Democratic Congressional Campaign Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said today the political battle on health care is just starting since the 2010 elections hinge on members being able to clearly explain what is — and isn’t — in the final legislation.
“Once the to-and-froing and giving-and-taking in Washington is finally settled,” Van Hollen told reporters in a briefing at the DNC headquarters, “it’s very important we go out and very clearly explain the benefits of the bill.”
Van Hollen said people will “need to understand” the specifics and repeatedly stressed Congress isn’t done with the debate, saying “we haven’t passed a bill yet.”
“Our challenge will be to make it clear the status quo of rising premiums is the problem,” he said.
Van Hollen said he also wants to make sure more of the health care benefits from the bill are “immediately available” so voters have something to be happy with. One element that goes into effect right away, he said, is closing the Medicare “doughnut hole.”
“Most of the major provisions don’t kick in for some time,” he said. “What is already kicking in, in absence of the bill, are rapidly rising premiums as a result of the status quo.”
As we reported earlier, Van Hollen defended former DNC Chairman Howard Dean as critical to the process but said the Senate debate is just a step before the House gets back involved in the details.
“There are a whole lot of questions,” he said. “They are still trying to figure it out on the Senate side.”
“In the House we believe our bill is a strong bill. This is a long way from over we don’t have a final product yet.”
TPMDC asked Van Hollen how he plans to protect members politically if they vote against the final health care bill, and he said the DCCC will “defend and support every one of our members” in the diverse caucus.
Members “will have to expalin to their constituents who support the health care reform bill why they voted against it,” he said, predicting those voters will still side with the Democrat given the “breadth” of their voting record on other issues.
