Democrats Lose Big Test Vote on Health Legislation

As the debate over health care reform continues, we have learned on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, that the Democrats are not as successful as they desire to be. They issued a bill to strengthen Medicare payments for doctors to $247 billion over the course of ten years. However, the Senate shot it down.
Of the sixty required votes needed to proceed in the Senate, only forty-seven were won. Since Democrats and an independent voted with Republicans, the Democrats must be blamed. This speaks largely of the Democrats' success with health care reform and their distinct views behind it in comparison to those of other parties. Perhaps the Democrats should reform their own views before they look to reform health care.
The Senate Democrats used a separate bill to discuss doctors' fees. As a result, they have been able to confine the costs of more extensive health care legislation, in addition to keeping their costs minimal and in accordance with Obama's limitations. It seems that the Democrats' tactics are too obvious to hide, and it may be best for them if they utilize another option. Their goal was to protect doctors' fees and appease them. Their bill did gain support from the White House, the American Medical Association, and AARP however. Many of the Democrats who voted against the bill believe that the funding is not strong enough, and "real reform" needs "fiscal responsibility." The bill seems necessary though. As of now, there has been a 21.5 percent cut in Medicare fees for doctors, and for several years, they have experienced five percent cuts. Apparently, the Democrats are making an effort to assist these struggling and worrisome doctors. However, bills cannot simply be passed without thinking realistically. The fiscal responsibility is crucial. Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, proclaimed that when the Senate first voted on health care spending earlier this year, a bipartisan majority demonstrated that the Democrats wanted to spend outrageous sums of money, but had no plan to pay for these extensive costs. McConnell implied that the Democrats were not thinking realistically. If they would have attempted to pass this bill, the economy would plunder even more. The United States's economy does not need to endure any more pain, as we already are experiencing an unbelievable deficit and an ever-increasing national debt. Could our economy deepen into a worsened state? It doesn't seem possible, but it surely could be if the Democrats passed this bill without the proper financial backup.
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, stated that she is advocating a "robust' liberal version of a government-run health insurance plan." She needs 218 votes in order to win full approval and work against private insurers. Her plan is logical, as she she has separate alternatives in which she plans to use Medicare rates to pay hospitals and doctors, or she would negotiate rates with insurance providers. It has been discussed, though, that Medicare rates are nowhere near those paid by private insurers.
The Democrats agreed that "they want to revoke the exemption from federal antitrust law that health insurance companies have long enjoyed." This was strongly approved of by the House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 20 to 9, so the Democrats plan to use this as part of their updated, broader legislation. Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) argued that insurers are selfish and committ "crimes" on a daily basis, and they are not penalized when they truly should be. People are placing too much trust in insurance companies. They must be controlled more than they have been.
Since 1945, the insurance business has not had to deal with federal antitrust law, as the Supreme Court (1944) ruled that "insurance was interstate commerce subject to federal antitrust law." Eventually, Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act, and the insurance industry benefited.
The States are in severe need of help from the federal government. They have been responsible in that they regulate health insurance. However, they cannot do it alone. They need support from the federal government. The insurance industry should have their exemption from federal antitrust law repealed, as it is being used too widely (an entire industry). In order to do this, the federal government must take action and support the states so that they can effectively control insurance companies and limit fraud, misconduct, etc. Health care reform is also relying on the Democrats to reach the proper consensus on a bill so that reform can take place effectively. They must broaden their scope, since their detailed bill caused disagreement and rejection on Wednesday.
How long will it take until a bill is passed? The answer may depend on how long it takes the Democrats to make a logical and realistic proposal in which the Senate can finally reach a consensus with.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/health/policy/22health.html?_r=1