Final Vote For Health Care Reform Draws Closer

The Senate passed a second cloture vote for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act early Tuesday morning, bringing the legislation to reform the U.S. health care system significantly closer to its final vote.

The vote, which adhered to party lines, was 60-39, with Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) as the only abstaining Senator.

The first of three cloture votes took place 1:00 am Monday morning and passed by 60-40. The final procedural vote to end debate over the legislation is expected Wednesday.

Senate Rejects Controversial Abortion Amendment

The Senate tabled an amendment to health care reform legislation that would offer specific language to bar federal subsidies for abortion following a 54 to 45 vote early Tuesday evening.

The amendment was a key factor in securing the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who proposed the amendment with the support of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

Last Friday, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said it was unlikely the amendment would pass, but that the Senate would pursue an alternative provision to ensure votes from Nelson and other pro-life Democrats.

With support from Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the only Republican Senator to approve passing a draft of the legislation through the Finance Committee, unlikely, Senate Democratic leadership will need to deliver the votes of all 60 Democrats and left-leaning independents to pass the legislation.

A similar amendment in the House health care bill proposed by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) was approved by 240-194 vote.

Senate Democrats Say Prevention Essential For Health Care Reform

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

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Tom Udall (D-NM) said Wednesday that health care reform legislation must include extensive measures to promote wellness and prevention.

“As I have said many times... we currently do not have a health care system in America, we have a sick care system,” Harkin said.

The Iowa Senator explained that simply treating illness after diagnosis is much more costly than using the same money to promote preventative treatment.

“Our aim is to recreate America as a genuine wellness society, a society focused on healthy lifestyle and preventing the chronic diseases that take suck a toll on our bodies and our budgets,” Harkin said.

Both Harkin and Udall have been long time advocates of promoting prevention, claiming that for every dollar invested in wellness, several dollars used for expensive treatments are saved.

“Our current system is clearly broken and unsustainable. We really have a disease management system,” Udall said. “We really must get out in front of these diseases.”

Harkin maintained during the press conference that both the Senate and House bills will be done and in conference by Christmas.

Joe Wilson Announces Amendment To Force Congress To Use Public Option

By Ravi Bhatia, Talk Radio News Service

If the public option on health care is viable and sustainable for the American people, then members of Congress and the Senate should sacrifice their own federal health benefits and use it themselves, said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and other House Republicans Wednesday.

“If this government-run plan is so good, why don’t members of Congress take the plan?” asked Wilson, during a press conference promoting an amendment to the Affordable Health Care For All Americans Act requiring all members of the House and Senate subscribe to the public insurance option offered by the legislation.

While Wilson admittedly does not support the public option, the proposed amendment is being interpreted as a way to make a point to Wilson's Democratic colleagues.

“We know why the majority of the 'Pelosi takeover bill' does not provide this,” Wilson continued. “They do know that the government-run option will not be in the interest of the American people, either individually or for the American citizens at large. I’m just very hopeful that they’ll reconsider, that they will understand if it’s good enough for the American people, it’s good enough for Congress.”

Wilson added that the House is “shoving this bill through.”

Wilson went on to say that the House is “shoving this bill through.”

“Speaker Pelosi still has not informed us about what the amendment process will be for this bill,” Wilson said in a statement released Wednesday. “An issue as important as a health care overhaul that will impact every American is much too important through rush through without transparency or a democratic amendment process.”

Wilson garnered controversy when he shouted the phrase "you lie" during President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress in September.

Pelosi: Robust Public Option Is Not Dead

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

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) denounced reports that said she did not have enough votes for a “robust” public option Friday, saying the vote count has not been finalized and that any speculation about it is premature.

Pelosi’s comments came in response to an article published by Politico Friday morning in which Mike Allen reported that the Speaker had counted the votes and come up short on votes for a plan that included the plan.

“By no means is the count complete or has any decision been made,” Pelosi said in response during a press conference Friday.

The speaker did say that a robust public option is not the only way the bill could go and that conversations about the public option have begun to include discussions of a weaker version.

“At the end of the day we will have a public option in our legislation,” Pelosi said.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said that there has not been a count as to which version of the public option will be in the bill, but noted that developments in the Senate to possibly include a public option has given the House more flexibility.

“We are trying to inform our members of what we are trying to do, and we are trying to find out which one of these approaches will best suit the most people,” Clyburn said.