Unions plan ad announcing opposition to Senate Finance Committee bill unless it's changedOctober 13th, 2009 Unions will oppose Baucus bill unless it's changedWASHINGTON — About 30 unions will run a full-page ad in newspapers Wednesday announcing their opposition to the Senate Finance Committee's health overhaul bill, a top labor lobbyist said. The ad will state that unions will oppose the measure on the Senate floor unless improvements are made, according to Chuck Loveless, legislative director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Obama says Senate committee passage of health overhaul bill is 'critical milestone'October 13th, 2009 Obama: Senate panel OK 'critical milestone'WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says passage of legislation by a key Senate committee is "a critical milestone" toward getting a health care overhaul this year, but that "now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back."
Obama spoke in the Rose Garden on Tuesday about two hours after the Senate Finance Committee approved its version of health care reform. Obama praised the bill but didn't endorse it over the others that have passed other committees.
Senate health care bill estimated to cost $829 billion, cover 94 percent of AmericansOctober 7th, 2009 Senate health care bill to cost $829 billionWASHINGTON — Health care legislation drafted by a key Senate committee would expand coverage to 94 percent of the eligible population at a 10-year cost of $829 billion, congressional budget experts said Wednesday in a preliminary estimate. The Congressional Budget Office added that the measure would reduce federal deficits by $81 billion over a decade and probably lead to "continued reductions in federal budget deficits" in the years beyond.
Congressional tax experts say industry taxes are $29 billion higher in health billOctober 6th, 2009 Higher taxes in health care billWASHINGTON — Congressional tax experts say Senate health care legislation would impose $29 billion more in taxes on health care industries than originally thought. The Joint Committee on Taxation says drug companies, medical device manufacturers and insurers would pay $121 billion over 10 years as a result of taxes in the Senate Finance Committee bill.
Senate Finance Committee vote slips as lawmakers wait for cost figuresOctober 5th, 2009 Senate committee vote slipsWASHINGTON — It's going to take a little longer for the last congressional committee writing health care legislation to finish its work. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana had hoped for a final vote by his panel on Tuesday, but a cost analysis from the Congressional Budget Office isn't ready yet.
Health care issues: Expanded Medicaid EligibilityOctober 2nd, 2009 Health care issues: Expanded Medicaid EligibilityA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Should Medicaid be expanded to cover more people?
THE POLITICS: Proposals in both the Senate and the House support some form of expansion of the federal-state insurance program for the poor. Who pays for Medicaid's expansion is a sticking point.
Senator backs away from tax that included contact lenses, tampons, condomsSeptember 22nd, 2009 Consumer items shielded from health care taxesWASHINGTON — The Senate is backing away from a health care tax that would have affected consumer products like contact lenses, thermometers, condoms — and even scented maxi-pads. Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus says he will exempt consumer products costing up to $100 from his proposed $4 billion-a-year tax on manufacturers of medical devices.
Experts propose hefty sales tax to sweetened beverages; health reformers not buying itSeptember 16th, 2009 Fight obesity? Add sales tax to soda tabATLANTA — In a bid to ramp up the public health battle against obesity, a group of nutrition and economics experts are pushing for a tax of 1 cent on every of ounce of sodas and other sweetened beverages. Proposals for a hefty soda tax though have repeatedly fallen flat.
White House calls new Senate Finance health plan a 'building block', not the end of debateSeptember 16th, 2009 White House: Senate health bill a 'building block'WASHINGTON — The White House says a health care reform bill from a key Senate committee is "an important building block" in getting closer to comprehensive health care reform. Sen. Max Baucus released the long-awaited version of the bill from his Senate Finance committee Wednesday.
Obama: Allegations that Democratic health care legislation contains death panels are a 'lie'September 9th, 2009 Obama: Claims of death panels are a 'lie'WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the charge that Democrats want to set up death panels as part of health care overhaul is a "lie, plain and simple."
Obama, in a speech to Congress on Wednesday night, denounced radio and cable TV talk show hosts and prominent politicians who alleged that his administration planned to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to "kill off senior citizens." He called the allegations "cynical and irresponsible."
The charges were launched by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and debunked by nonpartisan organizations. They claimed that Democratic legislative proposals would set up the so-called death panels to determine who gets treated.
Obama says he is open to proposals in Congress to pay for health care overhaulJuly 23rd, 2009 Obama open to finance plans for health careWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he is open to the proposals emerging in Congress to pay for health care overhaul. At a prime-time news conference Wednesday, Obama said few lawmakers had embraced his proposal to limit itemized deductions for the wealthiest Americans.
Obama stepping up his push for health care overhaul with Rose Garden event todayJuly 15th, 2009 Obama stepping up push for health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has scheduled an appearance in the White House Rose Garden today to talk about his top domestic priority: health care reform. The president wants the House and Senate to pass legislation overhauling the nation's health care system before lawmakers leave town for their annual August recess.
HHS Secretary Sebelius says all options remain on table for health care overhaulJuly 12th, 2009 Sebelius: All options on table for health planWASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the administration wants a health care overhaul this year but is still leaving the details to Congress. Sebelius said on Sunday that a health care overhaul "needs to be owned by the House and the Senate" and won't be dictated by President Barack Obama.
$600B in new taxes weighed in House to cover health care as senators lower cost of their billJune 19th, 2009 House eyes new taxes as senators pare health billWASHINGTON — Early work on the ambitious health care overhaul the Obama administration is seeking has exposed the kinds of in-house fights that typify just how hard it will be to get meaningful legislation this year. Case in point: A proposal to help bankroll universal health coverage with a dime-a-can increase in the price of soft drinks.
THE INFLUENCE GAME: Wide range of interests oppose plan to tax alcohol, sweetened drinksJune 3rd, 2009 THE INFLUENCE GAME: New drink tax widely opposedWASHINGTON — A push for new taxes on soda, beer and wine to help pay for Americans' health care is stirring up more than just the beverage industry. Advertisers, corn refiners — even addiction treatment centers — have mobilized their lobbyists, reflecting how a tax increase for a handful of popular products can reverberate broadly across Washington's interest groups.
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