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Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between Obama and the congress over the health care plan. The paper also seeks to explore the tools at Obama disposal against the congress and how the institutional structure might affect his decisions. The role of public opinion and bipartisan politics is also explored in my discussion. Obamas health care reform plan has received mixed reaction from different quotas drawing sharp criticism from his opponents. This is likely to derail the reform process hence dealing a severe blow to the American taxpayers. Most people agree that the current health care system requires urgent reform but how to change the system is where the problem lies. The current debate is threatening to split the congress a situation that might affect the effectiveness of future bills. As this happens most of Americans continue to suffer as they are unable to service their basic health care needs. This paper therefore looks on how president Obama is effectively dealing with the United States congress regarding the health care policy.
The extent of the health care problem
It is estimated that 46 million Americans remain uninsured while millions of others are underinsured. Sheldon (2009) laments that the situation is so bad that health care has become a privilege rather than a right for many citizens. He adds that the United States is the only industrial power that has been unable to guarantee health care for its citizens. Congressmen on coming to office enjoy varied proposition of health care benefits from which to choose including insurance of their children and spouses. 75% of their premiums are paid by the taxpayer while the tax payer goes through enormous preconditions sometimes even being denied cover as a result. President Obama has recently unleashed sharp attacks on the health insurance industry accusing them of attempting to block health care reforms efforts by using deceptive advertisements to mislead the Americans. The move has rubbed insurers the wrong way almost ending the relationship that started from the time Obama came to power. The industrial players have always supported the president in major bills, according to Amst (2009). Specialists have predicted that premiums would rise sharply if the finance bill was effected.
The congress has taken a hard-line stance along the insurers hence putting them at loggerheads with the president. The cost of health has been rising steadily making it out of reach of low and moderate income earners. Obama has conspicuously rallied behind the congress to provide $250 extra payments to 57 million seniors, veterans and people with disabilities from next year. This is equivalent of 2% of retiree social security benefits (Williamson & Pulizzi, 2009). The payment is expected to act as an economic stimulus package in order to offset the rising effects of unemployment in the country. The mainly republican opponents feel that the $13 billion stimulus package will escalate the federal deficit.
What tools does the president have at his disposal to get what he wants?
As noted by Janes (2009) the main challenge for Obama is to switch from campaign mode to actual governance. To counter his mounting challenges within the congress, Obama has chosen to stick to the same strategies that took him to power. Using the power of the media, he is appealing to the voters to maintain his popularity and to recruit grass support for his policies. The effects of his strategy can be felt through out the media, the blogs, television and the social networking sites like twitter and face book. In connection to this, Save Flexible spending Plan alongside Save for Food and Commercial Workers have launched a fierce advertisement campaign asking the congress to back Obama against the increase of tax on middle class Americans and also against the use o FSAs in health care reform (Congress urged to support President Obamas pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans, n.d.).
In another departure from the traditional practices, the white house is also hosting online town hall meetings where Obama takes questions from the participants. The result is a successful sustenance of his popularity amidst rising political turmoil. He seems to be sending a message across, that the country is being faced with a host of challenges that need to be amicably addressed at once. The president has been trying to vouch for bipartisanship between the republican and the democrats countrywide. These however dont seem to read things from the same script even with his democrats majority in the house. Consensus thus seems far fetched because both parties seem to have adopted divergent views even within their ranks.
The presidents greatest advantage emanates from his greater popularity than the congress, a standing he intends to use to pressurize the law makers. He also adopted an approach of reaching out to his friends and opponents to work towards a common purpose or to open out to dialogue (Janes, 2009). Obama has even gone as far as using his global popularity to seek consolidate support towards his courses a move that has seen him gain more post election goodwill than any other American presidents in the recent times. These approaches have so far worked to his great advantage and it remains to be seen whether the congress will be swayed by them to rally their support behind him. However at the moment, the public policy towards health carer remains troubling as Rouse (1997) points out.
Other tools at the presidents disposal include making pledges to congressmen to initiate development projects in their states or districts. He can also promise to campaign for them during election time which has huge potentials to influence their decision making processes. Another overt weapon that the president possesses is the power to mobilize the country on behalf of ones agenda or against it. Popular presidents like Obama have the power to pull out huge public support either for or against an opponent. The president also commands more media attention than any other public figure which gives him a huge political clout in influencing the public opinion especially if the media adore him.
Yet another available asset is the power to raise more funds than other poetical figures on behalf of his supporters which gives him an upper hand in influencing the decisions of the congressmen. The power to reward supporters with political appointments gives the president advantage over his opponents in that he can promise favors in appointments to the friends or even relatives of those who support him. The ability to appeal to members of congress to exercise their sense of duty and patriotism to United States can not be down played as a powerful tool in exercising his duties and responsibilities. The hospitality and the ambience of the white house have also been effective in influencing the decision of the congressmen and other political figures in the country. The president sometimes hosts politicians to dinners and lunches at the white house. These treats are often attended by the mighty figures including powerful politicians and veteran law makers which draw public attention to individuals invited.
What procedures or institutional structures affect how Congress reacts to the president?
Before a bill becomes law, it must first receive presidential accent after the congress has passed it. However the president has power to veto it meaning that it wont be enacted at all. The ultimate catch however lies in the fact that congress has power to override it. This means that the president must scrutinize the bill clearly and must widely consult in cases where he feels that the bill doesnt represent the best interest of the citizens. This is to avoid his decisions being overridden by the congress and at the same time to exercise responsibility in leadership. The power to override presidential decisions ensures that the president does not overstep his mandate by declining bills that would be beneficial to the good of the citizens. The institutional structure in place ensures that the president must first convince the congress in order to implement his policies. That means that he can not impose his decisions on the congress.
