Pres. Obama to Reaffirm Strong Commitment to Comprehensive HCR

[berni_mccoy]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/obama-will-reaffirm-strong-commitment-to-comprehensive-reform-white-house-tells-hill-staff/

Okay, this could reassure some folks who are hoping Obama will make a strong stand on health care tonight.

White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer told Capitol Hill staffers on a private briefing call that in his speech tonight, Obama will leave no doubt that his commitment to addressing health care is as strong right now as it was in his September speech, a White House official tells me.

The official also said Pfeiffer told Hill staff that Obama will offer “additional details.”

“We’re going to let the President’s words speak for themselves,” is the message Pfeiffer delivered to Hill staff, according to the official. “There will be additional details that he will share tonight, and he will make it clear that his commitment to addressing this challenge in a comprehensive way is as strong today as it was when he stood in the same spot in September to address the nation on health care.”

There had been some talk that Obama might call for a scaled-down approach tonight. Others wondered whether he would give the issue short shrift. But both of those possibilities seem unlikely, given what Pfeiffer is telling Hill staff.

As for how strongly Obama will signal is preferred way forward on reform, the devil will obviously be in the “additional details” he offers. But if his speech does in fact reaffirm his commitment to comprehensive reform as strongly as his September speech did, that could reassure a lot of people.

If they are setting expectations like this, I hope the plan is for the Senate to use reconciliation, and I hope at least 51 Senate Dems are on board with it.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. Unless I hear him say --

"Any bill that is sent to me must include an affordable Public Option open to every American who wishes to join (or Medicare for All)", I am just not interested. :shrug:

[bluethruandthru]

13. +1000

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Reconciliation to pass WHAT?

50 votes plus Biden for WHAT? Reconciliaton is a whole new ball game. If they are going to make that fight they damn well better do it for something worthwhile, not just some bill that was originally molded with an eye to please the likes of Lieberman, Nelson, and Snowe.

[berni_mccoy]

I'm assuming whatever the House Democrats agree to.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Yes, but that just kicks the question down the road

And it doesn't let the Senate Dems off the hook since even Reids original attempt to pass a Senate bill included a Public Option and then an expanded Medicare buy in, and that was when he was acting on the premise that he needed 50 votes. What is the Senate position now in negotiations?

[kjackson227]

3. I hope this is true because I'm getting more than a little impatient...

for HCR. I'm ready for more action.

[Donnachaidh]

4. do those closed door agreements have a timetable?

I'll bet Big Pharma and Big Insurance is chomping at the bit about subsidies..... :eyes:

[aquart]

6. "Comprehensive" means squat.

It's a weasel word.

[berni_mccoy]

7. Saying a word means "squat"

is a weasel response.

[leftstreet]

8. Same with "affordable" or "universal"

Campaign buzz words

[yurbud]

9. strong commitment to another insurance company written bill?

no thanks.

[inna]

10. bs. -1

[berni_mccoy]

11. I'll look forward to what you have to say if you are wrong.

[choie]

12. that and 50 cents...

n/t