Research Briefing

That Could Prove Dangerous For House Democrats To Vote For Before They Can Pull Off Their Parliamentary Trick

YESTERDAY, SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN RULED HOUSE DEMS WILL HAVE TO WALK THE PLANK,  PASS THE UNCHANGED SENATE BILL BEFORE STARTING A SECOND BILL TO FIX IT. “[T]he Senate parliamentarian is now saying that President Obama would have to sign a health care bill into law before Congress can amend it with a reconciliation measure. … The parliamentarian ruling could foil Democrats' plans to avoid signing into law the ‘sweetheart deals’ that have tainted the Senate bill… Democrats are divided over a number of other issues, such as the Senate bill's tax on high-end insurance plans, which they planned to revolve through the reconciliation bill.” (Stephanie Condon, “Dems Dealt Blow On Health Care Reconciliation,” CBS News’s “Political Hotsheet” Blog, 3/11/10)

SO WHAT’S IN THE SENATE BILL?

1.      Taxpayer Funding Of Abortion, With National Right To Life Committee Saying Those Who Vote For It Permanently “Forfeit” Pro-Life Credentials.  (Sec. 1303, H.R. 3590, Manager’s Amendment To The Amendment In The Nature Of A Substitute, "Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act," Introduced 11/18/09; “Abortion Policy And ‘Health Care Reform,’” National Right To Life Committee Media Backgrounder, 3/5/10)

2.      A Powerful New Medicare Commission Of Unelected Bureaucrats Would Ration Care. (Pages 16-17, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 12/19/09)

3.      A “Cadillac Tax” On Insurance Plans Which Will Hit The Middle-Class. (Ben Smith, “CWA Pushes Back On White House Excise Tax Claim,” Politico’s “Ben Smith” Blog, 12/17/09)

4.      The “Louisiana Purchase,” Which Gives Louisiana An Extra $300 Million In Medicaid Funding, And Brought Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) On Board. (Dana Milbank, Op-Ed, “Sweeteners For The South,” The Washington Post, 11/22/09)

5.      The “Cornhusker Kickback,” An 11^th Hour Deal To Pay For Nebraska’s Additional Medicaid Costs Forever In Exchange For Sen. Ben Nelson’s (D-NE) Vote. (“Concessions Lawmakers Won In The Health Bill,” The Associated Press, 12/22/09)

6.      The “U Con” Where Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) Added $100 Million For A Hospital That He’d Like To Get For His State. (“Concessions Lawmakers Won In The Health Bill,” The Associated Press, 12/22/09)

7.      The “Gator Aid” Where Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) Had Florida Seniors Held Exempt From Certain Medicare Cuts. (“Concessions Lawmakers Won In The Health Bill,” The Associated Press, 12/22/09)

8.      The “Handout Montana” Which Gave Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) A Provision To Give Special Benefits To The Citizens Of A Small Town. (“Concessions Lawmakers Won In The Health Bill,” The Associated Press, 12/22/09)

9.      Hawaii’s Special Exemption For Higher Medicaid Payments. (Sec. 10201, Manager’s Amendment, H.R. 3950 “The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,” Introduced 11/19/09)

10. North Dakota’s Special Provision For Doctor Reimbursements.  (Dana Milbank, “On Health-Care Bill, Democratic Senators Are In States Of Denial,” The Washington Post, 12/22/09)

11. Sen. Jeff Merkley’s (D-OR) Special Treatment For Longshoremen, The Union Workers In His State. (“Concessions Lawmakers Won In The Health Bill,” The Associated Press, 12/22/09)