Posted on 12/19/2009 8:52:28 PM PST by socialismisinsidious
Abortion Deal In Sight In Senate Healthcare Negotiations [It's Over! Boxer "Optimistic" on 60 Votes]
LATimes ^ | December 18th 2009
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 1:12:50 AM by Steelfish
Abortion Deal In Sight In Senate Healthcare Negotiations Barbara Boxer is 'optimistic' about reaching 60 votes after all-day talks with Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic holdout Ben Nelson. The GOP redoubles threats to slow business to a crawl.
By Janet Hook and Noam N. Levey December 18, 2009
Reporting from Washington - With a critical vote looming this weekend, Senate Democratic negotiators closed in Friday night on a deal to persuade a lone Democratic holdout -- Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson -- to back the party's healthcare bill after a marathon day of negotiations.
Obamacare totters on the precipice
Examiner ^ | December 18, 2009 | Examiner Editorial
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 3:54:54 PM by RobinMasters
Obamacrats at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are peddling the notion that passage of Obamacare is a stone-cold inevitability. Don't believe it for a second, if for no other reason than the fact that nothing the Senate has done on its version of Obamacare in recent weeks actually amounts to a legislative hill of beans. All of the sound and fury about the latest "compromise" and amendments being introduced, then defeated or adopted, means nothing. In fact, if 60 senators showed up at noon on the Senate floor and demanded a final vote, it couldn't be done. There's no bill to vote on, never mind that it would have to clear multiple procedural hurdles first.
Senator Reports Progress in Talks on Health Bill
New York Times ^ | 12/19/09 | ROBERT PEAR and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 3:16:44 AM by malkee
Senator Ben Nelson, a pivotal figure in the health care debate, said Friday that he and Senate Democratic leaders had made “real progress” in negotiations on abortion that could clear the way for a Senate vote on sweeping health legislation.
Sen. Ben Nelson to announce support for health-care bill
The Washington Post ^ | December 19, 2009 | Shailagh Murray
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 9:27:36 AM by yoe
Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.), the final Democratic holdout on health care, was prepared to announce to his caucus Saturday morning that he would support the Senate reform bill, clearing the way for final passage by Christmas.
"We're there," said Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), as he headed into a special meeting to announce the deal.
Democrats Secure 60 Votes on Health Bill
The Wall Street Journal ^ | 12/19/09 | GREG HITT, PATRICK YOEST and JANET ADAMY
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 12:26:30 PM by GOP_Lady
WASHINGTON--Senate Democratic leaders said Saturday morning they have secured the 60 votes needed to ensure passage of health overhaul legislation after reaching agreement with Sen. Ben Nelson to address his concerns with the bill's handling of abortion.
"Every Democrat realized...we had to get it done," said Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat who helped broker the final deal.
How Obamacare Will Hurt Young People
Townhall.com ^ | December 19, 2009 | Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 6:53:10 AM by Kaslin
A detailed analysis of the Obama health care program now before the Senate indicates that it will force big premium increases for all families, especially for those under 30 years of age.
The study, by the consulting firm of Oliver Wyman, concludes that premiums for individuals will rise by $1,576 and $3,341 for families by under the bill. Young people will be hit the hardest. The study predicted that premiums for new health insurance policies purchased by the youngest third of the population would rise by 35 percent under the bill.
Reid 'Bribes' His Way to Last Vote for Healthcare; Nelson Caves
The New Media Journal ^ | Dec 19, 2009 | FOX News
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 10:48:03 AM by NewMediaJournal
With a self-imposed Christmas deadline at stake, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid engineered a last-minute compromise that has won the support of the lone Democratic holdout and clinched the required 60 votes to pass a sweeping overhaul of the US health care system.
Nelson Announces He Will Vote for Cloture and for Final Passage on Senate Health Care Bill - Video
Freedom's Lighthouse ^ | December 19, 2009 | Brian
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 11:07:23 AM by Federalist Patriot
Here is video of the statement Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson made this morning announcing that he will vote for cloture and for final passage on the Senate Health Care Bill. Nelson appears to be the crucial 60th vote the Democrats need to pass the bill. . . . (VIDEO)
Obama hails 60th Senate vote for health care
AP ^ | 12/19/09 | David Espo
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 4:55:17 PM by Jean S
WASHINGTON – Jubilant Democrats locked in Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson as the 60th and decisive vote for historic health care legislation Saturday, putting President Barack Obama's signature issue firmly on a path for Christmas Eve passage.
