The House Cloakroom by Dan Ziegler Analysis: The House will be busy next week trying to wrap up business for the year before going on break. The main piece of legislation on their plate will be finishing up the last appropriations spending bill, which will be used to tack on so called “job creating measures” like unemployment benefits, food stamp programs, and COBRA health insurance subsidies. Make sure to watch Minority Whip Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) speech at Heritage last week where he laid out his “No Cost Stimulus” plan. Also …
Analysis – With the first half of the health care bill now passed out of the House the Speaker now pivots to the second half of the health care bill commonly referred to as the “doc fix.” The “doc fix” refers to the undoing of the flawed Medicare payment update formula, which Congress created but has routinely stopped from being enforced. Under current law, that formula would result in a 20 percent reduction in doctors’ pay under the Medicare program. This bill would cost another $210 billion, with long term …
Analysis – With the passage of the health care bill on Saturday night the House is now out of session for the entire week. Major Floor Action – None.
Analysis – After unveiling her 1,990 page health care bill late this week, Speaker Pelosi hopes to have the bill on the House floor by Thursday with work possibly going into Saturday or even into the following week to finish consideration of the legislation. A manager’s amendment is expected to be introduced on Monday with additional details. However, no one is exactly sure how this will play out or if the Speaker has the necessary votes to pass the legislation. You can bet this will dominant the discussion in Washington. …
