SENATE: Reid Plans To Unveil Reform Bill to Democrats at 5 p.m. Wednesday
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has called a special Senate Democratic caucus meeting on Wednesday to present members with the chamber’s final health reform bill, Politico‘s “Live Pulse” reports (Budoff Brown, “Live Pulse,” Politico, 11/17). Jim Manley, a spokesperson for Reid, said the Senate leader expects to receive the Congressional Budget Office’s final cost analysis of the draft bill before the 5 p.m. meeting. The bill’s release means a procedural vote to move forward with debate could come as soon as Friday or Saturday (Edney/Friedman, CongressDaily, 11/18).
According to “Live Pulse,” Reid will receive some “high-level support” at the meeting in an attempt to secure enough votes to ensure further movement of the bill. Democratic sources said that President Obama has asked Vice President Biden, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to attend the meeting (“Live Pulse,” Politico, 11/17). Reid will need 60 votes to prevent an expected Republican-led filibuster and move forward with the legislation (CongressDaily, 11/18).
On Tuesday, Reid said, “I feel cautiously optimistic that we can do that. I think we’re together as a caucus” (Murray/Montgomery, Washington Post, 11/18). According to CongressDaily, some senators, including Reid, on Tuesday acknowledged that they already were privy to some of CBO’s analysis (CongressDaily, 11/18). Reid said, “Of all the bills we’ve seen, [the Senate bill will] be the best: saves more money, is more protective of Medicare, is a bill that’s good for the American people,” adding, “I’m not going to get into the numbers today. … I think if you’re not impressed, you should be” (“Live Pulse,” Politico, 11/17).
Procedural Vote Likely Before Review Period, Durbin Says
Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday said that Senate Democrats might not get the 72-hour review period that some had previously requested, CQ Today reports. Durbin said that Senate leaders would call up a “shell bill” and force a cloture vote, which would require 60 votes to limit debate on the legislation (Hunter [1], CQ Today, 11/17). Durbin also said, “The shell bill, or vehicle bill, is one that is short and not controversial,” adding, “Before we vote on any substantive health care reform, it has to be available for 72 hours, and I believe it will.”
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), one of the senators who requested the review period, has opted to remain non-committal on the legislation until he has had a chance to read it. However, he said that he supported the leadership’s strategy to advance the legislation. “My understanding is it will be on the Internet over Thanksgiving week before it is even taken up on the floor, so I think people will have an ample time to review it” (Hunter [2], CQ Today, 11/17).
Reconciliation Off the Table
Senate Democrats have abandoned any intentions to invoke the budget reconciliation process, a fast-track parliamentary strategy that would allow them to avoid a Republican filibuster and advance the health reform bill to the floor, CQ Today reports (Wayne, CQ Today, 11/17). Under the reconciliation process, Senate Democrats would need a simple 51-vote majority, instead of the required 60 votes, to pass the legislation. In addition, floor debate would be limited to just 20 hours, rather than the usual 30 hours. However, the number of amendments that could be offered would be unlimited, according to Roll Call.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who at one time was a proponent of the reconciliation process, said Tuesday that it is “a nonstarter,” adding, “It doesn’t work. … It opens itself up to an endless, unstoppable number of amendments, which [Republicans] will have lined up” (Dennis, Roll Call, 11/17).
– Santosh Rao
Note: This is an abridged version of the story that appeared in American Health Line this morning. For complete access to the full version, plus all of AHL’s other stories and content, subscribe to AHL.
