“When you cut through all the noise and all the distractions that are out there, I think what’s most telling is that some of the people who are most supportive of reform are the very medical professionals who know the health care system best,’’ said Obama.
But Senator John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming, an orthopedic surgeon for 25 years, said many doctors, nurses, and patients strongly oppose Obama’s proposals.
They are greatly alarmed at proposed cuts in Medicare, which is the main source of health care for many people in Wyoming and elsewhere, Barrasso said in an interview yesterday. He said doctors and hospitals also want provisions to protect them against “abusive lawsuits’’ by people claiming malpractice.
The president broke no ground in his comments. He outlined the tenets of his health overhaul: expanded and affordable health coverage options for tens of millions of people, strengthened protections for those who already have insurance, and more time for health professionals to help patients with preventative and healing care.
Obama to attend dinner for gay rights group
President Obama plans to address the nation’s largest gay rights group Saturday, a person familiar with his schedule said yesterday.
He will speak at a fund-raising dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the White House had not yet announced Obama’s plans.
The dinner falls on the eve of the National Equality March, expected to draw thousands of gay and lesbian activists to the National Mall. Many members of this mostly Democratic constituency have been critical of Obama’s pace toward redeeming campaign promises to end a ban on gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, guarantee gay marriage equality, and take tough measures against discrimination.
“Eleven months after his election, he has failed to deliver on any of his commitments to gay Americans, but even worse has been his refusal to engage around these issues,’’ said Richard Socarides, who advised President Bill Clinton’s administration on gay and lesbian policy.
Obama has taken an incremental approach to the issues. He has expanded some federal benefits to same-sex partners, but not health benefits or pension guarantees. His aides said he will deal with the ban on gays in the military later.
Federal agencies told to set targets to cut pollution
The White House is putting the federal government on a greenhouse-gas diet.
In an executive order signed yesterday, President Obama directed all federal agencies to set the first-ever targets for reducing climate-altering pollution from government buildings, fleets, and federal workers’ commutes.
The agencies will have 90 days to tell the White House how much they plan to measure and reduce greenhouse gases from buildings and vehicles by 2020. Targets for employees’ commutes and travel will be due next June.
