TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) about the status of healthcare reform legislation in the Senate. Merkley tells Ratner that he expects Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to release a merged bill later today, but adds that Republicans will attempt to block a vote on the bill, which he hopes will take place by this weekend at the latest. The Democrat from Oregon says he doesn’t think the bill will come out of conference until January. Merkley describes the whole process as being “painfully slow.” Click the audio icon below to listen to the full interview. (7:44)

 

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“Whatever we pass in the House, whatever they pass in the Senate, will not be the final product,” Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) says to his fellow Congressmen about pending healthcare reform bills. He urges the House and Senate to pass a bill before the Congressional recess in August, use August and September for the two Congressional bodies to establish a final healthcare reform package, and have “something for the President to sign before the end of this calendar year.” (0:36)

 

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“This is the least bipartisan administration in modern times,” and “it’s bad for the country,” says former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. “They are unwilling to have a conversation, they are unwilling to openly look at amending their [health care] bill,” he adds. (0:46)

 

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