The political parties lined up for a weekend of political rhetoric, with Republicans slamming the House health reform bill as Democrats get ready to move the bills to the floor in the House and the Senate.
The Hill: "House Democrats' recently unveiled healthcare bill is little more than '1,990 pages of bureaucracy' that will inevitably 'raise the cost of Americans' health insurance premiums,' the House's top Republican stressed in this week's radio address. The country's healthcare system would be better served by the GOP's proposed solutions, which permit families to purchase insurance across state lines, empower states to innovate and close holes in medical lawsuit rules, added House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)" (Romm, 10/31).
The Associated Press: "Taking aim at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's plan, Boehner said it would put Washington in charge of health care decisions, add to the bureaucracy, raise premiums and cut Medicare benefits. 'Enough is enough. Breaking the bank and taking away the freedoms Americans cherish is not the answer to the challenges we face,' Boehner said."
"Debate could begin this coming week on legislation developed by House Democrats that extends coverage to 96 percent of Americans, imposes new requirements on individuals and employers to get insurance and provides subsidies for lower-income people. The bill rolled out Thursday includes a new public insurance plan that would pay providers and hospitals at rates negotiated by the health and human services secretary" (Lester, 10/31).
McClatchy/Miami Herald: "The House of Representatives could begin consideration of its plan, whose net cost is an estimated $894 billion, late next week. The Senate is also expected to begin debate soon. Its timetable is uncertain since it takes 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles, and there are questions whether Democratic leaders have enough strength yet to go forward. This much is clear: Democratic leaders, with the strong backing of President Barack Obama, will put their muscle squarely behind the creation of a new government-run health care system, or public option."
"There are many similarities between what House and Senate Democratic leaders are pushing. Most people would have to obtain coverage and could use a new 'exchange,' or marketplace, to compare rates and benefits. Lower-income consumers would get government help. Reimbursement rates for doctors, hospitals and other health care providers would be negotiated by the government, a key concession to lawmakers in rural states. Leaders had wanted rates tied to Medicare fees. Even agreeing to those points is a significant milestone, one virtually unmatched in the tortured history of health care politics" (Lightman, 10/30).