AS OF present writing (January 9, 1948) Congress has reconvened and President Truman has come before a joint session of both houses with renewed and vigorous support of a national health insurance program. But Congress is Republican and Senator Taft has declared his determination to fight his Republican health program (S-545) through Congress, despite what he has termed "increasing propaganda activity" in behalf of the Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bill (S-1320). And, it should be remembered, Senator Taft is chairman of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare which will decide upon the health bills to be reported to the floor of the Senate during ensuing months.
Last month when we reviewed the Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bills (S-1606 and S-1320) and the Taft Bill (S-545), we stated that "it is unlikely that either a comprehensive Democratic or Republican health program will be acted upon in this session of Congress." This prediction still looks good. It is a reasonably good guess that the Taft and the Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bills will deadlock in Committee hearings early in the year. We may then expect to see a less controversial measure reported out of Committee favorably so that those seeking re-election in the fall can claim achievement in relation to the health of the people. The cause of child health is always popular. Therefore, the School Health Services Bill (HR-1980 and S-1290) may play the role of a compromise bill unless it can be demonstrated that some other approach to health legislation is preferable.
DGHNO-DGBMT-Joint Session
