Posted on 02/19/2010 3:37:07 AM PST by BIOCHEMKY
President Obama is working on health care legislation intended to reconcile differences between House and Senate Democrats that could be attached to a budget bill and avoid a Republican filibuster, according to a published report.
The president's proposal, which is still being written, will be posted on the Internet by Monday morning, senior administration officials and Congressional aides told the New York Times.
By piggybacking the legislation onto a budget bill, Democrats would be able to advance the bill with a simple majority of just 51 votes, averting a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
The White House signaled Thursday that an aggressive, all-Democratic strategy for overhauling the nation's health system remains a serious option, even as Obama invites Republicans to next week's televised summit to seek possible compromises.
"It will be a reconciliation bill," the Times quoted a Democratic aide as saying. "If Republicans don't come with any substantial offers, this is what we would do."
The administration's stance could set the stage for a political showdown, with Democrats struggling to enact the president's top domestic priority and Republicans trying to block what many conservatives see as government overreach.
Obama's plan, like the House and Senate bills, would expand coverage to some 30 million, require most Americans to carry insurance or face financial penalties, and block insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions, the Times reported.
One Capitol Hill Democrat told the Times abortion remains "a wild card."
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday that Obama plans to have a health proposal that "will take some of the best ideas and put them into a framework" ahead of the Feb. 25 summit.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Obama announced that he is in the process of writing the legislation that the Dems in the Senate can pass via the reconciliation process by a simple majority of 51 votes. The announcement came in a speech at a Dem fundraiser in Denver for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO).
In other words if the Republicans don't capitulate...
Republicans ought to walk away from this Health Care “dialogue” set for next week. The party of stupid strikes again.
GOP; listen up and listen good, the American people OVERWHELMINGLY want NOTHING to do with OBAMA DEATH CARE! Do not be fooled, do not be tricked by Obamessiah and the democRATS. This meeting is a TRAP totally designed to turn Republicans into SCAPE GOATS! Do not allow your selves to be used, DO NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL OR OF “RECONCILLIATION”! If you do the American people will do EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO REMOVE YOU ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE WHO VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS MONSTROSITY FROM OFFICE! Vote in favor of Obama Death Care at your own peril!
Does he realize he is not a Senator. Do we still have three branches of Government?
Time to follow the lead of Jefferson and Madison is rapidly approaching. Remember, more than 50% of the population opposes this legislation. Simply stated, we have arrived at the point where the king does not listen to the subjects.
This clown never gave up on this, he is a left wing idealogue and no one is going to change my opinion on that. Those jerks like Collins, McCain and Graham who like to be “non partisan” are useful idiots to the socialist cause. Long since time to toss them out.
I guess Hopey/Changey truly wants to lose the House and the Senate in the upcoming elections. Perhaps, as some have written and said, insanity has come to the White House.
“Do we still have three branches of Government?”
No, not three with equal powers. Seems 0bama has his sights on a dictatorship.
Why do we need a Congress at all if Obama can just write a bill and get his party to pass it.
Even the Democrats should start balking at the powers this Kenyan poseur is assuming.
It won’t be the same 2000 page bill but its still a violation of house rules. I wonder if any dems will be reelected in 2010.
THANK YOU!!!
Knowing how utterly inexperienced this fool is, if he DOES write this bill, it will be his first. Sooo, who’s ghostwriting it for him this time? Pelosi? Or Ayres?
As President, his job is to articulate goals...and let the Legislative branch write the bills...what an utter coup he is trying to pull. This shall not stand.
This is how thugs operate. “Take what we offer or die” is what Obama has in store for any REPUBs who show up at this summit.
REPUBS has better learn it soon and start playing hardball. Friends of RATS like McCain need to get out of the way.
He isnt writing one damn word of it, though I'm sure hes on the sidelines saying to those who are writing it, things like: "make sure people are taxed heavilly in this one", "be sure that an amendment forcing people to buy health insurance is in there too"
Seems like it should be considered a new bill. Any opportunity to call for a point of order on this?
Exactly.
...according to Odumbo, no
Agreed.
My point is 0bama over-stepping his power.
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