The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) would like to remind you that Congress is in recess until the Senate reconvenes on July 12th and the House reconvenes on July 13^th.   With most Members of Congress in their home districts, there was little activity on Capitol Hill this week.  However, President Obama made a controversial recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

Dr. Donald Berwick to Head CMS

CMS has been without a Director since 2006 and there has been much speculation as to who would eventually head the department that oversees Medicare.  This speculation had grown especially loud with the large swath of spending cuts  and new initiatives that Medicare will have to undertake as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). President Obama nominated Dr. Berwick to head CMS in April, but no Committee hearings or other action had been taken on his nomination. 

In the months since Dr. Berwick’s nomination his work and previous statements have been both praised and assailed.  Reactions to the recess appointment were also mixed.  In defending the recess appointment the White House explained the pressing need to have someone running Medicare while the PPACA is implemented.  Some supported the recess appointment, and others expressed disappointment that the normal Senate process was bypassed before more could be learned about the nominee.  In a statement, Sen. Max Baucus (MT), the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said:

“I'm troubled that, rather than going through the standard nomination process, Dr.Berwick was recess appointed. Senate confirmation of presidential appointees is an essential process prescribed by the Constitution that serves as a check on executive power and protects Montanans and all Americans by ensuring that crucial questions are asked of the nominee – and answered. Despite the recess appointment, I look forward to working with CMS as they implement health reform to deliver the better health care outcomes and lower costs for patients we fought to pass in the landmark health reform law.” 

Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY), the Senate Minority Leader also commented: 

“Democrats haven't scheduled so much as a committee hearing for Donald Berwick but the mere possibility of allowing the American people the opportunity to hear what he intends to do with their health care is evidently reason enough for this Administration to sneak him through without public scrutiny.” 

“Just over three months after passage of this misguided law, with Americans' worst fears about it being realized every day, the fact that this Administration won't allow the man charged with implementing the President's plan to cut $500 billion out of Medicare to testify about his plans for the care of our nation's seniors is truly outrageous.” 

TSCL looks forward to Congress’ return next week and to what is shaping up to be a very active end to the 111^th Congress.

For the latest updates and information from Capitol Hill, to learn more about TSCL’s key issues, to sign a petition to Congress, or to find contact information for your Member(s) of Congress, please visit the ACTION CENTER of our website.