Jim Demint on Twitter, Vote set for Monday 1am on healthcare
http://twitter.com/JimDeMint ^
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 11:11:07 AM by ChicagoConservative27
We must keep fighting this. Keep calling, emailing, faxing your senator, the vote is scheduled for Monday at 1am
(Excerpt) Read more at twitter.com ...
While You Sleep: 1:00 AM Monday Vote Set on Obamacare (Obamacare procedural timeline)
The Heritage Foundation ^ | 12/19/2009
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 5:16:45 PM by GVnana
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has set the stage for a major vote Monday morning at 1:00 AM – one that would require the support of 60 Senators. That would, if all goes according to Senator Reid’s plan, set up a late-night Christmas Eve vote on final passage.
The Health Care Bill No One Can See
Pajamas Media ^ | Dec. 19 | Richard Pollock
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 12:17:40 PM by AJKauf
There was an air of unreality in the United States Senate when I entered the Capitol building on Wednesday to record some PJTV interviews. I sat down with five U.S. senators to discuss the imminent future of the long-embattled health care bill.
Manager’s Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (CBO)
CBO ^ | 12/19/09 | CBO
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 12:19:51 PM by TornadoAlley3
CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have released an analysis of the budgetary effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Senate Amendment 2786 in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 3590 (as printed in the Congressional Record on November 19, 2009), incorporating the effects of changes proposed in the manager’s amendment released earlier today. The estimate does not include the effects of other amendments adopted during the Senate’s consideration of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; it also does not reflect an incremental effect on PPACA from Congressional action on H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010, which was cleared earlier today. Throughout this blog entry, references to “the legislation” mean the act as originally proposed and incorporating the manager’s amendment.
CBO: Senate health bill costs $871 billion
The Hill ^
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 12:33:31 PM by Sub-Driver
CBO: Senate health bill costs $871 billion By Michael O'Brien - 12/19/09 12:00 PM ET
The Senate's healthcare bill would cost $871 billion and cover 31 million more Americans, according to the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of the bill.
The CBO said that the final legislation, unveiled Saturday by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, would cost $871 billion over the next 10 years and reduce the deficit by $132 billion over the same period. That's more than the first Senate bill had cost.
McConnell Says Dems Health Bill is an "Outrage Being Perpetrated on the American People" - Video
Freedom's Lighthouse ^ | December 19, 2009 | Brian
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 1:20:00 PM by Federalist Patriot
Here is video of GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell calling the Democrats' Senate Health Care Bill a "legislative train wreck." McConnell was reacting to news that Democrats now have the 60 votes to invoke cloture and move to a vote on final passage on the bill. They hope to do so on Christmas Eve.
ObamaCare’s a done deal: So here’s mapping out the road to repeal
northstarnational.com ^ | December 19th, 2009 | Dan Calabrese
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:09:21 PM by GonzoII
The road to repeal starts here.
Now that Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson has caved on his abortion-related objections and will vote for cloture, there’s not much left to do. ObamaCare, one of the worst bills ever to be considered by Congress, is going to pass and be signed into law.
National Organization for Women opposes Senate health bill
The Hill ^
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:17:42 PM by Sub-Driver
A leading women's group called on senators on Saturday to defeat its healthcare reform bill.
Healthcare Bribes--Who ARE These People, Anyway?
Columbia Conservative Examiner ^ | 12/19/09 | Anthony G. Martin
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:22:40 PM by Welshman007
Now that we know that the Democratic leadership in Congress and the Obama Administration have bribed Senator Ben Nelson into supporting the government takeover of healthcare, the question arises, who ARE these people, anyway?
Bernie Sanders gets funding for community health centers [BRIBE]
Politico ^ | 12-19-09 | Jake Sherman
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:42:06 PM by joinedafterattack
Bernie Sanders Payoff (bribe) cost $50 for every other man, woman, AND child. Why are 49 state taxpayers paying for this bribe. "A few days ago, Sen. Bernie Sanders was not on board with the emerging Senate bill saying, "I have real concerns." But Sanders sounded more upbeat about the prospects of supporting the bill this morning after he crowed about landing additional Medicaid funding for six years and $10 billion for community health centers."
BREAKING: Nelson To Vote For Healthcare In Exchange For Medicaid Payments To Nebraska
newsbusters ^ | December 19, 2009 | Noel Sheppard
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 5:09:47 PM by opentalk
Not that this will come as any great shock, but Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), the lone Democrat holdout against the current iteration of healthcare reform, announced Saturday he will vote for the bill.
