Neera Tanden to work with Daschle on New Healthcare Plan

[Thrill]

Tanden boosts health care reform effort

Her former boss may be heading to the State Department, but Neera Tanden, a longtime adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton who later worked for the Obama campaign, will stick with a topic she knows well: health care reform.

Tanden will join the Obama administration as a counselor to Tom Daschle, according to sources familiar with the decision. She will assist Daschle, the nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services and head of the new White House Office of Health Reform, in crafting a major overhaul of the health care system — one of President-elect Barack Obama’s chief domestic priorities.

Tanden, 38, a respected policy wonk who is also regarded for her political shrewdness, was a key member of “Hillaryland,” the closest circle of female advisers to the former first lady. Tanden joined the Clinton White House in 1997, and soon was working with Hillary Clinton on domestic policy issues.

In choosing Tanden, Daschle is picking up an operative with deep knowledge of the health care issue and the maneuverings at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17242.html

That should make people happy. Shes big on Universal Healthcare

[Cleita]

1. Interesting because Daschle thinks that Hillarycare bombed the first time

because the plan was over a 1,000 pages. He doesn't get it that it bombed because it's an unworkable plan. He thinks that presenting a similar plan in fewer pages will work. Well, I wonder how many people are going to go bankrupt and die unnecessarily this time before they get it right.

:shrug:

[Pirate Smile]

2. I think you need more pessimism.

[Cleita]

5. No, I need to have not read his book about health care.

Then I wouldn't be pessimistic.

[Zavulon]

11. I happen to agree with Cleita and don't think the government will ever put together a workable plan.

I read every page of Hillary's plan and was horrified at what it contained. Jail terms for seeking health care outside of your HMO? The government being allowed to decide where doctors can practice and transfer them against their will? That's just scraping the surface.

If the U.S. government can't provide health care for its military members when the exact number is known and regulated, how will it provide decent health care for the entire country? Not possible.

[firedupdem]

3. She sounds great and has some experience with this issue. Hopefully

she and Daschle can work together and get er done!

[Cleita]

6. Get what done, another bonanza for the insurance companies?

Little real health care reform will happen for the health care providers and patients. Look at the fruits of Medicare, part D, the prescription drug benefit brought to you by the same health insurance lobbyists. Congress will shoot it down like it did Hillarycare. No one wants to really touch this and it will die just like the former plan did, then everyone can move on to ignoring the problem and the health insurance companies and industry will do business as usual.

[Cha]

4. All these people who are a part

of trying to turn this heinous mess around need all the support they can get.

And, I wish them the best.

[Cleita]

7. Unfortunately, they are part of the messers, not the cleaners up. n/t

[Thrill]

8. Thanks. But how about waiting to see what plan they come up with?

[Cleita]

10. I already know what plan they are coming up with.

Daschle wants to set up a medical board like the Federal Reserve Board to oversee health care. Then he has a plan that privatizes all health care but thinks said board will make sure it works. Really? Doesn't recent history with said board and the banking industry make you worry? Also, the only problem he had with Hillary's plan back in 1992/93 was that it was 1,000 pages long. His plan, the same one is much shorter.

[Cha]

9. Sorry, I'm not as negative as you

are and I'm willing to give them a chance. If they don't work out then they'll be replaced.

[Cleita]

12. Read his book and if you want to give him a chance to implement his plan then

you will deserve the screwing you get.

[Cha]

13. Jeeze, you could be anymore

negative? You and this block on the board that would rather wallow than actually do something about making our chance at success better.

[Cleita]

14. So what's your definition of success in this?

Does it mean everyone gets health care, the same quality health care? Does it mean that the private corporations become non-profit and don't make a killing at another raid on our treasury? What is success to you?

[Cha]

16. Do you realize the undertaking that this

new admin has thanks to the tearing down of our country over the last 8 years?

My idea of success right now is that we have the chance to do something about it. Obama's not placing these people where they are for show..they are there to do the work and help implement the changes to turn this ship around.

And we have a chance to save the environment..something that wouldn't have been possible with mccainpalin.

[Cleita]

18. Hmm. Have you noticed that no one is talking about the environment?

Oh, and they think there is such a thing as clean coal. Yes, our new Democratic administration thinks that. Oh, this is so much better than McCain/Palin I agree. At least we have a chance of swaying them and part of that is letting them know where they are going wrong instead of approving everything they do. That would make us Republicans.

[Cha]

21. And, I don't approve of everything and have

let them know via this
http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestions20081229/

Obama did mention in his speech today that he wants to create new fuel alternative jobs.

[Sebastian Doyle]

15. They need to cut the bullshit and pass HR 676 already

Fuck this shit. It's 60 years too late as it is. Don't delay it any further.

[avaistheone1]

19. I'll second that - Pass HR 676.

Why does Congress have to agonize over passing single-payer universal health care coverage? They had no problems handing the financial industry a trillion dollars when Paulsen walked in with just a page and a half of notes about his plan!

[Cleita]

20. I third that. HR 676 is the way to go. No fuss. No bother. The work and

the thinking has been done already. No need to waste time that they can use on other issues

[Colobo]

17. I'm hoping Daschle and Tanden will be able to come up with a good plan.

America really needs it.

[eridani]

22. Not necessary. We already have a good plan--HR 676 n/t