Reid standing firm in opposition to Senate health law repeal vote

Across the Hill, House Republicans have renewed their interest in proposals to privatize Medicare, leading Democrats to jump to the defense of the health insurance program for seniors.

Roll Call: Reid Stands Ground On Opposing Vote On Health Care Repeal
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will fight efforts to move a House-passed repeal of the health care overhaul law to the Senate floor, but he acknowledged Thursday that Republicans have the ability to try to do so (Dennis, 1/27).

CQ: Democrats Plan To Counter GOP Health Care Assault Blow by Blow
Democratic leaders outlined their plans Thursday for promoting the health care overhaul in the face of unrelenting GOP attacks, including counterhearings and personalizing the law's benefits. "It's time for us to go on the offensive," said Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "We don't have anything to defend. Economically and morally, we are on the right side of the issue" (Ethridge, 1/27).

The Associated Press: House GOP Considers Privatizing Medicare
Months after they hammered Democrats for cutting Medicare, House Republicans are debating whether to relaunch their quest to privatize the health program for seniors. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is testing support for his idea to replace Medicare with a fixed payment to buy a private medical plan from a menu of coverage options (Alonso-Zaldivar, 1/28).

National Journal: Dems Pounce On GOP's Medicare Voucher Position
Congressional Democrats offered a full-throated defense of Medicare today and Republican leaders tamped down suggestions they would try to privatize it one day after a senior House GOP lawmaker said he supported drastically reshaping the program (DoBias, 1/27).