The Tolbert Report

Sen. Blanche Lincoln met with reporters today on a conference call to discuss her view on the draft of the Health Care Reform Bill released by Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Sen. Baucus yesterday. She began by saying that she was pleased to see the inclusion of several provisions that were similar to measure she has proposed.

In her view, the bill has provisions for small businesses similar to the SHOP Bill she proposed earlier this year. “SHOP was designed to make purchasing health insurance more affordable for small businesses and self-employed individuals and I am certainly proud that the Chairman’s Mark includes a small business portability tax credit which was a key component of my SHOP Bill,” said Lincoln.

She also said she was pleased that the bill is deficit neutral. According to the analysis from the Congressional Budget Office of the proposal, the cost of the health care provision will total approximately $774 billion over the next 10 years. However, this will be offset by $413 billion in new revenue from taxes and penalties and an additional $409 billion in reductions to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs.

When questioned, she did say that she would be offering some amendments to the bill but she was “reluctant to go into too much detail.” She said the amendments are still being drafted as she is “looking to make improvements in certain areas” and would have these submitted by the end of the day on Friday.

As to the opposition some Republicans have to the proposal, Lincoln said, “I have not seen them offer a solution as to how do we solved this problem.” Speaking to her Republican and Democrat colleagues she said, “I want to remind them that we are not hear to create a work of art, but we are here to create a work in progress.”

“Republicans had the opportunity to come to all the meetings I went to,” insisted Lincoln. “They certainly had to opportunity to work with the chairman in putting things in there. I would be willing to bet you that if you asked the Republicans on the committee, they are pretty darn interested in about 80% of this bill.”

She also indicated she had spoken to Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe over the August recess who expressed some concerns that the health care bill may shift a “disproportionate share of the burden” to the states. She said she was hopeful this would not happen and hopes to take steps to prevent this.

I asked Gov. Beebe’s office to clarify these concerns. “Whenever there is comprehensive reform at the federal level, we are wary of its impact on Arkansas and the potential for unfunded mandates,” Gov. Beebe’s spokesman tells the Tolbert Report. ”We unequivocally need to improve the quality and accessibility of health care, and to reduce the hidden tax of uncompensated care we all pay now along with ever-increasing insurance premiums and prescription-drug costs. We just need to ensure that the solution to those problems does not place undue financial responsibilities on Arkansas and our sister states.”

While Sen. Lincoln did not appear to be overly enthusiastic about the bill, she did appear to be indicating she would end up supporting the bill as a place to start on health care reform. “I know there are Democrats who are much less enthused than I am, and I know there are Republicans who are much less enthused than I am,” concluded Lincoln. “But maybe that means we are kind of in the middle ground where we need to be. Maybe that’s a good thing.”

UPDATE - State Sen. Gilbert Baker, a Republican looking to challenge Lincoln next year, is one of the Republicans who is “less enthused.”

“Any healthcare plan that comes from Congress should have broad bi-partisan support,” said Baker.  “So far, the Baucus bill is lacking in that regard. It cuts Medicare for seniors, imposes taxes on middle-class families and small businesses while costing us one-trillion dollars. ”

“I am hopeful this debate can center on medical liability reform, cost drivers, accessibility, and how it is paid for. When President Obama factors in paying for legislation like this with ‘cost-savings’, Arkansans should be concerned.”

Tags: 2010 Candidates