out·post, \ˈaut-ˌpōst\, noun: an outlying or frontier settlement
ob·serv·er, \əb-ˈzər-vər\, noun: a representative sent to observe but not participate in an activity
Thursday, September 21, 2017
By John A. Ostenburg
Over the last few days, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) has been fond of saying the opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill “to amend and replace” Obamacare is based on “liberal talking points that are absolutely garbage.”
He used those specific words to defend his co-sponsor on the bill, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) against attacks from television personality Jimmy Kimmel, who said Senator Cassidy “just lied right to my face” regarding various protections in the new legislation for persons with pre-existing conditions.
Senator Cassidy had appeared on Kimmel’s television program only days before and had assured the television talk-show host that no one would lose any coverage under the legislation he is co-sponsoring.
Senator Graham’s description of the bill’s opponents as persons spewing “liberal talking points” made me curious. I decided to look into who these so-called “liberals” might be. Here’s a list of a few:
American Medical Association – I’m not sure who – if anyone – would call the AMA a liberal organization, but according to the AMA website, “We believe the Graham-Cassidy Amendment would result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance coverage, destabilize health insurance markets, and decrease access to affordable coverage and care.” Those words were written by Dr. James L. Madara, the group’s CEO. The AMA is the largest organization of physicians in the nation.
American Hospital Association – Richard Pollack, CEO, says the AHA “cannot support” the legislation because “the efforts to restructure the Medicaid program will have the effect of making significant reductions in a program that provides services to our most vulnerable populations.” The AHA represents 4,500 hospitals in the U.S.
American Association of Retired Persons – Statistically, senior citizens in America traditionally vote Republican and most hold fast to conservative political ideals. Yet the largest national organization (38 million members) representing the interests of seniors says Graham-Cassidy would “weaken Medicare’s fiscal sustainability, dramatically increase health care costs for Americans aged 50-64, and put at risk the health care of millions of children and adults with disabilities, and poor seniors who depend on the Medicaid program for long term services and supports and other benefits.
Various health-related groups – The organizations opposing Graham-Cassidy include the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the National Health Council, the March of Dimes, the National Council for Behavioral Health, and others.
Health Insurance Industry – CNN has reported that the nation’s two major health insurance industry associations – the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and America’s Health Insurance Plans – have taken public positions against the legislation.
The Nation’s Governors – While numerous governors have decried the Graham-Cassidy legislation, including Republican Governor John Kasich of Ohio and Alaska’s independent Governor Bill Walker, the most notable non-liberal governor to do so is Chris Christie of New Jersey who said his opposition is based on the fact that the legislation would be “too injurious to the people” of his state.
“Liberal talking points,” Senator Graham? Not truly the reason behind the opposition. But if that’s not the true reason why the South Carolina senator is so incensed at the opposition to his bill, what is? Why is this bill – that so many legitimate health authorities oppose – so important to Senators Graham, Cassidy, and other Republicans including U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), the Senate Majority Leader?
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa, provided one of the reasons. He told the Des Moines Register and other news outlets in his state that “You know, I could maybe give you ten reasons why this bill shouldn’t be considered.” He added, “But Republicans campaigned on this so often that you have a responsibility to carry out what you said in the campaign.” He summed it up by saying, “That’s pretty much of a reason as the substance of the bill.”
So, as Senator Grassley so clearly stated, the “responsibility” Republican lawmakers have is to political expediency, rather than to the citizens of their states and the nation! But at least he was honest about the whole thing, which is something his GOP colleagues – especially Senators Graham and Cassidy – refuse to do.
But let’s get to the other, and greater reason behind the legislation.
As an opinion piece in Business Insider explained, “This last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare is really all about tax cuts.”
In that article, Pedro Nicolaci da Costa, senior correspondent for the publication, explained, “When Republicans say health reform they really mean tax cuts, predominantly for wealthy Americans and corporations.”
How will GOP legislators get that done? By taking dollars the federal government spends on health services supplemented under Obamacare and giving it to their big-money benefactors in the form of huge tax cuts
My conclusion: when Senator Graham talks of “garbage,” he knows of what he speaks. Only he’s looking for the stink in the wrong direction. Rather than gazing at “liberal” opponents to his bill, he should be looking in the mirror!
John A. Ostenburg is in his fifth four-year term as mayor of Park Forest, Illinois, and formerly served in the Illinois House of Representatives. He is an active member of committees of the National League of Cities, the Illinois Municipal League, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association, and also served as SSMMA president for the 2016-17 term and currently serves as secretary of the MMC Executive Board. He retired in July 2010 as the chief of staff for the Chicago Teachers Union after holding various CTU posts over a 15-year period. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he also has been a teacher and/or administrator at elementary, secondary, community college, and university levels. E-mail him at [email protected].