked questions
•A title-by-title health care reform bill summary
•A list of all recent blog posts about health care
•Links to full text of the health care bill: H.R. 4872 - Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 and an area to submit your comment on the legislation
Today, White House Director of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle sent an email update (you can sign up for them here) outlining key benefits of health reform for individual Americans that take place soon:
FROM: Nancy-Ann DeParle, The White House
SUBJECT: What Happens Next
Good afternoon,
Since the House of Representatives voted to pass health reform legislation on Sunday night, the legislative process and its political impact have been the focus of all the newspapers and cable TV pundits.
Outside of DC, however, many Americans are trying to cut through the chatter and get to the substance of reform with a simple question: "What does health insurance reform actually mean for me?" To help, we've put together a list of some key benefits every American should know.
Let's start with how health insurance reform will expand and strengthen coverage:
•This year, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. Once the new health insurance exchanges begin in the coming years, pre-existing condition discrimination will become a thing of the past for everyone.
•This year, health care plans will allow young people to remain on their parents' insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.
•This year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and they will be banned from implementing lifetime caps on coverage. This year, restrictive annual limits on coverage will be banned for certain plans. Under health insurance reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need.
•This year, adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.
•In the next fiscal year, the bill increases funding for community health centers, so they can treat nearly double the number of patients over the next five years.
•This year, we'll also establish an independent commission to advise on how best to build the health care workforce and increase the number of nurses, doctors and other professionals to meet our country's needs. Going forward, we will provide $1.5 billion in funding to support the next generation of doctors, nurses and other primary care practitioners -- on top of a $500 million investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Health insurance reform will also curb some of the worst insurance industry practices and strengthen consumer protections:
•This year, this bill creates a new, independent appeals process that ensures consumers in new private plans have access to an effective process to appeal decisions made by their insurer.
•This year, discrimination based on salary will be outlawed. New group health plans will be prohibited from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that discriminate in favor of higher-wage employees.
•Beginning this fiscal year, this bill provides funding to states to help establish offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals in the process of filing complaints or appeals against insurance companies.
•Starting January 1, 2011, insurers in the individual and small group market will be required to spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Insurers in the large group market will be required to spend 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Any insurers who don't meet those thresholds will be required to provide rebates to their policyholders.
•Starting in 2011, this bill helps states require insurance companies to submit justification for requested premium increases. Any company with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance exchanges.
Reform immediately begins to lower health care costs for American families and small businesses:
•This year, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help make employee coverage more affordable.
•This year, new private plans will be required to provide free preventive care: no co-payments and no deductibles for preventive services. And beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will do the same.
•This year, this bill will provide help for early retirees by creating a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees age 55-64.
•This year, this bill starts to close the Medicare Part D 'donut hole' by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the gap in prescription drug coverage. And beginning in 2011, the bill institutes a 50% discount on prescription drugs in the 'donut hole.'
Thank you,
Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform
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"On Behalf of My Mother"
"On Behalf of My Mother"
Posted by Jesse Lee on March 23, 2010 at 01:33 PM EDT
This morning the President made it official: things are going to change quite a bit between Americans and their health insurance companies. The President signed health reform into law, with a package of fixes not far behind, and in the process created a future for the country in which Americans and small businesses are in control of their own health care, not the insurance industry.
•Learn what reform means for you.
Having expressed all due admiration for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader Harry Reid, and those Members of Congress who showed the courage to stand up to an avalanche of misinformation and insurance industry attacks, the President explained what the signing was really about:
Today, I’m signing this reform bill into law on behalf of my mother, who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days.
I’m signing it for Ryan Smith, who’s here today. He runs a small business with five employees. He’s trying to do the right thing, paying half the cost of coverage for his workers. This bill will help him afford that coverage.
I’m signing it for 11-year-old Marcelas Owens, who’s also here. (Applause.) Marcelas lost his mom to an illness. And she didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford the care that she needed. So in her memory he has told her story across America so that no other children have to go through what his family has experienced. (Applause.)
I’m signing it for Natoma Canfield. Natoma had to give up her health coverage after her rates were jacked up by more than 40 percent. She was terrified that an illness would mean she’d lose the house that her parents built, so she gave up her insurance. Now she’s lying in a hospital bed, as we speak, faced with just such an illness, praying that she can somehow afford to get well without insurance. Natoma’s family is here today because Natoma can’t be. And her sister Connie is here. Connie, stand up. (Applause.)
I’m signing this bill for all the leaders who took up this cause through the generations -- from Teddy Roosevelt to Franklin Roosevelt, from Harry Truman, to Lyndon Johnson, from Bill and Hillary Clinton, to one of the deans who’s been fighting this so long, John Dingell. (Applause.) To Senator Ted Kennedy. (Applause.) And it’s fitting that Ted’s widow, Vicki, is here -- it’s fitting that Teddy’s widow, Vicki, is here; and his niece Caroline; his son Patrick, whose vote helped make this reform a reality. (Applause.)
I remember seeing Ted walk through that door in a summit in this room a year ago -- one of his last public appearances. And it was hard for him to make it. But he was confident that we would do the right thing.
Our presence here today is remarkable and improbable. With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all of the game-playing that passes for governing in Washington, it’s been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing; to wonder if there are limits to what we, as a people, can still achieve. It’s easy to succumb to the sense of cynicism about what’s possible in this country.
