by mcjoan
Word is leaking out from the Hill about the Senate's HCR bill. The bill will be posted sometime this evening online at
democrats.senate.gov. In the meantime, these are the rough outlines that have appeared as various senators spoke with reporters after their caucus meeting this evening.
The bill comes in at $849 billion over the next ten years, and is projected to cut the budget deficit by $127 billion over 10 years and by $650 billion in the second decade; it will extend guaranteed coverage to more than 94% of Americans -- including a 31 million person reduction in the uninsured. (
Update: In a briefing now with leadership staff: the CBO numbers aren't the official score, just the initial report. The full score still isn't available.) It's not universal coverage, but it's what we're getting for now. The bill contains both an excise tax on high-value insurance plans and a 1.95% increase in the Medicare payroll tax for high-income earners. It also includes a public option with a state opt-out.
Now on to some of the key issues.
On Stupak,
The Hill reports that the bill "includes new language designed to prevent taxpayer money from financing abortions," according to Ben Nelson, who also said 'he received assurances that his concerns about abortion had been met." Pro-choice Senators, including Kerry, are supportive of what they've heard so far.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who supports abortion rights, said Reid's new provisions would preserve the Hyde amendment while enabling people to buy insurance plans with abortion coverage on the exchange.
"We're basically going to keep current law, which is what we ought to do," Kerry said after the Democratic caucus meeting.
In an e-mailed statement, Kirsten Gillibrand adds
"While this bill is not perfect, the anti-choice measure that was included in the House bill is not contained in the Senate bill. The House's Stupak amendment would have resulted in grave risk to women and girls, particularly to low-income women. Denying a full range of reproductive services is not only discriminatory, but also dangerous, and puts the lives of women and girls at risk.
More details on financing comes from
Kent Conrad who talked numbers:
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) told reporters outside a caucus briefing that the bill includes a national public option with an opt-out provision for states, a tax on health insurance plans that exceed $8500 for individuals and $23,000 for families and language on abortion that does not go as far as Bart Stupak's amendment in the House. Conrad seemed supportive of the bill but would not fully commit to voting for it, saying he'd like to see amendments added.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, meanwhile, told reporters a cloture vote to bring the bill to the floor for debate (and amendments) is expected on Saturday.
more
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
