Senate Passes Health Care Legislation
Senate Democrats have passed a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s healthcare system today with a 60 vote majority. In the aftermath, Republicans charged that the bill is a tarnished product of backroom deals, with some going so far as to declare it illegal.
According to The Los Angeles Times, GOP senators questioned a deal struck by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who agreed to support the legislation in part because a provision was added exempting his state from paying part of the cost of expanding the Medicaid program.
Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint, both Republicans from South Carolina, announced that their state’s attorney general will investigate whether the “Nebraska compromise” was unconstitutional. The Times indicated that the cost to the federal government of the deal struck with Nelson is estimated at $100 million over 10 years.
“The Nebraska compromise, which permanently exempts Nebraska from paying Medicaid costs that . . . all other 49 states must pay, may violate the United States Constitution — as well as other provisions of federal law,” Texas Atty. Gen. Greg Abbott said. The Times reported that nine other Republican attorneys general joined him Wednesday in protest.
In the meantime, liberal House Democrats are upset about the compromises in the Senate bill they are being asked to accept. They now appear ready to lose the battle for a government-run program that would compete with private health insurers.
Then there are the differences between the House and Senate provisions on abortion. The LA Times stated that leading opponents of abortion favor the House’s stricter language banning federal funding for the procedure. A key question remains: Will the House’s sizable faction of antiabortion Democrats vote against the bill if the provisions are not to their liking?
