Reid Gets 60 Votes for Health Care Debate
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada secured the 60 votes needed to move forward with the historic debate on President Obama’s overhaul of health care today.
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November 21, 2009 5:37 PM
November 19, 2009 5:36 PM
Key Provisions of the Senate Health Care Bill
This post was written by CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes and CBS News producer John Nolen
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled his health care proposal "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" on Wednesday night.
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would cost $848 billion dollars over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $130 billion and would extend coverage to 94 percent of eligible Americans, reducing the number of uninsured individuals by 31 million leaving about 24 million people uninsured.
Here's a look at some of the key provisions of the bill:
• Effective Date 2014
• Requires most individuals to purchase coverage through their employer, privately or through a public plan. Includes exemptions for economic hardships. Fines for individuals not complying would start at $95 in 2014 phased-in over time up to $750.
• Creates a new public federal health insurance plan, the so-called "public option" which would compete with private insurers. States would have the choice of opting out by passing a state law.
• Establishes Health Insurance Exchanges, a marketplace where individuals, small businesses and others could purchase health care coverage.
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would cost $848 billion dollars over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $130 billion and would extend coverage to 94 percent of eligible Americans, reducing the number of uninsured individuals by 31 million leaving about 24 million people uninsured.
Here's a look at some of the key provisions of the bill:
• Effective Date 2014
• Requires most individuals to purchase coverage through their employer, privately or through a public plan. Includes exemptions for economic hardships. Fines for individuals not complying would start at $95 in 2014 phased-in over time up to $750.
• Creates a new public federal health insurance plan, the so-called "public option" which would compete with private insurers. States would have the choice of opting out by passing a state law.
• Establishes Health Insurance Exchanges, a marketplace where individuals, small businesses and others could purchase health care coverage.
November 19, 2009 4:51 PM
On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, CBS News' Marc Ambinder said that while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has an uphill battle getting the health care he bill introduced last night passed, not all hope is lost
He noted how important the votes of Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.) , Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), as well Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), are to the bill's chance of passage. "Their biggest stated concern is that the bill will add to the deficit over ten years," Ambinder explained, adding that the White House and Democratic leaders are encouraged because the Reid plan was estimated to decrease the deficit.
"It removes a major obstacle to moderates supporting it," he said. And the White House may have reason to rejoice.
"The White House strategy amounts to three words," CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller said. "Get it passed."
Will Moderates Support the Senate Health Care Bill?
On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, CBS News' Marc Ambinder said that while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has an uphill battle getting the health care he bill introduced last night passed, not all hope is lost
He noted how important the votes of Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.) , Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), as well Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), are to the bill's chance of passage. "Their biggest stated concern is that the bill will add to the deficit over ten years," Ambinder explained, adding that the White House and Democratic leaders are encouraged because the Reid plan was estimated to decrease the deficit.
"It removes a major obstacle to moderates supporting it," he said. And the White House may have reason to rejoice.
"The White House strategy amounts to three words," CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller said. "Get it passed."
November 18, 2009 5:30 PM 
Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced today an investigation by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee into the Fort Hood shooting on Nov. 5, where Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly murdered 13 and wounded 43.
“We appreciate that the Army and the Justice Department are conducting a criminal investigation of this shooting," said Lieberman. "But that does not mean that the rest of us, including the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, can just sit back and watch."
Without interfering in the existing investigations by the Obama administration, Lieberman cited Congress' duty as a watchdog in launching the probe on whether the shooting could have been prevented.
Lieberman, Collins Plan Fort Hood Probe
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
“We appreciate that the Army and the Justice Department are conducting a criminal investigation of this shooting," said Lieberman. "But that does not mean that the rest of us, including the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, can just sit back and watch."
Without interfering in the existing investigations by the Obama administration, Lieberman cited Congress' duty as a watchdog in launching the probe on whether the shooting could have been prevented.
November 13, 2009 4:02 PM 
Republicans may be able to use the current health care debate to their advantage in upcoming elections, some polls suggest.
Two Quinnipiac polls released Thursday show Republican Senate candidates in Connecticut and Ohio gaining ground as voters in those states show increasing dissatisfaction with Democrats' health care reform effort.
Former Connecticut Congressman Rob Simmons, the leading contender for the 2010 Republican Senate nomination, is leading Democratic incumbent Chris Dodd 49 percent to 38 percent, according to the poll. Simmons increased his lead over Dodd by six percent since September.
Meanwhile, 48 percent of voters in Connecticut said they disapprove of the way President Obama is handling health care, compared with 45 percent who approve. In September, more people approved by a two-point margin.
In Ohio, former GOP Rep. Rob Portman inches ahead of his two Democratic opponents for the first time. Ohio voters oppose Mr. Obama's health care plan 55 percent to 36 percent after being nearly split on the issue in September.
