Politicians react to president’s address
Reaction to President Barack Obama’s speech on health-care reform on Wednesday night fell along party lines. Three local Democratic lawmakers said they are committed to overhauling the nation’s system, and that Obama’s speech helped establish the need for reform.
However, local Republican, U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, said that Obama’s thoughts on the issue were “short on detail and long on rhetoric.”
“This wasn’t a speech to carve out common ground; it was a speech to rally the liberal base, encouraging them to run roughshod over Republican opposition and the majority of Americans who oppose a government takeover of health care,” Shuster said.
The congressman said that although Obama recognized Republican efforts on the issue during his speech, the president has not met with Republicans about health-care reform since April.
During the speech, Obama urged Congress to enact sweeping health-care legislation that would help those who have unreliable coverage or none at all.
Obama said he favored allowing the federal government to sell insurance, in competition with private companies. However, he indicated that he was open to other alternatives that would open up additional choices to consumers.
He said that instead of honest debate about health-care reform, opponents have used “scare tactics” that only stall the hope of compromise. Obama said this is the “season for action.”
During his speech, Obama said the legislation he supports would guarantee everyone insurance, even if they have pre-existing medical conditions. The sought legislation also would work toward ensuring people can afford health-care insurance.
Obama said that decades of ignoring the issues associated with health care have led the country to a “breaking point” where something must be done.
U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, said that there is “no question” that health-care reform is both necessary and long overdue.
“Congress must act to lower health-care costs, to extend coverage and to ensure that Americans are able to choose the doctor and health-care plan that works best for them and their families,” he said.
“We must look carefully at all of the options, and produce a uniquely American plan that works best for the American people,” Murtha said.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa, said that Obama’s speech helped “show the real stakes in this debate.
“He helped to cut through the misinformation and rhetoric of the special interests that have diverted attention away from the real issues,” Casey said.
He said that the action taken based on Obama’s speech could have a real and positive impact on Americans who have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, those who worry about losing their insurance or those who are not insured at all.
“We have made progress on health insurance reform, but we have work to do to get to the finish line. President Obama’s leadership will help get us there,” Casey said.
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa, who changed his party affiliation to Democrat in April, called Obama’s speech “inspirational with a substantive, pragmatic blueprint for comprehensive insurance health-care reform, without adding to the deficit or the national debt,” he said.
“Invoking the passion of Sen. (Ted) Kennedy, he correctly challenged the Congress on the morality of providing health care for the needy and the practicality of making health insurance affordable for the middle class,” Specter said.