Trudy Lieberman, Columbia Journalism Review, May 27, 2008
A story in The Hill a few weeks ago, which we reported on, offered some grim comments from members of the Senate about prospects for health reform that have reverberated. Among others, they reverberated with Ezra Klein at The American Prospect, who commented on the senators’ comments and later that day ran two follow-up clarifications from Senator Jay Rockefeller and Senator Max Baucus. Rockefeller had originally said: “We all know there is not enough money to do all this stuff. What they are doing is…laying out their ambitions.” Baucus had told The Hill that the groundwork for reform was being laid through hearings, but he projected an uphill battle ahead. “If they try to solve all the problems, it’s going to be difficult.”
Klein called their offices and gave space for clarification on his blog and, in the spirit of blogosphere conversation, that’s what he should do. Rockefeller’s press secretary said: “It’s not that we shouldn’t do health care, but we need to be realistic that we’re broke.” He added that the senator’s position is to take priorities (presumably health care) off the budget—which requires that if programs are added, others must be cut to pay for them—and find other ways to finance the new stuff. That’s the story reporters should follow. Will Rockefeller take the lead and find the money, or is his statement just more empty words?
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