Obama renews health-care push, eyes way to sidestep filibuster
As promised, President Obama has unveiled his own health-insurance reform proposal three days before Thursday’s scheduled summit with members of Congress, allowing all sides time to study the package and propose their own improvements.
But among Republicans leaders, the initial reaction was negative. Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House minority leader, said that Mr. Obama had “crippled the credibility” of Thursday’s meeting by proposing “the same massive government takeover of health care.”
… The bill is intended to achieve Mr. Obama’s broad goals of expanding coverage to the uninsured while driving down health premiums and imposing what the White House calls “common sense rules of the road” for insurers, including ending the unpopular practice of discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions. It would offer more money to help cash-strapped states pay for Medicaid over a four-year period, and, in a nod to concerns among the elderly, end the unpopular “donut hole” in the Medicare prescription drug program.
The White House projects that the bill would extend coverage to 31 million people who are currently uninsured, at a cost over 10 years of $950 billion — more than the $871 billion the Senate would have spent, but less than the $1.05 trillion for the version passed by the House. The administration estimates that its plan would reduce the federal deficit by $100 billion over the next 10 years — and about $1 trillion over the second decade — by cutting spending and reining in waste and fraud.
Democrats also seem ready to try to push the measure through the Senate through the ironically named reconciliation process, a step that would ensure some high political drama in the weeks to come.
Democrats will finish their health reform efforts within the next two months by using a majority-vote maneuver in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.
Reid said that congressional Democrats would likely opt for a procedural tactic in the Senate allowing the upper chamber to make final changes to its healthcare bill with only a simple majority of senators, instead of the 60 it takes to normally end a filibuster.
“I’ve had many conversations this week with the president, his chief of staff, and Speaker Pelosi,” Reid said during an appearance Friday evening on “Face to Face with Jon Ralston” in Nevada. “And we’re really trying to move forward on this.”
“We’ll do a relatively small bill to take care of what we’ve already done,” Reid said, affirming that Democrats would use the reconciliation process. “We’re going to have that done in the next 60 days.”
The move would allow Democrats to essentially go it alone on health reform, especially after losing their filibuter-proof majority in the Senate after Sen. Scott Brown’s (R) special election victory in Massachusetts.
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147 comments Add your comment
Balderdash
February 22nd, 2010
3:19 pm
I’m pretty much Libertarian and think government is best the smaller it is. That said, the fact that we are the only Western Democracy without universal healthcare, and the only category we lead in, is how much we pay for it … well, maybe I’d like the government to deliver my mail, defend my shores, treat my bronchitis and stay out of my business.
RealityKing
February 22nd, 2010
3:20 pm
Obama has proven himself a liar once again..
Jenifer
February 22nd, 2010
3:20 pm
This is how republicants will come to the Summit this week. Give it 45 seconds at least!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkKOqij_Tdw
Kamchak
February 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
Jenifer
Midori
February 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
Reality,
is his pants on fire, too?
Midori
February 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
Hi, Jen
Jenifer
February 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
The republicants are so skeered about the Summit this week that McConnell was heard to say that he wished he was “a real turtle so I could pull my head in permanently”, and Boehner is frantically trying to make his skin color resemble the paneling in the room hoping that he won’t be noticed.
Jenifer
February 22nd, 2010
3:25 pm
Hi Midori.
Scooter
February 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
Keep it up Jenifer! You are on a roll girl! Too funny.
Whacks Eloquent
February 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
Good night, John Boy…
Lewis
February 22nd, 2010
3:29 pm
Hi Clark
Clark
February 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Hello Lewis
jewcowboy
February 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Jenifer,
@ 3.20
Very funny
Whacks Eloquent
February 22nd, 2010
3:32 pm
almost reminds me of an old Bud commercial…
wwwwaaaaaaassssssssssssssaaaaaappppp!