Sen. Reid plays down Nelson Medicaid buy off
The Washington Times ^ | 12/19/09 | Kerry Picket
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 5:28:33 PM by paltz
The Washington Times reported last night Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) had told reporters no deal was agreed to after he emerged from a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and other Democratic leaders. He went on to say health care talks were ongoing. What he failed to mention, through all of his rhetoric about his concern for pro-life language in the bill, was the huge Medicaid pay off to Nebraska being slipped into the health care bill. Essentially, the federal government will pay for Nebraska's new Medicaid recipients. The provision is worth about $45 million for the first ten years. In fact, Nebraska will be entitled to 100 percent federal help from Medicaid forever.
Nelson's Price
The Weekly Standard ^ | December 19, 2009 | by John McCormack BR>
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 11:42:15 AM by MaestroLC BR>
Politico reports: BR>
Sen. Mary Landrieu got the "Louisiana Purchase." Sen. Ben Nelson got the federal government to pick up most his state's future Medicaid tab -- forever. BR>
As part of the deal to win Nelson's support, the federal government will fund Nebraska's new Medicaid recipients. It's a provision worth about $45 million over the first decade. BR>
Also from John McCormack... BR>
Nelson Agrees to Abortion Funding in at Least 13 States? BR>
To sway Nelson, a hard-won compromise on abortion issue
Washington Post ^ | 12.20.09 | Paul Kane
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 10:51:13 PM by malkee
At one end of the majority leader's office, Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), the antiabortion senator whose support was crucial to health-care legislation, huddled with White House staff in a conference room. At the other end, Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the chamber's leading advocates of abortion rights, hunkered as far from Nelson as possible, in the office of Reid's chief of staff.
If healthcare passes the socialist coup d'etat has advanced beyond the point of no return!
Dec 19, 2009 | Jim Robinson
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:28:56 PM by Jim Robinson
Let's face it FRiends, if the unconstitutional healthcare bill passes, the socialist coup d'etat will have advanced well beyond the point of no return!
There is nothing in the constitution that authorizes this illegal federal power-grab and plenty that forbids it. If the Obama/Reid/Pelosi Marxist attempted coup pulls this off without the people resisting to the hilt, then they'll have no restrictions whatsoever on implementing the rest of their Liberty killing Marxist agenda. America will be no more.
Health debate moves forward as clerks finish reading amendment
The Hill ^ | December 19, 2009 | Michael O'Brien
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 4:37:02 PM by jazusamo
The Senate clerk has finished reading the text of the manager's amendment to the chamber's healthcare bill.
After roughly seven and a half hours of reading, the clerk concluded reading the 383-page manager's amendment to the bill, which was submitted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) earlier today.
Sen. Arlen Specter: Health care reform passage 'pulling biscupids'
Pennlive.com ^ | 12/19/09 | Laura Vecsey
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 4:54:53 PM by malkee
n a conference call with Pennsylvania reporters Saturday, Specter compared the passage of the health care bill to the Civil Rights Act. He said tough legislative achievements take considerable time.
"The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was necessary, although it did not go as far as people would have liked then, to get the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Again, it did not go as far as people would have liked, but we did find the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We have to find times when we have to build incrementally on these matters,'' Specter said.
Tangled Webb - Sen. Jim Webb is the quiet man who could land a big blow on Obamacare.
National Review Online ^ | 12/19/09 | Robert Costa
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 4:55:13 PM by OldDeckHand
In Congress’s upper chamber, a Virginia fox may be the one to deliver the knock-out uppercut to Obamacare. Quiet, cunning, and independent, Sen. Jim Webb (D., Va.) has been on the sidelines for much of the Senate’s health-care debate. Instead of ranting, like Bernie Sanders, Webb has been mulling legislative language in his office for weeks. Neighboring Senate staffers whisper that Team Webb is having a real tough time shuffling the senator out of the office to make appearances on the glad-handing circuit. It seems the man just wants to sit, study, read, and think — strange priorities in the U.S. Senate. Yet now, with Harry Reid’s health-care bill on the ropes, Democrats are getting nervous about the brooding one. They’re right to be worried. Webb — not Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, or Evan Bayh — is the real wildcard in the Democratic caucus. Where he’ll vote, no one knows.
