Max Baucus, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has done everything short of making ethanol a reimbursable prescription drug to win the heart of his good Republican friend from Iowa, Chuck Grassley.
I’m told that Grassley, under immense pressure from Republican colleagues not to deal at all, has informed Baucus that he cannot sign on to a bill if it is supported by only one other Republican, the sensible Olympia Snowe of Maine. Grassley needs more cover from more conservative colleagues.
I’m told that Grassley, under immense pressure from Republican colleagues not to deal at all, has informed Baucus that he cannot sign on to a bill if it is supported by only one other Republican, the sensible Olympia Snowe of Maine. Grassley needs more cover from more conservative colleagues.
I understand the value of optics, and telling the GOP to publicly get stuffed is probably not the best idea. But bending over backwards to please people who are never going to be pleased, compromising the health care plan just so you can score a public relations victory, is bad policy and bad politics.
There was no loud cheering by anybody but members of Congress when ACES passed. The idea that we can pass something that is nothing more than an insurance industry bailout, and everyone will applaud because "something" was done, is a pretty remote fantasy.
The ultimate test is going to be the functionality of an overhauled health care system. If the GOP is marginally less unhappy and the whole thing sucks, I don’t know how that scores as a "victory."
Bottom line — if the "centrist" inertia is going to be overcome, it’s going to happen because the public demands it.
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Good morning!
A shrewd negotiator would immediately note this continuing theme that GOP senators won’t vote for a health care reform bill under any circumstances — something us DFHs have been saying for weeks — and marginalize them, publicly, for their short-sightedness. We could have gotten a political two-fer, both in a reform of the system and a showcasing of the anti-average American new GOP. Alas, we have Majority Leader Reid and Blue Dog DINOs instead… so it’s back to the phones.
A shrewd negotiator would immediately note this continuing theme that GOP senators won’t vote for a health care reform bill under any circumstances — something us DFHs have been saying for weeks
Weeks? Try years(especially in the case of Atrios).
Any news/rumours about the MN Supreme Court. It would be nice to have a liberal Senator from Minnesota seated during this decade. Maybe even affect the dynamics of the “debate.”
I was trying to be generous… should’ve known better!
Fear the MNSC has been politicized and they are waiting for just the right moment to make a ruling that will shock the world.
Good afternoon Jane….. hope you are enjoying Sweden…Have some Swedish pancakes with linginberry jam….. a family favorite…
Thank you for doing this because I get so depressed over the idiots who work in DC…. the amount of money that the insurance industry has poured into this and the idea that they would continue to deny coverage ….
Old Senator Corn Pone isn’t ever going to support overhauling the health care system.
The Farm Bureau, an insurance company masquerading as a farm advocacy group, and a lot the other insurance powers that are centered in Des Moines, are not going to let that happen.
Senator Corn Pone learned at the knee of Congressman H. R. Gross. Old 144 was a legendary fiscal conservative. Actually, he was something of a nut. For example, Gross objected to the eternal flame marking JFK’s grave, because he thought the fuel would be too expensive.
Why invest in US? I foresee congress turning US over to the “health” corporations and no lousy “public option” at all, much less a strong one. All you have to do is look at what they’ve rushed to pass in the first 6 months. Nobody needs to be a Cassandra to figure this one out.
Well, I’m betting that they’ll wait until all these “bills” are passed to make that ruling; whatever it turns out to be.
Maybe confirm Franken in time to let him run again in 2012 or whatever.
Nobody wants another progressive up there; nobody except us.
Most people do not consider that who the President selects for his cabinet must be approved by the Senate so this has to be considered when he makes a choice . The same is true of laws and programs . The congress controls the money and makes the laws and the President can only try to convince . Regarding health care ; The “public option” was dreamed up by someone to benefit Wall Street and has saturated the media with this debate . The real truth is “health care providers” cause insurance rates to increase and the same thing will happen with the “public option” as it has with medicare . And Wall Street (GOP) can destroy the “public option” insurance program as they have been doing with medicare . Before RR we had many low cost government clinics and hospitals and he dismantled them so the AMA would not have the competition these low cost health systems offered . A governemnt insurance program will be a failure unless the AMA has competition and many know this but do not have the voice to oppose the media sponsored “public option” . You can bet your socks if the media is pushing it Wall Street wants it .
FYI, this is a letter I just sent to 32 friends under the title: “A rare plea for political action from Andrew”
Is anyone else having major anxiety attacks about the prospects of getting good healthcare reform, despite Pres. Obama’s commitment to it? The hyper-moneyed special interests are out in force, and it is hard not to fear a repeat of Clinton’s 1994 failure. This time, failure will be reforms so watered down as to be meaningless.
As the beneficiary of an efficient, choice-filled single-payer system in Japan, that would be my personal first choice, but in the meantime, a real, robust public option is the linchpin to reform. Without it, we will have business as usual. A good public option is the only way to give the private insurers (whose profits fundamentally come from keeping sick people off their roles and denying health services and) a real run for their money…
For me this is personal; as a self-employed person I have no idea how I could afford insurance if and when I move back to the U.S.
So. I am attaching a link to one of my favorite blogs, firedogelake.com. You’ll find more information about the public option as well as a Whip-it tool. The idea is to get 40 progressive congresspersons to commit firmly to the public option, to make it their line in the sand for reform legislation. If we can get 40 commitments, the shoe will be on the other foot; instead of making compromises that gut reform in order to get the votes of a few (very few) moderate republican or conservative democrat senators, a united progressive caucus in the house will now hold the key to passage. This will solidify the president’s commitment to a public option and get him (and the feckless Harry Reid) to pressure holdouts against the public option in the senate. Have I made that more complicated that it should be? Anyway, click on the link, watch the video, and if you are so inspired, pull up the Whip-it Tool and call your congressperson. (I didn’t check everyone’s congressional district, just state, before selecting you for the honor of getting this unsolicited mail!)
It took me a long time to muster the umph to call my rep, Maurice Hinchey (NY-22). But when I did, I spoke with a nice intern named Chris at his D.C. office. His policy person is going to get back to me…
Love to all and have fabulous, safe and delightful holidays.
Here’s the link:
http://campaignsilo.firedoglak…..hip-count-—-day-3/
Yeah! Good for you. Glad you called Hinchey. Keep us posted.
Max Baucus and his Secret Caucus buddy Chuck Grassley are playing a dangerous game of charades with America’s health care future.
Remember when Grassley recently twittered his complaint that President Obama thinks he’s a hammer and Grassley’s a nail? “I no nail” Grassley fired back.
He’s right. Grassley’s no nail — he’s a tool.
Well put. “Gutless Moderates” Mike P on Ring of Fire calls them.