White House Reported To Be Preparing Reform Plan as a Backup Option
President Obama and his administration have been drafting an alternate health reform plan in case current Democratic overhaul proposals in Congress do not pass, according to sources familiar with the effort, Roll Call reports.
A source with knowledge of the plan said that the administration is "getting ready for a backup," adding, "It will be parachuted in if necessary."
Sources disagree on how far along the administration is in the drafting process, with some reporting the plan is near completion and others contending the effort is only partially finished. The White House plan appears to be tailored for moderate Democrats and perhaps even Republicans in case congressional reform efforts fail.
According to Roll Call, all sources with knowledge of the effort agree that the plan goes into significant detail and might even incorporate some legislative language, making the bill ready for immediate debate, if necessary.
Sources say the administration might invoke the plan if the Senate cannot get 60 votes needed to block a potential GOP filibuster of current reform proposals. Other sources say Obama could present details of the plan to a conference between the House and Senate.
However, Roll Call reports that the administration's plan "may never see the light of day" because Senate Finance Committee's health reform proposal currently has many provisions and the price supported by Obama (Koffler, Roll Call, 9/30).
Obama Administration at Heart of Industry Deals
The deals the Obama administration made with industry groups have been criticized by members of the president's own party, but such agreements could ultimately be one of the reasons reform legislation passes, NPR's "Morning Edition" reports.
For years, consumer groups have been attempting to broker agreements with industry groups, and the two sides had come to an agreement before Obama was elected. Once Obama was elected, his administration made agreements with individual industry groups that they would not criticize the overhaul during legislative negotiations.
Under the terms of the agreements, industry groups would support the broad outlines of a reform bill and contribute savings toward funding an overhaul effort, and the administration, in return, would agree to limit fees and budget cuts affecting those groups.White House officials understand the criticism but insist that the deals were worthwhile, regardless of the pushback (Liasson, "Morning Edition," NPR, 9/30). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.