NPR People: David Welna http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1934700&ft=1&f=1934700 David Welna became NPR's congressional correspondent during the final days of the Clinton administration. He had earlier covered campaigns for the November 2000 election and the post-election vote count battle in Florida. Many of the issues Welna follows in both the House and the Senate tie in with reporting he's done in the U.S. and abroad. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg David Welna http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1934700&ft=1&f=1934700 yes Health Care Concessions A Bow To Moderates The public option looms large in the minds of voters and certain lawmakers, but not so much in the Senate health care bill. There it limits eligibility, kicks in late, includes an opt-out provision for states, and is expected to cost more than private plans. Leaders say they had to weaken it to round up the 60 votes they need to move the bill forward. Still, its inclusion continues to jeopardize needed support for passage, because several members of the Democratic caucus adamantly oppose any public option. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624310&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624310&ft=1&f=1934700 The public option looms large in the minds of voters and certain lawmakers, but not so much in the Senate health care bill. There it limits eligibility, kicks in late, includes an opt-out provision for states, and is expected to cost more than private plans. Leaders say they had to weaken it to round up the 60 votes they need to move the bill forward. Still, its inclusion continues to jeopardize needed support for passage, because several members of the Democratic caucus adamantly oppose any public option. 222 no The public option looms large in the minds of voters and certain lawmakers, but not so much in the Senate health care bill. There it limits eligibility, kicks in late, includes an opt-out provision for states, and is expected to cost more than private plans. Leaders say they had to weaken it to round up the 60 votes they need to move the bill forward. Still, its inclusion continues to jeopardize needed support for passage, because several members of the Democratic caucus adamantly oppose any public option.

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]]> Health Bill Hopes To Sway Reluctant Democrats The Senate needs 60 votes to bring its health care bill to the floor. To round up those votes, the bill unveiled Wednesday costs less than the House version, and delays the effective date for many provisions to 2014. Republicans are denouncing the cost cuts as mere gimmicks. Will those measures be enough to persuade wavering Democrats to vote at least to bring the bill up? Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583684&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583684&ft=1&f=1934700 The Senate needs 60 votes to bring its health care bill to the floor. To round up those votes, the bill unveiled Wednesday costs less than the House version, and delays the effective date for many provisions to 2014. Republicans are denouncing the cost cuts as mere gimmicks. Will those measures be enough to persuade wavering Democrats to vote at least to bring the bill up? 230 no The Senate needs 60 votes to bring its health care bill to the floor. To round up those votes, the bill unveiled Wednesday costs less than the House version, and delays the effective date for many provisions to 2014. Republicans are denouncing the cost cuts as mere gimmicks. Will those measures be enough to persuade wavering Democrats to vote at least to bring the bill up?

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]]> Reid Introduces Senate Health Care Plan Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has unveiled the Democrat's bill overhauling health care. It costs less than the health care bill the House passed earlier this month, and its expansion of insurance coverage is somewhat more limited. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562854&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562854&ft=1&f=1934700 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has unveiled the Democrat's bill overhauling health care. It costs less than the health care bill the House passed earlier this month, and its expansion of insurance coverage is somewhat more limited. 266 no Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has unveiled the Democrat's bill overhauling health care. It costs less than the health care bill the House passed earlier this month, and its expansion of insurance coverage is somewhat more limited.

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]]> Analyzing Democrats' Word Shift On Health Care There's been a significant rhetorical shift in the way President Obama and his congressional allies refer to their health care overhaul. Critics say the shift exposes a key flaw in their plan: It forces change on insurers, but not physicians. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:06:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120464701&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120464701&ft=1&f=1934700 There's been a significant rhetorical shift in the way President Obama and his congressional allies refer to their health care overhaul. Critics say the shift exposes a key flaw in their plan: It forces change on insurers, but not physicians. 303 no There's been a significant rhetorical shift in the way President Obama and his congressional allies refer to their health care overhaul. Critics say the shift exposes a key flaw in their plan: It forces change on insurers, but not physicians.

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]]> GOP's Coburn Blocks Bill Disabled Vets Bill The Senate wants to provide $4 billion to help homecare providers for 6,800 disabled veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Leaders hoped the measure would sail through on the eve of Veterans Day by unanimous consent, but they got one no vote: Republican Tom Coburn. He says there is no budgeted money for the bill and that other programs should be cut to pay for it, and he isn't backing down. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120300295&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120300295&ft=1&f=1934700 The Senate wants to provide $4 billion to help homecare providers for 6,800 disabled veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Leaders hoped the measure would sail through on the eve of Veterans Day by unanimous consent, but they got one no vote: Republican Tom Coburn. He says there is no budgeted money for the bill and that other programs should be cut to pay for it, and he isn't backing down. 156 no The Senate wants to provide $4 billion to help homecare providers for 6,800 disabled veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Leaders hoped the measure would sail through on the eve of Veterans Day by unanimous consent, but they got one no vote: Republican Tom Coburn. He says there is no budgeted money for the bill and that other programs should be cut to pay for it, and he isn't backing down.

