December 17, 2011
THE CLOTHES HAVE NO EMPEROR:
White House Signals Pipeline Provision Not a Deal-Breaker in Payroll Tax Cut Debate (Fox News, December 16, 2011)Democratic senators met privately to review the proposal. But even before that session ended, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., issued a statement saying he had "brokered a final deal by bringing lawmakers from both parties together to support jobs."
The White House appeared Friday to back off earlier threats to reject a payroll tax cut extension over a provision relating to a controversial oil pipeline, as Republicans insisted the provision be included in any final product.
States Told They Can Decide on Coverage by Health Plans (LOUISE RADNOFSKY, 12/16/11, wsj
The move--a departure from the way the administration had been expected to implement the provision--disappointed some disease-advocacy groups that had hoped federal regulators would spell out exactly what services insurance policies for millions of Americans will have to cover to be sold in state-run insurance exchanges that open in 2014.
Instead, the administration said states could use what is now offered in their local markets as the basis to determine what benefits must be included in new plans sold to individuals and small groups.
The move represents an attempt by the administration to defuse Republican criticism that the law gives the federal government too much control over Americans' medical care. But some small-business employers immediately raised concerns that the change would make plans more expensive for them.
He's perfectly content to govern as a Republican, or anywhere else he's led.
Posted by Orrin Judd at December 17, 2011 8:54 AM
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