President Obama Calls for Vote on Health Care Reform

After convening last week's health care reform summit at the White House, President Obama continued his efforts this week to take control of the health care reform debate and jumpstart the health reform effort currently stalled in Congress.

On Wednesday, March 3, President Obama called on Congress to have an "up or down vote" on health care reform.   Rejecting calls from Republicans to start over on a bipartisan health care reform bill, President Obama stressed that another year of delay is not an option.

On the heels of this call, the House of Representatives is tentatively planning to vote on the health care reform bill that was passed by the Senate in December 2009.   The House will attempt to pass the Senate bill without amendment to avoid having to send the bill back to the Senate where there are not enough votes for a filibuster proof majority.   The House vote is expected before Easter.

Since many House members have concerns with various provisions in the Senate bill, Congress would then quickly consider a bill making numerous changes to the just-passed Senate bill.   This second bill would be considered under the reconciliation process, a procedural maneuver that allows passage of a bill with just 51 votes, instead of a filibuster-proof 60 votes.   Republicans have strenuously objected to this plan, arguing that use of the reconciliation process tramples on the rights of the minority party.   Congressional leaders are working behind the scenes to develop a reconciliation bill.

On Thursday, March 4, President Obama met at the White House with several House Democratic factions to enlist their aid in passing health care reform.   The President met with members of the Progressive Caucus, who have threatened to withhold support for the bill because it does not include a public insurance option.   The President also met with House moderates who had voted against the original House bill to ask for their support for the more centrist Senate bill.

Although by no means a sure bet for enactment, these recent events improve the outlook for passage of large scale health care reform.

Extensions of Medicare Ambulance Relief

The Senate continues debate on the Tax Extensions Act through next week.   Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) has filed an amendment which would extend Medicare provider relief provisions that expired at the beginning of the year including Medicare ambulance relief.   His amendment would extend the 2% urban, 3% rural and super rural ambulance increases for one-year retroactive to January 1, 2010.   The Senate is expected to vote on his amendment mid next week.