Blog - The Week In Review

It again was a busy week – busier than usual. Health care, driven by yesterday’s health care summit and Monday’s release of the White House health care plan, dominated most of the week, but Congress also managed to consider several important issues such as the Senate’s jobs bill and unemployment insurance. Here’s what we’ve been up to this week at OpenCongress:

• The White House health care plan was a big deal, but part of the reason is less about what was released than how it was released.
• Here’s a short primer on the debate over taxing so-called “Cadillac” health insurance policies.
• Several Republicans sided with the Democrats in the Senate to pass a $15 billion jobs bill. But some of those Republicans voted against the bill before they voted for it.
• As part of Harry Reid’s [D, NV] jobs agenda, the Senate passed a bill promoting foreign tourism to the United States. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the bill greatly benefits his homestate of Nevada.
• The House passed a bill giving Native Hawaiians federal recognition similar to that of American Indians and Native Alaskans.
• Republicans have been complaining about the use of reconciliation to bypass the filibuster and pass a health care bill, but history shows that Congress has used the process to pass health care legislation many times before.
• Kent Conrad [D, ND], however, is betting against reconciliation.
• After months of debate, the House voted to strip the health insurance industry of federal antitrust exemptions.
• Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR] and Sen. Judd Gregg [R, NH] are pushing a bill that would restructure corporate tax policies and legalize internet gambling in the process.
• Donny provides an excellent analysis of the health care summit.
• Charlie Rangel [D, NY-15] got in trouble.
• Democrats have been trying to extend unemployment insurance benefits all week but GOP obstruction continues to get in the way.

As always, thanks for your great comments and participation on the site this week. Remember to become a fan of OpenCongress on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter at @OpenCongress. And if you’re so inclined, follow us on Google Buzz.