Polls Suggest GOP Candidates May Benefit from Health Care Debate
(AP)
Two Quinnipiac polls released Thursday show Republican Senate candidates in Connecticut and Ohio gaining ground as voters in those states show increasing dissatisfaction with Democrats' health care reform effort.
Former Connecticut Congressman Rob Simmons, the leading contender for the 2010 Republican Senate nomination, is leading Democratic incumbent Chris Dodd 49 percent to 38 percent, according to the poll. Simmons increased his lead over Dodd by six percent since September.
Meanwhile, 48 percent of voters in Connecticut said they disapprove of the way President Obama is handling health care, compared with 45 percent who approve. In September, more people approved by a two-point margin.
In Ohio, former GOP Rep. Rob Portman inches ahead of his two Democratic opponents for the first time. Ohio voters oppose Mr. Obama's health care plan 55 percent to 36 percent after being nearly split on the issue in September.
November 8, 2009 2:13 PM 
President Obama spoke to reporters Sunday afternoon in the White House Rose Garden about the House's passage of its health care reform bill late Saturday night and about the Iraqi parliament's approval of election legislation.
"Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation, I know that this was with a courageous vote for many members of Congress," Mr. Obama said about the House health care vote. "I'm grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far."
"Now it falls on the United States Senate to take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people," Mr Obama said. "I'm absolutely confident that they will."
Obama Hails "Courageous Vote" on Health Bill
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
"Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation, I know that this was with a courageous vote for many members of Congress," Mr. Obama said about the House health care vote. "I'm grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far."
"Now it falls on the United States Senate to take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people," Mr Obama said. "I'm absolutely confident that they will."
November 3, 2009 4:57 PM 
Democrats on Capitol Hill today rebuffed a report that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) has privately dropped his threat to possibly filibuster Democrats' health care plans.
Citing "two sources briefed on the matter," the Hill newspaper reported that "Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform."
Lieberman spokesman Marshall Wittmann told the Hill the senator still plans to support a Republican filibuster of the Senate health care bill if it includes a government-run health insurance plan, or "public option." Lieberman initially said he would vote to block debate on any bill with a public option. He later said on CBS News' Face the Nation that he would vote for debate to proceed but ultimately support a filibuster of any bill with a public option.
Wittman told other news outlets today the Hill report was inaccurate.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
A Public Option Primer
House Dems' Health Reform Hurdles Dwindle
"If you believe this story is true, you will also believe that I am replacing A Rod in game six of the series," he told Greg Sargent of the Plum Line Blog. "There is absolutely no 'private understanding'... Senator Lieberman’s unambiguously clear position, both in private and in public, is that he will vote for the motion to proceed to the health care bill because he supports health care reform that will control costs and insure people who don't have it now, but will oppose cloture on a final bill if it contains a public option."
Reid spokesman Jim Manley also said the story was untrue. "We hope to have his vote in the end but we are not there yet," he reportedly said.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today that President Obama has not reached out to Lieberman since the senator announced his position on the issue, Huffington Post reports.
Lieberman Maintains Opposition to Public Option
(AP/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Citing "two sources briefed on the matter," the Hill newspaper reported that "Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform."
Lieberman spokesman Marshall Wittmann told the Hill the senator still plans to support a Republican filibuster of the Senate health care bill if it includes a government-run health insurance plan, or "public option." Lieberman initially said he would vote to block debate on any bill with a public option. He later said on CBS News' Face the Nation that he would vote for debate to proceed but ultimately support a filibuster of any bill with a public option.
Wittman told other news outlets today the Hill report was inaccurate.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
A Public Option Primer
House Dems' Health Reform Hurdles Dwindle
"If you believe this story is true, you will also believe that I am replacing A Rod in game six of the series," he told Greg Sargent of the Plum Line Blog. "There is absolutely no 'private understanding'... Senator Lieberman’s unambiguously clear position, both in private and in public, is that he will vote for the motion to proceed to the health care bill because he supports health care reform that will control costs and insure people who don't have it now, but will oppose cloture on a final bill if it contains a public option."
Reid spokesman Jim Manley also said the story was untrue. "We hope to have his vote in the end but we are not there yet," he reportedly said.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today that President Obama has not reached out to Lieberman since the senator announced his position on the issue, Huffington Post reports.
October 20, 2009 4:10 PM
Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia has been leading the rally cry to extend a stimulus program which gives first time homebuyers an $8,000 tax credit.
“This is not only the key to help somebody buy a loan or the key just to stabilize values it also helps to bring back lending for reasonable, highly qualified people,“ he said on “Washington Unplugged” Tuesday.
The senator’s proposed legislation actually increases the amount of tax rebate homeowners could receive and increases the income threshold for families and individuals eligible. According to congressional estimates, Isakson’s plan would cost an additional $16.7 billion dollars if expanded until June 30, 2010.
