Health Care Reform's Clouded Debate

Bipartisan squabbling versus bipartisan cooperation is currently the biggest issue in the health care reform debate. Will the Republicans and Democrats be able to work together and accomplish this legislation at the bipartisan summit? Is this even a good idea or is the concept of this summit distracting the public from the very issue at hand, health care?

This summit could get health care reform back on track, according to Dough Schoen's Fox News' opinion article. Others, like The Daily Beast's Reihan Salam, see this supposed bipartisan effort as an ineffective method Obama is using in order to try to show voters that he is earnestly attempting to work with the GOP.

However, in my opinion, this focus on the bipartisan summit has distracted from the issue of health care itself. There are still large points of contention in the House and Senate versions of the bill that need to be resolved. In the article, "Representation and Agenda Setting," Bryan D. Jones and Frank R. Baumgartner conclude that the public's priorities do influence the "lawmaking activities in the national government" (20). So, issues like the Stupak/Pitts Amendment or the Nelson Compromise and excise tax need to be brought to public attention if there is any hope of practical, effective health care reform.

For more about the excise tax read:
Excise Tax Loses Support Amide White House Push
Can Dems Bridge Their Health Care "Cadillac" Tax Divide?

For more about the upcoming bipartisan summit:
Obama, Republicans spar over starting point for health care summit
White House Invites Congressional Leaders to Summit

Other Health Care Reform Sources:
The Struggle Over Health Care
Health Care Reform
CNN: Health Care in America
The Zombie Hypothesis