The debate over health care, a reporter friend on Capitol Hill remarked to me today, is no longer about the minority of Americans who lack health insurance. Rather, it has become a debate “driven by the concerns of the 85-plus percent who have insurance and are worried about what ‘reform’ would to do them.”
That is the underlying problem Democrats face right now, reflected in this NPR poll. It shows a 47 percent plurality of Americans in opposition to the health care reform plan in Congress, versus 42 percent in favor. (Note how NPR buries this lede in the fourth paragraph.)
Today’s deal between Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and the moderate Democrats on his Energy and Commerce Committee presents yet another problem. Waxman might consider it a victory that he can get a final bill out of committee this week, before the August recess begins. But it also means that he will be leaving an actual, final bill twisting in the wind for at least 30 days.
The NRCC’s John Randall made the case to me that this works to his benefit — and it’s not a hard case to make:
There was a reason Dems were trying to rush this bill through committee and to a floor vote – because it would not pass public scrutiny. If Dems thought the constituent backlash and anger was bad after their Cap & Tax was passed just wait till people have 30+ days to scrutinize this boondoggle.
Things aren’t going to get any better for health reform in the month of August, as critics continue to hammer away. Without a final bill, it would be a lot easier for Democrats to go home for the recess and assuage constituents’ fears by telling them that one provision or another will not be in the final bill.
But once the final House bill is available online later this week, that option will no longer be available.
