White House: If GOP Filibusters, We’ll Pass Health Reform Via Reconciliation
The game of chicken commenceth — right now.
In the course of unveiling Obama’s new health reform proposal on a conference call with reporters this morning, White House advisers made it clearer than ever before: If the GOP filibusters health reform, Dems will move forward on their own and pass it via reconciliation.
The assertion, which is likely to spark an angry response from GOP leaders, ups the stakes in advance of the summit by essentially daring Republicans to try to block reform.
“The President expects and believes the American people deserve an up or down vote on health reform,” White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said on the call.
Pfeiffer said no decision had been made how to proceed, pending the outcome of the summit. But he added that Obama’s proposal is designed to have “maximum flexibility to ensure that we can get an up or down vote if the opposition decides to take the extraordinary step of filibustering health reform.”
Translation: If the GOP doesn’t cooperate with us in any meaningful sense, we’re moving forward on our own.
Also on the call, White House advisers detailed Obama’s new proposal, which was just posted on the White House web site, and discussed the ways it seeks a compromise between the Senate and House proposals. Among the details:
* As expected, the plan has no public option — but this does not preclude a reconciliation vote on the public option later.
* The proposal boosts the threshold for the “Cadillac” tax on the most expensive health plans from $23,000 for a family plan to $27,500. That’s actually a better deal than some labor officials were expecting, though some House Dems will still be angry that the tax is being included at all.
* The proposal also preserves the Senate bill’s state-based exchanges, and does not have a national exchange, as the House bill did.
* However, House Dems will be cheered by the fact that Obama’s compromise closes the Medicare prescription drug “donut hole” coverage gap.
* Also, the bill nixes Ben Nelson’s Nebraska deal and boosts Federal financing for Medicaid expansion in all states.
* And finally, as expected, Obama’s proposal creates a Federal panel to monitor and block exorbitant rate hikes and other unfair practices by the insurance industry.
One final note: On the call, Pfeiffer was careful to note that the proposal is not the product of an agreement between the House and Senate, but rather is “the President’s bill.” This is meant to preclude GOP efforts to cast the proposal as the product of a backroom deal. The lines are drawn.
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Update: Eric Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring emails a response:
The Obama plan costs a trillion dollars, puts government in control of personal health decisions, and allows the government to set prices in the private market. That mirrors the Pelosi/Reid plans that have already been soundly rejected by the bipartisan majority of Americans.
Update II: A new batch of polls shows that it may make political sense for Dems to pass the public option via reconciliation.
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@sisyphus
I watch news all the time and Fox news is the ONLY place I can hear two views on any subject. If it weren’t for Fox we would all have our heads in the sand. But you are right..if this government continues to run amuck those tow steps will be quick ones.
Before the bill can be submitted to commitee for reconciliation it has to be pased by the house and returned or its dead, Its dead. senate cant reconcile a piece of legislation untill its signed to law. rules. house cant get it together dont trust senate. this is a dog and poney show for the left elections comming theywill say they tried.
This administration is plain STUPID!!! Obama could’nt run a lemonade stand. Much less a real store… What is this fool doin in the White house?
Turn your mirror around, Tim Collins, the only really “plain stupid” people are the Americsns whose hate blinds them to the truth. Keep supporting the Republicans – who could could not care less about you – the ones exploiting your hate and shallow intellect to reach deep into your pant’s pockets to steal every dime you own…but maybe that turns you on?
Thank you to the less than 1/8th of people replying to this article who are actually using logic to support their view. As very few hear have found out, this meeting is exactly what the public was promised; a transparent government wherein the public may view the actions of the representatives. Unfortunately both parties have several candidates who simply will not compromise, this meeting has done a very good point of highlighting that our elected officials are failing from both sides. Hardcore conservative representatives want personal power and to control all of their money. Hardcore liberals want abundance for everyone and redistribution of monies. Conservatives fear personal loss of power, liberals understand and fear that the capitalistic insurance companies will continue their trend of doing anything to increase profits. The fear that these people have is due to the fact they are uneducated. All the major media outlets are biased fear inducing machines; ABC, CNN, FOX, NBC, BBC, and any other programs owned by Clear Channel Communications, Time Warner, Viacom, etc… The point is that unless you have read the bill, you don’t have an educated opinion. If you don’t know the material that you tell other people is fact, then you are promoting ignorance. Unfortunately fear-mongering has been used by both sides of the media, the public, the house, and the senate. Please people, support and understand that a democracy is run with cooperation from both sides. That is unless you support the Illuminati beliefs to divide and conquer, ruling out of chaos and fear. Make a change, at least understand the other person’s perspective before blindly spewing hate.
*here. Just thought i’d correct that before someone claims my inability to spell somehow disproves my logic……Oh, and honestly, if referencing to the Illuminati is too far out, or not “factually proven” enough for you to consider its existence, then there is no convincing you to understand the simple truth that you have been trained to be divided so that you may never rise up and unite humanity with peace and loving cooperation. I look forward to finding insulting responses to this message, they will only prove that I am right that fear or hate mongering only causes chaos and division.
The Repugincants
Despite their howls against Obama, Republicans employed the same procedure to pass major Bush agenda items:
– The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts [HR 1836, 3/26/01]
– The 2003 Bush Tax Cuts [HR 2, 3/23/03]
– Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 [HR 4297, 5/11/06]
– The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 [H. Con Res. 95, 12/21/05]
As ThinkProgress has noted, Gregg defended using the reconciliation procedure to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for domestic drilling in 2005, arguing, “The president asked for it, and we’re trying to do what the president asked for.” Evidently, Gregg has lost the same sense of patriotic duty.
While Republicans seem to be experiencing a particular form of political amnesia from the Bush years, they ought to be reminded that budget reconciliation has been used by several other presidents, including Clinton and Reagan. In fact, Republicans — with Bond and Gregg among the leaders of the charge — were instrumental in pushing through key provisions of their signature legislative agenda, the Contract with America, using budget reconciliation.
A list of instances where reconciliation was implemented:
Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981
Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1983
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
Balanced Budget Act of 1995 (vetoed)
Personal Responsibility and Budget Reconciliation Act of 1996
Balanced Budget Act of 1997
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999 (vetoed)
Marriage Tax Relief Act of 2000 (vetoed)
Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001
Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005
At least 19 of the above reconciliation acts were passed by the repugincants. The last four on this list along with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for domestic drilling in 2005 were passed under Bush’s administration.
Obama’s administration has given the public far more dialogue on this matter than the previous administration. I say pass the health care bill and be done with it.
Earth to liberals! Reconcilliation is for budget items (and taxes) not “Healthcare”. For those of you who didn’t study history and are doomed to repeat it, three things:
1. Social Security, the gov’t run retirement fund is broke,
2. Medicare, the gov’t run healthcare system is broke and it crowded out the private healthcare insurance that retirees were getting
3. Roosevelt, that “great president” kept passing his liberal program and extended the Great Depression (according to the study by Harvard U) and it took WWII to get us out of it.
I learned from history, I don’t want to repeat it!
It is amazing how many people are ignorant when it comes to basic economics. Increased competition equals lower prices. Government Healthcare will eventually eliminate any competition in the market. oh, and the taxpayer doesn’t pay for every person who has emergency care who doesn’t have insurance. I was put in the hospital a year and half ago for three days and I was charged 13k for all services. I was turned into a collection agency because I couldnt afford the bill at the time but now I make a monthly payment and only owe about 400 now. To say the taxpayer currently pays for all of this is liberal propaganda. I now have insurance and with pre-existing conditions I pay 86 a month for great coverage. I guarantee all the people complaining about healthcare not being affordable have cell phone bills, car payments, cable bills, and TV payments that are more expensive than what they could get good healthcare for. Stop feeling entitled people. We have a black president for goodness sake!! If you put in the hard work you can accomplish anything in this country. I would like to urge the republicans on here to stay away from any threats on dems. Liberals do not have any educated arguments on healthcare. Just fight them with facts.
Obama is not a Black man and he is certainly not an American. A Black man believes in America and works hard for his money and wants to keep it! Obama is a evil man who’s heart is tangled up in marxisim & is hell bent on destroying this ONCE great Nation . He hates America and he does not give a damn about Black white red or yellow or brown. you fools that voted for this worthless dictator wannabe should be ashamed of yourselves for making such a dumb decision.
