Mr. Elmendorf was unequivocal. “No, Mr. Chairman,” he replied. “In the legislation that has been reported, we do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount. And on the contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health-care costs.” – Time
It’s the “no” that is bringing Pres. Obama in front of the cameras today at 3:15 p.m. eastern time. If Obama wants this done, and he does, he’ll have to put his capital out there in front of the health care debate, before all others.
It blew the lid off Barack Obama’s health care campaign, and got Obama’s Budget Director, Peter Orszag, into reminder mode about the process just beginning. From Jonathan Cohn:
But that bill is still very much a work in progress, as House leaders themselves acknowledge. And the White House, among others, has some ideas about how to shape it.
Despite a vow not to draw lines in the sand about reform legislation, President Obama has been adamant that any bill make substantial progress on cost reduction–a pledge his Budget Director, Peter Orszag, reiterated in the course of a brief (and previously scheduled) interview he gave TNR Thursday afternoon. “The legislation that emerges from this process has to contain key provisions that will bend the curve over the long term,” Orszag said. “The president has said that and we’re in the middle of a legislative process, so it’s not surprising that, as you go through that process, there are modifications that are necessary.”
The White House Medicare agency plan used as proof Obama’s on it.
At the same time, Obama lost Snowe.
The absence of the strong urgency of now on health care has produced one other result. Even if you don’t trust the results or agree, Rasmussen gets a banner headline at a time that isn’t helpful.
So, is the big “no” something to worry about? In the war of marketing, the answer is a resounding yes.
That’s why Obama is stepping in front of the cameras today.
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