Where the White House is placing its healthcare bets

[Jakes Progress]

Haven't seen Reich's piece referenced: http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/09/11/final_stretch/

Private insurers and Big Pharma are being represented in this race by Max Baucus and his Senate Finance Committee. Senate Finance is on the verge of reporting out a bill that requires that just about every American have health insurance and just about every business provide it (or else pay a fee). But the bill will not include a public option. Nor will it change current law to allow Medicare to negotiate low drug prices. Nor will it include a surtax on the wealthy. The committee's only real nod to cost containment is a small tax on expensive insurance policies, which doesn't worry the private insurers because its cost is so easily passed on to the beneficiaries. The Democratic base is being represented by Nancy Pelosi and House Dems, who have reported out a bill that includes a public option, want Medicare and Medicaid to have negotiating power, and will pay for universal coverage with a surcharge on the rich. The Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee, formerly chaired by Ted Kennedy, also represents the Democratic base, and reported a strong bill that parallels that of the House.

It is a a fairly succinct view of how things stand and how things might go. The most important parts are the last two paragraphs.

But, again, the race has just begun. Your input is still important -- in fact, more important now than before. The Senate Finance's bill will be reported out next week and voted on by the entire committee in the following week, then go to the floor of the Senate for a vote in mid-October. The House bill will go to the floor at about the same time. Each side is now counting noses. Pelosi knows she won't have any Republicans with her, so will need to keep 40 Dems from bolting. If Reed can't get 60 votes by Oct. 15, he'll add healthcare to a reconciliation bill, which will need only 51.

The more you can make your voices heard, the more likely it is that the race will be won by the public rather than the private interests.

The piece is a pretty strong indictment of the "Let's wait and see what happens" argument.

[bleever]

1. A kick to accompany my recommendation.

No time to coast.

[elleng]

2. Useful info from Bob Reich.

[yurbud]

3. Obama must know that a mandate to buy without an available public option or severe price controls

will neuter the rest of his presidency.

Let's hope he's playing Blue Dogs, Republicans, and their patrons, not us.

[Jakes Progress]

4. Hope that he's playing them

seems to be about the only hope we have.