HEALTH POLICY
MORE THAN POLITICAL THEATER
President Barack Obama has turned a corner in his presidency. Two “wake-up” calls – in Detroit on Christmas and IN Massachusetts January 20 – may be the cause. A third is the fact that health reform legislation is off the floor of the Senate and into a congressional conference committee. So the president can turn his – and our – attention … Continue reading »
STATE OF THE UNION
…..and the presidency. President Barack Obama met the test of his presidency in his State of the Union speech with this: “I will never accept second place for the United States of America.” The speech was built around what has been accomplished since he took over, what remains to be done and his belief that the American people expect Congress to measure … Continue reading »
NATIONAL NEWS
by Scott Stantis
12-25-09 AND 01-05-10
These dates may mark a necessary turning point in the Obama presidency. On Christmas Day, a respected Nigerian businessman’s son turned Islamic fundamentalist zealot nearly did a repeat of 9-11-01 in a NWA/Delta flight to Detroit. President Obama came off the beach in Hawaii and expressed deep concern for all involved, but did not disagree with the “system worked” explanation of … Continue reading »
WHILE WE WATCH BOWL GAMES
The health reform conference committee will be a photo op with various committee chairs who helped write the bills. But the actual work will be done by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and a couple folks from the White House in the Speaker’s House office. I want to believe it will be reported out by January 12, 2010, the day the House is scheduled … Continue reading »
NAMES IN THE NEWS
Iantha Powrie LeVander died on Thanksgiving Day, just six weeks shy of her 97th birthday. Iantha was known to many Minnesotans as the wife of MN Republican Governor Harold LeVander who served from 1966-1970. I loved Iantha LeVander like a mother, which she was to Jean King, of North Oaks; Harold “Hap” of Woodbury; and Rev. Dyan Lowler of Pennsylvania. I served … Continue reading »
HEALTH CARE NEWS
WATCHING HISTORY
The Democratic House of Representatives did what they promised Saturday night and delivered an historic expansion of health care access and coverage combined with health insurance reform and the promise of health care payment changes to reduce poor quality and high cost care. Republicans were permitted air time for their last-minute reform efforts and their anti-abortion amendment. The latter passed and is … Continue reading »
NATIONAL NEWS
BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL
A year after Lehman Brothers was sacrificed, the world lost confidence in credit markets and the corporate bailouts began, we appear to be back to business as usual. Only worse. Banks are not making real estate loans except at most favorable rates. They are back to suckering everyone into consumer credit with “no over-the-limit fees” and then socking them with … Continue reading »
NATIONAL NEWS
CAN PRESIDENT OBAMA DELIVER WHEN HE NEEDS TO?
Public expectations of the new president have not kept pace with the enormously difficult challenges he’s had to face in his first eight months in office. Polls reflect uncertainty with most of his initiatives. Right wing radio is feeling lots of traction. Republicans are talking about reversing 2006-08 election results in 2010. While the president’s job approval at 56% … Continue reading »
I AM NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO TAKE UP THE CAUSE OF HEALTH REFORM, BUT I AM DETERMINED TO BE THE LAST. . . Barack Obama
Thus did the president set the tone for a one-hour speech to a joint session of the Congress which will make it possible for Democrats to pass a health policy reform bill this year.
The end of the speech was as noble as … Continue reading »
BRETT FAVRE IS A VIKING
Unless you live here, you wouldn’t believe what Favre’s signing with the Vikings means to Minnesota. In a state that has cold-shouldered efforts of the Vikings ownership to get some financial support for a first-class stadium, Favre’s $12 million salary has been nearly paid for by ticket and apparel sales in the first 24 hours after he suited up. Favre’s deal is that … Continue reading »
Senator Durenberger is currently a Senior Health Policy Fellow at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis Minnesota and chairs the National Institute of Health Policy (NIHP).
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