Posted on 11/17/2010 11:35:20 AM PST by jazusamo
Senate Republicans Tuesday took aim at President Obama's choice to oversee a key component of his health care overhaul plan, complaining about the way the choice was made and the lack of time given to lawmakers to question him.
The Senate Finance Committee hearing was the first Capitol Hill public appearance by Donald M. Berwick, the Harvard Medical School professor who now heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A lightning-rod for criticism for some of his past comments on health care rationing and economics, Mr. Berwick was named to the post this summer by Mr. Obama as a "recess appointment" — bypassing an expected Senate confirmation fight.
Republicans on the committee complained that, having finally gotten a chance to interrogate Mr. Berwick, the hearing was limited to an hour and each senator was only given five minutes for questions.
"This is pathetic," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican. "My gosh, we ought to have time to ask the most important man in America on health care some questions."
Iowa Sen. Charles E. Grasssley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance panel, noted that it had been 134 days since Mr. Berwick was appointed to the job and Wednesday was the first day to question him in public session.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I watched some of the live C-Span feed and I noted one Sen. (Did not catch his name) The Sen. tells Dr. Bewerick that he is suffring from CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) induced parinoia and he will have to leave the hearing to have it seen to. LOL!
I did not get the Sen. Name! Drats!
Did this happen or did I dream it?
Thanks for that link! I did not dream it! it was Sen. Roberts (R-Kanasas) at about 33:43 into the video he interrupts Sen. Rockerfeller and among other statements he says to Dr. Berwick, “I am suffering from CMS induced paranoia so I am going to have to leave. I hope you can treat that.
LOL!
I haven’t watched it yet but will later on the questioning.
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