Health Care and Sausage

You know the old adage – making law is like making sausage. The process is a little messier and more complicated than it looks.

President Obama is committed to passing health care reform that lowers costs, protects choice and expands access to quality, affordable care -- and making it happen by the end of the year. The interim goal is to pass legislation in the House and Senate before Congress goes into recess on August 8th.

Five Congressional committees (three in the House – Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, Education & Labor; and two in the Senate – HELP and Finance) have jurisdiction over health care legislation. Given all the moving pieces and how quickly things are moving it can be difficult to keep track of where the legislation is in each committee, and what it means for the overall process.

Here’s a quick primer on what our Democratic Congressional leaders are working to do before the August recess:

In the House

- The three House committees with jurisdiction have released a "tri-committee" version of their legislation. Mark-ups (debating, amending, rewriting the legislation) in each committee are expected to begin next Monday.

- The full House is expected to vote on its version of the bill before the August recess.

Key players: Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, Education & Labor Committee members, Chairman of Energy & Commerce Henry Waxman (CA), Chairman of Ways & Means Charlie Rangel (NY), Chairman of Education & Labor George Miller (CA).

In the Senate

- The Senate HELP Committee released its version of the bill late last week. They are currently in “mark up”.

- The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release its version of their bill as early as this week, and start its own “mark up” process as early as next week.

- Its expected that the HELP and Finance Committees will combine their versions of the bill, and bring one bill to the floor for a full Senate vote before the August recess.

Key players: HELP and Finance Committee members, Chairman of HELP Ted Kennedy (MA), Senator Chris Dodd (CT), Chairman of Finance Max Baucus (MT).

Once the House and Senate have passed their versions of health care reform legislation, Congressional leaders will work to create a combined version of the bill -- if the schedule above holds, this is the step that will happen during August recess.

Have you told your Congressional leaders where you stand? Have you signed a declaration in support of President Obama’s three principles? Have you shared your personal health care story? We've talked about health care reform for more than 50 years, now it's within our reach. Do your part to make it happen.

Comments (4) «

To be sure, we are behind, and will be behind for some time...But we do not intend to stay behind, and in this decade, we shall make up and move ahead...

But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall...do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out--then we must be bold.

John F. Kennedy Moon Speech - Rice Stadium
September 12, 1962

Yes, we can...be bold again. We must be bold. Don't tell me we can't be bold. When did we start listening to those who say we can't be bold?

We have 51 votes. We could go to the moon again with 51 votes. All we are asking for is affordable health care for all with a public option that will keep the costs down. How bold is that?

Just do it.

1

SandyH on July 7, 2009 at 11:45 PM

"President Obama is committed to passing health care reform that lowers costs, protects choice and expands access to quality, affordable care --"

"for all" where is the "for all", it seems to be dropped a lot until someone mentions that it is missing. Obama wants health care "for all"

There is NO COMPROMISING this point. The American People want access to quality, affordable CARE "FOR ALL".

2

TMH on July 8, 2009 at 04:05 PM

TMH,

I stand corrected.

3

SandyH on July 8, 2009 at 07:17 PM

What about single payer? In order to get 100% coverage, that's the only way! Not to mention it will truly make the market king for health care. Every health care provider will be "in net", the bad ones will lose business due to poor word of mouth advertising. That's the market at work!

4

AliV on August 5, 2009 at 04:52 PM

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