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A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Not only is U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin confident that the Senate Democratic Caucus will be able to block filibuster attempts on a health care reform bill, but he is looking forward to the jockeying that will come from both political parties once the bill is signed.
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) on Capitol Hill (Lauren Victoria Burke/WDCPIX.COM)
“I’m going to take this out and attack the opponents on this, and be proactive in saying that we have a deal here that’s gonna make it better for the American people,” Harkin said Thursday morning in a conference call with reporters.
Harkin said he “can only hope” that Republicans who have opposed reform efforts will make the legislation a theme in their speeches on the campaign trail.
“I hope it is an issue next year,” he said.
“There are a lot of things that will start going into effect next year, for example, we started a high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions. I want to see [Republicans] say that is not a good deal.”
Harkin noted that the bill prohibits rescission, provides coverage for those who retire early and are not eligible for Medicare, offers tax credits to small businesses that provide health coverage to employees, eliminates co-pays and deductibles for preventative care, allows children to continue on family policies through age 26, and bans lifetime benefit limits.
“The biggest single cause of bankruptcies in Iowa is health care expenses when people bump up against their lifetime limits,” Harkin said. “We banned those. I’d like to see the Republicans go out next year and tell everyone that is a bad deal.”
In addition, Harkin is convinced that voters “are not going to look kindly upon the Republicans for their delaying tactics” in connection with reform efforts.
“Let’s have the amendments. Let’s have the votes. I’m not afraid of that,” he said. “I’m more than willing to have these amendments and have the votes, but you are just going to filibuster the bill — well, it’s time to get to a vote.”
Harkin, who celebrates his 70th birthday today, also renewed his call for members of the Senate to work all weekend, if necessary, in order to pass reform efforts on to the conference committee. He now anticipates that a health care reform bill will be ready for a Presidential signature by January.
Here is a transcript of some of Harkin’s comments:
I can only hope so. I hope that we pass the bill, that it goes to conference and that we give it to the President and he signs it. I hope it is an issue next year. I hope they come out — I hope the Republicans next year, when things start going into effect — there are a lot of things that will start going into effect next year, for example, we start a high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions to go into. I want to see them say that is not a good deal. We stopped recissions, so that insurance companies cannot drop you when you become sick. I’d like to see the Republicans next year go out and say that is a bad deal for the people of America.
We have a new re-insurance for retirees, to cover retirees who aren’t yet eligible for Medicare. We have a provision in there that will provide for coverage for these [individuals]. I’d like to see them go out and tell people from age 55 to 65 that this is a bad deal for them.
We have small business tax credits. Tax credits that go up to about 50 percent for small businesses to be able to get coverage for their employees. I’d like to see Republicans go to every small business in Iowa and tell them that is a bad deal.
Our bill bans lifetime limits. How many times do people go into bankruptcy in this country and in Iowa? The biggest single cause of bankruptcies in Iowa is health care expenses when people bump up against their lifetime limits. We banned those. I’d like to see the Republicans go out next year and tell everyone that is a bad deal.
We provide for no co-pays and no deductibles for certain prevention screenings and wellness benefits. I’d like to see see them go out and say that is a bad deal.
Our bill, next year, would require insurers to permit children to stay on their family policies until they are age 26. I’d like to see the Republicans go out next year and just say that is a bad deal for everyone.
Well, you get my point. I’d love to have this debate next year.
Not only defending — promoting.
You know my old stock thing: Never defend, always attack.
Poll after poll, people want this. It is just like the public option. Almost 2-to-1 people support a public option — and among Democrats it is 4-to-1, and among doctors 3-to-1 in this country.
So, I’d like to see the Republicans go out and tell people this is a bad deal.
I also think that people are not going to look kindly upon the Republicans for their delaying tactics on this. Let’s bring it up for a vote. Let’s have the amendments, as we did in our committee. Let’s have the amendments. Let’s have the votes. I’m not afraid of that. I’m more than willing to have these amendments and have the votes, but if you are just going to filibuster the bill — well, it’s time to get to a vote.
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