TPMDC George Miller
Debt Ceiling
Will Liberal Dems Swallow Debt Deal Slammed As A 'Satan Sandwich'?
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Some of the most senior and well-respected members of the Democratic caucus are simply disgusted with being force-fed the debt deal President Obama, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) hashed out with GOP Congressional leaders, but many will likely hold their noses and vote for it anyway.
The anger and disappointment is painfully obvious when you talk to some of the liberal stalwarts of the caucus. Pelosi told ABC News' Diane Sawyer earlier Monday that she planned on voting for the deal, even though she considered it a 'Satan sandwich with a side of Satan fries" simply because there were no other viable options.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Congressional Black Caucus, Debt, Debt Ceiling, George Miller, Henry Waxman, Nancy Pelosi
Oversight Committee
New York Congressmen Back Towns To Take On Issa
Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
New York House Democrats, including members who lost their seats on November 2, want fellow New Yorker Edolphus Towns to keep the top spot on the Oversight Committee next year.
"As members of the New York delegation, we are supporting our colleague Rep. Edolphus Towns, current Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to become the committee's Ranking Member," the 25 Dems wrote in a letter to colleagues.
More on the brewing battle between towns and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) for the ranking member position here.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Darrell Issa, Dennis Kucinich, Ed Towns, George Miller, Nancy Pelosi, Oversight Committee, Rosa DeLauro
James Clyburn
George Miller: I Want Both Clyburn And Hoyer In Leadership (VIDEO)
Leading House Democrats are still hoping to resolve a thickening leadership dispute pitting Majority Leader Steny Hoyer against Majority Whip James Clyburn, both of whom would like to be minority whip next Congress.
On MSNBC this morning, Rep. George Miller (D-CA) -- currently chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, and one of Nancy Pelosi's closest allies on the Hill -- said he thinks the two could figure out a compromise.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: George Miller, House Democratic Whip Race, James Clyburn, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer
Health Care
Road To Reform: The Top Five Things That Could Go Wrong
Clockwise: Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), President Barack Obama, Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), and Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Signs point to a done deal, and the White House says health care reform will soon be the law of the land. But the Democrats are, well, Democrats. The long slog toward passing a final health care bill has been met with potholes and partisan shenanigans. Deadlines came and went.
Confident Democratic leaders say they are nearing the end, and Republicans are resigned to the idea that the bill will pass and that their focus will soon turn toward campaigning against it. But that's not to say it's over yet. From gambling on a favorable ruling from the Senate parliamentarian to last-ditch messaging successes on the Republican side that gums up the expected House vote, there are plenty of potential pitfalls. We've given it some thought, and while these things are unlikely, here are the top five things that could go wrong between now and President Obama penning his signature on a health care bill.
I posed the question to several members today on Capitol Hill, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) summed it up. I asked, "Could something go wrong in the next week?" Blumenauer lauged: "This is Congress. You answered your own question."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Budget Reconciliation, George Miller, Health Care, House Democrats, Louise Slaughter, Parliamentarian, Reconciliation, Senate Democrats
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Millions Being Spent On Health Care Reform TV Ads
CNN reports that spending on TV ads about health care reform could reach $1 million per day this week, as interest groups attempt to influence the final votes in Congress. Evan Tracey, president of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, noted that interest groups spent a combined $200 million on ads in 2009, and at peak levels were exceeding $1 million per day.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will lave the White House at 10:40 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:55 a.m. ET, arriving at 12:05 p.m. ET in Cleveland, Ohio. He will deliver remarks on health care reform at 1:05 p.m. ET, then depart from Cleveland at 2:25 p.m. ET. He will arrive back at Andrews Air Force Base at 3:35 p.m. ET, and at the White House at 3:50 p.m. ET. He will meet at 4:15 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Topics: Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, George Miller, Health Care, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, Michael Oren, Roundup, Steve Driehaus
Democrats
Leading Health Care Experts Tell House To Pass Senate Health Care Bill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Nearly four dozen of the nation's leading health care luminaries--including Jacob Hacker, the man who brought the public option to light--are urging the House of Representatives to pass the Senate health care bill, and quickly pass a separate bill to modify it: an approach favored by some members of Democratic leadership, major unions, and reform advocates.