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]]> As Senior Senator, Kerry Finds New Rhythm After voters rejected him for president in 2004, Sen. John Kerry kept a low profile. But lately, he has emerged as a leading voice on pressing issues from Afghanistan to climate change. With Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's death, Kerry is now senior senator from Massachusetts — "impossible shoes to fill," he says. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:48:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120276198&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120276198&ft=1&f=1934700 After voters rejected him for president in 2004, Sen. John Kerry kept a low profile. But lately, he has emerged as a leading voice on pressing issues from Afghanistan to climate change. With Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's death, Kerry is now senior senator from Massachusetts — "impossible shoes to fill," he says. 302 no After voters rejected him for president in 2004, Sen. John Kerry kept a low profile. But lately, he has emerged as a leading voice on pressing issues from Afghanistan to climate change. With Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's death, Kerry is now senior senator from Massachusetts — "impossible shoes to fill," he says.

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]]> GOP Boycotts Senate Panel On Climate Change Only one Republican attended the start of a Senate committee debate on a bill to limit greenhouse gases. Republicans say the measure's economic costs have not been fully examined. The Environment and Public Works Committee needs two Republicans for a quorum. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120066031&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120066031&ft=1&f=1934700 Only one Republican attended the start of a Senate committee debate on a bill to limit greenhouse gases. Republicans say the measure's economic costs have not been fully examined. The Environment and Public Works Committee needs two Republicans for a quorum. 249 no Only one Republican attended the start of a Senate committee debate on a bill to limit greenhouse gases. Republicans say the measure's economic costs have not been fully examined. The Environment and Public Works Committee needs two Republicans for a quorum.

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]]> Afghan Decision Will Come With A Price Tag President Obama holds the last of six White House meetings to re-examine the course set in Afghanistan Friday. Still unknown is how the president will come down on a request from his top commander there for additional U.S. troops. Any decision will require funding by Congress, and that's bound to put some Democrats on the spot about an increasingly unpopular war. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114308693&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114308693&ft=1&f=1934700 President Obama holds the last of six White House meetings to re-examine the course set in Afghanistan Friday. Still unknown is how the president will come down on a request from his top commander there for additional U.S. troops. Any decision will require funding by Congress, and that's bound to put some Democrats on the spot about an increasingly unpopular war. 290 no President Obama holds the last of six White House meetings to re-examine the course set in Afghanistan Friday. Still unknown is how the president will come down on a request from his top commander there for additional U.S. troops. Any decision will require funding by Congress, and that's bound to put some Democrats on the spot about an increasingly unpopular war.

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]]> Reid Bows To Pressure, Bill Includes Public Option A week of closed door negotiations among Democrats has produced a compromise health-care overhaul bill. To the delight or dismay of many, it includes a public option — or government-sponsored insurance plan. Majority Leader Harry Reid yielded to intense pressure from his party's liberal wing to include a public option. It is still unclear whether there's enough Senate support to keep it intact. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114195059&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114195059&ft=1&f=1934700 A week of closed door negotiations among Democrats has produced a compromise health-care overhaul bill. To the delight or dismay of many, it includes a public option — or government-sponsored insurance plan. Majority Leader Harry Reid yielded to intense pressure from his party's liberal wing to include a public option. It is still unclear whether there's enough Senate support to keep it intact. 255 no A week of closed door negotiations among Democrats has produced a compromise health-care overhaul bill. To the delight or dismay of many, it includes a public option — or government-sponsored insurance plan. Majority Leader Harry Reid yielded to intense pressure from his party's liberal wing to include a public option. It is still unclear whether there's enough Senate support to keep it intact.

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]]> Democrats Push To End Insurers' Antitrust Exemption The relationship between the Obama administration and health insurers has turned ugly since the industry rejected the health care makeover it once supported. Congressional Democrats now want to strip the industry's exemption from federal antitrust laws. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114063950&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114063950&ft=1&f=1934700 The relationship between the Obama administration and health insurers has turned ugly since the industry rejected the health care makeover it once supported. Congressional Democrats now want to strip the industry's exemption from federal antitrust laws. 243 no The relationship between the Obama administration and health insurers has turned ugly since the industry rejected the health care makeover it once supported. Congressional Democrats now want to strip the industry's exemption from federal antitrust laws.

