On Saturday, the House passed its version of a health care reform bill. The vote was 220-215, a relatively narrow margin for a body with 258 Democrats.
Although this is a major step forward for Obama’s proposed health care reform, things are still looking grim for the Democrats. This week, Senate majority leader Harry Reid admitted that a health care bill may not come anywhere near to passage before 2010 – which is something of an understatement, considering that Lieberman has recently said he would not support cloture on the bill.
The consequences of the health care reform debate stretching into the new year would be dire.
Many of the same things that were said about the Clinton bill in 1993 – that it is too long and complicated, that it will cost too much, that it amounts to a government takeover of health care – are being said of both the Senate and the House versions of the bill. Drumming up fear about big government in America is like shooting fish in a barrel.
Giving the bill’s political opponents and the health care industry (who, since the introduction of a public option, has been vehemently opposed to the reform they once ostensibly supported) an entire December recess to pick apart the bill would drastically weaken public support, much like the famous “Harry and Lousie” ads contributed to the demise of the Clinton bill 16 years ago.
The blue dog Democrats are also going to get more and more nervous as the midterm elections approach.
The closer it gets to November 2010, the more dodgy the blue dogs are going to be about supporting anything as solidly liberal as health care reform. Mustering the Senate Democrats is already a Herculean task for Reid – come 2010, it may well be impossible.
And the saddest part of this is without the passage of some sort of health care reform, the embattled Democrats with more conservative constituencies don’t stand a chance at re-election.
Their bases will be disappointed and turn out in low numbers, the moderates will be upset that they haven’t done anything, and the conservatives won’t vote for them anyway.
The closer it gets to the December recess without the passage of health care reform, the more it looks like 1994, when the Clinton health care bill was finally killed by the Democrats losing their majority in both houses.
The only real chance they have is to water down the bill enough to get the centrist Democrats on board soon. That very well may not be enough, given that Lieberman seems to be taking his talking points straight from the health care industry and has suddenly turned on the bill.
Even if all 58 Democrats in the Senate and one of the independents supported health care, Reid would still be one very important vote short of being able to break a Republican filibuster.
Thanks to the inability of the Democratic Party to act as a unit, and despite the passage of a bill in the House, the likelihood of any sort of comprehensive health care reform is looking as far away as ever.
Unless something changes, and changes quickly, Democrats may have to wait another 16 years before they have this chance again.
The Oklahoma Daily is pleased to provide you the opportunity to share your thoughts about this article. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or straying from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of OUDaily.com. Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Register
TheJeff 2 years, 6 months ago
If they want to pass health care, both parties are going to have to get over themselves. Saturday's Democratic victory was just that, a democratic victory. It was a partisan moment that does nothing for the American people, and in the long run, nothing even for Democratic goals. While they have many good ideas (Some regulation, interstate competition), their fixation on a few horrible ideas (a "Public Option", taxing health care to make health care affordable) will probably bring reform down and alienate the American people. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail, and maybe we'll actually see a little change, and they'll offer sensible reform.
Cambrian 2 years, 6 months ago
As someone who had a very hard time getting a private insurance company to cover me and my wife's pre-existing conditions, I am thrilled that the House has finally passed a healthcare reform bill. I was glued to the TV Saturday night watching the vote with intensity and let out a cheer when the bill finally passed.
I think the Senate can and will pass a healthcare bill before December. The senate Democrats really only need 51 votes for the bill, a number they certainly already have. The way they beat the filibuster is through the reconciliation process where they push the Republicans out of the process. I think this will be done once it is clear that there is no other choice, and I hope it is done.
America needs healthcare reform immediately. The chance for bipartisanship is long over.
FCWood 2 years, 6 months ago
Reform to the insurance policies are needed, but a public option is not. Do you really want a government that can't manage Social Security trying to manage a health care plan? Does that make any sense?
Even if we can pay for the plan now, will we be able to in 20, 30, or 40 years? Social Security was originally manageable, too.
I would much prefer a government that legislates laws rather than manages public insurance policies. The Federal government already has enough to manage as it is (the military, social security, the deficit, etc).
The government has very little incentive to keep the country in the black. Hence why we remain so far in debt.