TnGelding
February 22nd, 2010
3:33 pm
They should charge for the upcoming meeting. Battle of the titans! Fight to the death! Trapped, caged and nowhere to run! Put up or shut up!
Obama has given them a starting point. Let’s try to whittle it down to something simple that is workable. I don’t think the Dems have the guts to pass it without some GOP support. Why do you think they want a deficit commission to cover their behinds?
But as I’ve said so many times before, Medicare for all. It certainly isn’t perfect, but it’s up and running. I would guess a 4% tax would cover the rest of the population. An additional 1% would be needed to increase the inadequate reimbursement rate. It could all be transferred to employees over a ten year period. It would be a lot less than what companies are paying for health uninsurance now. And those of us that could afford it could pay a little more in deductibles and copays. And why can’t Mr. Basketball lead a fitness program for those of us that insist on making ourselves sick?
md
February 22nd, 2010
3:34 pm
“Pelosi has said that she can’t pass the Senate bill unless the Senate first passes a fix.”
The senate can’t pass anything to fix what the conserve dems are against, and that would be federal money for abortions. Pelosi has problems with both ends of the house. The conserve dems don’t like the senate version and changing it would alianate the other end.
Don’t look for anything to change anytime soon, and not too sure the dems could pass with reconciliation, unless the dems are doing it knowing they won’t be back – a la reid in Nev that looks to be on his way out.
jewcowboy
February 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
TnGelding,
“They should charge for the upcoming meeting. Battle of the titans! Fight to the death! Trapped, caged and nowhere to run! Put up or shut up!”
I like that concept! Pay per view with proceeds going to pay down the defecit.
FinnMcCool
February 22nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Boehner is frantically trying to make his skin color resemble the paneling in the room hoping that he won’t be noticed.
hehehehe
jewcowboy
February 22nd, 2010
3:43 pm
If only the rest of us could be so lucky:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/02/dalai-lama-has-never-heard-of-tiger-woods-/1
Jenifer
February 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
What do republicants have to offer?
A $50 off coupon for a Dr. Kevorkian suicide kit if you get sick.
Whacks Eloquent
February 22nd, 2010
3:46 pm
Well, supposedly the Cornhusker kickback is gone this time, and while that is a positive for the rest of the country, I’ll bet Nebraskans are about ready to burn Ben Nelson in effigy for that…don’t count on his vote. Too bad Obama did not get rid of the Louisiana purchase too – if he plans on using reconciliation he does not need Landrieu either.
Midori
February 22nd, 2010
3:46 pm
Bob Dole is in the hospital….
Bosch
February 22nd, 2010
3:48 pm
Hey MIdori,
You guys were cracking me up with that list!
What’s wrong with Bob?
jewcowboy
February 22nd, 2010
3:50 pm
Midori,
“Bob Dole is in the hospital….”
Bob Dole is still alive?
peter pan
February 22nd, 2010
3:52 pm
Bosch…I hear he overdosed on his daily use of Viagra!
FinnMcCool
February 22nd, 2010
3:56 pm
Was Bob Dole watching videos of Britney Spears, again?
“Easy there, cowboy”
Midori
February 22nd, 2010
3:58 pm
here’s the link, Bosch: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33293.html
No More Progressives.
February 22nd, 2010
4:00 pm
Jenifer
February 22nd, 2010
1:48 pm
I support this bill. I prefer getting anything that will help millions of Americans that need health care, but currently can’t get it. It’s not perfect, but it is something, and a step in the right direction.
UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE NOW!
Be careful what you ask for.
Bosch
February 22nd, 2010
4:01 pm
Midori,
Did you read this part?
“The former senate majority leader intends to return to work as soon as he can walk.”
Can these guys just not retire and go fishing?
Swami Dave
February 22nd, 2010
4:02 pm
We will see how many politicians are willing to sign onto passage of a legislative debacle that the majority of Americans don’t want and do so by means of a bureaucratic maneuver that effectively excludes any opposition from participation in the process.
