Congress makes health care top priority

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By Sean Lengell

When President Obama vowed last week to rebuild the nation's slumping economy on the strength of "five pillars," there was little doubt on which column construction would begin first - health care reform.

As Congress returns to Washington on Monday after its two-week spring break, efforts on a plan to overhaul the nation's health care system will move into high gear as Democratic leaders rush to meet the president's priority.

Plenty of other high-profile issues still will demand the attention of Capitol Hill lawmakers in the coming months, including the 2010 federal budget, the country's economic woes, the banking crisis and a war in Afghanistan that shows no signs of letting up.

But with several big-ticket legislative items already hammered out this year, such as the $787 billion economic stimulus package and a $410 billion omnibus spending bill, lawmakers pushing for health care reform say the next two months will be critical for sending a measure to Mr. Obama's desk this year.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Montana Democrat, who is expected to take the lead on writing a health care reform package, has said he wants to have a bill ready by the end of June.

The committee's top Republican, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, said last week that "if we don't get it done this year ... it ain't going to be done for four years."

"That's why Senator Baucus and I are on an aggressive schedule," said Mr. Grassley during a health care forum in his home state last week. "I think we have momentum right now."

Beginning this week, the committee will host a series of three roundtable meetings between senators and health care industry experts in preparation for piecing together a health care reform package.

The first meeting, set for Tuesday, will focus on the delivery of health care services. Roundtables scheduled for May will focus on increasing access to health care coverage and how best to pay for overhauling the nation's health care system.