April 28th, 2009

Reports The Hill:

A battle over the future of the nation’s healthcare began in earnest Monday as Democrats pushed forward at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Obama’s chief White House aide on healthcare reform said Obama has a mandate from the American people to move forward as a result of his sweeping victory over GOP Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

 “They made their voices heard at the ballot box when they elected a president committed to reform,” White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle said Monday.

Congressional Democrats, too, think the public is on their side.

“When all is said and done, if there is a decision by Republicans not to join with us, the people in Michigan, in the end, want to be able to see a doctor,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said Monday. “They don’t care if it’s Democrats or Republicans, reconciliation or not.”

Although talk of bipartisanship has not disappeared, one thing is certain: The Democrats are moving aggressively ahead, even if they have to go it alone.

In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Monday reiterated that he would prefer that health reform be a bipartisan effort.

Nevertheless, Reid left no room for doubt that Democrats will leave the GOP behind if that is what it takes. “Make no mistake — we are determined to reform healthcare this year,” he wrote.

Read much more about Democrats’ plans and the upcoming battle at The Hill.