Now we know why CLASS was able to be separated out from the entire law:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...-care-reform/2011/10/17/gIQAsYbcsL_story.html
Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican who left office earlier this year, proposed to weaken the program by replacing its premium with instructions for the secretary of Health and Human Services to develop an "actuarially-sound premium" at a later date. Much to Gregg's surprise — much to everyone's surprise — Dodd accepted the amendment.
Gregg's attempt to underscore the financial weakness of the program led to its inclusion in the bill. After that point, removing it would have required 60 votes and a willingness to effectively betray Kennedy. CLASS was in.
Now it's out. And the reason, again, was Gregg's proposal. The mandate to develop an "actuarially-sound premium" gave the Obama administration a lever with which they could remove CLASS from the final law.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...-care-reform/2011/10/17/gIQAsYbcsL_story.html
Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican who left office earlier this year, proposed to weaken the program by replacing its premium with instructions for the secretary of Health and Human Services to develop an "actuarially-sound premium" at a later date. Much to Gregg's surprise — much to everyone's surprise — Dodd accepted the amendment.
Gregg's attempt to underscore the financial weakness of the program led to its inclusion in the bill. After that point, removing it would have required 60 votes and a willingness to effectively betray Kennedy. CLASS was in.
Now it's out. And the reason, again, was Gregg's proposal. The mandate to develop an "actuarially-sound premium" gave the Obama administration a lever with which they could remove CLASS from the final law.
