Anyone expecting some glorious "eureka!" moment at the White House healthcare summit today that would forge a compromise on contentious reform proposals between Democrats and Republicans has to be disappointed...
Was anything substantive decided at the summit? Obama and Democratic leaders strongly indicated that they may resort to the parliamentary procedure known as reconciliation if that is what it takes to get a bill passed. This would mean that the legislation could pass with a simple majority in the Senate, rather than the usual 60 votes needed to end a filibuster. Republicans characterize the tactic as pushing through the bill on a strictly party-line basis.
The public opposes using reconciliation by 52% to 39%, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll...
What's next? Democrats could try to push through their bills through the reconciliation method by a party-line vote, although they acknowledge that is a high-risk strategy, if even possible.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Healthcare Summit
Here's the skinny from Medscape.
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2 comments:
What's next? I would encourage you to call your representative and demand that the bipartisan Healthy Americans Act, co-sponsored by Wyden (D-Oregon) and Bennett (R-Utah). The bill would transform the healthcare system by ending the archaic tax incentives that eliminate competition by giving tax preference to purchasing your insurance through your employer compared to purchasing it individually. The CBO office has suggested that it will be budget neutral by 2014. It is time for citizens to act! Pick up your phone and demand a hearing of this today!!!!!!!
I don't think that the Dems will ram it through, assuming that Pelosi can break enough arms to get her members to agree to the Senate version. The recent election in Massachusetts looms over the Dems. November is just months away. Ramming it through with reconciliation will double their electoral losses. And, as the country understands how expensive the plan is and how it underdelivers, they could make Obama a one-termer. Reconcilation may give the Dems some short term gain with many hard losses to follow. www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com
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