By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Analyst

March 4, 2010—Presdent Barack Obama held meetings Wednesday with several stake holders in complicated process in hopes of moving heath care reform from the halls of Congress to Pennsylvania Avenue and to his desk for signature.  

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the president wants to reach out to those who might still have concerns or questions. “I think the president will spend a considerable amount of time with lawmakers and the public, explaining the benefits of the legislation that will be considered, why it’s important to do, and why we can’t walk away now from health care reform.”

Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) were among those who met with the president face-to-face to discuss where they go from here. 

Following the meeting Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said, “In my comments to the president, I reiterated the CBC’s priorities to ensure the inclusion of provisions to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.  I also raised my longstanding support for a single-payer system, and discussed a public option and Medicare expansion as important and realistic alternatives to controlling costs and extending health coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

Black lawmakers have been staunch supporters of a public option – but the provision wasn’t included in the Senate bill and the president has said as long as his primary objections of access to care, cost control and competition are met he would forgo the public option. 

 “The meeting was productive, and we remain committed to working together to moving a health care reform bill the president can sign this year,” Lee said.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

March 3, 2010 – Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) ,  the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee announced Wednesday he would temporarily step aside as chair until all ethics investigations have been completed.

Rep. Charles Rangel in the House Gallery announces he will step down as chair of the Ways and Means Committee.

This was a quick retreat from his stance on Tuesday, but the tide may have turned when he learned of Republicans plans to bring a resolution t the floor that would have forced his fellow Dems into a politically awkward situation.

Rangel, 79, told reporters at a press conference Wednesday, “In the view of the fact that my chairmanship is bringing so much attention to the press, and in order to avoid my colleagues having to defend me during their elections, I have this morning sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi asking her to grant me a leave of absence until such time as the ethics committee completes its work.”   

 Rangel’s fellow colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have been loyal to one of the founding members of the group, following the announcement CBC chairwomen Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) issued the following statement; 

“We regret that Chairman Charles Rangel is taking a temporary leave of absence during this very critical time in our efforts to turn the economy around. He has been an effective chairman and has shown tremendous leadership on many issues and dedicated service to his constituents.”

Rangel will be replaced by California Rep. Peter Stark (D) another colorful and often controversial member of the House.  Stark’s role as chairman is also deemed “temporary,” and it’s unlikely his selection will sit well with House Republicans.

From the floor of the House In 2007 Stark accused President Bush of sending troops to Iraq “to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”  He also gave Rep. Scoot McInnis a tongue latching calling the Colorado lawmaker a “fruitcake.”

 “We recognize that Chairman Rangel did not want this matter to be distractions from our efforts to create jobs and revitalize our economy. However, we remain concerned about the precedent this sets for the House of Representatives that the political climate is such that a member would feel the need to step aside, even temporarily, during an ongoing proceeding,” Lee said.

All of this is unfortunate for the seasoned lawmaker, but the move he made has removed the target on his back, given the Dems time to re-group and will allow the Ethics Committee time to finish their work.

Did Rep. Charles Rangel do the right thing?

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

March 2, 2010 – One of the most powerful Black lawmakers in Washington as chair of  the Ways and Means Committee may be forced from his leadership post by his colleagues in Congress. 

Rep, Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) who was admonished by the House Ethics Committee last week following an 18 month investigation told reporters after a closed door meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), he was still chairman.  But when asked whether he’d be in the top spot tomorrow he said, “I can’t make all those promises at my age.”  

But what makes things worse; one of his colleague and fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus is calling for him to step down. Rep.  Artur Davis, ( D-Ala.) serves on Ways and Means and Tuesday became the first Black lawmaker to call for Rangel to step aside.  

In a written statement Davis said, “Representative Rangel has had a long and distinguished career and I respect his leadership, but I believe Congress needs to do more to restore the public trust,” Davis said in a written statement. “An ethics committee admonishment is a serious event and Representative Rangel should do the right thing and step aside as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.”

Davis who is running for governor in Alabama and will not be running for Congress in November.  His statement drew headlines and some harsh language from one caucus member.  Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) objected to Davis’ call for Rangel’s resignation as chair.

“I think Mr. Davis ought to step aside,” Hastings said. “He ain’t here much. And if he’s speaking for anyone black, he ain’t speaking for me.”  Davis  missed three roll call votes on Tuesday.  

While Pelosi declined to comment on Rangel’s future, at least 14 other Dems are reported to be calling for him to do so: Davis is the first African-American member on Congress to make a formal statement.   

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cumming said, “I think everyone is entitled to his opinion.”  Adding, that “it’s a little early” to relieve Rangel of his chairmanship.

Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) is expected to bring a resolution to the floor calling for Rangel to step aside, according Politic.com.  The GOP will need every Republican vote and 39 Democrats to vote against the chairman.

Rangel fate could come down to the political will of his party; is this climate, that’s not a great spot to be in.

Do you think Rangel should resign?

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 24, 2010 – Liberal Democrats had hoped to hold out and revive the fading future of the public option as part of overhauling health care reform; but it’s become more evident in recent weeks the public option is no longer viable.

In the summer of 2009, the debate at town hall meetings all but eroded the support among moderate Democrats and sealed the objections of Republicans. During the Senate negotiations, while crafting their version of the bill, the public option was not included, leaving it only in the House bill.

The Hill newspaper is reporting the Senate only has the support of 25 members, a far cry from the 50 votes needed.  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed for reporters during Tuesday’s briefing the president wasn’t including it because it doesn’t have the votes.   

“We have seen, obviously, that though there are some that are supportive of this, there isn’t enough political support in a majority to get this through,” Gibbs said.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have been staunch supporters of the public option.  Last year members sent a letter to the president and have continued to push for the inclusion of the public option.

“We must have a public health plan along with the private ones. Without a robust public plan, there is no guarantee of change, no guarantee of lower rates and no inclusion for all,” Del. Donna Christensen, (D-Virgin Islands) said in September 2009.

Christensen, a practicing physician and the caucus’ health care policy chair, has told me on several occasions without a public option there is no reform.  “We are determined to see that our health care system is not just reformed, but transformed,” she has said throughout the debate.

I will be checking to see how Black lawmakers respond to the plan the president presents to open discussion on Thursday that will not include a public option.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 16, 2010 – The Congressional Black Caucus has made headlines now that its 42 members are making headway when it comes to raising cash from industries wanting to lobby Black lawmakers alongside their White counterparts.

The New York Times reported Black lawmakers, through the arm of the CBC Foundation, have accepted donations in turn for legislative privileges or preferential treatment. The Times article reports the CBC’s fund-raising machine trades access and influence to interests harmful to African Americans, citing, gambling, alcohol and cigarette companies.

Elsie L. Scott, CEO of the CBC Foundation told The Times, “Black people gamble. Black people smoke. Black people drink… If these companies want to take some of the money they’ve earned off of our people and give it to us to support good causes, then we take it.”

While the truth doesn’t sound politically correct, it’s accurate and other members of Congress are doing what is tantamount to the same thing. Representatives in Texas are lobbied by oil companies in Texas; West Virginia reps by coal mining companies and tobacco growers in the Carolinas all lobby members of Congress and dole out cash for consideration.
Duh! But the connection of favors to funding isn’t always that clear cut.

While we can debate if the lobby system is working without fault, the truth is: we know that it is a tradition in Washington that can’t be ignored. Lobbyists are paid by businesses to lobby. And that’s what they do.
What makes this story worthy and of interest to me is to see lobbyists taking a look at 42 African Americans in Congress they may have once overlooked.

If I had to guess, the new-found fundraising ability of the CBC has something to do with African Americans now holding top leadership positions in the Congress, being part of the majority party and their assumed access to one of their former members President Obama.

It’s not surprising to me. There are several misleading assumptions in The Times piece, but just to name a few: the members of the CBC are an organized caucus, like several in Congress, (Hispanic, Asian, Blue Dogs) not a Civil Rights organization. They don’t have a bank account, so they can’t and don’t accept money as a legislative caucus; and members of the Caucus don’t make up the majority of the CBC Foundation’s board of directors.

When convenient the lines were blurred in reporting the difference between the legislative caucus and the non-profit CBC Foundation which operates as a 501(c ) (3) charitable organization; the two are completely separate as required by law.

I’m very familiar with the work of the CBC and the CBC Foundation and its relationship with the African-American community, so I’m not sure why programs the foundation supports like the Congressional internship program, the scholarship program and the Fellow Programs weren’t given a more positive spin.

The CBC and the CBC Foundation will no doubt defend itself against these assertions. Let’s see if a New York Times follow up will also clear up any misunderstandings.

Please welcome guest blogger Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

By Rep. Yvette Clarke, (D-N.Y.)

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.)

(Sept. 24, 2009) Small businesses have experienced difficulties in this challenging economy. More than half of the 763,000 jobs lost in the first half of 2008 were lost in small firms. Small firms continue to face a tough environment into 2009 with concerns in a wide range of areas including access to capital, availability and costs of health insurance, attracting a quality work force, and meeting the unique 21st century global competitive challenge.

