December 09, 2009 09:12 PM UTC

Udall, Bennet "Freshman Package" Considered Positive

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Pueblo Chieftain reports:

Colorado’s U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet joined with nine other freshman senators to introduce a package of health care amendments Tuesday, even as the Senate continued its contentious debate on comprehensive health care reform legislation.

Udall and Bennet, both Democrats, authored pieces of the “freshman package,” which Senate Democratic leaders could bring to the floor for consideration at any time as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pushes his colleagues to finish the health care legislation before the Christmas recess.

Udall’s amendment focuses on an independent Medicare Advisory Board, which would be established under the Democratic plan to oversee Medicare pricing and procedures. Udall would give that same board broader authority to make recommendations on how to cut costs and increase efficiency in all health care programs, not just the federal government’s Medicare program…

Similarly, Bennet’s amendment in the freshman package is intended to streamline health insurance procedures. It would require the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt and regularly update a single, national standard for basic electronic health care transactions that occur between insurers and providers.

Not directly a part of the “Grand Bargain” on health reform in the Senate everybody is talking about today, but the “freshman package” of cost-control amendments is generally considered a positive development, supported by the AARP among others–watch for a number of them to be incorporated into the Senate’s final health reform bill, which has been reported to be in need of some cost-cutting componentry.

We haven’t seen a statement yet from Colorado’s Senators regarding the larger compromise on the public option tentatively reached yesterday–it’s possible that their positions on that deal will matter more to the voting public than any of these side proposals, however worthy they may be–we’ll update when they comment. Both Udall and Bennet voted against stiff proposed restrictions on abortion funding yesterday, helping defeat them and winning thanks from pro-choice activists.