Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day The U.S. is now spending roughly one in every six dollars on health care. If we do nothing, in 30 years, one out of every three dollars in our economy will be tied up in the health care system. (Congressional Budget Office) | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At the Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $50,693,585,797 since January 1, 2009 in Additional Premium Costs to Cover Care for the Uninsured. Under the Microscope MOVING FORWARD ON HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM There’s widespread agreement that the health care system status quo is unsustainable and will cripple our country’s economic and fiscal future. And, as the President said yesterday in his speech, every idea about health reform has been put on the table and every argument made. Thus, now is the time to make a decision and move forward on health insurance reform. This afternoon the President met with Members of the Progressive, Black, Asian Pacific American, and Hispanic Caucuses, as well as leadership of the moderate New Democrat coalition. Also meeting at the White House today was HHS Secretary Sebelius with five health insurance chief executives to discuss premium rate increases. The President stopped by the meeting with a letter in hand from a woman in Ohio whose insurance will go up 40 percent next year. Coincidently, it was also announced today that Illinois consumers in the individual market will be paying up to 60 percent more this year in premiums.
Health Care Headlines Individual Health Insurance Policy Premiums Soaring
Consumers in Illinois who lose their jobs and have no other option but to buy their own health insurance will get socked this year with premium increases of up to 60 percent, according to state records. [Chicago Tribune, 3/4/2010] Obama Calls for Reconciliation to Prevent Filibuster on Health-Care Reform
President Obama's endorsement Wednesday of a risky legislative maneuver to complete health-care legislation sent Democratic leaders scrambling to settle policy disputes and assemble the votes necessary for passage in the coming weeks. [Washington Post, 3/4/2010] Obama Calls for ‘Up or Down Vote’ on Health Care Bill
President Obama, beginning his final push for a health care overhaul, called Wednesday for Congress to allow an “up or down vote” on the measure, and sketched out an ambitious — and, some Democrats said, unrealistic — timetable for his party to pass a bill on its own within weeks. [New York Times, 3/4/2010] Obama Asks For Final Healthcare Vote 'In the Next Few Weeks'
Making an impassioned demand for a comprehensive health overall, President Obama on Wednesday called on Congress to vote on sweeping legislation "in the next few weeks," implicitly endorsing action even if it requires Democrats to move forward without Republican support. [L.A. Times, 3/4/2010] Democrats Hope to Finish Writing Health Bill This Week
House and Senate Democratic leaders are working to finalize the language of a health care reconciliation bill by the end of this week in order to tee up the measure for passage in both chambers before the Easter break. [Roll Call, 3/3/2010] Senate Moderates Warm to Reconciliation
Senate Democratic centrists aren’t saying “yes” just yet, but when it comes to passing a crucial piece of the health care reform puzzle, party leaders have reason to be optimistic that enough of their most fickle Members will put them over the top. [Roll Call, 3/4/2010] Abortion Still Threatens Health Overhaul Effort
Of the remaining issues with the potential to bring down the entire health overhaul effort, the one that lawmakers fear most is abortion. [NPR, 4/3/2010] Editorial: The Democrats’ Choice
Republicans’ lock-step opposition to comprehensive health care reform seems to be as much a matter of politics as principle. But either way, they have made clear that there is no dialogue or any possible compromise that will persuade them to change their minds. [New York Times, 3/4/2010] Editorial: The Endgame
President Obama didn't use the "R-word," but he effectively called on Democrats on Wednesday to use the reconciliation process to pass a comprehensive healthcare reform bill that Republicans vehemently oppose. [L.A. Times, 3/4/2010] OPINION: Dingell: ‘Do Whatever It Takes’ to Repair Broken System
By Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), chairman emeritus, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
The newest incarnation of federal health insurance reform will be bipartisan in terms of ideas, but it unfortunately looks doubtful we will have bipartisan support. [Detroit News, 3/4/2010] OPINION: The Republicans' Big Lie About Reconciliation
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
For those who feared that Barack Obama did not have any Lyndon Johnson in him, the president's determination to press ahead and get health-care reform done in the face of Republican intransigence came as something of a relief. [Washington Post, 3/4/2010] COMMENTARY: Did Republicans Use Reconciliation For Significantly Bipartisan Bills?
By Ezra Klein
Among the odder arguments Republicans are making against the reconciliation process is that the process should only be used for bipartisan bills, and since they refuse to vote for health-care reform, Democrats can't give their package of fixes an up-or-down vote. [Washington Post, 3/3/2010] | 