TPMDC
Reid To Change Abortion Language In Health Care Bill?
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Share
Send to a friend!
Before the Senate can vote on health care legislation, Democratic leaders have to make sure they have 60 votes lined up to end the filibuster, and that means dealing with the concerns of a number of swing voters, including Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE). The vehicle for addressing those concerns will be a manager's amendment, which will include the final version of a public option compromise that's taken shape in the last several days.
But will it also include abortion? Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) suggests very strongly that it will.
After a press conference yesterday afternoon, another reporter asked Durbin how wide the scope of that managers amendment would be: "[I]s the scope of that just going to be to deal with the public option...or is it going to be broader than that--is it going to include abortion language?"
"I think it's likely to include most of the things that we need to bring this bill to a conclusion," Durbin said.
Such as?
"I'm sure the issues you just raised, as well as issues that have been raised by individual members."
As I noted yesterday, pro-choice House members are keeping a close eye on the Senate legislation, and, as a contingency, are prepared for Reid to change the current, consensus language on funding for abortion. It's possible that the changes could thread the needle, bringing Nelson and pro-life House members into agreement with pro-choice legislators in both chambers. But if it doesn't things could get nasty. Stay tuned.
Comments (9) | Join the Conversation!
Leave a comment
Follow us!
Most Popular
TPM Stories Now Surging on Digg.com
TPM Top News
© 2010 TPM Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Indie Pro
December 11, 2009 12:33 PM
ask Reid about this report fromt he AP:
A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurers place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer, prompting a rebuke from patient advocates.
The legislation that originally passed the Senate health committee last summer would have banned such limits, but a tweak to that provision weakened it in the bill now moving toward a Senate vote.
As currently written, the Senate Democratic health care bill would permit insurance companies to place annual limits on the dollar value of medical care, as long as those limits are not “unreasonable.” The bill does not define what level of limits would be allowable, delegating that task to administration officials.
Adding to the puzzle, the new language was quietly tucked away in a clause in the bill still captioned “No lifetime or annual limits.”
...Officials of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said they were taken by surprise when the earlier ban on annual coverage limits was undercut, adding that they have not been able to get a satisfactory explanation.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iY4N1OnmEl-p6kEdB_ROs6toazbQD9CH3T100
plus, recission is all ready against the law, since hipaa, and so far this bill does nothing to change the way it is not enforced.
having the industry outside of anti-trust laws, and no real competition to keep them honest as a national PO would, nor any regulations concerning premiums, or otherwise...what are the conservative democrats and leadership selling?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
agio
December 11, 2009 12:34 PM in reply to Indie Pro
"what are the conservative democrats and leadership selling?"
A shit sandwich wrapped in gold foil.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Schmed
December 11, 2009 2:22 PM in reply to agio
A shit sandwich wrapped in gold foil with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and shit.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Indie Pro
December 11, 2009 2:31 PM in reply to Schmed
think what other loopholes haven't been discovered.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Powkat
December 11, 2009 12:34 PM
Nasty, indeed. It took women 130 years to get the vote and we still don't count when the boys are making deals. Take away legal rights from over half the population, no problem, as long as I have my Viagra.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Walter Mitty
December 11, 2009 12:52 PM in reply to Powkat
Maybe Sen Snowe should realize that one way or another the Dems will have to placate Nelson to get his vote meaning restrictive abortion language. Now seeing this writing on the wall wouldn't it be in a pro-choice republicans best interest to say "Hey Harry, keep that language out of the bill and I'll vote for it in place of Nelson's would be bought vote"?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
AJM
December 11, 2009 1:08 PM
Changes for clarity are okay but changes of the substance on abortion are not. If Reid gets Nelson but loses some pro-choice Senators he is not ahead. And all for naught if Lieberman continues to say no. Both Snowe and Collins are pro-choice.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
cosliberal
December 11, 2009 2:09 PM
Is there nothing Reid will do to appease the right wing, and guarantee that liberals and progressives will stay home in 2010?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Progressive Party
December 11, 2009 2:40 PM
what the fuck happened to keeping all this shit out in the open and broadcast all hearings thru cspan and transparency. We are so fucked and reid is keeping his own caucus in the dark, no public option, medicare for only the unisured 55 and older, benefit limits for expensive treatments, letting democratic party traitors who won't support the party on procedural votes to weaken and kill this bill, etc....
Obama and the democratic party can kiss 2010 and 2012 goodbye if this is the shit they are pulling for HCR!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?