Feb 25, 2010 - Obama rolls dice with made-for-TV talkfest. 'Cadillac tax' hits yellow light in new plan. See fIve thInGs
POLITICO thursday, february 25, 2010
VOL. 4 NO. 19
www.politico.com
HEALTH CARE
Lights, Camera ... Action? Partisan habits may be hard to shake at Thursday’s Blair House summit By Carrie Budoff Brown JOHN SHINKLE — POLITICO
Sen. Bob Corker may, or may not, back banking reform.
GOP Leaders Weigh Costs of Bipartisanship
If President Barack Obama really wanted to show he’s serious about winning over Republicans on health care reform, he could offer up some key concessions at Thursday’s summit, like caps on malpractice awards or allowing in-
surers to sell across state lines. And if Republicans wanted to reciprocate, they could at least acknowledge the congressional scorekeepers are right — the Democratic plans cut the deficit in the long term and rein in health care costs. But that would assume either side is willing to do this.
The reality of Thursday’s summit — and the yearlong health care debate — is that the parties have become so entrenched in their positions that Republicans say they will never accept the Democratic comprehensive reform bill, and See bipartisanship on Page 18
By M anu Raju and Lisa Lerer Thirteen Republicans crossed party lines to vote for Harry Reid’s jobs bill Wednesday, but it’s hardly time to herald a new era of bipartisanship on the Hill. Just ask Bob Corker. The Tennessee Republican is close to cutting a deal with Democrats on financial regulatory reform, but he’s gotten pushback from GOP colleagues nervous that he’ll give the veneer of Republican support to one of President Barack Obama’s biggest legislative priorities. In an interview, Corker said his negotiations with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd of Connecticut prompted some “awkward” and “not very pleasant” discussions with his Republican colleagues — and that he and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, the ranking Republican on the committee, didn’t speak for nearly two weeks after he picked up discussions with Dodd that Shelby had dropped. Things are better now, Corker said, but leadership is cautiously watching him. “I think the issue is just See republicans on Page 21
Committees Covet Incumbent Cash By Jonathan A llen Rep. Frank Pallone is sitting on $3.9 million in campaign contributions — the richest war chest in the House — and he won’t need much of it to win reelection in November. The New Jersey congressman has already given the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee the $100,000 in dues he owes for the year, and he doesn’t plan to hand over a penny more than is required of him. “I’d like to run for the Senate at some point,” Pallone told POLITICO, noting that he’ll continue to “operate within the dues structure” and help raise money for the party outside his own account. He’s not alone. Pallone is one of 80 lawmakers — 57 Democrats
JOHN SHINKLE — POLITICO
Republican leaders (from left) Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Jon Kyl and Eric Cantor discuss Thursday’s summit.
‘Cadillac tax’ hits yellow light in new plan
Obama rolls dice with made-for-TV talkfest
By Chris F rates
By Patrick O’Connor and James Hohmann
At Thursday’s health summit, President Barack Obama is almost certain to highlight the importance of reining in skyrocketing health care costs. But in his own health care bill, it’s a different story. Obama has put off a tax on highcost health plans until 2018 — long after he’s out of office, even if he’s a two-termer.And in doing so, he’s essentially neutered the last significant Democratic push to control health costs. When Obama launched his health care project, the case for
President Barack Obama
Reuters
“Regulating premiums won’t do anything to reduce the soaring costs of medical care.” — Karen Ignagni
See cost curve on Page 16
America’s Health Insurance Plans
It could be one of the biggest PR flops since Geraldo Rivera opened Al Capone’s vault. Or it could be a genuinely clarifying moment in the Obama presidency, six hours that could decide the outcome of the push for health care reform and, even failing that, be decisive in framing the politics of the 2010 midterms. Thursday’s made-for-TV health reform summit is shaping up to be more like a presidential debate (without the podiums) than a backroom negotiation in which horses See five things on Page 19
See money on Page 22
inside
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DEFENSE
POLITICS
White House woos CEOs as Bernanke delivers grim news on jobs.
Cybersecurity has government contractors seeing green.
Rep. Waxman dubs Rep. Harman’s opponent anti-Israel.
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Rep. Darrell Issa john shinkle — Politico
IDEAS Tort reform is a key ingredient of bipartisan health reform, Rep. Issa says.
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