Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 1, 2009, 1:04PM

Obama: Economic Situation Improving, But More Work Needed
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama said that the latest GDP numbers show that the stimulus bill is working, and that the economy is on the way to recovery -- but there is still work to be done:

"This won't happen overnight. As I've said before, it will take many more months to fully dig ourselves out of a recession - a recession that we've now learned was even deeper than anyone thought," said Obama. "But I'll continue to work every day, and take every step necessary, to make sure that happens. I also want to make sure that we don't return to an economy where our growth is based on inflated profits and maxed-out credit cards - because that doesn't create a lot of jobs. Even as we rescue this economy, we must work to rebuild it stronger than before."

GOP Address: "Republicans Want Health Care Reform That Works"
In this weekend's Republican address, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) warned against a government takeover of health care by the Democrats:

"Republicans want health care reform that works. Reform that brings down costs for families and small businesses, and reform that provides better care to more people," said Thune. "On all these points, the current proposals by the President and the Democrat leadership in Congress fall short. Their plan for government-run health care would disrupt our current system and force millions of Americans who currently enjoy their employer-based coverage into a new health care plan run by government bureaucrats."

Read more »

Health Care

House Health Care Legislation Passes Energy and Commerce Committee

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 9:10PM

The vote, as expected, was a squeaker: 31-28. Once tallied, the committee room erupted in thunderous applause. All committees of jurisdiction in the House have now passed health care legislation. Over recess, the various titles will be stitched together and a bill will likely come to the floor in September.

Washington Post Pulls "Mouthpiece Theater" Segment That Suggests Hillary Is "Wild Bitch"

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 8:57PM

Washington Post Communications Director Kris Coratti emails the following statement about today's controversial Mouthpiece Theater segment. "The video was a satirical piece that lampooned people of all stripes. There was a section of the video that went too far, so we have removed the piece from our website."

TPMDC first reported that, in today's post-"Beer Summit" edition of Mouthpiece Theater, Post reporter Dana Milbank suggested that "Wild Bitch" beer would best suit Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Late update: Here's the full clip, immortalized.

Michael Steele

RNC Weakens Steele's Spending Ability

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 6:46PM

It's been a bad day for RNC chairman Michael Steele, with his authority having now been seriously weakened.

The Republican National Committee has now imposed new controls on Steele's spending, requiring him to set up competitive bidding on contracts costing over $100,000 and to get a second signature on those contracts.

The RNC also also voted to postpone until January any vote on the formation of a special ethics committee, which Steele had proposed as a way to ensure transparency. "My concern is with members appointed by the chairman, as he wanted to do, you potentially don't have the transparency he promised when running for chairman," said North Dakota chairman Gary Emineth.

NJ-GOV

Can Dems Turn Things Around In New Jersey And Virginia?

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 5:58PM

An interesting thing appears to be happening thus far in this year's two gubernatorial races: Despite New Jersey's long-running status as a Democratic state, and Virginia's newfound blue leanings, the Republican candidates are well ahead in the current polls, possibly making for a serious GOP comeback this November.

In New Jersey, which has been rocked by a recent set of ethics scandals that have mostly caught up Dems, Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine trails Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie by 50%-36% in the latest survey from Public Policy Polling (D). In Virginia, where Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine can't seek re-election, Republican former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell leads Democratic state Sen Creigh Deeds by 55%-40% in the newest poll from SurveyUSA.

If Republicans win both or even one of these races, expect a lot of talk about this being a rejection of President Obama and the Democrats -- for example, the economy has been the major issue in the Virginia campaign. So what are the state Democrats doing to turn it around?

Read more »

Health Care

Nelson: If Reformers Keep Attacking Me, Health Care May Be Dead By End Of August

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 5:40PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) sure doesn't like being called out by health care reformers. Here's an ad that's been running in Nebraska, criticizing him for slowing down the legislative process.

In response, Nelson's spokesman says he's "looking to support bipartisan legislation that reduces health care costs, boosts the quality of care and expands coverage to people who can't obtain it now." But: "If this is an indication of the politics going into August, then health care reform may be dead by the end of August."

Shorter version: Critics should shut up about me and my fellow centrists or we'll kill health care reform. You can read the entire statement below the fold.

Read more »

Birth Certificate

Limbaugh Still Pumping Birtherism, Raises "Dual-Citizenship" Issue

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 4:56PM

Rush Limbaugh is still pumping Birtherism, hyping on his show today an essay in National Review by Andrew McCarthy, who dissented in part from the magazine's official editorial against the movement:

In that article, McCarthy falsely stated that the matter of Obama's Kenyan father, which would present "dual-citizenship issues," was "an uncharted constitutional concept." In the audio clip above, Limbaugh also promoted the dual-citizenship claim.

In fact, this territory is quite well charted. President Chester A. Arthur, who was elected Vice President in 1880 and then served nearly a full term after President James Garfield's assassination, was born of an American mother and an Irish immigrant father who was not yet a citizen at the time Chester was born. Arthur was also born on U.S. soil (Vermont), but faced rumors from political opponents that he'd been born across the border in Canada. This is essentially the exact same set of circumstances as in Obama's case.

On the other hand, there is one rather obvious difference between Obama and Arthur. And for Limbaugh and the Birther movement, perhaps this does make for an important distinction.

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 4:06PM

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Sec. of the Treasury Tim Geithner; Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

• CBS, Face The Nation: National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers.

• CNN, State Of The Union: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ); White Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer.

• Fox News Sunday: Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY); Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC); Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN).

• NBC, Meet The Press: National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers.

Budget

Baucus Says New Deadline For Health Care: Sept. 15, With Or Without The GOP

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 3:45PM

After delaying and delaying health care legislation, and then missing the deadline to complete work on a bill by August recess, Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) now says the new deadline for health care reform is September 15--one week after Senate returns to work.

Crucially, though, he says his committee will begin marking up legislation with or without GOP support. In other words, it's put up or shut up time for Republicans.

Baucus may have little choice. Mid-September would leave precious little time for the bill to be merged with the Senate HELP committee's legislation, debated, and passed on the floor before October when Congress is set to pass a budget reconciliation bill. A budget reconciliation bill can't be filibustered, and Democrats have kept alive the possibility of passing reform legislation (or certain aspects of reform legislation) via reconciliation, if Republicans don't allow a vote on a stand-alone reform bill by the fall.

Chris Dodd

Dodd: I'll Be Running Leaner And Meaner (Without A Prostate)

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 2:26PM

At his press conference just now, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) made it clear that despite his early-stage cancer diagnosis, he will still be running for re-election in 2010.

"I'm running for re-election. Now I'll be a little meaner and a little meaner, but I'm running," said Dodd.

He explained that he'll be a bit lighter, too: "I'll be running without a prostate."

Dodd also said that he's known for weeks about his diagnosis, and was working out a course of treatment, and did not go public because he did not want to make himself an exhibit in the health care debate that he was working on. "It's not about me," said Dodd. "It's about people who are without health care."

That may have been Dodd's intention. But the fact is, now that he has gone public, he is an exhibit in the debate, and his illness is sure to be brought up in future discussions.

Late Update: In a new Twitter post, Dodd incorporates the political angle to all this: "I'd like to thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. I'm going to be fine. We caught this early thanks to my great health insurance."

In Beer Summit "Spoof" Milbank Suggests Hillary Drink "Mad Bitch" Beer

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 2:02PM

In today's episode, Dana Milbank suggests "Mad Bitch" beer would be appropriate for Hilary Clinton. Get it?

If you can't stand to click over, fast forward to about 2 min 35 seconds below.

Late update: The embed seems not to be working, but for now at least you can still see the video here.

Later update: I've replaced the WaPo's embed with a Youtube clip of the same segment.

Latest update: The Post has pulled the video.

Bobby Jindal

Jindal As GOP Health Care Spokesman -- Look At His Record

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 1:16PM

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has become a prominent critic of President Obama and the Democrats recently, appearing on TV and writing newspaper columns warning against a government takeover of health care. "When government bureaucracies drive the delivery of services -- in this case inserting themselves between health-care providers and their patients -- quality degradation will surely come," Jindal wrote in a recent column for the Wall Street Journal.

But underneath the air of expertise -- he's a former state health secretary -- it's important to consider that that there is a long-running ideological commitment here. The thing about Jindal is this: Over his public career, he has consistently opposed any expansion of government health care, and has even tried to cut, eliminate or partially-privatize existing programs.

For example, his budget plan this year calls for cuts to existing services; he used his line-item veto to force the closure of the New Orleans Adolescent Hospital; and he successfully opposed an increase in the state's relatively low cigarette taxes, which would have funded state healthcare.

And this also goes back to before he was governor, too.

Read more »

Congressional Progressive Caucus

Waxman: Health Care Bill Still On Track

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 11:11AM

Just as a bit of an update, since there have been so many ups and downs, House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) says health care legislation is still on track to pass his panel, probably before day's end.

Waxman says he's managed to mollify progressives on his panel by restoring some subsidies to uninsured, middle-class Americans who, under the terms of the bill, will have to buy health care on the individual market. At a glance, this mini-bargain doesn't seem as if it will placate the 57 progressive signatories to this letter, who say they won't vote for the final bill unless minor changes to the public option, made at the behest of House Blue Dogs, are reversed.

But I'll look into it.

Health Care

Democratic Message For August: Insurers Are The Enemy

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 10:08AM

Over the August recess, Democrats--with the support of the White House outside groups like the Service Employees International Union, and Health Care for America Now--will be taking a simple message to voters in their districts: insurance companies are the enemy.

"Hold the insurance companies accountable," reads a strategy memo distributed to members of the House Democratic caucus.

Remove them from between you and your doctor. No discrimination for pre-existing conditions. No dropping your coverage because you get sick. No more job or life decisions made based on loss of coverage. No need to change doctors or plans. No co-pays for preventive care. No excessive out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles, or co-pays. No yearly or lifetime cost caps on what insurance companies cover.

According to the memo, they've coordinated this strategy with the Obama administration and a number of sympathetic groups. "The Leadership is working in close coordination with the White House and outside groups (including but not limited to HCAN, Families USA, AFSCME, SEIU, AARP, etc.) to ensure complementary efforts during August."

And they'll be taking the message into the Hispanic community as well: "The Speaker's office will work to book Hispanic/Spanish speaking members of relevant committees on Spanish-language radio and TV. Democratic Leadership will also be available to assist with Hispanic-focused district events, including town halls, telephone town halls, and calls with Hispanic media reporters."

The memo, which you can read here, provides a clear look at the Democrats' strategy as they try to keep momentum for health care reform alive through the summer doldrums.

