Democrats Favoring the 'Big Bill'

Immediately following the White House health-care reform summit, congressional Democrats plotted their steps toward a "massive, Democrats-only health-care plan," according to Politico. The six-hour summit was a sort of measuring stick for Democrats to "give a face to gridlock, in the form of House and Senate Republicans" and for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to "take the temperature of their caucuses." Democrats are preparing to undertake the president's entire $950 billion plan, known as "the big bill" on the Hill, rather than pushing a smaller bill that would cost less and provide less coverage. Because going the "skinny" route means the process would begin all over again, "It's probably the big bill or nothing," said a top Democratic aide. Meanwhile, a fresh start may be exactly what Republicans want. "Americans want to scrap the Democrats' massive bill and start over with a clean sheet of paper to work on step-by-step, common-sense reforms that lower health-care costs," said a House Republican aide.