Regardless of what the kook left believes, “bipartisanship” does not mean assisting liberals to pass liberal legislation.
If you can do it by yourself via reconciliation and get it past constitutional muster (which it would undoubtedly fail), then go for it! Roll the dice and take your chances come November!
Liberals are little more than liars and thieves and these actions simply make that clearer and clearer each day. In reality, Liberals do with legislation what Muggers do with guns!
Americans who produce, build, and achieve are no longer sitting idly by while collectivists steal what they earn to fund transfer payments and services to the beneficiary electorate too sorry to earn for themselves. The election day is coming where you will be treated like the thieves that you are; that will be a day to celebrate.
-SD
Kamchak
February 22nd, 2010
4:02 pm
“Thanks to the great doctors and nurses at Walter Reed, I am making great strides, working between sessions and hope to be fully recovered and back at the office in a few weeks,” Dole said in a statement to POLITICO.
Good thing he had access to good health care.
FinnMcCool
February 22nd, 2010
4:09 pm
Ok, I can get Swami’s whole rant into 2 sentences!
Don’t give nothing to people less well off than me. They don’t deserve it cause they aren’t worth the dirt they tread on.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
February 22nd, 2010
4:12 pm
Did Dole have one of those four-hour things from all that Viagra?
Just askin’.
md
February 22nd, 2010
4:12 pm
“Good thing he had access to good health care.”
Join the military and serve as he did and benefits will be provided.
peter pan
February 22nd, 2010
4:14 pm
Elizabeth, where is my medicare card, and supplemental insurance card…These fools think I am some commoner who doesn’t deserve the very best in health care, Private room, the very best cuisine (none of that green jello) for an ex-senator…Understand!
Kamchak
February 22nd, 2010
4:14 pm
Ok, I can get Swami’s whole rant into 2 sentences!
I can get it in two words—Ayn Rand.
RW-(the original)
February 22nd, 2010
4:17 pm
Good thing he had access to good health care.
That good government health care worked wonders for the late John Murtha.
jewcowboy
February 22nd, 2010
4:23 pm
Bosch,
“Can these guys just not retire and go fishing?”
If only this could be enforced on Congress:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82535-lawmaker-wants-retirement-age-lowered-to-60-for-six-months
jewcowboy
February 22nd, 2010
4:25 pm
md,
“Join the military and serve as he did and benefits will be provided.”
Unless you happen to be part of the 10% of the population that they discriminate against…
El Jefe
February 22nd, 2010
4:28 pm
seems appropriate, a back-door approach to back-door us.
Sam
February 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
doles left side aint the only thing that stiff…..yes!!!
epic beard man
February 22nd, 2010
4:39 pm
Dole could kick all your asses with his left hand tied behind his back!
Sam
February 22nd, 2010
4:53 pm
if he cant kick your ass, he can at least poke you in the leg…yes!!
Drew
February 22nd, 2010
5:02 pm
Conservatives care about money for their cronies, not abortion. They’ll figure out a reason to vote for the Senate’s restriction on abortion so they can have their money.
The American People
February 22nd, 2010
5:19 pm
Down With Dems In 2K10!!!!!!!
DAVID: AJC Truth Detector
February 22nd, 2010
5:42 pm
Mr. G…………The N.Y.T. is no more relevant than the Atlanta-Obama-Journal… Both are relics of the 1900s…just like the typewriter. & telegraph
Joel Edge
February 23rd, 2010
5:53 am
The funny thing about this health care issue. The Dems had a supermajority. They could have passed this thing a long time ago. They didn’t because of the never ending Democrat need for “cover”. When it comes back and bites the American public on the a@#, the Dems can say “Well, you voted for it too.” The Republicans have stopped playing the game. If you have the courage of your convictions and are sure that this is the correct thing – do it. They know this is just another expand the government ploy. Come November, the Dems are going to be on the hook for this.