In a stark message to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and her health care lieutenants--Reps. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Henry Waxman (D-CA), and George Miller (D-CA)--the experts say it's time for the House to act.
"Both houses of Congress have adopted legislation that would provide health coverage to tens of millions of Americans, begin to control health care costs that seriously threaten our economy, and improve the quality of health care for every American," reads a letter, obtained by TPMDC. "These bills are imperfect. Yet they represent a huge step forward in creating a more humane, effective, and sustainable health care system for every American. We have come further than we have ever come before. Only two steps remain. The House must adopt the Senate bill, and the President must sign it."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Democrats, George Miller, Health Care, Henry Waxman, House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Public Option, Senate
Barack Obama
Obama Makes Hard Sell To Liberal, Conservative Democrats On Health Care
President Obama
President Barack Obama made a hard sell to House Democrats to support a compromise health care bill, the details of which are finally taking shape. He applauded the work members of Congress have put into creating health care legislation, acknowledged the concessions progressives have been forced to accept, and thanked vulnerable members for casting tough votes during a difficult political year.
According to a Democratic aide, Obama told progressives--bruised over the loss of the public option, and the persistence of the excise--that they could have another crack at the bill in the future.
"This is not the last health care bill ever passed," he said.
"Once we have a final bill, we can really talk about how it's going to help all Americans," Obama told the caucus. "This is something that will last. You'll look back and say this is one of the most significant accomplishments you've ever made."
At one point, Obama turned to members in vulnerable districts, including Reps. Tom Periello (D-VA) and Steve Driehaus (D-OH), to offer his appreciation and support.
"You've had to take tough votes. I understand it. I really appreciate it. The country is better off because of these tough votes you've taken. I want you to know I'm behind you 100 percent."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Cadillac Tax, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democrats, George Miller, Health Care, House of Representatives, Labor
Charlie Rangel
House Chairmen Say Health Care Deal Imminent
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)
Two of the House's most influential chairmen say that health care negotiations between the House, Senate, and President Obama have come so far, that they'll be ready to send a package to Congressional scorekeepers this weekend.
Congress Daily caught up with Rep. George Miller (D-CA)--chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee--and Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)--chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee--who both acknowledged that a compromise could be just around the corner.
"We hope to be able to send in the next couple days our changes to CBO," Miller said (sub. req.).
Rangel said they'd have a package ready for scoring by Saturday.
Congressional negotiators and the White House have made significant headway on resolving two of the biggest differences between the House and Senate health care bills in recent days, and it looks like they're just about ready to wrap things up.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Charlie Rangel, George Miller, Health Care, House of Representatives
Health Care
House Democrats Press Leadership On Health Care Bill
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
During a nearly two hour caucus conference call this afternoon, rank and file Democrats sought answers from their leadership about the state of ongoing House, White House health care negotiations. But they may not get concrete responses until the caucus meets again next week, or, failing that, until President Obama huddles with members at the Democrats' issue conference next week at Fort McNair.
"The questions were about national exchanges, about the public option, about the Cadillac plans, about consumer protection, about insurance reform," said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and one of the chief authors of the House health care bill. "We told them what things the staff had started to discuss or haven't discussed yet."
According to a House leadership aide, members chief concerns on the call regarded a familiar array of issues. "Many members raised concerns about excise tax (in opposition to it)," the aide said. State exchanges came up -- many Members want a national exchange. Several spoke up also in favor of anti-trust exemption (repealing it) and keeping in place strong insurance reforms."
