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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Oct. 14, 2009
/ 27 Tishrei 5770
Obama's Moment to Mold Health Reform
By
David Broder
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
It has taken much longer than President Obama had hoped, but we are finally at the point where he can -- and must -- put his personal stamp on his main domestic initiative, the overhaul of the health-care system.
Now that the Senate Finance Committee has joined four others -- three in the House and one in the Senate -- in drafting versions of the complex, expensive legislation, lawmakers will turn to the White House for guidance in resolving the many policy questions that must be settled before final votes can be cast.
Through careful navigation of the fiscal and political barriers that have doomed efforts by other Democratic presidents to grasp this nettle, Obama has steered the enterprise to the point that odds now favor a bill-signing ceremony.
But the hardest choices still lie ahead, and what Obama and his key aides -- Rahm Emanuel, Peter Orszag and Nancy-Ann DeParle -- do from this point on will determine whether this is a substantial achievement for the country or simply another gesture toward real reform.
Fortunately, all members of that foursome -- the president, the chief of staff, the budget director and the operating head of the health-care task force -- recognize the priorities and are approaching the task with the right combination of practicality and policy sophistication.
With most Republicans regrettably isolated, by their own choosing, from the negotiations, the White House quartet can focus on their fellow Democrats as they try to line up the 218 votes they need in the House and the 60 that probably will be required in the Senate.
Two things will be needed to reach that goal: first, a plausible plan for making affordable and comprehensive health insurance available to millions who now depend on emergency-room care or go untreated. And second, a way of financing the coverage that pays the prospective bills while reducing the ruinous health-care inflation that threatens family budgets, business bottom lines and the finances of every level of government.
The Democrats are much closer to agreement on the first goal than the second. The months of debate have produced a largely unspoken consensus for offering those without insurance subsidized coverage through a closely regulated market dominated by private firms. The Democrats are still divided on whether a government-sponsored entity should be in the mix. Obama favors it, but he will not insist on it. Whether or not the public option is included, it is clear that most, if not all, Americans who are not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid will continue to deal with private insurance firms.
The only other coverage question is how many individuals and families will remain uninsured. There is a recognition that millions of people will not be reached in this first bill; how many will depend on how far the money for subsidies can be stretched. But almost everyone now realizes what Obama acknowledged in the campaign: There will have to be a Health Reform 2.
The second challenge -- financing the coverage and reducing medical cost inflation -- is much harder both fiscally and politically, and it is here that the White House's help is most needed.
The House bills envisage a high-income surtax, which is doubly undesirable. Any tax that started immediately would jeopardize a shaky economy. And the general revenue will certainly be needed down the line to combat staggering deficits stretching as far as the eye can see.
The Senate Finance Committee bill, which depends on taxes on high-value private insurance policies, is a far better option. But a simpler and more straightforward way of accomplishing this goal is to end the tax exemption on some or all employer-financed benefits -- a step that would require Obama to face down his labor union allies.
If Obama steps up to that challenge and presses Congress to include more of the delivery system reforms than are included in any of the pending bills, he could find himself signing a really significant law.
If he succeeds, he will deserve the domestic equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.
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