Health Care

Politico: Baucus Says No Bill By August Recess

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 9:10AM

Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) says his health care negotiations won't bear fruit before the August recess, according to Politico.

The report, if accurate, comes a day after Republicans ground negotiations to a halt out of frustration with pressure from Democratic leaders who want the committee to produce a bill before the end of next week. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), the most conservative Republican at the table, is facing significant pressure from his own party's leadership to slow down the negotiations, or scuttle them entirely. But Baucus is committed to a consensus bill. His counterpart, Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has indicated that he won't sign on to a bill unless a Republican other than moderate Olympia Snowe (R-ME) signs on as well. And as such, they've given Enzi--no moderate he--a great deal of say over the terms of the negotiations.

Late update: Here's Roll Call with the corroborating quote: "It's clear there will not be a markup next week," Baucus said. "That's clear. But nevertheless, we are as committed, if not more committed, to find a bipartisan agreement."

Birth Certificate

Poll: 28% Of Republicans Are Birthers, 30% Undecided

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 9:09AM

A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll finds that 77% of Americans believe President Obama was Indeed Born in the United States, with only 11% saying he was not -- but there's no clear verdict among Republicans.

Among Republicans, it's a much weaker plurality of only 42% who say Obama was born in the U.S., with 28% saying he was not, with a very high undecided number of 30%. Among Democrats, the number is 93%-4%, and among independents it's 83%-8%.

This means that for Republicans to openly admit that Obama is indeed a natural-born American citizen, they risk alienating a significant chunk of their loyal base. And on the other hand, they could scare away independents by humoring the tin-foil hat crowd.

Late Update:: Another thing to point out is that Birtherism is heavily concentrated in the South. Only 47% of Southerners say Obama was born in the United States, 23% say he was not, and 30% aren't sure.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 31, 2009, 9:02AM

Beer Summit Goes Down Smoothly, Participants Agree To Have Lunch
The "Beer Summit" of President Obama, Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge Sergeant James Crowley appeared to conclude successfully yesterday -- with the three of them agreeing to meet again for lunch at a later time. Gates gave this very memorable line: "We hit it off right from the beginning. When he's not arresting you, Sergeant Crowley is a really likable guy."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with business leaders at 12 p.m. ET. He will meet with Vice President Biden and Sec. of State Hillary Clinton at 3:30 p.m. ET. Obama and Biden will host a meeting with member of the Cabinet at 6:15 p.m. ET at Blair House, and they will return to the White House at 10 p.m. ET.

Read more »

Blue Dogs

Update: After Public Option Concession To Blue Dogs, 57 House Progressives Say They'll Vote

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 8:11PM

As an update to this post, 57 House progressives have now signed a letter vowing to vote against health care legislation unless concessions to conservative Blue Dogs related to the public option are reversed. That's up from 53 this afternoon, which was already more than enough, in theory, to kill the bill. You can view the final copy of the letter, including all signatories at this link.

Health Care

FLASH: Republican Health Care Plan Would Be A Huge Disaster

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 6:00PM

Despite all the obvious temptations, I haven't written very much about the Republican alternative health care bill, coauthored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). It's always fun--and indeed instructive--to highlight these sorts of policy proposals, and perhaps I'll circle back to it. But right now there's so much news out there about the more serious efforts, and the fate of reform is so uncertain, that there's relatively little time to devote to lampooning the GOP's legislation.

Enter the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. CBPP isn't exactly the sort of organization you think of when you hear the word "lampooning." But it's hard not to read their analysis of the Republican bill and conclude they thought it was all a joke.

You can find the entire report here, but I've summarized it for you in the form of a dialogue between myself and the CBPP's own subtitles.

• "Plan would significantly erode employer-based coverage"

  Not a bad thing per se but terrible if there's no viable alternative for those who lose their coverage.

• "Plan Fails to Create a Viable Alternative for People Losing Employer Coverage"

  Ah, I see. Fair enough. But no doubt the market will be there to rescue people, right?

• "Bill Fails to Institute Needed Market Reforms"

  Eesh. How so?

• "Optional State Exchanges Would Be Highly Vulnerable to Adverse Selection"

  Meaning what?

• "Tax Credit and Subsidies Would Be Inadequate to Purchase Comprehensive Coverage"

  Ok...But at least nobody who currently benefits form social insurance would be forced into this system. I'm confident of that.

• "Tens of Millions of Medicaid Beneficiaries Would Be at Risk of Becoming Uninsured"

  Oh.

Health Care

Have Senate Health Care Negotiations Hit A Wall?

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 5:32PM

Earlier today, I suggested that Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus had, to a great extent, left the fate of health care reform in the hands of a couple very conservative Republicans. Others have noticed, too. According to Roll Call, "One Senate source said [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid told Baucus earlier this week that if the Finance group could not produce an agreement by the end of next week that the Majority Leader's office would likely end up taking over the negotiations."

This has apparently ground negotiations to a halt, at least for today. Soon, though, Baucus and Reid will have to make a decision: humor the Republicans and delay completion of a committee bill until September, or scrap the consensus language and advance a partisan bill.

Unless, of course, Republicans suddenly decide they have no interest in slowing down health care negotiations. Cough. "[Y]es we're being rushed," said Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), a key conservative negotiator. "It's possible to get it right. It just can't be done by next weekend."

IL-SEN

Did Kirk Break Military Regs With Twitter Posts?

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 5:07PM

Did Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), who is now running in 2010 for the Senate seat formerly held by President Obama, violate military regulations when his campaign put up Twitter posts about his active service in the Naval Reserve?

This all started when The Capitol Fax Blog, a well-known state political site in Illinois, reported that Kirk (or his campaign) put up this Twitter post several days ago: "On duty @ the Pentagon's National Military Command Center. All is currently (relatively) quiet. Honor 2 be back w/ my fellow Navy colleagues"

Kirk's campaign now says that Kirk himself did not put up either this Tweet or another one. Instead, they say a staffer posted the pre-approved messages.

Read more »

Health Care

HCAN: We Remain Confident House Will Endorse Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 4:25PM

The campaign Health Care for America Now doesn't like the Blue Dog compromise either--but they aren't drawing a line in the sand about it either.

"The demands made by some Blue Dog Democrats will result in higher costs for families," says HCAN's national campaign director Richard Kirsch.

First, they will weaken the public health insurance option's ability to drive down prices, and second, they will shrink the amount of assistance provided to middle-class families who buy health coverage.

We are confident that the House ultimately will pass legislation that includes a strong public health insurance option that lowers prices and provides financial assistance so that health insurance is truly affordable to all

Health Care

It's All About August -- Health Care Reform Could Be Politically Decided In August

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 4:23PM

So what will the parties be doing over the August recess, to reach swing voters to in the health care debate? An NRCC source told TPM that August will be taken up by a comprehensive blitz of both paid and earned media, with candidates and incumbents holding town halls and other events against the bill.

"Those who cut the deal in committee are now guaranteed to be recipients of the August offensive," the source said, also adding: "The fact that it doesn't reduce costs, will run up the deficit, and will be financed with tax hikes and Medicare cuts is a rather easy and salient argument to make. The script writes itself."

On the other side, a Democratic source speculated that Dems will likely be seeing movement from President Obama's campaign group, Organizing For America, with the DNC outside groups proving air support. The question, then, will be the degree to which they can effectively retake control of the debate.

The polls at this point show the public to be in favor of government guaranteeing health care, but at the same time an overlapping majority worries about taxes, too much spending, big government, etc. There is a significant chunk in the political middle that simultaneously holds both of these opinions, a longstanding fact of American politics that has bedeviled reformers since even before 1993. And this will take on a heightened importance as we head into a new crunch time this August, with each party striving to get voters to care more about their own side of the argument.

Check out some of these conflicting poll results, after the jump.

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Health Care

Rockefeller To GAO: What The Heck Is A Health Care Co-operative?

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 3:54PM

Health reformers have at least one ally on the Senate Finance Committee in Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who's a resolute advocate of a robust public option. But since his panel--or at least the six members of the panel who are designing health care legislation--seems to have settled on a privately held, non-profit co-operative model, Rockefeller has some questions. "Some have suggested that, instead of creating a strong public plan option, Congress should adopt a cooperative approach to health insurance coverage," Rockefeller writes in a letter to the Government Accountability Office.

Like so many Americans, I have set about the task of learning more about cooperatives--with a specific focus on how such cooperatives might be relevant to the discussion on comprehensive health reform. I have been alarmed to learn that there is a dearth of reliable information available about health care cooperatives.

You can read the entire letter here. The government has plenty of experience running a "public option" (see: Medicare, Medicaid). But private sector co-ops have a mixed record and a national health insurance co-operative is an all-but but theoretical construct--so Rockefeller wants the GAO to explain a bit more. He wants answers by early August.

Birth Certificate

Blunt's Office: "Of Course" He Accepts Obama Was Born In The United States

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 3:24PM

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) officially does acknowledge that President Obama was born in the United States, Greg Sargent reports.

Blunt's office charged that blogger Mike Stark had selectively edited a video, in which Blunt called questions about Obama's birth certificate "legitimate," in order to make it look like he doubts Obama's natural-born citizenship. The full video, which Stark then release,d shows Blunt saying, "I don't have any reason not to believe that," then going on to dignify the Birthers' complaints.

Greg asked Blunt's office yet again what Blunt himself thinks -- does he accept that Obama was born in the United States and is legitimately president? "Of course he does and this is clear in the unedited interview," Blunt's spokesperson said.

To which Greg says: "This isn't really clear from the interview, but it's certainly clear now, even if it took a bit of effort..."

Health Care

Reid Cautiously Optimistic That Bill Will Be Ready By Recess

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 3:22PM

As if to underscore the extent to which the conservatives negotiating health care reform have slowed the process to a crawl, Harry Reid now sounds lukewarm about the prospects of getting a bill out of the Senate Finance Committee by the end of next week.

"I am still cautiously optimistic that we will get something out of the committee before this work period ends," Reid told reporters.

Contrasting this with his optimistic tone earlier this week, and keeping in mind that Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) is making a lot of demands and expressing doubt about the deadline, and you get a sense for how these negotiations have gone.

Chris Van Hollen

Van Hollen To Hold Tele-Town Hall On Health Care With Grassroots Dem Supporters

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 3:12PM

National Democrats are taking steps to mobilize supporters in the health care debate, with DCCC chairman Chris Van Hollen gearing up to hold a tele-town hall this Friday to discuss the issues with the folks at the grassroots level.

The tele-town hall will be held this Friday, at 2:30 p.m. ET.

"With all the fast-breaking developments this week," Van Hollen says in an e-mail sent out to the DCCC's support list, "I wanted to gather our most dedicated supporters like you to provide an update on where we stand, answer your questions, and discuss our plan for action on health care reform."

