Concerned With Baucus, House Blue Dogs, Obama To Turn Up Heat On Health Care--Again
It should come as no surprise, after last week's ramp-up, and with August fast approaching, but President Obama will ratchet up his campaign this week to get the House and Senate to pass health care bill before their summer recesses. The White House is promising the President will take the lead on an aggressive public and private push, culminating in a prime time news conference this Wednesday.
High on their list of focal points will be Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) on the waylaid Senate Finance Committee and House Blue Dogs, who are threatening to derail the bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee, where their numbers are impressive.
Baucus has been negotiating with committee Republicans for over a month in search of an elusive, and possibly illusory, bipartisan compromise--which was Obama's preferred game plan when the process began. But that was before Republicans signaled near universal opposition to key measures like the public insurance option, and talks dragged weeks and weeks beyond when they were supposed to end successfully.
Meanwhile, in the House, Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee, led by Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), are running a blitz of their own, riled, they say, by the fact that leadership didn't include them in negotiations when drafting the bill. Fortunately, for Democrats, Energy and Commerce is led by Henry Waxman, a seasoned legislator who lifted complex climate change legislation over similar hurdles just last month. That process, though, resulted in a number of major concessions, and some health reformers are worried that Blue Dogs will be able to extract yet more flesh out of this legislation.
Compounding their threats are the concerns of vulnerable Democratic freshmen, who worry about casting yet another controversial vote before election season heats up in the fall.
That's a ton of moving parts. All told, and assuming that the House and Senate don't push back their scheduled adjournment dates, we will likely know this week whether Obama and Democratic leaders will accomplish their near term--and perhaps most crucial--goal of passing bills in both chambers by August recess.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
These Dem. Cong. Reps and Senators need a reminder of the platforms they ran on and the fact they are going to be primaried if they back away. Time to kick some serious ass.
July 20, 2009 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Baucus' image is being damaged by his performance on this issue as finance chair.
He seems like a tentative wimp who is overly concerned about kissing republican ass. The republicans have made it clear they don't want a deal yet he keeps pleading and bending over backwards for them.
Total loser. No wonder his wife filed for divorce.
July 20, 2009 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
You've just summarized his entire career in the U.S. Senate. His performance on health care is nothing new -- it's consistent with everything he's ever done.
July 20, 2009 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
{Groan} I guess that explains he has sooooo many accomplishments to show for his 31 years in the Senate. NOT!!
Total loser.
July 20, 2009 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
So here's what I read from that piece:
1. Turning up the heat on the blue dogs is working.
2. "Not being consulted" is code for WAAAAA!!!!
3. Max Baucus is toast next time around.
4. Congressinal freshmen need a reminder that they are there to support the people's wants and needs OR they can join Max on line at unemployment.
5. President Obama is smarter than about 90% of us and is begining to flex some muscle. I say, "bout time!"
6. IMJ, it's great to see a real politician at work. Most of the congress and house have been riding a wave of laziness by the American people who have begun to wake after 8 years of total mismanagement, and self-serving politics.
July 20, 2009 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well said.
July 20, 2009 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is no possible compromise with Republicans on healthcare that involves a robust public option.
The only one I have even seem mention it is Snowe, who favors a trigger after the healthcare system totally implodes.
Even then, I doubt any Republicans will vote for it.
They should just concentrate on nailing down the 60 Dems in the Senate. Private and public pressure.
July 20, 2009 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
No need to make my own comment since you've expressed everything I feel. Thank you.
July 20, 2009 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
"The only one I have even seem mention it is Snowe, who favors a trigger after the healthcare system totally implodes."
You mean it hasn't already imploded?
July 20, 2009 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why do these vulnerable freshmen Dems think that by acting weak it will save their seats? Here’s an idea come out strong and frame the debate and say republicans are against providing Americans with quality healthcare. By running scared of a 30 second attack ad two years from now you forfeit any intention of passing healthcare because you side with the republican who offer nothing
July 20, 2009 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you think if the Republicans had a super majority of 60 votes in the senate and controlled the house they would be including the democrats in anything. We know the answer they WONT
July 20, 2009 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
The only pivot point that counts now is cost
Jonathan Cohn reviews the bidding. Jonathan Chait's R Dems Incapable of Governing" linked at end of article. Worth re-reading.
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_treatment/archive/2009/07/19/do-the-democrats-have-what-it-takes-we-ll-find-out-soon.aspx
We're at one of those nerve-wracking Obama moments, the dark before the dawn
Can we do it again?
July 20, 2009 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have more or less taken it for granted that Republican's naked strategy of destroying Obama by torpedoing health care reform, a replay of 1993-94, would work against them because it would motivate the "centrist" dems the other way
Steve Benen isn't so sure
July 20, 2009 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
1. Anyone who hasn't figured that effectively ALL Republicans will oppose anything major that the President does or wants done is an idiot.
2. 60 Republicans is more than 60 Democrats. Republicans all tow the party line, and they have ONE agenda, which is the corporate agenda. Democrats in-fight, and they have 2 or 3 agendas, which are a liberal agenda, a moderate agenda, and the corporate agenda.
July 20, 2009 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink