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Dems at odds on how to turn tide on health
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| Contributor | particleman |
| Last Edited | particleman Jul 21, 2009 10:53pm |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Wednesday, July 22, 2009 04:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | House Democrats’ drive to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system sputtered Tuesday, fueling doubts that the complex legislation can be passed before lawmakers leave town for the August recess.
If Democrats in the lower chamber do not pass a healthcare reform bill before the recess, it would be seen as a major step backward from the legislative timetable President Obama initially outlined.
In another blow to the Democrats’ healthcare reform efforts, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday launched an advertising campaign targeting a key aspect of Obama’s healthcare plan — a government-run “public option.” Another powerful industry group, America’s Health Insurance Plans, stated on Tuesday that a “government-run plan is a roadblock to reform.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders had repeatedly said they intend to pass the bill by July 31, when the House’s August recess is scheduled to start.
But the bill has been bogged down by concerns among Blue Dog Democrats, who say the bill doesn’t cut enough costs, and by freshman Democrats, many of whom oppose an income surtax on the wealthy to help pay the cost of the $1 trillion overhaul.
Making matters worse, Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee said privately that the universe of opposition extends far beyond the Blue Dogs and freshmen who have gotten the most attention simply because they’ve been the most vocal in demanding changes.
“Based on what I’ve seen and where we are now I can’t imagine that we’ll be able to finish before August,” said one Democrat on the Energy panel. Hoyer on Tuesday confirmed that opposition was not limited to the Blue Dogs. |
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