Pelosi to Liberals: Cheer Up, Shut Up

Liberals suck it up as plan tied to Medicare rates lacks votes

(NEWSER) - Nancy Pelosi will unveil her long-awaited version of the health care reform bill today, but it won’t include the top item on liberals’ wish list: a public option with rates tied to Medicare. Instead, the bill contains a weaker version of the government-run plan that would let doctors negotiate their rates. Pelosi concluded she didn’t have the votes for the so-called “robust” option. More»

Plan with Medicare-linked option would cost only $871B

(NEWSER) - Nancy Pelosi is on a mission to pass the strongest public option on the table in the House—a plan that would pay doctors the same rates as Medicare—and she's close to having enough votes, she told fellow Dems last night. The plan would cost just $871 billion, according to preliminary estimates, putting it under President Obama’s $900 billion target, and be deficit neutral for at least 10 years. Supporters argue that it would pressure private insurers to lower their reimbursement rates, pushing down health care costs. More»

Both sides have vocal opponents, could halt bill without compromise

(NEWSER) - With a last-second concession barring federal dollars from funding abortions, Nancy Pelosi largely skirted the full brunt of the issue, but Harry Reid may not be so lucky. The Senate majority leader likely won't get the 60 votes he needs without similar language— which a Planned Parenthood VP calls a “middle-class abortion ban”—but pro-choice lawmakers could also stall a too-restrictive bill, Politico reports. More»

For feisty speaker, there are only Dems, donors and vote counts

(NEWSER) - Nancy Pelosi is smiling that trademark mask-like smile as she sits down for the interview. A recent California poll puts her approval rating at 34%, a big plunge from 48% in March, but the speaker barely noticed. Whenever poll numbers come up she waves her staff off, saying, “I’ll take the hit, I’ll take the hit.” Pelosi lives in a bubble, explains Vanessa Grigoriadis of New York magazine. She cares only about Democratic members, donors, her family, and the White House. More»

Liberals say it's too conservative, and conservatives say it's too liberal

(NEWSER) - Some early takes from the left and right on Nancy Pelosi's health care bill:

• Tevi Troy, National Review: This will offend states, employers, budget hawks, insurers, even liberals who don't think it's "robust" enough. "The Pelosi approach is an impressive demonstration of coalition building—if you’re trying to build a coalition of opponents."
• Jon Walker, Firedog Lake: Gee thanks, Blue Dogs. By forcing Pelosi to scrap the idea of tying the public option to Medicare rates, this results in a "huge victory for the health insurance industry, hospitals, and PhRMA."