Update – Senate Announces Merged H C Bill
Posted Under: Mitch Gurney,Tracking the Health Care Debate
By Mitch Gurney
November 20, 2009
As many of us have already heard, the Senate announced late Wednesday evening that they have merged their two Bills S. 1679 and S. 1796 into one bill. It was announced this morning the Senate will begin debating, amending and eventually vote on the reconciled bill. The vote could possibly happen as soon as this weekend. The merged bill was tagged on as an aamendment to a House-passed veterans’ housing credit bill, H.R.3590 (full PDF text). The Senates merged Bill is titled “The Patient Protection and Affordable Act”
The strategy for this was explained by OpenCongress.org: Read the Senate Health Care Bill:
The bill is in the form of an amendment to a House-passed veterans’ housing credit bill, H.R. 3590. That means the Senate’s first vote to break a filibuster and begin debate will not technically be on the health care bill, a fact the Dem leadership is hoping will help win support for the motion from hesitant moderates. According to Congress Daily ($), Majority Whip Dick Durbin [D, IL] is planning on arguing that all Democrats should vote to move the bill to debate so they can hash out their difference through the amendment process. That vote could take place as early as Friday, but it will likely not happen until Saturday or later. If the filibuster is overcome (it will take 60 votes), the Senate will then begin debate and amendment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
(Please see article for further details)
The following updates may be accessed at OpenCongress.org:
11/20/2009
Senate Begins its Health Care Debate
11/19/2009
Senate Health Care Bill Online Disclosure Provisions
Senate Bill Requires Members of Congress to Buy Insurance through the Exchange
Read the Senate Health Care Bill
11/18/2009
Senate Health Care Bill Released!
There are additional commentaries that I have not posted here available at OpenCongress.org, but in case you have not already seen these already, I highly recommend the following 2 articles:
11/17/2009
11/15/2009
The Most Important Health Care Reform Provision You’ve Never Heard Of
Yesterday, 11/19, The Washington Post featured a side by side comparison of the Senates merged Bill to the House Bill HR 3962 that passed a couple of weeks ago – (you may need to log in to the WP to view the article and graph):
Health-Care Reform: How the Bills Stack Up
(INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled a health-care bill [H.R. 3590] Nov. 18 that combines proposals approved by the Senate Finance [Committees] [S. 1796] and Health Committees [S. 1679]. The measure now heads to the floor for debate and a vote. [Take] a look at how it compares with the House bill passed Nov. 7.
Should the Senate pass their version of the Health Care Bill “The Patient Protection and Affordable Act” H.R 3590 they will need to reconcile any differences between their bill and the House’s Bill H.R. 3962 before it can be send into law by President Obama.
Mitch Gurney
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