burlingtonfreepress.com

Sponsored by:

vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


3.22.2010

 

Douglas on health reform

Gov. Jim Douglas said Monday he was focused on implementation of the national health care reform package.

“We don’t know exactly what it is yet,” he noted, since the Senate has yet to vote on the reconciliation package that became the compromise between the U.S. House and Senate. Douglas said Republican senators “although they don’t have the numbers, they believe they may have some parliamentary arguments” to make about the pending reconciliation bill.

Still, Douglas has asked his health care cabinet to analyze the pair of health care bills to identify starting dates. He also wants his staff to determine if the Vermont Legislature needs to make any law changes in response to the federal measures and if there are grants or funds offered that the state ought to seek.

As chairman of the National Governors Association, Douglas said he will work on making the implementation as smooth as possible for states — not an easy task.

“A number of governors and legislators are going to be resistant,” Douglas predicted.

“I still regret the lack of partisanship,” Douglas said. As a result of the divisive politics associated with the bill, implementing it, he said, “is going to be a less smooth process.”

- Nancy Remsen

Labels: ,


Comments:
“I still regret the lack of partisanship,” Douglas said.

Did he really say this exactly like this?
 
It's his party's fault there was no bipartisanship. But just wait, as soon as people start realizing the benefits of the bill, the GOP will take credit.
 
he is an idiot: this is well known
 
Jim Douglas has been the most partisan governor in Vermont's history - he has brought DC partisanship to Vermont!
 
When Republicans don't vote with Democrats, it's the Republicans' fault there is no bipartisanship. When Democrats don't vote with Republicans, it's still the Republicans' fault. Excellent. The only bupartisan aspect of HCR was that opposition to the bill was bipartisan.
 
Jim Douglas had help in bringing partisanship to Vermont -- namely Mike Smith, Jim Barnett, Jason Gibbs, Neale Lunderville and Dennise Casey!
 
There goes 8:18am's telephone line!
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

June 2006   July 2006   August 2006   September 2006   October 2006   November 2006   December 2006   January 2007   February 2007   March 2007   April 2007   May 2007   June 2007   July 2007   August 2007   September 2007   October 2007   November 2007   December 2007   January 2008   February 2008   March 2008   April 2008   May 2008   June 2008   July 2008   August 2008   September 2008   October 2008   November 2008   December 2008   January 2009   February 2009   March 2009   April 2009   May 2009   June 2009   July 2009   August 2009   September 2009   October 2009   November 2009   December 2009   January 2010   February 2010   March 2010   April 2010