Lots of Activity, but Little Movement in Capitol Hill Health Care Reform Debate - October 27, 2009

Congressional negotiators spent much of the last week working to combine disparate health care reform proposals produced by committees of jurisdiction into comprehensive bills that will ultimately be brought to the floor of the House and Senate. While most of the technical combining work has taken place, leaders are working to shore up support for the bills before releasing them publicly. According to trade press reports, supporters of a “public option” appear to be gaining ground in both chambers with House leaders apparently close to finding majority support for a bill with a “robust” public option, and leading senators strongly considering a public option in which states could opt out. It remains unclear when the floor debates will begin in each chamber.