I have watched the Obame Health Care Summit debate. The interesting thing is that neither the democrats nor the republicans really wants to share the details of the current 2400 pages bill with the public, they only discuss things in the bill that concern the american people but they don’t discuss the othere non health care related socialist programs that are in the bill for the special interests which will be paid for by our Tax dollar. Read the bill and see for your self. http://www.honorinoffice.org
I used to have a mouse – my blog tells you how to get rid of a mouse.
A vast majority of these comments appear as if this is the first the American citizenry heard of the despotic president of the United States and his henchmen cronies and that lying sack of Pelosi in tow. Had the citizenry been paying attention to the campaign instead of being enthralled with having elected the “first president of color”, they would have seen what his agenda was all along. He’s emulated Saul Alinsky right down to being a “Community Organizer” and anything less would surprise us — oh, wake up America –tee hee hee, especially you Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico, yes deviation from the norm costs greatly, and no one’s yet paid the price, not quite yet.
Hey, LISA!! Tea Party members don’t call themselves “tea baggers”. That’s why they don’t realize there is another meaning — says you. The other meaning would be little girls sitting around with dollies and doilies on itty bitty chairs etc. Most of them have heard about the other filthy perve meaning by now. The T-B’s in the media obviously are MORE familiar, but so what? Something bigger is afoot
The important thing is not whether the government does a better job of running health care at first. Health care is something the government should control. How well can be handled later. Like the army, the power industry, the police, libraries and schools these are things that BELONG to the government.
Thank you for this nicepost.
If you think health care provided by The Gov. will not make your cancer go away becuase you will still have to pay you dont get it 45% of our income will go to the government on top of all the other income taxes 45% just for health care its a scam to get you ppl who are sick to want it. I am older and know my time is coming I still don’t the Gov to run our health care system it will be then end of this country this is a fact
If those that are voting for this health care bill REALLY cared about the american people … wouln’t they listen to them? I say we vote everyone out that voted yes on this bill. I agree with Jim, they are using this bill as a cash cow to rob for other things. Just like NC has done with lottery money now being used to balance budget instead of education for which it was intended. I say we vote each of them out that voted YES on this bill in Nov!
And no one is going to force you to get the public option anyway. Learn your facts about the health care bill before you start screaming socialism. If you like the coverage the you currently have now, you can keep it. The public option simply gives health care coverages to MILLIONS of Americans that currently have no means of attaining it.
Hey “Josh”, for your information, I am being forced to pay for this bullshit plan. There is no public option. I will now be taxed 2.5% of my income because I exercised my rights and made my choice not to take the healthcare. Now, since when is it ok to force someone to pay for something they don’t want? In this country, originally, this would have been spat at! To make my point I will continue to let the government steal from me and when I get a chance I will steel their position with my vote. This is absolutely disgusting! What happend to my country…
Someone wrote at the beginning of these comments : 70% of the US doesn’t want health care reform. F*CK HUSSEIN.
70%? Where is this number from? Maybe he just got it while picking his nose. This guy shows his racism and education level.
I am an American Soldier!I proudly serve the people of this Country.I was serving in Iraq when Obama was voted into office.Upon my return home,Injured,I was appalled at what I saw has happened in our country.Gas prices holding steady dispite Hurricane Katrina has happened over five years ago.Attempts to try to decrease the size of our military.Our beloved government,deaming themselves greater than the people they represent.
I don’t care about who we look to the rest of the world.We need to take care of ourselves before we go and help other countries and tell them how to live.We have starving people here at home.Homeless people here.Unemployed people who can’t find a job because they aren’t either ,a woman or they aren’t a minority or overeducated or the jobs are being sent overseas.
I am not against anyone here at home.I do think it is pretty sorry to find foreigners here who will work when there “AMERICANS”that won’t.
Our government is pandering to big industry for the kickbacks.Whatever lame cause that pads their pockets or gives them political favor.
“PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FEAR THEIR GOVERNMENT,THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FEAR THE PEOPLE!!”
I will more than likely be labeled a terrorist because of my thoughts ,but i don’t serve my government,I serve and protect the people of our great land from all enemies,both foreign and domistic.
hey Dusty. Is that Angel “dust”? While you are babbling about how ignorant other posters are because “bush’s tax cuts were passed by reconciliation” how about recognizing that “RECONCILIATION” was intended only for budget bills, like the tax cuts. Like you “reconcile” accounts? It was not intended for setting up vast new federal programs. DUH!
Please, G-d, send my country a devout Black man and patriot. Thank you for all blessings.