Health Care Bill Passes Key Committee

Democrats Pushed Legislation Through House Energy and Commerce Committee, Clearing Way for September Showdown

(AP)  In a triumph for President Barack Obama, Democrats narrowly pushed sweeping health care legislation through a key congressional committee Friday night and cleared the way for a September showdown in the House.

The 31-28 vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, along party lines, was weeks later than either the White House or Democratic leaders had hoped.

As part of a last-minute series of changes, the committee agreed to cap increases in the cost of insurance sold under the bill, and also to give the federal government authority to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices under Medicare.

The new provisions were part of an intensive effort Democrats made in recent days to satisfy the conflicting demands of liberals and conservatives on the panel, unity necessary to overcome a solid wall of Republican opposition.

"We have agreed we need to pull together," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the committee chairman who presided over hours of private negotiations and public committee meetings. Five Democrats opposed the bill.

The measure is designed to extend health insurance to millions who now lack it, at the same time it strives to slow the growth in medical costs nationwide — Obama's twin goals.

While the pace of action was slower than party leaders had hoped, it was speedier by far than the timetable in the Senate.

There, Democrats said a deadline of Sept. 15 had been imposed on marathon talks aimed at producing a bipartisan compromise. Several officials said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., had informed fellow senators he intends to convene his Finance Committee to begin voting by then.

Without a bipartisan bill, Baucus would presumably have to produce a measure tailored to Democratic specifications, a step he has said repeatedly he would rather avoid. It wasn't clear how much the deadline was Baucus' idea, and how much it reflected growing impatience at the White House and on the part of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

The Energy and Commerce Committee was the third of three House panels to act on the legislation, a measure that numerous lawmakers note would rearrange one-sixth of the nation's economy. A vote in the full House is expected in September, after lawmakers return from a monthlong vacation.

In the run-up to final approval, the panel handed the drug industry a victory, voting 47-11 to grant 12 years of market protection to high-tech drugs used to combat cancer, Parkinson's and other deadly diseases. The decision was a setback for the White House, which had hoped to give patients faster access to generic versions of costly biotech medicines like the blockbuster cancer drug Avastin.

Democrats also turned back a Republican bid to strip out a provision allowing the government to sell insurance in competition with private industry. The vote was 31-28, reflecting the shaky majority Democrats had on a 59-member committee they nominally controlled with 36 members.

The Democrats who opposed the final bill were Reps. John Barrow of Georgia; Rick Boucher of Virginia; Jim Matheson of Utah; Charlie Melancon of Louisiana and Bart Stupak of Michigan.

Under the bill, insurance companies would be required to sell coverage to all seeking it, without exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions. The federal government would provide subsidies for lower-income families to help them afford policies that would otherwise be out of their reach.

The bills would set up so-called exchanges, in effect national marketplaces where consumers both with and without subsidies could evaluate different policies and choose the one they wanted.

The main expansion of coverage would not come until 2013 — after the next presidential election.

Even so, the political stakes are enormous for Obama and the Democrats as they strive to pass legislation that has proven elusive for years. Republicans are overwhelmingly opposed to the approach they chose, and outside groups on both sides of the issue arranged a heavy dose of television advertising over August.

"Let me assure you: There will be a health care reform bill passed and it will make a big difference in the lives of the American people," Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in an interview.

But the House Republican Leader, John Boehner of Ohio, countered that "Democrats are in for a long, hot summer once they return to their congressional districts, where Americans are lining up in opposition to a government takeover of health care. "

On a vote that crossed party lines, abortion opponents failed in an attempt to bar insurance plans that offer abortion services from accepting customers with government subsidies. The vote was 31-27.

On Thursday night, the panel agreed on a provision saying the government could neither require nor prohibit abortion services in insurance plans sold in the exchange.

Waxman's announcement of a series of last-minute changes capped a tumultuous period that began more than two weeks ago when conservative and moderate Democrats on the panel sought changes.

Needing their votes, Waxman began negotiations that grew to include Pelosi and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. An agreement at midweek excluded more businesses from a requirement to offer insurance to their workers and reduced subsidies for lower-income uninsured.

It also swiftly triggered a counter-revolt among liberals, who demanded the subsidies be restored in full.

The final deal accommodated them without sacrificing the concessions made earlier to the conservatives, and included numerous other provisions.

Insurance plans sold in the exchange would need government approval before increasing premiums by more than one and half times medical inflation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated that medical prices rose at an annual rate of 3.6 percent annually for the three months ending in June.

The provision giving the federal government the right to negotiate for better drug prices under Medicare has long been a goal of Democrats who say it could lower costs for seniors. Critics argue that is unlikely unless Congress also limits the drugs than can be sold, thereby giving the government the ability to play one company off against another.

That has long been viewed as politically unfeasible under Medicare, because it would limit the choice that seniors now enjoy.

But including restrictions in the government health insurance option would place it in line with Medicaid, the government program for the poor, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs and many private plans that limit drug choice.

[noloyalisti]

Why should the rich and our Congress have socialized health care? Why should we not have something like Medicare that is a much better government run system. Why should we let greedy, uncaring corporations ration our health care and stand between us and quality care.

[noloyalisti]

Just because someone doesn't like Obama does not give them the right to make up their own facts. The fact is we spend the most money and have the 37th best health care system. France is #1 while spending 10th most, Canada 30th best while spending the 18th most. Someday we might actually have a real country here in America.

[noloyalisti]

Sad the people who watch News for Dumb Fox don't even listen to that, they still want to make up their own facts.

I don't understand why people want big greedy corporations to stand in the way of their health care. Even after big corporations pretty much destroyed the world economy, it is not enough for them.

I guess the right wing wackos who don't want government interference in their health care but don't want them to mess with their (government-run) Medicare pretty much says it all about many Americans.

[jsd330]

velma179

What because Dashark1 disagree's with your point of view he is mentally ill,stupid, idiot ect. He doesn't like Obama and thats his choice, it doesn't make him mentally ill.

[eightsigma]

Delusions are a symptom of mental illness. The comments were certainly delusional.

[Dashark1]

I'm against Obama passing any Laws on Us until his BC issue has been solved. Also I just saw this:

Hey Guys, Obama's and Pelosi's worst nightmare has come true:

The man we elected is a said Barack Hussein Obama.
But the Legal name of the man in the White House is not Barack Hussein Obama.(We have iron clad proof of this)
What is his legal name?
Legal Implications: The man in the White House must step down in order to clear up all this mess. All papers He has signed and oats he has taken are Invalid. We have no President as of now.

That's why Obama can not release his HS, College and Harvard Records which have his legal Name.
Obama must now step aside and let the Police, FBI and the courts decide who the hell is He.

Why Pelosi?
a.- Pelosi vouched for Obama's Birth Certificate under oath.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105764

[actornaught]

zzzzzzzzz.... zzzzzzzz.....

[velma179]

While we are talking about health care, it is important that we also address mental health issues.

People like Dashark1 will thank us ... that is, if these individuals can ever form a thought that doesn't come from a core of paranoia and hatred.

[daisyjingles]

Iowa's Republican Senator Charles Grassley has joined the party of "NO". One of two Iowa Senators, he is up for re-election next year in 2010. His attitude towards the health care legislation does not reflect the Iowans that Senator Grassley represents. I saw a video of a town meeting setting where Grassley advised someone in the audience who wanted the type of insurance Senator Grassley has to get a job with the federal government like Grassley did. How flippant! How arrogant! What can he be thinking to answer such an important quesiton is such a snotty way?


Then I saw that The Washington Post had a quote from Grassley recently: "Grassley, the Finance Committee's ranking Republican, received more than $2 million from the health and insurance sectors since 2003."

Why on earth would Senator Charles Grassley take this money? He should give all that money to a free health clinic in Iowa. People in Iowa are suffering because of the lack of heath care, but Senator Grassley does not support a public plan.


I want the same health care that Senator Grassley gets from his job as a federal employee and I also want that same health care for every man, woman and child in the United States and its territories.

[drsuz]

I want the same health care that Senator Grassley gets from his job as a federal employee and I also want that same health care for every man, woman and child in the United States and its territories.

And I just ONCE would like to hit the lottery and have world peace, but in the real world I know that won't happen.

My favorite was when the Missouri Rep got booed off of stage when he was out stumping for the health care plan. It only showed it once on the national news and then nada-nill-nothing was mentioned again.

[jsd330]

actornaught put Health Incurance companies out of business, how is that a bad thing?

Sure add a few more thousand people to unemployment,without health care. That will fix everything. Should we put the oil and utility companies out of business to, they are showing record profits, CEO's making millions and ripping off the public just like the Insurance companies.

[actornaught]

Don't be a hypocrite. If the Ronnie & the Neocons can put hundreds of thousands of productive americans out of work in basic steel and countless other vital industries, what's a few non-productive paper pushers that ARE between my & my doctor?

Health Insurance is a detriment to healthcare, NOT a service.

[caliguy55]

As a 57 year old male, who has been covered by Medicare for almost 4 years because of a disability, I can truthfully state that Medicare has private health insurance plans beat hands down. I would never go back to a private health insurer unless forced to do so by some unforeseen circumstance. With Medicare, it is unbelievably easy to see the physician of your choice, a specialist if you feel you need one, and to obtain virtually any tests recommended by your physicians. The Part D prescription drug plan is a life saver as generic drugs are available for a small copay or no copay at all if you use a mail order pharmacy. I really wish all Americans at least had the option to join Medicare, if they wished to do so.

[actornaught]

Indeed, i hope the same as you. When the critics of the possible plan say that it could put Health Insurance companies out of business, how is that a bad thing? As i posted above, you have to walk before you, in today's political climate. With any luck, Health Insurance will be a relic of the past, that only fringe rightwingers will have to have.

[drsuz]

For all of you who just LOVE Mr. Obama's Health Care Plan, are you as dumb as him and all the other Politicians in Washington?

Health is generally defined as being "a state of COMPLETE physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". This definition is used by the World Health Organization (WHO)

So what is missing from this National Health Care Plan? Try Dental and Eyes!

Think about it. If people cannot afford to go and see a Medical MD, what makes you think they can afford to see a Dentist or Eye Doctor?
Studies have proven that dental health have alot to do with certain illnesses and medical problems. Heck, even prisioners get dental free. I know of a case where a man was arrested. He had a toothache, ergo could not chew. He was taken to a dentisit and got his cavities filled so he could eat before he appeared in front of a Judge for arraignment.. All at taxpayers expenses.

Then eyes..Obama is also hyped on education. Well if a child is having problems in school it could be he is near-sighted or far-sighted and never diagnosed because his parents could not afford to take him to a eye doctor. Even if they could afford the exam, they could not afford the glasses. Then what about those who develop Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration? How do you think they are suppose to pay for that if they cannot afford to pay insurance?

[actornaught]

Unfortunately, the dems are tredding way too lightly, in order to appease the rightwingers, not to mention the fans of the Phony OutRage Network.

You have to walk before you can run. Saying that, since everything i've read says that almost nothing about the reform is set yet, how does anyone know what is or isn't in the plan?

[drsuz]

For not once have I heard anything about dental or optical mentioned. And this late in the game do you really believe it will be added?? NOT!!!

[rocketjl]

Each member of Congress should clearly understand that their political life depends on how the American people are treated by this Health Care Plan.

How many bloggers are from the Obama spin team?????