Saturday night, the Senate voted to proceed on the debate on S. 1796, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Due to Senate rules, a filibustered bill must receive 60 votes for 30 hours of debate to proceed on it, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was able to line up his caucus against a united Republican caucus to get the 60 votes necessary for the motion to pass. As it currently stands, the Senate is scheduled to consider a series of amendments and debate the legislation with the majority hoping to pass the legislation before the end of December, but that schedule is very fluid.
Some major political issues remain before the bill can be passed. Although all 58 Democratic and two Democratic-leaning Senators voted on the motion to proceed, some Democratic Senators expressed public opposition to some components of the legislation as currently written. A major sticking point is the inclusion of an “opt-out” public option; while Senators such as Lieberman (I-CT) and Lincoln (D-AR) have expressed opposition to a strong public plan, other Senators such as Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have said they will vote against any bill with a public option any weaker than the one already in the bill. And with no Republicans expected to vote for the bill, the majority needs every Democratic vote, or a few Republican defectors, to pass the bill over a filibuster.
Politico outlines some of the major controversies surrounding the bill.
ASAE has also outlined the major provisions of both S. 1796 and the House comprehensive health care reform bill.
Quick Hits
Lawmakers react to the new mammogram guidelines recommended by the USPSTF (Power of A post on association response seen here)… The face of the turkey industry association on Capitol Hill is profiled in Roll Call (subscription)… The American Association of Suicidology is working with local transit systems on an increase in subway-related suicides… The White House is asking nonprofits, as well as media networks and for-profit companies, to promote science and math to school children.
