The Speakers Lobby
  • October 20, 2009 | 9:11 PM ET

    House Democrats Get Preliminary Numbers on Health Care Plans

    House Democratic leaders are sharing preliminary cost analysis of their health care reform proposals with their rank-and-file members.

     

    The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) "scores" or analyzes the cost of such proposals.

     

    The House asked the CBO to scrub three different scenarios. A senior House leadership aide familiar with the numbers told FOX that all three plans reduce the deficit over 20 years. CBO crunched two of the three options. But did not yet have an evaluation of a plan that could "trigger" a government-run health care plan, known as the "public option."

     

    "We're excited by the CBO numbers," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who then shared the figures with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in a sit-down meeting.

     

    The CBO cost analysis could make or break the bill in the House. Many moderate and fiscally-conscious Democrats are concerned the measure could cost too much. And a bill that busts the federal deficit could cost Democratic leaders votes.

     

    "We're in an excellent place with the caucus with what they've put out," Pelosi said of the CBO's analysis. "We have to live by what they (CBO) put out."

     

    But there was no final CBO score on the health care reform plans.

     

    It's thought that Democratic leaders could be inching closer to bringing a health care reform bill to the House floor once they get a final CBO evaluation.

     

    "We're just about there," Pelosi said.

     

    House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has signaled that he'd like to have a health care reform bill on the House floor in the next few weeks.

    Chad Pergram

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learnsomethinglefties

Watch this and learn Dems: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G44NCvNDLfc

October 22, 2009 at 3:22 pm

glena stevens

With the embedding of the Heritage Foundation in the CBO this should be a slam dunk for very conservative figures. I expect if the Democrat party gets numbers it likes it looks like we will lose most blue dogs as they will no longer have a valid excuse.

October 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm

nonstopca

Does anyone trust the HBO anymore??? Ever since the set down in the WH, I don't................they have been bought or whipped into the Obama camp....

October 22, 2009 at 10:59 am

Helen Ward

I don't believe that there is a public option that could please any conscientious American. The citizens of this country want a plan that really reforms health care:with private health care TORT reform, insurance companies allowed to sell over state lines, and taking your insurance with you until you get another insurance plan or allowing cobra over state lines (also extending cobra time until you get another insurance). Also, insurance companies can help by allowing insurance for...

October 22, 2009 at 1:59 am

sonia

fox news deserves all that they get, they are not a credible news organization. all they do is criticize people and comments and only the bad things. obama is a smart black guy who is not loosing sleep over minorities and illiterate people like those on fax so call news channels.

October 21, 2009 at 11:16 pm
(2 Replies)

larry

What angers me is NO ONE is talking about how this bill, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, is 100% against the constitution. Period. Congress and odumbazz have NO right messing with this AT ALL. The only thing they can affect is the ability for us to buy insurance from other states. Even tort reform is out of their reach per the constitution. Tort reform is a state level problem.

October 21, 2009 at 8:59 pm

John Fitzgerald

Funny thing is, reports of the numbers fail to include the "over the next ten years." ---- That is, whatever the number is that is reported, divide it by ten to get the amount per year. ----- Anyone know where to find the actual report ? ----

October 21, 2009 at 7:09 pm

eric

hey fox news... where are the CBO numbers? this article is pointless without them

October 21, 2009 at 10:02 am

David M. Starre

Making progress....change is good. Now get all those Dems that have ties to those greedy insurance companies. Don't be soooo shy. Come on board and join the cause and you will be popular!!!!

October 21, 2009 at 12:51 am

Gregory Jones

Except, Nancy...we do not want anything a old, plastic, rich piece of crap who has done nothing to deserve a 40 million dollar fortune messing with OUR healthcare. When is SF going to vote this thing out of office?

October 20, 2009 at 11:31 pm

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