During the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, I will be sponsoring two forums that will address some of these issues.  The first forum on Wednesday explores the federal procurement process and will teach attendees about the basics of contracting with Federal government agencies. The second forum will invite small business lending experts to share strategies that minority small businesses can employ to access capital in this tough environment.

On Thursday September 24, legal experts will gather to explain the impact that a recent case, Rothe Development Corporation v. Department of Defense, has had on Federal procurement efforts using minority firms in America.

What’s a small business?  Generally defined as private for profit firms with fewer than 500 employees, are the key to the health of the U.S. economy. Small businesses represent 99.7% of all employer firms, employ about half of all private sector employees, pay nearly 45% of the U.S. private payroll, and are responsible for more than half of non-farm private GDP. Since the mid-1990s small businesses have created 60-80% of the net new jobs in the United States.

 As a Member of the House Committee on Small Business, I am constantly examining ways that Congress can address the needs of our nation’s small businesses, especially those in the 11th District.

I will be focused like a laser on ensuring that small businesses, the engines of our economy, are able to access the resources that they need to expand their capacity. I will be supportive of legislation that creates more avenues for access to capital for small businesses, improves and expands the technical assistance capabilities of the SBA, and increases contracting opportunities for minority, veteran, and women owned small businesses.

Black lawmakers  opened  their annual legislative conference Wednesday, with four days of workshops, panel discussions and town halls planned, designed to educate, involve and influence how they tackle laws and policies impacting the communities they represent.

 The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 39th Annual Legislative Conference  is taking place in the nation’s capital Sept. 23 -26 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 

Please welcome guest blogger, California Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

By Rep. Maxine Waters (D- Calif.)

Sept. 23, 2009 — Tens of thousands of people will gather in Washington, D.C. this week for the Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.  ALC provides a great opportunity for reconnecting with friends, meeting new people, networking and celebrating.  At its heart though are the issues forums – discussions of

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)

critical issues affecting African Americans by panels made up of elected officials, community leaders and celebrities presenting information and interacting with the audience.

I will be hosting several ALC events, including a banking issues forum where Federal Reserve Chairman Benjamin Bernanke, high-ranking Treasury Department and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation officials, and minority business owners will discuss opportunities for minority-owned firms to do business with federal banking regulators.  I have blogged previously about the importance of this issue: http://blogs.bet.com/news/pamela/2009/07/29/have-tarp-dollars-tapped-into-your-community/ and I have held a series of meetings with Chairman Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Geithner and FDIC Chairman Bair since the financial crisis began about increasing minority participation in the government’s financial rescue programs.  We have had some success creating roles for minority-owned firms within the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Public-Private Investment Program and the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, and we will continue to encourage the inclusion of minority-owned and women-owned firms as the federal banking regulators hire additional outside contractors for legal, accounting, valuation and asset management services. 

U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter and Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree headline a panel of attorneys, advocates and activists during another issues forum I am hosting regarding the topic of eliminating mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug offenses.  This session will examine opportunities for changing current sentencing policy and provide an update on legislation Congress is considering. I have introduced the Major Drug Trafficking Prosecution Act of 2009 (H.R. 1466), which eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, and Rep. Bobby Scott, who chairs the crime subcommittee, has introduced the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009 (H.R. 3245), which eliminates the distinction between powder and crack cocaine.  Currently, people convicted of selling crack – who are more likely to be African American – receive significantly longer prison sentences than those convicted of selling an equivalent amount of powder cocaine.  The consequence of this disparity and mandatory minimum sentences is many African Americans being locked up for a long time.

“Young, Gifted and Black” is a forum I created years ago to attract more young people to ALC and get them thinking and talking about issues that directly affect their lives.  YGB features successful, talented people whom our youth can relate to and be inspired by.  It has always been a fun, exciting, provocative and popular part of ALC – and this year promises to continue that tradition.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Sept. 4, 2009 – Black lawmakers want to get out in front of the president’s speech next week and have sent him a letter outlining what they don’t want to see “scaled back” in his plans to overhaul the health care system.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., meets with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Thursday, June 19, 2008 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Lauren Victoria Burke)

The letter sent Wednesday is signed by three members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who also serve on the Health and Wellness Task Force:  Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Donna M. Christensen .  They called on the president to “stress unwavering support ” during his address to Congress for the following:

1. Not  reducing cost:  “Reducing the overall cost of a budget-neutral bill is therefore unnecessary and not a strategy that we do or can support.” 

2. Support for a public option:  “A strong public health option that will allow the nation’s more than 46 million uninsured Americans – more than half of whom are people of color – to finally have access to affordable, meaningful health care coverage no later than 2013.”

3. Eliminating health care disparities: “A strong and demonstrative commitment from the White House to, in the days and weeks to come, use health care reform to achieve health equity.”

