Report: House Reaches Deal On Health Care, But No Vote Until September

[babylonsister]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/report-house-reaches-deal-on-health-care-but-no-vote-until-september.php?ref=fpb

Report: House Reaches Deal On Health Care, But No Vote Until September
By Brian Beutler - July 29, 2009, 12:54PM



CNN just broke some important news. House leaders and Blue Dog Democrats have reached an agreement--the terms of which remain mostly unclear--that will allow the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass health care legislation by weeks end. As part of the arrangement, though leaders have agreed to postpone a vote on the final legislation until after August recess comes to an end.

In the meantime, leaders will stitch together a final package, stitching together the portions of the bill that have been amended by the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor Committees.

The only figure that's been reported thus far is that Blue Dogs have lowered the cost of the legislation by about $100 billion. But we'll get you more details the moment they're available.

[bdamomma]

1. the more I hear about this subject the more of the politicians

asses are being seen. It is insurance companies vs. the american people. period.

[KansDem]

2. "It is insurance companies vs. the american people. period. "

That's it in a nutshell. And to think Congress, elected by the American people, is actually working against the American people, is appalling.

This whole health care debate has been an eye-opening experience.

[Bluerthanblue]

6. money may not buy love, but

it sure can buy power.

:shrug:

pretty frickin sad.

[pinto]

3. The only "agreement" I see here is an agreement to move it to a committee conference.

It's what gets "stitched together" that's important, imho.

:shrug:

[babylonsister]

4. I know. I'm waiting for someone to inform us. nt

[Cetacea]

5. Public option included, as per MSM

As long as it's not "forced on people". :eyes:

[babylonsister]

7. UPDATE: House Retains Public Option In Compromise, But Delays Vote Until September

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/house-retains-public-option-in-compromise.php

House Retains Public Option In Compromise, But Delays Vote Until September
By Brian Beutler - July 29, 2009, 1:12PM


Ok, here's some late breaking detail on the nature of the compromise between House Blue Dogs and Democratic leaders.

I'll fill in more blanks as I get more information, but here's my immediate read on the situation: Substantively, leadership seems to have given up very little, but, Blue Dogs succeeded at slow walking the bill, which won't get a vote until after the August recess.

After a week or so of canceled hearings, the Energy and Commerce Committee will continue to mark up House health care legislation this afternoon, and pass a bill by the end of the week. On substance, the exemption from penalties for small businesses that do not provide health care to workers has been raised to include small businesses with payrolls of $500,000 per year or less. Originally the bill called for the exemption to apply only to businesses with payrolls half that size.

The public option hasn't gone away, and remains in tact. Now, though, instead of being directly tied to Medicare, the rates will be negotiated by the Health and Human Services secretary--a provision which at a glance seems similar to the public option the Senate HELP Committee endorsed. States will be able to erect health care co-operatives if they choose, but that would be in addition to the public option.

The Blue Dogs managed to pull $100 billion in savings from the bill by lowering by one percent the rate at which people living between 300 and 400 percent of the poverty level will be subsidized to buy health care in insurance exchanges--they had originally tried to eliminate that bracket entirely.

Blue Dogs will likely herald this as a major victory, but compared to their original wishlist, this seems pretty minor.

As before, it's hard to know what will happen to the politics of this over the August recess. But there will almost certainly be a bill ready for a vote when the House comes back into session in September. That bill will have been endorsed in preliminary votes by a significant number of Blue Dogs. And in the House, where there's no filibuster, that makes its prospects for ultimate passage look very solid.

[Blasphemer]

8. Confused about the issue of State co-ops

"States will be able to erect health care co-operatives if they choose, but that would be in addition to the public option."

In addition to the Federal public option or in addition to their own public option? For me, supporting any bill is contingent upon the amendment allowing states to go single payer. I hope these "co-ops" aren't meant to be a replacement for state enacted single payer.

[MarjorieG]

9. I think that's the amendment by Kucinch, taking down the existing barrier. Do they erect a new one?

[Blasphemer]

12. Yes... that's what I'm wondering.... nt

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Gives us time to beat the crap out of the Blue dogs during recess.

[timeforpeace]

11. Good. Now the public gets to find out what's in it.

[redqueen]

13. I see this delay as a good thing.

There's time to find out exactly what's in the bills, and apply pressure as needed.