I just finished participating in a blogger conference call, aka BCC, with John Thune that dealt primarily with health care issues.

One of the bloggers that participated asked why Republicans were offering reasonable amendments to the bill. Specifically, he asked if these amendments might not make the bill more palatable and help with passing the bill. Sen. Thune first pointed out that Harry Reid controls when votes for final passage, etc., will happen. Sen. Thun then pointed out that none of the GOP’s amendments has gotten more than 51 votes thus far, with most amendments getting 40-45 votes.

Sen. Thune then said that the strategy isn’t to make the bill more palatable. Rather, it’s the GOPs strategy to put senators on the record as opposing popular amendments.

After hearing that, I asked if one such amendment was the Johanns amendment that would’ve stopped the cuts to Medicare’s home care budget. I mentioned that there’s alot of people are upset and scared about a 14.5 percent cut in one of the most efficient government programs.

Sen. Thune said that that’s exactly the type of amendment that he was talking about. He then noted that 4 Democrats voted with Republicans on that amendment before mentioning how much cheaper home care is than a stay in a hospital or a nursing facility. I was astonished to hear that it’s 30 times cheaper for home care than hospital care.

In light of that fact, the Senate’s decision to cut this efficient program speaks volumes about this Senate’s radicalism and its heartlessness. Defeating an amendment that would keep an efficient program running by such a wide margin is the picture of heartlessness.

Following that vote, Democrats that say that they’re for “the little guy” in my presence will get an earful like they’ve never gotten before.

I took the opportunity to tell Sen. Thune that they should pound that vote day after day after day because it’s a vote that plays well, whether we’re talking about with rural constituents or suburban constituents.

Technorati: Bloggers, John Thune, Mike Johanns, Medicare, GOP, Home Care Cuts, Democrats

Cross-posted at California Conservative