Health Care Reform

Check our blog often for info on the healthcare debate! The following is an excerpt from NAHU's Newswire Newsletter from the Nov. 6th edition.

Obama touts AARP, AMA backing for House healthcare bill.
In what media reports termed a surprise appearance, President Obama visited the White House briefing room to tout the endorsements of AARP and the American Medical Association of the House Democrats' healthcare bill. The visit was noted on each of the networks last night, albeit in stories that were largely devoted to the raucous conservative protests at the Capitol. ABC World News (11/5, story 6, 2:45, Karl) reported, "President Obama touted two big endorsements of the healthcare bill, from the AARP and the American Medical Association." President Obama said, "I urge Congress to listen to AARP, listen to the AMA, and pass this reform for hundreds of millions of Americans."
The CBS Evening News (11/5, story 4, 2:15, Reid) reported, "The White House is worried enough about the vote that the President made an unannounced appearance today to tout endorsements of the bill by the senior's lobby, AARP, and by the AMA, the nation's largest organization of doctors." NBC Nightly News (11/5, story 8, 2:25, O'Donnell) reported, "AARP, the lobby group for Americans over 50, signed on and showed off boxes of supportive petitions."
The Washington Times (11/6, Ward) reports that Obama "urged Congress to heed new endorsements of the House healthcare bill by the AARP and the American Medical Association and pass the bill on Saturday, in a rare appearance at the White House briefing." The New York Times (11/6, A18, Hulse, Herszenhorn) reports Obama "noted that the endorsements covered viewpoints from two distinct sides of the debate: elderly Americans fearful that a healthcare overhaul could cut into Medicare, and the nation's doctors and medical professionals." Obama said, "We are closer to passing this reform than ever before. And now that the doctors and medical professionals of America are standing with us, now that the organizations charged with looking out for the interests of seniors are standing with us, we are even closer."
The Chicago Tribune (11/6, Levey) reports that AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond "said the group saw the House Democratic bill as the most promising proposal." The AARP's backing "counters mounting opposition among employer groups who are stepping up their advertising campaign against the House Democratic bill." The Wall Street Journal (11/6, A8, Bendavid, Adamy, subscription required) also covers the story, noting that the AMA endorsement was not without qualifications.
The Los Angeles Times (11/6, Muskal) points out that "Obama especially lauded AARP, saying the organization's nonpartisan support was important to reassure seniors worried about losing Medicare benefits if the health plan is signed. Critics contend that as part of the healthcare overhaul package, Medicare would be cut, but proponents say the decrease is just a cost savings and would not affect benefits."
The Christian Science Monitor (11/6), The Hill (11/6, Young), Roll Call (11/6, Koffler, subscription required), the AP (11/6), USA Today (11/6, Kiely), Politico (11/6, Brown), CNN (11/6), Bloomberg News (11/6, Rowley, Dodge) CongressDaily (11/6, Edney, subscription required), and the Financial Times (11/6, Fifield, subscription required) also cover the story.