“'Why have legislators?'” asked Representative [and Democrat] Pete Stark of California," in response to President Obama's proposal to expand the authority of the medical Independent Payment Advisory Board. Why indeed?
According to an article in The New York Times, Congressman Stark and a host of others--both Democrats and Republicans--object to the proposal to allow an independent body of doctors and patient advocates to recommend policies to lower Medicare costs. This group, to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, would make such recommendations only in the event that Medicare spending grows too quickly.
Sounds like a good idea to me, and Congress itself has shown us why. Time and again our legislators have governed ineffectively because they're beholden to special interests. That so many of them are in the pockets of insurance and pharmaceutical companies means that we still don't have effective health care policies. And you don't have to look beyond the power of the NRA to see why we have such insane gun laws despite the fact that the majority of Americans support tighter regulations.
Do we need Congress? Of course. But in this case we're better served by professionals in the field than by non-professionals in the Capitol. No offense, Congressman Stark, but this time you're not needed.
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