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Daschle, Dole Team Up for Outside Health Care Push

Could-have-been '90s partners finally team up

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2009 8:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – When the Clintons were trying to pass their health care reform bill in the early '90s, Tom Daschle tried desperately to enlist Bob Dole. Now, 15 years later, he finally has. Daschle and Dole, along with former Republican leader Howard Banker, are leading an outside push for a bipartisan health bill, reports David Broder in the Washington Post. And this time, they’re confident it’ll actually happen.

Daschle and Dole’s plan would be a heavy lift. It would tax employers that don’t provide health care, or that offer so-called Cadillac policies; neither proposition will be popular. They also skip the public option that many Democrats adamantly support, and many Democrats say is a deal-breaker. But Dole thinks it’ll get done. “You have business, labor and a whole cross section of people saying, ‘We need to have reform,’” he says.

Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle, right, greets former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle, right, greets former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
In this May 30, 2007 file photo, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, left, accompanied by fellow former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill.
In this May 30, 2007 file photo, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, left, accompanied by fellow former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, File)
Former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle, left, and Bob Dole, take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 30,  2007.
Former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle, left, and Bob Dole, take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 30, 2007.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Former Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole, right, and Tom Daschle, take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 30,  2007.
Former Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole, right, and Tom Daschle, take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 30, 2007.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
JonmarkP
Jun 19, 2009 5:11 AM CDT
$=% lol
JonmarkP
Jun 19, 2009 5:10 AM CDT
There is no way to make health care more expensive than the system we have now. Administrative costs for Medicare run about 3%, not 30$. We pay more than anyone in the world for healthcare, and the quality of our care is somewhere in the around 30th in the world. We're ALREADY in a massive health care deficit. Plus, our poorly cared-for populace is less productive, paying for health care makes our industries less competitive in the world market, and we have the highest infant mortality of any Western nation. You right-wingers really do need to find out what the hell you're taking about, instead of getting all your "information" from the AM radio your mom gave you.
justme
Jun 18, 2009 7:28 AM CDT
Politicians are a necessary evil. They get reelected because they bring home things that people want. As they build up time in office, they build a power base and lots of campaign money to get reelected. Most become focused on the source of that money. Term limits give good people a better chance to compete for election. New people, new ideas, fewer power brokers (if we also include some laws limiting out of state contributions.)

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