Health Care Context

by: Chris Bowers

Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 11:43


Here is context on where the health care campaign stands:

  • Several reports claim that Speaker Pelsoi has nixed the deal Henry Waxman made with Blue Dogs to  pass a weakened health care bill through the Energy and Commerce committee back in July. While this would raise hopes for a stronger public option passing through the House, Pelosi's office denies that any deal has been made.

  • House Democrats will meet Thursday to, among other things, discuss the public option. No word on how the Progressive caucus whip count went, but once this meeting is over I imagine we will know more.

  • The Senate Finance Committee is continuing its markup--that is, debate and amendment process--over the Baucus health care bill. One of the reasons this committee is so problematic is because of how conservative it is. For one thing, the committee has 23 members, 13 Democrats and 10 Republicans, even though a 14-9 balance would have more closely reflected the 59-40 makeup of the Senate at the start of the 111th Congress. It is also loaded with some of the more conservative members of the caucus, including Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, Bill Nelson, and Tom Carper.

  • Kent Conrad wants to delay the Senate Finance bill by another two or three weeks so that he can read a CBO score. Fortunately, even Max Baucus thinks waiting that long is a bad idea. Double fortunately, there isn't really any deadline for reconciliation. While all committees with oversight have to report bills by October 15th in order for them to be eligible for reconciliation, there is no such deadline for the Senate Budget committee, which will merge the Finance and HELP committee bill. The Budget commitee can report a health care bill whenever it wants, and it will still be eligible for reconciliation.

  • The key amendments that the Finance Committee will address are the Snowe trigger amendment, which Mike discussed earlier today, and three good strengthening amendments:

    AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT

    1. Rockefeller Amendment 187--establishes a public option that is tied to Medicare plus 5% rates with the ability to negotiate drug prices, and has an "opt-out" provider network.

    2. Wyden Amendment 248--ensures affordable access to health insurance exchange plans for all Americans. This basically would open up the public option to all Americans in addition to private plans in the exchange instead of the current firewall of uninsured Americans and small businesses.

    3. Rockefeller Amendment 185--creates one national exchange, and strikes state exchanges and regional exchanges.

    Given the members of the committee, this will go a long way toward clearing up the whip count picture. I predict we gain at least one vote on the public option after the committee votes on number #1. Gaining two votes would put the whip count unassailably at enough for passage.

The climax slowly approaches. What health care stories are you following?
Chris Bowers :: Health Care Context

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Health Care Context | 8 comments
This small article is the most comprehensive, fact based, actionable snapshot (4.00 / 2)
of the health movement/legislative struggle produced. Thank you.

We need this level of focus in every blog; where the votes are happening, on what, and what they mean, so response can be given, and voters alerted and action taken. This, is what responsible journalism looks like. That it is also movement journalism is not surprising.

The blogs that should be tracking the Senators, have to do the work of the press, this where the pressure needs to get sharper. What amendments are crippling the bill, which Amendments are ensuring it is real reform. Each of the votes need strong response, both in praise and in punishment.

(This is why people get Pulitzers.)

Change
"We must break up the banks and never again let them get so big that they distort our politics and take down the economy.

really? (0.00 / 0)

Double fortunately, there isn't really any deadline for reconciliation. While all committees with oversight have to report bills by October 15th in order for them to be eligible for reconciliation, there is no such deadline for the Senate Budget committee, which will merge the Finance and HELP committee bill. The Budget commitee can report a health care bill whenever it wants, and it will still be eligible for reconciliation.

This is surprising, and goes against everything I've read on the subject. Do you have any links supporting this?

I don't have reason to suspect the deadline (4.00 / 1)
But I don't find anything at all fortunate about knowing that the responsibility for blending the bill is in the hands of the Budget Committee headed as it is by Kent Conrad. And while the membership of the Committee is on balance somewhat more liberal than Finance and includes Sanders and Feingold it is not exactly a hotbed of Progressivism. http://budget.senate.gov/democ...
[ Parent ]
"What health care stories are you following?" (4.00 / 3)
Paul Craig Roberts endorses single payer:

http://www.chroniclesmagazine....

John Geyman encourages Obama to find his inner FDR:

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/09/2...

Single Payer Activists build memorial on the National Mall:

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/...

Carper defends WH sell out to Pharma, apparently agreeing the federal government should not exercise it's market size in the same way say Wal-Mart does:

http://campaignsilo.firedoglak...

When will those key amendments be voted on? (0.00 / 0)
Approximately. Would like to see those votes.  
[ Parent ]
Is this post misplaced, as you are asking Chris Bowers? (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
It's misplaced but I'm asking anyone (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Mall memorial - great way to highlight the Harvard Study (0.00 / 0)
How interesting! and worth repeating.

Your link on the National Mall memorial revealed that the memorial honors the more than 44,000 Americans who die every year from lack of health insurance, as reported last week in the American Journal of Public Health by researchers from Harvard.

Physicians for a National Health Program are sponsoring the memorial, and, as of Monday there were 3,000 flags planted in the ground at Constitution Ave and 15th Street, NW. Each day activists with the PNHP plant 12 flags representing 120 Americans who died that day for lack of health insurance.

The story in the link tells of international tourists passing by who are shocked by the revelation.

The main stream media reported the Harvard study, but I bet they don't report this. I quickly googled for it and didn't find anything. If they can cover the 9/12ers who roamed the Mall a couple weeks ago, surely this rates at least a photo and caption.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905

[ Parent ]
Health Care Context | 8 comments
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