President Obama's campaign to overhaul the nation's healthcare system is officially on the back burner as Democrats turn to the task of stimulating job growth, but behind the scenes party leaders have nearly settled on a strategy to salvage the massive legislation.
They are meeting almost daily to plot legislative moves while gently persuading skittish rank-and-file lawmakers to back a sweeping bill.
This effort is deliberately being undertaken quietly as Democrats work to focus attention on more-popular initiatives to bring down unemployment, which the president said was a priority in his State of the Union address on Wednesday.
Many have concluded that the only hope for resuscitating the healthcare legislation is to push the issue off the front page and give lawmakers time to work out a new compromise and shift public perception of the bill.
"A little bit of time and quiet could help," said Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, a conservative Democrat who was among a group of centrist Democrats from the House and Senate who met last week to discuss a way forward on healthcare.
"Human nature being what it is, it's always easier to be against something than to be for it. And if you create any uncertainty with change, opponents can jump on that and just try to scare people. . . . That has been hard to overcome politically," Pryor said. "Maybe over time, people will have a chance to understand what is in the legislation."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) particularly want to give members time to recover from the shock of Republican Scott Brown's victory in the Massachusetts Senate race two weeks ago. The election cost Democrats their filibuster-proof Senate majority.
But in the coming weeks, Pelosi and Reid hope to rally House Democrats behind the healthcare bill passed by the Senate while simultaneously trying persuade Senate Democrats to approve a series of changes to the legislation using budget procedures that bar filibusters.
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Healthcare reform not dead, says Van Hollen; Boehner agrees
Healthcare is not dead, according to a high-ranking Democratic lawmaker -- a point conceded by the top House Republican.
Despite the GOP election upset in Massachusetts two weeks ago, a key House Democrat told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace that House leaders are working with their Senate counterparts to move a healthcare reform compromise.
“We're still looking at a way to do comprehensive legislation. Certainly, certain provisions have to be dropped out. The Nebraska deal and other portions of that -- even Sen. Nelson has said he doesn't want that in the bill. … But the goal is still to try to get comprehensive healthcare passed,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) said on Sunday morning.
Republicans had considered the legislation all but dead after voters replaced former Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D) seat with Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown, who ran on a pledge to be the 41st senator to filibuster the healthcare bill.
But House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) conceded on a different show that the controversial measure was alive.
“We've seen all week Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid continuing to scheme and plot trying to find some way to get their big government takeover of healthcare enacted,” Boehner said on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” pledging that Repubicans would be “vigilant in exposing this.”
SOURCE: The Hill
Despite the GOP election upset in Massachusetts two weeks ago, a key House Democrat told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace that House leaders are working with their Senate counterparts to move a healthcare reform compromise.
“We're still looking at a way to do comprehensive legislation. Certainly, certain provisions have to be dropped out. The Nebraska deal and other portions of that -- even Sen. Nelson has said he doesn't want that in the bill. … But the goal is still to try to get comprehensive healthcare passed,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) said on Sunday morning.
Republicans had considered the legislation all but dead after voters replaced former Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D) seat with Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown, who ran on a pledge to be the 41st senator to filibuster the healthcare bill.
But House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) conceded on a different show that the controversial measure was alive.
“We've seen all week Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid continuing to scheme and plot trying to find some way to get their big government takeover of healthcare enacted,” Boehner said on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” pledging that Repubicans would be “vigilant in exposing this.”
SOURCE: The Hill
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Latest Path for Health Care Reform
Health care dead? Many members of the House still don’t think so, even though they are still adamant they won’t just pass the Senate health reform bill, and then try to fix it through budget reconciliation.
So where’s the reason for any hope? There’s a new tack members are looking at that does not require them to trust the fallible, more deliberative chamber. That’s pass the fix through budget reconciliation first.
“I think fixing it first, then passing the Senate bill” is a possibility, Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel said. “I wouldn’t pass the Senate bill with the hope that we fix it, even if they agree to it.”
The thinking is simple.
“Some people say that because all money — finance bills — have to emanate from the House, that you could do reconciliation first, which would be fixing the bill, 51 votes (in the Senate), and then getting the House to pass the (original) Senate bill after the Senate has passed reconciliation,” he said.
Queens Rep. Gary Ackerman suggested a similar plan to twin a reconciliation measure with the Senate bill.
“I was talking about doing them concurrently, with a special rule that would have to be passed first in the House and agreed to ahead of time in the Senate, that when one is passed the other bill is deemed to be passed at the same time,” Ackerman said. “But they have to be agreed to first.”
SOURCE: New York Daily News
So where’s the reason for any hope? There’s a new tack members are looking at that does not require them to trust the fallible, more deliberative chamber. That’s pass the fix through budget reconciliation first.
“I think fixing it first, then passing the Senate bill” is a possibility, Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel said. “I wouldn’t pass the Senate bill with the hope that we fix it, even if they agree to it.”
The thinking is simple.
“Some people say that because all money — finance bills — have to emanate from the House, that you could do reconciliation first, which would be fixing the bill, 51 votes (in the Senate), and then getting the House to pass the (original) Senate bill after the Senate has passed reconciliation,” he said.
Queens Rep. Gary Ackerman suggested a similar plan to twin a reconciliation measure with the Senate bill.
“I was talking about doing them concurrently, with a special rule that would have to be passed first in the House and agreed to ahead of time in the Senate, that when one is passed the other bill is deemed to be passed at the same time,” Ackerman said. “But they have to be agreed to first.”
SOURCE: New York Daily News
Democrats vow to move ahead on healthcare
Democratic congressional leaders said on Thursday they would keep pushing for a stalled healthcare overhaul and would explore all options to pass it, but acknowledged the process would not move quickly.
The day after President Barack Obama's State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress, leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives said they would not abandon the bill despite sharp Democratic divisions on how to proceed.
"We will move on many fronts -- any front we can," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the overhaul, mired in legislative gridlock since last week's Republican win in Massachusetts cost Democrats their crucial 60th vote in the Senate.
"We must take whatever time it takes to do it," she told reporters. "But we are going to get healthcare reform passed for the American people."
SOURCE: Reuters
The day after President Barack Obama's State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress, leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives said they would not abandon the bill despite sharp Democratic divisions on how to proceed.
"We will move on many fronts -- any front we can," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the overhaul, mired in legislative gridlock since last week's Republican win in Massachusetts cost Democrats their crucial 60th vote in the Senate.
"We must take whatever time it takes to do it," she told reporters. "But we are going to get healthcare reform passed for the American people."
