Posted on 02/10/2009 1:08:53 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
(CNSNews.com) – “We are not going to let the federal government monitor what doctors do,” Sen. Arlen Specter told Fox News on Tuesday.
Specter, one of only three Republicans to support the Democrats’ stimulus/spending bill, was responding to growing concerns over health care provisions buried deep in the bill.
One provision creates a National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, “designed to monitor your treatments, to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective,” as a commentary on the Bloomberg news wire reported on Monday.
Specter told Fox News, “If Bloomberg has pointed out a potential problem…there will be clarification to avoid having the government meddle in what doctors do.”
The Senate bill provides $3 billion to computerize health records to cut costs and reduce medical errors. It also allots $1.1 billion to various federal health agencies “to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different health care services and treatment options,” the bill’s summary says.
Specter said the provision was intended to “provide technology” – to computerize the health records of all Americans. He said the government should not be in the business of making decisions on patients’ treatment.
Specter said one of the “big problems” with the stimulus bill is, “Why the rush? Why are we wedded to [a Feb. 13 deadline for passage]?” Specter noted that Congress never held hearings on the bill, and that has created problems.
“This is one of a number of provisions that has popped up that we have to revise and be very careful about,” he said.
Specter said he has protested the rush to judgment, but “the only answer we get is that the situation is so dire, such an emergency, we have to act.” Specter, asked if he would now put a stop to the bill or at least slow it down, indicated that he would not.
“Listen, this legislation is a bitter pill to swallow. But we are facing a situation where the current economic problems could turn into another depression like 1929.” He said he would not change his “yes” vote.
“We will get this provision clarified. I’ve made a commitment, and I’m not going to go back on my word and on a commitment. But when we find problems of this potential, we can cure them without upsetting the whole apple cart.”
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) told Fox News that the stimulus bill is about jobs. “If – that’s a big if – if there’s language in there that says the government’s going to make my health care decisions, we’ll get it out. I don’t believe that,” he said.
“I think that the consumer is pretty well protected. I think what this is meant to do is move us into the 21st Century for health care records,” Tester continued.
“If it’s in there, it’s a bad idea. But the fact is if that can be fixed, it will be fixed, if it’s in there, it will be changed and made better and made workable – and then, the bottom line is, to put people back to work.”
Tester and Specter spoke to Fox News on Tuesday morning, just a few hours before the Senate was scheduled to vote on the massive spending bill, presumably passing it and sending it to a House-Senate conference committee.
The Bloomberg commentary by Betsy McCaughey reported that the controversial health care provisions “reflect the handiwork of Tom Daschle,” who was supposed to be President Obama’s secretary of health and human services until tax problems derailed his nomination.
How is he going to stop it now? He already signed on.
Does anyone know who from the senate and house will be on the committee?
Obama wants so desperately for this to be passed before PRRESIDENTS DAY!!!
Of course Specter would not even CONSIDER lying, scamming or misrepresenting. No way. Yep, you can bet he’ll fix absolutely everything that might be wrong with health care in the bill. Especially as it won’t have any effect whatsoever on the care HE happens to receive as an indispensible member of the beloved senate!
IIRC, he could run as a Republican without a primary challenger, which was the deciding factor in choosing his party. Maybe some PA Freeps have better info.
In short, he didn’t read the bloody thing before he voted for it, AND he’s going on national TV to explain that we have to act by passing a bill he himself has not read?
We’re re-living the last days of the Roman Empire....
“How did this democrat get into the Republican Party??”
The real crime is that the Pubs have ALLOWED him to stay in the Pub party for all of these years!
**We are not going to let the federal government monitor what doctors do,” Sen. Arlen Specter told Fox News on Tuesday.**
Senator Sphincter, by voting for this GARBAGE, you just GAVE the Government that RIGHT. In other words,
THANK YOU COMRADE, FOR HANDING THE USA over to the MARXISTS.
Now, sir... gather up your belongings and move your chair permanently to the OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.
Senator, You have not Reached across the Aisle.. You Crossed the Aisle, Stepped into their Dugout, put on their Uniform, and are now SINGING THEIR FIGHT SONG.
You are an Embarassment.. I PRAY you never need the Medical care you’ve just Forced upon US!
Total crap! The federal govt. already dictates to docs what they can do and can’t do....if the doc is in a facility that treats patients with Medicare and/or Medicaid.
They are paid literally pennies on the dollar and have to provide services within the confines of all the regulatory bodies that charge us thousands of dollars to tell us what we’re not doing right.
Anybody who wants to know what socialized medicine will look like, all you need do is look at Medicare and Medicaid.
Militant
I wonder what he was promised in exchange for his vote.
He didn’t have a clue what was in this bill.
Scumbag.
Spector is a clueless, worthless, scumbag who should never have gotten re-elected last time around....Santorum and Bush both had a hand in that one!
In other words, he admits to not reading it and has some fundamental problems with it and he sure wishes his Democrat masters would change it, but heck he promised Harry Reed, and when Arlen Spector is Bought, he stays bought. Heck, it would be like expecting Benedict Arnold to betray the British.
Too late senator jerk—you just voted to do that very thing.
Pepperhead, I just love your tagline.
**IIRC, he could run as a Republican without a primary challenger, which was the deciding factor in choosing his party. Maybe some PA Freeps have better info.**
He was supported by and campaigned with ... W.. who bypassed a true conservative, which is when I started counting the days before W ... was GONE.
He should be ousted from the GOP immediately. We do not need clowns like this guy. Two hours before he voted aye he said that the health care items would be removed from the bill but the SOB voted for it anyway. GW Bush and Rick Santorum were horribly wrong to endorse this idiot the last time he was up for re-election....
Specter has a lot of questions for someone who willingly bent over and voted for this. I am so disgusted by this whole thing.
And I LIKE both Rick and GW....it cut me deep when they pulled that bone-headed move.
I want to see Arlen Sphincter in a tar and feather custom made suit.
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