House Chairmen Say Health Care Deal Imminent

Wonderful news! Now let's keep the Kennedy Senate seat blue, for God's sake!

Obama indicated some willingness to listen to people about the funding mechanism and taxing the "Cadillac" plans. The folks defending these plans from the Administration made a good case that there's a definite disconnect between a plan's price-tag and its deliverables. Hopefully that will go somewhere.

Regarding a Federal versus a "States' Rights" system of exchanges, don't hold your breath waiting for Federal oversight. There's no way Majority Leader Lieberman will let the Senate go that way.

It will be interesting to see if the House has managed to move implementation up any. Most of the "leadership" still doesn't get it about pissing on the base, vis-a-vis the 2010 elections. Those who do get it don't seem to have any pull.

Can it be voted on before the MA election?

I love that the prime Congressional corruption expert is the featured picture. It speaks volumes.

Nothing is imminent unless Nelson and Lieberscum are part of the Senate negotiating team and neither are. Expect one or the other to decide to filibuster. If they do I hope Reid puts it on the floor. Dems would have 59 votes and could say this is the bill and the GOP is holding up the jobs bill.

Great News!!!!

I bet that it will be passed before the State of the Union
address next week.

I am sure the ads for the benefits of Healthcare Reform are all but done, and waiting for final details and passage to get them on the air.

Could it be the 'socialist' talking point is just about selfish people who are frustrated that they can no longer see themselves as 'superior' to others, who were restricted from or could not afford healthcare for their families?

Especially since the positive aspects(FACTS) are overwhelmingly beneficial short and long term to the American public.

This seems hopeful. Does anyone know how long it will take the CBO to score this compromise? They seemed to take forever the last time they were asked to figure something out. I'm hoping that since they just have to score the parts that have been revised, it will go a lot quicker this time.

Assume they get a compromise and it gets scored by the CBO.... What are the steps after that? What steps are subject to potential filibuster or prolonged delays?

Related to this, is the ping-pong approach still under consideration?

Let's see. Will my health care costs go up or down ? Gee. Here I am a middle class fellow just getting by. I thought I might buy a house one of these days. I don't have that much money. After all, I took the job with the BENEFITS. Oh. Those will be taxed. Good bye little house. Good bye middle class. Good bye.

Speak for yourself. After this is passed and people start seeing the bennies, people like you will be silent. Look at SS, Medicare/Medicaid, etc... all the right wingers were against them. How many have (or are currently) benefiting from these programs. Such hypocrites.

Where's Jim "Waterloo" Demint now?

It's most likely that the House will have to pass the Senate bill without changes. I don't see why Nelson or Lieberman would be willing to accept any changes now. They made it very clear that they wouldn't vote for anything even slightly more progressive. If there are changes made in conference, they have to vote in the Senate again, which means they can filibuster again.

One question. Although BS/BC operates in both states, employees who live in a neighboring state must pay an additional $2,500 for their policies. State line, out-of-network issue.

I assume this problem will be addressed in the Dem bill, correct? Certainly, the reps who care so much about working families wouldn't overlook this problem.

Do we know if the Senate negotiators are in touch with Lieberman, Nelson, and other Conservadems to make sure they don't back out at the last minute on this?