What's next for health care: 5 theories

In the wake of Obama's "do or die" health care reform summit, the big question is: Now what? Commentators lay out 5 scenarios

What's next for health care?
(Image credit: Corbis)

After President Obama's bipartisan health care summit — seven hours of sometimes wonky, often heated, televised debate — the big question is: What happens next? With Congress still in total deadlock, Obama continues to insist that comprehensive, not incremental, reform is the way to go. (Watch a discussion of Obama's goals for the health care summit.) Commentators offer five scenarios:

1. Democrats will eke out a win through reconciliation: Democrats deciding to use their majority rule in the Senate is "the only way health-care reform will pass," says E.J. Dionne in The Washington Post. Harry Reid will have to use the so-called "reconciliation process" to sidestep GOP filibusters and pass a bill with 51 votes, instead of 60. Obama gave this risky move his blessing at the summit after Republicans revealed their intent to block any bill. The path is clear, but will Dems have the "guts" to follow it?

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