Democrats push to pass health care by Christmas

Tuesday 22nd December, 06:08 AM JST

WASHINGTON —

A crucial, middle-of-the-night test vote behind them, Senate Democrats on Monday remained on track to pass historic health care legislation by Christmas, preparing for more votes at odd hours to overcome unanimous Republican opposition.

All 58 Democrats and the Senate’s two independents held together early Monday to advance President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, which would extend coverage to 30 million people now uninsured and try to slow ruinous increases in medical costs. The 60-40 margin was exactly the number needed to shut down a threatened GOP filibuster. The next vote is expected around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Obama called the vote “a big victory for the American people,” and challenged critics who say it will increase, not reduce costs.

“For all those who are continually carping about how this is somehow a big spending government bill, this cuts our deficit by $132 billion the first 10 years, and by over a trillion in the second,” Obama said. “That argument that opponents are making against this bill does not hold water.”

Monday’s Senate vote came shortly after 1 a.m. with the nation’s capital blanketed in snow, the unusual timing made necessary in order to get to a final vote by Christmas Eve presuming Republicans stretch out the debate as much as the rules allow.

The outcome was preordained after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev, wrangled his fractious caucus into line over the course of the past several months, culminating in a frenzy of last-minute deals and concessions to win over the final holdouts, independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and conservative Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

Obama’s oft-stated goal of a bipartisan health bill was not met, despite the president’s extensive courtship of moderate Sen Olympia Snowe of Maine, the only Republican to support the bill in committee. Obama called Snowe to the White House for lengthy in-person meetings both before he left for climate talks in Copenhagen and after his return on Saturday. In the end Snowe said she was “extremely disappointed” in what she called a rushed process that left scant time for her to review, much less amend, the bill.

Sen John McCain, R-Ariz, criticized the side deals needed to win key votes, calling them “Bernie Madoff gimmicks.” McCain, appearing Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” complained that “Republicans were never brought in to the negotiations.”

Still, the vote represented a major victory for Democrats and Obama, who’s now clearly in reach of passing legislation extending health coverage to nearly all Americans, a goal that’s eluded a succession of past presidents. The legislation would make health insurance mandatory for the first time for nearly everyone, provide subsidies to help lower-income people buy it, and induce employers to provide it with tax breaks for small businesses and penalties for larger ones.

Two more procedural votes await the Senate, each requiring 60 votes, the first of these set for Tuesday morning. Final passage of the bill requires a simple majority, and that vote could come as late as 7 p.m. on Thursday, Christmas Eve.

The Senate measure still must be harmonized with the health care bill passed by the House in November before final legislation can be sent to Obama’s desk.

There are significant differences between the two measures, including stricter abortion language in the House bill, a new government-run insurance plan in the House bill that’s missing from the Senate version, and a tax on high-value insurance plans embraced by the Senate but strongly opposed by many House Democrats.

After Monday’s vote a number of Senate Democrats warned that the legislation could not change much and expect to maintain support from 60 senators. House Democrats are sure to want to alter it but may have to swallow it mostly whole.

“It took a lot of work to bring this 60 together and this 60 is delicately balanced,” Lieberman said.

Republicans are determined to give Democrats no help, eager to deny Obama a political victory and speculating openly that the health care issue will hurt Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections.

“There will be a day of accounting,” warned John Cornyn, R-Texas, accusing Democrats of pushing a health overhaul opposed by the public. “Perhaps the first day of accounting will be Election Day 2010.”

At their core the bills passed by the House and pending in the Senate are similar. Each costs around $1 trillion over 10 years and is paid for by a combination of tax and fee increases and cuts in projected Medicare spending. Each sets up new insurance marketplaces called exchanges where uninsured or self-employed people and small businesses can compare prices and plans designed to meet some basic requirements. Unpopular insurance practices such as denying people coverage based on pre-existing conditions would be banned, and young adults could retain coverage longer under their parents’ insurance plans — through age 25 in the Senate bill and through age 26 in the House version.

Reid cut numerous last-minute deals to get the votes he needed and powerful Democrats also inserted home-state provisions in a 383-page package of amendments Reid filed this weekend to the 2,074-page bill.

___

AP Special Correspondent David Espo contributed to this report.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 44 Total Comments Show All

sailwind at 11:05 AM JST - 23rd December

This from someone who gets their health insurance from Uncle Sam. Or maybe he likes Japanese universal health care better? Didn't he claim to use the Japanese system in the past?

My health insurance is rationed and I have to wait two months to get an appointment, I pay into the Japanese system so I can get treatment when I actually need it. I pay into a system that I shouldn't have to, but Uncle Sam isn't keeping his promise that he made to me or any other Military retiree in Japan.

And since I actually pay for insurance in Japan that I shouldn't have to, because of the very reason my U.S Govie provided health care is so crappy, you expect me to crow about how wonderful I have it?

How about you provide me a reason why I had to go into the Japanese system to take care of my immediate health needs and care instead of my 'free' U.S Govie care system.