But today, we are affirming that essential truth -– a truth every generation is called to rediscover for itself –- that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. (Applause.) We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust. We don't fall prey to fear. We are not a nation that does what’s easy. That’s not who we are. That’s not how we got here.
We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America.
And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care. (Applause.) And it is an extraordinary achievement that has happened because of all of you and all the advocates all across the country.
So, thank you. Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you.
All right, I would now like to call up to stage some of the members of Congress who helped make this day possible, and some of the Americans who will benefit from these reforms. And we’re going to sign this bill.
President Barack Obama reaches for a pen as he signs the health insurance reform bill in the East Room of the White House, March 23, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
.
UPDATE: The President spoke soon afterwards at the Department of Interior, where he reiterated many of the same points, but also took a more light-hearted tone towards critics of reform:
I said this once or twice, but it bears repeating: If you like your current insurance, you will keep your current insurance. No government takeover; nobody is changing what you’ve got if you’re happy with it. If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. In fact, more people will keep their doctors because your coverage will be more secure and more stable than it was before I signed this legislation.
And now that this legislation is passed, you don’t have to take my word for it. You’ll be able to see it in your own lives. I heard one of the Republican leaders say this was going to be Armageddon. Well, two months from now, six months from now, you can check it out. We’ll look around –- (laughter) -- and we’ll see. (Applause.) You don’t have to take my word for it. (Applause.)
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Posted by Jesse Lee on March 23, 2010 at 01:33 PM EDT
This morning the President made it official: things are going to change quite a bit between Americans and their health insurance companies. The President signed health reform into law, with a package of fixes not far behind, and in the process created a future for the country in which Americans and small businesses are in control of their own health care, not the insurance industry.
•Learn what reform means for you.
Having expressed all due admiration for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader Harry Reid, and those Members of Congress who showed the courage to stand up to an avalanche of misinformation and insurance industry attacks, the President explained what the signing was really about:
Today, I’m signing this reform bill into law on behalf of my mother, who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days.
I’m signing it for Ryan Smith, who’s here today. He runs a small business with five employees. He’s trying to do the right thing, paying half the cost of coverage for his workers. This bill will help him afford that coverage.
I’m signing it for 11-year-old Marcelas Owens, who’s also here. (Applause.) Marcelas lost his mom to an illness. And she didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford the care that she needed. So in her memory he has told her story across America so that no other children have to go through what his family has experienced. (Applause.)
I’m signing it for Natoma Canfield. Natoma had to give up her health coverage after her rates were jacked up by more than 40 percent. She was terrified that an illness would mean she’d lose the house that her parents built, so she gave up her insurance. Now she’s lying in a hospital bed, as we speak, faced with just such an illness, praying that she can somehow afford to get well without insurance. Natoma’s family is here today because Natoma can’t be. And her sister Connie is here. Connie, stand up. (Applause.)
I’m signing this bill for all the leaders who took up this cause through the generations -- from Teddy Roosevelt to Franklin Roosevelt, from Harry Truman, to Lyndon Johnson, from Bill and Hillary Clinton, to one of the deans who’s been fighting this so long, John Dingell. (Applause.) To Senator Ted Kennedy. (Applause.) And it’s fitting that Ted’s widow, Vicki, is here -- it’s fitting that Teddy’s widow, Vicki, is here; and his niece Caroline; his son Patrick, whose vote helped make this reform a reality. (Applause.)
I remember seeing Ted walk through that door in a summit in this room a year ago -- one of his last public appearances. And it was hard for him to make it. But he was confident that we would do the right thing.
Our presence here today is remarkable and improbable. With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all of the game-playing that passes for governing in Washington, it’s been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing; to wonder if there are limits to what we, as a people, can still achieve. It’s easy to succumb to the sense of cynicism about what’s possible in this country.
But today, we are affirming that essential truth -– a truth every generation is called to rediscover for itself –- that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. (Applause.) We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust. We don't fall prey to fear. We are not a nation that does what’s easy. That’s not who we are. That’s not how we got here.
We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America.
And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care. (Applause.) And it is an extraordinary achievement that has happened because of all of you and all the advocates all across the country.
So, thank you. Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you.
All right, I would now like to call up to stage some of the members of Congress who helped make this day possible, and some of the Americans who will benefit from these reforms. And we’re going to sign this bill.
President Barack Obama reaches for a pen as he signs the health insurance reform bill in the East Room of the White House, March 23, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
.
UPDATE: The President spoke soon afterwards at the Department of Interior, where he reiterated many of the same points, but also took a more light-hearted tone towards critics of reform:
I said this once or twice, but it bears repeating: If you like your current insurance, you will keep your current insurance. No government takeover; nobody is changing what you’ve got if you’re happy with it. If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. In fact, more people will keep their doctors because your coverage will be more secure and more stable than it was before I signed this legislation.
And now that this legislation is passed, you don’t have to take my word for it. You’ll be able to see it in your own lives. I heard one of the Republican leaders say this was going to be Armageddon. Well, two months from now, six months from now, you can check it out. We’ll look around –- (laughter) -- and we’ll see. (Applause.) You don’t have to take my word for it. (Applause.)
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Monday, March 22, 2010
Tax Returns Are Up 10% - Find Out If You Qualify for Recovery Act Tax Credits
Tax Returns Are Up 10% - Find Out If You Qualify for Recovery Act Tax Credits
Posted by Macon Phillips on March 22, 2010 at 01:09 PM EDT
Thanks in large part to tax benefits in the Recovery Act, taxpayers are seeing larger refunds from their 2009 tax returns this season -- according to the IRS, average tax returns are up by almost 10 percent this year.
While these tax return averages are interesting ... the question you're probably asking is "Do I qualify for any of those benefits?" To help you get answers, we've launched an interactive Tax Savings Tool to help you understand which Recovery Act tax benefits you should include in your filing.
Check it out: http://www.whitehouse.gov/recovery/tax-saving-tool
This morning, the Vice President talked about the benefits for taxpayers on the Today Show (video):
The big guys know all the credits and deductions to claim during tax season, but we want middle class families to know just how much is out there for them this year thanks to the Recovery Act – and how to take advantage of it. From help with college expenses to credits for cost-saving, energy-efficiency home improvements, these Recovery Act tax credits not only provide some needed relief for working Americans, but also help them invest in their families’ futures.
Here is a quick run-down of some key tax benefits available thanks to the Recovery Act:
•Making Work Pay: 95 percent of working families are receiving the Work Pay tax credit of $400 for an individual or $800 for married couples filing jointly in their paychecks in 2009.
•College Expenses: Families and students are eligible for up to $2500 in tax savings under the American Opportunity Credit.
•Purchase of First Home: Homebuyers can get a credit of up to $8000 for first homes purchased by April 30, 2010 under the First Time homebuyer tax credit.
•Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Incentives: Taxpayers are eligible for up to $1500 in tax credits for making some energy-efficiency improvements to their homes.
•New Vehicle Purchases: Taxpayers can deduct state and local sales taxes or fees for vehicle purchases under the vehicle sales tax deduction.
•Expanded Family Credits: Moderate income families with children may be eligible for an increase under the Earned Income Tax Credit and the additional Child Tax Credit.
•Unemployment Benefits Tax Free in 2009: the Recovery Act made the first $2400 of unemployment benefits received in 2009 tax free.
The Recovery Act’s tax benefits of nearly $300 billion are not only providing some relief for middle class families, but also helping to jumpstart the economy and create more clean-energy, manufacturing, and construction jobs. To learn more, visit Recovery.gov.
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Posted by Macon Phillips on March 22, 2010 at 01:09 PM EDT
Thanks in large part to tax benefits in the Recovery Act, taxpayers are seeing larger refunds from their 2009 tax returns this season -- according to the IRS, average tax returns are up by almost 10 percent this year.
While these tax return averages are interesting ... the question you're probably asking is "Do I qualify for any of those benefits?" To help you get answers, we've launched an interactive Tax Savings Tool to help you understand which Recovery Act tax benefits you should include in your filing.
Check it out: http://www.whitehouse.gov/recovery/tax-saving-tool
This morning, the Vice President talked about the benefits for taxpayers on the Today Show (video):
The big guys know all the credits and deductions to claim during tax season, but we want middle class families to know just how much is out there for them this year thanks to the Recovery Act – and how to take advantage of it. From help with college expenses to credits for cost-saving, energy-efficiency home improvements, these Recovery Act tax credits not only provide some needed relief for working Americans, but also help them invest in their families’ futures.
Here is a quick run-down of some key tax benefits available thanks to the Recovery Act:
•Making Work Pay: 95 percent of working families are receiving the Work Pay tax credit of $400 for an individual or $800 for married couples filing jointly in their paychecks in 2009.
•College Expenses: Families and students are eligible for up to $2500 in tax savings under the American Opportunity Credit.
•Purchase of First Home: Homebuyers can get a credit of up to $8000 for first homes purchased by April 30, 2010 under the First Time homebuyer tax credit.
•Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Incentives: Taxpayers are eligible for up to $1500 in tax credits for making some energy-efficiency improvements to their homes.
•New Vehicle Purchases: Taxpayers can deduct state and local sales taxes or fees for vehicle purchases under the vehicle sales tax deduction.
•Expanded Family Credits: Moderate income families with children may be eligible for an increase under the Earned Income Tax Credit and the additional Child Tax Credit.
•Unemployment Benefits Tax Free in 2009: the Recovery Act made the first $2400 of unemployment benefits received in 2009 tax free.
The Recovery Act’s tax benefits of nearly $300 billion are not only providing some relief for middle class families, but also helping to jumpstart the economy and create more clean-energy, manufacturing, and construction jobs. To learn more, visit Recovery.gov.
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Reform Begins
Reform Begins
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 22, 2010 at 08:36 AM EDT
After more than a year of extensive debate, the House voted last night to pass the most significant health reform legislation this country has seen in decades. It was a historic victory for the American people. And now, millions of Americans – workers, families, seniors, small business owners – stand to benefit from lower health care costs, expanded coverage and tough consumer protections.
This year, thousands of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions will have the opportunity to purchase quality, affordable health insurance. Beginning in 2010, small business owners will no longer be forced to choose between offering health care and hiring new employees because they’ll be offered tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help insure their employees. Medicare beneficiaries will no longer wonder how they’ll afford their prescription drug bills because they’ll be given a rebate of $250 if they hit the prescription drug donut hole in 2010. And early retirees will be provided help through the creation of a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums.
