Plotting a Path
Democrats have begun plotting out a strategy to proceed with their two-pronged strategy to pass health reform legislation. The party currently is debating how to move forward with the second aspect of the strategy -- a so-called "corrections" bill that makes House-favored changes to the Senate legislation -- which could create potential problems for progress on an overhaul. Some House members are concerned that the Senate might not move forward with the second part of the strategy after the Senate bill already is law. Although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) dismissed that concern, some House members still are considering ways to ensure that the Senate fulfills its promise to pass a corrections bill. Meanwhile, Republicans have been attempting to exploit the concerns of House members that the Senate will not carry out a vote on the corrections bill, in an effort to delay passage of an overhaul.
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The Attack at Arcadia
President Obama yesterday at Arcadia University near Philadelphia held a campaign-style rally aimed at generating public support for health reform legislation and encouraging lawmakers to cast a final vote on the overhaul. Obama addressed a crowd of about 1,800 people and criticized insurance companies, citing rising premiums and lost coverage as reasons for passing health reform legislation. Obama also discussed large rate increases for individual policyholders in various states. In addition, Obama focused on provisions in his reform proposal that are intended to protect consumers, provide U.S. residents more choice in the health insurance market, expand coverage and help control health care costs The president also encouraged voters to lobby Congress about the need for reform. Obama during the speech also cited a new analysis by investment bank Goldman Sachs that recommends investors buy shares in insurers UnitedHealth Group and Cigna because health premiums are increasing, while competition from other insurers is decreasing.
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Health Reform Road Show
President Obama this week is scheduled to travel to Philadelphia and St. Louis in an effort to generate public support for health reform legislation and encourage lawmakers to cast a final vote on the overhaul. The president on Saturday during his weekly Internet and radio address said that lawmakers are "very close" to securing an overhaul. As a result, Obama has set a March 18 deadline for the House to pass a Senate version of reform legislation. Members of the Obama administration believe the public is more apt to embrace the president's message if he is not in Washington, D.C. Obama also used his weekly address to criticize health insurers for failing to give "straight answers" on why they are "arbitrarily and massively" increasing their premiums. He used insurers raising rates as a primary reason for the need for reform.
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An Invitation To Chat
President Obama yesterday invited two groups of Democrats to the White House to enlist their aid in passing health reform legislation. The first group that Obama invited to the White House was a selection of liberal House members who are considering withholding their support for reform because current proposals lack a public option. Obama acknowledged that he supports a public option but said that "the votes aren't there." The second group invited by Obama comprised leaders of the centrist New Democrat Coalition, who have expressed concerns about reforming health care while the economy is in recession. Obama told the group's members that current reform proposals would create jobs. The invitations are a continuation of more direct efforts by Obama to guide the reform process, following his bipartisan health reform summit and the release of his own overhaul proposal.
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Aiming for Easter
President Obama on Wednesday told Congress to pass a health reform bill soon, calling for an "up or down vote" on an overhaul package within the next three weeks. Obama spoke from the White House, where he unveiled a revised reform proposal that incorporates new ideas from both Democrats and Republicans who attended last week's health reform summit. The president stressed the need for resolution on the past year's health reform push, saying that he believes Congress owes "the American people a final vote on health care reform." Although he did not specifically mention budget reconciliation, Obama implicitly endorsed the strategy when encouraging Democrats to move ahead without Republicans and pass a bill with a simple majority vote.
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