| President Obama signaled in official manner his support for HR 3962 today -- which could be the key to putting the effort over the top.
Strategically speaking, it seems more and more likely that somehow, Harry Reid will be able to piece together the 60 cloture votes he'll need to get the Senate bill to the floor, and 50 plus Vice President Biden is easy next to that. With the biggest question mark now appearing to be on the House side, the time for a White House play in support of the bill appears to be right.
This is kind of a big deal, too -- until now, the White House has been playing mainly behind the scenes trying to coordinate the effort and get a bill the President could sign out of Congress. By waiting until now to let loose with the official statement of support, it looks like the White House is going for maximum impact on the final outcome without having spent too much political capital to get there.
And no, dealing with an onslaught of teabaggers in August does not count as "spending political capital."
Read the whole statement:
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act
(Rep. Dingell, D-Michigan, and 6 cosponsors)
The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a bill that represents a critical milestone in the effort to reform our health care system. H.R. 3962 will provide needed insurance reforms for Americans with insurance, expand coverage for those who do not have insurance, lower costs for families and businesses, and begin to reduce the Nation's deficit. It meets the President's criteria for health insurance reform: it assures that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care that is there when they need it and does so without adding a dime to the deficit.
This legislation is the product of unprecedented cooperation and countless hours of hard work by Members of the House of Representatives who share the President's conviction that the Nation cannot wait another year for health insurance reform. They have forged a strong consensus that represents an historic step forward.
The House legislation includes critical reforms to the insurance industry, so that Americans will no longer have to worry that they will be denied coverage, or that their coverage will be dropped or watered down when they need it most. It covers virtually all Americans and ensures that all Americans with health insurance are protected against high out-of-pocket spending. The Administration is pleased that the bill includes a public health insurance option offered in an exchange. As the President has said throughout this process, a public option that competes with private insurers is one of the best ways to ensure the choice and competition that are so badly needed in today's market.
The House bill also includes important health care delivery system reforms, and would extend the solvency of Medicare's hospital insurance trust fund. Its Medicare and Medicaid policies promote integrated care, quality care, and primary care. It invests in research on the most effective treatments, prevention, and the health care workforce. It also makes critical improvements for Medicare beneficiaries including closing the coverage gap in the Medicare drug benefit known as the donut hole. In addition, it provides new options for long-term care. Moreover, the House bill is fully paid for and will help to reduce the deficit in the long-term.
This bill provides the necessary health reforms that the Administration seeks - affordable, quality care within reach for the tens of millions of Americans who do not have it today, and stability and security for the hundreds of millions who do. The Administration appreciates the hard work of the House on this bill, which contributes to transforming the health care system. The Administration looks forward to continuing to work with the Congress on this legislation and urges quick action on this landmark bill. |
