WASHINGTON, March 23 -- National Democratic strategist/columnist Bob Weiner discussed healthcare, the political aftermath, and future Obama legislation, in a WGUF (Naples FL) interview on the Dave Elliott Show at 4:10 PM. Here are excerpts of what Weiner said:
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The health care bill is a historic achievement changing the root cause of our being worse than 40 other countries on infant mortality and life expectancy, and our paying twice as much for health care as other countries because of our insurance companies as middlemen.
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Benefits of the bill... Do the "repealers" want to block these provisions?
The doctor on TV today who pointed out the mother who gave birth who couldn't stay second day in the hospital the doctor wanted because no insurance but now can? 20 other countries are better than us on mothers' post-birth survival rates, now may be corrected.
Not dropping people because they get sick?
Not allowing pre-existing condition insurance denials?
No more annual and lifetime care limits?
Children staying eligible through 26?
Filling the donut hole covering seniors' drugs?
Tax credits to 4 million small businesses?
Forcing insurance companies to use 80% of revenue for patient care?
Forcing competition for insurance company premiums by exchanges people can choose?
Largest tax cut to the middle class for health care in history?
Deficit reduction--according to CBO, away from the silly rhetoric - a 1.2 Trillion dollar savings to Treasury over next 20 years?
Perhaps most important, 32 million new Americans now have coverage?
Maybe House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio was so virulent saying "Hell No" because of the bill's new tax on tanning salons which he lives in.
Long term Obama plans? First up, the reconciliation bill not only tweaks the health bill but upsurges college education student loans--increasing Pell grants and taking power from the banks to charge too much and putting the loans in the government's hands. Next up? Jobs/economy, financial (Wall Street) reform stopping causes of the recent crash, clean energy, campaign reform reversing Supreme Court's allowing unlimited corporate money in election ads, and more.
Political aftermath of health bill? A huge moral and substantive achievement for Democrats, yes helpful to upcoming Midterms. Americans by 9 points and growing, now have a favorable view of the health care overhaul according to USA Today-Gallup poll today.
Contact: Bob Weiner/Rebecca Vander Linde 301-283-0821/202-306-1200
SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates
