Posts Tagged - ‘house of representatives’

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How Will They Pay For Health Insurance Reform?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

(Image: AMagill under CC 3.0)

One of the primary issues surrounding healthcare reform is its cost. Now that the legislation has passed, what will the federal government spend on remaking America’s health insurance system?

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will cost $940 billion over the next decade. That is reduced from earlier estimates of past versions’ expenses.

How will they get this money? Although the CBO predicts that affordable health insurance reform will lead to cost savings in the long run, the government will definitely add to the federal deficit in the short term. In addition, they are finding various sources of money, including:

  • Tax increases, including $400 billion in taxes on wealthy individuals and families. Most of it comes from an increased Medicare payroll tax on wages and investment income over $200,000 or $250,000, respectively.
  • Spending cuts, such as $500 billion in Medicare Advantage payments (privately administered Medicare supplements)

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Why Pro-Life Democrats Changed Their Minds on Healthcare Reform

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

One of the most unpredictable aspects of the healthcare reform debate was the position of pro-life Democrats, led by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan. Nearly a dozen representatives supported the health insurance legislation that originally passed the House of Representatives in November. However, they were leery of passing the Senate’s bill, because they thought the language against abortion coverage wasn’t strict enough.

The House’s bill expressly prevented any of the affordable health insurance options participating in the federally subsidized exchange market from offering coverage of abortion. The Senate bill–which the House was voting on yesterday–does not directly fund the procedure, but allows plans to offer it if that portion of funds was clearly separated from the subsidy and paid for solely with private money. Stupak and others were skeptical of its effectiveness, but President Obama agreed to sign an executive order reiterating current law. The Hyde Amendment was passed in the 1970s, and prevents government funding of elective abortions. Stupak would like further statutory language, but the issue cannot be dealt with through reconciliation.

While this compromise satisfied pro-life Democrats, Republicans railed against it. They pointed out that executive orders can be revoked by either Congress or the President at any time. One of them even heckled Stupak on the House floor, calling him a “baby killer”. Nevertheless, the anti-abortion Dems pressed on, and pushed the bill over the top in support.

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Healthcare Reform Finally Passes

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

(Image: RLHyde under CC 3.0)

It was down to the wire, but the Obama administration managed to do it: last night, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive healthcare reform. The legislation was victorious of 219 to 212, three votes over the needed threshold of 216. As expected, it did not receive a single Republican vote.

The bill will give a makeover to America’s health insurance system. It will be easier for people with pre-existing conditions to buy health insurance plans, and provide subsidies to the uninsured. In Obama’s words, “this is what change looks like,” for better or worse. Somewhat ironically, he called it an example of government for and by the people, when a slight majority of those polled are against the bill (although they are in favor of certain individual elements).

Now, the ball is in the Senate’s court. They must pass an agreed-upon package of budget-related modifications through the reconciliation process. With 59 members of the Democratic caucus, it will probably succeed.

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200 Votes Against Healthcare Reform?

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Rep. James E. Clyburn. (Image: Center for American Progress under CC 3.0)

Political analysts believe that there are now 200 votes against healthcare reform legislation, slightly less than half of the House of Representatives. The Senate’s bill would have a great impact on America’s health insurance industry, and must be passed by the House before a budget reconciliation bill to address some of their concerns can be approved. However, Majority Whip James Clyburn faces another roadblock in securing the votes.

Those likely against the health insurance changes now include:

  • All Republicans, including Rep. Joseph Cao–who voted in favor of the House’s bill the first time around.
  • 15 of the 39 Democrats who voted against the House’s legislation in November, whom may be joined by others who are currently uncommitted. Most of their concerns were related to the budget deficit cost control, which take greater priority in the more conservative Senate bill.
  • Nearly a dozen anti-abortion Democrats, including Rep. Bart Stupak, who consider the Senate’s restrictions on the procedure too lenient. Congressional leadership recently told them that the issue cannot be resolved through the reconciliation process (which can only be used for tax- and budget-related matters).
  • 21 Democrats facing tough re-election battles in conservative districts. Although they originally voted yes, Republicans believe that they may flip-flop.

In order for affordable health insurance reform to become law, it will require 216 votes in the House. Supporters believe that it can be done, albeit with them cutting it close.

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Obama’s Last Ditch Push For Healthcare Reform in Ohio

Monday, March 15th, 2010

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President Obama is making a stop in the suburb of Strongsville, Ohio to shore up support for healthcare reform legislation. With Congress’ votes in the balance, he and his Organizing for America team are setting up rallies. Strongsville is the home of a self-employed cancer patient unable to afford her increased individual health insurance premium of $8,500 annually; the news coverage is most likely intended to spur sympathy and support for the legislation, but it is unclear if it will actually change any minds.

The White House considers this week make-or-break for the issue. He is in a bind: Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives fear that the bill will not have enough votes to pass via reconciliation, despite having had a majority for the initial vote. Special deals with some representatives on the fence could gain their votes, but is very unpopular with the public–many of whom are already worried about the impact the changes could have on their health insurance plans.