Asked by moderator Nancy Cordes, CBS News’ Capitol Hill correspondent, how he plans to pay for this, Isakson cited the dividends coming back from TARP loans to banks and unspent stimulus money. This can be done “without additional offset” to the congressional budget he explained.
He noted that Congress extended a similar option in the mid 1970s – which helped turned around a recession.
Senator Pushes to Expand Tax Credit for Home Buyers
Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia has been leading the rally cry to extend a stimulus program which gives first time homebuyers an $8,000 tax credit.
“This is not only the key to help somebody buy a loan or the key just to stabilize values it also helps to bring back lending for reasonable, highly qualified people,“ he said on “Washington Unplugged” Tuesday.
The senator’s proposed legislation actually increases the amount of tax rebate homeowners could receive and increases the income threshold for families and individuals eligible. According to congressional estimates, Isakson’s plan would cost an additional $16.7 billion dollars if expanded until June 30, 2010.
Asked by moderator Nancy Cordes, CBS News’ Capitol Hill correspondent, how he plans to pay for this, Isakson cited the dividends coming back from TARP loans to banks and unspent stimulus money. This can be done “without additional offset” to the congressional budget he explained.
He noted that Congress extended a similar option in the mid 1970s – which helped turned around a recession.
October 13, 2009 5:38 PM
President Obama on Tuesday called the passage of health care legislation in the Senate Finance Committee a "critical milestone" that brings Washington closer to achieving comprehensive health care reform than ever before. He praised the entire Senate committee for its work and specifically thanked Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe -- the one GOP member who supported the measure.
The committee passed a measure "that has both Democratic and Republican support," the president said, thanks to the "tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee."
"I want to particularly thank Sen. Olympia Snowe for both the political courage and seriousness of purpose that she has demonstrated throughout this process," Mr. Obama said, speaking in front of the White House.
Despite "significant details and disagreements" to work out, he said the bill "has brought us significantly closer to achieving the core objectives I laid out" for reform. Those include, he said, bringing security to those who have health insurance and affordability to those who do not, slowing the growth of health care costs, setting up a health care "exchange," implementing consumer protections, and keeping the reform package deficit-neutral.
"We are now closer than ever before to passing health care reform, but we're not there yet," Mr. Obama said. "Now's the time to dig in and work even harder to get things done."
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Obama Praises Senate Panel, Olympia Snowe
President Obama on Tuesday called the passage of health care legislation in the Senate Finance Committee a "critical milestone" that brings Washington closer to achieving comprehensive health care reform than ever before. He praised the entire Senate committee for its work and specifically thanked Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe -- the one GOP member who supported the measure.
The committee passed a measure "that has both Democratic and Republican support," the president said, thanks to the "tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee."
"I want to particularly thank Sen. Olympia Snowe for both the political courage and seriousness of purpose that she has demonstrated throughout this process," Mr. Obama said, speaking in front of the White House.
Despite "significant details and disagreements" to work out, he said the bill "has brought us significantly closer to achieving the core objectives I laid out" for reform. Those include, he said, bringing security to those who have health insurance and affordability to those who do not, slowing the growth of health care costs, setting up a health care "exchange," implementing consumer protections, and keeping the reform package deficit-neutral.
"We are now closer than ever before to passing health care reform, but we're not there yet," Mr. Obama said. "Now's the time to dig in and work even harder to get things done."
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
October 12, 2009 2:40 PM 
Senate Majority Leader Leady Harry Reid could be in trouble in his 2010 reelection bid: A new Mason-Dixon poll finds that the Nevada senator is now trailing two possible Republican challengers as he seeks a fifth six-year term.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the survey finds that Reid trails real estate developer Danny Tarkanian 48 percent to 43 percent in a hypothetical matchup. He fares even worse against former GOP party official Sue Lowden, who leads Reid 49 percent to 39 percent.
The poll finds that Reid's favorable rating stands at just 38 percent, while 50 percent of the state's voters have an unfavorable view.
Reid is trying to avoid the fate of former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle. In 2004, Daschle had been the Democratic leader in the Senate but narrowly lost his seat to John Thune.
Harry Reid Trailing Potential 2010 Challengers
(AP)
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the survey finds that Reid trails real estate developer Danny Tarkanian 48 percent to 43 percent in a hypothetical matchup. He fares even worse against former GOP party official Sue Lowden, who leads Reid 49 percent to 39 percent.
The poll finds that Reid's favorable rating stands at just 38 percent, while 50 percent of the state's voters have an unfavorable view.
Reid is trying to avoid the fate of former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle. In 2004, Daschle had been the Democratic leader in the Senate but narrowly lost his seat to John Thune.
