Senate Democrats ready health law changes

The lawmakers will likely meet this week to set principles for the changes, which could include new allowing lower coverage: "copper" insurance plans.

The Wall Street Journal: Democrats To Offer Fixes For Health Law
Several centrist Senate Democrats, including some up for re-election this fall, are planning to push for changes to the Affordable Care Act -- a move that has stirred debate within the party about whether making these fixes would keep the spotlight trained on the health law's flaws. Democrats in Congress have vowed to keep -- and improve -- President Barack Obama's health-care overhaul, but their recent efforts have been overshadowed by controversial White House tweaks and delays (Peterson, 3/26).

Fox News: Democrats Said To Push For New Changes To ObamaCare Amid Midterm Fears
Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va.; Mark Begich, D-Alaska; Mary Landrieu, D-La.; Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; and Sen. Angus King, I., Maine, will introduce proposals to improve the law, The Wall Street Journal reported. Begich and Warner have called for allowing "copper" plans on the government-run health exchanges. The new insurance plans would offer lower premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs than the "bronze," "silver" and "gold" options currently offered (3/27).

And Republicans also are aiming at the law --

Politico: Kevin McCarthy Pitches Obamacare Changes to Lobbyists
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy huddled Wednesday with roughly 40 K Streeters to rally their support for a bill that would change Obamacare's definition of a work week. The bill would increase the definition of a full-time week from 30 hours to 4o hours, the current bar at which employers are required to provide health coverage for their workers (Palmer and Sherman, 3/26).

CNN: Alabama Candidate Takes Aim At Obamacare
A U.S. House candidate in Alabama is literally shooting down Obamacare. A video released by his campaign on Wednesday, shows Will Brooke using a variety of firearms to destroy a copy of the Affordable Care Act. The ad begins with Brooke seated on the bed of a truck next to a stack of paper that he says is a copy of the law championed by the President. The ad is titled "Let's Do Some Damage" (Davidson, 3/26).