Bloomberg News (2/18, Rowley) reports that House Democrats "said their party may not be able to present a single healthcare proposal at a Feb. 25 meeting that President Barack Obama has called with a challenge to Republicans to present their alternative." Though Obama has "promised to 'post online the text of a proposed health-insurance package' in advance of the televised meeting," congressional Democrats "are still reconciling differences between versions of health legislation passed last year by the House and Senate."
Roll Call reports, "Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (MD), Conference Vice Chairman Xavier Becerra (CA), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT) and Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA) sought to use rate increases as high as 39 percent for some Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield customers in California to jump-start momentum for the stalled healthcare reform effort." But "the Democratic quartet didn't have much to offer after they were pelted with questions from reporters about how the healthcare bill might move forward and the value of next week's bipartisan summit called by President Barack Obama." Roll Call adds, "There has been little evidence that the House and Senate are 'very close' or that the talk of bipartisanship is anything more than just talk."
The Washington Times (2/18, Haberkorn) notes that the group "said they're closing in on a final healthcare overhaul bill," but "they also won't disclose how it deals with flash points that helped stall the effort." Meanwhile, the "White House is expected to release its own health reform proposal ahead of President Obama's bipartisan health reform summit with congressional leaders, planned for Feb. 25. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs revealed scant details of the plan this week but told reporters to 'stay tuned.'" CQ HealthBeat and The Hill also cover the story.
White House health overhaul plan expected to be released Sunday. CQ Today reports that AARP director of policy John Rother said that "the White House is preparing to release what it hopes will be the final version of healthcare overhaul legislation as early as Feb. 21." Rother said, "That's going to be the White House version of the deal between House and Senate leaders on what they think the bill should look like." According to CQ, "a union official familiar with the administration's plans also said the bill will likely be released Feb. 21."
Congressional Republicans see upside in healthcare summit. The AP (2/18, Werner) reports that congressional Republicans "see a chance for political gain in President Barack Obama's televised healthcare summit next week, even though the president will be running the show." Obama and the Democrats are "certain to highlight a crucial element of their healthcare plan -- extending coverage to more than 30 million Americans -- at the one-of-a-kind event." A Republican plan "would only help 3 million more. But during a time of ballooning deficits, the GOP figures reining in rising medical costs -- not coverage -- could resonate with voters in an election year."
