Health care has become quite the buzzword in this election year, and will likely stay near the top of the political radar for the foreseeable future. Managed Care Matters has a very informative piece that breaks down the similarities and differences in the health care reform proposals of Senators Obama and Clinton. And The Health Care Blog has a very detailed article about Senator McCain’s proposed health care reforms.
Jay and I have heard from numerous people who say that health care reform is their number one priority in choosing a presidential candidate. Neighbors, health insurance clients here in Colorado, people who call in to talk radio – health care is a huge issue for a lot of people right now.
But what can a president do without the support of congress? Not much. In order to actually implement any of the reforms that the various candidates have proposed, we would need a Senate and House that see somewhat eye-to-eye with the president. We’d need a government that works together to get things done and create solutions for the average American (not just for the companies and lobbyists who support them). So where do our other 97 Senators stand on health care reform? What about the House of Representatives? A president can talk about health care reform until the cows come home, but he or she is going to need the support of congress in order to make any significant changes.