Oregon Public Broadcasting

Democrats in Congress will try to wrap up some unfinished business this week. April Baer reports they’ll try to move a proposal that would extend unemployment insurance and make adjustments to Medicare.

Late last week, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley was among Democrats pleading with Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky to end a one-man filibuster. Bunning’s procedural roadblock was motivated, he said, by cost concerns.

There’s more to the proposal than the extension of unemployment benefits.  Betsy Boyd-Flynn with the Oregon Medical Association says another element would have prevented a 21 percent drop in Medicare reimbursements to Oregon’s doctors.

Betsy Boyd-Flynn  “When we do our workforce surveys and ask our members, ‘OK,  what are your plans?’ their plans, the number one reason doctors for why they’re balancing their mix of patients is because of the way Medicare is reimbursed.”

She called the Senate standoff a disheartening game of chicken.

Merkley called the benefit extension crucial. He believes Senate leaders will take another run at it this week.

April Baer, OPB News.