Check out the full e-mail, after the jump.

Read more »

Blue Dogs

Despite Progressive Objections House Committee Still On Track To Pass Bill

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 3:06PM

Of the 53 progressives who have signed a letter saying they won't abide by the compromises Democratic leaders offered to Blue Dogs, none sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee--the panel where health care legislation originally stalled, necessitating the concessions in the first place.

That leaves the legislation in decent shape to pass out of the committee in time for August recess. But this throws the bill's prospects on the floor into some doubt. If the compromises Blue Dogs fought for--particularly a public option that isn't tied to Medicare--are included in the legislation, and progressives stick to their pledge, then the bill won't have enough votes to pass. But if the public option were to be restrengthened, it could alienate enough Blue Dogs to similarly imperil the legislation.

Health Care

Progressives Say They Have 53 Signatures On Letter Rejecting Public Plan Compromise

Rachel Slajda | July 30, 2009, 2:49PM

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) just announced that Congressional progressives have 53 signatures on the letter that says their caucus won't vote for legislation that contains the Blue Dog compromise.

Woolsey spoke at a rather raucous press conference happening right now outside the Capitol building. (You can watch live on CSpan.org.)

Several members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, speaking at this presser, said they won't vote for legislation that doesn't include a "robust public option."

Blue Dogs

In Letter, House Progressives Object To Blue Dog Public Option Compromise

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 2:28PM

In a letter to be delivered to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House health care leaders, Congressional progressives will reject a compromise Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) forged with Blue Dog Democrats to advance legislation. "We regard the agreement reached by Chairman Waxman and several Blue Dog members of the [Energy and Commerce] Committee as fundamentally unacceptable," it reads.

This agreement is not a step forward toward a good health care bill, but a large step backwards. Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates - not negotiated rates - is unacceptable.

You can read the letter, the text of which was obtained by TPMDC, below the fold. It was being circulated for signatures until early this afternoon*, and could be released officially later today. Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are hoping 50 or more members will sign on, to prove they have enough votes to kill the final bill. Earlier today, over 30 had added their names to it, according to one source, but that number could have grown. We'll get you more details as they're made available.

Late update: House Progressives have announced that they've rounded up 53 signatures--if every one of them legitimately votes against a bill that incorporates the compromises the Blue Dogs extracted, they would kill it.

Late, late update: * After making it to 50 signatures, progressives will continue to seek signatures, hoping to achieve 60.

Read more »

Health Care

Has A Conservative Republican From Wyoming Taken Over The Health Care Debate In The Senate?

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 1:51PM

If it was up to reformers, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) probably wouldn't be anywhere near the heart of health care negotiations. But unfortunately for them, he's right in the middle of the action. Yesterday he said he'd vote against the legislation he's helped craft in the Senate Finance Committee unless Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate guaranteed they wouldn't make it any more liberal. And now he's suggesting that, after months of delay, the committee probably won't settle on a final product before adjourning for August recess at the end of next week.

Enzi's access infuriates liberals--but in a way his presence at the negotiating table is emblematic of the Finance Committee's entire process.

If after the Democrats' historic election in November, I had suggested that one of the Senate's most conservative Republicans would stand a chance of hijacking President Obama's health care proposal, you might have waved off the threat, and rightly so. But thanks to Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus--who has insisted on passing a consensus bill at the expense of a number of liberal goals--that's basically what's happening.

Enzi, the ranking member on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, isn't without health care knowledge--but he's also not the sort of Republican who comes to mind when Democrats need a few Republicans to pass a major piece of legislation. He probably less in common with Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) than do most Democrats. In fact, he vociferously opposed the HELP Committee's reform bill, and is basically insisting that that bill, and House legislation, be completely scrapped before he and other conservatives hop on board. But despite that distinctly GOP-first outlook, Baucus gave him a seat at the table.

Read more »

Birth Certificate

Full Blunt Video: "I Don't Have Any Reason Not To Believe" Obama Born In U.S. -- But Birth Certificate Is "Legitimate Question"

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 1:02PM

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) is in a bit of a murky situation, as to whether he believes President Obama was in fact born in the United States, in the wake of comments he made the other day that seemed to back up the various objections made by the Birthers.

Greg Sargent asked Blunt's office whether he believes Obama is legitimately the president, and they instead complained that the video had been edited. Greg asked again what Blunt believes, and still did not get a straight answer.

In response, Mike Stark at Fire Dog Lake has released his full videos. In their first encounter, Blunt made a barely-audible comment that seemed to indicate to he believed Obama was born in the United States. Then Stark went back a second time:

Stark asked Blunt for confirmation that he believes Obama was born in America. "I don't have any reason not to believe that," Blunt said. When Stark asked about Birthers being "kooky," Blunt then immediately dignified them. "What I don't know is why the president can't produce a birth certificate," said Blunt. "I don't know anybody else that can't produce one. And I think that that's a legitimate question -- no health records, no birth certificate."

Stark e-mailed us a lengthy comment, available after the jump.

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Poll: Obama Getting Bad Reviews So Far On Handling Of Gates Incident

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 11:56AM

A new Rasmussen poll out this morning shows that President Obama may have some work to do with the American public at today's "Beer Summit," with an overall negative review of his handling of the Gates-Crowley situation so far:

How do you rate the way the President has handled the situation over the past week?

13% Excellent
17% Good
18% Fair
44% Poor
8% Not sure

Health Care

Will Senate Democrats Strip Baucus Of His Chairmanship?

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 11:54AM

The Hill reports that some liberal members of the Senate are toying with the idea of stripping Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) of his chairmanship of the Finance Committee. Well..."toying" maybe a bit too strong. But they're not happy. Without naming names, they're nodding toward the idea of creating a referendum system, which would allow caucus members to decide every two years whether particular committee chairmen get to keep their gavels.

Most senators would be in fine shape under such a system--but Baucus hasn't won many friends over the years. He was instrumental in the passage of Bush tax cuts and in Republican Medicare reforms and has provoked the ire of senior Democrats many times in the past. In 2003, The New Republic suggested stripping Baucus of his seniority on the Finance Committee; and in a 2006 article that's been lost to the magazine's archive abyss its editors argued that he should be kicked off the Finance Committee altogether.

Not to suggest that anything like that anything like this is in the works. But in addition to past heresies, Baucus' broken health care process--and the degree to which he's let that process be held hostage by Republicans--hasn't gone unnoticed by many of his peers.

Jon Stewart Presents The Cable News Right-Wing Crazy Contest

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 10:59AM

Jon Stewart is further exploring something we've also noticed over here: That the right-wingers who oppose President Obama have taken to using some pretty racially-charged, amazingly paranoid rhetoric:

Jon Stewart is right -- really anything can become scary if you put the score music from The Omen behind it.

John Cornyn

Cornyn: Dems "Ought To Be Ashamed" For Using Race In Sotomayor Debates

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 9:59AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has accused the Democrats of using race as a wedge issue in the Sonia Sotomayor confirmation process -- that is, the Dems have been "giving cover to groups and individuals to nurture racial grievances for political advantage."

Cornyn was responding to statements from Harry Reid and other Democrats, that the GOP's opposition to Sotomayor will hurt them among Latino voters.

"I don't think it influences people's votes, but what it does encourage is a very poisonous -- indeed a very toxic -- tone of destructive politics," said Cornyn. "They ought to be ashamed of themselves."

Of course, this accusation can certainly cut both ways. Remember how the right wing celebrated the New Haven firefighters case?

Blue Dogs

After Quelling Progressive Rebellion, House Health Care Mark-Up Continues This Morning

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 9:06AM

After several derailings, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is once again on track to mark up health care legislation, and should resume deliberations this morning.

After brokering a deal with Blue Dog Democrats yesterday, chairman Henry Waxman thought he'd cleared the last big pre-recess hurdle standing in the way of a committee vote on health care legislation. He expected to resume mark up yesterday afternoon en route to a Friday passage. But then, House progressives--reluctant to further weaken the public option, but, moreover, displeased with leadership's solicitousness of conservative Democrats--threw another obstacle in the way, and threatened to block the bill once more. Addressing those objections proved challenging for House leaders, and led Waxman to (again) delay proceedings.

But last night there was yet another breakthrough, as House progressives agreed, reluctantly, to let the bill move forward. They note that there remains plenty of opposition among House progressives, and are still holding out the possibility of opposing the final legislation. But for now it looks like the committee will wrap things up before recess and a final bill will be put together for a likely floor vote in September.

Health Care

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 9:01AM

CBS/NYT Poll: Public Conflicted About Health Care
A new CBS/New York Times poll finds the public feeling conflicted about health care reform. On the one hand 66% of adults favor a public options, and 55% say the government should guarantee health coverage for all Americans. On the other hand, 56% are very concerned that businesses would cut jobs if government acts to cover all Americans, and a 45% plurality are very concerned that their own taxes would go up.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines, at 3 p.m. ET. He will meet with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner at 4 p.m. ET, and with Vice President Biden at 4:30 p.m. Then at 6 p.m. ET, he will meet outside the Oval Office with Cambridge Police Sergeant James Crowley and Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr, for that round of beer that was announced last week.

Read more »

The Rasmussen "Presidential Approval Index": Is This Newer Measurement Worth Anything?

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 6:13PM

Some commentators on the right have been pointing to an interesting number that has been coming from the Rasmussen daily tracking poll, which Rasmussen bills as the "Presidential Approval Index," which Scott Rasmussen only began bringing out in late 2008. The key questions then are: What is this number, and is it a valid measurement of real popularity? In an interview today with TPM, Rasmussen defended the index's validity against some harsh criticism, saying that intensity of opinion -- the true figure measured by his index -- does indeed matter.

The thing to remember is that this is not simply subtracting all the respondents who disapprove of President Obama from the people who approve. Instead, Rasmussen takes the numbers who strongly approve or disapprove, and then performs this math. As of today, that index number is -10, compared to an overall rating of +1 in Rasmussen's daily tracker.

It would seem at first glance that this number can skew negative -- that is, the people who disapprove of a president are inherently more likely to feel strongly about it, compared to a certain level of lukewarm support for a president. For example, the 2004 exit poll put George W. Bush's strong approval at 33%, to strong disapproval of 34%. But his overall approval was 53% to disapproval at 46%, and he was re-elected 51%-48%.

I asked three prominent polling experts about this, and they all lambasted it.

Read more »

Congressional Progressive Caucus

House Progressives Force Another Mark-Up Delay

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 5:36PM

And here we go again. Now that House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman has enough Blue Dog support to pass the bill, he has to sell it with progressives. And that's not proving to be as easy as he'd hoped.