Topics: Cadillac Tax, Diana DeGette, Excise Tax, George Miller, Health Care, House of Representatives, Senate, White House
Health Care
House Leadership To Meet With President Obama Tonight
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Barack Obama
Following on a meeting between House and Senate leaders and President Obama last night, a number of senior House Democrats will return to the White House to continue negotiating toward a final health care bill.
Joining House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be Henry Waxman (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Charlie Rangel (D-NY)--the chairmen of the three committees that drafted the House bill--and Louise Slaughter (D-NY), chair of the House Rules Committee.
These members, and other House leaders will also huddle this morning, as they continue to discuss what issues should be at stake when the House and Senate health care bills are merged, and how to prevail on those issues.
Check back in at TPMDC for continuing updates.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Barack Obama, Charlie Rangel, George Miller, Health Care, Henry Waxman, House of Representatives, Louise Slaughter, Nancy Pelosi, White House
Health Care
House Leaders Meet To Set Top Health Care Priorities
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
House Democratic leaders and key committee chairmen are meeting this afternoon with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to set the stage for future negotiations with their Senate counterparts, where they will shape a final health care reform bill in the coming days and weeks.
Those in attendance include Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Larson (D-CT), and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).
These principals will be fielding input from rank and file members to enter negotiations with a series of issues on which they'd like to see the House bill prevail over the Senate's.
"That's what we're going to [be meeting about] right now," Van Hollen said.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Chris Van Hollen, George Miller, Health Care, Henry Waxman, House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Rosa DeLauro, Senate, Steny Hoyer
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Calls For Revision In Stupak Amendment
President Obama said yesterday that the Stupak Amendment should be revised, in the hopes that neither pro-choicers nor pro-lifers feel "betrayed" by any change in the status quo. "I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test," said Obama, "that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and the First Lady will depart the White House at 9:05 a.m. ET, arriving in Killeen, Texas, at 12:25 p.m. ET. They will meet at 12:50 p.m. ET with families of the fallen at Fort Hood, and with wounded soldiers and their families at 1:20 p.m. ET. President Obama will address the Fort Hood community at 2 p.m. ET. They will meet with wounded soldiers at 3:25 p.m. ET, and depart from Killeen at 4:20 p.m. ET. They will arrive back at the White House at 8:35 p.m. ET.
Topics: Abortion, Barack Obama, Bart Stupak, George Miller, Iowa caucus, Joe Biden, Pres '12, Roundup, Sarah Palin
Health Care
As August Deadline Approaches In House, Blue Dogs, Liberals, Still Far Apart On Health Care
A number of high profile Democrats are expressing public doubt that the House can pass health care in the next few days before it's set to adjourn for August recess. Chief among them is Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).
"You understand that if we pass something out of committee this week, we've got to spend the month of August putting together the three bills," Hoyer told Roll Call. "Saturday and next week is available. Now whether or not there will be any productive reason to stay for that period of time remains to be seen over the next couple of days."
Part of the problem, as I suggested earlier, is that the news out of the Senate has widened a rift between House liberals and Blue Dogs. Rep. George MIller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and an author of House health care legislation, isn't at all pleased with the watered down reform bill the Senate Finance Committee is set to propose.
"I don't think that adds up to health care reform. It doesn't add up to insurance reform. It doesn't add up to keeping costs down. I don't know what the hell that adds up to," Miller said.
Meanwhile, Alpha Dog Bart Stupak says the Finance Committee's expected proposal is yet more evidence that the House needs to scale things back.
"The Senate's on a completely different agenda," Stupak said. "I've been here long enough, you do a bill and you get a plank sawed off behind you."
