Democrats optimistic on health bill vote

Mar 13, 2010 — The Boston Globe

By Matt Viser

Mar. 13, 2010 (The Boston Globe delivered by Newstex) --

WASHINGTON - In a sign of renewed determination and increased momentum, House leaders said yesterday that they are nearing an agreement on health care and could vote within the next week after a year of debate and months of delays.

President Obama postponed an overseas trip yesterday to try to rally both the public and Congress down the final stretch after House and Senate leaders responded to his call for a swift up-or-down vote. He is planning to make another campaign-style appearance next week, this time in Ohio, to continue pitching his proposal.

``I'm delighted that the president will be here for the passage of the bill,'' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a news conference yesterday. ``It's going to be historic.''

Pelosi said votes on health care could be scheduled within the next week.

Although it remained unclear whether Democrats had enough votes, the House would be attempting to pass the version that the Senate approved several months ago. The House and Senate would then attempt to approve negotiated changes in a separate bill.

As Democrats accelerate in a final push on health care, Republicans are turning to their newest congressional member, Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts, to help apply the brakes.

``For more than a year now, we have seen a bitter, destructive, and endless drive to completely transform America's health care system,'' Brown said in a highly charged Republican response to be aired this morning after Obama's weekly address.

Brown, who was a state senator representing Wrentham when the health care bill began to take shape a year ago, was tapped by Republican leaders to give the address at a key time in the debate. He had used his opposition to the health care proposal in an upset victory to take the seat of one of its key backers, the late Edward M. Kennedy.

In his address, Brown attacks the Democrats' plan in some of his strongest, most partisan language since taking office last month.

``I haven't been here very long, but I can tell you this much already: Nothing has distracted the attention and energy of the nation's capital more than this disastrous detour,'' Brown says in the 5 1/2-minute video and radio address, with a US flag and bookcase behind him.

``And the surest way to return to the people's business is to listen to the people themselves: We need to drop this whole scheme of federally controlled health care.''

Because Brown's victory in January gave Senate Republicans the 41 votes they need to sustain a filibuster, Democrats are trying to approve their plan using a complicated budget reconciliation process. The procedure, which is not subject to filibusters, has been used nearly two dozen times before - including many times by Republicans - but Brown and others argue it has never been attempted for such a sweeping piece of legislation.

``They pledged a true bipartisan effort,'' Brown says. ``Instead, they have resorted to bending the rules, and they now intend to seize control of health care in America on a strict party-line vote.''

President Obama this morning is also expected to discuss health care.

``We've been talking about this for more than a year,'' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at a news briefing yesterday. ``I think the president wants, members of Congress want, a vote as soon as possible that will lead to improved health care for millions of Americans.''

Pelosi said yesterday that final details were still being worked out on the measure that would revise the Senate bill, but it would include several of the over-arching points outlined last month by Obama. Those are expected to include closing a gap in coverage for Medicare prescription drugs, increasing subsidies for families who cannot afford insurance, and providing more money to states, including Massachusetts, that provide additional Medicaid benefits.

The Democrats also decided to incorporate changes in student aid into the supplemental bill. The measure would require the government to originate student loans, ending the role of private lenders.

Obama proposed transferring the savings into the Pell Grants program. That addition is popular with many House members, including several who have been undecided on health care, but was denounced by the GOP yesterday.

``Well of course it's a very bad idea,'' said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. ``We now have the government running banks, insurance companies, car companies, and they do want to take over the student loan business.''

Republicans also reiterated they're ready, from their leader to their newest member, to thwart the Democrats.

``We're proud that Senator Brown agreed to deliver the radio address this week, because he's effectively communicated the real concerns Americans have about forcing through health legislation that our nation doesn't want, and can't afford, when we should be talking about jobs,'' said John Ashbrook, spokesman for McConnell.

Brown has taken an unusual and outsized public role for a newly elected senator. He has tried to cast himself as a new consensus-builder who can get the wheels in Washington to move.

In his remarks this morning, however, Brown directly criticized Obama in his sharpest tone yet. Previously, Brown had only lightly tweaked Obama, mostly for disparaging Brown's truck in the final days of the special election campaign.

``Maybe you remember what President Obama promised in his State of the Union address,'' Brown said.

``He said he was going to finally focus on jobs and the economy for the remainder of this year. I applauded him for that. Well, here it is, it's almost spring. And what is he out there talking about again? That same 2,700-page, multitrillion dollar health are legislation.''

Brown also said the Democrats have not been open enough during the health care debate.

``For many members of Congress, the time for choosing is near - do what the party leadership demands, or do what the people have asked you to do,'' Brown says. ``If my colleagues don't mind some advice from a newcomer, I'd suggest going with the will of the people.''

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.

Newstex ID: BGL-1035-42851634