| Jamie Dupree |
New Health Bill, Part 2
Things suddenly got busy on Sunday night with the release of the legislative language of a health care reconciliation bill from Democrats. But after 90 minutes of full throttle evaluation of the 2,309 page measure, it's clear this is just Step 1 of Health Care Hell Week.
In other words, this is not the "real" bill but rather it is just a placeholder, a "shell" bill that allows the House Budget Committee to begin work on the health care matter today.
The real decisions will be made in coming days by Democrats, with new language and provisions then added by the House Rules Committee.
President Obama made clear he wanted that language in the Senate bill changed, so obviously, those provisions still have to be unveiled and placed in this bill.
There is no mention of the annual fee that the Senate bill had on medical device manufacturers and health insurance providers. That is still part of revenue plans envisioned by Democrats.
Another example, the word "abortion" does not appear in the new reconciliation language, which you can find on the website of the House Budget Committee at http://is.gd/aF99v .
Abortion is obviously a pretty big issue in this debate, when it comes to abortion funding restrictions in both the House and Senate bills, as are some of those revenue provisions mentioned above.
Still, there are some important items in here, like the last 200-plus pages of the bill, which are on student loan reform.
For example, the language of the House passed Student Loan bill was not put into the reconciliation measure in its entirety, as it left out a ban on money going to ACORN.
So, this isn't the "new" bill, as much as it is a procedural placeholder.
I've got to get my game plan in order to be ready to compare language from the House and Senate passed bills and the "real" reconciliation measure.
It may have cost me some sleep, but this was a good dry run for later this week when the real language comes out, and the real evaluations begin.
It was a 440 volt blast in a copper bathtub kind of thing.
What others are saying
- reconIf this goes through they are going to add public option and anything else they want to change with out another vote! What about being an open and transperant Obama!!! You do LIE
- The Hill Whip Count - 37 AgainstThe Hill is now reporting 37 Democrats Firm No, Likely No, Leading No. That's the magic number isn't it? What are you hearing up there - are people reading the tea leaves on the count? Do you think the remaining undecideds will shift to "No" to beat the rush in enough numbers that they may hold back the bill from a vote?
Tim C. - Tan Tax?Jamie, Can you tell if they kept the tan tax in it? (Recall they slipped this in during Christmas when no one was watching). I didn't see it in the search, but I read it was in Obama's bill. If they do, I'll be forced to close my tanning salon. My margins are less than 10%, and I don't think I'll be able to pass on it on to struggling customers. The recession has forced many tanning businesses to close already. This will push other out. The tax won't possibly raise the money they think it will. Does the CBO take that into account? Thanks
- ConstitutionalityIf the portion of the bill forcing individuals to buy insurance is found to be unconstitutional, what would happen to the total bill? If it couldn't be amended would the entire bill be unconstitutional since the premise of the entire bill would be based on false assumptions?
- Blue Dogs and lack of "nadsOkay we exempt the unions from any taxes on their health care plans (but everybody else has to pay), we begin to refinance ACORN activities and the Dems have the gall to complain about fraud in other areas, we offer tax payer paid abortions (I'm sorry but killing babies doesn't go down well with me) and yet we hold our soldiers in combat situations personally responsible for innocent casualties. Gun owner rights are quashed through added bills - where does it stop? and the Blue Dog dems have the 'nads or lack of to say they represent their constituents?
- 440 volt blastI'll make sure your superiors get a request for your pay increase as well as hazard pay!
- Health Care BillJamie,
I, along with many others, continually depend on you to decipher this monstrosity of a bill. Looking forward to hearing the hidden details. Thanks for your hard work!
btw, when you cite to a specific provision of a bill, would you mind including the page number so I could take a look? Thanks! - ThanksJamie Thanks for the dedication in peeling back the onion on these Health Care bills. You are dong what all lawmakers should be doing - actually reading and evaluating what they are voting on.
- New Health Bill part 2That was a real 'hair on fire" asessment--the hocus pocus continues.
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