Thread: Senate unveils health care compromise

Senate unveils health care compromise

Senate Democrats unveiled the latest version of their health care legislation today and the proposal captured the 60th vote it would need to pass -- setting up a historic vote on the proposal as soon as next week.

The final Democratic holdout, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, said on Capitol Hill that he now supports the legislation after changes were made to address how abortion would be handled.

"Change is never easy, but change is what's necessary in America today," said Nelson, who has been meeting privately for weeks with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "I truly believe this legislation will stand the test of time and will be noted as one of the major reforms of the 21 Century."

Democratic leaders said they were prepared to move forward quickly with the legislation, which would provide health insurance coverage to millions of Americans who wouldn't otherwise have it. The proposal is the product of more than a year of negotiations.

Asked if he had the 60 votes needed to overturn the threat of a filibuster and move to a final vote on the bill, Reid said, "seems that way."

"The broken system cannot continue and it will not continue," Reid said. "All Senate Democrats stand shoulder to shoulder... inaction is not an option."

Nelson, however, fired a warning shot at the House -- saying repeatedly that he would "reserve the right" to vote against the measure later if the proposal was changed as lawmakers work to reconcile differences between the two versions of the bill. The House passed its bill last month. Reid has said he wants to vote on the bill before Christmas.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is expected to speak soon. Senate Republicans have unanimously opposed the bill. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., called the measure a "historic mistake."

The Senate met as a blizzard enveloped the northeast, including Washington. Many senators walked to the Capitol to avoid the roads.

The legislation would give states the right to bar insurance coverage within their borders and would mandate that every state provide at least one insurance option that does not cover abortion. Nelson said the bill will also prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for the procedure.

But the latest version of the bill also drew criticism from some Democrats as details began to emerge. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said he is disappointed the legislation no longer repeals the insurance industry's exemption from federal antitrust laws.

"As we work to increase competition and consumer choice in health insurance, repealing the health insurance industry’s exemption from federal antitrust laws – laws designed to protect consumers – makes good business sense," Leahy said in a statement.

Posted at 10:13 AM/ET, December 19, 2009 in Health care
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"Change is never easy, but change is what's necessary in America today," said Nelson, who has been meeting privately for weeks with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.


What happened to TRANSPARENCY obama? Where were the cameras and public broadcast you swore in vowing to end all of the closed door arm twisting....errr, meetings. Yeah, that's it....meetings



"I truly believe this legislation will stand the test of time and will be noted as one of the major reforms of the 21 Century."


Such legislation stands the test of time for as long as the dictatorship which imposed it lasts and yeah....it'll be noted alright. Right there in the history books in the chapters explaining how our country was taken over by a REGIME.

Nice going Nelly......you're just as bad as the rest of them.