Are Health Care Reform Principles In The Senate Balking At August Deadline?
At least two of the key senators writing health care reform legislation seem to think a pre-August recess deadline for passing a bill in the Senate is too ambitious. Speaking on Face the Nation on Sunday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, said a completed Senate bill might have to wait until September. "If we can reach a compromise, we can get this done by Aug. 8 or at least get it out of committee by Aug. 8," Grassley said.
Likewise, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)--who has taken the lead on health care reform efforts in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, doesn't sound terribly optimistic. According to Roll Call, Dodd "signaled late last week that Democratic leaders do not expect a bill to clear the Senate in the next five weeks." Instead, Dodd thinks a more realistic goal is to merge the HELP and Finance committee bills before recess and debate the bill on the floor after Labor Day--a process that, if all goes smoothly, may still take two weeks.
All of which calls into doubt whether a final bill will reach President Obama's desk by mid-October, as he's requested.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Why does Grassley get a say? Elections have consequences.
July 6, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let me ask it another way. Sen. Crankytwitter has made it abundantly clear that he, and all his Republican breathern, will only vote for a bill that makes things worse and that he and his pals will fight tooth and nail against any bill that would make things better. So why does the MSM keep acting like his is an important voice in the healthcare reform debate when, in fact, he's on record as a zealous advocate of healthcare deform?
July 6, 2009 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because his is an important (albeit destructive) voice in the debate. If the Democrats were capable of uniting and refusing to bend on this, and everything else, "leading" Republicans wouldn't have such a megaphone.
Instead, Harry Reid will now probably insist that he have 65 votes in his pocket to cut off debate before he even contemplates sending something to be debated. And the individuals on these committees know this.
July 6, 2009 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
That should be "principals", Mr. Beutler.
July 6, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aren't we better off dragging this out to October and working it out in reconciliation anyhow? It might a good move to let them stall rather than forcing through a bad bill simply to burnish Obama.
July 6, 2009 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh poop ... this has nothing to do with your comment!
July 6, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
And after all this time, they still haven't fixed the headline.
Sad.
July 6, 2009 7:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I am very happy that I have a new opportunity to balk today. I have received a letter from President Obama asking me for money. It even has a return envelope.
Yippee!! Now I get to rant anew and tell them once more why they are not getting any money. No universal healthcare, no money.
July 6, 2009 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't care whether the bill happens in mid-October or November. I just want a good bill with the public option.
July 6, 2009 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
People are so worried about losing their job, coverage, denial of treatment, which seems to increase bank deposit latetly. That means stimulus funding mainly goes toward bank deposit for a rainy day increasing jobless rate. It proves again that a healthy society yields better productivity, prosperity.
It is time to 'Change' the notion of the public health as a fundamental human right and install 'a safety system for all' like all of the other industrialized nations, I think.
July 7, 2009 7:06 AM | Reply | Permalink