The Finish Line

By Steve Gida

As the hot button issue of health care reform draws to a close, President Barack Obama has released a trillion dollars, last ditch effort bill to reign in the cost of premiums for middle class citizens, lower the steep deficit, and attempt to garner support from the Republican Party, who have up till now, have been boldly resistant to what they preceive as a "government takeover of health care".

As Mr. Obama unveils his Administration's proposal for real reform in the health arena, his compromise comes at a price to his original promise: that the bill should not exceed 900 billion dollars, in order to avoid adding to the federal deficit. However, known that time is short and support is waning, the President has seized the opportunity to force Republicans into a corner as the much sought after live bipartisan health care debate airs on C-SPAN on the 25th, where a group of senior Democrats and Republicans will sit down to attempt to create a bipartisan bill, in hopes of putting the harsh memories of 2009 behind everyone.

Obama's plan would cover close to 31 million uninsured Americans, while, instead of lowering the federal deficit by 150 billion dollars, would only lower it by 30 billion dollars, according to the non partisan Congressional Budget Office.

Closer than ever before to passing comprehensive health legislation, Congress was stalled by the upset election of Senator Scott Brown (R-MA). Determined not to go to voters empty handed in the November elections, Democrats have extended to their hands for Republican support as the time to pass the bill wanes.

The new bill would give the Health and Human Services Secretary power to control and regulate insurance premium prices, thus making it more effective to control long term costs and ensure that the 31 million uninsured have coverage in order to prevent adding to the deficit.

Whether the bill generates any GOP support remains to be seen. However, if the POTUS and Congressional Democrats are unsuccessful at gaining right wing support, the last option, reconciliation, in order to avoid Republican filibusters, is the next step to pass the bill. However, some Dems are concerned about is the bill would be able to be passed using this tactic and still be effective upon passage.