The House and Senate appear increasingly likely to bypass a formal conference committee on a health care bill and instead work out an informal agreement between top Democrats as a way to avoid further parliamentary delays by Senate Republicans. Top Democrats probably will have the House call up the Senate-passed version of the health care bill and add the new compromise language via an amendment. Then the bill would go back to the Senate to be cleared.
A top Senate leadership aide confirmed the plan on Monday morning elements of which have been under consideration for several weeks. But an aide to House Democratic leadership would not go as far saying only that the idea was under discussion and that members would talk about it this week.
There are several reasons for Senate Democrats to favor the plan.
The process of going to conference requires three separate motions in the Senate all of which can be filibustered and which could significantly delay Democrats goal of getting a bill to President Obama by late January or early February.
GOP resistance last month forced Senate Democratic leaders to keep the chamber in session for the second most consecutive days in its history in order to pass a health plan.
The Senate passed its legislation on the morning of Christmas Eve by a vote of 60-39. The House bill passed in that chamber on Nov. 7 by a vote of 220-215.
The House has yet to agree to an informal conference process partly because it could give the chamber less leverage. Senate Democrats have noted that unified Republican opposition to their health care bill makes it an imperative for the House to accept the Senate bill more or less whole.
House chairmen and leadership are here this week theres a meeting tomorrow on the House side to discuss it" said a senior aide to House Democratic leadership.
The aide said that the full House Democratic caucus will meet on Thursday with some members joining in by phone to discuss the House strategy going forward. Well go from there" said the aide.
The House and Senate appear increasingly likely to bypass a formal conference committee on a health care bill and instead work out an informal agreement between top Democrats as a way to avoid further parliamentary delays by Senate Republicans. Top Democrats probably will have the House call up the Senate-passed version of the health care bill and add the new compromise language via an amendment. Then the bill would go back to the Senate to be cleared.
A top Senate leadership aide confirmed the plan on Monday morning elements of which have been under consideration for several weeks. But an aide to House Democratic leadership would not go as far saying only that the idea was under discussion and that members would talk about it this week.
There are several reasons for Senate Democrats to favor the plan.
The process of going to conference requires three separate motions in the Senate all of which can be filibustered and which could significantly delay Democrats goal of getting a bill to President Obama by late January or early February.
GOP resistance last month forced Senate Democratic leaders to keep the chamber in session for the second most consecutive days in its history in order to pass a health plan.
The Senate passed its legislation on the morning of Christmas Eve by a vote of 60-39. The House bill passed in that chamber on Nov. 7 by a vote of 220-215.
The House has yet to agree to an informal conference process partly because it could give the chamber less leverage. Senate Democrats have noted that unified Republican opposition to their health care bill makes it an imperative for the House to accept the Senate bill more or less whole.
House chairmen and leadership are here this week theres a meeting tomorrow on the House side to discuss it" said a senior aide to House Democratic leadership.
The aide said that the full House Democratic caucus will meet on Thursday with some members joining in by phone to discuss the House strategy going forward. Well go from there" said the aide.
