White House Health Care Reform Plan Coming Monday
Democratic aides with knowledge of health care discussions tell CBS News Capitol Hill Producer Jill Jackson they expect the White House to release its proposed health care plan Monday morning.
That's so it's available online for 72-hours before next week's bipartisan televised health care summit, which is set for Thursday.
According to one Democratic aide, the package being discussed would have a tweaked Cadillac insurance tax, address the Medicare donut hole and include affordability subsidies.
The aide said it was premature to put a price tag on the package.
The aide added that the proposal was meant as a basis for discussion and that the Senate may look to pass the bill through budget reconciliation, which requires only a simple majority as opposed to the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.
It is unclear whether the proposal presented Monday will be reconciliation-ready. (Only certain proposals, generally those tied to federal revenues, can pass via reconciliation, though the exact rule isn't entirely clear.)
On Friday, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor released a statement complaining about the possibility of a proposal that could pass via reconciliation.
"If the President is sincere about moving forward in a bipartisan fashion, he must take the reconciliation process – which will be used jam through legislation that a majority of Americans do not want – off the table," he said.
With the White House pressing the notion that it is trying to reach across the aisle to pass health care legislation, passing a bill through reconciliation (without, presumably, the support of a single GOP senator) may not be the most appealing option.
But with Republicans seemingly unified against the proposals being put forth by the majority party, Democrats may yet embrace the maneuver. If they do, expect the GOP to cast Democrats as acting unilaterally against the will of the American people, and Democrats to respond by pointing out that Republicans have used reconciliation in the past, including to pass the Bush tax cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid signaled late Friday that he is open to reconciliation in an effort to achieve a public option, which was once thought to be dead.
"If a decision is made to use reconciliation to advance health care, Senator Reid will work with the White House, the House, and members of his caucus in an effort to craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles and secure enough votes," he said in a statement.
According to the New York Times, Congressional Democrats have not yet seen the White House proposal, which is expected to reflect aspects of the versions of the legislation passed by the House and Senate. One Democratic aide told the newspaper that "If Republicans don't come with any substantial offers," the White House and Democrats are prepared to turn to reconciliation.
At a Nevada town hall event Friday, President Obama urged Americans to "pay attention" to next week's summit.
"It is vital for our economy to change how health care works in this country," he said. "Don't let the American people go another year, another 10 years, another 20 years without health insurance reform in this country."