Posted on 01/27/2009 11:24:38 AM PST by lewisglad
Obama Begs Waxman to Yank Birth Control from Stimulus By Lindsay Beyerstein 1/27/09 9:33 AM President Barack Obama has signaled he will not go to bat for birth control in the economic stimulus bill — a move likely to set off a firestorm among powerful forces in the Democratic Party.
Obama has asked House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) to strip a plan to extend birth control coverage under Medicaid from the stimulus package, the Associated Press reports. The plea comes as Obama courts Republican support for the $825 billion package, for which he wants to see strong bi-partisan backing.
Republicans are up-in-arms over the family planning provision, calling it a wasteful giveaway that will not stimulate the economy. They claim it is an attempt by Democrats to push through their expansion of health care agenda — via an unrelated bill. Looking for an overwhelming victory out of the gates, Obama has tried to placate such GOPers by stripping provisions he would otherwise support — like bankruptcy reform, or in this case expanded health care coverage — to produce a bill Republicans will vote for en-masse.
Democrats argue the proposal is a smart fit for the plan to infuse Medicaid with $87 billion in federal money to shore up reeling state programs. The proposal could create health care jobs and thus offer the economy a boost, perhaps even faster than infrastructure spending. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says it is a money-saver in the long-term.
If Democrats concede to Republicans on the issue, which appears likely according to the AP, many Democratic powerhouses, like Planned Parenthood — which endorsed Obama — will feel betrayed. Women’s advocates and health groups lobbied aggressively to convince the White House and Congress to include money for expanded birth control coverage in the stimulus bill. The groups had early success last week when the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a version of the stimulus bill that included such language.
The final decision on the fate of the birth control provision is expected Wednesday. Though health-care advocates might be angry with Obama over his decision, the issue is not over for good
It would be better to get the funding kept in the "stimulus package" in order to scuttle whatever corrupt bargain they've made.
how about stopping billions being funneled to ACORN.
200 million for the update of the national mall
etc
etc
etc
we need to have a system on here where we get alert e-mails on a day targeting certain senators and when we receive those e-mails we bombard them.
40 calls to the local senator isn’t going to do much but if 400 off here did it and then this was timed with all conservative talk show hosts then those senators would have to take notice.
We don’t even have to target just republicans we can target red dog Dems and Dems coming up to re-election.
Jim , Moderators is this possible to set up and would other be willing to sign up up for these e-mails alerts?
abortions will save the economy... why isn’t the media pillorying Nancy Pelosi for that??? Oh, she is a D. right.
Some people talk about the need for a 3rd party. Seems excessive to me. I’d settle for a 2nd party.
That Waxman, he’s always got something up his nose....
Since they’ve been making such a big deal out of this in the press for the last few days, I have to believe that this is a phony PR stunt by the democrats to demonstrate BO’s ‘bi-partisanship’. Peanuts inflated to look like something important.
This money for birth control does NOT include the Mexico City/ international money to go for international abortions, is that correct?
That’s an additional amount for OTHERS to procreate fecklessly.
How Presidential! For a third world country dictator.
Did they really put “yank” and “birth control” in the same headline?
We don’t need ‘birth control’ in the stimulus. All they need to do is put a picture of Waxman in every bedroom across America.
Understand what the real target of all leftist policy is:
dissolution of the nuclear family.
TS. That's the reward for pitting people against each other as groups. The real politics of division is the democrat staple of group rights.
Someone has to stand up and declare that not one penny will go to ACORN.
They are not “community organizers”. They are community rabble rousers, and they intentionally are registering illegals to vote.
Your precious right to vote as a legal citizen is being eroded and usurped by ACORN.
They are truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing......
NObama and his ilk have placed $4.l9 billion into this “stimulus” plan for ACORN.
What a sick joke.
A President begging, my my my, how unpresidential.
ref ACORN
pay time for their fraudulent votes.
Remember the little spokeswomen speaking and saying how they will get obama elected and he will look after us.
This is all going to clockwork for him and his radical friends and there is no opposition because we are not organised
Peggy the Moocher.
I’m taking her lead.
I want to know where to send my gas receipts for reimbursement.
I’ve already cancelled all future mortgage payments. I figure my lender knows to send the bill to 0bama.
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