House Republicans this week said they would agree to keep student loan interest rates at their current level, but only if they're allowed to gut spending on preventive health care to finance the costs. The White House balked, but the GOP didn't care -- today, the Republican bill passed, 215 to 195, largely along party lines.
Several Democratic lawmakers noted the impact the GOP health care cuts would have on women's health, and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who's apparently grown a little sensitive to talk about the Republican "war on women," threw a bit of a tantrum on the House floor during the legislative debate.
I can appreciate why Boehner doesn't want to talk about the negative impact Republican policies are having on women, but I'd remind the Speaker that the quickest way to change the conversation is for Republicans to stop pursuing policies that have a negative impact on women.
In this case, rather than simply helping students because it would be good for them and the economy, Boehner's caucus decided to play a cheap little game -- they'll keep interest rates low only if they take funding from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which has nothing to do with student loans.
What would the real-world impact be if Boehner's health care cuts were to pass? There's no mystery here: these cuts would mean hundreds of thousands of women would have less access to breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings, tens of thousands of children could lose access to immunizations, and programs to prevent congenital heart defects and fetal alcohol syndrome would be eliminated.
That's not an opinion; it's just what would happen. The Prevention and Public Health Fund funds these efforts now, and if Republicans took the money from the fund, the efforts would be dramatically curtailed. It comes on the heels of related GOP Republican proposals restricting contraception; cutting off Planned Parenthood; requiring state-mandated, medically-unnecessary transvaginal ultrasounds; forcing physicians to lie to patients about abortion and breast cancer; and fighting equal-pay laws. Yesterday, most Senate Republicans even opposed the Violence Against Women Act.
Boehner can shout, point, and pound the podium to his heart's content, but if he doesn't want to be criticized for Republican measures that undermine women's health, he should change his party's agenda, not whine about Democrats shining a light on that agenda.
Leave a Comment:
Rachel, A few days ago, I sent an email to my representative supporting a yes vote on the student loan bill. Yesterday I received a phone call from my Rep. Mack's office. His intern proudly told me that the Congressman had voted YES on the Student Loan Bill! When I asked if it was the one taking money from women's health, the poor intern stammered and stuttered and couldn't give me an answer. He quickly rung off. Good news, I was called by my representative. Bad news, he or his office seemed to have no clue about what the bill was really about. Of course Mr. Mack IS running for the Senate.......
Student loans, PAYGO and women's health--what a tangled web we weave when at first we try to deceive. Or is it, what a tangled web we weave when they try your vote to retrieve?
Since the Senate version offsets cost with tax loophole closure to oil companies--the tangled web I perceive will be more difficult to understand and apperceive.
But when is all said and done--will we know what to believe?
No, is the first thought I conceive.
OUTRAGEOUS!!! Boehner has thrown another tantrum. As usual it is to cover up one of their slippery maneuvers. Trying to make people think they wanted to keep education interest low, and then removing, not just part but all of the preventative care funds in the health care law that is already operating. The same maneuver they have used for three years. They ballyhoo about the eighteen bills for budgets, but don't say that to agree, each bill cuts everything but defence and oil subsidies. So they say the administration and democrats won't cooperate. In retail sales I think that is called bait and switch, and at one time it was illegal.
Mr. boner, what rock did you crall out from under. Your communist ways will get you in the end.
Boehner for rodent catcher . com
all these guys in the republican party are crazy, and remind me of hitler there trying to kill all but the rich., we wont let it happen.
this is my 1st post to your blog, but i watch you almost all the time...this is off topic...but...i haven't heard any "reporting" being done as far as the massive amount of leaking radiation still emanating from the fukishima multiple reactor meltdowns. it appears to be the new "third rail" of news reporting. being that it could have dire and long-lasting affects to every living thing on the planet, this elephant in the room should NOT be avoided.
To Rachel Maddow:
I saw you on Meet The Press and it appears to be your finest hour! What a tour de force that you can clearly be proud of.
Sincerely,
Professor at Brandeis
Your delightful comments on the "proof" of Obama's plot to take our guns being the fact that he hasn't taken away our guns reminds me of a very old (Stalinist era?) Russian joke. Ivan by chance meets Dmitri at the railroad station and asks him, "Dmitri, where are you going?" Dmitri answers, "I'm going to Minsk." Ivan retorts, "Aha! You tell me you are going to Minsk because you want me to believe you are going to Pinsk--but I KNOW you are going to Minsk, you liar!"
Speaking of abortions, as we seem to be doing continually--Where is the American Medical Association on this? With legislatures mandating licensed physicians to perform medically unnecessary procedures, are we hearing the professional medical organizations protesting?
If any Republicans denying the reality of climate change would like to come and fight fires in Colorado, they would be welcome. The pay for seasonal workers, I believe, is $14 an hour, with no benefits. Fort Collins is a bit smoky just now, but otherwise a wonderful place to live.