WEEK OF THE WOMAN

Having survived my first post, I probably should quit while I’m ahead. Thanks for all of your encouraging words.

It’s been a good week for women. First, Elinor Ostrom, a political scientist, won the Nobel Prize in Economics for her work in economics (go figure). OK, the Nobel Prize “ain’t” what it used to be… Then, Senator Olympia Snowe may have earned a Profile in Courage Award for being the lone Republican on the Senate Finance Committee to vote in favor of the Baucus health care reform bill. She’s been on just about every news and talk show since. I was pretty impressed with her. She’s a gifted communicator—not only do the words come easily, but she seems to actually believe what she says. Speaker Pelosi, defending the “public option,” has drawn a wiggly line in the sand saying that Olympia will not control the final outcome. Don’t bet on it. When it comes down to it, the Senate will be driving this process. Snowe indicated that she could live with a “trigger.” If competition does not result from the legislation, she’d consider going to a public option. Apparently, that was in the RX Medicare legislation in 2004. Since prescription drug plans for seniors are highly competitive, she thinks the same will happen with the so-called insurance “exchange.”

There is a difference, though. As I understand it (and please help me out if I am mistaken), the exchange will not be a national exchange. Insurance companies will have to meet individual state requirements before they can enter the exchange. Now, Blue Cross may very well offer reductions to those whose employers do not offer health care benefits, but premiums are not likely to be any cheaper than they are for those who have group policies now. My employer tells us that Blue Cross has already announced increasing rates by more than 10 percent for our group. Seems like that’s not very politic of them (big hikes in the middle of the health care debate?). I asked a friend why they would do this right now—his answer? “Because they can!”

OTHER STUFF

• Terry Sewell continues to raise more money than anyone else in the race for the 7th CD. The question is whether money will make the difference in this race.

• I just came back from Washington and asked about the status of Dr. Regina Benjamin, the President’s nominee for Surgeon General. Republicans have apparently put a hold on her nomination. Speculation is they want to keep her out of the health care debate. She is a compelling advocate—by putting her nomination in a kind of limbo status, she is likely to remain relatively quiet.

• When the Pres responded glibly to the Katrina question on why the government was not responsive to the need for a full service hospital, I thought he looked pretty lame. (He said, “I just can’t write a check; there’s this thing called the Constitution and Congress.”) The truth is he can probably write a check. Then, he goes off to a fundraiser in SF where the price of a meal is 34K per couple. Sends a terrible message.

• The Administration is bent upon taking on/down FOX News. Why would they do that? “Because they can!”

• The Langford trial cranks up today. Anybody make it to the vigil?