"[They] have a lot of questions about the legislation," Waxman told reporters, "and I think it's more important that we sit in the Democratic Caucus and let people ask questions, get answers, hear each other out."

What exactly are their concerns? Well, for one, the compromise included a change to the public option that could weaken it on the merits. As originally written, the House bill would have temporarily tied the public option's pay rates to Medicare rates. Now they'll be negotiated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, meaning the rates will vary regionally, and often fall closer to private insurance rates than government rates.

But more generally, the Congressional Progressive Caucus basically believes that their views have been marginalized throughout the Blue Dog process, and are understandably frustrated about being asked to accept compromises with Blue Dogs when they've already compromised a great deal. Last week, several House progressives warned that they couldn't tolerate any further weakening of the public option, and asked to play a greater role in negotiations. Now they feel leaders ignored their concerns.

The mark up was scheduled to resume tonight, but now it looks like it will have to wait until tomorrow, with the goal still to pass the bill by Friday.

Blue Dogs

How Many Blue Dogs Will Support House Health Care Reform Legislation?

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 5:23PM

Four out of seven Energy and Commerce Blue Dogs have signed on to a compromise on health care reform legislation. But can we use that split as a stand in for the broader Blue Dog caucus? Not necessarily.

"The 52-member Blue Dog Coalition has not taken a group position on the draft health care legislation that is working through the committee process," said Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration. "Today's announcement signifies that the committee process is moving forward. The committee will work its will, but the broader coalition has not ratified any agreements related to the draft legislation."

"If you poll the Blue Dog coalition individually and separately, you'll find that not everybody is on the same page and there is no position collectively," said Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) one of the three Energy and Commerce Blue Dogs who still opposes the bill.

To provide a bit more data still, only one of the five Blue Dogs on the Education and Labor, and Ways and Means Commmittees--Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA)--voted for the legislation.

But that was before this compromise was brokered, and even then, other Blue Dogs had articulated support for health care reform. At the same time, last week, House progressives told Democratic leaders they could not countenance any further weakening of the public option--and today the House's public option was somewhat weakened.

Which is all to say that barring the defection of a number of House progressives, Henry Waxman bought himself and his allies in leadership some breathing room today.

Health Care

Three Key Blue Dogs Still Oppose House Health Care Legislation

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 4:32PM

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to resume its health care mark-up session this afternoon, after winning over four of the seven Blue Dogs who had been holding it up for several days.

That means three of the Blue Dogs still oppose the legislation, though. And that means committee Chairman Henry Waxman is still working to squeeze the bill through a very small window. There aren't very many progressives on the committee but if more than a couple of them are unhappy with the details of the compromise leaders struck with Blue Dogs, it could once again leave Waxman without enough votes to pass his bill.

Speaker Pelosi has been meeting with progressives to allay their concerns, so that things can proceed as planned.

My sense from conversations with some House aides is that another blow up's not terribly likely. But as you may have noticed if you've been paying attention to the process thus far, just about anything can happen. And, for what it's worth, that's the political math.

Health Care

Durbin: Obama Will Have To Take Lead During August

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 4:13PM

Democratic Senate Whip Dick Durbin says Obama will have to take the lead to keep support for health care reform afloat during August.

"The president is in the driver's seat in August," Durbin told reporters today. "Congress is gone and scattered to the winds with personal family and constituent service. And the White House is still there, generating a message and activity. So I think the president will have a chance to tell the American people a little bit more about why this process is so important."

For its part, Obama's political arm, Organizing for America, is raising money from its supporters to sustain its campaign for health care reform through a fraught recess. That'll surely help local organizing events and message distribution, but it still leaves a major role for Obama himself.

VA-GOV

Poll: GOPer McDonnell Has Big Lead In Virginia Gubernatorial Race

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 2:26PM

A new SurveyUSA poll of the Virginia gubernatorial race gives Republican former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell a big lead over his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Creigh Deeds:

The numbers: McDonnell 55%, Deeds 40%. If McDonnell were to win this, he would pick this swing state up for the GOP, away from term-limited Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.

The previous SurveyUSA poll, which was conducted right before the Democratic primary in early June, gave McDonnell a narrower lead of 47%-43%, which has apparently expanded in the nearly two months since then.

From the pollster's analysis: "14% of those who say they voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election say they will vote for Republican McDonnell in the gubernatorial contest; 9% of John McCain voters say they will cross over and vote for Democrat Deeds."

Birth Certificate

Roy Blunt: Birtherism "A Legitimate Question," Obama Has Produced "No Health Records, No Birth Certificate"

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 1:49PM

Maybe the House Republicans aren't done with Birtherism, after all. In fact, we now have Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), a former House GOP Whip who is now the party's likely nominee in the top-tier 2010 Missouri Senate race, saying it's a legitimate question.

Mike Stark from Fire Dog Lake has done another canvass of Capitol Hill Republicans, asking them point-blank if they believe President Obama is a natural-born citizen. He got three answers in the affirmative, from Reps. Pete King (R-NY), Mike Pence (R-IN) and Tom McClintock (R-CA). From others, it ranged from refusals to comment -- which is frankly not a bad standard practice when a stranger is in your face with a camera -- to Blunt's open skepticism:

"What I don't know is why the president can't produce a birth certificate," said Blunt. "I don't know anybody else that can't produce one. And I think that that's a legitimate question -- no health records, no birth certificate." Blunt was unaware that Obama already has produced a certificate from Hawaii, which Chris Matthews has waved around on TV.

Read more »

Health Care

House Retains Public Option In Compromise, But Delays Vote Until September

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 1:12PM

Ok, here's some late breaking detail on the nature of the compromise between House Blue Dogs and Democratic leaders.

I'll fill in more blanks as I get more information, but here's my immediate read on the situation: Substantively, leadership seems to have given up very little, but, Blue Dogs succeeded at slow walking the bill, which won't get a vote until after the August recess.

After a week or so of canceled hearings, the Energy and Commerce Committee will continue to mark up House health care legislation this afternoon, and pass a bill by the end of the week. On substance, the exemption from penalties for small businesses that do not provide health care to workers has been raised to include small businesses with payrolls of $500,000 per year or less. Originally the bill called for the exemption to apply only to businesses with payrolls half that size.

The public option hasn't gone away, and remains in tact. Now, though, instead of being directly tied to Medicare, the rates will be negotiated by the Health and Human Services secretary--a provision which at a glance seems similar to the public option the Senate HELP Committee endorsed. States will be able to erect health care co-operatives if they choose, but that would be in addition to the public option.

The Blue Dogs managed to pull $100 billion in savings from the bill by lowering by one percent the rate at which people living between 300 and 400 percent of the poverty level will be subsidized to buy health care in insurance exchanges--they had originally tried to eliminate that bracket entirely.

Blue Dogs will likely herald this as a major victory, but compared to their original wishlist, this seems pretty minor.

As before, it's hard to know what will happen to the politics of this over the August recess. But there will almost certainly be a bill ready for a vote when the House comes back into session in September. That bill will have been endorsed in preliminary votes by a significant number of Blue Dogs. And in the House, where there's no filibuster, that makes its prospects for ultimate passage look very solid.

Health Care

Report: House Reaches Deal On Health Care, But No Vote Until September

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 12:54PM

CNN just broke some important news. House leaders and Blue Dog Democrats have reached an agreement--the terms of which remain mostly unclear--that will allow the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass health care legislation by weeks end. As part of the arrangement, though leaders have agreed to postpone a vote on the final legislation until after August recess comes to an end.

In the meantime, leaders will stitch together a final package, stitching together the portions of the bill that have been amended by the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor Committees.

The only figure that's been reported thus far is that Blue Dogs have lowered the cost of the legislation by about $100 billion. But we'll get you more details the moment they're available.

David Vitter

Vitter Responds To Voinovich: I'm For "Core Conservative Values," Not For Straying From Them

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 12:48PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is responding sternly to Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), who blamed Southerners for dragging the Republican Party's fortunes down.

"I'm on the side of conservatives getting back to core conservative values," Vitter told the Washington Times. "There are a lot of us from the South who hold those value, which I think the party is supposed to be about. We strayed from them in the past few years, and that's why we performed so badly in the national elections."

As for Voinovich, Vitter said: "He's a moderate, really wishy-washy."

Speaking of conservatives who have strayed from core values...David Vitter was publicly identified as a former client of prostitutes, and admitted in 2007 to an unspecified "serious sin." The Washington Times article did not mention anything about the D.C. Madam scandal.

Late Update: Louisiana Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Franck e-mailed us a fun comment. "Last time I checked, you don't find core Southern values in the places David Vitter has been found," said Franck. "If David Vitter can lead his party back to their conservative values, maybe Larry Craig can give them tips on bathroom etiquette and Mark Sanford can recommend a really good restaurant in Buenos Aires."

Birth Certificate

Damage Control: GOP Bosses Coming Down Hard On Birthers

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 12:26PM

Until recently, this wasn't the situation at all. Indeed, prominent Congressional Republicans were openly entertaining this stuff. A bill to require birth certificates from presidential candidates has picked up 11 total co-sponsors; Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) declared that the Birthers "have a point," and that he doesn't discourage it. Even House GOP Vice-Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the leadership, was saying she wanted to see the documents.

But now there's a pattern from on high -- in both the punditocracy and from the party leadership -- of Republicans backing away from this:

• Of course, all House Republicans who were present voted Monday night in favor of the resolution to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood, which included language recognizing the state has Obama's birthplace. This included Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), the lead sponsor of a bill to require presidential candidates to present birth certificates, and House GOP Vice-Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Only 20 GOPers missed the vote, which can happen for any number of reasons on a non-binding resolution.

Read more »

Health Care

CBO: Senate Finance Outline Would Cost $900 Billion

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 12:16PM

You know what happens when you strip a bunch of benefits out of a piece of legislation intended, in part, to provide benefits? It gets cheaper! The CBO says the Senate Finance Committee's nascent proposal will require $900 Billion in new outlays and cover 95 percent of Americans.

That's news that will please chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) who's said he wants his legislation to come in at under $1 trillion. Many experts suggests that robust reform will likely require more new expenditures than that. But to avoid sticker shock, and win some Republican support, Baucus' committee has cut back on the extent and quality of proposed benefits.

Kay Bailey Hutchison

GOP Sen. Hutchison Plans To Resign In The Fall, Focus On Gubernatorial Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 12:02PM

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), told a local news radio show in Texas that she plans to resign her Senate seat in October or November in order to focus full-time on her campaign for Governor in 2010.

Hutchison said she'll remain in the Senate long enough to fight President Obama on health care and cap-and-trade. "I'm trying to finish those things in a responsible way and then I'm coming home to try to give leadership to Texas," said Hutchison.

