Following passage of a repeal bill by the Republican-controlled House, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) vowed to block a similar bill in the Senate. But since then, Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said it was possible for Republicans to bring the bill to a Senate vote.
A Senate vote would pressure Democrats from conservative states seeking reelection in 2012 to reconsider their support of the reform bill. These include Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Claire McCaskill of Missouri. But even if they switched sides, a repeal bill would presumably need 60 votes to pass in the Senate.
Sen. Chuck Shumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats would respond to a repeal effort by forcing votes on popular provisions of the healthcare law, such as allowing children to remain on their parents’ health policies until age 26.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on the healthcare reform law.
Read more on efforts to repeal the healthcare law:
–House Passes Repeal of Reform Law, Hearings Are Next Step
–Four House Committees Map Out Plans Against Healthcare Reform
–New House Speaker Answers Democrats’ Arguments Against Repeal
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
