The Power of A

Despite the seeming setback dealt to the Democrats comprehensive health care reform efforts this weekend by Senator Lieberman (I-CT) and Ben Nelson (D-NE), Senate Democrats are planning a procedural move to set-up a December 23 vote on their health care legislation and have indicated they are close to 60 votes.

Over the weekend, Senator Lieberman publicly stated he would not vote for a bill with a “public option” or the compromise “Medicare buy-in” provision; that left the Democratic caucus with less than 60 votes needed to pass the bill over a filibuster.  However, after a closed-door caucus meeting and a meeting with the president, the Democratic leadership is moving forward with a bill without a public option or Medicare buy-in and expects to have 60 Senators voting for the legislation.

Senate journalists expect Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) to announce the final bill’s language today, have the Senate debate and vote on the Defense Department appropriations bill the rest of the week, and file for cloture on the health care bill Friday.  This would set up the chamber procedurally for a vote as early as the 23^rd.

A few outstanding issues remain:

-          The Congressional Budget Office has not yet released a revised score of the Senate legislation, but that score is expected to be released today.  Some fiscally conservative Democratic Senators have said they will not publicly support the bill until they see that the legislation does not increase the deficit.

-          Senator Ben Nelson, Senator Reid, Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) and the White House are continuing to negotiate over the abortion language in the bill.  An amendment offered by Nelson on abortion was defeated last week, but he has withheld support until the issue is resolved.  The expected compromise will likely include strict segregation of what funds insurance companies can use to cover abortion, as well as subsidies and financial support for a series of pregnant women support programs.

-          Some of the chamber’s public-option supporters have publicly expressed their discontent with a bill lacking a government-run insurance offering.  What remains to be seen is if any of these Senators will vote against a bill without a public option.

Quick Hits

The House agenda is packed today: pass the Defense Department appropriations bill, increase the federal debt limit, pass a jobs bill using left-over TARP money, and pass a continuing resolution to allow the Senate to pass the Defense appropriations bill… Senate Democrats are lining up votes to prevent the estate tax from expiring this year… How will the US find enough conduits for more broadband expansion?  The National Association of Broadcasters and CTIA weigh in at a House Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee hearing.