(From Barran Liebman Electronic Alerts Volume 12, Issue 35 October 13, 2009)
Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine became the first Republican in the United States Senate to support Health Care Reform, although she did it tepidly quoting Longfellow, “Great is the art of the beginning, but greater is the art of the ending.” The Senate Finance Committee’s vote to approve Health Care Reform clears the final hurdle toward reconciliation and floor debate in both the House and Senate.
Review of the Process
Several bills of healthcare reform have been debated in various committees in both the House and Senate. The complexity of health care reform and the oversight of health care reform in various committees have made the process seem without end. However, as the committee process is over, the process of reconciliation will begin in the House and Senate.
House of Representatives Health Care Reform Reconciliation
The House of Representatives received bills from three committees and have already begun the informal process of reconciliation of the bills. The committees in the House largely provide for an individual mandate to purchase health insurance, an employer mandate to offer health insurance or face an 8% excise tax calculated as a percentage of payroll (over $750,000), and for a public plan option likely tying reimbursement rates to Medicare… (to finish this eAlert, please click here)
