LARRY ROIBAL

Ball point pen on todays newsprint

Speaking about the six hour televised forum on health care reform, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell doubts the President and Congressional Democrats are acting in good faith. “We will be at the meeting on Thursday and anxious to participate in the discussion, but it appears the administration has already made up their mind.”

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

After the party-line vote has brought the debate to the floor by the slimmest of margins, few believe the Democrats can hold all 60 votes. All eyes now turn to the moderate Republican from Maine, Olympia Snowe.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

Not all debate is across party lines. John D. Rockefeller wants the public option in the health care bill. With a thirteen member majority within the finance committee, democrats can spare Rockeller’s vote, but on the floor of the Senate, democrats need all 60 votes to pass legislation. He wants to protect existing health care for children and is concerned about offering another huge payday for insurance companies while not doing enough to protect existing benefits for average Americans.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

Winston Churchill said “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

At a town hall meeting, Senator Arlen Specter came face to face with some citizens concerned with the future direction of health care in the US.