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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Dems Want Health Reform Rollout By 2010, 2012

Everyone wants something to show by midterm elections

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(Newser) – Democrats are pushing Senate leaders to rework their health care bills so that at least some benefits kick in by the 2010 and 2012 elections. As currently formulated, the bill would bring the pain immediately, in the form of $100 billion in industry fees, but its reforms mostly wouldn’t kick in until 2013. “We want to have as much front-ended as possible,” says Debbie Stabenow, “even though we know all of it can’t” be.

Polls show that voters are largely unaware that the plan will take so long to start working. But Democrats believe it’s too complicated—and cost prohibitive—to implement immediately, so they’re looking for low-cost aspects to phase in early. Among the possibilities: discounts for seniors on brand-name drugs, tax credits for small businesses, and a $5 billion high-risk pool to cover people with preexisting conditions.

'Anything that we can do to realize reforms that won't take money upfront and at the same time create real relief for families, we are for,' Robert Menendez (center) told Politico.
'Anything that we can do to realize reforms that won't take money upfront and at the same time create real relief for families, we are for,' Robert Menendez (center) told Politico.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democrats running for reelection in 2010, like Chris Dodd and Harry Reid, want some portion of health care reform to kick in by then.
Democrats running for reelection in 2010, like Chris Dodd and Harry Reid, want some portion of health care reform to kick in by then.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
'I can understand their desire to have some fig leaf to protect them against understandable voter concern about the fact that insurance premiums are going to go up,
'I can understand their desire to have some fig leaf to protect them against understandable voter concern about the fact that insurance premiums are going to go up," says John Cornyn.   (AP Photo/Meet The Press, William B. Plowman)
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20 comments
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cornelison
Oct 26, 09 8:58 AM CDT
Don't forget to give the Republicans time to slow & halt the process. Don't forget to allow the health insurance companies time to call each member of Congress and donate money to their (Congress) campaigns. Oh, and don't forget to include Sen. Snowe because The President & Congress want to call this a "bipartisan" effort. Reply
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+7
IN RESPONSE:
RockyPneumonia
Oct 26, 09 10:24 AM CDT
The President and a >slight majority< of the Congress want to call it "bipartisan"; most of the Republicans have made it quite clear that they are uninterested in cooperating.
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+2
hybrid
Oct 26, 09 9:07 AM CDT
Dems worried about thier relections, i thought it was about the uninsured, or was it the middle class(as with the senate bill there will be many left without insurance), wait what was this bill suppose to do? Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Oct 26, 09 9:15 AM CDT
If the majority was switched, they wouldn't even be trying. Do you remember any of the last 12 years?
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Unaffiliated
Oct 26, 09 9:31 AM CDT
You're spot on, hybrid in your first clause. ALL members of Congress have as their top priority: get reelected, with the small exception of the few who have been appointed to positions to replace elected officials and those who have said they will not seek reelection. Thank God we have term limits on the presidency. We need them for Congress as well. But at least the Dems had the political courage to bring the issue up in the first place.
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+1

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