Tulsa World: Health care reform faces more hurdles as Senate weighs in

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Health care reform faces more hurdles as Senate weighs in

By DAVID LIGHTMAN McClatchy News Service
Published: 11/9/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 11/9/2009 5:21 AM

WASHINGTON — Any momentum from Saturday's historic House approval of a sweeping health care overhaul is likely to be short-lived as the focus moves to the Senate, where progress has been stalled for weeks.

Washington lawmakers had two views on Sunday of what the House's 220-215 vote means.

One was that the narrowness of the vote, with 39 Democrats opposed, showed the weakness of the bill despite furious lobbying for it by President Barack Obama and his top lieutenants. That included a visit by Obama to the Capitol 11 hours before the vote.

"Most of our constituents agree we have a very serious problem with the health care system, but in terms of how you fix it, the country is very divided," said Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., one of the Democrats who voted no.

The other view was that the House vote was a major victory, the most progress for any proposed health care overhaul since the creation of Medicare in 1965. No final health care overhaul will be easy.

Obama issued a statement Sunday praising "a courageous vote for many members of Congress."

"For years we've been told this couldn't be done," he said. "After all, neither chamber of Congress has been able to pass a comprehensive health insurance reform bill for generations. But last night, the House proved differently."

The bill would create a government-run health care insurance plan to compete with the private sector, bar insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and require most people

to obtain coverage.

In the Senate, the views of eight to 12 moderates must be accommodated before anything can move.

Congressional centrists, as well as many freshmen and sophomore House members in swing districts, have said for some time that their constituents are questioning whether more government will help ease their immediate financial worries. The message was reinforced Tuesday, when Republicans won governorships in Virginia and New Jersey with the help of independent voters.

"More people in my district are expressing concern than support" for the House health care overhaul, said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., who represents the more rural, far western part of the state. He, too, voted no.

Even some who supported the House bill Saturday explained that they were doing so largely to keep the legislative process alive.

"My reason for voting yes is to advance the cause of health care reform by forcing the Senate to act," said Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn.

Senate moderates have been just as wary.

"I don't see where we can reach any conclusions (about legislation) until we see the whole package," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

One of their qualms — similar to those of House swing district members — involves the new system's finances.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office pegged the House bill's 10-year cost at a net $891 billion and said it would cut the deficit by $109 billion. But skeptical lawmakers said they could hardly go home to constituents who face a still-ailing economy and argue that a new trillion-dollar program is essential.

House Democratic leaders tried to counter those fears by issuing a 14-point list of provisions that take effect immediately, including a ban on lifetime coverage limits, a requirement that insurance programs allow young people to remain on their parents' policies until they're 27, and a reduction of the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole," in the Medicare prescription drug program.

But other key features of the bill, and the ones that will cost the most, wouldn't take effect until 2013.

The Senate and House approaches have significant differences: The Senate's public option would allow states to "opt out," and a key fundraiser would involve taxing so-called high end policies.

Still to be resolved is abortion policy. The House bill passed only after language was added guaranteeing that no federal funds would be used to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape and incest or where the mother's life is in danger. Although abortion has not been as controversial in the Senate, abortion rights advocates objected to the tough House version — 194 of the House's 258 Democrats opposed it — and it's sure to become a flashpoint again. By DAVID LIGHTMAN McClatchy News Service

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	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/9/2009 9:05:48 AM) I sure do hope the senate knows on which side to butter the bread.
	Report Comment my view, Sand Springs (11/9/2009 8:35:04 AM) Maybe the Senate will listen to the people, the House sure didn't? All we can hope for is for common sense to prevail,this bill should be given the deep six.
	Report Comment Bliss, Okc (11/9/2009 1:47:00 PM) Every Republican is a criminal. They want us poor legal citizens and honest people to DIE. I wonder what punishment GOD will dish out to them and can't wait to be pleased. Their crimes are NOT doing their jobs as public servants but attempting to be DICATATORS. The result will be what Hitler worked for if they win...clearly they are Nazis.
	Report Comment reckless abandon, Tulsa (11/9/2009 6:35:12 AM) Come on Senate--get it done!!! Since we know Coburn and Inhofe are opposed it got to be a good idea.
	Report Comment DirtyWhiteHouse, (11/10/2009 3:14:32 PM) great email: To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, It is now official you are ALL corrupt morons: The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775 You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke. The War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965.. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure. You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM??
	Report Comment Don Smith, (11/9/2009 4:18:32 PM) This bill should pass for all of our sakes and if it costs too much, then the senate should give up all of their free health insurance and benefits to pay for it.
	Report Comment Okiedokie, (11/9/2009 8:33:03 AM) Coburn and Inhofe spend more time palling around with third world dictators instead of representing us.

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