Legislation And Policies
Having the majority in both the House and the Senate creates a huge difference in passing legislation and policies. Furthermore, having full control in Congress means political power. With the majority, it is easy for the president to have judges and cabinet members approved easy treaty ratification and fast passing of legislation. Moreover, having majority control in Congress ensures that people’s needs can be taken care of faster and consider laws that require slow process policy approval.
The insurance industries spent millions of dollars against the healthcare reforms. The senate finance committee staff investigated the tax returns of Tom Daschle, who had been proposed as an insider to help come up with a plan to reform the healthcare. These investigations led to halting the reform process as discrepancies were found that led him unsuitable for public service (Kirk, Gilmore & Wiser, 2010). Max Baucus had also given Daschle a hard time making it to the nominations, which further dragged the health care policy.
Rahm Emanuel aimed to bring the lawmakers, Cabinet members, members of the Congress, and the interest groups together to have sound discussions on healthcare policies. The Congressional bu-ins, insiders, and relationships with Congress would thwart efforts of sabotaging the health insurance plans by making it easy to draft and pass health insurance policies (Kirk, Gilmore & Wiser, 2010). Karen Ignani wanted to represent the insurance industry if the negotiations between the government and the health officials were to table the current issues. Emmanuel also worked with Nancy Pelosi in trying to get the Democrats on board with the medicare reform.
The statement “you can be at the table or you can be at the menu” meant that if the health stakeholders, lobbyists, doctors, Democrats, Republicans, and other interest groups had to be at the discussion or they would be discussed upon. This meant that the groups ought to be present, and they should raise their concerns; otherwise, their interests would not be heeded to (Kirk, Gilmore & Wiser, 2010). Furthermore, it also meant that those present at the negotiations would have their interests catered for at the expense of those that did not come up with their deals.
Industries support individuals and politicians who they think will cater to their interests. For example, the pharmaceutical companies might fund a president’s campaign to profit when they are in office. Also, the industries would not support campaigns they feel will put them on financial constraints and damages (Kirk, Gilmore & Wiser, 2010). Most industries spend money going against or for various campaigns, depending on how their interests are catered. For example, oil and gas industries may spend humongous finances against politicians who do not support fracking.
Billy Tauzin was CEO and president of PhRMA . he was also a member of the House between 1980 and 2005 he was also on the LCH group board of directors. In the Obama healthcare, he was a health-law lobbyist and a key figure in the 2009 healthcare reform negotiations. The position in deal-making caused criticism on how the policies would be implemented.