Supreme Court

From CQ Rollcall Next Monday is the next time the court might issue its rulings on the constitutionality of the 2010 health care law or the Arizona immigration law. There are only two more scheduled “decision days” left in its term after that.

Healthcare - Supreme Court Arguments

You can listen to last week's arguments presented in the Supreme Court of the United States.

Day One

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The healthcare debate

I've been spending a lot of time in bookshops around Washington DC - and have brought back a few to keep me busy over the coming months. A few days ago I can across one which I hadn't seen before. It is Tom Daschle's "Getting it Done: How Obama and Congress Finally Broke the Stalemate to Make Way for Health Care Reform". Now there are more than enough books on the healthcare debate - and as a UK citizen the ins and outs of what is and isn't covered - has limited attraction. [I benefit from the British NHS, a system which is available to UK citizens on the basis of need - and has well served my family since it was set up over 60 years ago - and none of us have had worry about whether a job loss would mean loss of cover - and we've never had to deal with an insurance company telling us that we've reached the limit of our coverage. ]

But Tom Daschle's book attracted me - because it describes the process by which the legislation made its way through Congress. I will be reading the book in full in the future - but had the opportunity to skim read it whilst taking coffee at the Borders store in the Pentagon Center last week. There's lots there for someone who is interested in how Congress works in practice - and for the historian who seeks to follow the way Congress have evolved since the early 1970s (that would be me!)

Well worth a read.

Healthcare Discussion

There's a very interesting blog - primarily for students of law and medicine - but which will be useful to all those thinking about the provision of healthcare at www.lawandmedicine.co.uk

Health Care Vote in House

Today the House of Representatives is due to debate and vote on the Healthcare Bill. There will be extensive coverage over the internet. Some of the key sites will be -

C-SPAN - for a live broadcast of House proceedings

CQ and The Hill have promised a regular feed ot tweets. The House of Representatives (Office of the Clerk) has a feature "Currently on the House Floor" and you can


Read the Bill - H.R.3962

Read the Republican Bill

See the Special Rule Governing the Debate.

The House is due to meet at 09.00 EST (14.00 UK).

One Minute Speeches

One way that members of the House of Representatives can get a message across is by coordinated use of "One Minute Speeches". A CRS Report states -

"One-minute speeches are normally given at the start of the legislative day, but may occasionally occur at other times in the legislative program. Customarily, after the daily prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s Journal, Members ask for unanimous consent to address the House for one minute on a topic of their choice.

Recognition for one-minute speeches is at the prerogative of the Speaker, who may limit daily speeches to a certain number, or to a different place in the program, on any given day. Members seeking recognition for this purpose sit in the first row on their party’s side of the chamber. Recognition for one-minute speeches alternates between the majority and the minority, with possible exceptions for Members of the leadership, and Members having business requests."

An example of their use came this week. Democrats used their time to press home the message about the Republican stalling tactics on healthcare. These clips were then posted to "Youtube" by the Speaker. Note the use of a visual aid - something not permitted at Westminster.

From: Office of the Clerk

10:03 A.M. -

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES - The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

Spoof Speech by Nye Bevan

A friend sent me this hilarious video - where the voice of Nye Bevan has been replaced by a pretty good impression.

Nye Bevan was the visioniary Labour MP and cabinet minister responsible for establishing the NHS. He is one of my personal heroes. (My A-Level project was a study of his life and achievements). My grandmother - also born a Bevan appears on the same page in the records of births, deaths and marriages - as they were born a few days apart (although in different parts of Wales.

Despite the reverence I have towards this great man - I loved this video. Thanks Marielle for forwarding it to me.

Challenges to Democracy

The healthcare debate in the USA has become the main story both sides of the Atlantic. There are the issues of whether people should have a right to healthcare; which is the most effective way of delivering healthcare to a nation; and the costs of healthcare. But the campaign led by the opponents of President Obama's campaign raises issues about the subversion of democracy (and I'm not talking about mob rule at Town Hall meetings).

In an Op-Ed in today's Guardian Peter Wilby writes

" The most determined, coherent and organised voices in any contemporary political debate are those of the corporate sector and its allies. It can afford the PR and advertising to change the terms of public discourse and it knows that lies and half truths...can sow doubt's in people's minds even if they are easily disproved. The corporate sector can also intimidate and compromise elected politicians."

"The price of democracy is eternal vigilance against the encroachment of corporate interest."

Discuss.

Why Brits are angry at American Misrepresentations

I try to avoid posts on partisan issues - there are a host of blogs which push a particular ideological standpoint. This blog is intended to share information about the legislatures in the UK and the USA. It aims to explain the differences and similarities - and how each works. While I have my own views (I have been a Labour parliamentary candidate twice & a Labour European Parliament candidate once), this isn't the place to "preach the word". Republicans; Tories; Democrats; Socialists; Blairites; Lib-Dems; - all are welcome here.

However, there is an issue I feel very strongly about - and would like to explain (particularly to American readers) why so many Brits are angered by some of the things that are being said in the current debate in the USA over healthcare reforms.

We may grumble about it sometimes (we can be great grumblers in Britain, perhaps it's the weather), but the NHS is something most Brits are both proud of and grateful for. My father had his first heart attack 32 years ago - he's had all the care he needed - including a quad heart bypass (when in his late 70s - so that story about no heart treatments for the over 60s is completely untrue) and continues to receive treatment. His health has caused us worries over the years - but we've never had the worry of his treatment being denied by an insurance company - or of funding expensive treatment which we couldn't afford. (And by the way, Senator Grassley, my father is two years older than Senator Kennedy!)

Everyone is entitled to treatment. Having just moved I needed a new doctor - I registered at the practice of my choice. No state official told me where I had to go. Routine tests were carried out to check my sugar levels; blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I didn't have to pay for them - or even request them. The Government's funding of such tests has enabled many people who have diabetes and other health problems to have their conditions spotted and treated. As one of those people who had diabetes, but didn't know it, I am grateful for this initiative.

As I get older, I know more and more friends who have fallen ill to (particularly) cancer and heart problems. The NHS has been great - and I wouldn't swop it for the current American system anyday. I am angry for two reasons with the campaign of misinformation being waged at the moment

* Americans are being denied advantages which Brits have taken for granted for decades - the number of uninsured is a disgrace to the good name of America. Health Care should be a right, as it is in Britain.

* "My" NHS is being lied about.

I'd be happy to correspond with any American about my personal experience of the NHS.

Tonight's Evening Standard states -

"Among inaccuracies that have irritated the Government are claims NHS patients over the age of 59 cannot get heart repairs and that women under 25 are “not allowed” breast cancer screening.

One advert said 40 per cent of UK cancer patients do not have access to a specialist. Macmillan Cancer Support said this figure was 15 years out of date."

You can also see what some Brits are saying at http://www.freelancesupermarket.com/forum/coffee-shop/459-proud-our-nhs.html

I've just joined the Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=249360150703. Can I invite fellow Brits to join me.

Explaining Health Care Reform

A YouTube Video from the Speaker's Office explains why Health Care needs reform.

17.30 EDT Mount Vernon

I've returned from a day in a Democratic office in Alexandria. There is great anticipation, as well as a lot of hard work going on in preparation for election day. Most volunteers I spoke with had already voted. Under the law of Virginia, if you meet certain criteria you can vote early or by post. At the metro station on the way home volunteers were handing out leaflets about voting early.

In today's Washington Post there are articles comparing Obama and McCain's proposals on Healthcare reform. I have to say, as a British subject - who is diabetic and has a strong family history of heart disease, I'm glad to have the National Health Service. I was diagnosed because I was routinely (and without cost to me) tested by the new doctor I registered with when I moved to Rugby. The government has provided extra money for such testing. My medicines for the condition are provided on prescription (which are free for diabetics). It's reassuring that should I fall victim to serious illness, neither I nor my family would need to worry about the massive cost of treatment. I'm free to choose which doctor to register with,