Senator Edward Kennedy has officially announced that he will step down from his seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee to concentrate solely on health care reform. In speaking of the decision, Kennedy has said:
As chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I expect to lead a very full agenda in the next Congress, including working with Obama to guarantee affordable health care, at long last, for every American.
Senator Kennedy has made his health care reform ambitions clear from the very beginning. During his surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention in August, Kennedy informed delegates that making the nation’s health care system is “the cause of my life.” Kennedy began working on his major health care initiative long before the Presidential election. Interestingly, the most radical part of his strategy is that he listens – to everyone, including those who oppose him. Kennedy aims to gather ideas from all the key groups involved in the health care debate: consumers, labor unions, health care providers, employers, pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance companies.
It has been predicted that Kennedy is in a prime position to bring about reform in the health care debate. He has proven experience in political deal-making, and he’s a well-liked member of our Government. Plus, health care issues have been very important to Kennedy throughout his political career. Senator Kennedy is one of only three sitting Senators who voted on the 1965 bill that created Medicare. He is the chair of the Health, Education Labor, and Pensions Committee. He even risked his own health, against his doctor’s advice, to cast a vote in July against cuts in payments to physicians who treat Medicare patients.
And it’s also possible that his precarious health situation may actually help his cause. As you’ll most likely remember, Senator Kennedy is currently battling incurable brain cancer, and just recently returned to Capitol Hill after a six-month absence. Yet despite his ailing health, Kennedy remains positive and upbeat, dedicated to his mission. It’s certainly possible that people will be sympathetic to Kennedy’s situation, and more willing to listen to his arguments.
Health care reform has been a highly volatile initiative in the past. Trying to develop a way to provide and pay for universal health care was a political disaster for Bill Clinton and his administration. Since then, the Democrats have taken a slightly cautious approach towards the subject. Even during Barack Obama’s campaign, he stopped just short of promoting a universal, government-run health care system. Instead, he pushed the idea of expanding our current employer-based health care system. On the other side, the Republicans refuse to accept a health care system that is run entirely by the government. They maintain that they are willing to compromise – as long as the system allows for private choices – such as being able to buy your own insurance policy and choose your own doctor.
All things considered, Senator Kennedy probably in on one of the prime positions to fight for health care reform. His quiet, attentive strategy could certainly appeal to both the Democrats and the Republicans. And because he is willing to listen to all sides of the issue, it’s possible he may be able to find the compromise that’s been holding us back from reform. Health care reform will certainly take time to implement. It won’t be quick, it won’t be cheap, and it certainly won’t be easy. But with Senator Edward Kennedy as a prime player in the health care debate, health care reform is certainly possible.
Keep fighting Senator Kennedy. We need you!