Reid: Jobs Bill Will Reach Senate Floor Monday

By Monique Cala University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Legislation aimed at boosting job creation will reach the Senate floor Monday, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

“For Senate Democrats, creating jobs is job number one,” said Reid during a press conference Thursday

Reid, along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.) presented the ‘Democratic Jobs Agenda.' The three page agenda lacks detail, but outlines tax incentives for businesses that hire new employees and provide greater access to credit through lending programs.

“We support programs to help small businesses more easily access the credit they need to expand and hire more workers, to export their products to foreign markets and to create a Small Business Lending Pool to help community banks more quickly lend to small businesses,” according to the text of the agenda.

In reference to losing a Democratic seat to Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown, Schumer said that Democrats have "heard the message of Massachusetts."

“The message wasn't 'don’t do health care.' More than half the people polled said they liked health care and we should do it,” said Schumer. Instead, Schumer said, the message was to "focus immediately on jobs, the economy, helping the middle class.”

“This is a good faith offering on the Democratic side. We are inviting our friends on the Republican side to join us. Bring your best ideas forward,” said Durbin. “Let’s put these on the floor and move on them with a sense of urgency. It is of highest priority of the people of this country. It should be the highest priority in the Senate.”

Big Win For Democrats: Senate Votes To Allow Debate On Health Bill

By Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

After a long week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) received the 60 votes he was looking for as the Senate voted 60-39 on Saturday night to begin debate on H.R. 3590, "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act".

"We can see the finish line now but we're not there, we have yet crossed that and that's an understatement. We have the momentum that will keep this moving," said Reid after the Senate vote. "I really do believe this is a historic time in our country's history...We are going to get health care reform."

Reid gave high praise for his colleagues on both the Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees in working out the many issues that have arisen within the 2,074 page bill.

“We know that not all 100 Senators agree on where we go from here. We know not all 60 Senators in my caucus agree on every aspect of this bill. But, all Democrats do believe now is the time to make sure all Americans can access affordable health insurance," said Reid.

The Nevada Democrat also acknowledged that Saturday's vote, which no Republican voted in favor of, still needs work, but is looking forward to extensive debate when the Senate reconvenes on November 30.

Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) was the only Senator not to vote.

Republican Leaders Say "No" To Public Option

By Leah Valencia - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) spoke out against a public option Wednesday saying that a government-owned and operated insurance plan would create debt and put private insurers out of business.

“It is not a time for a trillion dollar experiment in government health care, now is a time to buckle down financially and to find common sense reforms in the areas of health care,” McConnell said.

He said that including a public option, or government-run health insurance plan, will make it impossible for private insurers to compete.

“The option [Democrats] are advocating will soon be the only option, the others will simply fade away,” McConnell said. “Private health plans would fade away because a government-run plan would use the deep pockets of the federal government to set artificially low prices.”

Republican opposition to healthcare reform has stiffened since Monday when Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the Senate health care bill would include a public option with an opt-out provision.

GOP leaders have said they will filibuster the bill, leaving Democrats with the challenge of coming up with 60 votes.

Hoyer: House Health Care Bill Could Be Rolled Out This Week

By Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday that there is a possibility the House will introduce its health care bill by the end of this week.

“That’s our objective because we want to consider this bill next week. And we’ve pledged to give 72 hours notice so we need to roll out the bill this week,” Hoyer said.

Regarding the inclusion of a public option in the bill, Hoyer said he still believes the tax-payer funded insurance plan is critically important to bring health care prices down and to ensure access for all Americans, but added it is "just one component of a very comprehensive bill.”

Hoyer also said that he is pleased with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) announcement yesterday that the Senate bill will contain an opt-out version of the public option plan.

“I think our bill will be somewhat different on public option, but we are very pleased that Senator Reid is now talking about a form of public option,” Hoyer said.

Rockefeller Says He Defended CHIP, Supports Public Option With Opt-In Clause

By Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

On Monday Senate Finance Committee member and Chairman of the Finance Committee on Health Care Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said he believes that his committee's bill is nowhere near perfect, but is significantly better than the “status quo.”

“I’ve made no secret to the fact that we could’ve dug deeper, we could’ve gotten a lot more creative and we could’ve worked together much better, but the Gods were not leaning in that direction,” Rockefeller said of the America's Healthy Future Act of 2009.

The Democrat from West Virginia expressed content over the fact that the committee successfully defended the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Children’s Medicaid. He revealed that on the last day of the committee’s mark up of the bill, Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) asked him to withdraw the CHIP amendment.

“The Chairman came up to me and actually asked me to withdraw the amendment, which I found most extraordinary,” said Rockefeller, “I refused to, and so we prevailed because the amendment speaks so strongly for itself,” he added.

Rockefeller said he does believe that a final, comprehensive reform bill will pass the Senate, adding that a public option is the only way to keep insurance companies “honest.”

Rockefeller said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is going to do the “best he can” while molding the two Senate health care bills together. Reid is expected to announce later today his intention to vie for a public option that would include a provision to allow individual states to opt-out.

“I believe that the merged bill will have a strong public option, my guess is that it will be an opt-out,” Rockefeller said, adding that he would prefer the opt-out plan over an opt-in.

In addition, he said there is no need for a trigger for a public option. He believes a public option will keep insurance companies competitive and will cover those who cannot afford private insurance, rendering a trigger option needless.

Rockefeller closed by saying, “We have a long way to go on all of this.”