USCC|Cooperation: the new keynote of the conference?

Yijun Liu

Washington Post

Editor: Zhiyi Zhu

The reporter discovered an interesting phenomenon during the session: both two parties』 senators have mentioned the word 「cooperate」 frequently.

-Democrats』 views

「We will definitely cooperate with FDA.」 Sen. Bob Casey declared, 「the propose is to make sure the products are safe and manufactured under required procedures in order to ensure that the market is relatively safe, free and fair.」

FDA stands for Food and Drug Administration; the reporter believes that this action will certainly play a significant role in democrats, hopefully democrats can take advantages in FDA』s

cooperation.

He also claimed that democrats will take action to reduce monopoly: 「democrats』』 action is to limit companies cooperating with hospitals because it will form monopoly.」

「Government will set some restriction and limitation in some vital drugs but avoid intervention into the market as much as possible.」 Sen. Brown had written this sentence in the working paper, which inspired the reporter』s interest in the relationship between government and companies. During the interview, the reporter asked Sen. Brown to clarify the definition of 「intervention」. 「Government will not interfere the market if there is no monopoly,」 he explained, 「the cooperation is going to be like, government will balance the market equilibrium, support small pharmaceutical companies or insurance companies by providing financial aid, and crack down on illegal companies.」 BUT, the reporter is skeptical in Sen. Brown』s statement, there are still no clear boundaries to limit excessive intervention and proper intervention, who will make the judgment? Government or companies?

The reporter also found out there was a strong smell of gunpowder between democrats and republican, they were having an unforgettable debate during the session.

Sen. Casey received an unexpected invitation from Sen. Hatch who was from republicans during the discussion on WPs.

Sen. Casey argued that there is no accurate and clearly definition of general health status, also it cannot represent the needs of citizens. Also, he suggested republicans to base on

Sen. Hatch showed his gratefulness to Sen. Casey for his kind advice, suddenly gave Sen. Casey an invitation of cooperation.

「Sen. Casey welcome the cooperation.」 Sen. Casey responded.

Considering the 「smell of gunpowder」, the reporter was wondering whether the cooperation was just a trick.

「Sen. Casey understands the political conflicts between two parties, and yet both democrats and republicans have to work together to solve the healthcare problem. As I said, I accept any cooperation from republicans in the future.」 Sen. Casey claimed.

-Republicans』 views

「Although the Republicans opposes the ACA in various ways, we actually had reached a consensus with the Democrats which reserves the part of the ACA which bans insurance companies from raising fees when treating applicants with pre-conditions.

In advance, this Working paper has largely considered the interest appeal of the insurance companies, suggested in this WP, the amount of money fined for people who doesn』t apply for a health insurance in the current ACA should be instead be replaced with a rise in price

aim for people who applies for a healthcare program only when they are under unfavorable conditions, which is presented in a way that the residents who is uncovered for more than two months in a row will be charged more than average.」 Sen. Bill Cassidy introduced.

It is known that republicans also had cooperation with the representatives from the Military committee, especially Sen. Tillis, who is in willing to save financial aid for the healthcare reform by giving the veterans targeted treatment and not granting unnecessary request for financial aid in medical care. This cooperation is concern as giving the finance committee an additional backup when solving the expensive question of healthcare.

The reporter is gratified at the cooperation between party and party, government and company, committee and committee. The reporter always concern the cooperation as the quintessence of politics.