Reid’s goal: Wrap up final touches on healthcare package by Saturday

Reid’s goal: Wrap up final touches on healthcare package by Saturday
By Alexander Bolton - 03/22/10 08:12 PM ET

Senate Democrats are planning to pass the final changes to landmark healthcare legislation by the end of the week but must first get past a final Republican stand.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wants to bring the reconciliation package to the Senate floor by Tuesday afternoon. A senior Democratic aide said the goal is to pass the bill by Friday or Saturday.

Republicans are planning to object to much of the 153-page bill, threatening to make “Swiss cheese” out of the legislation that Democrats will try to move under the special rules that require only a majority vote.

Senior Democratic and Republican staff met with the Senate parliamentarian at noon on Monday to debate a potentially lethal procedural objection to the package.

Republicans have argued the legislation violates the 1974 Budget Act because an excise tax on high-cost health plans would change contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund.

The act prohibits consideration of any reconciliation resolution that “contains recommendations with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act.”

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.C.) said last week that Democrats were confident the GOP objection would fail.

“There’s no change in law occurring here,” he said. “There is a provision to transfer money to the Social Security fund to make up for any indirect effects to the fund, which is just a good policy thing to do.”

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http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/88469-reids-goal-is-to-wrap-up-by-saturday

Ben Nelson: 'I Will Vote Against The House Reconciliation Package'
Eric Lach | March 22, 2010, 6:55PM


Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)


Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) released a statement tonight announcing that he would vote against the House's reconciliation package.

While he lauded the "historic health reforms that will insure 220,000 more Nebraskans and 30 million Americans," the major sticking point in the reconciliation bill, according to Nelson, is the addition of student loan reform.

more: http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/ben-nelson-i-will-vote-against-the-house-reconciliation-package.php

You knew he wouldn't like the Student Loan Deal