NEWS

Health Bill Garners Endorsements – Wall Street Journal

AARP and AMA Give Backing to House Measure as Planned Saturday Vote Approaches

White House backs House bill – Politico

The White House will come out strongly in support of the House bill on Friday, an administration source tells POLITICO. The statement of administration policy will lay out the reasons that President Obama endorses the bill.

Two rallies back health-care bill – Jonesboro Sun

“We want reform. We want it now.”

That was the battle cry of about 35 health insurance reform advocates who gathered outside the Craighead County Courthouse on Wednesday at noon.

Democrats Pose Health Bill Hurdle – Wall Street Journal

Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu says she generally backs President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul efforts. But she’d like to see a few items in the bill before voting for it, including bigger federal Medicaid payments for her home state of Louisiana, extended health coverage for her pet cause of foster children, and help for teaching hospitals in her state.

Health care opponents intensify late attack – Boston Globe

The sweeping health care overhaul package before Congress is under an 11th-hour attack over a pair of emotional issues, abortion and immigration, that are complicating Democrats’ efforts to piece together the coalition they need to pass the bill.

As It Turns Out, Republicans Don’t Want Americans To Have Health Care After All – Media Matters

After months of blustering and bluffing, the Republicans have finally released their health care reform proposals.  And while the legislation costs less than the Democratic plan, the Republicans failed to write any language that would ensure coverage for more Americans, ease the financial burden for families, or even prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

OPINION

The House Public Plan: Yes, It’s Worth It – Jacob Hacker and Diane Archer

How short memories are in Washington. A few weeks ago, when it looked possible that Nancy Pelosi could marshal enough Democratic support to create a “robust” public insurance option with rates tied to Medicare’s, everyone was talking about the big savings and reduced premiums that a series of estimates by the CBO showed this option could create. Then, the concern was that the public insurance plan would put private insurers out of business by using the government’s bargaining power to drive too hard a bargain with providers, creating an “un-level” playing field.

Republican Leaders Couldn’t Find Affordable Coverage Under Their Own Health Plan - Think Progress

The Congressional Budget Office has concluded that under the $61 billion Republican amendment to the House health care bill, the number of uninsured Americans would increase to 52 million by 2019, but deficits would decrease by $68 billion over the 2010–2019 period. The bill could slightly reduce premiums for Americans who purchase coverage independently.

The GOP Health Care Plan: A Cruel Joke – Deepak Bhargava

The Republican alternative health care reform bill would be funny if it weren’t so cruel.

(compiled for Health Care for America Now)