This is in fact a widely expected move, and had been openly discussed by her fellow Texas Senator, NRSC chairman John Cornyn.

A resignation would be immediately filled through an interim appointment by Republican Gov. Rick Perry -- whom Hutchison is challenging in the GOP primary -- and there would then be an expedited special election in May 2010. The Republicans would be initially favored due to the state's natural partisan bent, but the race would likely attract a lot of money from both national parties, simultaneously fighting over a single Senate seat and the whole national political narrative going into the mid-terms.

Health Care

On News Of Senate Finance Committee Negotiations, Health Insurance Stocks Soar

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 11:33AM

If you're wondering what all those health insurance lobbying dollars funneling into Washington were really buying, check out this article.

Shares of U.S. health insurers rose broadly on Tuesday on hopes a health reform bill would not include a government-run option, which has drawn strong opposition from insurers who fear it would destroy the private marketplace.

The S&P Managed Health Care index of large U.S. health insurers closed 6.5 percent higher.

Aetna rose 12.6 percent, Coventry was up 12.7 percent and Cigna was 7.7 percent higher, all on the New York Stock Exchange. Centene rose 7.9 percent.

Via Firedoglake. That was less than 24 hours after the Associated Press broke the long-expected news that the Senate Finance Committee would not endorse a government-run health insurance option. And it may be evidence that the market doesn't regard co-operatives as particularly dangerous competitors to major insurers.

Barack Obama

Obama: I Could Support A Robust Health Care Co-operative

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 11:04AM

President Obama's been pretty consistent in his support of a public option, once going so far as to say any health care bill he signs must include one. But how broad is his definition of public option?

Here's what he told Time's Karen Tumulty. "I think in theory you can imagine a cooperative meeting that definition."

Obviously sort of the legal structure of it is less important than practically how can it operate. There are concerns that in the past, attempts at setting up co-ops have not been successful because they just haven't been able to get off the ground; sort of the start-up energy involved may not exist if you're doing a state-by-state co-op effort as opposed to a broad national plan.

That's roughly the Schumer position--if a co-operative can operate like a national government-run insurance program, then he'd likely support it. That's clarifying, in light of developments in the Senate Finance Committee. But it might just take the little-remaining wind out of the sails of some reformers.

DNC

New DNC Ad: The GOP Leaders Broke The Economy, And Refuse To Fix It

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 10:14AM

The Democratic National Committee has launched a new natioanl cable TV ad centered around the stimulus bill, attacking the top two Republicans in each chamber -- Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and Whip Jon Kyl, and House GOP Leader John Boehner and Whip Eric Cantor -- for having fought against it, in a sign that Dems will actively pin continued economic problems on the Republican rule of the last eight years:

"They supported the Bush policies that sank our economy into recession," the announcer says. "They broke it -- now they refuse to fix it. Tell Republican leaders to stop playing politics with our economy."

The DNC is also launching a series of radio ads against these four, plus Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) in their local media markets. Check out the full scripts after the jump.

Read more »

Arlen Specter

Specter: I've Been Perfectly Consistent On EFCA

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 10:12AM

Yes, that headline is accurate. In a letter to the editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Specter defends his record on the Employee Free Choice Act as "consistent."

"My views on this subject have been consistent," Specter writes, "and suggestions to the contrary by those intending to run against me are incorrect."

The last half of this sentence is a jab at Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), who's made an issue of Specter's unreliability. But the first half could raise the hackles of labor supporters, who might have noticed that Specter once cosponsored EFCA, then, under attack from the right, said he would support a filibuster of it, then switched parties and told a crowd of organizers that they'd be "satisfied" with his vote on the issue, though he still opposes card check.

As the good folks of PA2010 point out, Specter may have consistent, secretly held views. But his political positions have varied pretty wildly.

Health Care

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 29, 2009, 9:02AM

WaPo: Dems Boning Up On Health Care Bill
The Washington Post reports that House Democrats have gone through a five-hour meeting on the health care bill, in which they were briefed on the ins and outs of the 1,000-page bill section by section. "No one's going to say we haven't read the bill," said Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD). After a cram session like this, they better ace their finals...

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will hold an 11:55 a.m. ET town hall meeting on health care reform in Raleigh, North Carolina. He will depart Raleigh at 2:45 p.m. ET, arriving in Bristol, Tennessee, at 3:40 p.m. ET. At 4:15 p.m. ET, he will hold another town hall on health care reform in Bristol, Virginia, with Kroger Supermarket employees. He will depart from Bristol at 6 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 7:25 p.m. ET.

Read more »

Health Care

Pelosi: Despite Reports, A Recess Delay, And August Health Care Vote, Still Possible

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 9:00AM

Politico reports that "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swatted away a [ummm, Politico] report -- put out by a Republican staffer -- that there would be no floor vote before recess."

As I noted when I flagged the original, unconfirmed report, the news wasn't officialized by leadership--which is still suggesting that a recess delay is possible. But absent signs of significant progres...well, it's Wednesday, and the House is set to adjourn Friday.

Health Care

House Republicans Say Democrats Won't Hold Health Care Vote Before Recess

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 6:36PM

This hasn't been officialized by House leadership, but Republicans are circulating a report that House Democrats won't hold a health care vote before adjourning Friday. Via Politico:

From: Cavicke, David Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 4:51 PM To: REDACTED Subject: Schedule

Democratic Leadership has told Mr. Boehner's staff that there will be no vote on Health on the Floor before recess and we will leave Friday.

We still have no confirmation of plans to resume or end the Committee Markup.

David L. Cavicke
Republican Chief of Staff
Committee on Energy and Commerce

No word on who told Boehner this or in what language or context. But it appears all but certain that this is how things will play out.

NJ-GOV

Corzine Web Ad Transforms Frustrated LaHood At House Hearing Into Upbeat Praise Of Corzine

Eric Kleefeld | July 28, 2009, 5:54PM

Let this be an object lesson in how campaigns ads are crafted, and how images are shaped.

The campaign of Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) has put up this new Web ad, using prior video of Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood in a heated exchange with Rep. Scott Scott Garrett (R-NJ), discussing the cooperation between the federal government and the state government in New Jersey:

It's all about the music. In the original video, a very frustrated LaHood is lecturing a right-wing Congressman on the benefits that the stimulus bill has brought to New Jersey. However, the upbeat, catchy music of a campaign ad makes it seem like the rousing speeches you hear at campaign rallies. The only thing missing is a crowd to cheer and applaud.

Norm Coleman

Can Norm Coleman Still Have A Political Future?

Eric Kleefeld | July 28, 2009, 4:51PM

So with former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) having announced that he's waiting until Spring 2010 to decide whether he'll run for Governor of Minnesota, it's worth asking the question: Does Norm still have a political future.

I spoke with Prof. Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota, and he said that Coleman's political stock has certainly fallen by a significant margin as a result of his loss to Democratic challenger Al Franken in the heavily-litigated 2008 Senate race. But there could still be a chance to come back -- and under Minnesota's peculiar system of nominating candidates, Norm might just be taking the best road available.

Minnesota political parties traditionally don't hold real primaries, but instead go through a system of precinct caucuses, county conventions and a state convention. If a candidate can get a super-majority of delegates at the state convention, the party then officially endorses that candidate and the opponents are expected by custom to drop out. The September primary is still officially held, but would be a mere formality.

"It's hard to get the majority unless you're a clear frontrunner," said Jacbos. "I think it's a fairly shrewd move, with everything going on in his personal life, particularly his debt and his exhaustion."

Read more »

Health Care

Reid on Public Option: It's Not What I Want, It's What Can Get 60 Votes

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 4:35PM

At a press conference today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) declined to get into details about the Senate Finance Committee's health care negotiations, but he declared that his number one priority is moving toward--and supporting--something that can get 60 votes.

"What I think should be in the bill is something that I will vote for according to my conscience when we get this bill to the floor," Reid said. "That's my number one responsibility and there are times I have to set aside my personal preferences for the good of the Senate and I think the country."

Only a few weeks ago, Reid was pressuring Baucus to include a public option, so his personal preferences aren't a complete secret--and it's telling that he's saying he's now saying he may have to put those preferences aside.

But while he may not be confident about the possibility of a public option coming out of his chamber, he is confident that the committee will finish up work on its compromise bill by August 7, when the Senate adjourns for recess.

As an aside about the frustrating nature of the politics of the fight, I'm not sure how much reformers and voters who support reform care about what's best for the Senate per se. But that sort of sentiment is rampant in the upper chamber and underlies to some extent just about ever controversial legislative fight on the Hill.

Health Care

Senate Finance Committee Set To Propose Co-ops...So Where's Chuck Schumer?

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 4:00PM

It's safe to say that reformers are unhappy, though hardly shocked, about the news coming out of the Senate Finance Committee. But it's hard to know exactly how bad things are. One data point that may ultimately clarify things, though, is the way Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reacts to the developments, if and when that happens.

But that's just the thing. For the last few weeks, Schumer has been notably silent.

Months ago, Schumer was tapped to be the point man for the public plan in the Finance Committee. And for a long time, he was very visible in that role--swatting down weak alternatives to the public option, and predicting that the final legislation would contain a government plan. But at some point the momentum changed.

Schumer said he'd likely oppose--and urge other Democrats to oppose--any co-operative proposal that didn't fulfill most, if not all, of the aims a public option is supposed to fulfill. Now, though, it seems all but certain that the Finance Committee will propose a co-op op plan of some sort, and Schumer's reaction to it would be a telling--though perhaps not definitive--measure of the amount of support it might receive among a great number of Democrats in the Senate.

But first, of course, he has to weigh in. To this point, all inquiries to his office have gone unanswered. Obviously, the terms of the bill have not been finalized, and it's not completely surprising that he hasn't weighed in yet. But inquiring minds would like to know what he thinks of where things stand right now.

Rush Limbaugh

Obama-Haters Becoming Increasingly...Racial In Their Rhetoric

Eric Kleefeld | July 28, 2009, 3:34PM

This has gotten especially worse in the aftermath of Obama's comments and subsequent mea culpa on the Henry Louis Gates arrest, but the pattern has been there all the same. You can look back to the 2008 campaign, with the Jeremiah Wright controversies, the phony rumors of a tape of Michelle Obama defaming whites, and the slow but steady emergence of the Birthers. And these days, the Birthers seem to be getting more and more bellicose.

So let's take a look at some of those recent racially-charged attacks that have circulated against Obama, both right before and after the Gates incident.

