What the heck is going on with healthcare?
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As the drum beat on healthcare has gotten a little louder this week – I decided to try to get an answer as to why from a senior aide involved in the negotiations.
We know the likely scenario on how a bill moves --- and I’ll repeat it here (below) --- but I’ll also include the hang-up on a way forward. It’s totally UNCLEAR if they can get an agreement. There is a very high hurdle in front of them w/ NO deadline for getting this done (dangerous). And Scott Brown -- the newest Republican -- arrives in the Senate today, underlining just how difficult the task will be.
This aide did say to expect Obama & others to become more and more prescriptive on the path forward. This is the only way they’ll get together here – and even then, it might not work (acc to the aide).
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THE VIABLE PATH FORWARD
1.) House passes Senate healthcare bill.
2.) House Dem ldrs w/ Ways & Means Cmte Chr Rangel write a reconciliation bill w/ the “fixes” that directly affect the budget (Caddy tax; subsidy increases, etc). This is what gets HOUSE DEMS on board. This process has begun.
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THE HANG UP
What do you do about the stuff that must be fixed to get House Dem support – but DO NOT directly affect the budget (you run into huge problems w/ reconciliation rules if you try only to write policy w/o affecting the budget): abortion, immigration, etc. ???
That’s what no one has an answer to just yet.
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SO ----- we wait.