THE HILL
 

Pelosi hopes to finish health bill as 'Christmas present'

By Michael O'Brien - 11/11/09 06:03 PM ET

All House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants for Christmas is healthcare reform.

The speaker told constituents yesterday that she wants to finish health reform as a "Christmas present" for the country.

"I'm hopeful that we will have a bill as a Christmas present for the American people," Pelosi said, according to KCBS. "But we will have a bill and it will be soon."

That desire comes as her second-in-command, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) outlined a new schedule that could keep the House in session until late December -- shortly before the holiday recess -- to finish health reform legislation.

One of the key variables in the process with be the Senate's ability to finish the legislation quickly. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said he hopes to bring it to the floor next week, but a series of amendments and an extended debate could push back the holiday timeline.

Once the Senate finishes its work, Pelosi said she would continue to fight for her public option during conference.

"We will go up to the table fighting for a public option because we believe that's the best way to keep the insurance companies honest and to increase competition," she said.

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/67417-pelosi-hopes-to-finish-health-bill-as-christmas-present

Comments (13)

Both Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are racing to get this accomplished before the congressional holiday break for one reason; they cannot return home knowing the onslaught of Town Hall Meetings that will occur. If that was to occur, the media could not ignore them and the true ire of America will be on display for the world to see.BY Jim on 11/11/2009 at 18:24
Wow, does she like to antagonize or what?She's another one who needs political counseling.BY tropicgirl on 11/11/2009 at 18:40
Thank you so much Nancy. I've always wanted government to control my life, high taxes, deathcare, jail time when my family goes bankrupt. What a great Christmas gift! Please give yourself and all the other reps the same gift.BY Lou on 11/11/2009 at 19:22
Christmas present huh? Ahhh, can I just have a Clint Eastwood DVD instead?BY Mark X on 11/11/2009 at 20:30
As Rasmussen Reports and other credible polling shows, Americans do NOT want Pelosi's Christmas "presents" (or more aptly lumps of coal) of higher taxes, less choice, $500 billion cut from senior care, illegal aliens getting coverage, and much more govt control over our lives. JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!!BY NO PELOSI CARE on 11/11/2009 at 21:22
Did she mean the Americans living in the United States of America or the "Americans" living in say Cuba or Venezuela? I'm sure she can't be talking about the USA Americans because a majority have stated that they do not want it and would certainly not see it as a present. . . .And the ones who do want it, won't want it after it gets here. It would be WORSE THAN GRANDMA GIVING UNDERWEAR. At least when Grandma gives you underwear, it's something new, most likely better than what you already have, something that you can use right away and she doesn't require you, your kids, your neighbors, and your neighbor's kids to pay for them for the rest of their lives. And, she won't ration how often you can use the underwear or make you give them to others who choose not to wear any.BY Follow The Money on 11/12/2009 at 00:35
The Village Idiot is truly mentally ill. She is trying to convince the great unwashed that a TRILLION PLUS dollar Health Care SCAM, which will be paid for my the American Taxpayer and their great, great grandchildren, is a CHRISTMAS GIFT?? OMG!! This dingbat is gone, vacant, no one home, bonkers, out to lunch. Retire, Nancy, before they have to carry you out, drooling and mumbling to yourself. You are a disgrace to the human race! This phony Redistribution of Wealth and PAY OFF TO BIG UNIONS, is DOA!! If you think the American people are going to swallow your smelly pile of garbage, you are sadly mistaken.BY Sunnyr on 11/12/2009 at 02:10
I think this is the first Christmas present I don't want to unwrap. It just is amazing to me that Pelosi would actually say something like this; I mean come on, does she really belief she is actually doing something that is good for Americans? Maybe it's one of those presents that regifted; something she doesn't have to pay for and something she really doesn't want for herself. This Congress is a pathetic lot!BY toledofan on 11/12/2009 at 09:02
Wow! Talk about a lump of coal for the stocking!!!BY nofluer on 11/12/2009 at 12:07
I can't take this dishonest, Botox-ridden piece of human excrement anymore. This quote reeks of "You are all going to get this bill whether you like it or not!". Viva la revolucion…kick all of these useful idiots out in 2010, or force them out.BY Matt on 11/12/2009 at 13:53

Add Comment

Name (required)

E-Mail (will not be published) (required)

Your Comments

Key Blogs

What they are saying today …
Drudge Report
"Punch will stun West," reads the headline above the fold on Drudge this Tuesday. The line refers to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent, vague promise this week to somehow "punch the arrogance" of the West on February 11. Also above the fold: A slew of weather-related links, including a report from the National Weather Service that predicts more snow for the already buried Capitol.… Read More »
The Huffington Post
"Healthcare theatrics" reads the banner atop The Huffington Post, which links to an AP story on the White House's struggle to bring GOP leaders to the table for a televised healthcare summit. The AP questions whether the event may have any utility outside of immediate personal politics. Below, reporter Sam Stein reports Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) plans to vote against the White House's nominee for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Craig Becker.… Read More »
Red State
Moe Lane this morning summarizes the latest back-and-forth between the White House and congressional GOP leaders over healthcare. The White House wants Republicans to join Democrats for a televised healthcare summit in the coming days, but GOP leaders do not want Democrats' bill to be the basis for those talks. Meanwhile, Brian Darling takes on NYT columnist Paul Krugman's latest piece, in which he rails on the filibuster (and the GOP's use of it). "He is clearly way outside of his area of expertise when talking about Senate procedure, because his analysis is laughable," Darling writes.… Read More »
The Washington Independent
Spencer Ackerman leads The Washington Independent this morning with a post about William Lietzau, a top Obama White House appointee first installed during President George W. Bush's tenure. Lietzau handled the military commissions the Supreme Court later found unconstitutional, and Ackerman reports that he will soon become Deputy Assistant Secretary for Detainee Affairs.Earlier, David Weigel shared Defense Secretary Robert Gates' thoughts on the passing of Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha (D). Noted Gates: "In our dealings over the years, Jack and I did not always agree, but I always respected his candor, and knew that he cared deeply about the men and women of America’s military and intelligence community." … Read More »
AMERICAblog
John Aravosis points out that Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) has dropped most of his unprecedented blanket hold on most of the White House's nominees -- except a few defense posts, which remain tied up as Shelby seeks two lucrative military contracts for his home state. Later, Aravosis reports that the Department of Health and Human Services has opened an investigation into the California Blue Cross health insurance program, following reports that premiums there have increased 39 percent recently.… Read More »
The Corner
News that Iran may have started enriching uranium has prompted The Corner's Mike Potemra to issue the Middle Eastern state a warnining: "It’s not too late for Iran to turn back from such a disastrous course: Even evil regimes — regimes that systematically violate the rights of their own people — have the use of intellect." Also, gues blogger Ralph Reed offers his thoughts on former Gov. Sarah Palin's national political aspirations. Ultimately, he calls her a "bridge" between Tea Party activists and the GOP establishment.… Read More »
Blog Summaries Archive »

