Wisconsin's Paul Ryan is ready to play point guard for Republicans as he assumes the chair of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In basketball, the point guard calls the plays and sets the tempo on offense. Tax and other key issues before the Congress must flow through the Ways and Means Committee. That makes the chairman of the committee among the key members of Congress. It guarantees a role in virtually all of Washington's controversies.
The role is so large and powerful that Ryan would have to resign the chairmanship if he were to run for president in 2016. He was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2012.
Among potential topics for the committee are Obamacare, social service spending, and the future of medical care for the elderly. In the last Congress, the Republican majority in the House repeatedly voted to repeal Obamacare. The funding of Obamacare, including a 3.8-percent income tax on the investment income of the wealthy, clearly is an issue for Ryan's committee.
In the new Congress, Republicans also hold a majority in the Senate. It's likely that Senate Republicans will also join the chorus for repeal, knowing full well that such legislation would be vetoed by President Obama.
Finding an alternative is far more difficult than just calling for repeal of the health insurance program. Ryan is viewed as both a policy wonk and a man who understands the politics of Washington and the country. If any Republican alternative to Obamacare is developed, it's likely to have Ryan's imprint on it.
Just calling for outright repeal of Obamacare would leave the Republican health-care alternative to the next presidential nominee and the 2016 campaign.
Ryan is perhaps best known for two ideas: letting states decide social issues and changing how future generations of senior citizens obtain Medicare. Ryan argues that states are more creative and do a better job in providing social services to their residents. Legislatures and governors better understand their citizens than members of Congress can, he argues.
He would have the federal government send block grants to the states to help provide those needs. If additional funds are needed, states would define how to find the revenue.
Critics suggest Ryan's block grant approach is an attempt to solve federal budget problems by "kicking the can down the road" to the 50 legislatures and 50 governors. Devising a formula on which to base the block grants would be a magnificent wrestling match in Congress.
Then there is Medicare, the federally run health insurance program for the elderly. Ryan has suggested that those now younger than 55 years be given a grant when they reach Medicare eligibility age that allows them to purchase their health insurance from private carriers.
That sounds a lot like Obamacare, through which millions of low-income citizens buy their health insurance with the help of federal subsidies.
All of the financing and health care issues that bedeviled the creation of Obamacare would again have to be resolved. Would private health insurance companies be able to offer varying degrees of care to the elderly? Would the grants increase as a citizen reaches 70, and then 80? Older people need more medical care.
President George W. Bush flirted with Medicare changes but they were dead on arrival in the Congress. The public likes the current system. Polls repeatedly have shown the public likes the assurance of Medicare.
Changing Medicare would be far more controversial than Obamacare.
- Matt Pommer, a 35-year veteran of covering state government in Madison, writes the weekly State Capitol Newsletter for the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. His column is published Monday in the Times.
In basketball, the point guard calls the plays and sets the tempo on offense. Tax and other key issues before the Congress must flow through the Ways and Means Committee. That makes the chairman of the committee among the key members of Congress. It guarantees a role in virtually all of Washington's controversies.
The role is so large and powerful that Ryan would have to resign the chairmanship if he were to run for president in 2016. He was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2012.
Among potential topics for the committee are Obamacare, social service spending, and the future of medical care for the elderly. In the last Congress, the Republican majority in the House repeatedly voted to repeal Obamacare. The funding of Obamacare, including a 3.8-percent income tax on the investment income of the wealthy, clearly is an issue for Ryan's committee.
In the new Congress, Republicans also hold a majority in the Senate. It's likely that Senate Republicans will also join the chorus for repeal, knowing full well that such legislation would be vetoed by President Obama.
Finding an alternative is far more difficult than just calling for repeal of the health insurance program. Ryan is viewed as both a policy wonk and a man who understands the politics of Washington and the country. If any Republican alternative to Obamacare is developed, it's likely to have Ryan's imprint on it.
Just calling for outright repeal of Obamacare would leave the Republican health-care alternative to the next presidential nominee and the 2016 campaign.
Ryan is perhaps best known for two ideas: letting states decide social issues and changing how future generations of senior citizens obtain Medicare. Ryan argues that states are more creative and do a better job in providing social services to their residents. Legislatures and governors better understand their citizens than members of Congress can, he argues.
He would have the federal government send block grants to the states to help provide those needs. If additional funds are needed, states would define how to find the revenue.
Critics suggest Ryan's block grant approach is an attempt to solve federal budget problems by "kicking the can down the road" to the 50 legislatures and 50 governors. Devising a formula on which to base the block grants would be a magnificent wrestling match in Congress.
Then there is Medicare, the federally run health insurance program for the elderly. Ryan has suggested that those now younger than 55 years be given a grant when they reach Medicare eligibility age that allows them to purchase their health insurance from private carriers.
That sounds a lot like Obamacare, through which millions of low-income citizens buy their health insurance with the help of federal subsidies.
All of the financing and health care issues that bedeviled the creation of Obamacare would again have to be resolved. Would private health insurance companies be able to offer varying degrees of care to the elderly? Would the grants increase as a citizen reaches 70, and then 80? Older people need more medical care.
President George W. Bush flirted with Medicare changes but they were dead on arrival in the Congress. The public likes the current system. Polls repeatedly have shown the public likes the assurance of Medicare.
Changing Medicare would be far more controversial than Obamacare.
- Matt Pommer, a 35-year veteran of covering state government in Madison, writes the weekly State Capitol Newsletter for the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. His column is published Monday in the Times.
