Does Tauzin get rehired (LOL), if Congress passes--probably it's only chance is through "reconciliation" and that's not much of a chance--a healthcare reform bill that the President is now proposing?
President Obama officially released his own health care reform proposal on Monday in a last-ditch effort to unite the Democratic Party around some sort of comprehensive legislation.
Coming days before the much anticipated bipartisan health care reform summit this Thursday, the 11-page White House proposal is being pitched as a foundation upon which lawmakers can build. Presidential aides stressed repeatedly on a call with reporters Monday that Republicans will have opportunities to amend it.
With the health care summit scheduled for this Thursday, the White House is hoping that this foundation will get even a sliver of support from the Republican caucus. But aides aren't holding their breath. Calling for an up-or-down vote on the bill, Pfeiffer nevertheless declined to surrender the idea that Democrats would pass the legislation in the Senate using reconciliation -- the parliamentary process that precludes filibusters.
"This package is designed to help us [use reconciliation] if the Republican Party decides to filibuster health care reform," said Pfeiffer. "That was certainly a factor that went in to how we put this proposal together."
Obama's proposal is designed to fill the role traditionally played by House and Senate negotiators in conference committee -- bringing together disparate factions around one cohesive reform package. White House aides said that they consulted and worked with members of Congress when drafting their approach. Whether they have the necessary support of the Democratic Caucus to get it passed, however, is still very much an open question.
"The proposal we are putting on line is informed by our discussions with the House and the Senate leadership," Pfeiffer said. "But it is the president's proposal."
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