If a healthcare bill passes, this group might be why
| Washington
As Congress presses toward an August recess, two campaigns for healthcare reform are shifting into overdrive on Capitol Hill.
One is public, hot, and deeply partisan, with one Republican senator saying healthcare could be Obama's Waterloo, and Democrats accusing Republicans of playing politics with Americans' health.
鈥淭heir intent is in much more making failure happen than progress for the American people,鈥� said House majority leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland in a mid-day briefing with reporters.
The other campaign, however, is fluid, complex, and even collegial. That鈥檚 the bid to find what鈥檚 doable on healthcare during the next few months on Capitol Hill.
It comes from a shifting group of lawmakers in the Senate Finance Committee, and if a bipartisan compromise is to clear Congress this year, it鈥檚 main lines are likely to emerge here, as it did with President Bush鈥檚 first domestic victory: the 2001 tax cuts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e slogging through all the legislative process,鈥� says Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) of Maine, a member of the informal group.
For now, she says, the groups is not considering peeling off policies for which there is broad consensus, such as a patient鈥檚 bill of rights or a measure banning insurance companies from making pricing decisions based on 鈥減reexisting conditions.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e really trying to grapple with reform of the entire system, if at all possible,鈥� she adds.
Other finance panel members in the bipartisan group include the committee chairman, Sen. Max Baucus (D) of Montana; the ranking Republican, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa; Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah; Sen. Michael Enzi (R) of Wyoming; and Sen. Kent Conrad (D) of North Dakota, who also chairs the Senate Budget Committee.
鈥淎nswering these questions of substance is how we get to a result,鈥� said Senator Baucus Tuesday. He did not confirm press reports that the bipartisan group is between $100 billion and $200 billion short of being able to pay for the $1 trillion-plus bill.
Meanwhile, House lawmakers are watching the progress of these negotiations carefully, as they could influence the timing of a House vote.
Some 50 members of the so-called Blue Dog caucus 鈥� Democrats who are considered fiscal conservatives 鈥� are in tense negotiations with their leadership over healthcare reform. Many are reluctant to support the House bill, which includes higher taxes for the rich, unless they are sure that the same provisions will be in the Senate bill.
Fiscally conservative Democrats in the House are urging leaders to rein in costs. They are urging the House first to identify savings in the current healthcare system, then use those savings to fund an expanded program of public insurance. They also want to limit new entitlements to what can be funded without adding to the federal deficit.
鈥淲e should see what we can achieve through savings in the system and do with that,鈥� says Rep. Jason Altmire (D) of Pennnsylvania.
In a briefing after a party caucus luncheon, Senate majority leader Harry Reid said that he was encouraged by the progress of the bipartisan group.
鈥淲e鈥檙e closer than ever to getting it done,鈥� he said. "I鈥檓 very hopeful they鈥檒l have a bill this week, and we can start marking it up next week."
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