Strong Medicine

The White House and Congressional Dems have worked out a deal on health care: Debate on the measure will be open for the next six months roughly, allowing bipartisan input. But if there's no deal by October 15, the Dems will go to reconciliation.

The deal was hatched late afternoon and last night, in a five-hour negotiating session at the office of Senate Majoriy Leader Harry Reid. A trio of White House officials were there: Rahm Emanuel, Peter Orszag, and Phil Schiliro. Also present, along with Reid, were House Budget Chairman John Spratt and Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad.

The reonciliation instruction specifies a date. That date, according to one congressional staffer, is October 15. (The original House reconciliation instruction had a late September deadline.)

In other words, the House and Senate each have until that day to pass health care legislation.

If they haven't, then both houses will consider health care under the reconciliation process, which is relevant primarily for the way it affects the Senate. There will be a limit on the time of debate. Republicans won't be able to filibuster it.

So there's still a chance for bipartisanship, which is what both Obama and Democratic leaders want--or, at least, what they say they want. But if bipartisanship doesn't work, then Dems can pass this on their own. They won't even need Ben Nelson.

Which is outstanding news. Obama and the Dems have sent the message loudly and clearly to the Party of No: if you want in on shaping universal health care, here's your chance...but you will not be able to kill it.

Good for Obama, good for America, and well played all around. It's no longer a question of if...no longer even a question of when now. It's a question of what will be in the health care bill. Either way, the President will sign universal health care into law before Election Day 2009.

(EPIC WIN.)