The Role of Congress and its Legislative Process in Healthcare Reform

Every day we read headlines like “Health-care Reform Consensus Builds Around Three Major Goals,” “White House Healthcare Summit Offers Opportunity for Input Into Reform,” or “WellPoint CEO optimistic about healthcare reform.” To understand the news on healthcare reform, we must understand the role of Congress and its legislative process. What’s the job a Senator or House Representative? What role does Congress play in healthcare reform? What’s the legislative process of reforming healthcare? What are the challenges facing Congress in the legislative process?

The Job of a Congressman
Before answering these questions, we must first understand the job of a Congressman and the function of Congress.  Below are the basics job functions of a Congressman:

• Studying and doing basic research on proposed legislation
• Keeping track of the way government agencies are administering laws passed by the Congress
• Working in committee or subcommittee on oversight activities
• Debating and voting on legislation on the floor of the House
• Working informally with other members to build support for legislation of concern
• Taking the time to gain a firsthand knowledge of foreign affairs
• Working to develop legislation
• Sending updates about the activities of Congress to people in their district
• Helping people in their district who have personal problems with the government
• Working in subcommittees to develop legislation
• Meeting personally with constituents when they come to Washington
• Talking the time explain to citizens what their government is doing to solve important problems and why
• Making sure their district gets its fair share of government money and projects
• Staying in touch with local government officials in its district
• Giving speeches and personal appearances to talk to interested groups about legislative matters before Congress
• Getting back to their district to stay in touch with their constituents

The function of Congress in healthcare reform or any issue is to:

• Make law
• Check the administration
• Educate the public
• Represent constituents, localities, and “interests”
• Judicial function such as its power to impeach and remove officials

The Legislative Process
Now that we understand the basics of a Congressman’s job and Congress’ role in government, how does the Congressional legislative process work? The legislative process is the center of political, economic, and social advantages struggles. Legislative politics and public policy are dominated by organized special interests, such as the agriculture, business, or healthcare lobby. Institutional arrangements in the legislature that are hidden for the public’s view make it difficult to assign responsibility for actions taken by government. At times, it seems like the legislative process is a black box that obscures the public for understanding how bills are formed.

Below is flowchart of the legislative process from the Congressional Deskbook - The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress.

As it tackles healthcare reform, how will Congress allow the public to view its legislative process, providing a similar transparent approach like President Obama’s? President Obama uses a public forum that brings together the people who have a stake in our health care system and the people who have the ability to change it. The official White House website live blogs the event, while providing video of healthcare summit highlight. President Obama also launched an official website on healthcare reform to educate citizens on the issues.

The Challenges facing Congress
The typical challenges facing Congress in addressing healthcare reform or any issues are typically with special interest groups, its committee system, and the divided control of the government.

• Special interest groups (lobbyists) sometimes take a toll on the legislature’s ability to serve broad public purposes.
• The committee system is often a point of controversy. Committees composition and policy perspective are sometimes out of step with the main elements of their party or nation.
• Divided control of government with one party in control of the executive branch and one or two parties in control of the legislature; however, with a democrat in the White House and democratic majority in the House and Senate, divide control should not be a barrier at this time.

Congress and its legislative process face many challenges in reforming healthcare. Congress must work with special interests groups on how proposed healthcare reform will affect the delivery system, financial resources, non-financial resources, existing government programs, and consumers (see “An Overview of the Healthcare Delivery System“); work with the White House and its supporters on healthcare reform; and balance the needs to their constituents and the nation.

Souces:

• The American Legislative Process: Congress and the States by Willam J. Keefe and Morris S.Ogul
• First World Interest Groups: A Comparative Perspective edited by Clive S. Thomas
• Congressional Deskbook - The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress