Newly empowered conservatives are vowing to stymie Democrats' policy
priorities in the lame-duck session. That could have repercussions on a
couple of health-related bills, including childhood nutrition and food
safety.
The nonprofit Americans for Prosperity is holding a "November Speaks"
event on Monday to press lawmakers "not to pass any new legislation
from the Left's agenda in the Lame Duck session." Expected speakers at
the event include Republican Reps. Mike Pence (Ind.) and Michele
Bachmann (Minn.) and congressmen-elect Morgan Griffith (Va.), Frank
Guinta (N.H.) and Sean Duffy (Wis.).
Bachmann herself rejoiced on her Web site last week that Democrats'
"train of big spending and big government has been stopped in its
tracks." Still, she warned, "in the meantime, a dangerous agenda could
be presented by the Democrats in the lame duck session of Congress and
Americans must keep a vigilant eye."
Americans for Prosperity hasn't specified which bills it opposes, but
conservatives in the past have objected to the cost of a childhood
nutrition bill that White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said is one of
three lame-duck priorities -- along with the new START treaty and the
Bush tax cuts -- for President Obama.
The $4.5 billion bill would expand eligibility for school meal
programs, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools
and provide a 6-cent increase for each school lunch to help cafeterias
serve healthier meals.
The Senate passed its version unanimously right before the August
recess, and Democrats see the lame-duck session as their last best
chance to get it through the House before the new majority takes over
in January. The bill got an extra boost last week when a diverse
coalition of more than 1,100 groups announced their support and two
liberals -- Reps. Jim McGovern (Mass.) and Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) -- got on
board despite reservations that the bill is half paid for by ending an
expansion of the food stamp program five months early.
For its part, the Senate is expected to take up food safety legislation
this coming week. The bill was held up before the elections because
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) objected to passage by unanimous consent.
The
House passed its version in July 2009 and a final bill could yet clear
Congress this year if there's a speedy conference committee or if the
House adopts whatever the Senate ends up passing.
Another priority is preventing a 23 percent cut in Medicare payments to
physicians that's scheduled to take effect Dec. 1. Both parties agree
the cut needs to be prevented to keep Medicare functioning smoothly but
finding pay-fors acceptable to both parties will be tough.
One thing's for sure: Lawmakers can expect to be inundated with calls
from physicians next week. The American Medical Association, which
wants Congress to pass a bill that will prevent cuts for 13 months at
least, wants doctors across the country to call their senators for
"White Coat Wednesday" on Nov. 17.
