Democratic Leaders Say They Will Address Economy First, Then Smaller Issues, Before Tackling Comprehensive Health Care Overhaul

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 11 Nov 2008 - 4:00 PST

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Democratic congressional leaders plan to hold off on large-scale proposals, such as overhauling the health care system, until they have completed "attempts to spark the staggering economy," the Washington Post reports (Kane/Montgomery, Washington Post, 11/9). House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) also said it is unlikely representatives will be called back for a lame-duck session to address a stimulus bill, pushing action on such a bill to 2009, CongressDaily reports (Sanchez et al., CongressDaily, 11/7). Hoyer said, "Obviously, we're not going to do health care in the first month or two" of the next session of Congress.

The Post reports that after taking up a stimulus package, Congress expects to address smaller items that already have some bipartisan support and are expected to be easier to pass, including repealing President Bush's ban on embryonic stem cell research and increasing funding for SCHIP. Passing legislation on such issues would help Democrats gain momentum they then could use to pass more comprehensive legislation, according to the Post. "Some will be discrete pieces. Some will be comprehensive. The comprehensive pieces will take longer," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said last week.

The Post reports that SCHIP has "been a favored cause" for Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), who has been appointed as President-elect Barack Obama's White House chief of staff.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has been "laying the groundwork for comprehensive national health care legislation" and plans "an exhaustive round of hearings and legislative mark ups" to develop and pass legislation to overhaul the health care system. The Post reports that Kennedy wants "to ensure that the process for moving the bill will be in stark contrast to the secretive task force that helped cast suspicion on the failed health-care legislation pushed early in the Clinton administration" (Washington Post, 11/9).

In addition, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Wednesday will release his own overhaul plan, which he said will include provisions to strengthen the employer-based insurance system, emphasize efficiency and quality of care and promote comparative-effectiveness research. A Friday news release from the Finance Committee said Baucus will work with members of HELP and other committees to "achieve consensus on a comprehensive reform plan" (CQ HealthBeat, 11/7).

Many Democratic fiscal conservatives have expressed concern over how "such large undertakings" would be paid for, noting the record $455 billion deficit for fiscal year 2008. Democrats hope to pass most appropriations bills by the March deadline, the Post reports (Washington Post, 11/9).

Byrd Steps Down
In related news, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who is 90, on Friday announced that he will step down from his position because of health concerns (AP/Baltimore Sun, 11/8). As the chamber's most senior member, he will retain his position as President Pro Tempore. Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) has been recommended by Byrd as his replacement. Senate Democrats will meet Nov. 18 to officially name committee leaders (Clarke, CQ Today, 11/7).

Energy and Commerce Chair Battle
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) on Friday announced a 26-member whip team in response to a bid by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) to become chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health policy. According to CQ Today, the group has begun "working the phones" to garner support for Dingell to retain the position (Davenport, CQ Today, 11/7). The group includes party moderates in the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition, two groups that have not traditionally worked together but have now joined to promote centrist leadership for the committee.

Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) said, "We're very concerned about the direction that some are trying to move our majority" (Newmyer, Roll Call, 11/10). Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) has voiced support for Waxman on the issue (Davenport, CQ Today, 11/7).

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