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The Senate on December 22 approved, by a 60-to-39 margin, a motion to end debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Bill (HR 3590), setting the stage for a final vote early on December 24. Leaders decided to move up the vote in order to recess earlier for the holidays.
With the Senate progressing toward passage of their $871-billion health care reform package and breaking for the rest of the year, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and ranking member Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued a joint statement declaring their intent to address expiring tax provisions early in 2010. "Although the House and Senate were unable to come to agreement on a package to extend several expiring tax provisions before Congress adjourned, these measures must be addressed as soon as possible," stated the lawmakers. "In an effort to provide a seamless extension of these provisions with the fewest disruptions and administrative problems, we will take up legislation as quickly as possible in the New Year."
In addition, the senior lawmakers sent a letter to Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., informing them of their plan to immediately pursue the extension of the popular tax credits. "We write to inform you that early in the next year, we intend to address the extension of various tax provisions expiring on or before December 31, 2009. We intend to extend the provisions without a gap in coverage, just as the House did on December 9th of this year."
Baucus later told reporters that fixing the estate tax, which Congress also failed to address in 2009, was critical, and that he would like to see it taken up as part of tax reform legislation expected sometime in 2010. Democratic leaders in both chambers had initially planned to attach a short-term extension at 2009 levels to the Department of Defense appropriations bill, but they abandoned that plan when it became apparent that they did not have the necessary 60 votes in the Senate required for passage. President Obama signed the measure into law on December 19 (P.L. 111-118).
Obama to Remain in Town
President Obama on December 22 said he would not leave Washington, D.C., until the Senate finished its work on HR 3590. Noting the sacrifices that are being made to get the measure done, the president offered to remain in town to provide "any encouragement and last-minute help, if necessary." The White House did not elaborate on what kind of eleventh hour help the president had in mind.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, at a press briefing on December 22, hailed the Senate legislation, noting it would make fundamental changes in health care coverage by reforming the insurance system and offering access to care to 30 million people who are now uninsured. He stressed that the proposal is fiscally responsible and reduces the federal deficit.
Gibbs depicted as "delusional" criticism that the White House pressured the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) into underestimating the cost of the legislation. According to CBO estimates, the health care reform bill would lower the deficit by $132 billion over the first 10 years and up to $1.3 trillion in the second decade.
Speaking confidently about the prospects of the bill's passage, Gibbs several times told reporters that enactment of health care reform legislation is no longer a question of "if," but "when." When asked whether the president would like the bill to be signed into law before his State of the Union address in January, Gibbs said he did not know the date of the address, but then added that the president wants to sign the bill as soon as Congress sends it to him.
By Jeff Carlson and Paula Cruickshank, CCH News Staff
SFC Press Release: Baucus-Grassley Statement Regarding Extending Expiring Tax Provisions
CBO Letter to Sen. Reid Regarding Financial Impact of Senate Amendment 2786
Correction to CBO Letter to Sen. Reid Regarding Financial Impact of Senate Amendment 2786
Floor Speech of Sen. Chuck Grassley: Tax Cuts v. Tax Increases
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