• Above all others, the real celebrity here has been Rush Limbaugh. He's done this kind of thing before -- remember the "Barack, The Magic Negro" song? But in the wake of the Gates incident, he's managed to become even more hard-edged about it. "Here you have a black president trying to destroy a white policeman," Limbaugh declared this past Friday. Yesterday, he shared a dream he's had about the dangers to capitalism: "I had a dream that I was a slave building a sphinx in a desert that looked like Obama." And he joked that food-safety advocates will go after all the unhealthy foods people like to eat, one by one -- but they'll have to wait until Obama is out of office to ban Oreos.

Read more »

Health Care

As August Deadline Approaches In House, Blue Dogs, Liberals, Still Far Apart On Health Care

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 2:29PM

A number of high profile Democrats are expressing public doubt that the House can pass health care in the next few days before it's set to adjourn for August recess. Chief among them is Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

"You understand that if we pass something out of committee this week, we've got to spend the month of August putting together the three bills," Hoyer told Roll Call. "Saturday and next week is available. Now whether or not there will be any productive reason to stay for that period of time remains to be seen over the next couple of days."

Part of the problem, as I suggested earlier, is that the news out of the Senate has widened a rift between House liberals and Blue Dogs. Rep. George MIller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and an author of House health care legislation, isn't at all pleased with the watered down reform bill the Senate Finance Committee is set to propose.

"I don't think that adds up to health care reform. It doesn't add up to insurance reform. It doesn't add up to keeping costs down. I don't know what the hell that adds up to," Miller said.

Meanwhile, Alpha Dog Bart Stupak says the Finance Committee's expected proposal is yet more evidence that the House needs to scale things back.

"The Senate's on a completely different agenda," Stupak said. "I've been here long enough, you do a bill and you get a plank sawed off behind you."

Stupak is one of the seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee who's objected to the House's bill. He and his six allies are now trying to decide whether to back a compromise offered by chairman Henry Waxman--but the Finance Committee's on such a different--and less progressive--page that they're wary about striking any kind of deal.

Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce to Congress: Go The Baucus Route

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 1:00PM

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is asking the Congress to slow down the pace of health care negotiations, and to strip the public option and employer mandate provisions from various legislative proposals, according to a letter delivered today.

"The undersigned...wish to urge caution in addressing one of the most difficult problems facing our nation today - reforming the health care system," the letter reads.

The creation of a new government-run insurance plan is a step in the wrong direction. Employers currently suffer a significant cost-shift from existing public programs, and the program described in House legislation would significantly increase costs for every American who purchases private insurance. We do not believe that the government plan will be a fair competitor. Because of the increased costs and lack of competition caused by a government plan, employers will not be able to continue offering their current plans, which cover more than 170 million Americans.

We are further concerned with a proposal to mandate that employers either provide health insurance or pay huge fines or payroll taxes. This "pay or play" mandate is especially bad because employers are also required to pay the majority of employee premiums. Even with some exemptions, this provision will kill many jobs. Market forces and employer autonomy should determine what benefits employers provide, rather than Congress.

That's basically the plan Max Baucus' Senate Finance Committee is set to propose--the sort of plan that a wellspring of progressivism like the Chamber of Commerce could get behind. And it should come as no surprise. Yesterday, the Chamber delivered a letter to the Finance Committee, praising its work, and taking swipes at the House's efforts.

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Poll: Christie Leads Corzine By 14 Points

Eric Kleefeld | July 28, 2009, 12:56PM

The new survey of the New Jersey gubernatorial race from Public Policy Polling (D) finds Republican nominee Chris Christie, a former U.S. Attorney, leading Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine by 50%-36%.

This is even a bit better for Christie than a month ago, when he led 51%-41%.

The internals show Corzine only leading 64%-20% among Democrats in this heavily blue state, with Christie up 86%-6% among Republicans and 54%-26% among independents.

"A visit from Barack Obama and negative ads against Chris Christie haven't gotten Jon Corzine any momentum so far," said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the polling memo. "The key to his chances of getting reelected is going to be moving that 64% of the Democratic vote he's earning right now closer to the 90% mark."

Blue Dogs

After Health Care Meeting, Blue Dogs Agree To Hold More Meetings

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 12:11PM

After meeting to discuss an unspecified health care compromise offered by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the Blue Dogs have agreed that...they need to have more meetings.

"The bottom line of the Blue Dogs has not been met yet," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy inauspiciously (D-ND) according to The Hill.

But the fate of health care reform in the House is now back in the hands of the seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee who've been holding things up all along--and Pomeroy isn't one of them. Waxman wants to continue marking up his health care reform bill tomorrow--but these seven conservative Democrats will have to decide one way or another whether they're in or out before that can happen.

Birth Certificate

Florida Dems To Posey: Drop The Birther Bill

Eric Kleefeld | July 28, 2009, 11:08AM

In the wake of last night's vote by the House to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood -- and its status as the birthplace of President Obama -- the Florida Democrats have put out a statement challenging Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) to drop his proposed legislation to require birth certificates from presidential candidates.

The Florida Dems' statement cites Posey's own vote in favor of the Hawaii resolution, contrasting that with his being the lead sponsor of the widely-ridiculed "Birther Bill":

Now that Rep. Bill Posey not only allowed the House of Representatives to certify the Presidential Election in January, but he also voted last night in Congress to declare President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, the question he needs to answer today is: Will Bill Posey withdraw his crazy bill questioning President Obama's citizenship?

Because the people of Florida's 15th District need a Congressman focused on creating jobs and fighting for NASA, hopefully last night's vote shows that Posey has finally taken off his tinfoil hat and will finally get to work on the issues that matter.

Late Update: Posey spokesman George Cecala told me that Posey will not withdraw the bill, and it is not a personal slight against President Obama -- citing Posey's vote for the Hawaii resolution as evidence. Instead, it's about ensuring transparency and disclosure as a general principle for an issue that has come up multiple times throughout American history for politicians like Chester Arthur, Charles Curtis, John McCain and others.

"Quite honestly, the bill was never about Barack Obama and Mr. Posey, and I think that's true as to what our original statement was back when we introduced the bill," said Cecala. "The bill is simply about implementing the Constitution through legislation, and Mr. Posey is not going to withdraw the bill."

Barack Obama

Gibbs Waffles On Public Option

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 10:54AM

It's easy to read too deeply into exchanges between the President's press secretary and the White House press corps. But in light of last night's confirmation that the Senate Finance Committee will eschew a public option in favor of privately held, non-profit co-ops, this clip seems worthwhile.

We'll see if Gibbs has a straighter answer today. Several days ago, Obama appeared to say, in no uncertain terms, that any health care bill he signs would need to include a public option. Now Gibbs is saying Obama's team is at least considering a co-op model.

As more details emerge, it's worth keeping in mind that as far as the Finance Committee's negotiations are concerned, a "co-op" is a very fuzzy concept. As with a public option, a co-operative can be strong or weak or in between. Earlier in negotiations, the public option's point man, Chuck Schumer, suggested he could endorse a robust co-op model, but that committee Republicans were only willing to accept something much weaker.

Blue Dogs

In Wake Of Finance Committee Report, Blue Dogs Mull Offer From Waxman

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 10:06AM

To borrow a Rumsfeld-ism for a moment, one of the health care debate's known unknowns may soon become a bit clearer. To wit, we may soon know just how much the Senate Finance Committee's negotiations will impact negotiations in the House?

Last night, House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman made an offer to seven Blue Dogs on his committee, lead by Alpha Dog Mike Ross. This morning, Ross will take that offer to the rest of the Blue Dog coalition to gauge how much support it has among conservative Democrats.

But here's the thing: The slow-down in the House has been driven in part by the fact that conservative Democrats don't want to go out on a limb and support a proposal that's significantly more liberal than what the Senate Finance Committee's cobbling together. Now we have a bit more clarity on that proposal, and it's--unsurprisingly--significantly weaker than what the House originally drafted. That'll no doubt weigh heavily on the minds of several Blue Dogs. But how much? I suspect we'll know more after this morning's meeting.

Supreme Court

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 28, 2009, 9:02AM

Judiciary Committee To Vote On Sotomayor
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote today on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, and is expected to easily advance her to the full Senate. At the rate things are going in both the committee and the overall Senate, most Republicans will probably vote against her, but she should win by a comfortable margin thanks to Democrats and a few GOP Senators.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will hold a 1:30 p.m. ET tele-town hall meeting on health care reform, hosted by the AARP. At 4 p.m. ET, he and Vice President Biden will meet with the chairs of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. At 4:15 p.m. ET, Obama and Biden will greet the expanded delegations of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Read more »

Bill Posey

Lead Birther Bill Sponsor Votes To Recognize Hawaii As Obama's Birthplace

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 9:00PM

The House resolution to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hawaiian statehood -- which included language recognizing the state as President Obama's birthplace, in a none-too-subtle jab at the Birthers -- passed this evening by a 378-0 vote.

Among the Yes votes: Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), the lead sponsor of the infamous "Birther Bill" to require presidential candidates to present their birth certificates, and who had previously said he wouldn't "swear on a stack of Bibles" that Obama is a natural-born American citizen. Several other co-sponsors of the Birther Bill also voted yes: Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dan Burton (R-IN), John Culberson (R-TX), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), and Ted Poe (R-TX).

On a side note, some suspicions were raised against Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) for blocking the passage of the resolution by voice vote earlier today, noting the absence of a quorum. However, as Salon reported, Bachmann's move was an entirely normal procedural motion to pave the way for a roll call vote later on -- indeed, she'd made similar motions today on other non-controversial resolutions -- and she in fact voted for the resolution when the vote was held.

I will also say as a long-time Bachmannologist that I've never seen any probable cause to suspect her of Birtherism. She's certainly said a lot of interesting stuff against Obama, but she hasn't trodden on this particular ground.

Health Care

Report: Senate Finance Committee To Include Co-Ops, No Employer Mandate

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 7:38PM

A quick update on this post. More details have emerged from the Associated Press bringing a bit of clarity to the question of what's going on in the Senate Finance Committee.

AP is now reporting-- that the Senate Finance Committee will likely call for the creation of a system of non-profit co-operatives in lieu of a public option--something which has been in the works for weeks--but will not require employers to provide insurance for their workers.

[O]fficials stressed that no agreement has been reached on a bipartisan measure, and said there is no guarantee of one. They also warned that numerous key issues remain to be settled, including several options to pay for the legislation. They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss matters under private negotiations.

They said any legislation that emerges from the talks is expected to provide for a non-profit cooperative to sell insurance in competition with private industry, rather than giving the federal government a role in the marketplace. The White House and numerous Democrats in Congress have called for a government option to provide competition to private companies and hold down costs.

Officials also said a bipartisan compromise would not subject companies to a penalty if they declined to offer coverage to their workers. These businesses would be required to reimburse the government for part or all of any federal subsidies designed to help lower-income employees obtain insurance on their own.

That won't create nearly as much of a splash as we would have seen if, after months of wrangling, the committee had just punted on the public option question. But reformers are still averse to the co-op model, and, given the nature of the reform proposals, regard the employer mandate as a crucial element--one which could still be imported from other legislation. We shall see.

Health Care

Van Hollen: Senate Finance May Have To Pull The Plug On Negotiations

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 6:21PM

Not sure whether this should count as a data point vis-a-vis news this news out of the Senate Finance Committee, but Rep. Chris van Hollen (D-MD), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, took the rare step today of weighing into the upper chamber's internal negotiations. "What concerns me about what's happened in the Senate Finance Committee is that they've had a whole lot of time to work these things out, and just don't seem to be able to break the impasse," Van Hollen told Bill Press. "At some point they're going to have to pull the plug on that process, and when they do that is something they're in a better position to know."

A somewhat unclear report from the Associated Press indicates that they may have reached that point. We'll know soon enough.

Max Baucus

Report: Senate Finance Committee To Be Mum On Public Option

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 5:51PM

If accurate, this Associated Press report is a big deal:

Officials say that a bipartisan group in the Senate is edging closer to a health care compromise that omits a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors. Nor is it expected to require businesses to offer coverage to their employees.

I've heard this possibility floated once or twice as a sort of unlikely contingency--in the event that bipartisan negotiations drag on and on past deadlines, the Senate Finance Committee could vote on an extremely slimmed-down bill, completely silent on controversial provisions, in order to get it through the panel with bipartisan support. Then, as it's merged with the HELP bill, and then later with House legislation in conference committee, those provisions would be imported, meaning the final votes would be much more partisan.

The Senate adjourns at the end of next week, so time is really of the essence, and the above interpretation makes a certain amount of sense given that time line. But again, I'm not positive that's what's going on here. I'll report back when I know more.

Late update: Of course, a simpler (and less newsy) interpretation of the same article is that the committee is set to endorse private co-ops instead of a public option. But that's been expected for quite some time now. Either way, if their bill contains no employer mandate, that's a pretty major punt.

Later update: Significant updates here.

EFCA

Anti-EFCA Group To Target Webb, Warner Over August Recess

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 5:14PM

Congressfolk won't just be getting an earful about health care over the August recess. The National Right To Work Committee will be pressuring Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) in the coming weeks to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act

"[W]orkers' rights will be trampled on by the U.S. Senate's action," said the group's president Mark Mix, who, in a statement, calls EFCA the "Card Check Forced Unionization Bill". Cute. But if Mix had been reading TPMDC he'd know that, earlier this month Senate negotiators deep-sixed card check from EFCA in an effort to woo people just like Webb and Warner.

Birth Certificate

Dem Congressman Offering Resolution Recognizing Hawaii's History -- As Obama's Birthplace

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 4:17PM

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) is set to give the House Republicans a chance to put up or shut up on the Birtherism that is circulating among their grassroots base, Greg Sargent reports: A House resolution recognizing Hawaii as President Obama's birthplace.

Technically, the resolution's main purpose will be to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood. And while commemorating that grand history, the resolution will of course mention how the state is Obama's birthplace.

This gives Republicans a choice: Vote yes on the resolution, which would repudiate the Birthers; vote no, to endorse them; or skip the vote, which would basically be the same as voting no.

Abercrombie spokesman Dave Helfert seemed to be humorously denying that this was an effort to put the GOP on the spot. "Far be it from us to try to stir things up," said Helfert. "The president was born there, so what are you gonna do? Not mention it?"

KY-SEN

Sen. Jim Bunning Retiring In 2010, Blames GOP Leadership For Sabotaging His Fundraising

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 4:12PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) has announced that he will not run for re-election in 2010, after months of speculation about what he would end up doing.

In most cases, an open seat is a blow against the party controlling it. But this time, Bunning may have done the GOP a favor. Previous polling had shown Bunning running much poorer against his Democratic challengers than Kentucky Sec. of State Trey Grayson, the likely Republican nominee now that Bunning is out. In both his 1998 and 2004 races, Bunning just barely defeated his Democratic opponents in a state that is usually much more friendly to Republicans at the federal level.

Bunning had previously made open accusations against his party's leadership, accusing them of trying to force him into retirement by undercutting his efforts to raise money. About three months ago, he gave a green light to Grayson to start raising money for the race, apparently a sign that he was anointing his successor.

On the Democratic side, there is currently a primary between Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo, who just barely lost to Bunning in 2004, and state Attorney General Jack Conway.

Late Update: In his official statement, Bunning again slams his party leadership for sabotaging him:

"Unfortunately, running for office is not just about the issues. To win a general election, a candidate has to be able to raise millions of dollars to get the message out to voters. Over the past year, some of the leaders of the Republican Party in the Senate have done everything in their power to dry up my fundraising. The simple fact is that I have not raised the funds necessary to run an effective campaign for the U.S. Senate. For this reason, I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2010."

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Gillibrand Takes Lead In Senate On Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 3:35PM

Senate Democrats are perhaps set to start the ball rolling on repealing the ban on gays in the military, with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announcing that hearings have been scheduled for the Armed Services Committee to examine the impact of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

"This policy is wrong for our national security and wrong for the moral foundation upon which our country was founded,'" Gillibrand said in a press release. "I thank Chairman Levin for agreeing to hold this important hearing. Numerous military leaders are telling us that the times have changed. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is an unfair, outdated measure that violates the civil rights of some of our bravest, most heroic men and women. By repealing this policy, we will increase America's strength - both militarily and morally."

Some people might suspect that Gillibrand could have a political motivation. She is an appointed Senator facing a 2010 primary challenge in a liberal state -- with the polls putting her challenger, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, narrowly ahead -- and would have something to gain from taking the point position on this. A spokesman said this is not politically motivated, drawing attention to the fact that Gillibrand had already been on the record for repealing DADT when she was still in the House.

Health Care

Battle Of The Math Nerds: Two Number Crunchers Square Off Over Health Care

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 3:28PM

On Saturday, for about the third time since the health care debate really picked up steam on Capitol Hill, the Congressional Budget Office released an analysis that triggered bad headlines for health care reformers and big head aches for the White House.

According to CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, a proposal widely touted by the White House to give an external panel the authority to reform Medicare and Medicaid would save a mere $2 billion over a 10 year time horizon--less than one percent of the overall cost of the legislation.

"CBO deals new blow to health plan" blared a headline at Politico--conventional wisdom that threatened to provide new momentum to reform opponents on the Hill and within the greater Republican machine.

There are a number of analytical problems with this framing--sort of what you'd expect when cool kids (like, ahem, the Politico team) stop tormenting their favorite dweebs and start trying to understand their science projects. But as if to underscore just how seriously the administration took the political threat, the White House quickly blasted out a response from Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, which called the CBO's work--and by proxy its director--into question.

Read more »

Health Care

Whoops! Insurance Company Emails Reform Group, Urges Them To Oppose Public Option

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 3:25PM

It control's about 50 percent of the state's health insurance market, so it's no real surprise that Anthem sells coverage to the Virginia Organizing Project--a activist group dedicated to, among other things, reforming the health care system.

But it's a bit ironic that Anthem would try to enlist VOP members to call on Congress to oppose a public health insurance option.

We strongly support reform that builds a strong, sustainable private-sector health care system - and strongly oppose creating a government-run health plan. We are urging our elected officials in Washington to take bipartisan action that will accomplish that. We are educating policymakers in Washington and working with our trade associations to encourage Congress to build on the current system and not disrupt the quality, affordable coverage on which our members depend....

As our elected officials debate health care, they need to hear directly from you.

You can imagine how well that went over. On Friday, VOP staged a protest at Anthem's Richmond headquarters, demanding that the company refund any money it spent on lobbying--and its executive director, Joe Szakos was arrested for trespassing. "The Virginia Organizing Project pays more than $300,000 per year in health insurance premiums. I walked into our health insurance company Friday to ask why they recently increased our premiums 14.1 percent and I walked out in handcuffs," Szakos said.

This is an excellent example of the relationship the health insurance industry has with its customers. They do not feel that have to explain or account for anything. Anthem has little competition and they know their customers have few choices. Anthem and other health insurance corporations are spending $1.4 million per day lobbying Congress to make sure that Americans do not have a choice.

You can read the entire Anthem solicitation below the fold. I'll try to get a few more details about the incident and pass them along to you. Whatever happened, though, and whether or not you agree with the tactics, the precipitating events--and the more general fact that insurers spend consumer health care dollars lobbying against efforts to decrease health care costs--bring to light just one of the many perverse aspects of the for-profit health insurance industry.

Read more »

Health Care

New Move-On Ad Hits Republican Anti-Reform Efforts

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 2:55PM

MoveOn is up with a new week-long ad in DC and on national cable hitting Republicans for attempting to kill health care reform for political game.

Perhaps just as interesting, though, is this note from the accompanying press statement.

The ad kicks off a month of field campaigning and advertising in districts and states over the August Congressional recess. MoveOn will air ads in both Republican and Democratic districts while lawmakers are home, reminding them of the urgency of addressing our nation's health care crisis and the political and economic cost of inaction. The ads will be accompanied by a month-long grassroots offensive where MoveOn members will lobby their representatives and Senators and educate their communities about the urgency of passing strong health care reform, including a real public health insurance option.

Who said anything about summer doldrums?

Birth Certificate

House GOP Vice-Chair On Birthers: "I'd Like To See The Documents"

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 1:55PM

Check out this new video from Fire Dog Lake's Mike Stark, in which he asks multiple House Republicans -- including a high-ranking member of the GOP leadership -- whether they believe President Obama is a natural-born citizen.

The most interesting non-answer came from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who happens to be the Vice-Chair of the House Republican Conference -- the fourth-highest position in the leadership -- and also gave the Republican YouTube address this past weekend. "We're all going to find out," said McMorris Rodgers. When asked again, she said: "Oh, I'd like to see the documents."

And by the way, some thanks are due to Reps. Mike Coffman (R-CO), Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) for affirming that they believe Obama is a natural-born citizen, ranging from Coffman's short and simple "Yeah" to Franks' detailed statement that his office researched the matter and concluded that the facts are clear.

We've asked McMorris Rodgers' office for further clarification, and are waiting for them to get back to us.

Health Care

RNC To Spend $1 Million In August To Fight Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 1:00PM

This is just part of the reason reformers wanted the House and Senate to wrap up their work on health care legislation before recess:

The Republican National Committee will spend nearly $1 million on campaign activities over the next month in an effort to cast doubt on President Obama's proposal to reform health care, a GOP official tells CNN.

The Republican campaign will include television commercials already running in Arkansas, Nevada and North Dakota and new radio ads announced Friday that will air in 33 states.

