Open Thread

July 18th, 2009 9:29 AM

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Obama wants to be able to set Medicare reimbursement rates!

The White House is asking Congress to give the executive branch more power to limit Medicare's rising costs. A White House letter to top lawmakers on Friday said the move would be "a critical step forward" in controlling health care costs and providing better care. The proposal would allow an independent advisory board to recommend changes in Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors, hospitals and other providers. If the president approved the recommendations, Congress could still vote to reject them altogether. But Congress could not approve some recommendations and reject others.  

Is there anything this president doesn't want control of? Has America ever had a president more interested in controlling all aspects of citizens' lives than Obama?