Obama's Democrat problem

Washington Times:

Congress returns from the July Fourth holiday this week, but the fireworks on Capitol Hill are just getting started, with debates heating up over President Obama's health care plan and his pick for the Supreme Court.

Democratic leaders have five weeks to advance the president's health care agenda, which is proving divisive among Democrats and encountering stiff resistance from Republicans, as well as pass annual appropriations bills before the August recess.

In both chambers, top Democrats called on Republicans to help pass the ambitious agenda.

Republicans remained critical of massive federal debt piled up by the Obama White House and opposed to what they characterize as Democrats' plans for a government-run health care system.

"I think there is a genuine alarm," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican. "Americans see the government now running banks, insurance companies, automobile companies … and now they fear the government wants to take over health care as well."

The health care debate will compete for center stage in the Senate with confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. The hearings are scheduled to begin July 13 and likely will be followed by extensive floor debate.

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Progress in both chambers is being slowed by friction over the public option, whether employers should be required to provide coverage for employees and who should be taxed to pay for the plan. Republicans say the public option is a deal breaker, but Democrats say its essential for real reform.

Proposals for a government-run insurance plan also threaten to scare off moderate Democrats, especially the large number of newly elected Democrats from largely Republican districts.

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The Democrats are pushing a liberal agenda that voters reject. They are also going to have to do it on their own which means they will have difficulty dodging responsibility for the disaster they create, but they have been up to that task in the past and I am sure they will give a good effort to avoiding responsibility again.