This year, you will now have the security of knowing that insurers cannot deny coverage to your child because of a pre-existing condition. You won’t have to live every day in fear of having your insurance taken away from you if you get sick. And for new plans, there won’t be lifetime or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care you receive from your insurance companies.
Because we didn’t settle for the status quo, Americans who have insurance will now have the security and stability of knowing their coverage will be there when they need it most, and the millions of Americans who don’t have insurance will be provided with quality, affordable options. The legislation passed last night brings down health care costs for American families and small businesses, expands coverage to millions of Americans and ends the worst practices of insurance companies. And it begins to do so this year.
Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director
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Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 22, 2010 at 08:36 AM EDT
After more than a year of extensive debate, the House voted last night to pass the most significant health reform legislation this country has seen in decades. It was a historic victory for the American people. And now, millions of Americans – workers, families, seniors, small business owners – stand to benefit from lower health care costs, expanded coverage and tough consumer protections.
This year, thousands of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions will have the opportunity to purchase quality, affordable health insurance. Beginning in 2010, small business owners will no longer be forced to choose between offering health care and hiring new employees because they’ll be offered tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help insure their employees. Medicare beneficiaries will no longer wonder how they’ll afford their prescription drug bills because they’ll be given a rebate of $250 if they hit the prescription drug donut hole in 2010. And early retirees will be provided help through the creation of a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums.
This year, you will now have the security of knowing that insurers cannot deny coverage to your child because of a pre-existing condition. You won’t have to live every day in fear of having your insurance taken away from you if you get sick. And for new plans, there won’t be lifetime or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care you receive from your insurance companies.
Because we didn’t settle for the status quo, Americans who have insurance will now have the security and stability of knowing their coverage will be there when they need it most, and the millions of Americans who don’t have insurance will be provided with quality, affordable options. The legislation passed last night brings down health care costs for American families and small businesses, expands coverage to millions of Americans and ends the worst practices of insurance companies. And it begins to do so this year.
Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director
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This is What Change Looks Like
This is What Change Looks Like
Posted by Jesse Lee on March 22, 2010 at 12:04 AM EDT
After a historic vote in the House to send health reform to the President, he speaks to all Americans on the change they will finally see as they are given back control over their own health care:
Good evening, everybody. Tonight, after nearly 100 years of talk and frustration, after decades of trying, and a year of sustained effort and debate, the United States Congress finally declared that America’s workers and America's families and America's small businesses deserve the security of knowing that here, in this country, neither illness nor accident should endanger the dreams they’ve worked a lifetime to achieve.
Tonight, at a time when the pundits said it was no longer possible, we rose above the weight of our politics. We pushed back on the undue influence of special interests. We didn't give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear. Instead, we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things and tackling our biggest challenges. We proved that this government -- a government of the people and by the people -- still works for the people.
I want to thank every member of Congress who stood up tonight with courage and conviction to make health care reform a reality. And I know this wasn’t an easy vote for a lot of people. But it was the right vote. I want to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her extraordinary leadership, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn for their commitment to getting the job done. I want to thank my outstanding Vice President, Joe Biden, and my wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, for their fantastic work on this issue. I want to thank the many staffers in Congress, and my own incredible staff in the White House, who have worked tirelessly over the past year with Americans of all walks of life to forge a reform package finally worthy of the people we were sent here to serve.
Today’s vote answers the dreams of so many who have fought for this reform. To every unsung American who took the time to sit down and write a letter or type out an e-mail hoping your voice would be heard -- it has been heard tonight. To the untold numbers who knocked on doors and made phone calls, who organized and mobilized out of a firm conviction that change in this country comes not from the top down, but from the bottom up -- let me reaffirm that conviction: This moment is possible because of you.
Most importantly, today’s vote answers the prayers of every American who has hoped deeply for something to be done about a health care system that works for insurance companies, but not for ordinary people. For most Americans, this debate has never been about abstractions, the fight between right and left, Republican and Democrat -- it’s always been about something far more personal. It’s about every American who knows the shock of opening an envelope to see that their premiums just shot up again when times are already tough enough. It’s about every parent who knows the desperation of trying to cover a child with a chronic illness only to be told “no” again and again and again. It’s about every small business owner forced to choose between insuring employees and staying open for business. They are why we committed ourselves to this cause.
Tonight’s vote is not a victory for any one party -- it's a victory for them. It's a victory for the American people. And it's a victory for common sense.
Now, it probably goes without saying that tonight’s vote will give rise to a frenzy of instant analysis. There will be tallies of Washington winners and losers, predictions about what it means for Democrats and Republicans, for my poll numbers, for my administration. But long after the debate fades away and the prognostication fades away and the dust settles, what will remain standing is not the government-run system some feared, or the status quo that serves the interests of the insurance industry, but a health care system that incorporates ideas from both parties -- a system that works better for the American people.
If you have health insurance, this reform just gave you more control by reining in the worst excesses and abuses of the insurance industry with some of the toughest consumer protections this country has ever known -- so that you are actually getting what you pay for.
If you don’t have insurance, this reform gives you a chance to be a part of a big purchasing pool that will give you choice and competition and cheaper prices for insurance. And it includes the largest health care tax cut for working families and small businesses in history -- so that if you lose your job and you change jobs, start that new business, you’ll finally be able to purchase quality, affordable care and the security and peace of mind that comes with it.
