Newspapers, Advocacy Groups Respond to Bush’s State of the Union Address

The following is a summary of responses from newspapers and advocacy groups to President Bush's health care proposals touched on in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

Newspaper Editorials

• Albany Times Union: As Bush said last night that he wants to enact legislation to help unemployed workers obtain health insurance, the editorial says it is "puzzling" why he has been unable to do so. The editorial adds, "Mr. Bush should be open to other ideas, but resolute in fulfilling the goals he's set for himself" (Albany Times Union, 1/30).
• Chicago Sun-Times: Bush's speech "successfully balanced the demands of the war against pressing needs at home," including the need for a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the editorial says (Chicago Sun-Times, 1/30).
• Des Moines Register: Bush outlined an "ambitious agenda" that includes extending health coverage to the unemployed and passing a Medicare prescription drug benefit, but the editorial says it is "hard to see" how the president can fulfill the promise of "small and short-term" budget deficits, given his overall spending requests (Des Moines Register, 1/30).
• Detroit Free Press: Bush's plan to help the unemployed with health costs will resonate with Americans who are concerned about the economy, the editorial says, but adds that the plan and his other domestic goals will "cause debate" and "probably aren't affordable" (Detroit Free Press, 1/30).
• Minneapolis Star-Tribune: In the debates that will likely occur over Bush's $190 billion, 10-year plan to add a reform Medicare, the first question that should be asked is, "Where will he get the money," the editorial says (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 1/30).
• New York Times: Bush last night adopted Democrats' calls to increase spending on domestic defense, including measures to prevent bioterrorism, the editorial says. His argument for increasing such spending -- that the increased funds would "improv[e]" health care -- "echo[ed]" those of his "former opponents." The editorial adds that the request for more spending on domestic defense is an "easy reach" for the president, who may find that Congress is actually willing to spend more on domestic defense than he is. The editorial concludes that Bush "made it sound as if Americans could have it all: spending on defense, domestic security, social programs and tax cuts. If the economy is headed in the right direction, the public may be happy to go along with such a pain-free agenda. But the test of [Bush's] leadership will come when he better defines the difficult choices lying ahead" (New York Times, 1/30).
• USA Today: Bush is attempting to "parlay" his popularity and high approval ratings "into support for his domestic agenda." However, "beyond showmanship," that effort is "likely to fail for the lack of the same sense of forthrightness" present in the war on terrorism. The editorial concludes: "Applying more broadly the qualities that won [Bush the] reputation [of a 'forceful leader'] would help the nation and preserve his stature" (USA Today, 1/30).
• Washington Post: In outlining his domestic agenda, Bush called for an "number of potentially expensive programs," but he did not say "how he would pay for them." Instead, the editorial notes that the president called for additional tax cuts and said if deficits "persist" the "blame" lies with Congress. While Bush "rightly" listed homeland security as one of his top budget priorities, Congress should ensure that Bush's "pledge" -- "whatever it costs to defend our country, we will pay it" -- does not "translate into a blank check" (Washington Post, 1/30).

Organizations

• American College of Emergency Physicians: Noting that emergency physicians will be on "the front lines of detecting and treating biological agents," Dr. Michael Carius, the organization's president, "applaud[ed]" Bush's call for increased spending for "frontline responders" and "urged" him to work with Congress to pass the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2001 ( HR 3448), which includes provision on training health care providers to recognize and treat bioterrorism patients (ACEP release, 1/29).
• Federation of American Hospitals: President Bush's plan to "rejuvenat[e]" Medicare and "strengthen" the health care system is "right on target," according to FAH President Chip Kahn. He "commended" Bush for "recognizing the need to prepare the entire health care infrastructure for the unimaginable" (FAH release, 1/29).
• Health Insurance Association of America: In response to Bush's speech, HIAA President Donald Young said that the plan to use tax credits to help Americans purchase health coverage "is a sound starting point for action on this problem." He added that adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare must be done carefully, specifically as to not "undermine the successful public and private elements" of the program (HIAA release, 1/30).
• Healthcare Leadership Council: The use of tax credits to help the uninsured purchase health insurance illustrates "the right priorities and the right solutions," HLC President Mary Grealy said. She added the president "deserves credit" for working on a plan to provide drug coverage to low-income seniors "while insisting" that Medicare be modernized (HLC release, 1/29).