Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
White House backs healthcare deal, sees victory
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
White House backs healthcare deal, sees victory
Reuters - Monday, December 21
Send
IM Story
Print
By Andy Sullivan
WASHINGTON - The White House on Sunday sought to preserve the fragile alliance of Democratic liberals and moderates backing broad healthcare reform legislation, with tough decisions looming on abortion and a new government-run insurance program.
The White House predicted that the bill, President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, will win final congressional passage, and called it a major achievement even if it does not give Obama and his fellow Democrats everything they want.
"While it is not perfect, the bill pending in the Senate today is not just good enough -- it is very good," Vice President Joe Biden wrote in a New York Times opinion piece.
Democratic holdout Ben Nelson announced his support for the Senate legislation on Saturday after securing language aimed at ensuring federal funds are not used to pay for abortions and winning extra healthcare funds for his home state of Nebraska.
Nelson's support gave Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid the 60 votes he needs in the 100-seat Senate to pass Obama's top domestic priority by Christmas.
Senate Democrats are planning a series of crucial procedural votes scheduled to begin at 1 a.m. on Monday, with debate possibly concluding with final Senate passage on Christmas Eve on Thursday.
But Democrats still have a lot of hard work ahead as they look towards ironing out differences between the healthcare bill already passed by the House of Representatives last month and the version Senate Democrats hope to pass this week.
The Senate bill would extend coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans, expand the Medicaid government health insurance program for the poor, provide subsidies to help some people pay for coverage and halt industry practices like refusing insurance to people with pre-existing medical conditions.
House and Senate negotiators will have to work out abortion language that satisfies abortion opponents like Nelson and Representative Bart Stupak without chasing off liberal abortion rights supporters. Stupak, who pushed more restrictive language on abortion in the House bill, said the compromise Senate language crafted by Nelson was "not acceptable."
PUBLIC OPTION
Democrats must decide on including a government insurance program to compete with private insurers. Liberals want the "public option," which is in the House bill, but not the Senate one. And they will have agree on how to fund the reform, with the House and Senate versions taking two different approaches.
Nelson told CNN's "State of the Union" program on Sunday that if the final bill that emerges from the House-Senate negotiations includes a public option, he could not vote for it. He also indicated that if the legislation is paid for the way the House measure proposes, "That would break it."
Democratic Senator Kent Conrad, a fiscal hawk and chairman of the Budget Committee, said the final bill will have to hew closely to the Senate's version in order win final passage.
"Anybody who's watched this process can see how challenging it has been to get 60 votes," he said on "Fox News Sunday."
Congress has been tied up for months in acrimonious debate over healthcare reform legislation, with Republicans saying the Democratic measure is too costly and too intrusive into the healthcare sector.
Healthcare costs devour 16 percent of the U.S. economy -- burdening states and the federal government while also hurting the competitiveness of U.S. businesses -- even as tens of millions remain with no public or private health insurance.
White House senior advisor David Axelrod predicted congressional passage but declined to say when he thought the two chambers would iron out their significant differences, or which version he preferred.
"I think it will pass the Congress," Axelrod said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "I think we're going to get it done."
Republicans said they would continue to erect procedural roadblocks even with Senate passage likely.
"We must look back and say, 'We did everything we can to prevent this terrible mistake from taking place,'" Republican Senator John McCain said on the "Fox News Sunday" program, referring to the Democrats' healthcare bill.
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, a medical doctor who is an influential figure in the Democratic Party's left wing, said he did not support the Senate bill but would wait to see what emerges from talks between the House and Senate.
More improvements are possible after the bill becomes law, Axelrod said. The Obama administration will seek to allow Americans to buy prescription drugs that have been imported from other countries such as Canada, where medicines often cost less, he said. The Senate turned back efforts to include drug re-importation in the healthcare bill.
"There's no reason why Americans should pay a premium for the pharmaceuticals that people in other countries pay less for, and we will move forward on it," Axelrod said on CNN's "State of Union."
Obama supported drug re-importation during last year's presidential campaign, but his administration recently issued a letter from the Food and Drug Administration citing safety concerns.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Mullen applauds air strikes against al-Qaida AP - 2 hours 33 minutes ago
Madagascar's Rajoelina unilaterally names premier AP - 2 hours 40 minutes ago
Top Iran dissident cleric Montazeri dies at 87 Reuters - 2 hours 57 minutes ago
China: Climate talks yielded 'positive' results AP - 2 hours 59 minutes ago
Cuba's Castro: Climate agreement is 'undemocratic' AP - Monday, December 21
News Search
Top Stories
Thousands hit in second day of Eurostar standstill
Dutch sports carmaker Spyker makes new bid for Saab
London Stock Exchange set to take over rival: reports
Wall Street hesitates in face of new economic realities
Pope moves wartime pontiff closer to sainthood
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Dwindling roster of sponsors for Tiger Woods
Wall Street hesitates in face of new economic realities
'Avatar' director Cameron gets Hollywood star
Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports
Thousands hit in second day of Eurostar standstill
More Most Viewed »
Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports
Virgin unveils spaceship to offer space tourism
Brazilian confesses to sticking needles into two-year-old
Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview
Woods' mother-in-law rushed to hospital
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 21 December 2009 Top Iran dissident cleric Montazeri dies at 87
Thousands hit in second day of Eurostar standstill
Sudan passes security bill despite protests
Cold snap causes holiday travel chaos in Europe
Yemen rebels say Saudi air raids kill 54
|
Iraq PM in Cairo to improve ties with Egypt
London Stock Exchange set to take over rival: reports
Dutch sports carmaker Spyker makes new bid for Saab
Suspected Turkish coup plotter kills self
Hariri sees new page in Lebanon ties with Syria
Colombia says faces external military threat
|
Mourners heap flowers by Mexican drug lord's coffin
|
UNDP calls on wealthy Arab states to help neighbors
|
Madagascar leader names colonel as prime minister
|
White House backs healthcare deal, sees victory
Despite aid, hunger still stalks Afghan children
Obama plan could limit records hidden from public
Karzai defends Cabinet picks
INSIDE WASHINGTON: An anti-whistleblower culture
Analysis: Hard reality as US pushes Pakistan
No praise sung for holly, ivy in Northwest forests
Astronauts geared for yuletide space adventure
US sends 12 Gitmo detainees to their home nations
China to try prominent dissident on Wednesday -l awyer
Storm crawls into New England, leaving mess behind
Airlines across East Coast dig out from big storm
White House urges compromise on health care reform
US decries Cambodia's deportation of Uighurs
Hyundai Motor announces China truck venture
Actress Brittany Murphy dead: report
|
Avatar earns $73 million in box office
|
Friend: Polanski finishing film under house arrest
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
`Avatar' blasts off with $232.2 million worldwide
Iran to punish unauthorised filmmakers: report
Some Iranians arrested on way to funeral
Christmas chaos as cold cripples Eurostar trains
China praises Cambodia as Uighurs deported
|
Russian railways enter modern age with new express
Iran's Mousavi in Qom for cleric's funeral
Google gets digital foothold in France
Thousands warned to flee Philippine volcano zone
Large turnout for Iran cleric's funeral: website
|
Sinn Fein chief Adams says father was child sex abuser
Polish police recover Auschwitz sign
|
BBC says Persian service being jammed
Missing Dutch sailor girl found on St. Martin
|
US actress Brittany Murphy dies at 32: police
Cold snap strands thousands of European travellers
Iran's opposition to mourn dissident cleric
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood faces election rift
|
China gets Myanmar assurances on pipeline, border
|
Parents of captured Israeli soldier plead for his release
Chavez launches national police in violent Venezuela
|
Thousands head for Iran dissident cleric's funeral
Italy uses all channels to free Mauritania hostages
|
Iraq scores in oil well standoff, investment
Mexican drug lord buried quietly in family crypt
|
1 dead, 5 hurt in Coast Guard boat collision in CA
Ex-conjoined twins leave hospital on birthday eve
Health bill money for hospital sought by Dodd
US sent American to help Cuba's opposition: Castro
North Korea declares disputed waters 'firing zone'
