Senators seek more time in considering health care reform plans

Six senators in a bipartisan group issue a formal request to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking for more time on health care reform - in light of CBO assessment.

As President Obama's approval ratings continue to fall and House Democrats attempt to rush through approvals on their health care reform bill - ignoring comments by the Congressional Budget Office director on the dangers the bill represents to the economy - a bipartisan group of six senators stepped forward on Friday and issued a formal request to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for more time to consider what is being presented. The letter highlights concerns that the senators have on comments made by CBO Director Doug Elmendorf that health care reform bills currently circulating in the House and Senate would not reduce costs significantly. “We are faced with the dual challenges of pressing ahead to pass legislation by the end of the year and to produce the reform the American people need,” the senators wrote, according to Poltico. “We appreciate the work that has been done by senators on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Finance committees, but in view of the Budget Director’s statement, there is much heavy lifting ahead." The health care reform bills were introduced rapidly, and there has been unrelenting pressure from the Obama administration and Democratic legislators to pass it immediately. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday that failure to pass the current health care reform bill would bankrupt the nation. “While we are committing to providing relief for American families as quickly as possible, we believe taking additional time to achieve a bipartisan result is critical for legislation that affects 17 percent of our economy and every individual in the U.S.,” the letter continued, Politico reported. The group includes Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who is one of four Republicans involved in the Finance Committee negotiations, according to Politico. President Obama wants the bill passed before the August recess, but Senator Lieberman said that he does not see how that is possible. “This is so big and so important that if you rush it, we are going to make some big mistake and you are going to infuriate people around the country,” Lieberman told Politico.