By Peggy Hathaway, United Spinal Association
With the election of Obama and a stronger Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, many people in Washington have heightened hopes for disability policy issues.
On the other hand, increased money for programs is likely to be sparse. The Obama Administration and Congress are facing serious economic conditions that will hamper their ability to make all the changes they would like to make. Also, many of the new members of Congress are concerned about growing deficits and are likely to join the Blue Dog Caucus of fiscally conservative Democrats. Both Obama and Congressional leaders are talking about another economic bailout and a second economic stimulus bill. The one earlier this year gave most taxpayers a $600 stimulus payment. The costs of both will make it harder to increase money for programs.
First 100 Days: The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has recommended disability policy priorities for the first 100 days of the new Congress as well as policy recommendations for whomever was elected President. These recommendations cover such diverse topics as transportation, education, prevention, employment, long-term services and supports, Social Security disability programs, and health care.
Amidst great uncertainty, a couple of things are certain.
Congress and Obama will make health care reform a major priority. Health care reform is seen not only as a moral imperative but as an economic issue as well. For example, as economic conditions force more people into poverty and employers to choose between eliminating jobs or health insurance, states have greater demands on limited Medicaid dollars. Lack of health care affects our international competitiveness – especially with countries that do provide universal health care.
On November 12th, Senator Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, released a major health reform proposal to ensure quality, affordable health care for all. In January, Senator Kennedy (D-MA), Chairman of the powerful Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee is expected to release another plan. There is cautious optimism about reaching agreement on a solution that will be passed by the House and the more challenging Senate.
To this end, United Spinal Association and hundreds of other organizations have signed a letter asking President-elect Obama to convene a health care summit of experts, leaders, citizens, health care providers and insurers, advocates and other stakeholders for a national conversation to fix health care, focus on prevention and chronic care, and give all Americans meaningful health care coverage.
Stem Cell Research will go forward. The current Congress fell only a few votes short of overriding President Bush’s veto of a bill that would have allowed federal funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research. The bill had strict ethical restrictions. It would have allowed research only on embryos that would be destroyed in any case from in vitro fertilization clinics and would have prohibited any kind of payment to the donors. Obama was a co-sponsor and has promised to support a similar change.
Embryonic stem cell research continues to promise hope for cures for many conditions including cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart disease and spinal cord injuries and disorders.
For more information, please send an email to publicpolicy@unitedspinal.org.