The presidents team liaises with members of both chambers and contributes in shaping the direction of legislations as it moves through the congress (Getting the Presidents Signature on a Congressional Bill, n.d.). The white house takes close attention to important legislations and may influence them if it has the majority representation in one of the two chambers. The situation becomes tricky if the opposition has the majority in any of the chambers as it takes intensive lobbying in order to change any legislation. The president in such circumstances has to convince a majority of the congress to rally their support behind him.
If the president doesnt like a bill and it exceeds 10 days prior to its presentation for signing, it automatically becomes law as long as the congress is on session. As I mentioned earlier the president has constitutional power to block a piece of legislation even after it passes all the stages of legislation. This is what I called the veto power. He can choose to decline the signing of the bill and send it back to the congress for amending with a note explaining the reason for his refusal. This method is referred to as the return vote. Another type of veto power is the pocket veto where he neither vetoes nor signs a bill. If the congress adjourns or goes into recess before the lapse of the 10 days while he is in its possession, the bill doesnt become law.
How does partisan politics affect this policy process?
The last two decades have witnessed the collapse of bipartisan consensus. This threatens to precipitate the great achievements that were made in the past when there was consensus in the congress. Partisan polarization has soared up over the last two decades between democrats and their Republican counterparts reaching levels lastly seen in the 1920s (McCarty, 2009). With polarized congress, it makes it very hard to build legislative coalitions which cause bottlenecks in the legislative processes. For example, the current debate on health reforms has elicited mixed reactions among the congressmen leaving them sharply divided over the issue. It also has a conservative effect in economic and social policy. Parties in this sense tend to stick to their ideologies and protecting their status quo which hinders change in the society. It becomes increasingly difficult to respond to economic shocks in such a country.
Polarization also hampers the efficient functioning of the administration and the judiciary. Due to the resultant wrangles between the parties the administration of state is affected while the judiciary sometimes succumbs to partisan forces. As a result the executive and judges tend to act on their own will without legislative consent. It is also manifested in increasing levels of contention related to presidential nominations, executive and judicial positions. It is largely to blame for the bloated size of the American bureaucracy and the judiciary which hinders effectiveness.
What role does the public and public opinion play in this process?
The US and the public opinion play a key role in state legislation and politicians are easily swayed by the influence. For example, ignorance of the public opinion led to the waning of popularity of President Bush. In total disregard of the peoples opinion, he entered into war with Iraq and Afghanistan which was against the will of the Americans. This planted the seed for the defeat of the Republicans. Politicians therefore try to do as much as they can to win the public opinion in their support. This is the reason why Obama is bent to use all means at his disposal to sway the opinion onto his side. Media is instrumental in facilitating the formation of peoples opinion and Obama seems aware of that. So it goes without saying that his current string of media engagement is an attempt to woe the public opinion onto his side. He is fully aware that it is the same tool that helped him into power and he will stop at nothing to lure the public opinion.
Obamas successes in the health care plan
His greatest success in the health care reform has been his ability to marshal the support of the media and activists alike in his health care campaign. Save Flexible spending Plan alongside Save for Food and Commercial Workers have rallied their campaigns behind him using paid up advertisement to woe the congressmen to support the Obamas plan. His media campaign using broadcast media and social networking sites has also successfully aided him in creating awareness about his campaign across the country. These seem to be bearing fruits however modest they seem to be. In a key note address to the joint session of the congress, he successfully outlined his major goals of the reform and also presented a strong case in favour of control of health care spending in order to control the huge federal budget deficit. He also managed to explain how the reform would help the insured (Oberlander, 2009). He has also been able to co-opt the health care industry and thereby minimizing its opposition to reform besides successfully coordinating the democratic chairs of the three health care committees and expediting the process so that the committees have already approved the health care reform bills.
Obamas failures in the health care plan
His major failure was the continued dip in public approval while the public concerns over the plan increased dramatically. His administration seems to have lost control of the public debate despite their determined efforts and heavy resource outlay incurred. Yet again the president has failed to strike bipartisan consensus to pass the bill leave alone uniting his congressmen in his own democratic backyard. This could become a great impediment to his plan. He has also failed to come up with a politically feasible way to fund the expanded federal budget as a result of the plan.
Conclusion
The current debate presents make break situation for the Obama administration. How he handles it will either way affect his standing among the American citizens. The strongest leaders of the world have emerged from a crisis and this is not a lesser one. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to stand the current storm and capture the mood of the American people. The president has several tools at his disposal to influence the congress onto his side but these can also be counterproductive and lead to self destruction. What matters now is getting the public opinion right either by influencing it to his side or abiding by it. The citizens are waiting for a solution to their current predicament and the rising bipartisan politics being played out is not helping them out. Responsible leadership not guided by selfish interest and flashing of the political egos must be displayed.
Works Cited
Arnst, Cathy. Obama Attacks Health Insurance Industry. 2009. Web.
Congress urged to support President Obamas pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans. 2009. Web.
Getting the Presidents Signature on a Congressional Bill. 2009. Web.
Janes, Jackson. Maestro Obamas overtures. 2009. Web.
McCarty, Nolan. The Policy Consequences of Partisan Polarization in the United States, New York: Princeton University, 2009.
Oberlander, Jonathan. 2009. The Day After: Obamas Speech And The Politics Of Health Reform. Web.
Rouse, John. Health care policy. 1997. Web.
Sheldon, R.H. Health Care for U.S. Congress: Politicians Receive the Countrys Best Care at Taxpayers Expense. 2009. Web.
Williamson, E. and Pulizzi, Henry j. Obama Seeks More Payouts. 2009. Web.
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