dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304688104579463801039524202?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304688104579463801039524202.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_WSJ_US_News_5

The Move Stirs a Party Debate About Wisdom of Keeping Spotlight on the Measure's Flaws



By KRISTINA PETERSON CONNECT
March 26, 2014 7:38 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON—Several centrist Senate Democrats, including some up for re-election this fall, are planning to push for changes to the Affordable Care Act—a move that has stirred debate within the party about whether making these fixes would keep the spotlight trained on the health law's flaws.

Democrats in Congress have vowed to keep—and improve—President Barack Obama's health-care overhaul, but their recent efforts have been overshadowed by controversial White House tweaks and delays. The last significant change to the law was the 2011 repeal of a tax-reporting requirement affecting small-business owners.

Hoping to change that, Democratic Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia, Mark Begich of Alaska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, as well as Sen. Angus King (I., Maine), plan to introduce as soon as Thursday a set of principles and legislation aimed at strengthening the health law, according to lawmakers and Senate Democratic aides.



"I've always been a believer that the law was not perfect, but you should continue to work to improve it," Mr. Begich said in an interview Wednesday. "People are seeing that as it's implemented, there are tweaks you need to do and there's just nothing wrong with that."

Among the proposals likely to be included is one backed by Messrs. Begich and Warner offering a new kind of insurance plan, a "copper" plan featuring lower premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs than the "bronze," "silver" and "gold" options on the government-run health-care exchanges.

Lawmakers also would like to make health care more affordable for small businesses by expanding certain tax credits and making them available for longer. And Mr. Warner said on Fox News earlier this week that he favors enabling the sale of health insurance across state lines, an idea that has garnered interest among House Republicans as well. Other bills are expected to be introduced, with an emphasis on changes that don't undercut the law's foundations, aides said.

It is unclear if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) would bring any of the bills to the floor. One worry is that devoting Senate debate to the health-care changes would return attention to the law's glitches, rather than refocusing attention on Democrats' core issues, Democratic aides said. So far the Senate hasn't voted on any of the three bills the House passed with bipartisan support earlier this month to make modest changes to the health law.



See the rates for health plans available through HealthCare.gov, the federal insurance exchange.



Earlier
Republican Candidates Slam Health Law in Ads (3/19/14)
Democrats Buck Leaders in House and Senate (3/5/14)
Fractures Emerge Between Obama, Congressional Democrats (2/3/14)
And even if any of the measures were brought to the floor,Republicans might balk at helping Democrats improve a law whose unpopularity is central to the GOP's midterm strategy. Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) said Wednesday he would be in favor of making immediate fixes, but other Republicans expressed reservations. "These folks have voted for that bad piece of legislation [are] now having remorse," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R., Ga.), who said his vote would depend on the legislation. Democrats "want to try to do something political to a very unpopular piece of legislation," he said.

Many Democrats in tight races this fall have made clear they are committed to keeping the health law but want to fix it, drawing a distinction with Republicans who want to scrap it entirely. "The law is very good; it has some very good parts to it," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat running for re-election in conservative-leaning Louisiana. "I do not believe it should be repealed—my opponents do."

Democratic strategists said passing legislative fixes could help vulnerable lawmakers more than administrative changes that immediately come under fire from Republicans. "Democrats should fight back hard on what eliminating Obamacare would mean, and they also should demonstrate a willingness to make Obamacare better," said Democratic strategist Steve Murphy.

On Wednesday Democratic leaders offered a broad outline of issues they intend to bring up for votes in the coming months, including a push to raise the minimum wage, paycheck fairness legislation, and efforts to encourage affordable college tuition and child care.

"Concerns of the middle class can trump the Republican attacks on the Affordable Care Act because what Americans really care about is making their lives better," Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) told reporters.

—Michael R. Crittenden contributed to this article.

Write to Kristina Peterson at kristina.peterson@wsj.com

dljen Loc: Central PA

I'd like to see this and if the Republicans would like to offer changes, it would be nice if the parties could work together for a change and improve the law. President Obama knows it's far from a perfect law but when ppl only seek to abolish it instead of improving, what can he do? So much for pipe dreams. It will be a cold day in hell when this congress works together... :-(

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

they can't even come up with a candidate.

dljen Loc: Central PA

They still have plenty of time. First, the Republicans are going to have to decide what their party stands for. They offer a very small tent as is.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

It was never designed to be "perfect." It was designed to disrupt commerce, healthcare, and give control of all aspects of people's lives to the government. The "Single Payer System" was what Obama wanted all along. "Fixing" it won't happen - kill the damn thing before it can do more harm!

tom kf4wol

Now...it has sunk in...No re-Election perhaps and Fat City for them???

Demo-Brain's will do anything to keep from being flushed out of their "Plush Royal Senate Seat's"...duh??

Why did they ever come up with this Ovoodocare crap in the first place...because they were all Oval Office Muslim Lapdogs???

That's my Fust Amendment opin.....last time I read the Constitution prior to it being shredded by the Oval Office Muslim and his Kennel of Lapdogs, I still had the right to express it......Whoop's I for got about the NSA...National Snooper's Assoc.

Black Bart Loc: Indiana

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

and you kill more hospitals in the process :roll:

Black Bart Loc: Indiana

The republicans have made several proposals but whorehouse harry will not allow anything to come to the floor for a vote.
It is a sad day when one idiot can keep our government from functioning.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

yup they have.. get rid of health care, medicare, ss, and replace it all with vouchers. no thank you.. you can keep paul ryan. thank you very much... :!: :roll:

Black Bart Loc: Indiana

Paul Ryan is a fool I would never vote for him but he is no worse than Dirty Harry just another politician.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

him and his running buddy.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Ah, the Law from Hell! And I ask yet again, where is the rational Republican response?

tom kf4wol

To Heck with National Repuke Response, how about just some plain ole Common Sense response to the fact the Elected Moron's are in the process of destroying not the perfect Health Care System..

But the best Healthcare System in the World where People's of all Nation have come for treatment...including the other Muslim Kings, besides the one in our Oval Office!!!@

Our Healthcare System is now Ovoodocare, with a Web Site that is a disaster....a Dictator in the Oval Office who keeps changing it on one whim after another....mostly to get his Kennel of Lapdogs re-elected.

It is a disaster...regardless of what Political Party take or spin anyone wants to put on it.

Personally, I know locally of many who have lost good insurance, have no success in getting on the site, rates are higher, etc., etc.

My daughter and son in Law both Professional's are having a difficult time getting their Healthcare organized after this Ovoodocare Mess destroyed the coverage they had for themselves, their three son's and the employees of my son in law's business.

Wake up America, regardless my B.S. and other's on this get it off your chest forum....We need some real Change for America back to good Ole Common Sense.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

i'm not liking your voodocare either. but something has to be done. people not paying their emergency care. are closing hospitals. and other care centers.