At Harry Reid’s request, Obama pushes health bill in Capitol stop

By Lisa Mascaro

Published Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 | 4:43 p.m.

Updated Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 | 6:52 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- During a potentially pivotal visit to the Hill on Sunday on health care reform, President Barack Obama gave a shout-out to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, saying he has the toughest job in Washington and was doing it “very, very well under very difficult circumstances,” according to those familiar with the closed door meeting.

Obama made the trip to the Capitol as senators continued a rare weekend session debating the health care bill and Democrats struggle to pass the president’s top domestic policy priority by year’s end.

The president pressed upon senators during the closed meeting of the Democratic caucus the historic moment before them and the need to finish the job of health care reform. Failure to finish, the president said, would be the most costly outcome for all.

The Senate continued to work through a pair of amendments during Sunday’s session, including one from Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada to limit attorneys’ contingency fees in medical malpractice cases.

Republicans believe that litigation from trial lawyers in medical malpractice cases is a key factor driving up health care costs.

Doctors and hospitals often practice what is known as defensive medicine -- ordering up extra tests and procedures to protect against potential lawsuits. Medical professionals are often saddled with costly malpractice insurance.

“We can be on the side of the trial lawyers or we can be on the side of the patients,” Ensign said in a floor speech during the debate on his amendment. “I think we should be on the side of the patients.”

But Democrats said the amendment would curtail patients’ abilities to fight deep-pocketed insurance companies in cases of wrongdoing.

Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said insurance companies could spend untold resources to fight court cases but patients would be limited.

“C’mon,” Leahy implored his colleagues, “is the United States Senate actually going to vote for something like that?”

The Senate rejected the Ensign amendment 32-66, with a dozen Republican senators crossing over to join Democrats in defeating the measure.

Even though more than 20 Democrats had backed a similar bill several years ago, five Democrats supported Ensign's measure today.

The Senate also turned back an amendment by Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas to cap executive pay in the health insurance industry. The measure was rejected 56-42, with Democrats picking up support from one Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, but losing four Democrats who joined the Republicans in opposition.

Both amendments required 60 votes for passage.

The Senate's Sunday afternoon session was punctuated by Obama’s 45-minute visit to the closed meeting of the Democratic caucus.

Obama was joined by Vice President Joe Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and other administration officials, according to a White House pool report, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, a former Democratic senator from Colorado who has been helping to negotiate with his former colleagues.

The president opened his comments at the top of the meeting by noting Reid’s role, and went on to thank the senators for their work on health care reform.

The White House said the president encouraged the senators to continue efforts for a bill that would provide stability for those who already have health insurance and affordable coverage for the uninsured, while also lowering health care costs for families, small businesses and the government.

Republicans have suggested the president’s visit shows the difficulties Democrats are having in reaching the 60-vote threshold needed to pass the bill.

Several issues divide Democrats, including the inclusion of a public option insurance plan as well as the handling of insurance coverage for abortion. On Monday, as the second week of debate unfolds, the Senate may consider an amendment from Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska restricting abortion coverage in the bill.

As the president met with Democrats, the Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, noted the Democrats’ inability to reach consensus. He suggested that had Democrats worked with Republicans they could have drafted a bill that could reach wider support.