Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid acknowledged Thursday that his chamber is unable to pass health-care reform before its August recess, a move that highlighted internal Democratic divisions on the legislation and is likely to result in significant changes to the shape of the final bill.
The Aug. 7 deadline that President Obama set for House and Senate leaders to move their versions of reform served as a vital tool for congressional leaders in minimizing dissent as the $1 trillion package moved through five committees. But with their hopes of reaching that target date slipping in recent days, a torrent of complaints and concerns began to surface.
The comments by Reid (D-Nev.) confirmed the growing consensus on Capitol Hill that the White House’s fast-track approach has failed, and that a more plodding and contentious process has taken hold. Not only would the Senate not meet Obama’s timeline for passing a bill, but across the Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was struggling to quell an uprising by conservative Democrats that had brought House action to a near halt.
When Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee met Thursday morning and raised doubts about the bill coming through their panel. Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) questioned new Medicare formulas that could penalize high-cost states such as his. Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla.), who represents millions of elderly constituents, also expressed doubts about Medicare cuts that could add up to $500 billion over 10 years. Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (W.Va.) lambasted the panel’s tentative decision to support the creation of member-run cooperatives rather than the government insurance plan that he and many other Democrats prefer.
Health Reform Deadline In Doubt Process Could Be Slow And More Contentious – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/23/AR2009072303929.html