Writing a health care bill in Congress: A comparison of plain English vs. legislative text

October 9th, 2009 Read the health bill! Not as easy as you thinkWASHINGTON — Read the bill! It was a rallying cry at angry health care town halls this summer and has evolved into something of a political movement. Many Americans are demanding that lawmakers actually read the comprehensive legislation they've written — or at least make it publicly available — before voting on it.

September 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.

September 16th, 2009 Baucus calls health care bill commonsense measureWASHINGTON — A prominent Democratic senator is calling his 10-year, $856 billion health care bill a common sense measure that can win broad support. Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, unveiled his much-awaited legislation Wednesday after months of bipartisan negotiations that failed to win visible Republican support.

September 14th, 2009 Harkin: 'Silent majority' back health care reformINDIANOLA, Iowa — Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin predicts Congress will approve a health care reform bill this fall that includes a public option, saying a "silent majority" of Americans favor such an overhaul.

September 10th, 2009 US President Barack Obama delivered yet another motivating speech at the Joint Congress today about health care. He speaks about how US should and can come out of this recession hit economy and why our lives are to be secure first and then elevate later.

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.

September 6th, 2009 White House: Obama weighing own health care billWASHINGTON — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama is considering his own health care legislation to cut through the stalemate on Capitol Hill. Gibbs says Americans will know exactly where the president stands after his speech to Congress on Wednesday night.

August 29th, 2009 Up to 1,000 rally in NYC for health care billNEW YORK — About a thousand people rallied in Manhattan on Saturday in support of federal health care reform legislation. The event near Times Square began shortly after the funeral for U.S.

August 23rd, 2009 Senator: Single health care bill a better approachWASHINGTON — A key Democrat in the health care debate says separating out the various issues and putting them in different bills isn't likely to work. Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul.

August 19th, 2009 Bipartisan health talks to continue by phoneWASHINGTON — A key Democratic committee chairman involved in talks on a compromise health care plan said Wednesday they are on track to reach agreement. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he'd prefer a bipartisan deal but "patience is not unlimited." Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said his group of three Democrats and three Republicans "is on track to reach a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive health care reform" that can pass a divided Senate.

August 14th, 2009 Lawmaker predicts no health overhaul this yearWASHINGTON — A Pennsylvania lawmaker who is a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says it's looking unlikely that Congress will pass health care overhaul legislation this year. Democratic Rep.

August 12th, 2009 AARP tells Obama: No health plan endorsement yetWASHINGTON — A group usually seen as one of Barack Obama's allies in the health care debate — AARP — says the president went too far Tuesday when he said the seniors lobby had endorsed the legislation pending in Congress. AARP is sensitive to the issue because polls show that Medicare beneficiaries are worried their health care program will be cut to subsidize coverage for the uninsured.

July 16th, 2009 Republicans vow to fight health care tax increasesWASHINGTON — House Democrats shouldn't expect votes from Republicans in passing a bill that increases taxes on the rich to pay for health care reform. Republicans opened a committee meeting Thursday morning vowing to fight a Democratic plan to impose a surcharge on families making more than $350,000.

July 15th, 2009 Obama praises progress on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will push through an overhaul of the nation's health care system and is urging Congress to finish the work before leaving for an August recess. Obama on Wednesday praised House and Senate versions of a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans.

July 10th, 2009 Obama to Congress: Health care legislation by Aug.L'AQUILA, Italy — Despite snags in Congress, President Barack Obama says his administration is closer to achieving health care reform than at any time in recent history. He says he hopes Congress will pass health care legislation by the August recess but "nothing is do or die." Obama says he is making health care his "highest legislative priority".