This reform is the right thing to do for our seniors. It makes Medicare stronger and more solvent, extending its life by almost a decade. And it’s the right thing to do for our future. It will reduce our deficit by more than $100 billion over the next decade, and more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
So this isn’t radical reform. But it is major reform. This legislation will not fix everything that ails our health care system. But it moves us decisively in the right direction. This is what change looks like.
Now as momentous as this day is, it's not the end of this journey. On Tuesday, the Senate will take up revisions to this legislation that the House has embraced, and these are revisions that have strengthened this law and removed provisions that had no place in it. Some have predicted another siege of parliamentary maneuvering in order to delay adoption of these improvements. I hope that’s not the case. It’s time to bring this debate to a close and begin the hard work of implementing this reform properly on behalf of the American people. This year, and in years to come, we have a solemn responsibility to do it right.
Nor does this day represent the end of the work that faces our country. The work of revitalizing our economy goes on. The work of promoting private sector job creation goes on. The work of putting American families’ dreams back within reach goes on. And we march on, with renewed confidence, energized by this victory on their behalf.
In the end, what this day represents is another stone firmly laid in the foundation of the American Dream. Tonight, we answered the call of history as so many generations of Americans have before us. When faced with crisis, we did not shrink from our challenge -- we overcame it. We did not avoid our responsibility -- we embraced it. We did not fear our future -- we shaped it.
Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.
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Posted by Jesse Lee on March 22, 2010 at 12:04 AM EDT
After a historic vote in the House to send health reform to the President, he speaks to all Americans on the change they will finally see as they are given back control over their own health care:
Good evening, everybody. Tonight, after nearly 100 years of talk and frustration, after decades of trying, and a year of sustained effort and debate, the United States Congress finally declared that America’s workers and America's families and America's small businesses deserve the security of knowing that here, in this country, neither illness nor accident should endanger the dreams they’ve worked a lifetime to achieve.
Tonight, at a time when the pundits said it was no longer possible, we rose above the weight of our politics. We pushed back on the undue influence of special interests. We didn't give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear. Instead, we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things and tackling our biggest challenges. We proved that this government -- a government of the people and by the people -- still works for the people.
I want to thank every member of Congress who stood up tonight with courage and conviction to make health care reform a reality. And I know this wasn’t an easy vote for a lot of people. But it was the right vote. I want to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her extraordinary leadership, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn for their commitment to getting the job done. I want to thank my outstanding Vice President, Joe Biden, and my wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, for their fantastic work on this issue. I want to thank the many staffers in Congress, and my own incredible staff in the White House, who have worked tirelessly over the past year with Americans of all walks of life to forge a reform package finally worthy of the people we were sent here to serve.
Today’s vote answers the dreams of so many who have fought for this reform. To every unsung American who took the time to sit down and write a letter or type out an e-mail hoping your voice would be heard -- it has been heard tonight. To the untold numbers who knocked on doors and made phone calls, who organized and mobilized out of a firm conviction that change in this country comes not from the top down, but from the bottom up -- let me reaffirm that conviction: This moment is possible because of you.
Most importantly, today’s vote answers the prayers of every American who has hoped deeply for something to be done about a health care system that works for insurance companies, but not for ordinary people. For most Americans, this debate has never been about abstractions, the fight between right and left, Republican and Democrat -- it’s always been about something far more personal. It’s about every American who knows the shock of opening an envelope to see that their premiums just shot up again when times are already tough enough. It’s about every parent who knows the desperation of trying to cover a child with a chronic illness only to be told “no” again and again and again. It’s about every small business owner forced to choose between insuring employees and staying open for business. They are why we committed ourselves to this cause.
Tonight’s vote is not a victory for any one party -- it's a victory for them. It's a victory for the American people. And it's a victory for common sense.
Now, it probably goes without saying that tonight’s vote will give rise to a frenzy of instant analysis. There will be tallies of Washington winners and losers, predictions about what it means for Democrats and Republicans, for my poll numbers, for my administration. But long after the debate fades away and the prognostication fades away and the dust settles, what will remain standing is not the government-run system some feared, or the status quo that serves the interests of the insurance industry, but a health care system that incorporates ideas from both parties -- a system that works better for the American people.
If you have health insurance, this reform just gave you more control by reining in the worst excesses and abuses of the insurance industry with some of the toughest consumer protections this country has ever known -- so that you are actually getting what you pay for.
If you don’t have insurance, this reform gives you a chance to be a part of a big purchasing pool that will give you choice and competition and cheaper prices for insurance. And it includes the largest health care tax cut for working families and small businesses in history -- so that if you lose your job and you change jobs, start that new business, you’ll finally be able to purchase quality, affordable care and the security and peace of mind that comes with it.
This reform is the right thing to do for our seniors. It makes Medicare stronger and more solvent, extending its life by almost a decade. And it’s the right thing to do for our future. It will reduce our deficit by more than $100 billion over the next decade, and more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
So this isn’t radical reform. But it is major reform. This legislation will not fix everything that ails our health care system. But it moves us decisively in the right direction. This is what change looks like.
Now as momentous as this day is, it's not the end of this journey. On Tuesday, the Senate will take up revisions to this legislation that the House has embraced, and these are revisions that have strengthened this law and removed provisions that had no place in it. Some have predicted another siege of parliamentary maneuvering in order to delay adoption of these improvements. I hope that’s not the case. It’s time to bring this debate to a close and begin the hard work of implementing this reform properly on behalf of the American people. This year, and in years to come, we have a solemn responsibility to do it right.
