Numerous issues must be resolved — including the role of government in the new insurance market and abortion restrictions.
Jubilant Democrats locked in Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson as the 60th and decisive vote for historic health care legislation Saturday, putting President Barack Obama’s signature issue firmly on a path for Christmas Eve passage.
Atthe White House, Obama swiftly welcomed the breakthrough, saying,”After a nearly century-long struggle, we are on the cusp of making health care reform a reality in the United States of America.” (1)
In the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reidsmiled broadly when asked if Nelson’s decision gave him the 60-votemajority necessary to overcome solid Republican opposition. “Seems thatway,” he said. The Nevada Democrat agreed to a series of concessions onabortion and other issues demanded by Nelson in daylong talks onFriday, then informed Obama of the agreement in a late night phone callas the president flew home from climate talks in Copenhagen.
The Congressional Budget Officesaid the Senate bill would extend coverage to more than 30 millionAmericans who lack it. It also imposes new regulations to curb abusesof the insurance industry, and the president noted one last-minuteaddition would impose penalties on companies that “arbitrarily jack upprices” in advance of the legislation taking effect.
(1) Don’t be fooled by the reported cost estimates. The Senate and Housebills use budget gimmicks and unrealistic formulas to make theirproposals fit under the $900 billion limit put forth by the President.
As history has proven, government health care programs end up costingmuch more than first promised. When fully implemented with taxes andsubsidies combined, the real 10 year cost of the Senate bill would bearound $2.5 trillion.
LINK: An Analysis of the Senate Democrats’ Health Care Bill
LINK: Illegal Aliens And The New Health Care Bill