Reid Hoping Clinton Builds Momentum For Reform

Looking to build momentum before the Senate goes on recess, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reached out to the White House last week to see if the administration could help.

The Nevada Democrat wanted former President Bill Clinton -- the best living political symbol of the pitfalls of health care reform -- to rally caucus members behind current legislation. The White House, according to multiple sources, obliged, having Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel reach out to his former boss and arrange the in-person pep talk with the Senate.

"It was Harry Reid's idea and invitation though we did help get it done," said one White House aide.

On Tuesday, the 42nd President is set to brief lawmakers for roughly two hours. The goal, said a Democratic Senate aide with knowledge of the arrangement, was not, specifically, to pitch the benefits of passing legislation to conservative Democrats.

"It really wasn't," the aide said. "It really was that they just wanted to bring in somebody who had been there and done that; somebody who has been in the trenches, who would tell them, 'Don't give up now.'"

Of course, bringing a recalcitrant Democrat on board would be welcome. According to the same Democratic Senate aide, Reid's office is hoping that the Clinton visit will spur enough good will and political momentum behind reform's passage to essentially make it inevitable. The Senate is set to leave for recess on Wednesday -- not returning until after the weekend. In the interim, it seems possible (if not likely) that the Congressional Budget Office will release its score on Reid's bill.

The dream scenario is that the score comes in below the $900 billion mark, which would allow Reid's office to avoid having to go back to the CBO with alterations or quibbles.

"Then," the aide said, "we would introduce to the [Democratic] Caucus and put it online next week and then file a motion to proceed (potentially) on Monday the 23rd."

If Clinton can inspire enough energy behind reform, and if the CBO numbers are favorable, leadership hopes that it will make passage of legislation seem all the more inviting to Democrats on the fence.

Comments

[ReedYoung]

It's weird to think that grown men and women, most of them greying, need a "pep talk" to do their work when it gets a little difficult.

[MakeAWish]

Based on the house bill, I think nothing would be better.

[MakeAWish]

Does Bill support the house bill, the senate bill, or will any bill do no matter how bad it might be?

[manicore]

I wish Reid would get Rahm to do one more thing for him...RESI­GN!

[aaronburr]

Must be really a desperate situation if they have to call in slick Willie for advice since President Obama would rather crawl over broken glass than ask for any help from him.

[Shadow10]

Of course thats wrong. Obama has no problem asking a previous a democratic president with the political stature of Bill Clinton to help him. This is about business, not ego. Personalities take second seat to legislative agendas. We're not talking about some ego centric buffon like GW Bush here. We're talking about intelligent goal driven men.

[aaronburr]

Oh, Yeah - no ego involved with these two guys....ri­ggggghhhhh­htttttt

[sarabono]

Pres. Bill is wrong. No bill is better than a bad bill which doesn't reduce costs and cost's jobs and adds taxes and fees to the lower and middle class. The current bill passed by the House does exactly that.

[meko]

And creates market conditions where women will not be able to purchase insurance that covers abortions with their own money. Let us remember that the Stupak amendment is so restrictive that post-miscarriage D&Cs will not be covered (as they are not within many Catholic HMOs now).

[Shadow10]

Empty talking points. You must get the GOP news letter. Rep. Steve Austria (R) Ohio sent me the same thing recently.

[lohu]

How about we let all the celebrities and sports millionaires pay 45% of their earnings to give to the poor. Will they jump on the band wagon? They make too much money and their moneys should be given to the poor. Why didn't Obama donate his book earnings to give to the poor? If he is all for the this Robin Hood effect, lets see some ot these politicians take the lead.

[huff-fan]

He will give his Nobel Peace Prize money to charity. Bushes tax cut are in large part responsible for our deficits. Here is a story by a conservative economist.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-12/the-gops-misplaced-rage/full/

[ljc]

How about you give your money to the poor?

[Shadow10]

Have you ever suggested such a thing from any other president, or administration? Of course not, it never even dawned on you until you have a president you hate so thoroughly.

[themainpoint]

This is supposed to make those of us who want real reform feel good? That Rahm----don't worry, you don't have to deliver a real public option--Emanual is asking Bill Clinton to help?

[Okieborn]

Wake up Mr. President !!
Bill and Hillary are setting you up for a defeat in 2012 !!!

[MrPragmatic]

Proof? Rantings mere rantings. At second thought, you must be joking since this claim is absurd.

[holeybuybull]

Wake up Okieborn. These people are all in the pocket of corporate America and are not beholden to you. That includes corporate Bill, Rahm, Reid, and Obama.

