Families USA
Ron Pollack is the founding executive director of Families USA, a national, nonprofit healthcare-advocacy group for consumers, and founder and board chair of Enroll America, a coalition leading a public education campaign on the roll-out of Obamacare. He was a member of the Clinton Commission that drafted the first Consumer Bill of Rights.
Will the Affordable Care Act become the Unaffordable Care Act? The Congressional Budget Office has some bad news for House Speaker Paul Ryan and others who've vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare. The CBO has pronounced that the American Health Care Act would leave 14 million people without health insurance next year, 24 million in years to come. Healthcare premiums for a 64-year old would go from $1700 a year to $14,600. Wealthier people would get tax cuts. That might not pass the House. In the Senate, it's likely dead on arrival, and it hardly meets the President's promise of "insurance for everybody." We look at the stumbling blocks to a promise Republicans have been making for seven years.
Reality Check: health insurance and Obamacare Even President Obama says the Affordable Care Act has real problems, which Bill Clinton says make it the "craziest thing [he's] ever seen." That's put it front and center in the presidential campaign, to the delight of Donald Trump and the discomfort of Hillary Clinton . She wants reform. He wants repeal. And millions of newly insured people may be in for a "November Surprise:" a big jump in premiums -- before the election. We hear two very different approaches to an issue that has the potential to influence the voting.
Is Obamacare on the Chopping Block? Three years into Obamacare, the President's most controversial program is under-performing. Only half the enrollees predicted have signed up so far. Nevertheless, the rate of uninsured adults has dropped by 40% nationwide. So what about promises to kill off Obamacare? The Red State of Kentucky has been a success story, but this week a Tea-Party Republican won an upset election for Governor after pledging a roll-back. We get a progress report on Obamacare's political future.
Does Obamacare Have a Shaky Future? This year's open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act is about to close, with almost 10 million people having signed up so far. Some six million could be in for a big surprise as the US Supreme Court might decide they're not entitled to subsidized health insurance after all. Most of them don't even know they might lose the new coverage they couldn't afford on their own. Now Republicans — who've failed to repeal Obamacare in Congress — could face a hornet's nest of angry constituents if the Court guts the law for them. Both sides are jockeying for political advantage as the Court prepares to hear arguments and make a decision.
Will the Hard Sell for Obamacare Be Too Little, Too Late? Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act all by themselves, a massive reform of the healthcare system that makes up one sixth of the US economy. Republicans still want to repeal Obamacare, and they won't lift a hand to help put it into effect. Now just over 100 days are left until "open enrollment" begins. But recent polls show just 10% of uninsured Americans even know about the essential feature of healthcare reform. So a massive advertising effort is finally under way, targeting young, healthy people required to buy health insurance even if they don't think they need it. We hear what it could mean for them if the selling campaign succeeds, and what it could mean for them and everyone else if it doesn't.
Will the Hard Sell for Obamacare Be Too Little, Too Late? Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act all by themselves, a massive reform of the healthcare system that makes up one sixth of the US economy. Republicans still want to repeal Obamacare, and they won't lift a hand to help put it into effect. Now just over 100 days are left until "open enrollment" begins. But recent polls show just 10% of uninsured Americans even know about the essential feature of healthcare reform. So a massive advertising effort is finally under way, targeting young, healthy people required to buy health insurance even if they don't think they need it. We hear what it could mean for them if the selling campaign succeeds, and what it could mean for them and everyone else if it doesn't.
Conservatives Justices Take Hard Line on Individual Mandate One major question raised by President Obama's Affordable Care Act is, just how much power does the so-called Commerce Clause give the federal government? Today, the US Supreme Court heard arguments about the so-called "mandate," which requires that Americans buy health insurance or pay a penalty. We hear what the justices wanted to know and what answers they got from the Obama Administration and its challengers. (Special thanks to Gideon Brower for production assistance.)
Conservatives Justices Take Hard Line on Healthcare Law One major question raised by the Affordable Care Act is, just how much power does the so-called Commerce Clause give the government? The "mandate" to buy health insurance or pay a penalty if you don't came under harsh attack today in the US Supreme Court. Would it mean the federal government could require Americans to eat broccoli, exercise or buy funeral insurance? Does the Affordable Care Act regulate commerce or create it? Is there any limit to government power? Justices were demanding answers today. How well did the Obama Administration's lawyer respond? What's next for the President's "signature legislative achievement?" (Special thanks to Gideon Brower for production assistance.)
What Next for Efforts to Repeal Healthcare? Three Democrats joined all 242 Republicans yesterday to pass what's officially called the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act . Democrats who control the Senate have said they won't even allow a vote on the measure. If it did pass in the Upper House, it would face a presidential veto. So, is it just a symbolic action and nothing more?
Healthcare, the Congress and Presidential Politics As promised during last year's campaign, House Republicans have voted unanimously to repeal the President's healthcare reform . Three Democrats joined the 242 Republicans yesterday to pass what's officially called the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act . Democrats, who control the Senate, have said they won't even allow a vote on the measure, trumpeting the benefits they say would be lost. If it did pass in the Upper House, it would face a presidential veto. As both parties strategize for next year's presidential campaign, attorneys general in 26 states have taken the matter to federal court. What are the political risks for both sides? What's at stake for the federal deficit, job growth and business, and coverage for 30 million uninsured Americans?
Will Healthcare Reform Get to the Senate Floor? After many delays, Senate leader Harry Reid finally unveiled his version of healthcare reform last night in Washington. He called the legislation a "tremendous step forward…(b)ecause it saves lives, saves money and protects Medicare -- makes Medicare stronger."
Will Healthcare Reform Get to the Senate Floor? The Senate's healthcare reform bill is finally a 2000-page, $848-billion reality, including the public option, with an allowance for states to opt out. It would cover 94% of legal American residents and reduce the deficit with Medicare cuts and taxes on cosmetic surgery and so-called "Cadillac" plans. What's the same and what's different from the bill passed by the House? What about abortion? Can Republicans prevent the bill from reaching the Senate floor?
The Pitch Is History, Did He Make the Sale? After a month on the sidelines, President Obama attempted to re-frame the debate on healthcare reform with a major address last night to a joint session of Congress.
The Pitch Is History, Did He Make the Sale? President Obama told last night's joint session of Congress, the bickering and game playing should be over. " Now is the time to deliver on healthcare ." This morning, Republicans apologized for some heckling, but bipartisanship is still a distant dream, and Democrats remain divided. Was there enough detail to resolve fears and confusion from last month's town halls? What about the "public option" and paying for the cost? Vice President Biden predicts a bill will pass by Thanksgiving. We look at the prospects.
Uninsured in California Twelve million Californians went without health insurance at some point in the past two years. That's 37% of all those under the age of 65. That's from Families USA, a Washington lobby for healthcare consumers. Ron Pollack is Executive Director.
What Does 'Universal' Healthcare Reform Really Mean? Barack Obama says healthcare reform is required for economic recovery. There’s a growing consensus that the time for action is now. By "universal," Obama does not mean healthcare provided and paid for by government. He wants to build on the current, employer-based system. "Universal" has come to mean guaranteed or mandatory health insurance for every American. What will it look like? What will be government’s role? Asked, can we afford to do it? Barack Obama replies with his own question. "Can we afford not to?"
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?