Briefing Room Blog Roll

The Hill
ABC News: The Note
AMERICAblog
Barack Obama
Beat The Press
Bill Press
BuzzFlash
Capitol Briefing
Capitol Games
The Caucus (NYT)
Clive Crook
Comments From Left Field
CNN Political Ticker
The Corner (NRO)
Crooks and Liars
The Daily Beast
Daily Caller
Daily Kos
DCCC: The Stakeholder
DNC: Kicking Ass
DSCC: From The Roots
Drudge Report
Eschaton
Extreme Mortman
Ezra Klein
firedoglake
FishbowlDC
The Fix (WashPost)
The Foundry
Gkenn Greenwald
Hendrik Hertzberg
Hillary Clinton
Hot Air
Hotline on Call
Huffington Post
Human Events
Instapundit
James Fallows
John McCain
Judicial Watch: Corruption Chronicles
Kaus Files
Left Coaster
Lefty Blogs
Majority AP
Marc Ambinder
Matt Lewis
Matthew Yglesias
Megan McArdle
Michelle Malkin
Minority Report
The Moderate Voice
MSNBC First Read
MyDD
The Nation
National Review
The New Republic
NewsBusters
Newsmax
The NRCC Blog
NRSC Blog
Open Left
Page (Mark Halperin)
The Plank (TNR)
Political Animal
Political Wire
Politicker
Politico's Ben Smith
Politico's Jonathan Martin
Politico's The Crypt
Power Line
Reason
RedState
Right Wing News
RNC Blog
Ross Douthat
Rush Limbaugh
SCOTUSblog
Senate Guru
The Stump (TNR)
The Swamp (Tribune)
Swampland
Swing State Project
Talk Left
TalkingPointsMemo
TAPPED
Tech Policy Summit
techPresident
TechRepublican
The Right Angle
Think Progress
Top of the Ticket (LA Times)
Townhall
TPMCafe
TPMMuckraker
The Trail (WashPost)
Truthdig
USA Today On Politics
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blog
VF Daily
Washington Wire (WSJ)
Weekly Standard
Wonkette
Yeas and Nays

Briefing Room Blog Topics

 Blog Summaries »   Technology »
 Day's End Round-Up »   Telecom and IT »
 Energy & Environment »   Trade and Agriculture »
 Midday Blog Roundup »  Lobbying »
 Morning Read »   Administration »
 News »   Campaigns »
  Campaigns »   Civil Rights »
   Administration »   Corporate Governance »
   Civil Rights »   Defense »
   Congressional Campaigns »   Economy & Budget »
   Corporate Governance »   Energy & Environment »
   Defense »   Foreign Policy »
   Economy & Budget »   Healthcare »
   Foreign Policy »   Homeland Security »
   Healthcare »   Immigration »
   Homeland Security »   Labor »
   Immigration »   Lobbyists »
   Labor »   Technology »
   Law and Courts »   Telecom and IT »
   Lobbyists »   Trade and Agriculture »
   Presidential Campaigns »  Other »
   Technology »   Administration »
   Telecom and IT »   Campaigns »
   Trade and Agriculture »   Civil Rights »
  Energy & Environment »   Congressional Campaigns »
  Lawmaker News »   Corporate Governance »
   Administration »   Defense »
   Campaigns »   Economy & Budget »
   Civil Rights »   Energy & Environment »
   Corporate Governance »   Foreign Policy »
   Defense »   Healthcare »
   Economy & Budget »   Homeland Security »
   Energy & Environment »   Immigration »
   Foreign Policy »   Labor »
   Healthcare »   Lobbyists »
   Homeland Security »   Presidential Campaigns »
   Immigration »   Technology »
   Labor »   Telecom and IT »
   Lobbyists »   Trade and Agriculture »
   Technology »  Oversight »
   Telecom and IT »   Administration »
   Trade and Agriculture »   Campaigns »
  Legislation »   Civil Rights »
   Administration »   Corporate Governance »
   Campaigns »   Defense »
   Civil Rights »   Economy & Budget »
   Corporate Governance »   Energy & Environment »
   Defense »   Foreign Policy »
   Economy & Budget »   Healthcare »
   Energy & Environment »   Homeland Security »
   Foreign Policy »   Immigration »
   Healthcare »   Labor »
   Homeland Security »   Lobbyists »
   Immigration »   Technology »
   Labor »   Telecom and IT »
   Lobbyists »   Trade and Agriculture »
You need Flash Player 8 (or higher) and JavaScript enabled to view this content

Get latest news from The Hill direct to your inbox, RSS reader and mobile devices.