No Plans to Appoint a "Formal" House-Senate Conference Committee on Health Reform

January 6, 2010

Republicans will be excluded from process

Representative Harry Waxman (D-CA) "told constituents…on Monday that there would be no formal conference with agreements between the House and Senate leaders packaged into a single amendment to the bill." The purpose is to allow the democratic leaders to work quickly through the two bills and maintain control over the political issues of abortion, Medicare cuts, taxes and the political deals made to ensure the votes needed for passage. Also reported in the January 5, 2010 NAHU Newswire, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus may give up their instance that undocumented immigrants be able to purchase health insurance for a change in immigration laws.

Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce panel's health committee, suggests that the surtax on the wealthy will fail in talks with the Senate. The Senate version included a surtax on the Cadillac health insurance plans. The Medicaid deal made with Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) is still creating a stir. In an article highlighted in today's NAHU Newswire, the Wall Street Journal cites a 1937 Supreme Court case: Helvering v. Davis to support the unconstitutional claim.

The above articles and more can be read in today's NAHU Newswire.

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