Posted on 07/28/2009 8:37:08 AM PDT by skyman
WASHINGTON (AP) - A bipartisan group of senators is closing in on a health care compromise that omits key Democratic priorities but seeks to hold down costs, as lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol struggled Tuesday to deliver sweeping health legislation to President Barack Obama.
In the House, Democratic leaders continued to negotiate with conservative and moderate rank-and-file party members with time running out for a vote before lawmakers leave Friday for a monthlong vacation.
The fiscally conservative Blue Dogs were at odds with the leadership over how to pay providers in a government-run health plan that would compete with private insurance. The House bill models the payments based on Medicare, but the so-called Blue Dogs want a negotiated rate similar to private insurance. Other issues remain sticking points for the Democrats.
"We're not ready to support a bill yet," said Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., a member of the Blue Dog group, who added: "We'll get there. We are going to pass a health care bill, whether it's now or in the fall remains to be seen."
Without the backing of the 52-member Blue Dogs, it would be difficult for Democratic leaders to pass a bill, especially since no Republican supports the legislation.
"I think there's still a bit of daylight between the positions," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. "I think the bottom line of Blue Dogs has not been met as of this time."
Democratic leaders are still holding out hope of floor passage before the summer break, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is looking at keeping the House in session some days past its scheduled Friday adjournment date.
After weeks of secretive talks, three Democrats and three Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee were edging closer to a compromise that excludes a requirement many congressional Democrats seek for large businesses to offer coverage to their workers. Nor would there be a provision for a government insurance option, despite Obama's support for such a plan, officials said.
The Finance senators were considering a tax of as much as 35 percent on very high-cost insurance policies, part of an attempt to rein in rapid escalation of costs. Also likely to be included in any deal was creation of a commission charged with slowing the growth of Medicare.
"We're going to get agreement here," Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the Finance Committee chairman, said Monday. "The group of six really wants to get to 'yes.'"
Obama has outlined two broad goals for legislation he is struggling to win from Congress: expansion of health insurance coverage to millions who lack it, and reining in increases in costs. The president is participating in an AARP town-hall meeting on health care Tuesday.
The president's top domestic priority has suffered numerous setbacks in recent weeks and a Senate vote has been postponed until September. Administration and Democratic leaders hope to show significant progress before lawmakers begin their monthlong August recess.
In the House, seven fiscally conservative House Democrats who have held up action in the Energy and Commerce Committee by demanding more cost savings and other changes negotiated late into the night Monday with the committee's chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. Waxman's is the only one of three House panels with jurisdiction on the health bill that has yet to act.
The Blue Dogs have enough votes in the Energy and Commerce Committee to potentially block passage there, but time is running out for their negotiations with Waxman. A voting session in Waxman's committee that has been on hold for a week must resume quickly, probably by Wednesday at latest, if there's any chance for the committee to pass a bill and send it to the full House for action before the summer recess.
In the Senate, officials stressed that no agreement has been reached on a bipartisan measure, and said there is no guarantee of one, with numerous key issues remaining to be settled.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss matters under private negotiations.
They said any legislation that emerges from the talks is expected to provide for a nonprofit cooperative to sell insurance in competition with private industry, rather than giving the federal government a role in the marketplace.
Obama and numerous Democrats in Congress have called for a government option to provide competition to private companies and hold down costs, and the House bill includes one _ another concern for the Blue Dogs.
Officials also said a bipartisan compromise in the Senate would not subject large companies to a penalty if they declined to offer coverage to their workers. Instead, these businesses would be required to reimburse the government for part or all of any federal subsidies designed to help lower-income employees obtain insurance on their own.
The legislation in the House includes both a penalty and a requirement for large companies to share in the cost of covering employees.
There is something in the air, no doubt, but when it comes - let the anarchist on the left start it. All we want is liberty. We're not trying to enslave anyone. We're the good guys.
With a democrat president, a 60 seat congress, and a huge majority in the house, some kind of Health Reform is coming. If the Republicans can hold the line and keep the public option out of it, that is the best we can hope for and should be considered a victory.
Honestly if the GOP could get a compromise through which would not structurally destroy our health care system and be undone the minute san-fran nan and Obama are out of power I would hail this as a victory.
Sometimes you have to play for overtime.
Forget 2010. Elections will be meaningless once our health is under the control of the government.
I know :(
It’s Enzi, not Ensign. And Snowe.
This bill should never pass without those in Washington being forced into the same program. While we're at it, their privatized Social Security package should be eliminated immediately - unless ALL Americans have access to the same privilege.
They are not Gods and they are not kings. We are not their creations nor are we their slaves.
I don’t care about the costs, I am 100% opposed to this based on the astounding loss of freedom that will come with it. Here is my standard reply:
When this “health care for all” crap passes, right now the legislation states that it will be illegal to sell private policies over the date of passage. It also says that HSA’s will no longer be allowed. That means that my current policy will no longer be allowed and neither I nor my employer will be allowed to privately purchase an alternative.
I will not accept the “public option” that I will be dictated to join. I will not give the government control over my physical body. I will not pay their fines, I will not surrender to the impending warrant for my arrest. When they knock on my door, I will not answer. When they kick it in, I will make the news.
How’s that for unification, libtards? You loons are currently legislating my death. I will chose the terms and I will bring as many of you along as possible!
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“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,..”
We are under King Obama communists America now. The health care and cap and trade will put the nail in the coffin. No coming back after these last two hits.
Correction - Once our flesh and bones are under the control of the self serving politicians. Imagine the power they'd have if our physical bodies were completely their disposal.
Already, they're eliminating the elderly and the newborn useless eaters in this bill. When the money falls short again (which it will) and they need to cut back their sharing the wealth even more, who's going to be chosen to die next?
This is what they're voting on. Who lives and who dies - for now.
Members of Congress.
Now hear this!
We Americans will somehow, sooner-rather-than-later find a legal way to MAKE YOU live by the same onerous, frustratingly time-consuming, and life-shortening rules to which you think you are chaining only us peons.
I see some truly bi-partisan and possibly spiteful (but of course legal) evening of the score in Congresspersons' future.
.
What did the French Resistance do with collaborators?
Sorry, Graham was just comfortably re-elected. But good thought, who is up in 2010? I know there’s the Crist primary in FL, but Rubio’s a big amnesty guy, so I can’t get too excited about him.
I think you’d be safe, the figure I saw being used was those paying more than $17000 per year for insurance.
The Republicans are Grassley, Enzi and Snowe.
The Democrats are Baucus, Conrad and Bingaman.
These six are writing the Senate version.
“They said any legislation that emerges from the talks is expected to provide for a nonprofit cooperative to sell insurance in competition with private industry...”
Um... why does the word “ACORN” come to mind...?
Of the Republicans writing this bill, Grassley is up for reelection in 2010, Snowe is up in 2012, and Enzi isn’t up
until 2014.
Sort of a Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac deal.
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