Democrats splitting health care bill?

According to the Wall Street Journal, Democrats may be shifting their strategy on health reform by splitting the plan into two bills.

One bill would include the public option and would be passed by Democrats alone without Republican support. They could use technicality in procedure known as reconciliation to prevent any Republican filibuster of the bill in the Senate.

The second part of the bill would contain elements of the original bill that would prevent insurers from blocking people with pre-existing health conditions, or refusing to renew policies due to such conditions.

In a radio interview with Michael Smerconish today, Obama told a caller: "“I guarantee you we are going to get health care reform done.” Senate leader Harry Reid said yesterday that "we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary."

Obama talks with the "enemy" -- Big Pharma

There is definitely a group of people who will never quite accept the idea that President Barack Obama's administration could have reached a deal with big pharma.

Today a memo was leaked that supported recent claims about this secret deal, but both the administration and the pharmaceutical companies denied the memo accurately conveyed the nature of the agreement. Both sides admit that some understanding was reached though.

Now, that alone might be too much for the more conspiratorial minded to handle. Big pharma is evil, and you cannot make a pact with the devil, so the thinking goes. Realistically though, the president has to deal with both sides on this issue.

We will see soon enough though, what the two sides actually did agree upon. When Congress meets again, the White House will have to play its hand.

FOXNews

Obama to Take On Health-Care Critics

Washington Post - Anne E. Kornblut

(By Jim Cole -- Associated Press) By Anne E. Kornblut President Obama is embarking on a final public relations push on health care Friday before heading off ...

Big ad buy for Obama's health care program USA Today

AARP Corrects False Obama Claim FOXNews

Did Obama make a backroom deal with big pharma?

That's the rumor swirling around about now after the news that big pharma now supports Obamacare and to the tune of a $150 million ad campaign.

There is all kind of speculation out there including the possibility that the president agreed not to bargain down drug costs for seniors on Medicare, or that he promised not to allow competing companies from Canada to sell medicine here -- a move that would result in lower drug costs.

However, so far it's all been speculation and no deal with pharma is binding on the House and Senate. So we will possibly will have to wait until Congress comes back into session to see if Obama reveals anything new.

Whatever the case, the drug companies are now strongly backing the Obama plan, something that is causing wonderment in some circles.

Washington Post

White House & Big Pharma: What's the Deal?

CBS News - Sharyl Attkisson - ‎Aug 10, 2009‎

Sources say negotiations involving the White House and the pharmaceutical industry shifted to fast-forward in mid-June. President Obama had just taken a ...

More On That White House Drug Deal Mother Jones

The Drugmakers: Supping with the Devil American Spectator