Fifth Freedom » 1-5-10 Congress to play “ping-pong” with health care bill

1-5-10 Congress to play “ping-pong” with health care bill

While the Fifth Freedom offices were closed for the holidays, the Senate passed its health care bill, just barely. The bill passed with 60 votes, just enough to avoid a possible Republican filibuster. Many Republicans are alleging that some Senators votes were “purchased” with special favors for their states:

Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana was reportedly given $300 million in extra assistance for Medicaid recipients in her state. According to CBS News, it was originally reported that the deal was only $100 million, but Landrieu “bragged” that it was actually $300 million.

Senator Bill Nelson added an amendment to the bill that would exclude Medicare Advantage members in Florida from future cuts, which some sources estimate at $5 billion for his state.

The final holdout, Senator Ben Nelson, allegedly made a deal with Democratic leadership specifying that, in exchange for his vote, Medicaid expansion in Nebraska would be paid for entirely with federal funds, instead of a combination of state and federal funding, as in the rest of the country.

Of course, allegations of “pork” in congressional bills are common, and GOP leadership has also been accused of “buying” votes. In 2004, then-Republican Majority Leader Tom Delay was formerly admonished by Congress for offering to endorse retiring Representative Nick Smith’s son in his bid for his father’s seat, in exchange for his vote on the Republican Medicare bill.

Now that both houses have passed a bill, what happens next?

The Senate and the House have to reconcile the differences between the two bills, and pass a “merged” version to send on to President Obama’s desk. These differences could be negotiated through formal conferences, but this process would require multiple procedural votes, making it a lengthy process. Instead, Democrats are much more likely to ping-pong the bill. “Ping-pong” is the informal name for sending a bill back and forth between both chambers of Congress, where differences between the House and Senate bills are worked out in informal, closed-door meetings.

Why ping-pong? The answer depends upon who you ask.

Opponents of the health care bill are likely to view it as an attempt to shut Republicans out of the debate, and to prevent the general public from observing the end of the legislative process, as the bill continues to be changed and amended.

Proponents of the bill are likely to view it as simply an attempt to speed things along, avoiding legislative hurdles that would further delay what has already been a lengthy legislative process, and to avoid filibusters or other procedural problems from Republicans like Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has already vowed to continue the “fight… to stop this bill from becoming law.”

The Democrats are hoping to finish their game of ping-pong and have a bill on President Obama’s desk before his State of the Union address in early February.

Sources & More Information:

Slate – The Tom Delay Scandals

http://www.slate.com/id/2116392/

Politico – Payoffs for States Get Harry Reid 60 Votes

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30815.html

CBS News – Tallying the Health Care Bill’s Giveaways

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/21/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6006838.shtml

CBS News – Senate Deal: Compromise or Corruption?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/21/eveningnews/main6007678.shtml

CBS News – Senate Health Bill Faces Constitutional Criticism

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/05/taking_liberties/entry6056342.shtml

The Hill – House Democrats Posed to Pass on Formal Conference