Archive | May, 2012

Police arrest 24 in Operation COPS detail

Mar. 25–Local cops are bumping up their traffic enforcement. The Illinois State Police and the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department have teamed with the Sterling and Rock Falls police departments to…

Today’s OpEds: Post-Health Reform Politics Outlook

For Democrats, A Win Is A Win The New York Times The health care reform victory was hard politics. The president should learn the bread-and-butter lesson of the last month: focus on telling voters what the insurance companies won’t be doing to you any more (Stanley B. Greenberg, 3/23). The Backroom Deals Won’t Matter Politico Throughout U.S…

Deficit Forecast – Questioned By Some – Buttressed Support For Health Overhaul

The Congressional Budget Office report that found the health legislation would cut the deficit by $140 billion over 10 years boosted Democratic momentum and pulled fiscally conservative moderates behind the bill, the Financial Times reports. The legislation would cost $940 billion over that period, but various new taxes, spending cuts and savings would more than cover the cost…

Unions Take Hard Look At Lawmakers Who Voted Against Health Bill While Tea Party Promise To Fight On

Roll Call: “Industry groups, labor unions and other stakeholders in health care reform offered up their parting shots on Monday, airing lingering grievances with the historic legislation or praising a bill that, after more than a year of tussling, now awaits President Barack Obama’s signature…

Republicans Rally Around Repeal Effort

The Christian Science Monitor: “Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina is already set to introduce legislation repealing the legislation that President Obama will sign on Tuesday. Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona, caught in a tough GOP primary battle for reelection, is arguing in a fundraising appeal that he should stay in the Senate to lead the fight for repeal…

Both Parties Gear Up For Long-Lasting Battle Over Health Overhaul Message

Democrats and Republicans are preparing for a long political battle that will turn on the ramifications of health reform. The Wall Street Journal: “The president and congressional Democrats will take their victory lap at a Washington signing ceremony Tuesday. Mr. Obama will then launch his effort to sell the new $940 billion health-care law to a skeptical electorate Thursday at an event in Iowa…

Some GOP States Mounting Legal Challenges To Health Bill

The New York Times: “Officials in a dozen states who oppose the health care bill say they hope to block it in court by arguing that requiring people to buy health insurance is an unprecedented intrusion by the federal government into people’s lives – the equivalent of going a step beyond simply regulating automobiles to requiring people to buy a car. …

AMA Gives Qualified Support To Health Bill, Texas Docs Disagree

Austin American-Statesman: The Texas Medical Association split with the American Medical Association to announce its opposition to the health care bill that passed Sunday, saying: “We are disappointed and saddened that Congress and President Obama would pass a half-baked Senate proposal and call it ‘Health System Reform.’ The bill is simply bad medicine for patients and the state of Texas…

Health Care Bill Victory For Pelosi

Roll Call reports that “no vote came easy” for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the health bill. “The stories of the late-breaking votes illustrate just how tight the margin was. … Even after the deal, the Democratic whip effort never stopped. Right up until the final vote, members of the leadership team continued to make runs at Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo…

Senate Final Fight On Health Reform Starts, Dems Hope For Weekend Wrap-Up

Senate lawmakers will begin debate today on a reconciliation bill “fixing” the health reform overhaul that has been approved by both the House and the Senate. Democrats hope to finish consideration of the legislation by Saturday…