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February 8, 2011
Conversation
Touches on Health Care, Energy and Telecommunications
House Energy
and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (MI-6) met with members of the media
and private industry this morning to discuss his committee's agenda
for the 112th Congress.
Mr. Upton did
his best to be noncommittal on a number of questions inquiring about
specific proposals he was going to push through the committee to
address his party's concerns with measures supported by his Democratic
colleagues and the President, although there were some revelations
about the Chairman's future plans.
Mr. Upton's
committee worked to successfully repeal Democrats' signature
legislation to reform the country's health care system as one of the first
orders of business for his committee and the House as a whole.
As a part of the GOP's message, the Energy and Commerce Committee
will now focus on drafting proposals to replace it.
Mr. Upton
pointed to a bill sponsored by
Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) that would allow consumers to shop for
insurance plans across state lines. He also emphasized the need
to address tort reform and have a dialogue with governors over the
uncertainty of health exchanges and the "unfunded mandate"
in the new law that requires states to expand Medicaid coverage and
provides a federal cost share of between 50 and 75 percent during the
first three years of expansion.
Expanding Medicaid coverage was a main feature of
Democrats' plan to reduce the number of uninsured, but the overall
bill failed to attain universal coverage. Responding to a
question regarding Republicans' desire to outdo Democrats on the
issue of the uninsured, Mr. Upton said that it was too early in the
session to determine what proposals would gain steam, but he did
stress that insurance should continue to be employer-based and that
more incentives for preventative care are necessary.
When the conversation shifted to energy and
telecommunications policy, Mr. Upton's message was clear: government
needs to get out of the way and let the markets work:
- On
EPA regulating green house gases: "The Clean Air Act does
not give EPA authority to regulate GHG."
- On
climate change: "If you look at this year, the last year
was the warmest year on record - the warmest decade on
record. I accept that. I do not say that it's
manmade."
- On
whether there should be a price on carbon: "No."
- On
FCC's order in favor of net neutrality: "We are going to
use every tool in the toolbox to stop it."
Mr. Upton also indicated that House Republicans are
going to have a more open process than Democrats. He indicated
that the first display of this will come later this week when the
House considers a continuing resolution to fund government for the
remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. "We're going to have a
vote-a-rama - lots of votes on lots of
subjects."
The Energy and Commerce Committee's hearing schedule is
packed this week, touching on health, energy and telecommunications
policy. Click here for a
list of this week's hearings.
If you have any questions concerning these issues,
please contact Chris Wagner at 202.772.0924 or cwagner@clarkhill.com.
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