Democrats offer Kerry 2004 healthcare reforrm as an help for small busin.

[Mass]

Not surprisingly and though his name does not appear in the press release, John Kerry is a proeminent co-sponsor of this bill, that includes many things he has supported during this campaign:

http://www.senatedemocrats.net/node/554

3/7 - KENNEDY, DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Laura Capps (Kennedy), 202-
March 7, 2006

KENNEDY, DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Durbin, Lincoln, Reid, Clinton, Bingaman Will Push for its Approval during Upcoming Debate in Key Health Committee

S.2382
Title: A bill to establish a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard (introduced 3/7/2006) Cosponsors (22)
Latest Major Action: 3/7/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. COSPONSORS(22), BY DATE : (Sort: alphabetical order)


Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. - 3/7/2006
Sen Reid, Harry - 3/7/2006
Sen Baucus, Max - 3/7/2006
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. - 3/7/2006
Sen Kerry, John F. - 3/7/2006
Sen Bingaman, Jeff - 3/7/2006
Sen Boxer, Barbara - 3/7/2006
Sen Cantwell, Maria - 3/7/2006
Sen Carper, Thomas R. - 3/7/2006
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham - 3/7/2006
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. - 3/7/2006
Sen Harkin, Tom - 3/7/2006
Sen Johnson, Tim - 3/7/2006
Sen Kohl, Herb - 3/7/2006
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. - 3/7/2006
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. - 3/7/2006
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. - 3/7/2006
Sen Nelson, Bill - 3/7/2006
Sen Pryor, Mark L. - 3/7/2006
Sen Menendez, Robert - 3/7/2006
Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV - 3/7/2006
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. - 3/7/2006

I have to say I am very excited by such a reform.

[karynnj]

1. Is there a reason that Kerry is not the sponsor of this?

As it's for small businesses, it would seem that this would be his area. Is this another case of his being a Jr Senator getting in the way - though he has more senority than Durbin. (Or is this a good Durbin plan that Kerry adopted while running.) I'm just confused as to why the leadership seems to rarely give Kerry lead roles on anything - then grumbles when he "free lances".

[Mass]

2. I had exactly the same reaction, but I thought I was overly sensitive.

Somebody had to write the bill and it seems that Durbin and Lincoln were the one who did it.

What really bothered me was the fact that the press releases I saw (not only Kennedy, but Durbin and others, dont even mention Kerry's name, the SBC's democrats (Reid's has the list of co-sponsors, that is about all), or have a statement by Kerry. (Actually, this is neither on Kerry's website or on the SBC website, but Hillary is already claiming that as HER accomplishment, not even Durbin or Lincoln). This makes the releases even stranger as it seems that the bill was offered without the help of Democrats on the Small Business Comittee, as far as the PR goes (Obviously not the case when you see Kerry's name way above Hillary in the list of co-sponsors).

I have exactlty the same feeling you have about leading roles and all that. This is driving me crazy, particularly now that Hillary is claiming this is HER work on her website while Kerry or the SBC site still dont have anything on them.

NOTE: I have been asking myself why Kerry does not appear more often in a leadership role in the Senate (the LIHEAP debate is probably a perfect example of that - He wrote the first bill, has always been a strong promoter of the bill, but at some point, he was replaced in the leadeship role by Reed).

I see three reasons for that:

- the leadership pushes him out of leadership roles.

- Kerry has a pb with his PR team (at least partly true. His website is a good example. But I am not sure it explains it all).

- Kerry is an evangelist in politics. He is at the beginning of good ideas and is present when things need to be started and introduced, then cedes the lead when people are convinced and somebody can take the lead and finish the job. I know many people in the business community that are precursors of excellent ideas, but, when the idea seem able to work without them, leave somebody else lead the issue to completion. I sometimes have the feeling that Kerry is somebody like that, but unfortunately, it is the sign of a great leader, but definitively bad PR because you never get recognition for what you are doing.

[karynnj]

3. That stinks

Because if Hillary is claiming it the media will credit it to her and within weeks will be slamming Kerry saying he should have had a plan in 2004. Kerry simply is not the type to elbow her aside. I'm surprised that Kennedy and Durbin didn't credit Kerry. Saying that this was based in part on the 2004 proposal helps it.

It brings back that Biden quote saying that Kerry always gave others credit due and was classy. Part of the problem may just be that as the nominee, Kerry had proposals on everything and he can't possibly lead on everything, but in this case he is the ranking member of the small business administration and that was a proposal he was even proudly speaking of in the 2003 NH C-SPAN tape of him wandering around campaining. It was one of the signature issues.

That Hillary would claim it is annoying beyond words.