Initially, Obama wanted all of those deals gone. Now, probably due to the exodus of several pro-life Democrats who refuse to vote for a Senate bill they believe is not restrictive enough of abortion funding (an issue which cannot be resolved through budget reconciliation), doing so is not politically possible. He still wants deals that affect only one state, such as Nebraska’s infamous “Cornhusker kickback”, eliminated. Deals that impact multiple states, however, can now stay–much to the relief of powerful Senators Max Baucus and Chris Dodd.

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Rep. Eric Massa: Forced Out Over Health Insurance Vote?

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

(Image: Neeta Lind under CC 3.0)

Democratic Representative Eric Massa voted against the House’s initial healthcare reform bill, and would most likely oppose budget reconciliation to get it passed. That puts the New York politician in a minority, albeit a significant one, among his party. However, he stands alone in other ways.

There is no doubt that President Obama and Speaker Pelosi are pressuring representatives to act now, and attempting to convince those who opposed the legislation the first time to get on board. Massa, who represents a district in New York State, claims that the Obama administration (especially Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel) is forcing him to retire due to his “no” vote on reforming health insurance plans. Unlike most of those against it, he actually opposed it from the liberal side for being too limited to be effective.

His early resignation probably has more to do with the recent accusations of sexual harassment towards male staffers. According to Massa, those charges are a setup intended to clear the passage of the bill with one less vote. He plans to continue spreading the word in the media. Meanwhile, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs claims that he’s full of it. The saddest thing is that Massa’s admittedly hilarious stories–true or not–involving locker room confrontations with Emanuel will overshadow the plight of those without affordable health insurance.

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Pelosi Wants House To Finish Healthcare Reform ASAP

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

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It’s down to the wire on health insurance reform: President Obama has set what he hopes is the final deadline for having a bill on his desk, Easter. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has pledged that her chamber of Congress will be done with its debate next week.

Pelosi is pushing for the House of Representatives to agree to the budget reconciliation workaround, which will allow the Senate to finalize passage with only 51 votes. She would like to have them pass the Senate’s existing healthcare reform bill by March 17th. The extra time prior to Capitol Hill’s spring break vacation is required in order to put together the budget- and tax-related provisions and modifications that can be passed separately in the Senate.

The package of changes is meant to appeal to leery House liberals, who believe that the more staid Senate bill doesn’t go far enough to make health insurance plans more affordable for Americans.

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Health Insurance Reform Won’t Pass Before Easter

Friday, March 5th, 2010

(Image: crschmidt under CC 3.0)

According to many prominent Democrats, the chances of healthcare reform passing Congress prior to the Easter holiday are very slim. Despite President Obama’s recent prodding to move quickly and have an up-or-down vote using budget reconciliation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer believes that the health insurance situation won’t be solved before Congress takes its spring break on March 29th.

What’s the reason for the delay? Many undecided Democrats in the House of Representatives want to closely examine the provisions for reconciliation with the Senate; if they approve the Senate’s bill, there will no doubt be strings attached that require near-immediate revision.

It may be too early for Republicans to celebrate. The bill has seen several delays and missed many deadlines, yet the affordable health insurance fight rages on. However, many rank-and-file Democrats just want to get the process over with–they want to steer the focus back to jobs before the mid-term elections. Further delay will only serve to jeopardize the possibility of re-election even more.

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Democrats May Lose Healthcare Reform Votes Over Abortion

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

The Obama administration has decided to go for broke and officially endorse the budget reconciliation method in order to pass healthcare reform legislation. However, doing so may be harder than they expected.


(Image: David Ortez under CC 3.0)

Originally, health insurance plan reform passed by a margin of 220-215 in the House of Representatives. The solitary Republican who voted in favor of it, Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana, has struggled in fundraising and said that he will oppose it this time around. Meanwhile, several Democrats have retired, and one even switched parties! Some Democrats voted against it the first time around.

According to Rep. Bart Stupak, about 10 to 12 Democratic “yes” votes may evaporate. Their sticking point is abortion: those pro-life representatives believe that the Senate bill’s restrictions against federal funding of health insurance coverage that includes abortion coverage (through the proposed health insurance exchanges) are not as strong as those in the House’s bill. Reconciliation would force them to vote for the Senate bill as-is and accept promises that it will be amended in the future, a prospect of which politicians are certainly skeptical.

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Health Insurance Companies Lose Antitrust Exemption

Monday, March 1st, 2010

(Image: jeffschwartz under CC 3.0)

Whether or not major healthcare reform passes this year, the health insurance industry will still see some changes. The House of Representatives recently voted to eliminate health insurance companies’ exemption from antitrust laws.

Health insurers have been exempt from such legislation since World War II (by 1945’s McCarran-Ferguson Act), when the market was mostly made up of regional nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield-type providers. Democrats contend that the loophole has allowed major medical health insurance providers to have regional monopolies. Indeed, there are many areas of the United States where a single health insurance company controls over 50% of the market. It’s very hard to promote competition in such an environment, where the health insurance cost tends to be high.

The bill passed by a margin of 406 to 19. Most representatives of both parties probably considered voting in the health insurance companies’ favor too difficult to justify politically. A handful of Republicans who opposed the bill on the grounds that it would have little impact were accused of being “wholly owned subsidiaries of the health insurance industry”. Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York’s comments were stricken from the official record.

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