White House health care adviser Nancy-Ann DeParle gave House Democrats a complete walk through of the President’s proposed fixes to the Senate health care bill at a caucus meeting this morning, fielding questions, particularly from progressives upset about the White House’s failure to endorse a public option. But the Congressional Budget Office has yet to weigh in on the plan, so the waiting game continues. And some members, eager to get health care off their plates and out of the headlines, are getting nervous.
“It wasn’t the big moment that I think when the all points bulletin went out last night that I think some people thought it was going to be,” Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) told reporters as the meeting let out.
“There wasn’t any more clarity on the tick tock of the process, which is obviously, you know, a deal breaker for some people,” Weiner added.
The reconciliation bill itself, Weiner said, will likely bee less than 100 pages, and will be released at least a week before it comes to the floor for a vote. If that’s correct, it means the House will not be able to act before March 18–the date the White House wants them to press ahead.
“I don’t think we’re gonna do it by the 18th,” Weiner said. He was echoed by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). “I think you’ve seen a lot of commentary that that’s pushing it,” Van Hollen told reporters.
The wait continues.