[Mass]

4. Kennedy's PR is in fact the leadership release, not his own.

Reid has exactly the same one.

Durbin does not credit or single anybody. It only says that the bill has 21 co-sponsors and then list the one that are in the leadership release.

[wisteria]

5. I noticed Hillary and no Kerry also and wondered why. Now she

is claiming a part in this? Why, just because years ago she tried to push her health care plan on America? No doubt she is going to attempt a run.Nothing wrong with that. I just don't like what I have been reading about her lately and now this trying to taking all the credit for something she had very little to do with. I find her to be obnoxious anymore.

[Mass]

6. Well, Frist was happy to say that Kerry was a co-sponsor for his bill

one the line-item veto though. (Only Democrat at this point. I guess they decided to make this a partisan issue, even though they will look stupid as it is something Clinton asked and for which they have all voted for).

[wisteria]

7. Go figure. Sometimes I really wonder about the collective reasoning

of our party. They either have short memories or they figure the public won't remember how they voted before.

[Mass]

8. Even if the public has forgotten, the GOP has not.

Let's wait for the talking points.

[second edition]

9. i suppose we can chalk this up to Reid's leadership. n/t

[karynnj]

10. Which would make them flip-floppers

Even here it's beyond stupid that there are people saying they would have wanted Clinton to have it (or Hillary C in the future to have it, but not Bush). They really have to look at what it does ane come to a consistent position - that it could solve the pork problem or that it gives to much power to the President.

By the way, I think I figured out the list - it says they will speak about it at the Health Care committee, which Kerry is not on. So, maybe I over reacted. I assume at least Kennedy may mention Kerry if it serves any purpose. Also, it may mean that Hillary is not out of line at all and may have had nothing to do with the statement.

[TayTay]

11. I don't know if this means much but

Health care, education are Sen. Kennedy's signature areas of concern. Sen. Kennedy's reputation in Massachusetts is deeply affliated with those. Sen. Kerry is deeply affliated with foreign policy and 'good government' issues. (Sen. Kerry can speak very, very well on issues affecting how government runs, 'sunshine laws' and reform. He is a natural fit for discussions on civil rights, affirmative action and so forth.)

More than anything, if Sen. Kerry stepped back a bit on this, it may have been in deference to letting my Senior Senator be the loudest voice on it. It is, again, a signature issue for someone who has sought to bring Universal Health Care to the nation since 1962 and for somone who actually helped write the legislation that resulted in Medicare in 1965. No one alive in America today can take a back seat to Sen. Kennedy on health care and that includes the taller Senator from Massachusetts. (What a nice and decent and mannerly thing to do, show some genuine Senatorial courtesy.)

BTW, may I point out that it is an election year in Massachusetts and Sen. Kennedy is re-running for his seat. It is not a bad idea to have him out front with the voters on a signature issue. I believe the taller Sen. from MA would like that.

[wisteria]

12. Good points. I have no problem with Kennedy taking the lead on

"his" issues. It is Hillary's honesty that I question. Even if she is running for reelection, she shouldn't be claiming more credit than what she is due on anything.

[TayTay]

13. Ahm, agreed, but she wants Health Care to be her sig issue

I think. If I was her, I would be very, very careful when bringing up Health Care. She has some serious 'baggage' on this and can't rely on Sen. Kennedy to bail her out, cuz he is not likely to, except in a general way. (Sen. Kennedy is already pinned for 2008 Hillary.)

[karynnj]

17. Very good points

You really do have two very very good Senators. Kennedy's history on this is amazing and I assume there is some real possibility that he had some input to Kerry's campaign proposal, Who better could Kerry have worked with?

[kerrygoddess]

14. Perhaps

It's simply because this is generated by a different committee, and not the Small Biz committee.

[Mass]

15. Many of those listed as point people are not in the HELP Committee

and Kerry is a lead co-sponsor of the bill and directly interested as the bill refers to small businesses.

This is the reason it is so weird he is not in the list, and particularly weirder when Hillary uses that as prop for herself.

I have no pb with any of these people being in the paper (Durbin and Kennedy are clearly lead in this). I have pb with Kerry not being.

Just a remark, but one which is bugging me.

[sandnsea]

16. Oh, I don't know about this

Kerry's plan was to use the power of the FEHBP in order to provide low cost health insurance to everybody. This plan is only for Small Business and has no assistance for the low income employee to purchase the insurance, even if the small business signs up for it. It's a step I suppose, but I don't know why they won't just step up with a plan to allow anybody to buy into a federal health plan and provide tax credits to help them do it.

"The Small Employers Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) would allow small businesses across America to band together for lower health care prices by pooling their purchasing power and spreading their risk over a large number of participants."