Nor does this day represent the end of the work that faces our country. The work of revitalizing our economy goes on. The work of promoting private sector job creation goes on. The work of putting American families’ dreams back within reach goes on. And we march on, with renewed confidence, energized by this victory on their behalf.
In the end, what this day represents is another stone firmly laid in the foundation of the American Dream. Tonight, we answered the call of history as so many generations of Americans have before us. When faced with crisis, we did not shrink from our challenge -- we overcame it. We did not avoid our responsibility -- we embraced it. We did not fear our future -- we shaped it.
Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.
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Sunday, March 21, 2010
One More Step Towards Health Insurance Reform
One More Step Towards Health Insurance Reform
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 21, 2010 at 04:16 PM EDT
Today, the President announced that he will be issuing an executive order after the passage of the health insurance reform law that will reaffirm its consistency with longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion.
While the legislation as written maintains current law, the executive order provides additional safeguards to ensure that the status quo is upheld and enforced, and that the health care legislation’s restrictions against the public funding of abortions cannot be circumvented.
The President has said from the start that this health insurance reform should not be the forum to upset longstanding precedent. The health care legislation and this executive order are consistent with this principle.
The President is grateful for the tireless efforts of leaders on both sides of this issue to craft a consensus approach that allows the bill to move forward.
A text of the pending executive order follows:
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
ENSURING ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS IN THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (approved March __, 2010), I hereby order as follows:
Section 1. Policy.
Following the recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“the Act”), it is necessary to establish an adequate enforcement mechanism to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), consistent with a longstanding Federal statutory restriction that is commonly known as the Hyde Amendment. The purpose of this Executive Order is to establish a comprehensive, government-wide set of policies and procedures to achieve this goal and to make certain that all relevant actors—Federal officials, state officials (including insurance regulators) and health care providers—are aware of their responsibilities, new and old.
The Act maintains current Hyde Amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to the newly-created health insurance exchanges. Under the Act, longstanding Federal laws to protect conscience (such as the Church Amendment, 42 U.S.C. §300a-7, and the Weldon Amendment, Pub. L. No. 111-8, §508(d)(1) (2009)) remain intact and new protections prohibit discrimination against health care facilities and health care providers because of an unwillingness to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.
Numerous executive agencies have a role in ensuring that these restrictions are enforced, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Section 2. Strict Compliance with Prohibitions on Abortion Funding in Health Insurance Exchanges. The Act specifically prohibits the use of tax credits and cost-sharing reduction payments to pay for abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered) in the health insurance exchanges that will be operational in 2014. The Act also imposes strict payment and accounting requirements to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services in exchange plans (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered) and requires state health insurance commissioners to ensure that exchange plan funds are segregated by insurance companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, OMB funds management circulars, and accounting guidance provided by the Government Accountability Office.
I hereby direct the Director of OMB and the Secretary of HHS to develop, within 180 days of the date of this Executive Order, a model set of segregation guidelines for state health insurance commissioners to use when determining whether exchange plans are complying with the Act’s segregation requirements, established in Section 1303 of the Act, for enrollees receiving Federal financial assistance. The guidelines shall also offer technical information that states should follow to conduct independent regular audits of insurance companies that participate in the health insurance exchanges. In developing these model guidelines, the Director of OMB and the Secretary of HHS shall consult with executive agencies and offices that have relevant expertise in accounting principles, including, but not limited to, the Department of the Treasury, and with the Government Accountability Office. Upon completion of those model guidelines, the Secretary of HHS should promptly initiate a rulemaking to issue regulations, which will have the force of law, to interpret the Act’s segregation requirements, and shall provide guidance to state health insurance commissioners on how to comply with the model guidelines.
Section 3. Community Health Center Program.
The Act establishes a new Community Health Center (CHC) Fund within HHS, which provides additional Federal funds for the community health center program. Existing law prohibits these centers from using federal funds to provide abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), as a result of both the Hyde Amendment and longstanding regulations containing the Hyde language. Under the Act, the Hyde language shall apply to the authorization and appropriations of funds for Community Health Centers under section 10503 and all other relevant provisions. I hereby direct the Secretary of HHS to ensure that program administrators and recipients of Federal funds are aware of and comply with the limitations on abortion services imposed on CHCs by existing law. Such actions should include, but are not limited to, updating Grant Policy Statements that accompany CHC grants and issuing new interpretive rules.
Section 4. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) authority granted by law or presidential directive to an agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This Executive Order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This Executive Order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
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Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 21, 2010 at 04:16 PM EDT
Today, the President announced that he will be issuing an executive order after the passage of the health insurance reform law that will reaffirm its consistency with longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion.
While the legislation as written maintains current law, the executive order provides additional safeguards to ensure that the status quo is upheld and enforced, and that the health care legislation’s restrictions against the public funding of abortions cannot be circumvented.
The President has said from the start that this health insurance reform should not be the forum to upset longstanding precedent. The health care legislation and this executive order are consistent with this principle.
The President is grateful for the tireless efforts of leaders on both sides of this issue to craft a consensus approach that allows the bill to move forward.
A text of the pending executive order follows:
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
ENSURING ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS IN THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (approved March __, 2010), I hereby order as follows:
Section 1. Policy.
