By John Amick

House Democrats are poised to advance their vision of a health-care reform plan this week, as the heads of crucial committees involved (Ways and Means, Health, and Commerce) will meet with members to discuss their plans thus far. Democrats are reportedly considering taxing employer-provided health benefits, a provision President Obama, who will visit Wisconsin this week to push reform, has said he would not rule out, though he attacked the idea in the 2008 presidential campaign.

CQ reports that taxing such benefits won't garner enough revenue to pay for the entire $1 trillion it will cost for every American to have insurance, but it will make a substantial dent at $418.5 billion over the next ten years. The plan will likely mirror Sen. Ted Kennedy's bill circulating in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The New York Times reports on the gaping hole Kennedy's absence leaves in negotiations. “He is the only guy who can bring us together, temper the demands of liberal advocacy groups and steer people toward a pragmatic solution,” said Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

But as proposals circulate, opponents are speaking up. Roll Call reports on strange bedfellows within the insurance industry and business community scrambling to deflect any public plan options or new taxes on employers. And, of course, fiscal hawks are worried of ballooning deficits such a plan could cause. USA Today checks in with the ever-important Senate moderates that have received much attention in the reform push, a la the stimulus package debate.

By washingtonpost.com editors  |  June 9, 2009; 9:30 AM ET
Categories:  Daily Dose Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble Previous: Senate Republicans Send Obama Letter Opposing Public Health Plan
Next: House Proposal on Health Care Prompts Question of Affordability

Posted by: 1pau1l | June 10, 2009 12:26 AM | Report abuse

The comments to this entry are closed.