All Eyes on Washington
September 03, 2009
Author: CFM Staff
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The fate of several major issues – health care, climate change and immigration – hang in the balance this fall in the nation's capital. What happens or doesn't happen will shape the Oregon legislative agenda for sessions in 2010 and 2011.
In the last two years, economic recession has been the big elephant in the room, determining the shape and contours of public policy. Now Congress and its ability to act may become the fulcrum.
Following a noisy August full of townhall protests, members of Congress return to Washington with lowered expectations for health care reform, at least in the forms currently bouncing around in the Capitol. Attention seems to be turning more to how reforms, including to Medicare, will affect individual Americans. That has given rise to talk about a new layer of health care issues, ranging from delivery system changes to incentives to discourage over-utilization of care.
Amid a discussion about whether to write off GOP support for any compromise comes an op-ed by former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, a Democrat, who said the perfect political marriage would involve universal access tied to tort reform on malpractice lawsuits. Bradley's suggestion apparently has revived President Obama's original idea of a bipartisan reform package.
Trial lawyers, who are major backers of Democrats, fiercely oppose limitations on malpractice awards. However, Obama has signaled some willingness to explore ways, short of damage caps on lawsuits, to stem the cost of malpractice insurance and discourage what is called "defensive medicine."
The shape of eventual national health care reform legislation – or its absence – will guide Oregon's actions as it begins to implement its own reform plan to expand health insurance coverage.
Upon their return, members of Congress also will resume wrestling with climate change legislation, another high-profile issue that commanded a lot of attention in the 2009 Oregon legislature.
Federal climate change legislation has at least two major parts – steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions and incentives to promote renewable energy. Oregon and other states have acted separately on what's known as renewable portfolio standards, which are essentially goals for renewable energy generation. Oregon's goal is to have 25 percent of its electricity load met with renewable energy by 2025.
Observers expect Congress to approve a vigorous renewable energy goal. But there is doubt about what will emerge on the regulatory control side of the ledger. A version of climate change legislation that has moved in the U.S. House was rife with exceptions and special considerations for industries and regions that could be harmed economically by a push to reduce carbon emissions.
A decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week to classify CO2 emissions as pollutants could spur congressional action in climate change legislation.
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to take up climate change legislation this fall, which could lead to a House-Senate conference committee sometime next year. What Congress finally produces certainly will influence the debate in the 2011 Oregon legislative session on climate change.
Immigration reform, one of the most emotionally charged issues on the public policy agenda, is expected to surface this fall in Congress. The 2009 Oregon legislature stood down on the issue, awaiting congressional action, which has been stalled for years because of a lack of a political consensus.
While plenty of venom remains in the American political bloodstream about illegal immigrants, there does appear to be a grudging recognition that the 12 million or so undocumented workers already here cannot be bused back to Mexico. Industry and agriculture groups have formed coalitions that have become more prominent voices in the debate, calling especially for some kind of practical guest worker program.
There still will lots of talk about the big fence along the U.S.-Mexican border, as well as other steps to blunt illegal immigration. A key question will be how much of the enforcement of federal law will be dumped on the shoulders of U.S. employers. The answer to that question will be the cue to whether there is a need – or a political opportunity – to propose legislation in the 2011 Oregon legislation session.
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