Government health insurance option appears doomed (AP)

[jefferson_dem]

Government health insurance option appears doomed

WASHINGTON – Senior House Democrats have largely abandoned hopes of including a government-run insurance option in the final compromise health care bill taking shape, according to several officials, and are pushing for other measures to rein in private insurers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other senior Democrats told President Barack Obama in recent meetings they want the legislation to strip the insurance industry of a long-standing exemption from federal antitrust laws, officials said. That provision is in the House-passed measure, but was omitted from the bill that the Senate passed on Christmas Eve.

They also want the final measure to include a House-passed proposal for a nationwide insurance exchange, to be regulated by the federal government, where consumers could shop for private coverage. The Senate bill calls for a state-based system of exchanges.

Additionally, House Democrats want to require insurers to spend a minimum amount of premium income on benefits, thereby limiting what is available for salaries, bonuses, advertising and other items. The House bill sets the floor at 85 percent; the Senate-passed measure lowers it to 80 percent for policies sold to small groups and individuals.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private.

The maneuvering comes as the White House and majority Democrats intensify efforts to agree on a final measure, possibly before Obama delivers his State of the Union address late this month or early in February.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100109/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

[villager]

1. "I get on my knees and pray: I won't get fooled again...!"

[jefferson_dem]

Get out your "Squeeze Box" and "Pictures of Lily" if needed for distraction.

:)

[secondwind]

2. I wonder if Nancy and Harry are trying to stay one step ahead of those grumbling

that the HCR is "UNCONSTITUTIONAL"........

just sayin'.

I hope we can ram this sucker right down their (Republicans) throats!

[dkf]

3. Of course it is doomed.

To think otherwise was hopeful but naive. Obama said he didn't campaign on It and while that is untrue it tells you where they are pushing.

[jefferson_dem]

4. That headline is really old news.

There are some interesting tidbits in the rest of the write-up, however.

On a related note, see this - http://www.nowhampshire.com/2010/01/09/shea-porter-goes-rogue-on-health-reform/

[GeorgeGist]

5. Yes it's old ...

but still relevant to the Audacity of false Hope.

[jefferson_dem]

6. Speaking of old...

Find a new snark. That one's been run around the block dozens of times.