Health-Care Overhaul: Waiting for Elmendorf, Test for Lincoln – Health Blog – WSJ
By James A. White
As the Senate gets ready to begin floor debate on the health-care overhaul, two players with different roles come in for media attention this morning.
All eyes in the health-care arena are on Douglas W. Elmendorf, head of the Congressional Budget Office, who is due to come up with an evaluation of the Senate’s proposed overhaul shortly, according to an article in the New York Times. It puts what’s riding on the CBO’s assessment this way:
A thumbs-up from Mr. Elmendorf could speed the process along, helping Mr. Obama fulfill his hope of signing a bill into law this year. A thumbs-down on any of the critical questions — how much the bill costs, how many people it covers, whether it reins in the runaway growth of health spending — could leave the White House and Democrats scrambling.
Elmendorf’s past calls on cost issues has strained some of his friendships in Washington, including with fellow Democrats.
Health-Care Overhaul: Waiting for Elmendorf, Test for Lincoln – Health Blog – WSJ
