Things suddenly got busy on Sunday night with the release of the legislative language of a health care reconciliation bill from Democrats. But after 90 minutes of full throttle evaluation of the 2,309 page measure, it's clear this is just Step 1 of Health Care Hell Week.
In other words, this is not the "real" bill but rather it is just a placeholder, a "shell" bill that allows the House Budget Committee to begin work on the health care matter today.
The real decisions will be made in coming days by Democrats, with new language and provisions then added by the House Rules Committee.
For example, there is no mention in this new Reconciliation language of the excise tax on high cost, "Cadillac" health care plans.
President Obama made clear he wanted that language in the Senate bill changed, so obviously, those provisions still have to be unveiled and placed in this bill.
There is no mention of the annual fee that the Senate bill had on medical device manufacturers and health insurance providers. That is still part of revenue plans envisioned by Democrats.
Another example, the word "abortion" does not appear in the new reconciliation language, which you can find on the website of the House Budget Committee at http://is.gd/aF99v .
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
Monday, March 15, 2010
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