Pelosi: ‘We Are Very Close’ to Passing Health Care Reform

[babylonsister]

http://washingtonindependent.com/75568/pelosi-we-are-very-close-to-passing-health-care-reform

Pelosi: ‘We Are Very Close’ to Passing Health Care Reform
By Mike Lillis 2/2/10 4:52 PM


In the face of widespread suspicion that health care reform is stalled indefinitely, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters this afternoon that Democrats will succeed in passing the party’s top domestic priority, adding that “we are very close to doing that in a comprehensive way.”

How? Well, it won’t happen by the House simply taking up the Senate bill. “Our members will not support the Senate bill,” Pelosi said. “Take that as a fact.”

Instead, she wants both the House and Senate to pass an amending bill through the budget reconciliation process, which requires only 51 votes in the Senate. “Don’t even ask us to consider passing the Senate bill,” she warned, until after that amending proposal clears both chambers.

In the meantime, Pelosi said, the House will strip out several provisions of the larger reform proposal — provisions that aren’t permitted to move via reconciliation — in hopes of passing them as stand-alone bills. Next week, for example, House leaders will consider a proposal to repeal the anti-trust exemption enjoyed by health insurers for over 60 years.

“Just because we reach a bump in the road doesn’t meant that we turn back,” Pelosi said. “We will get the job done.”

[JuniperLea]

1. Reconciliation is NOT a four letter word...

I'm all for it.

[RevCheesehead]

2. How many times have we seen this same thread title, different date?

No offense, babylonsister.

[buff2]

4. I was thinking the same thing

How many times has Pelosi said this in the past few weeks?

[DrToast]

6. At least she understands her job and doesn't need anyone to "make her"

[damntexdem]

8. Well, good, she does keep plugging on it.

But it does need to happen, and on the House's terms, if not better ones.

[babylonsister]

11. My first thought, too, Rev. But some current, positive news doesn't hurt. nt

[The Wielding Truth]

3. Oh, please let it be so.

[global1]

5. Best Thing That Could Happen To The Dems Is To Get This Passed And Soon......

I know not everyone here is on board with this. I firmly believe that it will better than what we have now (i.e., pre-existing conditions; non cancel; etc) and a catalyst for better things to come as this becomes accepted. The American public want this. I do wish that if they go the reconciliation route that they might include a public option or drop the age to 55 for Medicare. But to do nothing and let this die - is surely a win for the Repugs to take into 2010 and beyond.

We need to get this done.

Go Pelosi!!!! Go Reid!!!! Go Dems!!!!

[jefferson_dem]

7. This sounds promising.

Fingers crossed.

[Cleita]

9. Well, I hope she sticks to her guns and digs in her heels.

Otherwise, this whole debacle will just end up being a joke on us from the for profit health care industry.

[uponit7771]

10. ...sigh...., at this point don't talk just do....doing would yield quite relief

[derby378]

12. I sure hope this works

It will be interesting to see what Howard Dean thinks of whatever emerges from reconciliation.

[Wapsie B]

13. Yes I'm interested in what Dr. Dean says as well.

I don't think he'd pull any punches critiquing whatever plan gets passed and signed into law.

[bluestateguy]

14. I'm sure in the next hour or two, someone else will pour cold water all over this cheery statement

It changes by the hour.

[Joe the Liberal]

15. I'm not holding my breath.n/t

[AlinPA]

16. She keeps saying that. Maybe they are close. nt

[prolesunited]

17. Good

My COBRA expires at the end of the month and with pre-existing conditions, I can't get another policy.

[quiet.american]

18. I'll probably be beat up for this, but I'm glad to hear this. nt

[mzmolly]

19. Go Nancy!

:toast: