Health care: It doesn't matter what passes out of the Senate

[CTLawGuy]

because the next step is the conference committee. It is the final bill that comes out of the conference committee, the conference report, which is voted on up or down in both chambers, that matters.

[Lasher]

1. I've heard they're thinking about bypassing the conference process.

In that case the House would have to approve the Senate version as is, eliminating any need to reconcile two different versions. Then the bill would go straight to the President.

[CTLawGuy]

2. hmm

probably better to go into conference, though I guess if they don't want to involve the senate again, they could go the route you suggest.

[Lasher]

3. Yes, that was the logic.

I don't know if it's a good idea or not. Right now the House version is better than the Senate version but would a modified bill be defeated by filibuster if it goes back to the Senate? Will the bill clear the Senate in the first place? And is the current Senate version better than nothing?

:shrug:

[Clio the Leo]

4. I think the answer lies with Russ Feingold....

While I appreciate the willingness of all parties to engage in good-faith discussions, I do not support proposals that would replace the public option in the bill with a purely private approach,” Mr. Feingold said. “We need to have some competition for the insurance industry to keep rates down and save taxpayer dollars. I will base my vote on the bill on the entirety of what is in the bill, and whether I think the bill is good for Wisconsin.”

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/reid-says-deal-should-satisfy-everybody/

He wants a PO in there, but it's not worth losing the entire bill over it.