Pushing the pain off

Have you heard about the "doctors fix"? The fix is in for the doctors to be spared their pay cuts, but will the American Medical Association commit its support to healthcare reform, as Democrats are requesting in return?

Check on the details in a report by Alexander Bolton in our paper, and see why Democrats are set to embrace another $250 billion of deficit spending on behalf of doctors. Despite a projected $1.4 trillion deficit that is making Democrats unpopular and Republicans rally, Senate Democrats reportedly told several doctors groups last week they would halt $248 billion in cuts mandated by a 1997 law. The bill to spare physicians the scheduled cuts isn't paid for with tax increases or spending cuts.

According to Bolton's story, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and other Democratic leaders said they would rely on doctors groups to round up enough votes to pass the "doctors fix" legislation at a time of high anxiety over the deficit. And Reid joined Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) in telling the groups they want and expect the doctors' support on final passage of a healthcare bill.

What is the price for Democrats taking a powerful hit for deficit spending? Support for healthcare reform. But it isn't so clear they will get it, since doctors haven't committed. Will pushing the pain off on some future Congress — as is now a tradition on Capitol Hill — make passing healthcare reform any easier ?


SHOULD DEMOCRATS PASS THE 'DOCTOR-FIX'? Ask A.B. returns Tuesday, Oct. 27. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you.