Bill Clinton urges Senate Democrats to pass health care

4:27 p.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton told anxious Senate Democrats on Tuesday to pass a health care bill soon because the U.S. economy can't resist the toxic combination of exorbitant medical costs and nearly 50 million uninsured for much longer.
"My argument was that this is an economic imperative," Clinton said after the closed-door meeting.
Addressing Democrats' insecurities about the complex legislation, Clinton said he told the senators "there is no perfect bill - you'll always have unintended consequences. There will be amendments to this next year. But the worst thing to do is nothing."
As president, Clinton tried but failed to revamp the nation's health care system. The spectacular collapse of Clinton's plan contributed to the Democrats' loss of control of Congress in 1994, but rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers admire him for having tackled the issue. He went on to win a second term in office.
"People trust him," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., one of the architects of the current Senate health care bill.
"His argument was that getting the best bill is not only good for the people, it's the best politics," said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., one of a clutch of moderates who hold the fate of the legislation in their hands.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said Clinton reflected on his experiences in the early 1990s and told senators "we got lost in the magnitude of the problem, and in search for a more perfect answer I lost the fight."
Clinton said he hoped all the senators understood his bottom line: "It's not important to be perfect here," he said. "It's important to act, to move, to start the ball rolling."
The House passed its health care bill Saturday by a narrow 220-215 vote. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is working on a final Democratic draft. But the combination of divided Democrats and Republicans determined to force delays under the Senate's arcane rules is making it less likely that President Barack Obama will get a bill this year.
"Our goal is to make sure it's out of the Senate this year," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the No. 2 Senate Democrat. The Senate bill would then have to be combined with the House bill and the final version passed by both chambers before it could go to Obama's desk. Finishing that whole process before year's end would be tough.
"They want us to finish quickly. We do too. But some of these things are beyond our control," Durbin said of the White House's desire for fast action.
Complicating the effort, abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil the shaky Democratic effort.
Nelson, the Nebraska moderate, said he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal money from going to pay for abortions. He is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House, which had more stringent language than that approved by Senate committees.
Reid, who is personally opposed to abortion, said the issue was being negotiated.
"I expect the bill that will be brought to the floor will ensure that no federal funds are used for abortions and that the conscience rights for providers and health care facilities like Catholic hospitals are protected," Reid said Tuesday. "I think we can work that out."
The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed. But it's prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.
Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance.
"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test - that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," Obama said in an interview with ABC News.
The House bill would bar a new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That's the basic rule currently in federal law under a provision called the Hyde amendment, which Reid said Tuesday had worked well.
The House bill also would prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money.
The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House.
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Associated Press writers David Espo, Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Erica Werner contributed to this report.

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11:26 a.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats are looking to former President Bill Clinton to jump-start their push to overhaul America's health care system, hoping a battle-scarred veteran of past health care fights can motivate their ranks to finish the politically tricky job this time.
Clinton, whose failed attempt to revamp the delivery of medical care contributed to the Republican takeover of the House and Senate in 1994, is scheduled to speak to Senate Democrats about health care legislation during their weekly caucus Tuesday.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said the former president would "help energize our caucus" to push through a health overhaul that would reduce health care costs and make coverage more affordable while keeping the growth of the federal budget in check.
"President Clinton brings a lot of credibility to that debate," said Cardin, who was a congressman when Clinton's effort imploded.
"We're in worse shape today" than lawmakers projected they would be more than 15 years ago if they failed to act, Cardin said.
President Barack Obama wants to sign the legislation into law by the end of the year. But abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil a shaky Democratic effort.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal money from going to pay for abortions. Nelson is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House this weekend.
"While there may be different views about abortion, I think there's a strong majority against using federal dollars to fund abortions," Nelson said Tuesday on NBC's "Today."
The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed, on a narrow 220-215 vote. But it's prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.
Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance.
"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test - that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," Obama said in an interview with ABC News.
Senate Democrats will need Nelson's vote - and those of at least a half-dozen other abortion opponents in their caucus. They face a grueling debate against Republicans who are unified in their opposition to a sweeping remake of the health care system. It's unclear how the abortion opponents would line up; the pressure on them will intensify once the legislation is on the floor.
An intraparty fight over abortion is the last thing Majority Leader Harry Reid needs. Reid, D-Nev., is already facing a revolt among Democratic moderates over the government-sponsored health plan that liberals want to incorporate in the legislation as a competitor to private insurance companies.
Reid, who is himself opposed to abortion, will have to confront the issue directly as he puts together a Democratic bill for floor consideration. The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House.
The House bill would bar the new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That's the basic rule currently in federal law.
It would also prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money.
At issue is a profound disagreement over how current federal restrictions on abortion funding should apply to what would be a new stream of federal funding to help the uninsured gain coverage.
Cardin called the House's approach "regrettable," and said he would prefer health legislation that did not include it.
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AP Special Correspondent David Espo and Julie Hirschfeld Davis contributed to this report.