11-3-09 Will there be a health care bill on Obama’s desk before 2010?
The House is scheduled to bring their bill to the floor for a final vote this week, but some Democrats still have some issues with two relatively small portions of the bill. The House Democrats hope to begin debating the nearly 2,000 page bill (H.R.3962 – Affordable Health Care for America Act) by this Friday, November 6, and finish before Veteran’s Day, November 11. However, the two issues still being discussed may delay things significantly.
The bill specifies that federal dollars are not to be used to fund abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger. However, it also includes subsidies to help individuals pay for health insurance premiums, and some Democrats want clearer language in the bill specifying that these federal funds are not to be used to cover abortion procedures, and that the “public option” plan not cover abortion at all.
Also, while the Senate bill would prevent illegal immigrants from purchasing health insurance on the federal health insurance exchange, the issue is still being debated in the House.
In other troubling news for the House Democrats, the Congressional Budget Office’s preliminary analysis of the bill states that the bill’s public insurance plan would be likely to attract a less healthy pool of enrollees, resulting in higher premiums than private plans.
As for the Senate, continuing debate, delays at the Congressional Budget Office, and scheduled holiday vacation time could keep the Senate health care bill from a final vote until early 2010. Next year’s elections could add more complications to an already complex process.
Sources:
Associated Press – 2 tough health care issues remain in the House
Associated Press – House health bill totals $1.2 trillion
Congressional Budget Office Analysis
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/106xx/doc10688/hr3962Rangel.pdf
Publico – Health bill could slip into next year
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=B7C31D98-18FE-70B2-A80086FC559A7056