Following the recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“the Act”), it is necessary to establish an adequate enforcement mechanism to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), consistent with a longstanding Federal statutory restriction that is commonly known as the Hyde Amendment. The purpose of this Executive Order is to establish a comprehensive, government-wide set of policies and procedures to achieve this goal and to make certain that all relevant actors—Federal officials, state officials (including insurance regulators) and health care providers—are aware of their responsibilities, new and old.
The Act maintains current Hyde Amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to the newly-created health insurance exchanges. Under the Act, longstanding Federal laws to protect conscience (such as the Church Amendment, 42 U.S.C. §300a-7, and the Weldon Amendment, Pub. L. No. 111-8, §508(d)(1) (2009)) remain intact and new protections prohibit discrimination against health care facilities and health care providers because of an unwillingness to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.
Numerous executive agencies have a role in ensuring that these restrictions are enforced, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Section 2. Strict Compliance with Prohibitions on Abortion Funding in Health Insurance Exchanges. The Act specifically prohibits the use of tax credits and cost-sharing reduction payments to pay for abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered) in the health insurance exchanges that will be operational in 2014. The Act also imposes strict payment and accounting requirements to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services in exchange plans (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered) and requires state health insurance commissioners to ensure that exchange plan funds are segregated by insurance companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, OMB funds management circulars, and accounting guidance provided by the Government Accountability Office.
I hereby direct the Director of OMB and the Secretary of HHS to develop, within 180 days of the date of this Executive Order, a model set of segregation guidelines for state health insurance commissioners to use when determining whether exchange plans are complying with the Act’s segregation requirements, established in Section 1303 of the Act, for enrollees receiving Federal financial assistance. The guidelines shall also offer technical information that states should follow to conduct independent regular audits of insurance companies that participate in the health insurance exchanges. In developing these model guidelines, the Director of OMB and the Secretary of HHS shall consult with executive agencies and offices that have relevant expertise in accounting principles, including, but not limited to, the Department of the Treasury, and with the Government Accountability Office. Upon completion of those model guidelines, the Secretary of HHS should promptly initiate a rulemaking to issue regulations, which will have the force of law, to interpret the Act’s segregation requirements, and shall provide guidance to state health insurance commissioners on how to comply with the model guidelines.
Section 3. Community Health Center Program.
The Act establishes a new Community Health Center (CHC) Fund within HHS, which provides additional Federal funds for the community health center program. Existing law prohibits these centers from using federal funds to provide abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), as a result of both the Hyde Amendment and longstanding regulations containing the Hyde language. Under the Act, the Hyde language shall apply to the authorization and appropriations of funds for Community Health Centers under section 10503 and all other relevant provisions. I hereby direct the Secretary of HHS to ensure that program administrators and recipients of Federal funds are aware of and comply with the limitations on abortion services imposed on CHCs by existing law. Such actions should include, but are not limited to, updating Grant Policy Statements that accompany CHC grants and issuing new interpretive rules.
Section 4. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) authority granted by law or presidential directive to an agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This Executive Order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This Executive Order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
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Fiscal Realities
Fiscal Realities
Posted by OMB Director Peter Orszag on March 21, 2010 at 03:05 PM EDT
We are mere feet from the finish line to passing into law historic, fiscally responsible health insurance reform that will give more choice and security to those with health insurance, provide access to coverage to those without, improve the quality of health care for us all, and provide the most deficit reduction of any bill in over a decade.
With momentum building, it’s no surprise that opponents took to the morning talk shows and the Sunday newspaper op-ed pages in an attempt to undermine one of the signature accomplishments of the legislation under consideration today: the fact that it reduces the deficit by more than $100 billion over the first decade, and more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
Especially at this late hour, it’s important to get the facts right. So let’s consider their main charges one by one.
First, critics charge that the bill uses 10 years of savings to pay for six years of spending. As I have posted before, if this were what we were doing, then health reform would blow a hole in the deficit after the first decade (or the budget window). Yet, as CBO has made clear again and again and in its final score issued last night, the opposite is true with health reform. In fact, the reform would reduce the deficit by a half percentage point of GDP -- or more than $1 trillion -- over the legislation’s second 10 years.
Second, we have heard that the bill is double counting Medicare savings. To put on the green eyeshade for a moment, let’s be clear: the bill has been scored by using standard budget accounting – the same methods used for years. And again, CBO confirms that health reform will reduce the deficit over 10 years and over 20 years.
Looking at the budget as a whole, this bill will leave us with less debt over time, and that is what matters.
Third, critics contend that there is no way that savings and revenue adjustments put forward will actually happen. No one has a crystal ball, but we do know how Congress has acted in the past. When tough decisions were made in the past about our central benefit programs, these changes have tended to stick. As I have noted before, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has studied Medicare savings and found that: "Virtually all of the Medicare cuts enacted in 1990 and 1993, which accounted for a significant portion of the savings in those large deficit-reduction packages, were implemented...And most of the savings enacted in 1997 other than the SGR cuts – nearly four-fifths [emphasis theirs] – were implemented as well."
Fourth, some have charged that there are hidden costs not being counted in the CBO score. One source is authorizations for discretionary spending for items related to health reform. Authorizations are just that; they are not expenditures, and Congress often does not act on them -- or can do so while cutting elsewhere so the overall amount of discretionary spending doesn’t increase. The other source for these alleged secret costs is the need to fix the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) in Medicare, which otherwise would cut physician payments drastically. An SGR fix, however, is not in this bill -- so adding its costs to the legislation posits a piece of legislation that doesn’t exist. Moreover, and more importantly, the need to address the SGR is a longstanding issue that pre-dates health reform and would be an issue even if Congress didn’t undertake health reform. Both Democratic and Republican Congresses and Administrations have applied temporary fixes in the past.
