NEWS
Congress: Committee passes health bill – MSNBC
A key House committee, Energy and Commerce, passed health care late Friday night 31-28. The House went on recess Friday and now has off for August. The Senate continues to try and hammer out a deal. It goes on vacation this upcoming Friday.
Two Sides Take Health Care Debate Outside Washington – New York Times
WASHINGTON — With Republicans mobilizing against the proposed health care overhaul, President Obama, Congressional Democrats and leading advocacy groups are laying the groundwork for an August offensive against the insurance industry as part of a coordinated campaign to sell the public on the need for reform.
While Congress Is Vacationing, Thousands Of Americans Will Lose Their Health Coverage – Media Matters
As Congress heads into August Recess, Republicans have effectively stalled efforts to reform the American health insurance system. Because they have refused to acknowledge the crisis and are unable to provide useful solutions, American citizens are still waiting for definitive legislation that will help bring down costs and increase access to quality health care.
Temperatures rise at health-care meeting – Philadelphia Inquirer
If any political prognosticators wanted proof that President Obama faces a tough sell on his health plan, they merely needed to show up at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia yesterday.
The Lobbying Web – New York Times
PRESIDENT OBAMA entered the White House challenging Washington’s political culture and promising a retooled health care system. Now the persistence of the former threatens his ability to deliver the latter.
OPINION
The Guns of August - Jon Cohn
After a tumultuous few weeks, the latest news in health reform is still worth savoring. On Friday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted out a comprehensive reform bill that would, if enacted, bring insurance coverage to nearly every American while making moderate, but important, progress towards controlling the rising cost of care. This means that all three of the House committees with jurisdiction over health reform have now passed nearly identical pieces of legislation, a remarkable feat in its own right. More important, it also means reform has managed to get out of committee with significant support beyond the Democrats’ liberal base, since it took a deal with Blue Dog Democrats to secure passage.
Whistleblower is Dems’ best ammo in health care fight – NY Daily News
Everyone is familiar with the street adage that one should not take a knife to a gunfight. They have probably even heard it way down in Washington, where the truth is hard to hear and even harder to see.
Republicans Reveal Their Hypocrisy On Health Care, Refuse To Support Bill To Kill Government-Run Medicare – Think Progress
For months, Republicans have been trying to scare Americans away from supporting a public option in health care reform, claiming that “government-run” medicine is akin to socialism and would be disastrous. But the government already runs several successful, well-loved health care programs — most notably, Medicare.
Joke of the Day: Budget Reconciliation and Health Reform – The Reality-Based Community
Finally, finally, people are beginning to see the possibilities for using budget reconciliation as a means to get health care reform — a strategy I’ve been advocating for close to a month now. Which is what makes this little nugget from Carl Hulse’s NYT piece today so humorous.
August Offensive to Define Health Care Debate: Insurance Companies in the Bull’s Eye – Huffington Post
A potentially decisive battle to define this year’s health care debate – and the Obama Presidency – will take place in town hall meetings, little league bleaches, and conversations on door steps near you during the August Congressional recess.
What’s Going on in the House? - Ezra Klein
Now that Henry Waxman has struck a deal with the Blue Dogs and the Blue Dogs have struck a deal with the liberals, health-care reform looks like it’s finally leaving Energy and Commerce. But it’s worth taking a moment to explain what’s been going on over the past few days.
Pull the plug on Senate Finance - Congress Matters
Mike Enzi is not really negotiating in this. He is there as the political officer. The “minder” for Grassley and Snowe. This should be obvious to Baucus. It’s obvious to all his colleagues in the Senate, and pretty much everyone else in the world, too.
