Health Care Vote Illustrates Partisan Divide

A New York Times article recently covered the health care debate and the division a new bill has caused between parties.

A recent bill proposing one of the most substantial changes in social policy in more than 40 years was met with a partisan split from the Senate committee legislation vote. The bill aims to provide insurance coverage to all Americans. For those without insurance, the bill prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone based on pre-existing conditions, and as for those already with insurance, Senator Christopher J. Dodd explains that the bill "eliminates annual and lifetime caps on coverage and ensures that your out-of-pocket costs will never exceed your ability to pay." However, even with the promising effects of the bill, the Senate committee failed to reach a bipartisan consensus, a good indication of clashing troubles in the future. Some Republicans, like Senator Michael B. Enzi, argue that the bill in its current form is much too costly and hardly affordable in our current economic state. Others say that from the onset of the health care debate, Democrats has taken complete control, as Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah said, “Democrats have completely shut us out of the process.” Republicans on the voting panel are hoping for a consensus bill from the Senate Financing Committee, which shares jurisdiction over health issues. It is up to the finance committee to state how it intends to fund the bill's proposals through tax legislation and manipulation of Medicare and Medicaid. Some Democrats respond that it is the bottom line refusal of universal health care by Republicans that is preventing the progression of bipartisan support for the legislation. The White House has also introduced a new standard to measure bipartisanship. Rather than the number of Republic votes for a Democratic bill, the measure would count the number of Republican ideas incorporated in the legislation. President Obama said the health committee bill “includes 160 Republican amendments,” and that that was “a hopeful sign of bipartisan support for the final product.” Republicans argue that much of these amendments were technical.

This article covers one of the most controversial topics in politics today and that is the nation's health care system. The stances on our nation's health care have widened the gap between Democrats and Republicans, and the outcome of the debate will undoubtedly determine the future of the U.S. and affect every one of its citizens.