Democrats Grapple with Massachusetts Special Election Results and Health Care Reform Legislation

The Democrats' number two man in the House, Steny Hoyer, stated that Democrats are discussing how to move forward on health care reform following the Massachusetts special election outcome. Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY) from the House Ways and Means Committee joined Martha MacCallum on America's Newsroom to discuss the implications of the election and the party's approach to health care reform.

Key Takeaways:

• Representative Yarmuth attributed the Massachusetts election outcome to voter frustration with the process of health care reform, citing the "Cornhusker deal" and the unions' deal as examples of what turned voters off.
• Yarmuth proposed breaking down the health care reform bill into smaller, more digestible components to allow the American people to understand and support each piece individually.
• He acknowledged that the Democratic Party has a challenge ahead of them, but argued that they must demonstrate a clear game plan for job creation and economic growth.
• Yarmuth emphasized that Americans want the government involved in addressing the country's economic woes, but want a better sense of what the government is doing and more confidence in its plans.
• The congressman stressed the importance of addressing the health care reform dilemma in a responsible and effective way, citing public support for individual elements of the proposed bill.

Statistics:

• Yarmuth mentioned that surveys show public support for individual elements of the health care reform bill.
• He stated that the Democratic Party has had to take tough decisions in the past, such as the TARP bailout and the Recovery Act, in response to unprecedented economic challenges.

Sources:

• Representative John Yarmuth
• America's Newsroom
• Federal News Service, Inc.