Senate Democrats on Thursday sent a message to President Barack Obama to take it easy, eliminating the possibility that the proposed health system reform may be voted in the summer and aggravating the problems that the plan could confront the extent that time passes.
“It’s OK’’said the president willingly.” Just keep working.”
No one is suggesting that the delay is tantamount to defeat. In fact, the highest ranking Democrat in the Senate proposed a bipartisan bill. But Obama has been pressing for a rapid approval that he can sign to expand medical coverage to all Americans and control the excessive costs of medical system. And he is counting on rapid action while maintaining the popularity of its first year.
Their enemies are Republicans contented with a delay of game in the hope of weakening, if not dissolve, the historic changes in the way it is provided and paid for health care in the United States. But are not they who are causing the immediate problem: the divisions within the ranks of Democrats have blocked legislation.
While he confirmed that there will be no vote in the Senate before Congress leaves for vacation in early August, the Democratic leaders of the legislature expressed optimism regarding the outline of a bipartisan bill in the next two weeks .
It offered no security for the Democrats in the House of Representatives, many of whom are reluctant to vote for a tax increase of $ 540.000 million to help pay for the reforms unless the Senate also are willing to risk their re-election year next. Leaving a contentious meeting of leaders, Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking Democrat in the House in Washington, asked to cancel the August recess if not approving a bill.
On a trip to Ohio, Obama will diminish the significance of the delay. “I want to do well, but I also want to be done soon”, said Obama.
The president compared the reform of the medical system to NASA’s Apollo program, which carried astronauts to the moon 40 years ago. “We can do it”, he said.
But many are questioning the bills that emerged from the House and Senate in recent weeks. In the House, Democrats and moderate conservatives are reacting against a trend of liberal legislation, drafted by the authority figures of the party. In the Senate, the Democrats insist on managing a moderate agreement with a group of Republicans who are willing to talk.
Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada and the leader of the majority in the Senate, suggested that the slowness may be prudent at this time.
“It is better to have a product based on the quality and dedication to the fact that no force’’said Reid, to make the official announcement of the delay. His words were almost an echo of those of moderate Republicans who support extensive changes, but critics the rush to Obama.
Reid said the decision to postpone the vote was taken on Wednesday night in hopes of producing a final bill that could have at least 60 votes in the Senate. Reid said he had heard requests from senior Republicans who are working to give more time to the emergence of a settlement.
Liberals feel extremely frustrated by the delay and the concessions are moderates.
“The Finance Committee is still dragging its feet and back to the same. It is time to decide’’said Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, in a telephone interview with the press of your state.
In the House, Democratic leaders have been struggling to convince reluctant moderates and conservatives of the party members are demanding changes. The dispute has led Henry Waxman, California Democrat who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, to postpone work on the legislation for three days while it negotiates with seven Democrats who are part of a group of fiscal conservatives.
Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat and chairman of the House of Representatives, does not exclude the possibility of working to keep lawmakers in August to get the bill, but said that it might not be necessary.
“Do not fear to August. It is one months”Pelosi said.” What interests me is that the more quickly enact a law of health care for the American people will be better. We will take a vote once it is ready, and then we have the votes to pass”he said.
Underscoring the deep divisions among Democrats, Black Political Council members of Congress said they were Obama yy leaders were doing too many concessions to the Democrats and Conservatives have called a meeting with the president.
I have concerns about the Obama Healthcare Plan. Will it create costly changes on my loved ones standard of living? Do the improvements overshadow the bad aspects?