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? 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

March 11, 2009 – South Carolina’s top congressional lawmaker is furious with the governor for rejecting stimulus dollars which would allow the state to create jobs, increase unemployment benefits and offer tax credits for college tuition.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) issued a statement when he got word that Republican Gov. Mark Sanford announced he would not take the money allocated for his state in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.   

Thursday President Barack Obama has invited each state’s point person for the stimulus package to Washington to be part of a roundtable discussion on how the money should be spent. The meeting will be lead by Vice President Joe Biden, who will head up the spending oversight. But it looks like when attendance is taken South Carolina will be absent. 

“We waited three weeks after the recovery package was signed into law for Gov.  Sanford to unveil, with great fanfare, yet another political chess move towards the 2012 presidential race,” Clyburn charged.

 Sanford has been very outspoken and made a point to define himself in opposition to President Barack Obama. This political move has earned him national media attention in  prominent publications and started the buzz that he’s eyeing a presidential run in 2012.

Sanford is doing what several conservative members of the House and other Republican governors had threatened to do – decline their portion of the stimulus.  But other than “fanfare” it’s not clear this move will decrease the deficit or overall spending by the feds. 

Clyburn believes it will have the opposite impact and said economists agree the investments in this recovery package are necessary to save and create jobs, and stimulate the economy.

“As a matter of fact, while prudent in times of economic stability, paying down debt in a time of recession has the opposite effect; it deepens and lengthens economic downturns,” Clyburn contends.   
 
South Carolina’s unemployment rate is 10.4 percent, and reaches double-digits in 35 of the state’s counties. Clyburn charges the governor is doing this for political gain only and without thought for the folks needing this assistance in the state.  

African Americans make up 28.7 percent of the population and vote Democratic, however, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) carried the state in the 2008 presidential race.  “Governor Sanford will sleep well at night because he has improved his ‘conservative record’ and raised his national profile,” Clyburn said.

The only hope now for South Caroline is for the South Carolina Legislature to pass a resolution that will allow them to claim the funds; that’s what Clyburn is recommending.

It’s not clear how the White House is taking this latest strategy, but I’m waiting to hear from them.