[Shadow10]

Oh please. Do the conspriacies ever stop? Thats worse than some Alex Jones nonsense.

[huff-fan]

The newly unveiled House bill would set a tax penalty of as much as 2.5% of adjusted income for people who do not have health insurance as of 2013. The Senate Finance Committee scaled down its penalty, but settled on a maximum of $750 per adult, or $1,500 for a household. A Senate version of the bill says the IRS could only enforce the penalty by subtracting it from any refund owed to the taxpayer.

I agree with the mandate to buy insurance. The reason that our health care system is so expensive is because people do not have coverage. We all pay for the people who do not carry coverage through our premiums. When hospitals, clinics and emergency rooms accept the uninsured we all pay the the high costs of providing emergency care and hospitalizations. You can argue that the house bill is going to raise our taxes, but according to the CBO it is going to bring down the cost curve. Unless we decide to start turning away the sick and uninsured, which would be immoral, our govt. is suggesting we find a better and less expensive way to provide health care.
The house bill contains hardship exemptions, financial assistance for private or public insurance, and expanded medicaid. Our Representatives determined that it is cheaper to expand medicaid eligibility than to subsidize private health insurance.

[CydMiller]

This bill is simply about the government subsidizing private insurance. Medicare for all is the only way to create competition. A mandate means more money for private health insurance so they can use that money to get around any newly imposed regulation. Regulation is not the answer because politicians can be bought and sold, and loopholes can always be found (and they have the money to find them). A cost effective government option is the answer.

This bill is useless because corporations have bought our politicians. This will not improve our healthcare problems, we are simply funneling more money to Healthcare Execs and their Board of Directors.

[factotem]

Turning health care into a referendum on abortion is also a foolish way to lose reform.

[wldone]

Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

In response to the JCT letter, Camp said: “This is the ultimate example of the Democrats’ command-and-control style of governing – buy what we tell you or go to jail. It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediatel­y.”

[norkas]

This bill is a joke although I support a public option but without my wife and I having a fair chance to compete at the same price as big companies get from insurance companies this bill will have NO effect on huge part of the population.

I pay over $9,000 a year for my wife and I for insurance and I know many others that pay much more. This bill seems to be a major win for insurance companies who will receive 40 million new potential clients. They are staying quiet and I will tell you now that is not a good signal.

I have heard allot about this bill but 2000 pages is a joke . Without an easy to read summary for the public this will become a potential nightmare. You know we will rise up and let all politicians know we will not support them for reelection if this bill is bad for Americans.

The White House has to have a summary written to allow all of to know how we will be effected and the bottom line . Will those with insurance that are paying sky high prices be allowed the same rate as big companies that have a big pool of employees? Yes, this is a major issue and if it is not resolved then the insurance companies win.

[LightGreen]

Most of your question are answered like this( in plain bureaucratic speak) :

“(a) Outpatient Hospitals – (1) In General – Section 1833(t)(3)(C)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(t)(3)(C)(iv)) is amended – (A) in the first sentence – (i) by inserting “(which is subject to the productivity adjustment described in subclause (II) of such section)” after “1886(b)(3­)(B)(iii); and (ii) by inserting “(but not below 0)” after “reduced”; and (B) in the second sentence, by inserting “and which is subject, beginning with 2010 to the productivity adjustment described in section 1886(b)(3)­(B)(iii)(I­I)”.

[wldone]

Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below:

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]

- - - - - - - - - -

“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]

- - - - - - - - - -


“Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]

[kdp59]

“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]

the Horror....­THE HORROR!!!!!

do you mean that if a US citizen doesn't pay their TAXES, they can go to jail!!!!!


the HORROR of it all!!!

LMAO!!!

[LightGreen]

So, now health insurance premium will be considered INCOME TAX?

[holeybuybull]

They're just trying to bring back debtor's prisons. I guess that's one way to get health care.

[wldone]

When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties. The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.

“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration. Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates. Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,” said Camp.

According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016.

[texastrixie]

Will wonders never cease. The Democrats put egos aside, and put everybody to work on passing health care. Obama, Reid, and Rahm needed a "presidential" presence on the hill, but Obama cannot go down and individually politic. Finally, someone turned around and remembered we have a perfectly good presidential stand-in who can take Obama's message and deliver it in person (and remind people that if we don't get this passed, it may be another 15 years before the issue comes around again). Kudos to everyone involved.

[Shadow10]

Agreed. The right wing campaign to mark Obama and Clinton enemies is taking a big hit on this one. The dont like the idea of democrats working together. When they do, the right always loses.