One of the Democratic leadership’s talking points for the reconciliation bill is that it increases affordability tax credits for people on the exchange. What they aren’t saying is that the increase in subsidies in the Senate bill is only temporary. From the CBO: An important component of the longer-term analysis is that, beginning in 2019, [...]

According to Politico, Democratic leadership has declared that they are done making changes to the reconciliation measure. Party leaders are beginning to spread the word to rank-and-file lawmakers that they won’t be changing the text of a carefully negotiated “reconciliation” bill to win votes at this point because they can’t undo deals that already have [...]

I’m still skeptical that Democrats will ever be able to find the votes to pass their current health care reform strategy. Their plan is to have the House pass the comprehensive Senate bill as it is, then pass “fixes” using reconciliation. With even the Democratic leadership basically admitting that there is no way out of [...]

The current Senate health care bill has a provision (Section 1332. Waiver for State Innovation (PDF)) that will allow states to opt out of the current reform structure if they can provide the same level of care for the same amount or cheaper with a different plan. Given how poorly designed the Senate bill is, [...]

During Wednesday’s health care address, President Obama said that the American people deserve a final up-or-down vote on health care reform: So, no matter which approach you favor, I believe the United States Congress owes the American people a final vote on health care reform. We have debated this issue thoroughly, not just for the [...]

I have heard a dangerous mantra being repeated by the Senate bill apologists in many different forms. The goal of the consistently uttered mantra seems to be to trick those inside the Washington bubble that the Senate health care bill is, in fact, secretly popular, but the American people are too dumb to realize it. [...]

This document, prepared by the House Tri-Committee staff, outlines the topline differences between the House and Senate bills that need to be resolved. (It is very much worth a read if you are interested.) In almost every case where the two bills differ, it is because the Senate bill is dramatically worse. Some of the [...]

If you ever wonder why the media does not pay a lot of attention to the House of Representatives, here is why. Pelosi said there’s “not much” chance the House will simply take up the Senate bill (a process known informally as “ping ponging”) but that differences between the two packages will be resolved in a [...]

We need to find out where progressive Members of Congress stand on a bill with triggers or opt-outs. Can you call now?

Click here to get the numbers of progressive Reps. and let us know what they say.

We might get the vote on the House bill next Tuesday. The issue of abortion may hold up the bill, but it looks like Stupak might not have the votes needed to hold the bill hostage. The House Republicans finally released their “alternative” health care bill and it is terrible. It does contain one Democratic [...]