Dems Might Split Health Care Reform Into Two Bills
5192100Democrats might have a new strategy to pass landmark health care reform, the Wall Street Journal reports today.
As many Democrats fear that increased Republican opposition as well as Democratic infighting over the public option could spell doom for the bill's chances once Congress returns in September, Jonathan Weisman and Naftali Bendavid report that that the White House and Democratic Senate leaders are considering splitting up the bill into two parts in order to get it passed this year.
Under this scenario, one bill would include the new regulations on insurance companies, such as requiring them not to reject people with preexisting conditions. As conservative opposition to reform has grown at so-called town hall protests this month, President Obama and others have been pushing these regulations as the key lynchpins to reform that would help those with and those without insurance. It is thought these measures could get the more than 60 votes in the Senate needed to survive through any filibuster threat.
The other parts of the plan, including the much-discussed government-sponsored insurance plan known as the "public option," could then go into a second bill that could be passed through a procedure known as reconciliation for budget bill. That bill would only need 51 votes, which would be a much easier threshold for Democrats to muster.
The Journal reports that this strategy could come into play if the Senate Finance Committee is unable to come up with a bipartisan bill as many on the Hill and the administration desire. The paper says those involved in the discussions say there is a 60 percent chance the tactic will be used.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said yesterday a decision about whether to use reconciliation for a health care bill has not been made. Bu he also noted that "patience is not unlimited" and that "we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary," according to the Journal and CNN.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. As many Democrats fear that increased Republican opposition as well as Democratic infighting over the public option could spell doom for the bill's chances once Congress returns in September, Jonathan Weisman and Naftali Bendavid report that that the White House and Democratic Senate leaders are considering splitting up the bill into two parts in order to get it passed this year.
Under this scenario, one bill would include the new regulations on insurance companies, such as requiring them not to reject people with preexisting conditions. As conservative opposition to reform has grown at so-called town hall protests this month, President Obama and others have been pushing these regulations as the key lynchpins to reform that would help those with and those without insurance. It is thought these measures could get the more than 60 votes in the Senate needed to survive through any filibuster threat.
The other parts of the plan, including the much-discussed government-sponsored insurance plan known as the "public option," could then go into a second bill that could be passed through a procedure known as reconciliation for budget bill. That bill would only need 51 votes, which would be a much easier threshold for Democrats to muster.
The Journal reports that this strategy could come into play if the Senate Finance Committee is unable to come up with a bipartisan bill as many on the Hill and the administration desire. The paper says those involved in the discussions say there is a 60 percent chance the tactic will be used.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said yesterday a decision about whether to use reconciliation for a health care bill has not been made. Bu he also noted that "patience is not unlimited" and that "we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary," according to the Journal and CNN.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
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-written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it,
-passed by a Congress that hasn't read it,
-signed by a President who smokes,
-funded by a Treasury Chief who did not pay his taxes,
-overseen by a Surgeon General who is obese, and
-financed by a country that is nearly broke.
What could possibly go wrong with such a plan?
"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing"
It appears America is on permanent snooze alarm these days.
President insists the government-run option is still part of his health care reform plan ? but, he tells radio show listeners he'd consider alternatives.
.
Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., sent a letter warning health insurers that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is "examining executive compensation and other business practices of the health industry."
In a move some fear is a reprisal for opposing President Obama's health care plan, Democrats sent 52 letters to health insurers requesting financial records for a House committee's investigation.
Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., sent a letter warning health insurers that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is "examining executive compensation and other business practices of the health industry."
Waxman, chairman of the committee, and Stupak, chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee did not inform their Republican counterparts of their plans.
Health insurers have until Sept. 4 to provide Congress a detailed list of every employee who made over a $1 million dollars a year between 2003 and 2008. Democrats also want documents about conferences and any events held off company property as well as the types of transportation, lodging, food, entertainment and even gifts exchanged.
Raising the intimidation stakes: the Waxman letter offers insurers no explanation of what is being investigated or why.
Industry insiders fear the beginning of reprisals for anyone daring to dissent from the Obama agenda. One said it feels like a reprisal audit by the IRS.
With raucous health care town halls unfolding nationwide during the August congressional recess and polls showing increased opposition to a government-run insurance program or "public option," neither Waxman nor Stupak nor their staffs would comment on this story. But it's no secret that Democrats blame anti-reform ads on the private health insurance industry and its supporters.
Private health insurers warn that a public option could put them at a competitive disadvantage and even out of business, but they insist they support health care reform in general.
A spokesman for Stupak told The Associated Press Tuesday night that 52 letters had been sent to health insurers with $2 billion or more in annual premiums. He said letters were not dispatched to other industry groups, some of which have been airing television advertising in support of Obama's call for legislation.But Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for the American Health Insurance Plans, said Democrats on the panel hoped to "silence the health insurance industry and distract attention away from the fact that the American people are rejecting a government-run plan" as part of Obama's planned overhaul.
Zirkelbach said it would be up to individual companies to decide whether to turn the records over.
Spokesmen for three large insurance companies, Aetna, UnitedHealth Group Inc. and WellPoint Inc., confirmed the firms had received the letters but declined comment.
66% of Americans support the public option, CBS News...http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/05/politics/main5215880_page2.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody
LOL! A July poll.
Here is how it is on the 20th of August:
MORE DISAPPROVE THAN APPROVE OF OBAMA ON HEALTHCARE
Forty-nine percent of Americans currently say they disapprove of President Barack Obama's handling of healthcare policy, while 43% say they approve, similar to views expressed in mid-July.
.Gallup
Don't like Gallup? Here is Rasmussen:
SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM FALLS TO NEW LOW
Health Care Reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats has fallen to a new low as just 42% of U.S. voters now favor the plan. That?s down five points from two weeks ago and down eight points from six weeks ago.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that opposition to the plan has increased to 53%, up nine points since late June.
Another one:
54% SAY PASSING NO HEALTHCARE REFORM BETTER THAN PASSING CONGRESSIONAL PLAN
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thirty-five percent (35%) of American voters say passage of the bill currently working its way through Congress would be better than not passing any health care reform legislation this year. However, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that most voters (54%) say no health care reform passed by Congress this year would be the better option.?
.
Yet Another one, this one from NBC out today:
A plurality believes Obamas health plan would worsen the quality of health care, a result that is virtually unchanged from last months NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. What is more, only four in 10 approve of the presidents handling of the issue, which also is unchanged from July.
And a majority 54 percent is more concerned that the government will go too far in reforming the nations health care system, while 41 percent is more worried that the reform will not do enough to lower costs and cover the uninsured.
"I see nothing wrong with having public option as one choice," he said, adding that it would offer affordable choices but that no one should be "obligated to go into a public plan."
"We said that's a good idea, but we haven't said that's the only one," he said.
The Public Option is DOA.
.
So, when Republicans bring up the cost of reform and pretend to be 'fiscal conservatives', the proper response is that they favor paying an extra ONE TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR to maintain our current 'for profit' health insurance scam, whose healthcare outcomes are demonstrably no better than those of our neighboring countries.
Like I said, This will be VERY intersting.