Legal Commentary

Plan B On The Health Bill: Progressives Should Demand More

By Big Tent Democrat

Brian Beutler:

[T]he House could simply pass the Senate bill unchanged, and Obama could sign reform into law. As recently as last week, a number of high-profile Democrats were saying that would never fly. But many are now suggesting that the House might still pull through, if House members are promised that the deal they agreed to last week will be passed separately--and quickly--through the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process.

What is that final deal anyway? We know the deal cut on the excise tax. But what about the rest of it? Will any other improvements survive? Defenders of the process (and persons opposing Coakley) have been arguing that the House and Senate bills are virtually the same. This is simply not true.

More importantly, Progressive House members should use their newly found leverage to demand more. For example, they should demand passage of a public option in exchange for this deal. This is especially true since, as Beutler notes, Blue Dogs and centrists in the House will be very leery about voting for ANY health bill. Progressives in the House may have backed themselves into a maximum leverage situation -- if they know how to use it.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 18, 2010 (boomark / email).