Research Briefing

Dems Stumble At Starting Gate On Obama’s Government-Run Health Care Experiment With Senate’s Bipartisan Rejection Of Reid’s Bill

YESTERDAY, OBAMA’S HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT REJECTED WITH BIPARTISAN MAJORITY IN SENATE

13 Senate Dems Join Republicans To Defeat “Doc Fix,” Part Of Obama’s Health Care Experiment That Would Add $245 Billion To Deficit. (S. 1776, Cloture Vote, Failed 47-53; R: 0-40, D: 46-12, I: 1-1, 10/21/00)

Roll Call: “An Ominous Beginning” For Democrats, Their Government-Run Health Care Experiment. “The outcome — and particularly Reid’s inability to secure at least 51 votes — could prove to be an ominous beginning for Democrats on the health care debate.” (John Stanton, “Senate Hands Reid A Defeat On ‘Doc Fix,’” Roll Call, 10/21/09)

“The Vote Was A Bigger Loss Than Supporters Expected… It Is A Warning Shot That Even Popular Legislation -- And Most Lawmakers Support The Doc Fix -- Could Be Easily Bogged Down If It Is Viewed As A Deficit Busting Vote.” (Chris Frates, “Senate Fails To Move Doc Fix Forward,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 10/21/09)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Gall To Blame “Republican-Dominated Washington” Even Though He Has Filibuster-Proof Democratic Majority. “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) — normally a master vote-counter — was unable to muster even a simple majority for the ‘doc fix’ bill: The legislation was defeated, 47 to 53. A clearly nervous Reid paced the chamber’s well just prior to the vote and afterward looked to blame the defeat on GOP Senators, arguing it was a result of ‘activities and actions by the Republican-dominated Washington.’ … In the end, 12 Democrats and one Independent joined all 40 Republicans in voting against the bill …” (John Stanton, “Senate Hands Reid A Defeat On ‘Doc Fix,’” Roll Call, 10/21/09)

AND OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ECONOMISTS SAY HOUSE DEMS’ BILL WILL INCREASE HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR AMERICANS

Report From Obama’s HHS Says House Dems’ Health Care Experiment Will Increase Treatment, Coverage Costs. “The nation’ s health care tab would increase even more under legislation in the House, according to a government report released Wednesday ... It raises questions about the Obama administration’s claim that health care legislation will ‘bend the cost curve’ and slow a spending rate that many economists say is already unsustainable … Tens of millions of newly insured people could put a strain on the health care system. ‘The additional demand for health services could be difficult to meet initially with existing health provider resources and could lead to price increases, cost-shifting and/or changes in providers’ willingness to treat patients with low-reimbursement health coverage,’ the report said.” (Richard Alonso-Zaldivar, “US Health Care Tab Would Grow Under Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/21/09)

Confirming CBO’s Analysis That Obama’s Health Care Experiment Would Also Worsen Federal Budget Outlook. “President Obama's plan to expand health coverage to the uninsured is likely to dig the nation deeper into debt ... 'Without meaningful reforms, the substantial costs of many current proposals . . . would be much more likely to worsen the long-run budget outlook than to improve it,' he said. ...” (Lori Montgomery, Shailagh Murray & Ceci Connolly, "Obama's Health Plan Needs Spending Controls, CBO Says," The Washington Post, 6/17/09)