Dear Friends:

President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night was inspirational in reaching for humanitarian purposes to cover the uninsured and underinsured with adequate health insurance coverage and, at the same time, very pragmatic in outlining a legislative proposal which will restrain costs so that those who are now insured can continue to afford insurance. 

Click below to hear my take on the President’s Address

A key point in the President’s presentation was his insistence that there not be any addition to the deficit or to the national debt, and he outlined a number of ideas where savings can be obtained.  It is important in the public option that the President’s ideas be implemented to maintain a level playing field with private insurance plans. 

I was very perturbed, frankly, about the outburst by South Carolina Representative Joseph Wilson who did not show proper respect to either the President or the Office of the Presidency. Representative Wilson has already issued an apology. In my own view, that is insufficient. I believe that there has to be consideration by the House of Representatives as to disciplinary action; that is within their purview. But being in the Chamber and seeing the outburst, it was unseemly and that kind of conduct ought not to be tolerated. 

As we move ahead on the health care debate, my office and I remain open to your suggestions and your input. I had some raucous town meetings last month, and I believe it is very important in a democracy for people to be able to express themselves. During August I traveled the state in accordance with my customary policy to visit all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and heard a lot of concerns about unemployment, the economy, global warming and immigration. So if you have any ideas, drop me a line. In a representative democracy, the more I hear from Pennsylvania’s citizens the better job I can do in the United States Senate. 

Thank you,

Arlen Specter