The Power of A

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What was last week touted as a potential breakthrough for the Senate health care bill is today being labeled as potentially another failed compromise.  Yesterday, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) publicly stated that a health care bill which would extend Medicare coverage to people over the age of 55 was legislation he could not support, and he would vote to continue a filibuster on the Senate legislation.

The proposal was floated last week as a compromise/replacement for the public option language in the Senate comprehensive health care bill.  The provision would allow Americans as young as 55 with no insurance to be eligible to buy into Medicare, the federal insurance plan for the elderly.  Additionally, the bill would grant the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the ability to create a national pool for health insurance by contracting with private insurance companies and offering reduced rates to the uninsured.  The idea is similar to the current health care system for federal government employees.  The expected savings provided by these two proposals would allow the Senate to increase the subsidies given through Medicaid to people at 150% of the federal poverty limit, up from 133% currently in the legislation.

The Senate was awaiting a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score that could come as early as today - something some Senate Democrats will use as a marker to support the legislation.  However, losing the support of Lieberman would prevent Senate Democrats from corralling the 60 votes needed for passage.  If no Republicans indicate their intent to vote for a Medicare-expanded bill, the majority will need to find a new compromise or pursue reconciliation.

Quick Hits

Democrats are working on compromise language on abortion in the Senate health care bill… The Senate passes an omnibus appropriations bill over the weekend, sending it to the president for his signature… The Supreme Court will delay a decision on a major election law case until 2010 at the earliest… USA Today analyzes the pros and cons of the Medicare expansion compromise.