SPOTLIGHT: REFORM 'NOT DEAD' YET
Democratic leaders have confirmed that health reform discussions are
ongoing, despite the loss of their filibuster-proof majority in the
Senate. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Tom
Harkin (D-Iowa) late last week said that health reform "rested for about
a week," but "it's not dead." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.),
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and White House press
secretary Robert Gibbs all have indicated that Democrats continue to
discuss strategies to pass health reform legislation. Harkin confirmed
that despite being unpopular with many moderate Senate Democrats,
leaders are still considering using the budget reconciliation process to
pass comprehensive reform. However, according to a senior Democratic
aide, it is unclear whether Reid has the 51 votes necessary to pass a
package of House-proposed changes. Reid spokesperson Jim Manley on
Friday said that Democratic leaders hope to make a final decision by the
end of this week on the strategy for moving forward with health reform
legislation. Meanwhile, a number of GOP lawmakers have called for
Democrats to start over on an overhaul package.
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