Playing Politics
If there was any doubt about the cynicism and arrogance of the leadership of the Republican party, it was in plain sight last week in the congressional battle over the student loan interest rate. That rate, now 3.4 percent, is scheduled to increase to 6.8 percent at the beginning of July. Both Democrats and Republicans promised to intervene with legislation aimed at preventing the increase, but they soon began arguing about how it will be paid for.
In a classic example of the moral bankruptcy of their politics, the GOP, led by Speaker of the House John Boehner, proposed that funds be taken from the Prevention and Public Health Fund -- the part of President Obama’s healthcare law that would support preventative medicine, such as mammogram screening and other procedures. Never mind that Republican leaders have called for the repeal of the entire healthcare law and have a motion to that effect before the Supreme Court. The leaders of the GOP, stung by previous charges that they had been conducting a “war on women,” undoubtedly thought they could lay a trap for Mr. Obama, knowing he would be forced into vetoing the measure or risk damaging the support of two valuable constituencies. The Republicans could further charge Mr. Obama with hypocrisy because the president had already authorized trimming down the Prevention and Public Health Fund in his proposed FY2013 budget.
With the Democrats proposing to pay for the interest rate legislation by taxes on oil and gas companies, Boehner and his colleagues of course quickly accused Obama of “playing politics” with the issue.
The Affordable Care Act passed by the Obama administration in 2009 was a stripped down version of true, substantive healthcare reform. It left employers, insurance conglomerates, the pharmaceutical industry and the profit motive in charge of the nation's healthcare -- an ideal result for the Republican party that nevertheless continues to fight to eliminate its modest reforms. The Republican maneuver highlights a disdain for women and young people, not to mention the disturbing lack of concern they have for public opinion. If this was a European country, students and women would already be out in the streets en masse, demanding justice. But this is the U.S. so don’t hold your breath.
In a classic example of the moral bankruptcy of their politics, the GOP, led by Speaker of the House John Boehner, proposed that funds be taken from the Prevention and Public Health Fund -- the part of President Obama’s healthcare law that would support preventative medicine, such as mammogram screening and other procedures. Never mind that Republican leaders have called for the repeal of the entire healthcare law and have a motion to that effect before the Supreme Court. The leaders of the GOP, stung by previous charges that they had been conducting a “war on women,” undoubtedly thought they could lay a trap for Mr. Obama, knowing he would be forced into vetoing the measure or risk damaging the support of two valuable constituencies. The Republicans could further charge Mr. Obama with hypocrisy because the president had already authorized trimming down the Prevention and Public Health Fund in his proposed FY2013 budget.
With the Democrats proposing to pay for the interest rate legislation by taxes on oil and gas companies, Boehner and his colleagues of course quickly accused Obama of “playing politics” with the issue.
The Affordable Care Act passed by the Obama administration in 2009 was a stripped down version of true, substantive healthcare reform. It left employers, insurance conglomerates, the pharmaceutical industry and the profit motive in charge of the nation's healthcare -- an ideal result for the Republican party that nevertheless continues to fight to eliminate its modest reforms. The Republican maneuver highlights a disdain for women and young people, not to mention the disturbing lack of concern they have for public opinion. If this was a European country, students and women would already be out in the streets en masse, demanding justice. But this is the U.S. so don’t hold your breath.
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