Durbin Says American Families Lose Out Under Republican Health Care Week
DURBIN SAYS AMERICAN FAMILIES LOSE OUT UNDER REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE WEEK
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that after blocking Democratic efforts to address America's health care crisis, the Republican leadership used its so-called "Health Care Week" instead to push through $70 billion in tax breaks mostly for millionaires.
Durbin noted that at a time when health care costs are skyrocketing and at least 46 million Americans are uninsured, middle-income households will receive an average tax cut of just $20 under the Tax Reconciliation bill, while the 0.2 percent of households with incomes over $1 million would get average tax cuts of $42,000.
"The Republican Health Care Week' which started on Monday and ended on Thursday lasted only as long as a common cold, but its long term effects on Americans will be felt for years to come," Durbin said. "Instead of addressing one of our major challenges - providing affordable health care to all Americans - Republicans passed another tax break for millionaires that will offer little help to families feeling the squeeze of rising health care costs."
Durbin said Democrats were prepared to expand insurance coverage for small businesses, reduce the rolls of the uninsured, extend the Medicare Part D enrollment deadline and expand stem cell research. However, the Republican leadership used parliamentary tactics to prohibit amendments to S.1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, introduced by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY). Some of the Democratic amendments that would have been offered during debate on S.1955 include:
# Durbin's Small Employers Health Benefits Plan Act (SEHBP): The bill, which is an alternative to S.1955, is modeled after the highly successful Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). FEHBP has offered more than eight-million government employees and retirees, including members of Congress and their staffs, a wide range of private health insurance choices for more than 40 years. Durbin said S.1955 would weaken consumer protections and sweep aside requirements to cover cancer screening, well baby care, immunization, access to specialists and many other needed services.
# The Medicare Informed Choice Act: The bill would extend the May 15th enrollment deadline for Medicare beneficiaries by six months, giving seniors and people with disabilities the time they need to navigate the confusing enrollment process and allow them to change plans once during this first chaotic year.
# The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act: The legislation would expand the number of embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federal research funding through the National Institutes of Health by removing the arbitrary August 9, 2001 date and impose strict ethical controls on the research. The bill passed the House 238-194 on May 24, 2005, with 50 Republicans supporting the measure.
http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=255493&&