Yes, its a bipartisan agreement to hold a vote on repeal.
Well, despite a lot of high talk and promises, the Senate Dem leadership has caved before the pressure began, announcing they will vote on a bill to repeal the PPACA.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said he wanted to get the repeal effort "out of the system" so the Senate could move ahead with other business. While all 47 Senate Republicans are expected to back a full repeal, the plan will not receive enough votes to clear the measure.
Link
See, all Reid wants to do is vote with Republicans to repeal a part of the bill. The part that requires businesses to file 1099s for any vendor with whom they do more than $600 worth of business in a year.
That's all. Just that little thing. Then they'll fight the Republicans.
Republicans reiterated their desire to kill the bill completely. Reid said nothing about protecting it.
So what part of PPACA has been pre-negotiated? How will Senate Dems filibuster passage of the GOP's repeal bill? Do they really think the GOP will compromise with them on this?
And most of all, will Obama veto repeal?
This doesn't look good at all.
Update: Link to New York Times
Senate Democrats to Allow Early Vote on Health Care Repeal
Update 2: For those who have unquestioning faith in the Dem leadership in the Senate and WH to protect the PPACA, keep in mind a few facts:
Reid allowed Baucus to hire Wellpoint Executive Liz Fowlerto draft the senate version of the Health Care Bill
The Obama Administration then hired Liz Fowler to "implement" and write rules for the PPACA
Obama secretly negotiated away the Public Optionbefore Congress began developing a plan. Yet he continued to claim for months after that he supported and was "fighting for" the public option.
After all the dishonesty on display last year, its difficult for anyone who followed the debate closely to fully trust the ever-changing promises of Reid and the WH to "protect" PPACA. Some may still trust them and of course its their right to do so, but they have no credence when criticizing those who choose to base current judgment on past experience.
Update 3
Thanks to all who have responded to the diary with substantive replies. This diary has clearly demonstrated the need for more diaries on Health Care Reform and Health Policy.
As a result, I'm pleased to announce this will be the first in a regular series of HCR diaries - peeling back the covers and looking at what's going on behind the scenes. Affordable access to health care for all matters. Everyone in this country is important and is entitled to quality, affordable care, even if it means displeasing donors or the corporate media. Its a moral issue.
So watch for the next diary!