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Simpson casts a lone vote on Medicare override
Submitted by Kevin Richert on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 10:29am.
Rep. Mike Simpson broke ranks with the White House, his floor leader and the rest of the Idaho delegation Tuesday. And he made the right call.
The 2nd District Republican voted to reverse a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement rates. President Bush had vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode the veto Tuesday. In the House, 153 Republicans went against the president on the veto override; 21 Republican senators followed suit later Tuesday.
Simpson was the lone Idaho Republican to support the override. First District Rep. Bill Sali sided with the president, as did Sens. Larry Craig and Mike Crapo.
The White House criticized the bill because it will cut funding for private health care option; some 9.6 million Americans tap use these Medicare Advantage plans. (Click here for the White House's press release.) Sali echoed that theme in his press release, and said, "Unfortunately, this Congress has once again proven that it is only capable of doing what is easy instead of what is right.”
It strikes me that the right thing to do, and ASAP, was to reverse the reduction in the reimbursement rate, which went into effect July 1. This surely would have made it harder for 44.2 million American Medicare patients, including 208,000 Idahoans, to find health care. Simpson, a dentist by training, correctly put access first.
This vote carries a little risk — not so much because Simpson broke ranks with a lame-duck president. Simpson also went against House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who backed the White House. But here, as on the State Children's Health Insurance Program debate last fall, Simpson has demonstrated the guts to follow his own course on health care issues.
A hat tip to Randy Stapilus who offers a regional perspective on the override.
A small-world politics footnote: Idaho Democrats, predictably, were quick to shoot out a press release slamming Sali's vote. “This is a stunning betrayal of the very people Bill Sali is supposed to serve and flies in the face of Idaho’s rural economy,” party executive director Jim Hansen said. This necessitated Hansen, Simpson's Democratic opponent in 2006, to acknowledge the Simpson vote in favor of the override.
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More proof
The only Republicans worth applauding are ones who break ranks with their party, in the opinion of the Statesman's editorial board
Correct, but not courageous
Mike Simpson didn't break ranks with his party. 5 out of 6 NW Republicans voted for the override, along with more than 3/4ths of the Republican caucus. It may have been the right decision, but it wasn't a great act of political courage.
Thank you Mr.Simpson...
Someone has to remind their colleagues that the "Hon." title in their name is for HONORABLE.
I'm not going to wander in the streets and die of untreated diabetes.
Yes
It was the right decision; my point is that almost every Republican and Democrat voted the same way as Mr. Simpson. It doesn't take too much political courage to vote with the overwhelming majority of your party. Our entire Congress deserves credit for this override, except for the few outliers like Mr. Sali. But the Statesman is portraying Simpson as some sort of defector, when in fact almost every Republican voted with the Democrats on this bill, hard-line conservatives and moderates alike.
A fair point
Sometimes readers don't think beyond their position on an issue. You make a fair point about Simpson.
Bill Sali Is Consistent!
Congressman Bill Sali, Hero of the Owyhees, is always consistent. Bill Sali knows that successful businesses run by Americans who believe in Jesus are the backbone of American society, so he votes to make sure they continue being successful in getting money from the government. The fact that these businesses contribute to Bill Sali's campaign is only more proof of how smart they are. So what if some doctors would have gotten less money? If they're so good, how come they aren't running a big company? I've even heard that some doctors might be Hindus or other people who don't believe in Jesus Christ's divinity.
My Patriotic Pro-Sali Website!
A consistent pain in the tush, si, bueno!
And where's the Taco Del Mar bandit....pbbbbbbblt!
Bill Sali Fan
I respectfully have to laugh at you and those like you who have been very successful in making the State of Idaho not only the reddest but the laughing stock of the rest of the country. Good job! Keep up the good work! Ps your comment almost sounds like you made it all up just to be funny...can't believe it.
Thank the politicians directly, thank you!
NEXT!
The last laugh
Idaho the laughing stock? Do a little reading. 2007 - 4th best state for doing business. We are always in the top five nationally. Now The North Face is coming to town, one national business after another.
Laughing stock? Cabelas didn't think so. Texas Road House didn't think so, or Dillards, or Edwards, just go down the list of the national concerns that conducted their research and chose Idaho. I moved here in 1992 because of the growth and national rankings and it was only beginning.
