 Very likely: 26.7% |
 Somewhat likely: 53.3% |
 Somewhat unlikely: 20% |
 Very unlikely: 0% |
 Very likely: 16.7% |
 Somewhat likely: 25% |
 Somewhat unlikely: 50% |
 Very unlikely: 8.3% |
Very likely
"I think it's very likely they'll do something they call comprehensive health reform legislation this year. How comprehensive and how reforming remains to be seen. It's a very bad omen to me that the Democrats have remained largely silent while the Republicans shriek 'Socialized medicine! The same folks who brought you the Post Office will be managing your health care!' etc. without any meaningful check or opposition." Ellen Brodsky, News Hounds
"With an immense national consensus -- bipartisan in terms of real Americans outside the Beltway -- it will be very difficult for bought-off hacks in Washington to kill comprehensive health care reform. If they try, American could have its own Twitter revolution and it would probably not be a good thing to be Max Baucus, Blanche Lincoln, Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell or Kay Hagan." Howie Klein, Down With Tyranny!
"The word 'comprehensive' is relative. If Congress goes for 60 votes, the likely compromise isn't going to fix anything for long." Susie Madrak, Suburban Guerrilla
Somewhat likely
"Never underestimate the power of the insurance companies and their big bucks to throw a wrench in the system." Brian Leubitz, Calitics
"I'm choosing to be optimistic, but it's early. Until now, insurance and other lobbies have been able to control the debate, but I think that's about to change. People are angry, and they support comprehensive reform that includes a public option. Conservative Democrats better think about that before they continue to weaken reform efforts. In the end, all of them -- and all of Congress -- will look like they were owned by the insurance lobby, and voters will remember." Tracy Viselli, Reno And Its Discontents
"In both cases, GOP opposition is strong but GOP support from the public is weak. The opening is there. It'll depend on the salesman in chief, but public support is turning the tide towards getting something done." Greg Dworkin, Daily Kos
"If 'this year' is the next 12 months (rather than the next six months), then I'd say the odds go up even higher." Kari Chisholm, Blue Oregon
Somewhat unlikely
"Once again, a Democratic president is listening to the foolish and the panicked. At some point, some leader is going to have the guts to stop putting Hello Kitty Band-Aids on a spraying artery and actually propose universal health care, something the majority of the country actually wants and understands." Lee Papa, The Rude Pundit
"It won't be reform worth having if it is. It will be all 'safe incrementalism,' which is typical of the feckless Democrats and centrist Obama administration." Sean-Paul Kelley, The Agonist
Very likely
"Very likely to pass something that will be called 'comprehensive health reform,' due to political needs to demonstrate a major accomplishment. Prospects for creating a government-run program appear to be dimming, fortunately." David Kopel, The Volokh Conspiracy
"There may be an empty bill, but there will be something. Obama will declare a ham sandwich as victory if he has to." Soren Dayton, The Next Right
Somewhat likely
"To mangle Bill Clinton, it depends on what 'comprehensive' is. Had this Democratic Congress moved on health care with the same speed it moved on the stimulus, it might have achieved a complete overhaul of the system. However, as the economy and Iran tarnish the president's luster, Congress is going to enact something (it's got the votes); how comprehensive that something is remains to be seen." Bookworm, Bookworm Room
Somewhat unlikely
"The CBO report that came out was devastating for the Democrats' health care agenda. I don't think there's any way they can pass a version of government health care if Americans see there's a price tag attached." Rob Port, Say Anything
Very unlikely: 7.1%