On November 30, 2009, the U.S. Senate began its floor debate on H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, and consideration of the various proposed amendments to the legislation. More than 50 amendments have been filed for floor consideration, with more being filed every day. So far, the amendments under consideration have focused on preventive care issues, Medicare funding and unsuccessful attempts by Republicans to recommit the legislation back to the Senate Finance Committee. Senate debate is continuing daily, including weekends, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) attempts to get a bill passed by the entire Senate before Christmas. It’s also entirely possibly due to procedural challenges by the Republicans and the struggle to get 60 unified Democratic votes on a final bill, that the debate in the Senate will extend well into 2010.
One of the most controversial amendments that could be considered is being offered by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and called the “Employee Free Choice” amendment. This amendment could have a devastating impact on the employer-based system of providing health insurance coverage may be coming up the week of December 7, 2009. The amendment would require employers to give their lower-income employees who wouldn’t normally be eligible to purchase subsidized coverage through the exchange, a voucher to use in the individual market or exchange, instead of participating in the employer-provided plan and would be effective in 2014.
There is no more critical time to let your Senators know what you think about the Senate bill than right now. Your Senators will be will be deciding what amendments to make to in the weeks ahead, and the changes they make will determine whether the Senate leads the nation toward health care reform done the right way or the wrong way.