This brings me to a final point. Perhaps people are appropriately skeptical about some of these budget figures because over the past decade, budget gimmicks and fiscal irresponsibility became the norm. Massive tax cuts (which weren’t paid for) were passed and were presented as temporary to make them seem less expensive – even as supporters fully intended to make them permanent. New health care entitlements were signed into law without any offsets. Budget windows were manipulated to blind people from true costs. It is truly, and sadly, ironic that the central critics of the fiscal underpinnings of today’s health reform legislation are those who supported these policies --and led the way -- as our country spiraled from surplus down into deep budget deficits.
The legislation before the House represents the most important deficit reduction package that would be enacted in over a decade -- and, perhaps more importantly, represents the first serious piece of legislation that would begin the process of addressing our long-term fiscal imbalance by re-orienting the health system toward quality rather than quantity. We stand by its CBO score. Later tonight, we expect a majority in Congress to stand by it as well – ushering in, among other things, a new era of fiscal responsibility.
Peter Orszag is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
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Posted by OMB Director Peter Orszag on March 21, 2010 at 03:05 PM EDT
We are mere feet from the finish line to passing into law historic, fiscally responsible health insurance reform that will give more choice and security to those with health insurance, provide access to coverage to those without, improve the quality of health care for us all, and provide the most deficit reduction of any bill in over a decade.
With momentum building, it’s no surprise that opponents took to the morning talk shows and the Sunday newspaper op-ed pages in an attempt to undermine one of the signature accomplishments of the legislation under consideration today: the fact that it reduces the deficit by more than $100 billion over the first decade, and more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
Especially at this late hour, it’s important to get the facts right. So let’s consider their main charges one by one.
First, critics charge that the bill uses 10 years of savings to pay for six years of spending. As I have posted before, if this were what we were doing, then health reform would blow a hole in the deficit after the first decade (or the budget window). Yet, as CBO has made clear again and again and in its final score issued last night, the opposite is true with health reform. In fact, the reform would reduce the deficit by a half percentage point of GDP -- or more than $1 trillion -- over the legislation’s second 10 years.
Second, we have heard that the bill is double counting Medicare savings. To put on the green eyeshade for a moment, let’s be clear: the bill has been scored by using standard budget accounting – the same methods used for years. And again, CBO confirms that health reform will reduce the deficit over 10 years and over 20 years.
Looking at the budget as a whole, this bill will leave us with less debt over time, and that is what matters.
Third, critics contend that there is no way that savings and revenue adjustments put forward will actually happen. No one has a crystal ball, but we do know how Congress has acted in the past. When tough decisions were made in the past about our central benefit programs, these changes have tended to stick. As I have noted before, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has studied Medicare savings and found that: "Virtually all of the Medicare cuts enacted in 1990 and 1993, which accounted for a significant portion of the savings in those large deficit-reduction packages, were implemented...And most of the savings enacted in 1997 other than the SGR cuts – nearly four-fifths [emphasis theirs] – were implemented as well."
Fourth, some have charged that there are hidden costs not being counted in the CBO score. One source is authorizations for discretionary spending for items related to health reform. Authorizations are just that; they are not expenditures, and Congress often does not act on them -- or can do so while cutting elsewhere so the overall amount of discretionary spending doesn’t increase. The other source for these alleged secret costs is the need to fix the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) in Medicare, which otherwise would cut physician payments drastically. An SGR fix, however, is not in this bill -- so adding its costs to the legislation posits a piece of legislation that doesn’t exist. Moreover, and more importantly, the need to address the SGR is a longstanding issue that pre-dates health reform and would be an issue even if Congress didn’t undertake health reform. Both Democratic and Republican Congresses and Administrations have applied temporary fixes in the past.
This brings me to a final point. Perhaps people are appropriately skeptical about some of these budget figures because over the past decade, budget gimmicks and fiscal irresponsibility became the norm. Massive tax cuts (which weren’t paid for) were passed and were presented as temporary to make them seem less expensive – even as supporters fully intended to make them permanent. New health care entitlements were signed into law without any offsets. Budget windows were manipulated to blind people from true costs. It is truly, and sadly, ironic that the central critics of the fiscal underpinnings of today’s health reform legislation are those who supported these policies --and led the way -- as our country spiraled from surplus down into deep budget deficits.
The legislation before the House represents the most important deficit reduction package that would be enacted in over a decade -- and, perhaps more importantly, represents the first serious piece of legislation that would begin the process of addressing our long-term fiscal imbalance by re-orienting the health system toward quality rather than quantity. We stand by its CBO score. Later tonight, we expect a majority in Congress to stand by it as well – ushering in, among other things, a new era of fiscal responsibility.
Peter Orszag is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Greenhouse Neutral Foundation Comment: - If you do not wish to exercise your right to post a comment on a listing by the White House, click the SHARE THIS and post it to your Twitter / FaceBook / MySpace or other media sites – you never know someone in your sphere of influence may just NEED to know about this featured release – Click the SHARE THIS – it’s easy, try it!
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