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Morning Senate Hearings

by BooMan
Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 10:41:46 AM EST

There are two hearings this morning. The Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, is holding a hearing on The CBO Budget and Economic Outlook. Probably more interesting is the nomination hearing for prospective Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Daschle is testifying before Teddy Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee. You can watch either of these hearings on CSPAN.

The Republicans are probably going to probe Daschle a bit on his wife's lobbying activities but he was introduced by Bob Dole. There isn't really any doubt that the former Majority Leader of the Senate is going to be confirmed by the Senate. In fact, I just saw former Wisconsin Governor (and HHS secretary) Tommy Thompson predict that Daschle will be a 'great secretary' and say that he fully supports him.

Despite the foregone conclusion of Daschle's confirmation, the hearing will be interesting for a variety of reasons. It gives us an opportunity to observe Sen. Kennedy, who has rarely been seen on Capitol Hill since he was diagnosed with brain cancer last summer. It gives us the chance to see how the Republicans are going to approach health care in this congress. It also gives us a chance to get a sense of how the Democrats are going to craft their health care bill and how they are going to pitch it. Before the full Senate votes on Daschle, he will also appear before Sen. Max Baucus of Montana's Finance Committee, which also has jurisdiction over health care issues.

I don't think the Senate has passed their new Rules package, so don't expect to see any Freshman senators sitting on the committees this morning.

We can use this thread to talk about health care, the budget, or the Kennedys. Or whatever.

Morning Senate Hearings | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

is this true? (none / 0)

I haven't had time to read the whole article yet, but dean Baker says Obama is talking about cutting social security:

If Mr. Obama plans to cut Social Security in the near future, then this effectively amounts to a default on the bonds held by the trust fund which were purchased with workers' Social Security taxes. If the budget situation is so dire that it is necessary to default on the government debt, then surely we should be considering defaulting on the bonds held by Robert Rubin, Peter Peterson, and other wealthy bankers, not just the bonds that were bought to pay Social Security benefits for the country's workers.

John Mccain Called his wife WHAT??

by brendan on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 11:05:23 AM EST

Re: is this true? (none / 0)

Managing entitlement costs is critical, but if you even discuss the possibility, blowhards like Dean Baker have a crying fit.

by BooMan on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 11:15:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: is this true? (none / 0)

Why do you think Dean Baker is a blow hard? I always have been enlighten by most of his writings.

Blue Tidal Wave

by Mac G on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 12:00:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: is this true? (none / 0)

because I think he's dishonest.

by BooMan on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 12:07:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: is this true? (none / 0)

expand, expound.
we've had 8 years of "i think something is so, therefore it is so". WHY do you think it is so?

John Mccain Called his wife WHAT??

by brendan on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 01:36:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: is this true? (none / 0)

I thought his article on the way regulation argument is framed was pretty spot on.

http://bostonreview.net/BR34.1/baker.php

Blue Tidal Wave

by Mac G on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 01:38:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Logan's Run on Social Security (none / 0)

The most reasonable thing to do is to incrementally raise the retirement age until the books balance, and if they go black, lower it. Since folks close to retirement just lost their nest eggs and the ability to draw equity from their houses, they will be working anyway.

I also think the entitlement should be reorganized into tier/generation-based pools for I/O of funds. Let the babyboomers hang, I say. The Me Generation can go ahead and get 'Me' to pay for 'Me' and let X and Y have some sort of glimmer of hope for the future, since they are going to live in it.

Anyone ever seen Logan's Run?

Declaring the bottom is the only way back up..

by anarchronarchist (mincers (-at-) hotmail (-dot-) com) on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 11:35:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Logan's Run on Social Security (none / 0)

The Social Security retirement age has already been raised. For example, those born in 1945 (a pre-boomer year) have a Social Security retirement age of 66, not the 65 of their elders.

How high were you proposing to raise it? 75?

You could, however, raise the level of income subject to FICA tax.

To save big "entitlement" money fast, Congress can make Medicare Part D drug purchases competitive; the Republicans structured the program for maximum payoffs to big pharma and maximum confusion for the supposed beneficiaries.

by Joyful Alternative on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 05:32:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Morning Senate Hearings (none / 0)

OrrinHatch2000.com is questioning Daschle now. Will he actually ask a tough question?

by BooMan on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 11:39:23 AM EST

Re: Morning Senate Hearings (none / 0)

Confirmation hearings suck entertainment-wise if there are no pubic hairs involved..

Declaring the bottom is the only way back up..

by anarchronarchist (mincers (-at-) hotmail (-dot-) com) on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 11:47:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Stupid question from a foreigner (none / 0)

Isn't Bob Dole a republican? So, why is a republican introducing Dashle? Doesn't make any sense to me.

Read the European view on European Tribune

by Fran on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 11:59:23 AM EST

Re: Stupid question from a foreigner (none / 1)

Bob Dole was majority leader until he ran for president in 1996. Daschle was minority leader in 1995-1996. Dole showing up sends a message that the whole senate supports Daschle. It's highly symbolic and shows how much respect Daschle has in the upper body. This is why he is such a strong choice to get health care through the Senate.

He is also masterful at stroking the GOP member's egos.

by BooMan on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 12:06:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Morning Senate Hearings (none / 0)

Have I mentioned that I love Bernie Sanders?

by BooMan on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 12:08:18 PM EST

Re: Morning Senate Hearings (none / 0)

Do you know what I wish? I wish every single Republican who was in office for the Bush years simply sits down and votes yes for the next 4 years.

Their bitching is unconscionable after the last 8 years of Bush profligacy.

Recommended by Hideo Kojima

by robertdsc on Thu Jan 8th, 2009 at 06:50:18 PM EST

Morning Senate Hearings | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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