Path clears for House to OK compromise health bill

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091030/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul

They may not like it, but many House liberals look ready to accept a compromise health care bill, putting Democratic leaders well on the way to delivering on President Barack Obama's call for overhaul.

After claiming for months they couldn't vote for a bill without the strongest possible government-run insurance option, liberals are putting aside their disappointment over the weaker version in the legislation for a historic chance to remake America's medical system.

"The current language is far weaker than what I would have preferred, and I think that is also true of the Progressive Caucus," Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, said Friday. "But because I did not come up here to participate in gridlock and acrimony, I have told leadership that I am willing to compromise."

Obama privately told House liberals they should chalk up a win.

(snip)
The bill includes a new public insurance plan that would pay providers and hospitals rates negotiated by the Health and Human Services secretary. Liberals had pushed for payment rates to be tied to Medicare, which they argued would mean lower costs to consumers and the federal government. But moderates' concerns that those lower rates would hurt hospitals and other providers in their districts prevailed, even though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had backed the Medicare-based version.

[ProleNoMore]

1. Sold Out Once Again - Progressives Warned All That This Would Happen

eom

[DJ13]

2. Path clears for House to OK compromised health bill

All it took was a (d) added to it.

[frebrd]

4. Exactly!

:(

[derby378]

3. Compromise will get you nothing but trouble, caucuses...

You thought the teabaggers were bad? Be prepared to face millions of pissed-off progressives and liberals.

[bluestateguy]

5. My guess is that they will tack on the Senate opt-out provision in conference committee

No comment from me on the merits of that. I need some time to think about it.

[Kermitt Gribble]

6. They sure put on a good show.

Too bad all we ever get is strong talk, then caving. How many actual representatives do we have in congress? You could probably count them on one hand.