21 militants killed in Afghan operations
White House presses for health care reform deal
Philippine volcano gets louder, could blow up soon
Protests greet top China negotiator on Taiwan visit
India-flagged cargo ship adrift in North Pacific
Thousands warned to flee Philippine volcano zone
Chavez: US spy plane violated Venezuela's airspace
Castro: Obama seeking to topple Cuban communism
Chinese envoy arrives in Taiwan for trade talks
Leading China dissident to be tried Wednesday
US sends home 12 Guantanamo detainees
AP Interview: US dad pins hopes on Brazil judge
Suu Kyi lawyers to appeal sentence
Escalator fire closes NYC's flagship Macy's store
China praises Cambodia as Uighurs deported
Seoul shares slip 0.2 pct after volatile trade
China sovereign fund to get fresh cash injection
Japan's exports fall at slowest pace in 14 months
Turkish cinema shrugs off cliches over Kurdish issue
Stiglitz warns US economy may contract next year
LG Display claims world's thinnest TV panel
BRIEF-Moody's: Korean banking system profile has been improving
NZ farmer confidence logs first gain in year-survey
Clueless star Brittany Murphy dead at 32
|
New movie trailers could boost Oscar ratings
|
PAKISTAN
S.Korea sees around $3.5 bln trade surplus in Dec
Seoul shares slip weighed by banks;techs rise
Valentino documentary kept afloat by credit cards
|
Rockers Def Leppard developing cartoon series
|
"Clueless" star Brittany Murphy dead at 32
Knightley picks unrewarding play for London debut
|
Papers on British palaces' upkeep could be released
Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel hits flat note
|
Natalie White wins 'Survivor,' collects $1M prize
"Alvin and the Chipmunks" sequel hits flat note
Turkish cinema shrugs off cliches over Kurdish issue
Knightley picks unrewarding play for London debut
Cuba boogies to Kool & the Gang
Valentino documentary kept afloat by credit cards
Jeff Daniels speaks at Univ. of Mich. graduation
Israel close to deciding on prisoner swap
Winter transport chaos grows in Europe
Protests mark funeral of dissident Iranian cleric
|
Missing Dutch teen sailor found in Caribbean
Japan logs trade surplus, boosted by China growth
Demjanjuk unmoved as Holocaust survivors testify
|
Clashes after Montazeri funeral in Iran
Afghan troops kill Taliban attackers, official says
|
Suicide attack kills local leader in northern Iraq
Netanyahu holds marathon talks on Israel-Hamas swap
|
Suicide attack kills local leader in northern Iraq
|
Eurostar halts trains, angry France demands answers
|
Sri Lanka says U.N. wants explanation on Tiger deaths
|
Bus carrying Syrians attacked in Lebanon, one dies
Pope visit to Rome synagogue under cloud
|
Forgotten Stalin victims despair in Kazakh steppe
|
China boosts Cambodia aid after Uighurs deported
Time running out for orangutans: conservationists
Tribunal charges Khmer Rouge "First Lady" with genocide
Barnes & Noble compensates buyers for late Nook
|
Philippine volcano gets louder, could erupt soon
Last Khmer Rouge defendant charged with genocide
Britain blames China over 'farcical' climate talks
President Obama meets with efficiency award winner
U.S. Repatriates 12 Guantanamo Detainees
The nation's weather
Sri Lankan navy seizes rebel arms smuggling ship
One Killed In Collision Between Coast Guard And Recreational Boat In San Diego
FL Governor To Return Money From Ponzi Scheme Bilker
Myanmar's court to review Suu Kyi house arrest
Federal Offices Closed In D.C. Due To Snow
Even after death, Roberts' hand to be felt at ORU
During Midnight Session, Senate Healthcare Bill Passes First Floor Vote
Senate Dems clear hurdle on health care
Mumps Outbreak Reported Among New York Jewish Community
FL Man Accused Of Smothering 83-Year-Old Father To Death With A Pillow
Airport Worker Falls 40 Feet To His Death
Record-breaking storm closes US federal government
Update: Snow Storm Continues To Cause Airport Delays
Who wins, who loses in Senate health bill
Snow Storm A Record Setter In Philly
Iraq initials oil deal with Petronas-Japex group
Pakistani o/n rates ease; rupee firms; stocks up
French firm to sign major deal to equip Chinese jet
Minister: China aims for 2010 GDP growth of 8 pct
Japan's ANA buying 10 Boeing planes
Hundreds gather for rebel's funeral in Papua
China banks need more capital in 2010: report
Japan's exports post slowest decline in 14 months
Jackson's death voted top 2009 entertainment story
Japan's Mizuho, Malaysia's Maybank in business tie-up
New movie trailers could boost Oscar ratings
Avatar leads box office, despite blizzard
|
Police Officers Draw Guns At DC Snowball Fight
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights