America's Health Insurance Plans -- the AHIP -- may find that the numbers it released yesterday have gotten the insurance industry into more hot water. Politico is reporting this morning that Congress was no more pleased by the timing and obstructive nature of AHIP's report than was the White House. Now Republicans appear to be backing away from AHIP's report.
White House and Senate officials hinted at the possibility of legislative payback for releasing a report Democrats described as deeply flawed and self-serving. At the very least, officials said, it will help Democrats close ranks behind the Finance Committee bill, which had come under fire from the progressives as too moderate.
They also predicted liberal lawmakers will go harder after the insurers, perhaps by proposing a cap on premiums or solidifying support for the government insurance plan. “They have opened themselves up,” said a senior Senate Democratic aide. “It is an incredibly stupid strategic blunder. If you are going to fire a shot like this, you fire a good shot.”
NPR's health care reporter, Julie Rovner, said this morning that there is now an "air of inevitability" on Capital Hill about the passage of health care reform.
Elsewhere, Politico describes a growing split in the Democratic party between those who embrace the old ways and new progressives who are insisting on a more ethical -- and effective -- Democratic Congress.
Earlier this year, Reid defended Democratic moderates and conservatives when a liberal advocacy group with ties to Obama threatened to air ads against party members who opposed the public option.
Now, more than 79,000 people have signed a Progressive Change Campaign Committee petition urging Reid to strip the chairmanship of any Democratic senator who votes to filibuster health care reform.
The response from Reid’s No. 2, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.): “We’ve never done that. We’re not going to do that.”
True enough, Dick. Ethical and effective are too darn much to ask of most members of the Senate.
