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Product: CTMAIN PubDate: 09-11-2009 Zone: ALL Edition: HD Page: NATWLD-18 User: krickard Time: 09-10-2009 21:54 Color: K

18 CHICAGO TRIBUNE | SECTION 1 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

NATION &WORLD PAGES 18-27 Democrats heed leader’s call Party factions re-energized but must find ways to bridge gaps

By Noam N. Levey TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON — A day after President went to Capitol Hill to renew his call for a sweeping health care overhaul, Democrats across the ideological spectrum rallied behind him, giv- ing important new momentum to the push for legislation this year. Especially important for the White House was the reaction of several conservative Democrats, who will be crucial to passing a health care bill in the House of Representatives and the Senate and who cheered the president’s pledge to ensure that a health overhaul would not add to the government debt. “If the details live up to the quality of the speech, then it’s a good plan,” said Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper, a who has been highly critical of the liberal health care bill developed by House Democratic leaders. On the left, liberal lawmakers and interest groups, who have grown more anxious about the fate of a CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP PHOTO proposed government insurance Before a speech to the American Nurses Association on Thursday, President Barack Obama is introduced by group President Beck Patton, left, and ac- plan, applauded Obama for force- companied by nurses Sonia Reich, second left, and Linda Gural. Democrats across the ideological spectrum praised Obama’s health care address. fully endorsing the idea Wednesday night, even though he said he was Most Republican leaders Thurs- To build on Obama’s rhetoric, their Senate colleagues, House open to alternatives. Health care goals day continued to lambaste Obama’s Democratic leaders must swiftly Ways and Means Committee Chair- “The president last night spoke to health care plan. show progress in moving health man Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., a key the conscience of America,” said The White House Web site has “It sounded very much like the care bills. architect of the House health care Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., one of information on the Obama Chicago politics that I know he’s Obama’s speech did not settle bill, Thursday derided the Senate the chamber’s most liberal mem- administration’s health care familiar with,” said Sen. some of the most contentious ques- legislative effort. bers who also heads the Congres- plan at www.whitehouse.gov/ Jon Kyl, the No. 2 Republican in the tions bedeviling that effort, includ- “I wouldn’t spend a lot of time on sional Black Caucus. “He talked issues/health_care/plan/ Senate. “It appeared as if he was ing the public option and the details what the Senate is thinking. They about this being a moral impera- trying to ram something through.” of any new taxes and fees that may are not thinking, quite frankly,” tive, an issue of social justice. And Privately, however, some Repub- be necessary to pay for a major Rangel said. believe me, that resonated.” such an approach in his speech. licans worried that the party’s un- expansion in coverage. Labor unions, which have bris- “I take the president at his word remitting opposition to the Demo- Nor did the president succeed in Richard Simon, Janet Hook and tled at proposals to tax high-value that he does not want to raise taxes cratic plans could boomerang in smoothing out all the divisions in Peter Nicholas contributed to this health plans such as those provided on the middle class,” said Andy next year’s congressional elections, his party. report. under some union contracts, held Stern, head of the influential Serv- especially if a far-reaching plan is Underscoring persistent tensions their fire even as Obama suggested ice Employees International Union. approved. between House Democrats and [email protected]

Obama’s fiscal ‘trigger’ targets Medicare costs Plan would cut federal outlay conservative Democrats, have expressed con- cern that if Congress approves the broad if savings don’t materialize overhaul and it fails to yield the promised savings, neither the president nor Congress By James Oliphant would step in and prevent the deficit from TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS soaring.

WASHINGTON — In his health care ad- Would the trigger apply to all health care dress Wednesday night, President Barack Q spending? Obama proposed a new element in his overhaul plan, a “trigger” to prevent higher No. The idea is to apply it to Medicare’s medical costs from pushing the budget deficit A payments to doctors and others who higher. provide services to the elderly. Reimbursing Here is a snapshot of the proposal. them is a major chunk of federal health care spending, and readjusting the payment sched- What is a “trigger?” ule could be relatively simple to do. Q Under Obama’s proposal, providers who As applied to government programs, it’s failed to make sufficient progress in control- A a provision for making something hap- ling costs would see their Medicare payments pen if something else happens first. Social reduced. JASON REED/GETTY PHOTO Security, for instance, has a cost-of-living Obama adviser David Axelrod, right, greets Sen. , R-S.C., before the president’s trigger: If food, clothing and other prices go Would that only act as a curb on Wednesday address on health care, in which he proposed a “trigger” for Medicare spending. up, benefit checks are raised automatically. Q Medicare costs? How would that work to hold down The hope is that the threat of reduced 32 million watch speech; Obama unfazed by Fox Q government spending? A federal spending could also persuade providers who aren’t greatly dependent on President Barack Obama’s make-or-break Fox didn’t air the speech, choosing in- The idea is that if spending on health Medicare to restructure, too, because a reduc- congressional address Wednesday night stead to proceed with the season premiere A care were to get out of control, cutbacks tion in government services can transfer drew nearly 32 million viewers. But the audi- of “So You Think You Can Dance,” the third in government outlays would be made. Specif- more risk — that is, more potential liability — ence was 39 percent smaller than that for time this year the network has not run a ically, the trigger — also referred to as a “fail to the private sector and drive up its costs. Obama’s first address to a joint session of presidential appearance in prime time. safe” — would fire if savings that Obama says Congress, on Feb. 24, which attracted 52.4 Obama remarked Thursday on Fox’s deci- his plan would create failed to materialize. Would the trigger be automatic? million viewers. sion, but noted that “So You Think You Can Proponents of the health care overhaul are Q The speech drew 8.16 million viewers to Dance” is “a show Michelle likes, by the way.” counting on those projected savings to play a No, a special board would decide when to NBC, 7.4 million to ABC and 5.63 million to big role in financing the extension of insur- A pull it. CBS. —Matea Gold, Tribune Newspapers ance coverage to more Americans. The White House, backed by such economists as Is this the same trigger that could launch David Cutler of Harvard University, main- Q the “public option?” Snowe’s proposal, a public option would not can afford. tains that making the system more efficient be established unless the government deter- Snowe’s trigger is viewed as a possible and productive could save hundreds of No, the fiscal trigger is entirely different mined that private insurers in a particular legislative compromise between supporters billions of dollars. A from the concept being floated by Maine region had failed to revamp their polices to of a public option in Congress and those who Republicans, as well as some moderate and Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe. Under provide more people with coverage that they oppose it.

SPOTLIGHT THE U.S. SENATE A fresh arrival follows a fond farewell WASHINGTON — On a day they wel- 91-year-old Democrat — who Kennedy died Aug. 25 at 77, succumbing comed their newest colleague, senators also spent several weeks in the hospital fighting to brain cancer after a 15-month fight. He paused to remember Sen. Edward Ken- life-threatening infections this spring and was buried at Arlington National Ceme- nedy’s nearly five decades in Congress and summer — reminisced about Kennedy’s tery. his passionate commitment to health care personal gestures, love of life and accom- Later Thursday, George LeMieux, R-Fla., reform. plishments. was sworn in by Vice President , “The impact he etched into our history “He believed that life was a contact sport replacing Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. will long endure,” Senate Majority Leader but that it should never be played without LeMieux took the office one day after of Nevada said Thursday. Reid joy,” Byrd said, speaking from his now- watching Martinez give his farewell speech added: “His dream shall never die.” familiar wheelchair and dabbing his eyes. to the chamber. A frail Sen. addressed the “And that is how he saw politics as well.” LeMieux was appointed by Florida Gov. Senate for the first time in months to pay Byrd is the longest-serving senator, hav- Charlie Crist, his former boss, and will hold JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL PHOTO 2006 tribute to Kennedy, his one-time rival and ing won a record ninth term three years the job only 16 months while Crist and Republican George LeMieux (left), appointed by longtime dear friend. ago. In the early 1970s, Byrd defeated others seek the same seat. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (right), was sworn into the In a strong voice that has not been heard Kennedy in a race for the post of Democratic Senate on Thursday. He replaces Mel Martinez. on the Senate floor since February, the whip. —