Blog - Congress Links

Even with Congress out of town, lawmakers still manages to make a lot of noise – particularly about President Obama’s offshore drilling plans. Anyway, here’s today’s afternoon digest of articles and blog posts from around the web:

• The substantial but ultimately unsuccessful efforts to undermine Medicare after its passage in 1965 could offer a glimpse at the post-game effort to undo the Affordable Care Act. (The New Yorker)
• Greg Sargent believes a poll showing that most Americans think Democrats abused their power in passing the Affordable Care Act is less a statement about health care and more about the effectiveness of the GOP’s messaging machine. (The Plum Line)
• Even after the passage of the Affordable Care Act into law, the health care air wars still rage on. (Talking Points Memo)
• Like health care, financial regulation is a daunting subject that can overwhelm anyone who doesn’t follow the issue for a living. For us regular folk, here’s a helpful cheat sheet. (The American Prospect)
• Jonathan Chait wonders why the Democratic overhaul of student loans, in which government subsidies for private lenders are eliminated, is described by conservatives as a “Soviet-style takeover.” (The New Republic)
• The Democratic Party is trying to capitalize on Vice President Biden’s big f——— gaffe by selling t-shirts. (The Atlantic)
• Could the government save $300 billion annually by eliminating the Senate? (The Onion)