Obama: Cut Pork From Health Bill. Senate: Say What?

Prez gets pushback from senators looking to hang on to pet projects

By the Associated Press

Posted Mar 13, 2010 7:58 AM CST

(AP) – There's $600 million in Medicaid payments to Vermont, $100 million for a Connecticut hospital, and the infamous "Cornhusker Kickback," among others, and President Obama wants to yank those porky projects from the health care bill. Democratic senators, being senators, beg to differ. "We're going to do what we have to do to get a bill out of the House and Senate," says a spokesman for Harry Reid. As for Obama's wish list : "We'll certainly keep it in mind as we pull together a final bill."

"The president's position in the final legislation should not contain provisions that favor a single state or a district," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says. There are exceptions. Louisiana's $300 million, which helped win support from moderate Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., will likely survive to help Katrina recovery efforts. But there's pushback elsewhere, as in Vermont, which has already boosted Medicaid benefits. "What I told Harry Reid is that Vermont does the right thing, and I don't want Vermont to be penalized for doing the right thing," says Pat Leahy.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., left, along with Gina Owens from Seattle, Wash.,left, whose daughter, Tiffany Owens died after losing her job and health care, Senate Majority Whip Richard... (Harry Hamburg)

(Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Barack Obama listens to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid during a town hall meeting at Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nev., Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Clearly the math was, 'I gain more in the House by taking out those provisions than I lose in the Senate.' - Analyst on Obama's move to remove pet projects from the Senate health bill

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 34 comments

thejoint00

Mar 13, 2010 6:27 PM CST

this is like a bad e-trade commercial "Obama, have you been hanging out with those porkaholics in congress again? - Porkawhat?!

tomodachi

Mar 13, 2010 5:42 PM CST

To all you obstructionists who think the current health care system should stay the way it is...

(clipped from article)

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

As soon as members of Congress are sworn in, they may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The program offers an assortment of health plans from which to choose, including fee-for-service, point-of-service, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In addition, Congress members can also insure their spouses and their dependents.

Not only does Congress get to choose from a wide range of plans, but there’s no waiting period. Unlike many Americans who must struggle against precondition clauses or are even denied coverage because of those preconditions, Senators and Representatives are covered no matter what - effective immediately.

And here’s the best part. The government pays up to 75 percent of the premium. That government, of course, is funded by taxpayers, the same taxpayers who often cannot afford health care themselves.

More Health Care Perks for Congress

And the Congressional perks don’t stop with the FEHBP. According to the article “Health care as good as Congress gets,” by John Barry, a staff writer for the St. Petersburg Times, “Members of Congress have their own pharmacy, right in the Capitol. They also have a team of doctors, technicians and nurses standing by in case something busts in a filibuster. They can get a physical exam, an X-ray or an electrocardiogram, without leaving work.”

Although members pay extra for these services - Representatives pay about $300 per month, and Senators about $600 - taxpayers end up kicking in another $2 million. That’s $2 million not being spent on those who need it.

cornelison

Mar 13, 2010 5:39 PM CST

While he's at it, The President should not be campaigning for Democrats who tried to defeat health care reform. Mary Landreau and Blance Lincoln don't even want health care reform. The President should support any Democrat who wants to run against them.

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Obama: Cut Pork From Health Bill. Senate: Say What?