The Hill: Senate Centrists Set Strict Guidelines for Senate-House Healthcare Talks

[flpoljunkie]

Why does Ben Nelson consider himself the lead protector for the very wealthy? Are there that many really rich folks in Nebraska? It's really way past time to fix the broken Senate!)

Centrists set strict guidelines for Senate-House healthcare talks
By Alexander Bolton - 12/25/09

Democratic centrists have informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) they will accept few changes in the final healthcare bill negotiated between the House and Senate.

Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) have made clear there is little room to deviate from the bill the Senate passed on Christmas Eve.

They are the most vocal of nearly two-dozen senators who have indicated they see little wiggle room in the conference talks.

Centrists have said they will not vote for a healthcare reform bill that imposes a tax surcharge on the nation’s highest income earners or reduces the tax burden on so-called Cadillac health insurance plans, which are held by many unionized workers.

They have also threatened to vote against the bill if it includes a government-run health insurance program, a proposal that liberal Democrats in Congress acknowledge has little chance of winning inclusion in the final bill.

Lawmakers in the House will have to accept the Senate legislation with little change if a final bill is to muster 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles and make it to President Barack Obama’s desk, the centrists say.

“There’s very little room for this bill to change,” said Landrieu. “The framework really has to stay basically in place.

“It’s not just me,” Landrieu added. “There are probably two-dozen Democratic senators who feel very strongly about the framework.”

Landrieu said she would not support the final legislation if negotiators tinkered with the Senate proposal for taxing high-cost insurance plans.

“I can only support a bill if the Cadillac plans are taxed at the level they are in the Senate ” said Landrieu. “It’s not because I’m thrilled about taxing those plans, which I’m not, but it is the No. 1 cost-containment measure in the bill. It’s what is going to drive costs down over time.”

Nelson said he would not support the final bill if it included the House proposal to impose a tax surcharge on individuals earning more than $500,000 and families earning more than $1 million.

“I’ve already said that would be a deal-breaker,” said Nelson.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/73607-centrists-set-strict-guidelines-for-senate-house-health-talks?page=1#comments

[Vincardog]

1. Ok let the FAUX "centrists" kill the bill. If we had real elections they would be thrown out.

[Eric J in MN]

2. The anti-trust exemption isn't mentioned in that article, and so...

...putting a repeal into the final bill (which is in House bill but not Senate bill) would be a good way to make the bill more progressive without losing the 60 Senate votes.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Except anti-trust exemption repeal was the first thing Nelson insisted not be in the Senate bill.

And, Reid promptly folded to Nelson's demand.

We need the dysfunctional Senate to fix the filibuster rules before we attempt any more difficult legislation. Am not holding my breath!

[Eric J in MN]

6. Ben Nelson got a lot of other stuff after that.

I don't think he'll filibuster if he still gets the other stuff.

[flpoljunkie]

11. But, that was his first demand.

[andym]

13. I agree

repealing the anti-trust exemption is important, especially if the companies become more even national in scope. Price-fixing and monopolies are not beneficial. if the USA is going the regulatory route to nationalized health care, the regulations damn well better be strong.

[jenmito]

3. I hate how the conservadems are considered "centrists" and the others are considered "liberals"...

especially when the desire for a public option is popular amongs the majority of Americans. It's not a "liberal" position.

[flpoljunkie]

5. They get away with cause nobody calls them out on it--certainly not the MSM whores.

[dkf]

7. This is it. The final bill for all time.

You'll never get more out of senators who want to protect insurance companies than this bill

[IndianaGreen]

9. We have been telling the apologists for the Senate bill, that it will be the final version

and that once it becomes law, it will not be changed down the road.

Thank you Democratic Congress and White House for the middle class tax increase that is taxing union won health benefits.

[IndianaGreen]

8. They are going to ram LieberCare down the House's throat

and the House will cave in, simply because there is too much money to be made by our corporate masters.

[Better Today]

10. Considering the level of misinformation this group of DINOs seem to put

out, I highly question the "There are probably two dozen ...." I think she's just trying to not be one of few under fire from her constituents, but rather one of many to hide amongst.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Sadly, I think she may well be right.