And that is the system you want to foist on all Americans.....Nuff said.
seijichuudo9sha at 12:09 PM JST - 23rd December

What a beautiful, joyful, glorious day for America! With the midnite passage of this 2,700 bill(too funny!, the wingers were powerless to stop all that pork) , and the virtual nationalization of 1/6th of the US economy, the Cloward-Piven plan for a whole new America, the kind Barack was actually referring to on the campaign trail, is close to realization. Next we just need to unite as progressives and pass cap and trade so we can hobble the industrial base that finances the repubs.
Molenir at 04:41 PM JST - 23rd December

Thought I'd reply to USAFdudes statement...

Thanks to the Democrats, who were of course overwhelmingly elected by the vast majority of American voters,

Americans who are now bitterly regretting having voted for them.

Americans will have the health care we should've had all along.

That only a very small minority of Americans actually wanted, the vast majority preferring what we had

I have to agree with RomeoRamenII - the whole country knows that the Democrats are to credit for this unparalleled achievement;

Achievement is not the words I'd use to describe this boondoggle accomplished only by bribery and malfeasance.

the Republicants never had the integrity to do this for the people.

Or the rank stupidity to try to foist this upon an unwilling populace. I also just can't let someone use the word integrity when talking about this bill, without pointing out the complete and total lack thereof shown by the Dems. Is like calling Monaco the most influential country in the world, complete nonsense.
USAFdude at 05:41 PM JST - 23rd December

Thought I'd reply to Molenir's statement:

Americans who are now bitterly regretting having voted for them.

Name one.

That only a very small minority of Americans actually wanted, the vast majority preferring what we had

You're proven wrong by the fact that the Democrats were elected, largely due to campaigning for the exact health care reform you see taking place now.

Achievement is not the words I'd use to describe this boondoggle accomplished only by bribery and malfeasance.

Boondoggle is not the word I'd use to describe this unparalled achievement by legislators voted into power, by the vast majority of the American people, to accomplish precisely this.

I also just can't let someone use the word integrity when talking about this bill, without pointing out the complete and total lack thereof shown by the Dems.

You don't "let" me use the word integrity to describe this amazing feat; I choose to do so regardless of your opinion and with my above statements, among many others, to prove myself right.

Next?
sailwind at 09:51 PM JST - 23rd December

You don't "let" me use the word integrity to describe this amazing feat;

Integrity..as if your actually in the military? just asking.
Molenir at 12:46 AM JST - 24th December

Name one.

No. Names are none of your business, I'll simply state, that 3 of my co-workers who voted for Obama, have since said they regret having voted for him. Their names however, are none of your business, believe me or not as you will.

You're proven wrong by the fact that the Democrats were elected, largely due to campaigning for the exact health care reform you see taking place now.

I'm proven right by the polls showing only about 30% support for the health care inititive. That means 70% of the people either oppose it, or don't feel they know enough about it one way or another. By the way, over 50% strongly oppose.

Boondoggle is not the word I'd use to describe this unparalled achievement by legislators voted into power, by the vast majority of the American people, to accomplish precisely this.

Nevertheless, it is so.

You don't "let" me use the word integrity to describe this amazing feat; I choose to do so regardless of your opinion and with my above statements, among many others, to prove myself right.

Perhaps I should clarify. I don't choose to "let" you use it... without challenge. You can use whatever language you wish in describing this. Just like you could go out and call the murder of Hawker, by Ichihashi a stunning, and wonderful achievement. You could use that language, but you should of course be prepared for comments stating how idiotic such statements are. Using the word Integrity to describe dems is about the same really. Oh, no one was murdered of course, but its so lacking in reality that its hard not to shocked when reading it.
USAFdude at 01:59 AM JST - 24th December

Molenir - Let's see:

Three people do not make up a majority.

The only "poll" that matters is the election.

"Nevertheless, it is so" is not a counter-argument.

Comparing health care reform to Hawker's murder is a blatant slap in the face to both Hawker and Obama for which you should apologize or risk being seen as having no integrity - I choose the latter.

Your points are too emotional and out-of-touch to merit further consideration. Calm youself and act like an adult, or at the very least get some therapy.
USAFdude at 02:11 AM JST - 24th December

sailwind -

Integrity..as if your [sic] actually in the military? just [sic] asking.

Sure am. Are you finally willing to come to Ramstein where I can prove it? Or is this just the typical knee-jerk reaction (again) to a US troop who so often defeats your arguments?
yabits at 02:27 AM JST - 24th December

For how the health care plan will benefit the vast majority of Americans, consider the following chart:

http://www.tnr.com/image/kaisergif

Only those spite-filled folks who can't take their party being pushed out of office -- through their own malfeasance, incompetence and culture of corruption -- refuse to admit to the benefits.
Molenir at 08:34 AM JST - 24th December

Only those spite-filled folks who can't take their party being pushed out of office -- through their own malfeasance, incompetence and culture of corruption -- refuse to admit to the benefits.

Yabits, mind if I quote you on this come November? You know, when the party you support is pushed out of power due to their own malfeasance, incompetence, and culture of corruption.

Three people do not make up a majority.

lol, you were making a joke here right? I mean, I make a general statement about how Americans are regretting having elected Obama, and noticing that the polls are bearing this out. I make a more specific statement about how I know 3 people who voted for Obama who now say they regret having voted for him, and thats your response?

The only "poll" that matters is the election.

This is true of course to a certain extent, however like it or not, polls do influence policy.

Comparing health care reform to Hawker's murder is a blatant slap in the face to both Hawker and Obama for which you should apologize or risk being seen as having no integrity - I choose the latter.

Did I directly compare health care reform to Hawkers murder? Perhaps you should go back and read what I wrote again. I referenced it, in response to your referring to Dems as having integrity, such a nonsensical statement, in the face of bribes and showing an obvious and total lack of integrity is hard to stomach. I stated that you might as well call her murder a good thing, it would make about as much sense. In other words, so you don't try to twist my words again, its a despicable statement that is complete nonsense, rather like using the word integrity in relation to Democrats.
USAFdude at 09:13 AM JST - 24th December

Molenir -

So fun to see you on the ropes again!

lol, you were making a joke here right?

Nope, I'm serious as a heart attack. You have utterly failed to proved that Americans in general regret electing Obama. That's my response; prove it wrong or concede.

Did I directly compare health care reform to Hawkers murder?

Directly, no; indirectly, yes. Man up to your very crass mistake.

so you don't try to twist my words again, its a despicable statement that is complete nonsense, rather like using the word integrity in relation to Democrats.

No word-twisting needed on my part, so you'll just strike the misuse of the term "again" or risk looking like an even bigger fool. I don't care which.

Integrity is a word I will constantly use in relation to Democrats because it's fitting and proper. Your inability to show any semblance of rational evidence otherwise, and instead embarking on emotionally-charged nonsensical statements, shows you to be the easily-defeatable troll I've always accused you of being.

Goodbye, Molenir; I'm no longer interested in defeating such an easy opponent.
Molenir at 11:23 AM JST - 24th December

Nope, I'm serious as a heart attack. You have utterly failed to proved that Americans in general regret electing Obama. That's my response; prove it wrong or concede.

Heh, you can't be serious here. He started with what, 53% electing him, now polls are showing his support at only 44 or less. Those self same people who voted for him, now regret having done so. Unless you're a complete idiot, its hard not to see a direct correlation here.

Integrity is a word I will constantly use in relation to Democrats because it's fitting and proper.

That is of course your own opinion. Myself, when I see people giving and accepting bribes, lying about what they're doing, claiming to do one thing, and being exposed as doing another, I view that as a lack of integrity. I grant, that both Democrats and Republicans both suffer from this. I'll also grant that there are some Dems who truly do have integrity. They openly say what they believe in, and vote accordingly, but those Dems are few and far between. Most of them fall exceedingly short of the mark and simply don't qualify. Getting back to the topic at hand, the whole exercise, of passing this bill has nearly no integrity at all.

Your inability to show any semblance of rational evidence otherwise, and instead embarking on emotionally-charged nonsensical statements, shows you to be the easily-defeatable troll I've always accused you of being.

I'm amused at you, I really am. You throw out this nonsense, and then when you get a response, you claim to have "won". I suppose if you're just trolling, a response equals victory. Otherwise, I fail to see how any of your statements, as idiotic as many of them are, have won you anything. Well, apart from well deserved scorn.
goodDonkey at 02:55 PM JST - 24th December

Molenir said:

No. Names are none of your business, I'll simply state, that 3 of my co-workers who voted for Obama, have since said they regret having voted for him. Their names however, are none of your business, believe me or not as you will.

I think USAFdude was referring to non-fictional people.
mtimjones at 04:43 AM JST - 25th December

I'm glad that the Dems pushed this so hard. Can't wait for 2010 and 2012 to vote these bums out of office. What's most fascinating is that while Obama campaigned on open and transparent Govt, we got nothing that even remotely looks like it. Yet another slimy politician.
yabits at 10:55 PM JST - 25th December

Molenir writes:

Yabits, mind if I quote you on this come November? You know, when the party you support is pushed out of power due to their own malfeasance, incompetence, and culture of corruption.

I recall it was you who said the financial crisis was largely caused by banks being forced by legislation/regulation to lend to people who could not afford the loans. (And I showed you the obvious facts which proved of the gross falseness of that claim.)

Being so provably wrong on key issues does not seem to prevent you from spouting more nonsense and false reports. It is well understood how lies and innuendoes fuel the Republican constituency against health care (and every other policy that might benefit the vast majority of the American people).

If we review why the American people threw the Republicans out in 2006 and 2008 so resoundingly, we have only to go back to the campaign of 2000, when the Republican candidate promised the American people that his proposed tax cuts would not create deficits -- since he was going to see to it that he kept discretionary federal spending at or below the level of his predecessor. And then, after election, he and the Republican Congress went on the biggest discretionary spending binge since LBJ's Great Society programs.

The American people should be reminded of this major Republican lie. Alongside the fact that their "Contract with America" called for term limits, a balanced budget amendment, and a line-item veto -- none of which were ever introduced as serious legislation when the Republicans had full control of the Congress and the White House.

The American people would have to be grossly stupid to return that pack to the seat of power and authority. It is sad to see just how many of them are in that sad condition.