Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | November 10, 2009, 9:00AM

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.

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Health Care

As August Deadline Approaches In House, Blue Dogs, Liberals, Still Far Apart On Health Care

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 2:29PM

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.

Health Care

Nineteen Major Organizations Say Blue Dogs Coddling Millionaires, Making Middle-Class Pay

Brian Beutler | July 23, 2009, 12:28PM

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.

Health Care

The Mark-Up, 07-15-2009

Brian Beutler | July 15, 2009, 5:59PM

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.

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Health Care

House Health Care Bill To Be Unveiled At 2:45 PM

Brian Beutler | July 14, 2009, 11:30AM

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.