Meanwhile, reports surfaced last night that Democrats are now consindering changes to the "deal" of earlier this week on health care, after complaints from hospital and doctors groups.
In other words, the Democratic "deal" is still evolving, even as the Congressional Budget Office runs the cost estimates.
As for the plans of Democrats, the word is that they may go for the gusto next week, and force cloture votes on the health care bill, even though little progress has been made on it.
If they can get 60 votes, then they will pass the bill, and maybe try to jam through a final conference report before the end of the year.
We'll see if they can actually pull that off or not. If the numbers are okay from the CBO, it may be possible.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
Friday, December 11, 2009
Speaker Pelosi: We would do 'almost anything' to pass healthcare this year
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) laid out a scenario Thursday in which the massive overhaul of the nation's health system could pass by the end of the year.
If the Senate were to pass a bill by next Thursday, Dec. 17, she said, the House and Senate could conduct a conference committee during the next weekend and pass it before New Year's Day.
“I think we would do almost anything if it meant we would pass healthcare for all Americans before the Christmas holidays,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly news conference. “It may be that we can’t, and it will have to be a New Year's present to the American people. But as soon as we can, we will.”
SOURCE: The Hill
If the Senate were to pass a bill by next Thursday, Dec. 17, she said, the House and Senate could conduct a conference committee during the next weekend and pass it before New Year's Day.
“I think we would do almost anything if it meant we would pass healthcare for all Americans before the Christmas holidays,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly news conference. “It may be that we can’t, and it will have to be a New Year's present to the American people. But as soon as we can, we will.”
SOURCE: The Hill
Healthcare reform draws nearer
Barack Obama’s healthcare reform, the signature policy of his presidency, looks likely to clear its most formidable obstacle by Christmas.
Within the next few days, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office will give its fiscal “scoring” of the compromise reached on Tuesday between five moderate and five liberal Democratic senators.
If the CBO were to pronounce the package at least deficit-neutral – a big if, given the body’s Jesuitical approach to bud get accounting – the way would probably be cleared for a rapid vote in the Senate. Since the House of Representatives has already passed its own 1,990-page bill, only a seismic intervention could stop it from reaching Mr Obama’s desk within the ensuing weeks.
On Thursday, aides to Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said they believed the latest formulation would attract the 60 votes needed to prevent Republicans from being able to block it.
In addition, the fact Mr Reid is engaging the interest of two Republicans, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both senators for Maine, has provided added confidence that they may be able to afford to lose one Democratic vote in the upper chamber.
SOURCE: Financial Times
Within the next few days, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office will give its fiscal “scoring” of the compromise reached on Tuesday between five moderate and five liberal Democratic senators.
If the CBO were to pronounce the package at least deficit-neutral – a big if, given the body’s Jesuitical approach to bud get accounting – the way would probably be cleared for a rapid vote in the Senate. Since the House of Representatives has already passed its own 1,990-page bill, only a seismic intervention could stop it from reaching Mr Obama’s desk within the ensuing weeks.
On Thursday, aides to Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said they believed the latest formulation would attract the 60 votes needed to prevent Republicans from being able to block it.
In addition, the fact Mr Reid is engaging the interest of two Republicans, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both senators for Maine, has provided added confidence that they may be able to afford to lose one Democratic vote in the upper chamber.
SOURCE: Financial Times
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