By Sarah Mupo -- February 23, 2010
With the televised upcoming bipartisan summit scheduled for Thursday, Democrats have cautiously accepted President Obama's plan for health care reform as the most adequate option for a comprehensive bill that would introduce near-universal health coverage.
Republicans have criticized the new plan for its consistency to the old health care blueprint. The Obama administration will try to move the bill forward with just Democratic support, leaving bipartisanship a dwindling possibility.
Relying on solely one-party support is also a "risky move that would require the president's political capital and elusive unity form a fractious party," the AP said.
Senate Republicans said Tuesday that they will propose hundreds of amendments to block Obama's health care plan if the White House goes through with an up-or-down vote on the legislation.
"Our constituents don't want the Senate to just wave the same thing through just because it has a new name an even more spending," Don Stewart, spokesman for Kentucky Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, said.
Democrats have also realized that passing a broad health care plan will be difficult after the past year of fierce debate and the recent loss of a filibuster-proof supermajority in the Senate.
The new plan was revealed on Monday, a year after the president urged Congress to restructure the country's expensive and ineffective health care system. It combined elements from previously passed Senate legislation with changes intended to appeal to House Democrats.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said at his weekly media briefing that health care reform is possible even if all elements Obama's plan are not passed.
"We may not be able to do all. I hope we can do all, a comprehensive piece of legislation that will provide affordable, accessible, quality health care to all Americans," he said. "But having said that, if we can't, then you know me--if you can't do a whole, doing part is also good. I mean there are a number of things I think we can agree on."
The chance for another comprehensive overhaul will be scarce, and the president will work at the summit Thursday to persuade both parties to pass the new legislation.
