WASHINGTON WIRE
April 24, 2009
Issue 197
BUDGET CONFEREES NAMED; PRESS REPORTS POTENTIAL BUDGET RECONCILIATION COMPROMISE
Senate Finance Committee Hosts First Roundtable on Healthcare Reform
After Delay, Senate to Vote on Sebelius Nomination April 28
Top Story
BUDGET CONFEREES NAMED; PRESS REPORTS POTENTIAL BUDGET RECONCILIATION COMPROMISE
Democratic and Republican Conferees in the House and Senate have possibly reached a compromise on whether to include budget reconciliation in the FY 2010 budget. The final resolution might include reconciliation instructions to the Senate Finance and HELP Committees to find savings of $1 billion each and also language that would allow Senate Democrats to avoid a filibuster.
But there may be some exceptions. On Thursday, April 23, the Senate passed 78-14 a motion instructing conferees on the Budget Resolution to include a 60-vote point of order against any health care legislation that shifts Americans from private health insurance into public insurance.
Budget conferees are:
Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Judd Gregg (R-NH); and Representatives John Spratt (D-SC), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
Health Care News
Senate Finance Committee Hosts First Roundtable on Healthcare Reform
The Senate Finance Committee heard delivery reform recommendations from over a dozen stakeholders at the committee's first roundtable discussion on healthcare reform. The recommendations focused on improving the Medicare delivery system to provide more coordinated care for patients with chronic illnesses.
On April 29, committee members will meet privately to continue the delivery reform discussion. The committee has also scheduled roundtables on health care coverage (May 5) and reform financing (May 14). The Senate Finance and HELP Committees each plan to mark-up separate healthcare reform legislation in mid-June. It is unclear when the House will consider a healthcare reform bill.
After Delay, Senate to Vote on Sebelius Nomination April 28
The Senate is scheduled to vote Tuesday, April 28, on Kathleen Sebelius' nomination as HHS secretary. On April 23, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) objected to a call for a floor vote on the Sebelius nomination. If necessary, Majority leader Harry Reid can call for a cloture vote, requiring 60 votes, to overcome any objection on Tuesday.
On April 21, the Senate Finance Committee approved the nomination 15-8 for a full Senate vote. President Obama announced his administration's selection of Sebelius as the next chief of HHS on Monday, March 2. Sebelius' selection came on the heels of Secretary-designate Tom Daschle's withdrawal of his nomination because of tax issues.
Upcoming Events
Hearings
Monday, April 27
Fiscal 2010 Budget
Conference Committee
1 p.m., S-115 Capitol Bldg.
Tuesday, April 28
State Experiences with Health Care Revision
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Full Committee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Wednesday, April 29
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
House Ways and Means Committee
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.
Thursday, April 30
Revising Access to Health Care
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Mental Health Needs of Veterans
House Veterans' Affairs - Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.
For More Information
For further information on any topics discussed or publications listed, or to get copies of anything mentioned in this alert, please call (202) 466-6550 and ask for the Legislative Practice Group.
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