With deal in hand, Senate Dems proceed on health bill

Reuters: "The White House on Sunday sought to preserve the fragile alliance of Democratic liberals and moderates backing broad healthcare reform legislation, with tough decisions looming on abortion and a new government-run insurance program. The White House predicted that the bill, President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, will win final congressional passage, and called it a major achievement even if it does not give Obama and his fellow Democrats everything they want.

"Democratic holdout Ben Nelson announced his support for the Senate legislation on Saturday after securing language aimed at ensuring federal funds are not used to pay for abortions and winning extra healthcare funds for his home state of Nebraska" (Sullivan, 12/20).

CNN: "Obama had wanted to sign the bill by the end of year, but his senior adviser, David Axelrod, acknowledged Sunday that wouldn't happen. 'I think we're going to have some work to do when we come back' from the Christmas-New Year break, Axelrod said Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press.'"

"Both Axelrod and Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday the Senate bill lacks some provisions the Obama administration wanted, but that it would bring much-needed health care reforms. ... In a New York Times op-ed published Sunday, Biden said the bill was 'not perfect,' but called it 'very good' because it expands coverage to those currently unable to afford or obtain health insurance while holding down the nation's spiraling health care costs" (12/20).

The Wall Street Journal: "Republicans over the weekend criticized the deal for Nebraska. Sen. Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.), appearing on ABC News's 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos' Sunday, asked if it wasn't a good deal for Nebraskans to pay their share of an expansion of Medicaid, why should the rest of America have to foot the bill. Other Republicans have also criticized the deal, with Sen. Richard Burr (R., N.C.) saying, 'You've got to compliment Ben Nelson for playing, 'The Price Is Right.'"

Addressing such criticism, Mr. Axelrod said "every senator uses whatever leverage they have to help their states" (Scannell, 12/20).

CQ Politics: "The Democratic linchpin in a delicate Senate health care compromise said Sunday that special goodies for his constituents came at the behest of the state's Republican governor. Speaking on CNN's 'State of the Union,' Sen. Ben Nelson , D-Neb., said he "didn't ask for a special favor here ... didn't ask for a carve-out. He's said publicly he's having trouble with the budget and this will add to the budget woes,' Nelson said of Republican Gov. Dave Heineman. 'I said, look, we have to have this fixed.'"

"With both chambers now expected to hash out their differences after the new year, Nelson said he would not support a blended bill that includes a 'public plan' or House-proposed tax on wealthy Americans" (Murray, 12/20).

The Associated Press: "Republican Sen. John McCain, President Barack Obama's opponent in last year's election, said there was probably nothing to keep Democrats from passing the bill by Christmas Eve. Still, he said, the GOP would not relent in the battle for public opinion. 'We'll fight the good fight. We will fight until the last vote,' said McCain, R-Ariz. He said the political climate under Obama has become more partisan than ever."

"To keep the process moving under Senate rules, Democrats will need to show 60 votes — now secured, with the locked-in support of Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson — in a series of votes. The next one is set for 1 a.m. Monday" (12/20).

The New York Times: "If the Senate bill passed, it would have to be reconciled in conference with the earlier House version. The two differ substantially; and a key senator said Sunday that it would be difficult for his chamber to pass anything that varies much from the Senate version" (Herszenhorn and Hulse, 12/20).

The Hill: Howard Dean said Sunday that the Senate healthcare reform bill was made better this past week by Democratic senators but still has not earned his support. Appearing on NBC's 'Meet The Press,' the former Democratic National Committee chairman and ex-Vermont governor said the legislation was not the fundamental reform America's healthcare system needed. Dean said the House version of the healthcare reform package was a better bill. 'There are some things in this bill that weren't in there a week ago that make it a better bill. But this can't be the final version of this bill,' Dean said" (Bogardus, 12/20).

Fox News: "Do not mess with this bill. That was the message Senate Democrats sent to their colleagues on the House side over the weekend ... Liberal Democrats are eager to negotiate and try to win back items that were stripped from the Senate bill like a government-run insurance plan. But the final version would again need 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster, and Senate moderates warn that any big changes in conference could erode that bloc. 'Anybody who's watched this process can see how challenging it has been to get 60 votes,' Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said on 'Fox News Sunday.' 'It is very clear that the bill, the final bill, to pass in the United States Senate is going to ... have to be very close to the bill that has been negotiated here'" (12/20).