Next Step on Health Care Reform

From The Wall Street Journal:

Any success by the Republicans in blocking or modifying the measure containing changes could cause political problems for Democrats. That is because it erases some of the less-popular parts of the main bill, such as a deal the Senate made to help Nebraska, alone, with Medicaid costs.

The second bill would also close the "doughnut hole," a gap in Medicare prescription-drug coverage; increase insurance subsides for low-income Americans; narrow and delay a tax on high-value plans; and help states pay for Medicaid.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) plans to pass this bill under a process called reconciliation, which needs just a majority of 51 votes. Democrats say they can fend off changes and pass it.

But reconciliation, which is permitted only for budgetary moves, gives Republicans tools for objecting to items in the bill. If parliamentary or legislative challenges change even one word, the measure will have to go back to the House. That could be another headache for Democrats. "Each day spent talking about health care and not about jobs and the economy is a bad day for Democrats," said Kenneth Duberstein, a former Reagan White House chief of staff.