4. Equality for U.S. Territories:  “The nearly 5 million Americans who live in the U.S. Territories should benefit from health care reform in a manner that is equitable to those Americans who live within the 50 states and in the District of Columbia.”

5. Rewarding preventive health care services: “This strategy will not only allow the realization of true cost savings of prevention, health disparity elimination and other provisions, but it also will provide an avenue through which the savings generated can replace current [payment system].”

Lee, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the 43 members of the Caucus “are committed allies and partners in the fight to reform America’s broken health care system.”

It will be interesting to hear if any of these policy issues remain in the president’s new version he’ll unveil Sept. 9.  Throughout this debate members of the CBC have been outspoken on these issues and some have made it clear they will not support any legislation without a public option.

This could be a line in the sand for Obama and his former congressional colleagues.

Full Transcript: See the CBC’s Letter to Pres. Obama

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Anaylst

Aug. 17, 2009 — The president’s stance on the public option under health care reform may be wavering, but not with Black lawmakers.  After reports the public option might be off the table, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement:  

“Any bill without a public health insurance plan like Medicare is not health reform,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) wrote.

“The Congressional Black Caucus remains committed to ensuring that health reform is meaningful and that means making sure a public option is part of the package.”
 

“Without a public option there will be no way to keep insurance companies honest and their rates down. A public health option that competes with private insurers will set standards that could help lower costs and improve access.”

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) agrees. “I am very troubled to hear that after months of negotiations – supposedly moving toward meaningful health care reform – the public option may in fact be off the table.  

“As I have said before, particularly in conjunction with my colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I will not be able to support a health care reform bill that does not guarantee the creation of a public option that will provide an alternative for the 47 million uninsured Americans and millions more who face rising premiums, deductibles and co-pays.”

Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) said he doesn’t want reform derailed by confusion.  “Simply put, an option is an opportunity; and a public option is a patient opportunity. Consumers must be given the option to make an informed decision about their own health care. A public option merely expands a patient’s ability to choose,” he said.  

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) wrote, “The public option would be minimal regulation, which would ensure that most of the 47 million people who are uninsured would have access to health coverage. The public option is not going to run the insurance companies out of business. Why should we take half measures that do not accomplish the desired result?”

The  president is sure to have more support move away if the public option is a deal breaker.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., from left, is joined by other House Democratic leaders, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md), Pete Stark (D-Calif.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.), in a news conference announcing the introduction of health care legislation on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo)

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

July 15, 2009 – The Democrats were in lock step underling the importance of the health care reform bill introduced in the Congress Tuesday. The America’s Affordable Health Choice Act of 2009, was praised by minority lawmakers, but it still has room for improvements.

Congressional members representing Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific Americans issued a joint statement from the TriCaucus saying: 

“We applaud this important step toward comprehensive health care reform, of which the cornerstone is a robust public health option and the elimination of health disparities.”

Adding, “While we are encouraged that some of our main concerns are included, some significant priorities still need to be strengthened and we will continue our efforts to ensure that all TriCaucus priorities are included in the final legislation.” 

 Congressional Black Caucus  lawmakers have told me they want to see public health options to include mental health and dental coverage, a commitment to strengthen the office of minority health at the National Institute of Health and have language that would increase ethnic diversity in clinical trials.    

House Majority Whip James Clyburn, (D-S.C.) said, “the bill reduces out-of-control costs, encourages competition among insurance plans to improve choices for patients, and expands access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.” 

The 1,018-page bill will create a new government insurance option; create the first near-universal health care coverage and raise taxes on the two-percent of the wealthiest individuals to help pay the $1 trillion dollars the bill is estimated to cost.  The bill also identifies cost savings to the bottom line.

I received a flurry of statements from lawmakers touting the virtues of the bill and putting critics on notice.  Rep. Chris Van Holland (D-Md.), issued a statement:  “Our critics will try to scare you, and will fight to keep the status quo because many are beholden to the special interests that profit from a broken system that has led to skyrocketing costs and premiums.  Make no mistake – reforming our health care system is crucial to getting our economy back on track and getting our deficit under control.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “This is indeed a happy day, for today we are introducing historic and transformative legislation that will benefit all Americans, a health insurance act for the great middle class of America.”

Republicans have already started attacking the bill, and its doubtful the days ahead will be a jubilant as Tuesday for Democrats.  Now the House Committees on Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, will  have to lead the bill through the process of becoming law.

President Obama sounded optimist, “Don’t be fooled by folks trying to scare you by saying we can’t change the health care system. We have no choice but to fix the health care system because right now it’s broken for too many Americans.”

Do you support giving every American health care?