Health Care For America Now

NEWS

Hoyer, Reid move to finish healthcare reform legislation before the end of 2009 - The Hill

The House could be in session until nearly Christmas Eve to try to win final passage on a healthcare bill.

AP Sources: Reid eyes payroll tax hike on wealthy - Associated Press

Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering a plan for higher payroll taxes on the upper-income earners to help finance health care legislation he intends to introduce in the Senate in the next several days, numerous Democratic officials said Wednesday.

Health-Bill Battle Won't Get a Recess - Wall Street Journal

The fight over the future of the U.S. health-care system is heading outside the Beltway this week, as groups on all sides take advantage of Congress's Veterans Day recess to put pressure on lawmakers.

Initially waved off, Hispanic advocates jump into health debate - Washington Post

After trying to carefully balance their interests in health-care reform and immigration, the nation's Hispanic lawmakers and largest advocacy groups are scrambling to develop a strategy to counter what they see as efforts to shortchange immigrants in health bills on Capitol Hill.

OPINION

The House Health Care Bill Makes Progress For Gay Rights - Think Progress

Gay rights advocates are hoping that certain LGBT-friendly provisions now part of the House health care legislation “will be incorporated into the final bill” once the Senate and House bills are “reconciled in conference.”

Four ways to end the filibuster - Ezra Klein

Steve Pearlstein wants to bring the filibuster back to its first principles: Ensuring unlimited debate. His suggestion is to kill the filibuster but promise the minority that debate can continue until "a bill is passed or defeated or Senators agree to give up and go home."