In just a few paragraphs, the Kaiser Health News does what most of the traditional media has failed to do. This article explains how Rep. Mike Ross is obstructing health care reforms that would help his own constituents. He claims to be worried about bankrupting the country, while many American families already go bankrupt because of health care expenses. But, Blue Dog worries about health care expenses don't extend to their own efforts to increase funding for rural hospitals.
Many people in and around this economically depressed town can’t afford insurance, even as the battered economy has made it harder for employers to provide coverage for workers. They're looking to Washington for help, and Ross, a conservative Democrat with a strong voice in the debate over health care legislation, says he’s on their side.Oh, those Blue Dogs. The traditional media loves them. And, they love all the attention. But, they're hypocrites who are selling out their constituents. Funny how they're all about cost-savings, except when they're not.
Yet Ross stands ready to try to block passage of a House bill that, its supporters say, would provide exactly what Arkansas needs: guaranteed insurance and a wider choice of coverage at competitive prices.
Ross’ position reflects the conundrum confronting many lawmakers, including many he helps lead as head of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition's health task force. Even if large numbers of constituents might benefit, many of the Blue Dogs generally oppose the $1 trillion bill because they say it’s too costly and doesn’t solve other health care problems in the their mostly rural areas.
"What we’re talking about is containing the cost, slowing the rate of growth of health care down where it can grow at the rate of inflation,” Ross said in an interview, “because if we don’t, it’s going to bankrupt this country.”
Unless changes are made, Ross and six other Blue Dog members of the Energy and Commerce Committee say they’ll vote against the bill this week, bucking party leaders eager for House passage by the end of July. In the hard bargaining taking place, the Blue Dogs are demanding guarantees that the legislation won’t add to the federal budget deficit and would protect small businesses in their districts from employer mandates that would drive up their operating costs.
Yet at the same time, the Blue Dogs also are seeking changes in the way rural hospitals and doctors are reimbursed for their services, which could substantially drive up Medicare and Medicaid expenditures.
Also, Ross and his fellow Blue Dogs really should read this article in today's Washington Post: GOP Focuses Effort To Kill Health Bills. Republicans want to kill health care reform. They want to ruin Obama's presidency and damage the Democrats. Ross and the Blue Dogs are doing the GOP's dirty work.
