Health care moves to the Senate, Bill Clinton heads to the Capitol to meet with Democrats

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Bill Clinton meets with Senate Dems on health care

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are looking to former President Bill Clinton to jump-start their push to overhaul America’s health care system, hoping a battle-scarred veteran of past health care fights can motivate their ranks to finish the politically tricky job this time.

Clinton, whose failed attempt to revamp the delivery of medical care contributed to the Republican takeover of the House and Senate in 1994, is scheduled to speak to Senate Democrats about health care legislation during their weekly caucus Tuesday.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said the former president would “help energize our caucus” to push through a health overhaul that would reduce health care costs and make coverage more affordable while keeping the growth of the federal budget in check.

“President Clinton brings a lot of credibility to that debate,” said Cardin, who was a congressman when Clinton’s effort imploded.

“It’s a good time for him to come because a lot of us feel that Bill Clinton has good political instincts and can give us some insight,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the No. 2 Senate Democrat.

President Barack Obama wants to sign the legislation into law by the end of the year, but Durbin indicated that would be a heavy lift.

“Our goal is to make sure it’s out of the Senate this year,” Durbin told reporters Tuesday. The Senate bill would then have to be combined with legislation passed Saturday by the House, and the final version passed by both chambers before it could go to Obama’s desk. Finishing that whole process before year’s end would be tough.

“They want us to finish quickly. We do too. But some of these things are beyond our control,” Durbin said of the White House’s desire for fast action.

Complicating the effort, abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil the shaky Democratic effort.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal money from going to pay for abortions. Nelson is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House this weekend, which had more stringent language than that approved by Senate committees.

“While there may be different views about abortion, I think there’s a strong majority against using federal dollars to fund abortions,” Nelson said Tuesday on NBC’s “Today.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is personally opposed to abortion, said the issue was being negotiated.

“I expect the bill that will be brought to the floor will ensure that no federal funds are used for abortions and that the conscience rights for providers and health care facilities like Catholic hospitals are protected,” Reid said Tuesday. “I think we can work that out.”

The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed, on a narrow 220-215 vote. But it’s prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.

Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance.

“I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test — that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we’re not restricting women’s insurance choices,” Obama said in an interview with ABC News.

Senate Democrats will need Nelson’s vote — and those of at least a half-dozen other abortion opponents in their caucus. They face a grueling debate against Republicans who are unified in their opposition to a sweeping remake of the health care system.

The House bill would bar a new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That’s the basic rule currently in federal law, under a provision called the Hyde amendment, which Reid said Tuesday had worked well.

“The one thing we’re certain to do is to maintain what we’ve had in the past,” said Reid, D-Nev. “The Hyde amendment has been a pretty good way to go.”

The House bill would also prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money. The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House.

Durbin said that he felt the right balance was struck by the Senate Finance Committee, which barred federal funds from going to abortions but allowed people to purchase abortion coverage with their own money, requiring insurance companies to segregate the funds. Abortion opponents dismissed that as little more than an accounting gimmick.

Reid didn’t answer directly when asked if he was comfortable with the Finance Committee’s language. “I’m comfortable with what I get out of the caucus,” Reid said.

Associated Press Writers David Espo, Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Erica Werner contributed to this report.