SPOTLIGHT: UP IN THE AIR
Congressional Democrats yesterday expressed confidence that they would
pass major health reform legislation this year but made it clear that
their immediate legislative focus has shifted to jobs and the economy,
leaving the timeline for completing reform legislation open ended.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi (D-Calif.) emphasized that they would not abandon attempts to
pass a reform bill. However, Pelosi indicated that it may not be as
expedient a process as many had hoped, noting that there are significant
differences between the House and Senate health reform bills. White
House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said that he expects Congress to first
address President Obama's economic agenda before taking action on health
reform, but he confirmed that health reform legislation is still being
considered. Pelosi yesterday also indicated that the House could pass
some smaller health reform measures, but said that the bills would not
be "a substitute for comprehensive reform." Instead, they would be
"sidebar issues we can move quickly," such as an elimination of health
insurance companies' antitrust exemption.
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