Reid Releases Democratic Senate Health Care Reform Bill

On Wednesday, led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – Nevada), Senate Democrats released their version of Obama’s Health Care Reform (a.k.a. Obama-Care) legislation.

Click Here to Download the Senate Version

Here are the details:

- The official title of the bill is: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

- The Bill is 2074 pages

- The Congressional Budget Office estimates it will cost approximately $849 Billion over 10 years (just shy of Obama’s limit of $900 Billion).

- Cost savings, estimated by the CBO, would result in the cutting of the Federal Deficit by $127 Billion over the first 10 years and potentially as much as $650 Billion over the following 10 years (Critics point out this figure is based upon a number of ‘perfect conditions’ and therfore may not prove to be accurate).

- Most Americans would be required to carry Health Insurance or face steep penalties.

- Large companies would be required to provide coverage for their workers.

- Insurance companies would not be allowed to deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

- The legislation includes a government ran insurance plan (States would be allowed to Opt out of).

- It is estimated to extend Health Care coverage to 31 million or result over 94% of the population having coverage.

Senator Reid is expected to hold a procedural vote on Thursday. To move the bill into the next stage he will need a minimum of 60 votes during that session. If that happens, then Reid is expected to open debate on the bill as early as Saturday with the hope of passage before the end of the year (which would also require 60 supporting votes). However obtaining those first 60 votes may prove difficult.

Currently there are at least four moderate Democrats and one independent who have not signed on to Reid’s plan. Those Senators are:

Sen. Ben Nelson (D – Nebraska)
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D – Arkansas)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D – Louisiana)
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I – Connecticut)

Without at least some of these votes, as Republicans are expected to vote as a block (with few if any exceptions) against the bill, the bill would not pass.

Additional Information:

Senator Reid told reporters Wednesday, “We all acknowledge this legislation is a tremendous step forward… Why? Because it saves lives, saves money and protects Medicare, makes Medicare stronger.”

When asked if he would vote for the bill, Sen. Ben Nelson stated “As I’ve said many times before I won’t decide how I’ll vote on the motion to proceed until I know what I’m voting on…To do otherwise would be like deciding before the opening kickoff of a football game to punt on first down. Once I have the ball—or the bill—and can assess the situation, I’ll be ready to call a play.”

Source: ABC News, CBS News, New York Times, Fox News

To Read Online or Download the CBO report on Tort Reform, Click <HERE>

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