SOURCE: Reuters
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Congress slows down on health care
Congressional leaders are taking health care legislation off the fast track as rank-and-file Democrats, wary of unhappy midterm election voters, look to President Barack Obama for guidance in his State of the Union address.
House and Senate leaders said Tuesday they need time to determine the best way forward on health care in the wake of last week's special election loss in Massachusetts, which cost Democrats their filibuster-proof Senate majority.
Obama is not expected to offer a specific prescription in Wednesday night's speech, but Democrats want to hear him renew his commitment to the health care overhaul he's spent the past year promoting as his top domestic priority.
It is now badly adrift, and lawmakers want to stop talking about the divisive topic and move on to jobs and the economy, the issues they say preoccupy their constituents.
"The president effectively will hit the reset button (Wednesday) night, after which we'll have a matter of weeks, not months to get this right," said Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y.
"We're reaching the point where our momentum is clearly stopped already," Weiner said. "If we're going to do this, I think we have to do this soon."
Not so, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"We're going to find out how to proceed," Reid told reporters Tuesday. "But there is no rush."
SOURCE: Associated Press > Yahoo News
House and Senate leaders said Tuesday they need time to determine the best way forward on health care in the wake of last week's special election loss in Massachusetts, which cost Democrats their filibuster-proof Senate majority.
Obama is not expected to offer a specific prescription in Wednesday night's speech, but Democrats want to hear him renew his commitment to the health care overhaul he's spent the past year promoting as his top domestic priority.
It is now badly adrift, and lawmakers want to stop talking about the divisive topic and move on to jobs and the economy, the issues they say preoccupy their constituents.
"The president effectively will hit the reset button (Wednesday) night, after which we'll have a matter of weeks, not months to get this right," said Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y.
"We're reaching the point where our momentum is clearly stopped already," Weiner said. "If we're going to do this, I think we have to do this soon."
Not so, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"We're going to find out how to proceed," Reid told reporters Tuesday. "But there is no rush."
SOURCE: Associated Press > Yahoo News
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Democrats Slam Brakes on Health Care Overhaul
With no clear path forward on major health care legislation, Democratic leaders in Congress effectively slammed the brakes on President Obama’s top domestic priority on Tuesday, saying that they no longer felt pressure to move quickly on a health bill after eight months of setting deadlines and missing them.
The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, deflected questions about health care. “We’re not on health care now,” he said. “We’ve talked a lot about it in the past.” He added, “There is no rush,” and noted that Congress still had most of this year to work on the health bills passed in 2009 by the Senate and the House.
Mr. Reid said that he and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi of California, were working to map out a way to complete a health care overhaul in coming months. “There are a number of options being discussed,” Mr. Reid said, emphasizing “procedural aspects” of the issue.
At the same time, two centrist Democratic senators who are up for re-election this year, Blanche L. Lincoln of Arkansas and Evan Bayh of Indiana, said that they would resist efforts to muscle through a health care bill using a parliamentary tactic called budget reconciliation, which seemed to be the simplest way to advance the measure.
The White House has said in recent days that it would support that approach...
SOURCE: New York Times
The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, deflected questions about health care. “We’re not on health care now,” he said. “We’ve talked a lot about it in the past.” He added, “There is no rush,” and noted that Congress still had most of this year to work on the health bills passed in 2009 by the Senate and the House.
Mr. Reid said that he and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi of California, were working to map out a way to complete a health care overhaul in coming months. “There are a number of options being discussed,” Mr. Reid said, emphasizing “procedural aspects” of the issue.
At the same time, two centrist Democratic senators who are up for re-election this year, Blanche L. Lincoln of Arkansas and Evan Bayh of Indiana, said that they would resist efforts to muscle through a health care bill using a parliamentary tactic called budget reconciliation, which seemed to be the simplest way to advance the measure.
The White House has said in recent days that it would support that approach...
SOURCE: New York Times
Poll Shows Growing Fears on Health Care Overhaul
Fears about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul increased significantly in December, according to a new poll released as the legislation's future hangs in doubt. The monthly poll out Monday from the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation measured consumers' views of how a remake would affect their own finances and access to care, among other things.
It was conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 20, in the run-up to the Senate's Christmas Eve passage of sweeping health care legislation that brought Congress closer than ever before to enacting a comprehensive revamp of the nation's medical system. That effort was cast into turmoil last week when a GOP victory in Massachusetts' special Senate election robbed Democrats of their filibuster-proof supermajority.
The survey shows a majority are following the health care debate in Congress — and their trepidation is evidently growing as they do.
Nonetheless, people still think that Obama should address the issue as part of dealing with the nation's economic slump, although the percentage of people who say that it's very important for Obama to do so has slipped from 56 percent in the survey conducted in September, to 49.5 percent in this month's report...
SOURCE: Associated Press > ABC News
It was conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 20, in the run-up to the Senate's Christmas Eve passage of sweeping health care legislation that brought Congress closer than ever before to enacting a comprehensive revamp of the nation's medical system. That effort was cast into turmoil last week when a GOP victory in Massachusetts' special Senate election robbed Democrats of their filibuster-proof supermajority.
The survey shows a majority are following the health care debate in Congress — and their trepidation is evidently growing as they do.
Nonetheless, people still think that Obama should address the issue as part of dealing with the nation's economic slump, although the percentage of people who say that it's very important for Obama to do so has slipped from 56 percent in the survey conducted in September, to 49.5 percent in this month's report...
SOURCE: Associated Press > ABC News
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dem leaders unite on health care strategy
Democratic congressional leaders are uniting around their last, best hope for salvaging President Barack Obama's sweeping health care overhaul.
Their plan is to pass the Senate bill with some changes to accommodate House Democrats, senior Democratic aides said Monday. Leaders will present the idea to the rank and file this week, but it's unclear that they will have the votes to move forward.
Last week's victory by Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts cost Democrats the 60th vote they need to maintain undisputed control of the Senate, jeopardizing the outcome of the health care bill just when Obama had brokered a final deal on most of the major issues.
"We've put so much effort into this, so much hard work, and we were so close to doing some significant things. Now we have to find the political path that brings us out. And it's not easy," the No. 2 Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, said Monday.
The new strategy is as politically risky as it is bold. There is widespread support for Obama's goals of expanding coverage to nearly all Americans while trying to slow costs. But polls show the public is deeply skeptical of the Democratic bills, and Republicans would certainly accuse Democrats of ignoring voters' wishes.
SOURCE: Associated Press > Breitbart
Their plan is to pass the Senate bill with some changes to accommodate House Democrats, senior Democratic aides said Monday. Leaders will present the idea to the rank and file this week, but it's unclear that they will have the votes to move forward.
Last week's victory by Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts cost Democrats the 60th vote they need to maintain undisputed control of the Senate, jeopardizing the outcome of the health care bill just when Obama had brokered a final deal on most of the major issues.
"We've put so much effort into this, so much hard work, and we were so close to doing some significant things. Now we have to find the political path that brings us out. And it's not easy," the No. 2 Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, said Monday.
The new strategy is as politically risky as it is bold. There is widespread support for Obama's goals of expanding coverage to nearly all Americans while trying to slow costs. But polls show the public is deeply skeptical of the Democratic bills, and Republicans would certainly accuse Democrats of ignoring voters' wishes.
SOURCE: Associated Press > Breitbart
White House to take new shot at health care reform despite Massachusetts setback, aide says
The White House isn't about to pull the plug on heath care reform, aides said Sunday, although they acknowledged their job now is determining "the art of the possible."
"It's very clear, people don't want us to walk away from health care," David Axelrod, a senior Obama adviser, told ABC News' "This Week." "They want us to address their concerns with the program."
Five days after Democrats lost a key Senate seat in Massachusetts, Axelrod insisted the election's message was that voters want "cooperation instead of obstructionism."
But the Massachusetts election loss - which cost Democrats their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate - clearly has the White House rethinking its options. "We don't know what's going to happen," senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said. "But what we do know is that we have a President committed to delivering for the American people."
Republicans, meanwhile - led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP's 2008 presidential nominee - insisted their party was open to negotiating. He said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that Obama should consider some of the GOP's health care prescriptions, like limiting medical malpractice lawsuits, letting residents buy health insurance across state lines and tax credits for people who buy insurance on their own.
"We'd be willing to sit down and start over from the beginning," McCain said. "There are things we can agree on."
SOURCE: New York Daily News
"It's very clear, people don't want us to walk away from health care," David Axelrod, a senior Obama adviser, told ABC News' "This Week." "They want us to address their concerns with the program."
Five days after Democrats lost a key Senate seat in Massachusetts, Axelrod insisted the election's message was that voters want "cooperation instead of obstructionism."
But the Massachusetts election loss - which cost Democrats their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate - clearly has the White House rethinking its options. "We don't know what's going to happen," senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said. "But what we do know is that we have a President committed to delivering for the American people."
Republicans, meanwhile - led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP's 2008 presidential nominee - insisted their party was open to negotiating. He said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that Obama should consider some of the GOP's health care prescriptions, like limiting medical malpractice lawsuits, letting residents buy health insurance across state lines and tax credits for people who buy insurance on their own.
"We'd be willing to sit down and start over from the beginning," McCain said. "There are things we can agree on."
SOURCE: New York Daily News
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Obama hunkers down as health care falters
In an interview with ABC News, the president who only days before had been functioning as nightshift foreman of the health care talks said it wasn't his role to delve into the details of legislative strategy. He suggested lawmakers might want to regroup around a smaller package of popular measures.
With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., trying to gauge support for passing the Senate's bill, Obama's candor unnerved White House aides, who scrambled to reinterpret their boss' remarks.
It was no use. After meeting with Democratic lawmakers Thursday morning, Pelosi delivered the news that she didn't have the votes to pass the Senate bill.
Suddenly every Democrat had his or her own idea about what to do next. Some wanted to move on, noting that jobs and the economy are more important to voters than health care. Many called for scaling back the bills to more manageable and understandable dimensions. Some demanded a heroic attempt to enact comprehensive changes...
SOURCE: Associated Press > Town Hall
With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., trying to gauge support for passing the Senate's bill, Obama's candor unnerved White House aides, who scrambled to reinterpret their boss' remarks.
It was no use. After meeting with Democratic lawmakers Thursday morning, Pelosi delivered the news that she didn't have the votes to pass the Senate bill.
Suddenly every Democrat had his or her own idea about what to do next. Some wanted to move on, noting that jobs and the economy are more important to voters than health care. Many called for scaling back the bills to more manageable and understandable dimensions. Some demanded a heroic attempt to enact comprehensive changes...
SOURCE: Associated Press > Town Hall
Friday, January 22, 2010
Poll: Regroup on health care, most say
A majority of Americans say President Obama and congressional Democrats should suspend work on the health care bill that has been on the verge of passage and consider alternatives that would draw more Republican support, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.
The results underscore the unsettled prospects for health care legislation — which has consumed much of the capital's energies for nearly a year — in the wake of Republican Scott Brown's upset victory in the Massachusetts Senate race Tuesday. He will give the GOP the 41st vote they need to sustain a filibuster and block action.
SOURCE: USA Today
The results underscore the unsettled prospects for health care legislation — which has consumed much of the capital's energies for nearly a year — in the wake of Republican Scott Brown's upset victory in the Massachusetts Senate race Tuesday. He will give the GOP the 41st vote they need to sustain a filibuster and block action.
SOURCE: USA Today
Obama Acknowledges Health Overhaul Hit Buzz Saw
His comments are the latest sign that Republican Scott Brown's Senate victory has thrown President Barack Obama and Democrats completely off-track in their quest to remake the nation's health care system.
[...] Obama also said the legislation has ''run into a bit of a buzz saw'' of special interest opposition and partisan politics. ''And the longer it's taken, the uglier the process has looked,'' he said.
Notwithstanding the comments Friday from Dodd, who is not seeking re-election this year, Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have both insisted the health care legislation will go forward -- though they haven't said how. Reid spokesman Jim Manley said Friday that plans to push forward haven't changed...
SOURCE: Associated Press > New York Times
Health Care Limbo
...Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed that by saying that she was short on votes in the House for the easiest way to get a health bill into law, by just having the House approve a Senate-passed version of health reform.
"There isn't a market right now for proceeding with a full bill unless some changes are made," Pelosi told reporters, just after a somewhat contentious Democratic Caucus on the matter.
"You characterize it correctly," she told one reporter about the frustration-laden caucus meeting, "Unease would be a gentle word."
Liberals are refusing to support the Senate-passed health care bill, because of a variety of provisions that they don't care for. Some Democrats don't like the abortion funding restrictions. Many don't like the "Cornhusker Kickback" and the list goes on and on.
It's a maddening situation for Democrats, who seemed to be moving slowly but surely towards a final bill that would have just had enough votes to pass and be signed into law.
But the Bay State loss has done that in...
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
"There isn't a market right now for proceeding with a full bill unless some changes are made," Pelosi told reporters, just after a somewhat contentious Democratic Caucus on the matter.
"You characterize it correctly," she told one reporter about the frustration-laden caucus meeting, "Unease would be a gentle word."
Liberals are refusing to support the Senate-passed health care bill, because of a variety of provisions that they don't care for. Some Democrats don't like the abortion funding restrictions. Many don't like the "Cornhusker Kickback" and the list goes on and on.
It's a maddening situation for Democrats, who seemed to be moving slowly but surely towards a final bill that would have just had enough votes to pass and be signed into law.
But the Bay State loss has done that in...
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Pelosi: House lacks votes to pass Senate version of health bill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she doesn't have enough votes for the House to pass the Senate version of health care bill.
Update at 11:36 am. ET: If the House could have passed the bill, it would have gone straight to President Obama for a signature and would have not required further action from the Senate.
Update at 11:40 a.m. ET: "I don't see the votes for it," Pelosi told reporters. She also said Democratic congressional leaders are "not in a big rush" to determine their next move on health care legislation, but remain determined to pass a bill this year.
SOURCE: USA Today
Update at 11:36 am. ET: If the House could have passed the bill, it would have gone straight to President Obama for a signature and would have not required further action from the Senate.
Update at 11:40 a.m. ET: "I don't see the votes for it," Pelosi told reporters. She also said Democratic congressional leaders are "not in a big rush" to determine their next move on health care legislation, but remain determined to pass a bill this year.
SOURCE: USA Today
Democrats begin discussing smaller health bill
President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies are conceding for the first time that they may have to accept a less ambitious health overhaul bill than the massive one they've struggled for a year to assemble.
Shorn by Massachusetts voters of their pivotal 60th Senate vote and much of their political momentum, the White House and congressional leaders are considering a more modest version of Obama's top legislative priority. It could focus on curbing insurance company practices like denying coverage to sick people and on helping low-earning people and small businesses afford coverage, officials said.
Also fueling the Democratic search for a fresh health care strategy is a conviction by many in the party that it's time for an election-year focus on jobs and the economy, which polls show are easily the public's top concerns...
SOURCE: Associated Press > My Way News
Shorn by Massachusetts voters of their pivotal 60th Senate vote and much of their political momentum, the White House and congressional leaders are considering a more modest version of Obama's top legislative priority. It could focus on curbing insurance company practices like denying coverage to sick people and on helping low-earning people and small businesses afford coverage, officials said.
Also fueling the Democratic search for a fresh health care strategy is a conviction by many in the party that it's time for an election-year focus on jobs and the economy, which polls show are easily the public's top concerns...
SOURCE: Associated Press > My Way News
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
So, What About the Healthcare Bill?
If Scott Brown manages to pull this off today, it will be interesting to see what the Democrats do about their precious healthcare plan. They have waited patiently for decades to finally get their hands on our healthcare system, so trust me - they aren't going to let this dream go easily. So here are some of the options:
SOURCE: Neal Boortz
- Democrats could be gutsy enough to try and delay seating Brown until after the vote. This would be a lot of fun to see them try and pull this one off. Great for talk radio. In the past the Massachusetts Secretary of State has ratified elections in as little as two days.
- The House Democrats could simply accept the Senate version of the healthcare bill, which means that there would be no new vote in order to send it to Obama to sign. This way, the Democrats still get some version of a healthcare bill and they don't have to worry about Brown. As Senator Tom Harkin says, it would be a "starter house." They will immediately start trying to build the additions.
- Democrats could continue to negotiate the healthcare bill and try to seal some more backroom deals that would get them another Republican vote. Maybe Olympia Snowe?
SOURCE: Neal Boortz
Monday, January 18, 2010
Health Care Status
There were no negotiations over the weekend in Washington, D.C. on health care reform, but there was still a lot of work and jockeying going on behind the scenes, as everyone waited to see what would happen in the Massachusetts Senate race.
And the cracks in the Democratic facade were beginning to appear even before Election Day.
In Ohio, Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH), a freshman who represents much of Cincinnati, said he would not vote for a health care bill unless the plan has the controversial abortion language backed by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI).
"I believe in clarity and simplicity, and we should make it simple and clear that taxpayer funds aren't going to abortion coverage," Driehaus told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Right now, there is no way that the Stupak language is going to be in the final bill.
We'll see if Driehaus really follows through on that threat, because he is one of about 10-12 pro-life Democrats who could find themselves in a similar situation.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
And the cracks in the Democratic facade were beginning to appear even before Election Day.
In Ohio, Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH), a freshman who represents much of Cincinnati, said he would not vote for a health care bill unless the plan has the controversial abortion language backed by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI).
"I believe in clarity and simplicity, and we should make it simple and clear that taxpayer funds aren't going to abortion coverage," Driehaus told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Right now, there is no way that the Stupak language is going to be in the final bill.
We'll see if Driehaus really follows through on that threat, because he is one of about 10-12 pro-life Democrats who could find themselves in a similar situation.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
With Senate seat in jeopardy, Democrats seek health options
Faced with the possibility that Republican Scott Brown could win tomorrow’s US Senate election, Democrats in Washington are discussing with great urgency how they could keep his vote from scuttling comprehensive health care legislation, President Obama’s top domestic priority.
None is certain to work, and all carry political risks.
One possibility is that the House could quickly pass the Senate version without changing it, and later, both chambers could pass fixes that reflect the evolving House-Senate compromise. This could be done using a special parliamentary procedure called “reconciliation,’’ which requires only a simple majority vote of 51 votes in the Senate.
Whether House Democrats who disliked the Senate bill can be persuaded to go along with that idea, remains in question. It would outrage Republicans and provoke the conservative grassroots. Antiabortion Democrats in the House oppose the Senate bill’s provisions on abortion coverage; liberals might prefer to ditch the Senate bill and start all over again; and moderates might balk at voting for any health care bill after what went on in Massachusetts.
But Ron Pollack of Families USA, which supports the health overhaul efforts, called this “probably the cleanest, most effective, and most practical way to pass the legislation, and do so quickly.’’
Another possibility would be for Democrats to hurry and pass a compromise bill before Brown were seated.
SOURCE: Boston Globe
None is certain to work, and all carry political risks.
One possibility is that the House could quickly pass the Senate version without changing it, and later, both chambers could pass fixes that reflect the evolving House-Senate compromise. This could be done using a special parliamentary procedure called “reconciliation,’’ which requires only a simple majority vote of 51 votes in the Senate.
Whether House Democrats who disliked the Senate bill can be persuaded to go along with that idea, remains in question. It would outrage Republicans and provoke the conservative grassroots. Antiabortion Democrats in the House oppose the Senate bill’s provisions on abortion coverage; liberals might prefer to ditch the Senate bill and start all over again; and moderates might balk at voting for any health care bill after what went on in Massachusetts.
But Ron Pollack of Families USA, which supports the health overhaul efforts, called this “probably the cleanest, most effective, and most practical way to pass the legislation, and do so quickly.’’
Another possibility would be for Democrats to hurry and pass a compromise bill before Brown were seated.
SOURCE: Boston Globe
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Final frantic run for health care
Like a roller-coaster ride on its last twisting turns, President Barack Obama's campaign to remake health care is barreling into final days of breathless suspense and headlong momentum.
Democrats — led by Obama himself — are deploying this weekend to salvage an unpredictable Senate race in Massachusetts, while senior White House and congressional staffers in Washington hurry to finish work on cost and coverage options at the heart of the sweeping legislation.
A Republican victory in the race to fill the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's seat would deprive Democrats of the 60-vote majority needed to pass the bill in the Senate. Obama and Democratic congressional leaders would have a political window of perhaps days only to try to ram the bill through — at considerable risk of incurring public wrath.
"If Scott Brown wins, it'll kill the health bill," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass, reflecting that the Republican would provide opponents of the health care bill a decisive 41st vote to uphold a filibuster and block passage in the Senate...
SOURCE: Associated Press > Atlanta Journal
Democrats — led by Obama himself — are deploying this weekend to salvage an unpredictable Senate race in Massachusetts, while senior White House and congressional staffers in Washington hurry to finish work on cost and coverage options at the heart of the sweeping legislation.
A Republican victory in the race to fill the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's seat would deprive Democrats of the 60-vote majority needed to pass the bill in the Senate. Obama and Democratic congressional leaders would have a political window of perhaps days only to try to ram the bill through — at considerable risk of incurring public wrath.
"If Scott Brown wins, it'll kill the health bill," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass, reflecting that the Republican would provide opponents of the health care bill a decisive 41st vote to uphold a filibuster and block passage in the Senate...
SOURCE: Associated Press > Atlanta Journal
Obama to Campaign for Coakley in Massachusetts
President Barack Obama will travel to Massachusetts to campaign for embattled Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley before Tuesday’s special election, the White House confirmed today.
“I think the president believes he will be helpful and is happy to accept the invitation,” spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.
Former President Bill Clinton is campaigning for Coakley today in Massachusetts. The race has become intensely competitive as GOP state Sen. Scott Brown has surged in the polls.
The closeness of this race -– it has been rated a toss-up by veteran political analysts — is causing intense worry in Democratic ranks.
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal
“I think the president believes he will be helpful and is happy to accept the invitation,” spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.
Former President Bill Clinton is campaigning for Coakley today in Massachusetts. The race has become intensely competitive as GOP state Sen. Scott Brown has surged in the polls.
The closeness of this race -– it has been rated a toss-up by veteran political analysts — is causing intense worry in Democratic ranks.
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal
Health Bill Can Pass Senate With 51 Votes, Van Hollen Says
Even if Democrats lose the Jan. 19 special election to pick a new Massachusetts senator, Congress may still pass a health-care overhaul by using a process called reconciliation, a top House Democrat said.
That procedure requires 51 votes rather than the 60 needed to prevent Republicans from blocking votes on President Barack Obama’s top legislative priorities. That supermajority is at risk as the Massachusetts race has tightened.
“Even before Massachusetts and that race was on the radar screen, we prepared for the process of using reconciliation,” said Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee...
SOURCE: Bloomberg
That procedure requires 51 votes rather than the 60 needed to prevent Republicans from blocking votes on President Barack Obama’s top legislative priorities. That supermajority is at risk as the Massachusetts race has tightened.
“Even before Massachusetts and that race was on the radar screen, we prepared for the process of using reconciliation,” said Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee...
SOURCE: Bloomberg
Friday, January 15, 2010
Antitrust exemption targeted
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is pushing for a compromise agreement on health care reform to include language that would repeal antitrust exemptions for the health insurance industry.
The Denver Democrat, along with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., sent a letter to President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asking for a provision in the final version of health reform legislation that would repeal the federal antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurers.
The two lawmakers pointed out that states, which are responsible for regulating the insurance industry, often don’t have the time or resources for proper regulation. Repealing the antitrust exemptions would make it easier to keep the industry in check, said the two lawmakers.
[...] A provision in the House version of health reform legislation would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act and eliminate exemptions from antitrust violations, including price fixing, bid rigging and market allocations.
SOURCE: Denver Daily
The Denver Democrat, along with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., sent a letter to President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asking for a provision in the final version of health reform legislation that would repeal the federal antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurers.
The two lawmakers pointed out that states, which are responsible for regulating the insurance industry, often don’t have the time or resources for proper regulation. Repealing the antitrust exemptions would make it easier to keep the industry in check, said the two lawmakers.
[...] A provision in the House version of health reform legislation would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act and eliminate exemptions from antitrust violations, including price fixing, bid rigging and market allocations.
SOURCE: Denver Daily
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Health Care Update
Key Democrats met for eight hours at the White House on Wednesday, making what they termed "significant progress" in hammering out the differences between House and Senate health care bills, in a drive to forge a final deal on that legislation.
"We're encouraged and energized, and we're resolved to deliver reform legislation that provides more stability and security for those with insurance, extends coverage to those who don't have coverage, and lowers costs for families, businesses, and governments," said a written statement issued by the White House.
No details were immediately available on what progress had been made, but it is obvious that Democrats and President Obama want to speed up the negotiating process on a final bill.
And before you say it - no - there were no C-SPAN cameras around the catch any of the negotiations, and I don't think you'll see any of it anytime soon.
Originally, the President was to meet with key lawmakers only in the morning, but the White House cancelled an afternoon event and speech that was on Mr. Obama's schedule, and the talks went on into the evening.
Mr. Obama will be back with Democrats this evening, as he will address House Democrats at a day long "retreat" that they are having this week. (Usually these retreats are off at some really nice resort, but Democrats decided that wouldn't look too good, so they stayed home.)
So what's the bottom line here? It's clear that Democrats want to reach a final deal and get it done quickly.
Can they? Of course.
Will they? That's another story.
Will they have the votes is the real question.
The Massachusetts Senate race will tell us a lot next Tuesday.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
"We're encouraged and energized, and we're resolved to deliver reform legislation that provides more stability and security for those with insurance, extends coverage to those who don't have coverage, and lowers costs for families, businesses, and governments," said a written statement issued by the White House.
No details were immediately available on what progress had been made, but it is obvious that Democrats and President Obama want to speed up the negotiating process on a final bill.
And before you say it - no - there were no C-SPAN cameras around the catch any of the negotiations, and I don't think you'll see any of it anytime soon.
Originally, the President was to meet with key lawmakers only in the morning, but the White House cancelled an afternoon event and speech that was on Mr. Obama's schedule, and the talks went on into the evening.
Mr. Obama will be back with Democrats this evening, as he will address House Democrats at a day long "retreat" that they are having this week. (Usually these retreats are off at some really nice resort, but Democrats decided that wouldn't look too good, so they stayed home.)
So what's the bottom line here? It's clear that Democrats want to reach a final deal and get it done quickly.
Can they? Of course.
Will they? That's another story.
Will they have the votes is the real question.
The Massachusetts Senate race will tell us a lot next Tuesday.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Rangel: Health Care Talks Stalled, Facing Serious Problem
Health care negotiators are facing “a serious problem” in resolving their differences and are not likely to have a final bill until February, according to key House Democrats involved in ongoing talks.
“We’ve got a problem on both sides of the Capitol. A serious problem,” Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday evening.
The difficulty in hashing out an agreement between the two chambers is largely due to there being so many different factions with a stake in the matter, Rangel said. “Normally you’re just dealing with the Senate and they talk about 60 votes and you listen to them and cave in, but this is entirely different,” he said. “I’m telling you that never has 218 been so important to me in the House.”
Another senior House Democrat familiar with negotiations on the bill said no progress has been made this week on any of the key sticking points in the House and Senate bills, despite steady meetings with union leaders and the White House.
“There’s no agreement. No deal on anything. Nothing,” the lawmaker said.
SOURCE: Hot Air
“We’ve got a problem on both sides of the Capitol. A serious problem,” Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday evening.
The difficulty in hashing out an agreement between the two chambers is largely due to there being so many different factions with a stake in the matter, Rangel said. “Normally you’re just dealing with the Senate and they talk about 60 votes and you listen to them and cave in, but this is entirely different,” he said. “I’m telling you that never has 218 been so important to me in the House.”
Another senior House Democrat familiar with negotiations on the bill said no progress has been made this week on any of the key sticking points in the House and Senate bills, despite steady meetings with union leaders and the White House.
“There’s no agreement. No deal on anything. Nothing,” the lawmaker said.
SOURCE: Hot Air
Obama and health care: Quiet meetings
Another congressional delegation went to the White House today to talk with President Obama about a health care bill -- and another congressional delegation left without talking to reporters.
What this means for the fate of Obama's health care initiative we can't say. As has been reported, these health care negotiations are very secret.
SOURCE: USA Today
What this means for the fate of Obama's health care initiative we can't say. As has been reported, these health care negotiations are very secret.
SOURCE: USA Today
Race for Kennedy's seat may affect health care reform
A contentious special election to fill late Sen. Ted Kennedy's Senate seat could have an effect on the cause he championed -- health care.
Republican candidate Scott Brown, a state senator, is facing off against Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. Election Day is January 19.
Recent polls suggest the race may be closer than expected in its final days, though the Democrat still holds a 15-point advantage in the overwhelmingly Democratic state.
No Republican has won a Senate seat in Massachusetts since 1972.
CNN political analyst David Gergen, who moderated a debate between Brown and Coakley Monday night, said part of the closeness of the race is tied to the health care reform bill in Congress.
"And his campaign has gotten a lot of traction suddenly, unexpectedly in the last few weeks by exactly that campaign pledge: 'I will send this bill back,'" Gergen said.
SOURCE: CNN Politics
Republican candidate Scott Brown, a state senator, is facing off against Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. Election Day is January 19.
Recent polls suggest the race may be closer than expected in its final days, though the Democrat still holds a 15-point advantage in the overwhelmingly Democratic state.
No Republican has won a Senate seat in Massachusetts since 1972.
CNN political analyst David Gergen, who moderated a debate between Brown and Coakley Monday night, said part of the closeness of the race is tied to the health care reform bill in Congress.
"And his campaign has gotten a lot of traction suddenly, unexpectedly in the last few weeks by exactly that campaign pledge: 'I will send this bill back,'" Gergen said.
SOURCE: CNN Politics
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Poll: Obama Health Care Marks Hit New Low
President Obama's approval rating on handling health care is at an all-time low, according to a new CBS News poll, something that is helping to drag down his overall approval rating.
Just 36 percent of Americans approve of Mr. Obama's handling of health care, according to the poll, conducted from Jan. 6 – 10. Fifty-four percent disapprove. In December of last year, 42 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of health care, and 47 percent approved in October.
Yet things could be worse: With Democrats in Congress continuing to negotiate the terms of their comprehensive health care package, both Congressional Republicans and Democrats receive even lower marks than the president on the issue, the poll shows...
SOURCE: CBS News
Just 36 percent of Americans approve of Mr. Obama's handling of health care, according to the poll, conducted from Jan. 6 – 10. Fifty-four percent disapprove. In December of last year, 42 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of health care, and 47 percent approved in October.
Yet things could be worse: With Democrats in Congress continuing to negotiate the terms of their comprehensive health care package, both Congressional Republicans and Democrats receive even lower marks than the president on the issue, the poll shows...
SOURCE: CBS News
Monday, January 11, 2010
Cadillac Tax Fallout
As health care negotiations continue among Democrats in the Congress and the White House, more liberal Democrats are venting their frustration about the President's change of heart on how to pay for health care reform.
The plan is a 40% excise tax on health care policies that cost more than $8,500 a year for individuals and $23,000 a year for families - the so-called "Cadillac" health plans.
The idea is hotly opposed by most labor unions, and they'll get to drive that point home today in a meeting with President Obama at the White House.
"The President will talk through with them what he believes can be gotten out of that provision," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
Democrats in the House would rather have a surtax on the wealthy - that's what is in the House passed bill, raising money from individuals making over $500,000 a year, couples over $1 million a year in income.
As for the Cadillac tax, it would be paid by the insurance companies, but critics argue that those insurers will just pass the cost on to the consumer.
The idea is that the tax will help hold down costs by forcing companies to offer less expensive plans. Critics argue those policies will then have higher deductibles and thus might actually cost the consumer even more in out-of-pocket costs.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
The plan is a 40% excise tax on health care policies that cost more than $8,500 a year for individuals and $23,000 a year for families - the so-called "Cadillac" health plans.
The idea is hotly opposed by most labor unions, and they'll get to drive that point home today in a meeting with President Obama at the White House.
"The President will talk through with them what he believes can be gotten out of that provision," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
Democrats in the House would rather have a surtax on the wealthy - that's what is in the House passed bill, raising money from individuals making over $500,000 a year, couples over $1 million a year in income.
As for the Cadillac tax, it would be paid by the insurance companies, but critics argue that those insurers will just pass the cost on to the consumer.
The idea is that the tax will help hold down costs by forcing companies to offer less expensive plans. Critics argue those policies will then have higher deductibles and thus might actually cost the consumer even more in out-of-pocket costs.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Bill Clinton to address healthcare at House Democrats retreat
Former President Bill Clinton will address House Democrats at their annual retreat next week on healthcare, an issue closely identified with his presidency.
Clinton is likely to give the keynote speech on healthcare on Friday, the retreat’s final day, and may take on a more prominent role in discussing the issue at the retreat than even President Barack Obama, according to House leadership aides involved in the planning.
Clinton’s appearance, House aides said, is specifically designed to remind House Democrats of the perils associated with killing healthcare reform — a phenomenon that rocked Clinton’s first term and contributed to Democrats' losing power in both chambers the next year.
The choice to have Clinton deliver the keynote healthcare remarks comes at critical time for House Democrats.
Democratic leaders are beginning the process of merging two very different House and Senate healthcare bills, and a number of factors are contributing to a growing belief that the final bill will very closely mirror the legislation the Senate passed on Christmas Eve after month’s worth of painstaking negotiations to produce 60 votes...
SOURCE: The Hill
Clinton is likely to give the keynote speech on healthcare on Friday, the retreat’s final day, and may take on a more prominent role in discussing the issue at the retreat than even President Barack Obama, according to House leadership aides involved in the planning.
Clinton’s appearance, House aides said, is specifically designed to remind House Democrats of the perils associated with killing healthcare reform — a phenomenon that rocked Clinton’s first term and contributed to Democrats' losing power in both chambers the next year.
The choice to have Clinton deliver the keynote healthcare remarks comes at critical time for House Democrats.
Democratic leaders are beginning the process of merging two very different House and Senate healthcare bills, and a number of factors are contributing to a growing belief that the final bill will very closely mirror the legislation the Senate passed on Christmas Eve after month’s worth of painstaking negotiations to produce 60 votes...
SOURCE: The Hill
Latest Schedule
U.S. Senate doesn’t meet again in formal session until Jan. 20th.
The House is scheduled to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Jan. 12th (next Tuesday).
SOURCE: John Cooper
The House is scheduled to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Jan. 12th (next Tuesday).
SOURCE: John Cooper
Will Georgia Nullify National Health Care?
Georgia State Representative Calvin Hill has introduced House Resolution 1086 (HR1086), which proposes a Georgia State Constitutional Amendment “so as to provide that no law or rule or regulation shall compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system and to authorize persons and employers to pay directly for lawful health care services without penalties or fines; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.”
If approved by both houses of the Georgia legislature, it will go to a ballot vote for final approval by the citizens of the state.
Georgia joins Ohio, Florida and a number of other states considering similar state Constitutional Amendments to effectively nullify, or resist any future national health care plan...
SOURCE: Tenth Amendment Center
If approved by both houses of the Georgia legislature, it will go to a ballot vote for final approval by the citizens of the state.
Georgia joins Ohio, Florida and a number of other states considering similar state Constitutional Amendments to effectively nullify, or resist any future national health care plan...
SOURCE: Tenth Amendment Center
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Health Numbers Game
Life is an endless range of possibilities, and as Democrats try to hammer out a final health care deal, there are some numbers and dates that could possibly complicate their plans for a health care victory celebration.
January 19 is the first hurdle, as on that Tuesday voters in Massachusetts have a special election to formally fill the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.
If the Republican in that race were to win - then Democrats would only have 59 votes in the Senate - which would throw health plans into turmoil.
While there isn't any buzz in the U.S. Capitol about that, there was a Rasmussen poll out the other day that showed GOP State Sen. Scott Brown within 9 points of Attorney General Martha Coakley.
I'm not saying it's going to happen - but, boy - would there be a political earthquake if it did.
Meanwhile over in the House, Democrats start this New Year down one vote, because Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) decided to move on to the private sector.
His seat from Florida won't be filled until a special election on April 13. That means there are 434 members of the House right now.
Wexler was one of the 219 Democrats (and 1 Republican) who voted for the health care bill back in November.
Now that number drops to 218 Democrats with his departure, leaving little margin for error.
Then there is Rep. Neal Abercrombie (D-HI), who is going to run for Governor of Hawaii. Instead of serving out his term while also campaigning, Abercrombie is going to resign his seat effective February 28.
That would leave us with 433 members in the House, of which 217 Democrats voted for the health care bill back in November. The majority with 433 is also 217. Again, little margin for error.
So as Democrats put together their bill, they basically can't lose any votes in the House or Senate. It makes any illness or absence that much more of a fascinating angle on this health care story.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
January 19 is the first hurdle, as on that Tuesday voters in Massachusetts have a special election to formally fill the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.
If the Republican in that race were to win - then Democrats would only have 59 votes in the Senate - which would throw health plans into turmoil.
While there isn't any buzz in the U.S. Capitol about that, there was a Rasmussen poll out the other day that showed GOP State Sen. Scott Brown within 9 points of Attorney General Martha Coakley.
I'm not saying it's going to happen - but, boy - would there be a political earthquake if it did.
Meanwhile over in the House, Democrats start this New Year down one vote, because Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) decided to move on to the private sector.
His seat from Florida won't be filled until a special election on April 13. That means there are 434 members of the House right now.
Wexler was one of the 219 Democrats (and 1 Republican) who voted for the health care bill back in November.
Now that number drops to 218 Democrats with his departure, leaving little margin for error.
Then there is Rep. Neal Abercrombie (D-HI), who is going to run for Governor of Hawaii. Instead of serving out his term while also campaigning, Abercrombie is going to resign his seat effective February 28.
That would leave us with 433 members in the House, of which 217 Democrats voted for the health care bill back in November. The majority with 433 is also 217. Again, little margin for error.
So as Democrats put together their bill, they basically can't lose any votes in the House or Senate. It makes any illness or absence that much more of a fascinating angle on this health care story.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Pelosi: Lawmakers 'very close' on health care
The House and Senate are "very close" to finalizing historic legislation revamping the nation's health care system, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday after she and other Democratic leaders met with President Barack Obama at the White House.
Pelosi's optimistic prediction came after days of frantic work by staff members, lawmakers and the president himself to iron out the differences between sweeping bills passed by the House and Senate before Christmas. Obama wants final legislation on his desk in time for his State of the Union address early next month, and Democratic leaders are rushing to deliver despite the numerous discrepancies between the bills.
Obama is taking a more direct role than ever, convening Oval Office meetings Tuesday and Wednesday of House Democratic leaders, who have to compromise the most so that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can get a bill through the Senate with his fragile 60-vote majority.
Pelosi, D-Calif., was enthusiastic after emerging from the White House late Wednesday afternoon with the chairs of four key committees.
"We've had a very intense couple of days," Pelosi said. "After our leadership meeting this morning, our staff engaged with the Senate and the administration staff to review the legislation, suggest legislative language. I think we're very close to reconciliation."
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said the House would like to pass a bill by the end of this month.
Under a fast-track process worked out with Obama, lawmakers are bypassing the usual negotiations between the two chambers in the interest of speed, and the House will work off the Senate's version, amend it and send it back to the Senate for final passage...
SOURCE: USA Today
Pelosi's optimistic prediction came after days of frantic work by staff members, lawmakers and the president himself to iron out the differences between sweeping bills passed by the House and Senate before Christmas. Obama wants final legislation on his desk in time for his State of the Union address early next month, and Democratic leaders are rushing to deliver despite the numerous discrepancies between the bills.
Obama is taking a more direct role than ever, convening Oval Office meetings Tuesday and Wednesday of House Democratic leaders, who have to compromise the most so that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can get a bill through the Senate with his fragile 60-vote majority.
Pelosi, D-Calif., was enthusiastic after emerging from the White House late Wednesday afternoon with the chairs of four key committees.
"We've had a very intense couple of days," Pelosi said. "After our leadership meeting this morning, our staff engaged with the Senate and the administration staff to review the legislation, suggest legislative language. I think we're very close to reconciliation."
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said the House would like to pass a bill by the end of this month.
Under a fast-track process worked out with Obama, lawmakers are bypassing the usual negotiations between the two chambers in the interest of speed, and the House will work off the Senate's version, amend it and send it back to the Senate for final passage...
SOURCE: USA Today
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Democratic Leaders Plan Secret Health Reform Deliberations
Despite their claims to the contrary, the way that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have handled the healthcare bill has been anything but transparent. And, if the left-wing blogosphere is to be believed, the two congressional leaders intend to keep the deliberations secret as they try to merge the House and Senate versions of the legislation into something that will pass both chambers.
The Talking Points Memo website reported Monday that Democrats in both the House and Senate are saying the process will likely follow the path of the House taking up the Senate-passed legislation, amending it and sending it back to the Senate, which will have to pass it again. "This process cuts out the Republicans," a House Democratic aide told TPM, indicating the congressional majority intended to make sure the Republican minority would "not have a motion to recommit opportunity."
SOURCE: U.S. News and World Report
The Talking Points Memo website reported Monday that Democrats in both the House and Senate are saying the process will likely follow the path of the House taking up the Senate-passed legislation, amending it and sending it back to the Senate, which will have to pass it again. "This process cuts out the Republicans," a House Democratic aide told TPM, indicating the congressional majority intended to make sure the Republican minority would "not have a motion to recommit opportunity."
SOURCE: U.S. News and World Report
Monday, January 4, 2010
Health Bill 2010
Now that the calendar has changed to 2010, what's next on the biggest legislative agenda item for the White House, health care reform? A lot of work might still be the answer for Democrats.
When Congress broke for the holidays, the Senate had approved a health care bill on a 60-39 vote on the morning of Christmas Eve.
For those of you not keeping score at home, the House passed its bill back in November.
So, according to all of your government classes in both public and private schools, that means we will have a House-Senate Conference Committee to work out the differences.
Bzzzzzzt. Not true.
Yes, most bills have a Conference to come up with a final version, but that seems unlikely for a variety of reasons on the health care issue.
One reason is that in the Senate, a variety of parliamentary hurdles can be thrown in the way of plans to set up a House-Senate Conference, which would delay action for months.
Instead, expect key Democrats in the House and Senate to start closed door meetings in coming days on the differences between the two health care bills.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
When Congress broke for the holidays, the Senate had approved a health care bill on a 60-39 vote on the morning of Christmas Eve.
For those of you not keeping score at home, the House passed its bill back in November.
So, according to all of your government classes in both public and private schools, that means we will have a House-Senate Conference Committee to work out the differences.
Bzzzzzzt. Not true.
Yes, most bills have a Conference to come up with a final version, but that seems unlikely for a variety of reasons on the health care issue.
One reason is that in the Senate, a variety of parliamentary hurdles can be thrown in the way of plans to set up a House-Senate Conference, which would delay action for months.
Instead, expect key Democrats in the House and Senate to start closed door meetings in coming days on the differences between the two health care bills.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
Why the Health-Care Bills Are Unconstitutional
President Obama's health-care bill is now moving toward final passage. The policy issues may be coming to an end, but the legal issues are certain to continue because key provisions of this dangerous legislation are unconstitutional. Legally speaking, this legislation creates a target-rich environment. We will focus on three of its more glaring constitutional defects.
First, the Constitution does not give Congress the power to require that Americans purchase health insurance. Congress must be able to point to at least one of its powers listed in the Constitution as the basis of any legislation it passes. None of those powers justifies the individual insurance mandate. Congress's powers to tax and spend do not apply because the mandate neither taxes nor spends. The only other option is Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.
Congress has many times stretched this power to the breaking point, exceeding even the expanded version of the commerce power established by the Supreme Court since the Great Depression. It is one thing, however, for Congress to regulate economic activity in which individuals choose to engage; it is another to require that individuals engage in such activity. That is not a difference in degree, but instead a difference in kind. It is a line that Congress has never crossed and the courts have never sanctioned.
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal
First, the Constitution does not give Congress the power to require that Americans purchase health insurance. Congress must be able to point to at least one of its powers listed in the Constitution as the basis of any legislation it passes. None of those powers justifies the individual insurance mandate. Congress's powers to tax and spend do not apply because the mandate neither taxes nor spends. The only other option is Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.
Congress has many times stretched this power to the breaking point, exceeding even the expanded version of the commerce power established by the Supreme Court since the Great Depression. It is one thing, however, for Congress to regulate economic activity in which individuals choose to engage; it is another to require that individuals engage in such activity. That is not a difference in degree, but instead a difference in kind. It is a line that Congress has never crossed and the courts have never sanctioned.
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal
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