Senate Staff Members Begin Meetings on Health Care Overhaul Legislation

Senate staff members on Wednesday had the "first of what will likely be many meetings" about health care reform legislation, CongressDaily reports. The staff members included individuals from the offices of Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), committee ranking member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.), committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Banking Committee Chair Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Senate Budget Committee Chair Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), committee ranking member Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee Chair Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and subcommittee ranking member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

According to CongressDaily, Budget Committee staff members participated in the meetings because of the potential for pay-go rules being "waived to pass a comprehensive overhaul," and Banking Committee staff members participated because Dodd has a close relationship with Kennedy and a larger role on the HELP Committee since Kennedy was diagnosed with brain cancer last year.

Last month, the senators directed their staff members to determine the issues on which the lawmakers agree and those on which they will have to negotiate. Issues related to pay-go rules "are a likely source of contention, as well as employer and individual coverage mandates and changes to the tax code," CongressDaily reports (Edney, CongressDaily, 12/4).

Harkin Calls for Health Care Reform
Lawmakers must pass comprehensive health care reform legislation before the end of next year before their focus shifts to re-election campaigns, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said on Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, the Des Moines Register reports (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 12/5). Last month, Kennedy named Harkin to lead the task force on prevention and public health (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/19). After a speech at a health care conference, Harkin said, "This time it has become almost a part of our national economic survival," adding, "We all realize this is a time for real bold thinking and fundamental change." In addition, he said, "I'm hopeful we get it done by August, but at least get it done next year before we break for Christmas. I predict if we don't get it done next year, it's not going to happen in this Congress. It's got to be done next year."

During the conference, Harkin said that any health care reform legislation must include comprehensive disease prevention measures. Next week, Harkin plans to hold a Senate hearing that includes testimony from nutrition and disease prevention experts (Des Moines Register, 12/5).