Why Health Reform Will Happen—And Why It Won't

Officials: We're meeting GOP 'halfway' with budget proposal

(NEWSER) - The White House has proposed another $6.5 billion in spending cuts, its latest offer in an effort to avoid a government shutdown as another deadline looms. Vice President Biden brought the proposal to talks with congressional leaders yesterday. While it’s far less than the House’s proposed $61 billion in cuts, administration authorities call it a place to start, the Washington Post reports. “We're willing to cut further if we can find common ground,” said a White House economic adviser. More»

Congressional Democrats were irked at president for skipping town

(NEWSER) - Despite White House assurances to the contrary yesterday, President Obama will postpone his Asian trip for three days to focus on firming up health care reform legislation. Congressional Democrats had expressed dismay that the president was leaving the country as the House approached a deal that may allow them to pass the Senate bill, Politico reports. Obama will depart for Indonesia and Australia on the March 21, not 18—the deadline he gave Congress for a deal—and will trim all sidetrips, leaving Michelle and the girls at home. More»

If there is one, which we hope there isn't. Good idea, say Dems.

(NEWSER) - In the circus that is the Senate these days, a couple of anti-public-option Republicans—Tom Coburn and David Vitter—rolled out an amendment to the health care bill Friday requiring members of Congress to enroll in any such plan that might come to pass. When Dems didn’t object—Sherrod Brown, Chris Dodd, and Al Franken tried to cosponsor, but were rebuffed—GOP senators upped the ante and added in the president. The amended amendment would extend the mandate to the whole executive branch. More»

President slides by on half-truths on health care: Krauthammer

(NEWSER) - Joe Wilson wasn’t quite right. President Obama doesn’t lie, exactly, writes Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post, but he still has an odd “relationship to the truth.” For example, Obama promised to veto any bill that grew the deficit, then with his very next sentence promised to require more cuts “if the savings we promised don’t materialize.” But Congress can’t be forced to do anything. "Every year since 2003, Congress has waived the cuts." More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s failure to get health-care reform on a faster track, despite early legislative victories, is a personal one, Sam Youngman writes in the Hill. “While it is shocking to consider that Obama is anything less than one of the best communicators in modern political history,” Youngman writes, “when it comes to health care, he simply has not been able to make the sell to people who do have health insurance.” More»