Inauguration Day.
by Gem P. Daus, Director of Policy
January 20 , 2005
It’s inauguration day, and I’m in row 20. It’s really, really cold in DC. It snowed yesterday, but today the sky is clear. I watch as our statesmen and women mill around waiting for the main event. Former presidents Carter, Bush, and Clinton are there. Ford is reportedly not healthy enough to stand out in the cold for so long. But Chief Justice Rehnquist is, putting to rest rumors that he is too sick from thyroid cancer to administer the oath of office. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 8th) are the lone Democrats in Bush’s entourage. Dodd even gets a speaking part. I stick around long enough to see VP Richard Bruce Cheney (why are Richards Dicks?) and President George Walker Bush get sworn in. Then it’s time to board my flight.
So I missed Bush’s inaugural address. But that’s okay. I already know what he’s going to do. You do too, even if all you do is read the headlines. He’s going to “reform” Social Security and put limits on medical malpractice lawsuits (tort reform). And he’s going to ask for more money for the war. As the sitting president, he didn’t have to wait for inauguration to get started. He’s already taken his show on the road.
And since we have a one party system, Congress is going to play along.
What’s that? We have two parties?
Well, yes we do. But we have a Republican president and a Republican majority in the House and Senate. One reason parties exist is to create a voting bloc. If all the Republicans in Congress tow the line (tow Bush’s line because as President he is the honorary chair of the party) then the line becomes the law.
However, Bush’s agenda is making some Republicans nervous. Bush can’t run for President again so he doesn’t have to worry as much about pleasing voters. But every two years, all 435 representatives and one-third of the senators have to try and get re-elected. They won’t be as willing to take risks and the Democrats are hungry.
But that’s the political calculus. What about the issues themselves? Should the government be doing something? And does the Health Forum have a position?
Bush is claiming that the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance (med-mal for short) is driving doctors out of business. Moreover, he says our propensity to sue is the major reason for the rising cost of healthcare overall. Several out-of-work-because-they-can’t-afford-insurance doctors are part of Bush’s roadshow. The Maryland Assembly tackled this issue just last month, trotting out examples of good doctors who are closing their offices and depriving the public of needed services. I’m sure these are true stories and that med-mal did play a part in their early retirement. But I wonder if the problem is so pervasive that we are in danger of not having enough doctors. In fact, the number of doctors in Maryland has increased in the past few years.
As for the claim that med-mal is the major reason health care costs so much, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) disagrees. CBO investigates legislative proposals for Congress and estimates the cost of a bill (called “scoring”). CBO is non-partisan and objective (or it’s supposed to be), so their conclusion has great weight.
At this point, the Health Forum won’t have a position. It’s not really a matter of resources (though, we don’t have them). It is a matter of priorities. We are not an API physician’s association nor do we represent the interests of the medical profession. The doctors who founded APIAHF did so on behalf of their patients and the community. Of course we understand that doctors have a big impact on our community’s health, but doctors also have more resources and powerful associations to fight their battles. Our resources are better spent representing the needs of Asians and Pacific Islanders who don’t have that kind of access.
As for Social Security, that’s going to take another column. Suffice it to say for now that we need to hear your stories. What do your friends and family who are retired or nearing retirement think? Do they feel secure? There is very little data on API retirees and their needs (surprise, surprise), so it is very difficult for us to take a position. Several leading African American and Latino organizations have already taken the position that privatizing Social Security will be bad for minorities. I tend to think the same may be true for everyone including APIs, but we need your stories to back it up.
One more thing: The New York Times reported on Sunday that Bush is using the Social Security Administration to “educate” the public about the state of social security as he sees it. The goal is to convince the American people about the need for privatization. This is propaganda. It is not only inappropriate, it is probably illegal. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from lobbying and while there is no bill yet, the spirit of the law is surely being broken. I called my Congressman to let him know how I feel. I recommend you call yours too.
My flight is delayed. I guess I’m going to miss the Black and Blue Ball.
Resources
Link to NY Times articles
Social Security Agency is Enlisted to Push Its Own Revision, by Robert Pear, January 16, 2005
www.nytimes.com/2005/01/16/politics/16benefit.html?ei=5094&en=c341604f5ded2bd6&hp=&ex=1105938000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print&position=
AND THE FOLLOW UP ARTICLE
No Call for Agency to Sell Fix for Social Security, Aide Says, by Robert Pear, January 17, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/17/politics/17social.html
Update
Michael Leavitt, Bush’s nominee to head to replace Tommy Thompson at HHS, testified for the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pension) committee on Tuesday. I have a transcript. Send me an email if you want it.
Next week: The Asian Pacific American Health Agenda
For comments, suggestions, feedback, email Gem P. Daus at gdaus@apiahf.org
