Washington » Sen. Orrin Hatch, who has made health care a cornerstone of his 32-year Senate career, sounded like a disappointed father Wednesday as he scolded Democrats for the way they have crafted a major reform bill.
"I have nothing but love and regard for my colleagues on this committee," the Utah Republican said during the first hearing about the details of health care reform. "I respect you. But look at what you are doing here. This, in my opinion, is something that isn't going to work. It's going to be too costly and it isn't going to do the job we all hope it could do as really dedicated people on this very, very important committee."
Hatch, and just about every other Republican on the committee, ripped the bill's price tag, which exceeds more than $1 trillion because of new subsidies for the poor.
They also complained about a lack of detail on controversial items, their inability to get questions answered by the Health and Human Services Department, and above all, their disgust over a government-run health insurance program that would compete with the private sector.
"You advance legislation by focusing on areas of compromise not strife," Hatch criticized. "Now unfortunately we are beginning a partisan exercise on perhaps the most important legislation of our lives."
Hatch's words held significant weight because he is a senior member of the two committees drafting the plan and he is largely seen as one of the Democrat's best hopes of gaining Republican support. He has a long, close friendship with Sen. Ted Kennedy, the chairman of the Senate Health Committee. The two have co-authored a number of health care bills in the past and were working on this one, too.
But Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer, is no longer well enough to lead the reform efforts.
"I'm personally very disappointed, because I wanted a thoughtful bipartisan compromise that could have become a lasting legacy for my dear friend Ted Kennedy," Hatch said.
Kennedy has asked his friend, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, to take the lead on the bill. On Wednesday, Dodd tried to reach out to Republicans, promising to accept a series of amendments and urging them to continue working on a bill.
"Senator Kennedy won't accept failure and neither will the American people," said Dodd.
Republicans and Democrats agree on much of the proposal, including the creation of health insurance "gateways," where consumers could pick between plans. They also back incentives for preventative care and expanding health information technology. But deep divisions remain on the role of government and how to fund the proposal.
Hatch last week called the current draft "a complete liberal mishmash of ideas."
Wednesday's hearing was dominated by opening statements from senators, who will get down to debating the specifics over the next few weeks with the hopes of passing a reform bill later this year. But Hatch said that reforming health care, which accounts for one-sixth of the economy, won't be successful with just one party on board.
"We need to work together, I just hope that we can, but what I have seen so far indicates that we are not," he warned his colleagues.
