Senate leaders on Tuesday are scheduled to take up the Democrats' health care reform bill in what's expected to be a raucous debate through at least the end of the year. The bill would establish a government-run insurance program, require nearly all Americans to obtain insurance, issue tax credits to help purchase coverage and fine some employers that don't provide it.
Nearly all Republicans are unequivocally opposed to the legislation, putting the burden of finding 60 votes on Democrats, who hope to pick up a handful of Republicans.
The public insurance plan is going to play a significant role in the debate, despite the fact that the Congressional Budget Office estimated that only about 6 million people would end up on the plan. It has become the most significant lightning rod - many Democrats deem it necessary to drive down costs, while Republicans say it would give government too large a role in health care. Other sticking points are likely to be the cost and the impact on the deficit; funding for abortion; and coverage of illegal immigrants.
In the Senate, where the bill can't pass without 60 votes, every lawmaker will matter. But here are the people to watch out for...
SOURCE: Washington Times
Monday, November 30, 2009
Back To Work
The Senate returns to work today after a week off for Thanksgiving, and the pending matter on the floor is the debate on health care legislation from Democrats. It will be a busy run to Christmas for Senators.
"What happens next is we legislate," said Jim Manley, the chief spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who interrupted his NFL viewing habits to take email questions from pesky reporters like your blog author.
"The bill will be fully amendable," said Manley, which - if I take him at his word - means Reid won't try to "fill the amendment tree" and hamstring any GOP efforts to amend the health bill.
But Manley also telegraphed some tough parliamentary moves in the weeks ahead.
"We need 60 votes at some point to end debate and will try to do that," Manley added.
Meanwhile, the lead paragraph of the latest health care story from the Associated Press laid bare the problems that Reid and other leading Democrats have right now on health care.
"The 60 votes aren't there any more."
They were ten days ago, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. But Democrats face a lot of hurdles, on the public health insurance option, abortion funding restrictions and much, much more.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
"What happens next is we legislate," said Jim Manley, the chief spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who interrupted his NFL viewing habits to take email questions from pesky reporters like your blog author.
"The bill will be fully amendable," said Manley, which - if I take him at his word - means Reid won't try to "fill the amendment tree" and hamstring any GOP efforts to amend the health bill.
But Manley also telegraphed some tough parliamentary moves in the weeks ahead.
"We need 60 votes at some point to end debate and will try to do that," Manley added.
Meanwhile, the lead paragraph of the latest health care story from the Associated Press laid bare the problems that Reid and other leading Democrats have right now on health care.
"The 60 votes aren't there any more."
They were ten days ago, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. But Democrats face a lot of hurdles, on the public health insurance option, abortion funding restrictions and much, much more.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
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