weasels and more weasels. The Hill reports the following from the Senate:
“And a senior Democratic aide said that Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is upset about a proposed tax on medical device manufacturers” (in the Baucus bill).

Um. Now I’m glad people are lining up against this dog, but that’s not the type of opposition I was thinking about, Sen. Kerry. Have you no shame?

I wonder if any politician has ever done exactly what he/she promised to do? Wouldn’t that be a novel approach?

Isn’t the whip count supposed to be released today? Does Grijalva still have 40?

Wow, Jane. No one could have predicted (*TM) that the “progressive block” would fold faster than Superman on laundry day. It’s not like Democrats have no spine or anything. Good thing you used so much time and energy having them take that fabulous ‘pledge.’ It gave you a lot of publicity, though.

If those of you that don’t intend to do something positive have nothing but comments about your own personal defeat, may I suggest therapy? FDL is a place where things happen, where people make things happen. It is not about sitting on one’s ass and waiting for someone else.
Does anyone realize how much FDL has done since it’s inception? Yes, every damn tool in DC knows real well. And they fear it.

The ultimate DFH crime: holding people accountable for their past words and deeds.
No cocktail weenies for you, Jane.

So what was the deal with the device manufacturers anyway? They were at the May 11 White House meeting.

Is that Kerry’s job? Jam that in there?

Engel was never part of the “progressive block.” Feel free to click through the links, that’s why we provide them.

As a constituent, I just called Senator Kerry’s D.C. office about this.

Staffer insists that Senator Kerry is still concerned about lack of public option in the Baucus bill and is speaking to Baucus about it.

Staffer insists that Senator K. has already made a fuss about lack of public option but has received a lot of pushback from constitutents about the proposed tax on manufacturers of medical devices.

Staffer says that she’ll pass on to Senator K. my insistence that he stand firm for the public option (I didn’t get into available on day one, available to all, etc.)

We shall see.

Manufacturers located in MA or just the same ol’ follow the money trail? IMO he’s been a bamboo Dem for a long time. The Kerry of 71 has left the building.

Jane’s new cross-post just went up on the front page: “Workers Chant “Bullshit” About Baucus Bill At AFL-CIO Convention”

You’re kidding, right?

That’s what his constituents are worried about?

Manufacturers located in MA

courtesy the treasure that is Rayne

Then he should agree to join Rockefeller (and possibly Cantwell, Schumer, etc.) in stopping this bad bill in committee. I’m not that happy with him now. Is he selling medical equipment or promoting healthcare reform?

I think this relates to a pledge he made a few months ago to support small manufacturing businesses, including, specifically, MA-based healthcare equipment manufacturers – that they would not subject to additional burdens as a result of healthcare reform.

Thanx cbl2 and thanx Rayne. Time of mine you saved.

I called. The young man who spoke to me affirmed that the congressman still supports a public option, that’s on his website, that is his public stance. I jokingly asked if he had a private stance and he said no.

Sounds like Senator Kerry has a lot of constituents that work for medical device manufacturers and may be afraid of losing their jobs.

anyone else see this gem from Graham: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-…..thin-weeks

Baucus didn’t work hard enough to achieve a bipartisan compromise, sayeth the gentleman from South Carolina.

by the way, Wyden’s declaration just now that he wants to amend the Baucus fiasco with a “two choice” requirement (which does exactly nothing to salvage a horrendous bill) as part of the employer mandate is a prime example of why we have to stop the Baucus bill from leaving the finance committee. It’s going to be a zoo and the forest will get lost for the trees. I feel that we have to end this now.

that’s hilarious

I’d be curious to see a link if you can find one.

Jane,

http://www.boston.com/business…..p_opp.html

for their request of him. I vaguely recollect that he pledged to back their concerns.

Also, if you look at his long list of May 09 earmarks, more than a few went to MA equipment manufacturers.

Called the office — twice — and got a snotty assistant who reiterated over and over that the Congressman is a “strong supporter” of the public option (with a history of supporting single-payer), but would NOT say he’ll vote against a healthcare plan that doesn’t include the public option.

And snotty clerk also offered — twice — to transfer me over to “my” representative.

tax on manufacturers of medical devices.

for BOSTON SCIENTIFIC?

I’ll ask why we aren’t hearing about two problems – with the bill public option and tax on medical devices.

Called Engel’s office for the third time, same snotty clerk, and told him that as a 59 year old Democrat, I’d seen the Democratic Party, twice, consign itself to the minority (for decades) by refusing to do the right thing, that it’s base also desperately wanted and needed.

“I assume you’re answering this phone because you want a career in government or politics,” I said. “Keep that in mind, unless you want to be working for a minority party with little opportunity to affect the governance of this nation.”

I’ll try to drop by Engel’s Riverdale office tomorrow and see what they have to say. I’ve already sent a few e-mails clearly stating my support for public option. (Schumer is the only one to acknowledge, with a big e-mail blast today to folks who’ve contacted him on public option. His support seemed very clear in my reading of the e-mail.)