In his final State of the Union speech last night, President Bush prioritized pressing domestic economic issues ahead of healthcare, which has been the top domestic issue for several years.
"At kitchen tables across our country there is concern about our economic future," Bush said. "The health and welfare of our citizens calls for a rigorous debate. We have unfinished work before us, and we must get it done," he told Congress.
In a speech filled with many directives to Congress, Bush urged healthcare reform right after an economic recovery package. "To build a future of quality healthcare, we must trust patients and doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better information and better options," he said. "We share a common goal of making healthcare more affordable and accessible for all Americans."
To achieve this goal, the President proposed reforming the tax code to benefit Americans who currently cannot purchase healthcare through their employers with pre-tax dollars.
He also urged Congress to pass legislation that would expand health savings accounts, create association health plans for small businesses, promote health information technology and put an end to "junk" medical lawsuits.
He also called for increased efforts to provide better healthcare to veterans. Over the past 7 years America has increased funding to veterans' healthcare by 95 percent.
"As we increase funding, we must also reform our veterans system to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation," he said.
Critics found fault in Bush's omission of major national healthcare issues such as reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
In a statement following the speech, Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) said, "It's clear that President Bush fails to recognize that our national health care system is in a state of crisis. The reality is that 46 million Americans are currently uninsured and this Administration has done little to help them."
Dingell voiced disappointment over the President's refusal to sign two bills that would expand funding to the SCHIP. "It's disappointing that, in his final State of the Union address, the President did not mention the importance of providing health care to America's children," Dingell said. "This year, the President turned his back on the most vulnerable among us-children in low-income families."
"The President claims he wants to expand access to affordable healthcare but he has continually blocked Congressional efforts to achieve this goal," added Dingell. "Unless the President decides to start working with Congressional and State leaders to protect the health of more Americans, a record number of uninsured Americans will be his legacy."
In her Democratic response to the President, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) expressed hope. "There is a chance, Mr. President, in the next 357 Days, to get real results, and give the American people renewed optimism that their challenges are the top priority," she said. "Working together, working hard, committing to results, we can get the job done."