Pelosi, Reid Continue to Hammer out Obamacare “Compromise”

In an interview with ABC News, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) says that Congressional leaders and the White House are continuing work to hammer out an Obamacare “compromise” that can be passed by the Congress. Urging them on at a Town Hall meeting yesterday was the President himself.

While Rangel believes the Senate will use the “reconciliation” process to get the job done, Senate leader Harry Reid says that cannot be the first step. “We can’t go first,” said Reid. “I don’t know how procedurally we can start reconciliation.” Reconciliation normally is used only on budget, not policy, issues and allows the Senate to pass a bill shy of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.

Word is that Speaker Pelosi will first attempt to get a smaller bill approved dealing with the health care industry. This bill may not have abortion implications but it is too soon to tell.

Read the ABC News story here.

Barbara Lyons