HC Reform Falls On Reid
10/16/2009 1 Comment
WERS News
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid set a test vote for next week for a bill that would cost $247 billion. As part of President Obama’s health care overhaul plan, this measure would prevent a twenty-one percent increase in Medicare fees paid to doctors, which would start in January.The measure would be paid for with federal borrowing, which has caused opposition from many Republicans and some deficit-conscious Democrats. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell calls it an effort to take a “quarter of a trillion” dollar measure out of the larger health care bill, as a way of concealing costs.
Reid must garner support from both liberals and centrists in order to gain a 60 vote-majority that he needs in order to get the bill passed. He’s in the process of merging two different health care bills.
I’m starting to think public option, if it’s included, isn’t the best idea.
I read today about a Senator being willing to lose his seat to vote for the health-insurance reform. “Integrity,” you might say, or “betrayal” (of his constituents). But I think this misses the point–meaning the role of the US Senate as a check on the House (and us).
See: http://euandus3.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/integrity-in-the-job-description-of-a-us-senator/