DAILYKOS: Pelosi Is Going For Reconciliation On Health Reform!

[FourScore]

Pelosi Is Going For Reconciliation On Health Reform!
by slinkerwink
Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 09:38:48 AM PST

There's been a slew of diaries saying that Pelosi has given up on health care reform. That's not true.

She's considering going the reconciliation route.

It's Reconciliation (Update) »

By Michael McAuliff

A well-informed source tells The Mouth Nancy Pelosi is set to announce the House will go the reconciliation route on health care reform.

Of course, that means using a budgetary procedure that requires a simple majority to pass.

It’s still unclear to us precisely what that means would be passed, but possibilities would be creating a national health care exchange and expanding Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

Democrats are caucusing now, so stay tuned.

Update: A second source confirms that Pelosi is presenting a reconciliation plan to the caucus, and making sure they go with something that can actually pass.

Separately, she is meeting with Harry Reid today.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/01/its-reconciliation.html#ixzz0dGllA2KE

I don't think a national health care exchange can be created under reconciliation, but the public option, Medicare expansion and Medicaid expansion along with increase of subsidies and modification of the excise tax all can be done under reconciliation.

We must try this last chance to pass real health care reform by reconciliation. We do have 51 votes in the Senate. We can do this.

Will it be easy? No, but doing the right thing is never the easy thing to do. If you agree, please join us by signing our petition!

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO PUSH FOR RECONCILIATION! http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dFFRYkcyVjNhSWRBZ21SanpESEMtd2c6MA

Also, please help us give Democrats a goddamned backbone by calling Senator Reid's office and tell him to stand up FOR reconciliation!

CALL SENATOR REID AND PUSH FOR RECONCILIATION! http://reid.senate.gov/contact/offices.cfm

CALL THE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND PUSH FOR RECONCILIATION! http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Let the phones ring off the damn hooks all day long!

[gateley]

1. Pelosi has sure been stepping up to the plate regarding HCR - I'm impressed and grateful. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Interesting.

[11cents]

3. This story is from the am and says they "are caucusing now."

But it's now pm; the caucus has ended -- and reps who were there say that the leadership presented no plan and there's been no indication that a plan exists.

[Junkdrawer]

4. Reconciliation AFTER accepting the Senate Plan OR.....

Reconciliation as a new ground zero process?

Big Difference.

[mzmolly]

7. Ground zero. She said they will not pass the Senate bill as is.

eom

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Ground zero? Is that like back to square one?

The senate bill was just a big gift to insurance, with not much improvement in health.

Starting over is the right thing to do, but it's also playing into the Repug game.

:hi:

[mzmolly]

12. I don't agree that it was simply a gift to insurance companies.

I know that was Howard Dean's take, but I think he overstated things a bit. The legislation would have expanded medicaid and required companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions for starters.

I'm disappointed, but perhaps something more desirable will shake out of this in the end. :hi:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Yeah, I forgot about the pre-existing condition piece

that was a definite major plus.

The change to medicaid seemed to be some give, some take, and I don't pretend to understand it all, or know if it was a net plus or minus.

I just feel like Geraldo when he opened Al Capone's safe.

[drm604]

5. Let's hope. n/t

[HughMoran]

6. I like this approach

Fuck the Republicans and Blue Dogs.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they do it right.

[Javaman]

8. I refuse to get my hopes up anymore. Time and time again they have been dashed to bits. nt

[Tim01]

9. Can somebody explain to me, in little words, what this means.

Here is what I do know. The bill we have been looking at so far is not good, got rid of all the good stuff(like eliminating refusal for preexisting conditions), and retained a bunch of bad stuff(like forcing people to buy health insurance).

[Kingofalldems]

10. Uh oh, Is someone warming up the emoticons?

:shrug:

[Hekate]

13. This is Nancy going to the mat for us. If she loses, it won't be for lack of trying.

You go, girl.

Hekate

[uponit7771]

14. Yeah right, that'll make sense and help folk...