This is a great state, strong commerce, incredible recreation, growing and vibrant universities, good K-12 education, safe to live and raise your families. And a $280 million surplus at the end of the year! We are the envy of many states - especially the ones who spent and taxed themselved into huge debts and layoffs.
Too bad you cannot take any pride in the many things Idaho does well.
Two things
1. How likely do you think it would be that so many Republicans would have voted for the override (or the bill itself) had the emotion of that Senate "lion" (who caused a young lady's death and covered it up) Ted Kennedy's battle with cancer had not materialized? Our country is increasingly making choices based on emotion rather than reality. The reality is that Medicare has been a travesty, far exceeding the costs that were sold to the American people when it started (like every other Nanny state provision before and since).
2. I greatly fear for our country's future, when so many people look to the government to solve their problems. Even Republicans who profess conservatism constantly respond to and appeal to the "what can the government do to fix this" card. We have absolutely lost, as a society, the drive and ambition that made this country great at its inception.
Those darn gov't programs...like public education...eh BSU Grad?
But I guess it's ok to expect an education from the state, but help with healthcare? Why that's downright socialist!
Boisepoet is right
How arrogant. After 12 years of free education you you went on to graduate from BSU where your degree is subsidized by the same “Nanny state” you rail against. 16 years of suckling at the public trough, if you managed to graduate in 4 years, and now you don't even have anything real to add to the debate or any support for the social programs that have made this country great? Even if you paid cash for your degree, it wasn't half of what the taxpayers paid for your education.
When he needs rehab or gets cancer he'll become a Catholic...
Boise Poet
Can't wait 'til the little fella retires. Hope he has perfect health and a gazillion dollars available to help with any medical bills down the line. These wild-eyed conservatives are so narrow minded they applaud by clapping their ears together. BUT they are entitled to their opinion.
Actually
The little fella (please) is counting on the Good Barak Obama to bring universal healthcare to us all. Praise him. Also, I think you should throw several more snarky attacks on conservatives in the future. It makes it far more entertaining for wicked narrow-minded conservatives such as myself when we finally happen to see what you write.
Let's count the faults
1. "it wasn't half of what the taxpayers paid" Really? And you base this assertion on what facts, exactly?
2. 12 years of free education. You're making a ton of assumptions here, not the least of which is that I am some 25 year old that doesn't have any experience or knowledge of world around me. I'm not... not even close. In fact since you're so worried about arrogance, have a look in the mirror, buddy.
3. Should I also feel bad if I drive on roads built by the state in light of my opposition to ballooning welfare and medicare programs? These don't seem to me to be on the same level, but you apparently are the arbiter of what services are acceptable for conservative minded people to access.
4. "...you don't even have anything real to add to the debate." I feel I added something, but again, you are the arbiter. Let's recap: a) Emotionality is superceding good sense in policymaking (if you wonder, I stand by that); b) I reject the premise that healthcare (among other things) is a good use of the federal government's (lack of) expertise or its scarce resources.
The FACT is that neither you nor Boisepoet addressed either of my points, you just took the opportunity to bash another evil conservative by changing the subject and making a false analogy. Good for you both. How original.
"...health care (not) a good use..." of the federal government
I stand by that too.
First, health care is not the responsibility of the federal government. You have no reason to pay for my doctors visit, nor me for yours. In this nation of so-called fiercely independent people we are each responsible for our own health care - not the government and not our employer.
If we have negotiated health care as a condition of our employment then good for us, but it is not the employer's responsibility.
For the truly indigent or infirm, as a compassionate people of course we should assist, but then it is the states and not the federal governement who should do so. And of course there should be no assistance for those with big screen tv's, video games, etc. - the many symbols of wealth.
Liberal journalism indeed.
Its amazing how you can make the Democrats sound bad for pointing out that Sali is again in the teeny minority of Congress and not representing his constituency. It took Congress less than 24 hours to override the veto fulfilling its constitutional role in circumventing the ideological choice of an obstructionist president. And it was both parties that accomplished this fact with Democratic leadership. Yet you link to only the White House and Sali press releases and nothing representing the Democrat position. And somehow you make it sound like Democrats are the hapless ones. Puh-leeze