Stupak is one of the seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee who's objected to the House's bill. He and his six allies are now trying to decide whether to back a compromise offered by chairman Henry Waxman--but the Finance Committee's on such a different--and less progressive--page that they're wary about striking any kind of deal.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Blue Dogs, George Miller, Health Care, Henry Waxman, Senate, Senate Finance Committee, Steny Hoyer
Health Care
Nineteen Major Organizations Say Blue Dogs Coddling Millionaires, Making Middle-Class Pay
A coalition of 19 major interest groups--including AARP, and AFL-CIO--is urging House leaders--not to cave to Blue Dogs. "We commend you for providing sliding-scale premium subsidies to families up to 400 percent of the federal poverty line," reads a letter the coalition sent to key Democrats.
This is particularly important in rural and other areas where most residents have modest incomes and need assistance for coverage to be affordable.With family health premiums now averaging close to $13,000 per year, premiums alone constitute a significant portion of income even for people at the upper end of this standard. That is why this provision in the House bill is so important.
You can read the entire letter here. It's addressed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel, and Education and Labor Chairman George Miller.
Right now, one of the key sticking points in House negotiations between Blue Dogs and health care leaders is the question of financing--how to pay for the bill? Leaders had initially endorsed a surtax on high income earners to cover about half the bill's cost--but, under pressure from Blue Dogs, they're now walking that back. The original proposal had been to initiate the tax on families making over $350,000 a year, or individuals making over $280,000 a year. But now, they say, they might limit the tax to millionaires only.
But that creates a cost hole that needs to be filled. And Blue Dogs have suggested extracting it from working- and middle-class Americans. The bill, as proposed, would have provided subsidies for people living under 400 percent of the poverty line to buy health insurance--and Blue Dogs are suggesting that the line be lowered to 300 percent.
Right now, the average national premium for family coverage is $12,600--or $1,050 per month. Presumably, over time, reform legislation would lower that cost, but in the interim, it will continue to cost nearly that much. House legislation would help more middle-class people cover that cost--unless Blue Dogs get their way.
Those affected by the change would be people and families living between 300 and 400 percent of the poverty line, who don't already have employer-provided health insurance.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: AFL-CIO, Blue Dogs, Charlie Rangel, George Miller, Health Care, Henry Waxman, House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi
Health Care
The Mark-Up, 07-15-2009
TPMDC's roundup of the biggest initiatives on Capitol Hill.
- Health Care: The Senate HELP Committee passed its health care reform bill on a party line vote this morning. Now all eyes are on the Senate Finance Committee, which, according to Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), will mark up its bill next week. Then the bills can be merged and debated and, hopefully, voted on. Meanwhile, members of the House Education and Labor Committee offered opening statements in their first mark-up hearing of the House's health care reform draft bill.
- Nominations: Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court confirmation hearings continued today. I'm told by reliable sources that she may have been asked to explain the "wise Latina woman" comment that's caused her so much grief, but I've been unable to confirm.
- Nominations: Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) has placed a hold on Robert Perciasepe, who's been nominated to serve as deputy EPA administrator. Voinovich doesn't seem to have any beef with Perciasepe per se--he just wishes the EPA would cough up a Waxman-Markey bill analysis to his liking.
- Studen Loan Reform: House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller has introduced student loan reform legislation. President Obama is pleased: "I applaud Chairman Miller for introducing an education reform bill that will cut giveaways to special interests, invest in our children's future, and save taxpayer's money," he said. "Chairman Miller and I are working to end the wasteful subsidies that are given to banks and private lenders for student loans." You can read the whole statement below the fold. Interestingly, Congress' budget included reconciliation instructions on this issue, so if it meets too much resistance in the Senate, it may have a path around a filibuster.
Topics: George Miller, Health Care, Kent Conrad, Senate Finance Committee, Senate HELP Committee, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court
Health Care
House Health Care Bill To Be Unveiled At 2:45 PM
Not much more to say beyond the headline. On hand to field questions will be Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House leaders, along with the chairmen of the relevant committees of jurisdiction: Charlie Rangel of Ways and Means; Henry Waxman of Energy and Commerce; and George Miller of Education and Labor.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Charlie Rangel, George Miller, Health Care, Henry Waxman, House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi
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