"he will submit legislation that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congres

[rodeodance]

HE HAS MY VOTE!

pass this around

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_on_el_pr/edwards... ;_ylt=Aqt4JuWA02C.4FogHwqcdPOyFz4D
.........

ANALYSIS: The commercial reflects a theme that Edwards sounded at a Democratic fundraising dinner last weekend. He has called for a plan for universal health care by requiring all U.S. residents to obtain health insurance. Edwards would require employers to cover their workers or help pay for their insurance; he would expand Medicaid and a federal health insurance program for children and would create regional insurance markets to broaden purchasing power. But in stating that he would use his power as president to do away with the health coverage enjoyed by members of Congress, Edwards leaves out one major step. "Offhand, I don't have a clue as to where he would get the power to do that," said Christopher Schroeder, a law professor and expert on constitutional separation of powers at the Duke University School of Law. "Perhaps it would be his bully pulpit power." Indeed, a president has no power to unilaterally cut off congressional benefits. The Edwards campaign's Web site makes his intentions clearer:

"On the first day of Edwards' administration," a Web posting says, "he will submit legislation that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congress and all senior political appointees in the legislative and executive branches of government on July 20, 2009 — unless Congress has enacted universal health care reform."

Analysis by Associated Press Writer Jim Kuhnhenn

_____

On the net:

http:http://www.johnedwards.com/iowa

[Vickers]

1. This would've been more significant if he would've done this while

he was a recipient of that very same health coverage.

[rodeodance]

2. oh poo poo

[EV_Ares]

7. Has nothing to do with the fact that ths is an issue now and regardless

this certainly is a good way to go about it. At least he has a plan doesn't he. Have you checked back during his time in congress to see what he was working on while he was there? I don't know about this one but he has always been an advocate of some sort of health care for americans.

[Vickers]

10. Health care wasn't an issue when he was a Senator?

:shrug:

I like Edwards, but to me this is grandstanding.

[EV_Ares]

13. Yeah, could be, but I imagine people who want and need health care don't

care how they get it, be grandstanding or what. I certainly will be disappointed if it is and just another political tool for election purposes and it would be a cruel one as health care is no laughing matter and has completely wiped some people and families out financially. The reason I don't is his history. He has a really good track record for working for the common man and worker. Yes, he has made a lot of money and is very wealthy from his work but you don't hold that against someone who is using that money in a good way. Didn't mean to get off the subject here and understand where you are coming from. We will have to wait and see.

[Ian David]

3. AMENDMENT XXVII

AMENDMENT XXVII

Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/print_friendly.html?page=constitution_amendments_11-27_content.html&title=NARA%20%7C%20The%20Constitution%20of%20the%20United%20States%3A%20Amendments%2011-27

[Shrek]

5. That doesn't mean such legislation couldn't be proposed or passed

Assuming the amendment applies to health care benefits, it just means that it couldn't "take effect" until after the next election. Legislation could still be introduced, debated, passed, and signed.

Edit : typo

[Ian David]

8. Exactly. He can do it, but it has to be a law, NOT a Presidential Order. n/t

[William769]

12. Maybe he will try one of Bush's stunts?

[MethuenProgressive]

6. ...says that Edwards can't do what he's promising to do.

And he's hoping his backers are stupid enough not to know.

[robcon]

4. Sounds like Edwards will be the most ineffective president ever.

Political blackmail is not conducive to cooperation. And Congress won't take away their own health coverage - as federal employees, they are entitled to that coverage.

Edwards is not ready to be president, IMO.

[EV_Ares]

9. Sounds like Edwards will be a president for the people. Who says he

can't get this done. There are all kinds of ways to get legislation passed and this is an issue congress is going to work with him on.

[DFW]

11. Considering the last six and a half years....

There hasn't been any mental health care for the president
since the start of this administration. Or if so, he obviously
has not chosen to take advantage of any that was available.

[hijinx87]

14. this has about a zillionth the chance of acheiving the goal

of universal healthcare as simply submitting legislation for
universal health care in the first place.

the subterfuge is silly. and since it is more than likely that
we will still control both houses of congress during the first
day of a hypothetical edwards administration, why is he calling
out his own congressional leadership?

[GreenArrow]

15. yep, if he'd put half as much energy into fighting

for a real single payer plan as he does into his own half-assed, "let's keep feeding the parasites and make it mandatory that you participate health plan" and cheap rhetoric like this...

This is pie in the sky. He's making unkeepable promises right and left.

[MonkeyFunk]

16. as pointed out above

this would be unconstitutional.

But he's on the right track, at least. Earlier reports had him saying he'd take away coverage. At least now he knows Congress would have to do that (fat chance!), but he can't do it by 2009.