Expect Reid to tout provisions in bill

A week that started with some doubting whether Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., would round up 60 Senate votes for a health care overhaul bill ended with Reid doing just that.

If the legislation continues as planned there could be a vote to approve the bill on Thursday, just in time to meet the self-imposed Christmas deadline for a vote.

If it passes, it will give Reid something to sell during his re-election campaign in 2010. Although earlier versions of the legislation were unpopular with Nevada voters, a big majority have told pollsters they want some sort of reform.

Much of the legislation wouldn't go into effect until after the election, but expect Reid to emphasize during his campaign the parts that would go into effect with passage.

Here's some of the items in the bill that would fall under the category of immediate gratification: coverage for those with pre-existing conditions currently without insurance, closing the coverage gap for Medicare Part D and small business tax credits -- up to 50 percent of the cost of premiums for small businesses that choose to offer coverage -- and no arbitrary limits on annual or lifetime insurance coverage.

If it passes, the Senate bill would still need to be reconciled with a House of Representatives' version before going to President Barack Obama for a signature.

TACTIC COULD HELP TITUS

As U.S. House members left Washington this week for the holidays, Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised freshmen Democrats and vulnerable incumbents that she will shield them from taking some tough votes next year, according to a published report.

The pledge could be of some help to Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who is among the first-termers expecting competitive races.

According to Democrats interviewed by The Hill newspaper, Pelosi has promised that she will not schedule votes on controversial issues until the Senate acts first.

House members long have grumbled about how they take tough votes on controversial bills -- leaving them vulnerable back home -- only to have legislation die in the Senate. For instance, the House passed a hot-button climate change bill after bitter debate in June, but there are no votes in sight, at least not yet, in the Senate.

"I think freshmen particularly are not enamored of the idea of being asked to walk the plank on a controversial item if the Senate is not going to take any action," the paper quoted Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., the freshmen class president.

Pelosi told freshmen at a breakfast last week that she will not call for votes on immigration reform until the Senate passes a bill, the Hill said. Reportedly, she has extended that promise to other red flag issues, which could include the Employee Free Choice Act or "card check" bill, and repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military.

There will be no escaping some tough votes on must-pass bills, such as raising the government's limit on borrowing and funding troops in Afghanistan.

Titus doesn't think she was in the particular meeting reported by The Hill, but has heard Pelosi talk about next year's votes, an aide said Thursday.

For Titus, who is being challenged for re-election by former state Sen. Joe Heck and real estate investor Rob Lauer, the issue is not about ducking controversy but about making the best use of limited time.

Titus "doesn't want the House to lose its focus" on jobs and the economy, "and end up spending time debating bills that aren't going anywhere in the Senate," according to spokesman Andrew Stoddard.

ARIA OPENING DRAWS POLS

Nevada politicians spotted Wednesday evening at the opening of Aria, the hotel-casino resort at CityCenter, as reported by several Review-Journal staff members and in no particular order: Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval; Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki; Republican congressional candidate and former state Sen. Joe Heck; state Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno; Assemblyman Harvey Munford, D-Las Vegas; Assemblyman Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas; Assemblyman Bill Horn, D-Las Vegas; and Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown.

Also spotted were former Las Vegas Sands executive and conservative candidate supporter Bill Weidner; Pete Ernaut, confidant to Sandoval and president of R&R Partners; Republican political consultant Frank Luntz; former host of KNPR's "State of Nevada" and journalist Dave Berns; and attorney and former candidate for U.S. Senate Ed Bernstein.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861. Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault @stephensmedia.com or 775-687-3901.