Obama Sees 'Cusp' of Health Reform as Senate Dems Feel Heat (Let the lawsuits begin)
fox news ^ | 12/19/2009 | fox news
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 5:09:16 PM by tobyhill
Democrats felt the heat Saturday -- from some liberal groups on one side and Republican lawmakers on the other -- over a deal struck in the Senate to secure enough votes to pass a health care overhaul pushed by President Obama.
US Senate health bill alters company taxes, profits
Reuters ^ | December 19, 2009 | Susan Heavey
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 5:25:28 PM by La Lydia
Proposed changes to the U.S. Senate's pending healthcare reform bill include measures targeting industry profits and taxes, and a move to ensure health insurers spend a certain amount on medical care, according to a document released on Saturday. The changes, proposed as a group of amendments, must be approved by the Senate before they can be added to the massive legislation that lawmakers are struggling to finish before Christmas despite delaying tactics by Republicans and a severe snowstorm in the nation's capital. Democrats appear to have pulled together the 60 votes needed to pass a final bill.
The taxes are aimed at helping pay for the healthcare overhaul aimed at expanding access to health insurance and controlling costs, President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. Under the proposal by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, health insurance plans for large groups would have to spend at least 85 cents out of every dollar on medical costs. That means just 15 cents could go toward overhead and executive salaries, among other things. Small groups or individual plans would have to spend at least 80 cents on the dollar for care...
NTERACTIVE GRAPHIC: Health-Care Reform: How The Bills Stack Up
Washington Post ^ | December 19th 2009
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 8:26:45 PM by Steelfish
NTERACTIVE GRAPHIC Health-Care Reform: How The Bills Stack Up Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled a revised health-care bill Dec. 19 that includes concessions on abortion and other issues needed to secure a 60-vote Democratic majority to overcome a Republican filibuster. The Senate is expected to vote Christmas eve.
Judge Andrew Napolitano: My opening monologue on the Beck show today [health care is not a right]
facebook ^ | 12/18/2009 | Judge Andrew Napolitano
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 8:27:06 PM by Jim Robinson
In the continually harsh public discourse over the President’s proposals for federally-managed healthcare, the Big Government progressives in both the Democratic and the Republican parties have been trying to trick us. These folks, who really want the government to care for us from cradle to grave, have been promoting the idea that health care is a right. In promoting that false premise, they have succeeded in moving the debate from WHETHER the feds should micro-manage health care to HOW the feds should micro-manage health care. This is a false premise, and we should reject it. Health care is not a right; it is a good, like food, like shelter, and like clothing.
Senate Panel OKs Gay Partners Bill [Homosexuals To Get Health; Insurance; Retirement Benefits!]
Baptist Press ^ | December 19th 2009
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 8:35:06 PM by Steelfish
Senate Panel OKs Gay Partners Bill
Dec 18, 2009 WASHINGTON (BP)--A U.S. Senate committee has approved a bill that would extend benefits now reserved for the spouses of federal employees to the same-sex, domestic partners of such workers.
Boehner: Sen. Reid’s Government-Run Health Plan STILL Requires a Monthly Abortion Fee
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on December 19th, 2009 ^ | 12/19/2009
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 8:50:50 PM by GVnana
Fixed it is not. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) latest health care “manager’s amendment” would STILL levy a new “abortion premium” fee on Americans under the Democrats’ health care plan. Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) and the last version of Senator Reid’s 2,074-page bill, this latest 383-page amendment levies an abortion premium and does not fix the problem of government funds being used to subsidize elective abortions.
Medicare 'doc fix' left out of Senate health bill(ouch)
The Hill ^ | 12/19/09 | Jeffrey Young
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 9:17:54 PM by blueyon
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) cut provisions from his healthcare reform bill that would have given doctors a temporary hike in their Medicare fees, a move he said was actually urged by physician lobbyists.
The version of the bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee would have given the doctors a 0.5 percent pay raise next year. Because of chronic flaws in the statutory formula used to calculate how much Medicare pays doctors, they're on the hook for a 21.5 percent pay cut next year.
Stupak, working with GOP, trying to sink Nelson's abortion compromise
Politico ^ | 12/19/09 1:51 PM EST | Ben Smith
Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2009 2:09:42 PM by BP2
An aide to Rep. Bart Stupak (D. Mich.) coordinated opposition to a Senate compromise on the place of abortion in health care legislation this morning with the Republican Senate leadership, the Conference Catholic Bishops, and other anti-abortion groups, according to a chain of frantic emails obtained this morning by POLITICO.
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