Posted on 07/09/2009 3:34:28 PM PDT by Lorianne
The race in Congress to pass bipartisan healthcare legislation this summer hit a rough spot yesterday as key senators raised doubts about whether they could sort out complex policy disagreements in time.
Republicans called on Democrats to slow the pace of deliberations, and Democratic leaders sounded decidedly less confident about speedy approval amid festering divisions. Members of the Senate Finance Committee, which is searching for a bipartisan compromise, acknowledged they were not close to a deal.
Last spring Democratic leaders set an aggressive timetable for passage of universal healthcare coverage, agreeing to vote before the Aug. 8 recess, return in September to work out the differences between House and Senate versions, and send a bill to the president before the end of the year. The schedule reflected a widespread belief among Democrats that they must move quickly to take advantage of the popular new president’s political momentum, and to avoid the political distraction of the midterm elections in 2010.
But in recent weeks progress has slowed dramatically. Moderate Democrats and Republicans are balking at the idea of creating a government insurance option, which more liberal Democrats insist is crucial if insurance will be affordable. Many Democrats also are resisting the idea of taxing a portion of health benefits for employees with the most generous insurance plans.
Moderates in both parties are also worried about the costs of expanded healthcare coverage - it is likely to exceed $1 trillion - at a time when deficits are soaring and the economy is weak.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Conservative Dems have realized that they are standing knee-deep in feces. Wanna go for chin deep?
Wonderful, wonderful news. We may kill this sucker yet. Thanks for posting.
And the longer they wait, the more Joe Sixpack wakes up. Not a good thing for the RATS.
I don’t think it’s an oxymoron at all. Just as there are closet libs with an “R” after their names, there are Reagan Dems with a “D” after theirs. Sometimes the Dems are more conservative than the Reps. when this is the case (i.e. RINOS vs. Reagan Dems). As we all know on this board, having a specific letter after the name doesn’t necessarily give the whole story.
This bill has pork in it for parks and street lights and no telling what else!
Call the hook, and haul it to the boneyard.
Sorry you didn’t pick up on my sarcasm.
Oh, I DID pick up on it, but the point needs to be rammed home here. I’ve seen more than a few freepers here still caught up in labels versus ideology.
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