The RNC did not reveal Friday who the radio ads would target, but CNN has learned the 60 second commercials will run against 60 House Democrats.

The prevailing assumption at the RNC seems to be that the House--like the Senate--will adjourn without voting on legislation. But either way, with cheap media markets in these states, senators like Kent Conrad, Harry Reid, and Blanche Lincoln can look forward to a lot of jockeying along these lines.

Via CNN, you can read the entire list of targeted House Democrats below the fold.

Read more »

Torture

Limbaugh Warns Against Torture In Wake Of Obama's Election

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 1:00PM

Check out Rush Limbaugh's latest dire warning about the state of America right now: That the people have been tricked into voting for torture, tyranny and dictatorship, and we can see it slowly encroaching upon us:

"And there are people in this country, who are Americans, and have the same view of totalitarianism that all the worst regimes in the world have had. They just are a minority -- or have been a minority," said Limbaugh. "And they have to be stealth to get anywhere, because who's gonna vote for torture, who's gonna vote for tyranny, who's gonna vote for dictatorship? But we did. We did, and you see it slowly encroaching. And if they could move faster on this, they would."

On the subject of torture, let's take a trip back in time to a little over five years ago, when Limbaugh said this in defense of Abu Ghraib: "I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of need to blow some steam off?"

FL-SEN

Rubio: "It's Curious" How Crist Came To Oppose Sotomayor

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 12:44PM

Former Florida state House Speaker Marco Rubio is having a rough time in his campaign for Senate, in which he's running as an insurgent conservative challenger against moderate Gov. Charlie Crist -- but he's claiming credit for pushing Crist to the right.

Crist recently came out against the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court -- putting himself to the right of retiring GOP Sen. Mel Martinez, the man that Crist and Rubio are aiming to succeed, who supports Sotomayor. Rubio sees this as a sign of Crist reaching out to conservatives.

"A few months ago he appointed a judge to the Florida Supreme Court that is much more liberal than (Sotomayor) is in terms of his views," Rubio said told Bay News 9. "We agree on it, but it's curious how he got there."

Blue Dogs

Blue Dog Compromise Would Impact About Three Million Uninsured

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 12:21PM

Last week, I noted that a number of progressive interest groups were urging House health care leaders to reject a compromise that would limit subsidies to the uninsured in order to push down the cost of reform legislation.

Blue Dogs have objected to the idea of taxing high-income earners to pay for about half the price of the Democrats' health care bill, and have instead proposed eliminating a proposal to partially subsidize the cost of health insurance for uninsured Americans living between 300 and 400 percent of the poverty line.

But how many people is that? According to this paper (PDF) by the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation, the answer is a startling 2.7 million people. Note, these people--now uninsured--would be required under the terms of the legislation to buy insurance on the individual market, which averages over $12,000 a year per family nationwide. That figure would presumably decrease over time as a number of other price-controlling provisions kicked into high gear. But in the meantime, Blue Dogs are talking about forcing a great number of middle class American families to take on a significant expenditure in order to spare families making over $350,000 from suffering a small increase in marginal rates.

Late update: For more on this, check out this piece by Robert Pear in the New York Times

Birth Certificate

Ann Coulter Calls Birthers "Cranks"

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 12:11PM

Memo to Birthers: Even Ann Coulter calls you a bunch of "cranks."

Appearing on Fox News this past Friday, Coulter further blamed the liberal media for using the Birthers to smear the political right, saying that multiple conservative publications looked at this issue last year and concluded that there's nothing there:

"So for CNN or MSNBC, or you Geraldo, the liberal on Fox, to be bringing this out as if it's an issue, you know, it's just a few cranks out there," said Coulter. "It's like when networks bring on the three remaining Klanners in America, on TV."

Hmm... so what does this say about Jim Inhofe?

David Vitter

Louisiana Dems To Vitter: Our Guy's "LuvFests" Are Legal (Unlike Yours)

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 11:30AM

"In contrast to the kind of luvfest David Vitter is used to, this trip was legal, public and no money changed hands'" said Louisiana Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Franck.

"As we all remember, the last time David Vitter made public comments about a 'luvfest' he end up begging for forgiveness. I am anticipating an apology from him for this web ad in the near future."

Franck also said that Melancon himself did not take campaign contributions at the event, which if true would further undercut the whole message of Vitter's Web ad.

Health Care

After A Tumultuous Friday, House Health Care Negotiations Back On Track

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 11:22AM

If you're following the ins and outs of the health care reform fight on Capitol Hill, Friday was brimming with drama, but was also, seemingly, of little particular consequence. One can only speculate about what was said behind closed doors, but in the end, the trajectory of the day's events is best captured by a chronological reading of its headlines, which began blandly enough with the news that health care negotiations would continue behind closed doors between Blue Dogs and Democratic leaders; followed by puzzling news of a complete breakdown in those negotiations; and rounded out, mercifully, with the news that the warring factions had made peace and that the process would pick up again on Monday or Tuesday.

Unless tensions boil over once again (unlikely, but never impossible) things are basically right back where they were on Friday morning. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will finish marking up its health care package this week, and, depending on a number of issues--timing, progress in the Senate--that bill could come to a vote before the House adjourns for recess at week's end.

Whether that happens, or whether a vote waits until September, Speaker Pelosi continues to sound notes of confidence. "When I take this bill to the floor, it will win," Pelosi said over the weekend. "This will happen."

Health Care

Bachmann: The Obama Administration Plans To Turn Us Into Castro's Cuba With Health Care Plan

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 10:46AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has done it again, Think Progress reports. On Friday, Bachmann said the public-option proposal is in fact a plan to turn America into Cuba, by driving the private health insurance industry out of business:

"What the Obama administration will do with health care is make us like Havana in 1959, when Castro came in," said Bachmann. "In other words, no private health insurance company will be able to write another health insurance policy once the government takeover comes into place."

This is not the first time that Bachmann has likened President Obama's America to Castro's Cuba. Back in March, during her infamous call for revolution, she also said: "Do we get into an inner tube and float 90 miles to some free country? There is no free country for us to repair to. That's why it's up to us now."

She's got a point. If America becomes like every other industrialized nation and guarantees universal health care, where will people take refuge when they yearn to breathe free and go bankrupt from crushing medical costs?

Chuck Grassley

Obama to Grassley: I'm Interested In Alternatives To The Public Option

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 10:01AM

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)--ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee--says President Obama's insistence on a public option might actually be a public show.

"It would have been good if he had said to the entire country what he said to me privately, that he would look to alternatives," Grassley said. "We have a very good alternative by going with cooperatives."

Critics are suspicious of the cooperative idea in general, but particularly of the sort Grassley has proposed. And since the committee's chairman Max Baucus seems insistent upon winning Grassley over, he is perhaps the greatest obstacle to the creation of a public health insurance option. Grassley does say, however, that the chances of passing health care reform legislation of some sort by the end of the year remain quite high.

Birth Certificate

Inhofe: The Birthers "Have A Point," And "I Don't Discourage It"

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 9:42AM

You can count Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) as a fellow traveller of the Birther movement, the Politico reports, if he's not in fact a full-fledged Birther himself.

"They have a point," said Inhofe. "I don't discourage it. ... But I'm going to pursue defeating [Obama] on things that I think are very destructive to America."

Oklahoma's other Senator, Tom Coburn, previously said he would support the Birther bill if it made it to the Senate. So while Birtherism may be a fringe conspiracy theory, it does have some high-level support in at least one state in the Union.

Late Update: Inhofe's office has given Greg Sargent this statement, explaining the point that the Birthers have -- putting the blame on the White House for failing to address people's doubts: "The point that they make is the Constitutional mandate that the U.S. President be a natural born citizen, and the White House has not done a very good job of dispelling the concerns of these citizens. My focus is on issues where I can make a difference to stop the liberal agenda being pushed by President Obama."

Blue Dogs

Blue Dog: Climate Change Vote Damaged Health Care Cause

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 9:29AM

This is an interesting argument, coming from Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), health care reform skeptic, and the Blue Dogs' point man on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"I don't know whose decision it was to put cap-and-trade first, but it was a huge mistake," Ross said. "It's a divisive issue. I felt like we had the opportunity to do one thing before the August recess . . . and everybody agrees we need to reform health care."

But Ross voted no on the Waxman-Markey bill, and his arguments about health care reform have not, until now, been chiefly about the number of risky votes he and other conservative Democrats have been asked to take. This argument would make more sense coming from a vulnerable freshman or sophomore who voted for cap-and-trade legislation than from a Blue Dog leader.

John Cornyn

Cornyn's Office Apologizes For India Comments, Says He Misspoke

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 9:08AM

Sen. John Cornyn's office has apologized for his statement last week that America needs the F-22 fighter plane in order to deal with the national security threat from India -- which is an ally of the United States -- saying he misspoke.

"Senator Cornyn misspoke saying 'India' when he meant to say 'China,'" Cornyn's spokesman said in a statement to the Times of India. "As Founder and Co-chairman of the Senate India Caucus, no Senator has greater respect or admiration for India or values our relationship with them more. Sen. Cornyn regrets the mistake and apologizes for any misunderstanding this may have caused."

The YouTube in which Cornyn made the statement has been taken down from his account.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 9:00AM

Palin To Media: Honor Our Troops -- Stop Making Things Up About Me
In her farewell address yesterday, former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) gave this memorable statement about the media -- essentially declaring that her critics don't respect our troops. "Democracy depends on you. That is why our troops are willing to die for you," said Palin. "So how about in honor of the American soldier, ya' quit makin' things up?"

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will attend the U.S./China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, at 9:30 a.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET, he will meet with FIFA President Joseph Blatter. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will welcome the WNBA Champions Detroit Shock to the White House. At 7 p.m. ET, the President and First Lady will host a reception for ambassadors.

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Health Care

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 26, 2009, 1:04PM

Sarah Palin Resigning Governorship Today
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) will officially resign today, at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks. The big question now: What's next for her in politics? "I cannot express enough there is no plan after July 26. There is absolutely no plan," she told the Associated Press. "The decision (to quit) was made in the vacuum of what was best for Alaska, and now I'm accepting all the options, but there is nothing planned."

Axelrod: Obama Saw Gates Discussion "Veering Off In The Wrong Direction"
Appearing on Face The Nation, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod explained President Obama's decision Friday to clarify his comments on the Henry Louis Gates arrest. "I think he understood that the debate was veering off in the wrong direction and as he said, that his words may have contributed to that," said Axelrod, "so he felt a responsibility to step forward and kind of cool the situation down and acknowledge the fact that he had, as he said, calibrated his words poorly and had contributed to that. So that is what he did and I think it has had the desired effect."

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