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]]> Public Option Short On Democrat Votes In Senate Most polls show that a majority of Americans want a health care overhaul to include a public option — a government insurance program that competes with private insurers. But no decision has been made yet, because it's not clear how many Democrats would back a public option. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113990953&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113990953&ft=1&f=1934700 Most polls show that a majority of Americans want a health care overhaul to include a public option — a government insurance program that competes with private insurers. But no decision has been made yet, because it's not clear how many Democrats would back a public option. 247 no Most polls show that a majority of Americans want a health care overhaul to include a public option — a government insurance program that competes with private insurers. But no decision has been made yet, because it's not clear how many Democrats would back a public option.

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]]> Health Care Overhaul Rests On Senator Reid Majority Leader Harry Reid has been the Democrats' top man in the Senate for nearly five years. But his leadership skills are soon to be tested as he presides over merging the two very different health care overhaul bills. The task has prompted remarks like, "Is he Harry Reid or Harry Houdini?" Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113833856&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113833856&ft=1&f=1934700 Majority Leader Harry Reid has been the Democrats' top man in the Senate for nearly five years. But his leadership skills are soon to be tested as he presides over merging the two very different health care overhaul bills. The task has prompted remarks like, "Is he Harry Reid or Harry Houdini?" 343 no Majority Leader Harry Reid has been the Democrats' top man in the Senate for nearly five years. But his leadership skills are soon to be tested as he presides over merging the two very different health care overhaul bills. The task has prompted remarks like, "Is he Harry Reid or Harry Houdini?"

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]]> Health Care Bill Faces Fierce Debate In Senate After months of debate and delay, the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care overhaul bill Tuesday. All 13 Democrats on the committee and one Republican, Olympia Snowe, voted in favor. Nine Republicans voted against. The finance committee bill has no public option, and although Democrats say they plan to add one when it's combined with other bills in committee, they may risk losing support from moderate Republicans like Snowe. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113781751&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113781751&ft=1&f=1934700 After months of debate and delay, the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care overhaul bill Tuesday. All 13 Democrats on the committee and one Republican, Olympia Snowe, voted in favor. Nine Republicans voted against. The finance committee bill has no public option, and although Democrats say they plan to add one when it's combined with other bills in committee, they may risk losing support from moderate Republicans like Snowe. 0 no After months of debate and delay, the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care overhaul bill Tuesday. All 13 Democrats on the committee and one Republican, Olympia Snowe, voted in favor. Nine Republicans voted against. The finance committee bill has no public option, and although Democrats say they plan to add one when it's combined with other bills in committee, they may risk losing support from moderate Republicans like Snowe.

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]]> Despite Presidential Promises, Don't Ask Don't Tell Still Rules Since Obama took office, more than 400 gay service members have been forced out of the military due to Don't Ask Don't Tell, but the president has yet to take action on his campaign promise to repeal the Pentagon policy. He'll address the annual dinner of the gay rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign Saturday night, and he'll likely have some explaining to do. Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113697970&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113697970&ft=1&f=1934700 Since Obama took office, more than 400 gay service members have been forced out of the military due to Don't Ask Don't Tell, but the president has yet to take action on his campaign promise to repeal the Pentagon policy. He'll address the annual dinner of the gay rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign Saturday night, and he'll likely have some explaining to do. 249 no Since Obama took office, more than 400 gay service members have been forced out of the military due to Don't Ask Don't Tell, but the president has yet to take action on his campaign promise to repeal the Pentagon policy. He'll address the annual dinner of the gay rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign Saturday night, and he'll likely have some explaining to do.

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]]> Lawmakers, Officials Press Obama On Afghanistan President Obama meets Wednesday with his national security team to talk about the war in Afghanistan, after meeting Tuesday with Congressional leaders. He has said he won't cut U.S. troop levels and is considering whether to raise them. Once he makes decisions on strategy and resources for the war, he'll have to go out and sell them. But it'll be a tough sell, even among his own party. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113563525&ft=1&f=1934700 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113563525&ft=1&f=1934700 President Obama meets Wednesday with his national security team to talk about the war in Afghanistan, after meeting Tuesday with Congressional leaders. He has said he won't cut U.S. troop levels and is considering whether to raise them. Once he makes decisions on strategy and resources for the war, he'll have to go out and sell them. But it'll be a tough sell, even among his own party. 536 no President Obama meets Wednesday with his national security team to talk about the war in Afghanistan, after meeting Tuesday with Congressional leaders. He has said he won't cut U.S. troop levels and is considering whether to raise them. Once he makes decisions on strategy and resources for the war, he'll have to go out and sell them. But it'll be a tough sell, even among his own party.

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