Playing “chicken”
This week the US Senate, in their wisdom, decided to play games with Medicare. I know that congress has played games with funding bills before, but seldom in an election year.
The problem is that medical payments to physicians are scheduled to be cut by more than 10 percent starting June 1, 2008. The House passed a bill to fix the problem but President Bush did not like it. So the republicans in the Senate stonewalled and refused to budge. According to the “rules”, without support of 60 Senators, a bill won’t come to a vote (and is not veto proof anyway). So the entire effort stalled and Congress adjourned for the Independence Day vacation.
Why so much political fighting? What reasonable person would expect a treating physician to attend to a patient for 10 percent less when prices are increasing dramatically? This being an election year with a president who has very low approval ratings that are making some republicans drop the word “republican” from their campaigns, how could a republican Senator allow this. This action alone may cost them election in November. What reaction do they expect from a senior who is denied medical care due to politics? Don’t the republicans know that the democrats will blame them – and use this as a campaign issue? Will this hurt McCain, who I believe still wants to win Florida with its millions of seniors.
This delaying strategy on federal funding is not new. The republicans and democrats have fought over spending bills for decades. In most years funding for the VA and Department of Defense have been subjected to “continuing resolutions” because congress will not negotiate a budget. Continuing resolution, which simply allows spending at a previous years budget, are a nightmare for administrators of federal programs. I have a tough time comprehending how congress, who typically has six to nine months to approve a budget, is unable to complete the task on time.
Do we need a different breed of congress person? We need people in congress who focus upon the job the people elect them to perform. When the political fighting is so intense it leads to inaction, I believe that the members are fighting for “special interests” instead of the people. Before I vote in November, I intend to insist that my representatives commit to handling federal funding with responsibility. I want people in congress who actually represent the people. What about you?