do you think we will have a healthcare bill before the august recess?

[mopinko]

that is- a reconcilable bill passed in both the senate and the house?

local dems are looking at doing some organizing for healthcare, and our big question is- will events outpace us.

[ensho]

1. I don't think they should recess in Aug. too much work needs to be done

they get off too much as it is - the times call for more work not less.

[mopinko]

2. most don't really take the time off, off. they come home

and talk to their constituents, and do stuff in their districts. at least the good ones do.

[mopinko]

3. can i ask for some knr?

i would like to get a good sample, so could you please?

[mopinko]

4. please

[azmouse]

5. kick because it's not an 'unrec' thread.

[Horse with no Name]

6. I don't think we will get public healthcare. Ever. Period.

This is the dog and pony show.

[mopinko]

12. an interesting fact from our steering committee discussions

that is took the canadians 20 years to get to full public healthcare. i do not know what that means, exactly. what the process was, etc. but i thought that was something interesting to note. i can see a public option, even one that has no real government funding, just a non-profit insurance, as leading up the road over a number of adjustments of several years.

[yodoobo]

7. NO. Too many on the Left have joined the Right in fighting Obama

on this.

We expected the rightwing to fight Obama. We can deal with that. But now that significant numbers of the left are also joining in, the support will not be there to get healthcare.

Our last try was 17 years ago. The next attempt will probably be no sooner than 10 years from now.

Its more than a pity. Its a tragedy in the making.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. There will be a bill only if Obama bully pulpits it and then BREAKS ARMS of the recalcitrant Dems

Like LBJ did to get his BOLD bills passed.

[mopinko]

13. i like that last pic

i can see obama doing just that, nose to nose.
i think he knows how much is hanging in the balance here. i think he also knows what it will do for the economy.
i think some dems will be taken to the woodshed on this, i only regret that there probably will be no pictures.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. Through the House, but not through the Senate, I think.

[TexasObserver]

10. too many toads in both Houses for anything to get out

[Sparkly]

11. I think the question is, "What KIND of healthcare bill?"

I've heard Democrats talking about "We're gonna pass healthcare" -- what's that mean?!

A weak bill could probably pass, and all the politicians can take credit for their "yea" or "nay" (depending on their constituency).

I wish the Democrats would push for the strongest, most meaningful measure possible (single-payer), and then cut back, stingily, as required. (IF required.)

[mopinko]

14. i think many share your view. in fact our committee has exactly that plan

our forum will have a single payer advocate, then, hopefully, someone to update on the current state of the debate in both houses.
we will have postcards for people to voice their opinions that we will hand deliver to the reps. we hope that many people will be screaming for single payer.

it is my fear that they will pass some crap ass bill just to say that they did something. i would rather they take their time and listen to their constituents.

[KharmaTrain]

15. Let's Hope There's A Bill Through The House...

I fully expect a bill WITH a public option headed to the House within the next two weeks with the votes to pass it before the recess. Rarely does a bill begin in the Senate and then go to the House...and I can't see a bill of this importance and size following that course.

The hang-up in the Senate will, once again, be cloture. The game here is to get the 60 votes to make 50 + 1 the final bill vote. Then...surely the Senate will mark the House bill up, down and sideways...but again, I expect a public option to survive. The key here is when Reid thinks he'll have the 60. If it's not before the recess, then it'll be up to many of us in states with Senators leaning on supporting a fillibuster to get in their faces and put on the pressure.

In the end, I see a final bill moving to President Obama's desk in October or November. Reconciliation could take months. In the end, it's gonna be the push by the White House and the pressure by the grassroots that can supercede the money from the lobbyists.

[mopinko]

16. i thought there was a bill in the senate.

i say that because when al was sworn in it was reported here that although he was on the health committee, he was not going to have a vote on a healthcare bill because he had not been there to work on it. i found that pretty ridiculous, but i am sure that is what i had seen here, and iirc, mentioned on ko.

[KharmaTrain]

17. Part Of The Process...

There are versions being thrown all over Capitol Hill right now...and this is prep work for when a House bill reaches the Senate. That's why we're seeing many of the appropriations hearings these days...it's both staking one's claim in the debate as well as sending a message to the House as to what can or can't make it through the Senate.

This is not a neat and tidy process. From what I saw, Franken was refering to votes in committee on the current work, not on what could follow in reconciliation and surely not on a final floor vote.

Cheers...

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I'm thinking more like September or October

We are having a fundraiser for our county party in Sept. and want a nationally respected speaker. Every Democrat in office we have called says they expect to be tied down in DC in Sept. working on health care reform.