Mike Lillis follows Congress for The Washington Independent. Previously, he has covered health care policy with Inside Washington Publishers, and been DC correspondent for Iowa's Waterloo Courier. He lives in Washington, DC.
Promises to close Medicare ‘Doughnut Hole’ face battle over prescription drug negotiating.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is optimistic that the drama over the public option will end, telling CNN this week that the historical significance of the reform vote will ultimately be enough to sway the four moderates now opposing the public option to vote in favor of the bill.
Not even nine months after President Obama, with much fanfare, signed into law a five year, $33 billion reauthorization of the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program, House Democrats have proposed to dismantle it.
The Senate will vote Monday evening on legislation extending unemployment benefits — a procedural vote that could clear the way for final passage as early as late Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) just announced.
Mike Lillis explains why at least one Senator thinks it is critical to include a public option in the bill that ultimately comes to the Senate floor for a vote.
Last week, Senate Democrats proposed extending unemployment insurance by 14 weeks — with an extra six weeks for states with unemployment above 8.5 percent — only to have Republicans block the measure on the chamber floor.
With so much speculation on whether Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) will support the health reform bill finalized by the Senate Finance Committee last week, the world might be surprised to learn that some panel Democrats are also wary of the legislation.
Democratic policymakers vowing to overturn a controversial new Bush administration rule that could limit women’s reproductive health options have several tools at their disposal to do so -– but party leaders aren’t revealing which they favor.
The Senate last week approved an amendment to an Indian health care bill that would permanently prohibit the use of federal dollars to fund abortions for Native Americans except in rare cases. The move has prompted an outcry from women’s health advocates and from tribal groups.
