Harkin: 60 Democrats May Not Be Enough For Health Care; Reconciliation A Distinct Possibility
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), who sits on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, is at odds with some of his liberal colleagues. Unlike Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Harkin thinks it may be hard to keep the 60 members of the Democratic caucus united against Republican filibusters--and that means the party may pass health care reform through the budget reconciliation process.
"I think Democrats being Democrats -- like Will Rogers once said, 'I'm a member of no organized political party: I'm a Democrat' -- I think that holds true today," Harkin told the Iowa Gazette.
Under those circumstances--and with Republicans largely united against all of President Obama's agenda items--how will Democrats possibly pass a major initiative like health care reform? In a budget reconciliation bill, it seems, which can't be filibustered. Harkin called that a "distinct possibility."
Democrats in both chambers are hoping to pass a health care bill through regular order by the beginning of August, and have it ready for the president to sign by October, ahead of the budget reconciliation bill--but time is running out.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Look look, we won't need reconciliation. Why? Because ANY Democrat that joined a Repub filibuster would be demolished, absolutely demolished by us with ads, letters, it would be like running a campaign against a Repub.
July 13, 2009 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe LieberSchmuck wouldn't care.
July 13, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're right. I simply can't see any Democrat joining republicans to filibuster healthcare, the administration and congress's #1 priority.
Some think the continued lagging economy will make Demcorats turn from healthcare. I disagree. If the economy is in the toilet, Democrats will desperately need something to run on in 2010. Healthcare is all they'll have.
If they go home and say "OK, we had 60 votes but we didn't do anything on the economy and we couldn't deliver healthcare but vote for us again" they'll be laughed out of town. And they should be.
July 13, 2009 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't underestimate the depravity of Nelson and Bayh. They're perfectly capable of voting against cloture. And the leadership really has no effective tools for whipping them into line, even with Reid suddenly discovering that maybe he actually would like to do that.
Even Baucus voting against cloture wouldn't shock me. He's a well-paid tool of the health insurance industry.
July 13, 2009 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. That's what did it in 1994. And if the economy is still in the tank job-wise -- a distinct possibility -- the Blue Dogs could end up making a whole lotta Dems *really* blue.
July 13, 2009 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
If anything, it is intensifying the sense of urgency to get it done now. More unemployed/underemployed people means more uninsured people. You're even seeing more pro-reform ads than anti-reform ads on television. People want this so badly they're drowning out the people who don't want it.
July 13, 2009 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any "Democrat" willing to filibuster health care better be ready to switch parties, because I will be calling the DNC to inform them that I will not donate a single cent until there is a guarantee that it won't end up in said traitor's pocket.
July 13, 2009 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Voters don't care how health care is passed--just pass it--along with other much-needed legislation.
Only in WDC does anyone care HOW the legislation is passed. (Although I do think that when a representative or senator votes "no" on a bill, then any "earmarks" or beneficial money for that individual's state or district needs to be eliminated from the legislation. That would stop a lot of shenanigans of voting against legislation yet still benefiting from the passage of the bill.)
July 13, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
At times it seems that Democrats are actively trying to lose their majority.
They'd have a ready-made excuse for not getting anything accomplished, after they lose.
July 13, 2009 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm.... Looks like Eric must be rounding up a bit of vacation.
July 13, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
If the economy is still in the tank in Fall 2010, than nothing will help the Democrats--not even health care. People are getting weary, this recession has been going on much longer than Bush finally admitted, probably since September 2007.
July 13, 2009 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink