House and Senate Democrats at Odds

By: Evan Schwartz
Topics: Health Care

On Monday's "Washington Unplugged," CBS News congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes and CBS News Producer Evelyn Thomas discussed health care reform, as President Obama takes his message to the American people. Host John Dickerson pointed out the delicate dance both the House of Representatives and the Senate must complete before health care has a chance to pass in both chambers. Cordes said plainly that House Democrats and Senate Democrats simply do not trust each other right now, further complicating an already opaque process.

"[House Dems] don't want to see Lucy pulling the football out of Charlie Brown's reach again." said Cordes.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Cordes said Democrats in the House are already upset at having to deal with a version of the health care bill that is far different from its original incarnation.

"They want some definite confirmation from Senate Democrats that if they go ahead and pass this bill, which is not what they voted for originally," said Cordes, "That Senate Democrats will go back and fix it, and take out the things that really bother them."

One prominent voice supporting House Democrats in their endeavor is the president himself. Cordes said Mr. Obama is trying his hardest to convince House Democrats that he will pressure the Senate towards reconciliation if this new version of Health Care is passed by the House. Thomas said Mr. Obama will have to convince a growing number of Democrats in the House whose support for health care is wavering. She said there may be one huge sticking point in the new language of the bill.

"A lot of this comes down to abortion," said Thomas. "There are a number of people that are not very happy with the Senate bill and what it says about abortion. So I think the president certainly has his work cut out for him and so does [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi."

Watch the full interview above.

"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.

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by JourneyHomeBurke March 10, 2010 12:55 PM EST: Health Care Reform is Easy

The republicans have used reconciliation on health care before plenty of times - heck they created the whole CHIP program - via reconciliation. Dear lord stop swallowing the kool-aid - this isn't a sporting event my side versus your side (do you think the status quo might be aware of the concept of divide and conquer - don't be such dupes)

People, people, people - this is about getting our dollars back from the richest 1% that hoard them at the top (there is no such thing as trickle down) or For Profit insurance wouldn't be killing the middle class, driving people with health insurance into bankruptcy, and tying a dead weight around small business and even the bigger national corporations - this has to get done - our politicians are playing games to get elected....

They are not "governing" but manipulating voter sentiment to whip up turn out to try and win elections - not based on any specific philosophy of governing but for plain old self interest.

Actual governing takes a huge back seat to "will I get re-elected" - the easiest way to solve the health care debacle of for profit health care is simple - but handing a success to the other party - isn't how the political "game" is played.

Unfortunately our lives are caught in the cross fire of their STUPID GAME. And because of game playing we deregulated everything and created the global financial meltdown - ooppps - maybe proper management would have prevented that - but politics has never been about properly managing our resources - its about GETTING RE-ELECTED.

Healthcare is easy - here's how -

?Use Senate reconciliation and expand Medicare via the Senate?s buy-in provisions. The CBO has already signed off on this as a means of saving money.

More importantly, if more Americans can do a buy-in with Medicare, it creates more cost control (because there?s a genuine competitor to for-profit healthcare).

It also helps to solve the problems of pre-existing conditions, because Medicare does not deny coverage on this basis.

Allowing a Medicare buy-in to Americans under 65 would give people a genuine alternative to private insurance and thereby render the pre-existing question moot.

It would also lower Medicare costs by expanding the risk pool of patients (the great bulk of medical expenses are accounted for by a small number of people, mostly the elderly, requiring very expensive treatment).

And it would substantially enhance the global competitiveness of American corporations. After all, in what other country in the world is health care a marginal cost of production for business?? - Roosevelt Institute Marshall Auerback

Now get out there tell your neighbors, your friends, pick up the phone and email your representatives - because whether you like it or not we are all in this together - and it's us versus the politicians - not each other.

Paul Burke
Author Journey Home
Democracy For America; Reply to this comment


by earlysaid March 8, 2010 10:34 PM EST: There is a so-called donut hole in the Medicare Part D that Bush put into place. The health care reform will close this period of time when there are no benefits covered. It will end the pre-existing condition clause against people. If there are enough Senators that support the Public Option 50 + Vice-President Biden then it can be passed and then people will have the govt option insurance to turn to if no one else will cover them.; Reply to this comment


by freepress6 March 8, 2010 7:33 PM EST: In the House version there was a provision for elimination of that giant hole in Medicare coverage, a hole that didn't used to be there. I'm on Medicare now which falls short by about $800 monthly on the average in covering costs for the bare-bones medications that keep me alive and functioning. If the universal health care initiative being considered by Congress now works no better than Medicare, we will have a colossal mess -- in effect a gravy train for the private health-care industry which has left its fingerprints all over the Senate's version of the bill. Sterling Greenwood/AspenFreePress; Reply to this comment


by freepress6 March 8, 2010 7:31 PM EST: In the House version there was a provision for elimination of that giant hole in Medicare coverage, a hole that didn't used to be there. I'm on Medicare now which falls short by about $800 monthly on the average in covering costs for the bare-bones medications that keep me alive and functioning. If the universal health care initiative being considered by Congress now works no better than Medicare, we will have a colossal mess -- in effect a gravy train for the private health-care industry which has left its fingerprints all over the Senate's version of the bill. Sterling Greenwood/AspenFreePress; Reply to this comment


by Dave1-- March 8, 2010 5:38 PM EST: There is nothing right about the bill. The only solution to the health care problem is to eliminate the private for profit health insurance companies which would reduce the COST of insurance by almost 1/2. Other countries have done it, why can't we?; Reply to this comment


by AngryMobVoter March 8, 2010 4:31 PM EST: The insistence by the Administration and Congress that it is acceptable to use "reconciliation" to pass a bill that is so complex, pervasive, and UNPOPULAR WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, raises this issue to an even higher level. To insistence on passing this bill using a process that was never intended to be used in this way, raises this issue to the level where it puts our entire system of government at risk. WE THE PEOPLE must VOTE OUT anyone who votes for this bill in the House or Senate because they will be contributing and approving of a complete perversion of our system of government. If you value our system of government as designed by the Founding Fathers, you have a moral obligation to VOTE THEM OUT if they vote for this bill knowing "reconciliation" will be used to pass it against the will of the people and without any bipartisan support. It does not matter if you are for or against this kind of so-called healthcare reform; it does not matter if you are liberal or conservative; it does not matter if you are democrat, republican, independent, or tea party, you must raise up an VOTE OUT anyone that supports this process by voting in favor of this bill. Using "reconciliation" in this way sets a dangerous precedent that could be used in the future to tax as even more or infringe on our freedom even more.

All Americans should be outraged about what is going on with this Administration and Congress. It is time to VOTE THEM OUT before they do any more damage!!! This is no longer about healthcare, this is an issue about the very essence of our system of government. WE THE PEOPLE will VOTE THEM OUT!!!; Reply to this comment


by dswanson2609 March 8, 2010 4:26 PM EST: The founding fathers set up the system to go into "gridlock" at exactly a time like this. The USA is collapsing financially, we are approaching the 90% debt/GDP point that is at/near the collapse point. In addition we have 50-75 TRILLION of unfunded liabilities. They need control, so that they can take health care away from everyone. These people are not wealth creators, and they are even getting to be poor thieves, the only thing that they were ever good at. Once they get their hands on your health care look out. You won't even be able to buy it with YOUR OWN money.; Reply to this comment


by bputgego March 8, 2010 4:03 PM EST: Spoken probably by a person who has never lost coverage due to job change, pre-existing condition or rising cost that makes insurance unaffordable. I'm disgusted by the Democrats who threaten NOT to vote for this bill.; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage March 8, 2010 4:02 PM EST: Let me get this straight! The House members are expected to pass THIS version of the Health Care bill, and then, the Senate will voluntarily come back and REMOVE all those things that THEY (the Senate) added in the first place, in order to make it acceptable to House members?!

LMAO! Yeah, if I were a House member, I'd be worried, too!

The Senate isn't going to come back after THEY get a bill THEY WANT and change it to make it acceptable to what House members have promised the public!

Then, come November, watch how many House members are replaced this time! I wouldn't be surprised to see a record number of incumbents given their 'pink slips'!

Look! It's up to the Senate to get off THEIR 'arses', get busy, and DO SOMETHING on this and all the other bills that are just sitting waiting to be passed or no!; Reply to this comment

by ohiopolitico March 8, 2010 3:53 PM EST

Just the fact that Obama has to "sell" his Obamacare, after a year... says Everything. If its good, it sells itself. What a waste of energy.
Instead, why don't they just START OVER? What kind of person wants their
name on a bill or reform that No One Wants ?

Reply to this comment


by bputgego March 8, 2010 4:01 PM EST: Spoken probably by a person who has never lost coverage due to job change, pre-existing condition or devastating illness OR costs rising so fast that insurance is unaffordable.


by earlysaid March 8, 2010 10:41 PM EST: Well it shows that republicans in our govt don't give a darn about the health care crisis in America. They are just happy to oppose this reform 100% and watch as the Democrats, who are republicans in every way except having the R after their name, keep this from being an easy process. Their names are Blanche Lincoln, Nelson, Mary landrieu, and lousy Lieberman.