Congress Solves America's Health Care Problem...Sort Of

Our beloved politicians in action: After three long months of furious negotiations (at who knows what cost to the taxpayers) members of Congress manage to agree on the title of a health care bill:

In March, Sen. Wyden, along with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Comptroller General David Walker, announced the formation of the Citizens' Working Group on Health Care. The group is composed of 14 people from across the country, including physicians, health advocates, hospital administrators, academicians, nurses, and a union representative. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt will serve as the 15th member.

The group is one result of a new law known as the Health Care That Works for All Americans Act, which was cosponsored by the two senators.

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Even semantics can be difficult, Sen. Wyden noted. "It took me three months to negotiate the title of this bill. When we started, the Democrats wanted the words 'universal coverage,' but the Republicans said, 'We're not going there; that's socialism.' The Republicans wanted to call it universal access, but the Democrats said, 'We're not going there; no one will ever get anything.'"

Finally, the senator proposed the current title.