HEALTH CARE: Health Insurers And Unions Join The American People In Mounting Opposition As Democrats Scramble To Find A Path Forward On Health Care

Dems Divided (STILL). Politico’s “The Huddle:” Lead

Second Report Indicates Higher Premiums On The Horizon. The BCBSA study finds that premiums in the individual insurance market will rise by 50 percent after five years of enacting reform. That translates into $1,500 for individuals and $3,300 for families. Those who receive coverage from "small group plans" — usually through small businesses — could see premiums rise 19 percent after five years. That could result in 2.5 million fewer people receiving coverage from small businesses, the study claims. The Hill

As Insurers And Unions Voice Opposition, Democrats Move To Protect Unions. Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate are moving to shore up support from two of their most important constituencies, labor unions and doctors, as the lawmakers seek to craft compromise health-care legislation. … “We have to be careful,” Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, told reporters yesterday. “We don’t want to see our friends in labor not supporting it.” Bloomberg

Staying Deficit Neutral? The House legislation includes a $228.5 billion provision to avert cuts in Medicare payments to doctors and permanently replace the payment formula to provide annual increases. The Senate Finance Committee bill provides $10.9 billion to avert the cuts for one year. … On this issue, Mr. Hoyer said, “There is a difference between the Senate and the House, and it is a pretty substantial difference.” Asked whether the House would offset the cost of its proposal, he said, “I don’t think we are going to pay for it.” The New York Times

Blue Dogs And Liberals Agree, Public Option Lacks Votes In The House. Pomeroy said Pelosi is in line with the majority of her Caucus in backing a robust public plan. “But not a majority of the House. They’re still looking for 218 votes.” On that point, Pomeroy and Grijalva agree. “I think she’s in a difficult position,” Grijalva said. Roll Call

ECONOMY: As Unemployment Numbers And The Deficit Continue To Rise, Democrats In Washington Remain Silent

Counting Jobs Every Which Way … Just Put Something Down! Initial recipients of the stimulus money, and any government or company that they pass it on to, must report how they use the funds and how many jobs they create. But the reporting requirements do not apply to additional levels of contractors who receive the money. As a result, the data being reported will not be consistent. Some recipients may attempt to estimate how many jobs are created by contractors, but others will not. Some will report jobs that have not yet been filled, while others will stick to actual hires. Some will use one standard for counting a job that is filled for only few weeks or months, some will use another. The Washington Post

Wessel: Where’s The Administration’s Plan On The Deficit. But the president has yet to offer a business plan to demonstrate how he will prevent the U.S. from becoming the world's largest subprime borrower. The White House says: Wait till health care is done. "We will be showing more about what we intend to do about the deficit when the president's budget comes out in February," promised Peter Orszag, the president's budget director. The Wall Street Journal

Nine Months Later … Treasury Positions Remain Unfilled. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is trying to lead the U.S. economy out of its doldrums with - figuratively - one arm tied behind his back: Almost nine months after the Obama administration took power, more than half of the 33 highest-level Treasury Department posts are still vacant. The Washington Times

FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Despite General McChrystal’s Recommendation, White House Officials Continue To Delay In Search Of Another Way

Less Than 20,000 Troops? As the Obama administration debates whether to shift its aims in Afghanistan, officials at the Pentagon and National Security Council have begun developing "middle path" strategies that would require fewer troops than their ground commander is seeking. … None of the strategies envision troop reductions, but officials said they would not require the 40,000-troop increase preferred by Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the U.S. and allied commander. A number of White House officials favor sending fewer than 20,000 additional troops. The Los Angeles Times

War Council Conversation Shifts To Focus On Civilian Effort. Another official said the focus on the civilian effort grew out of a sense that the United States needs to better cultivate Afghan leaders and institutions. "We've been at war eight years, and we realize now we're starting from scratch because very little work has been done building a credible Afghan partner," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks. The Washington Post

Troop Funds Diverted… Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis. The Washington Times

IN OTHER NEWS

• Will: GOP Gains On The Horizon
• Rove: Obama Hasn't Closed the Health-Care Sale
• NYT Magazine: Stanley McChrystal’s Long War
• HuffPo: Why Joe Biden Should Resign

THE SCHEDULE

• The House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected sometime this afternoon. The House Financial Services Committee marks up regulatory reform legislation on derivatives today at 9:30 A.M. in 2128 Rayburn.
• The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and begin a period of morning business. Thereafter, resume consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.3183, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.