Massachusetts Special Election Results
Create Another Hurdle for Health Care Reform

Massachusetts voters elected the Republican candidate, Scott Brown, to fill the vacant seat previously held by Ted Kennedy in a contentious special election held on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. This important election result comes after the White House and Democratic Congressional leaders had negotiated a compromise with organized labor on the "Cadillac" tax on higher cost insurance policies which they hoped would hasten final resolution of the other remaining issues in the effort to merge the Senate and House health care reform bills.

Once Brown officially becomes a member of the Senate, the Republicans will have 41 seats, and the Democrats will lose their filibuster‑proof majority. It took all 58 Democrats and the two independents to pass the Senate's health care reform bill in December. Democratic leaders have maintained that regardless of the results of the special election, they will pass health care reform. There are various options reportedly being considered to accomplish this, including recruiting a moderate Republican, such as Senator Snowe of Maine, to help end any filibuster. Clearly, however, the Massachusetts election result has created yet another hurdle to the final passage of health care reform at a time when final passage appeared imminent.

Ice Miller and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce are hosting a seminar on Health Care Reform on Thursday, January 21, 2010. The speakers will provide the latest updates on the status of the negotiations in Washington, D.C. and the options being considered to address the pending loss of the Democrats filibuster‑proof majority. In addition, Gerry Dick of Inside INdiana Business will facilitate a panel discussion on health care reform with representatives of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Hospital Association, the Indiana State Medical Association, the Indiana Department of Insurance and Eli Lilly and Company. Ice Miller clients are entitled to a discount on the cost of the seminar.

If you have questions regarding health care reform, you can contact Kevin Woodhouse.

This publication is intended for general information purposes only and does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice.  The reader must consult with legal counsel to determine how laws or decisions discussed herein apply to the reader's specific circumstances.