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Hatch Walks Out Of Bipartisan Health Care Talks
In a move that might actually please reformers, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has dropped out of bipartisan health care negotiations in the Senate Finance Committee. Hatch was one of seven members who called themselves the "coalition of the willing," but apparently, he is no longer willing.
"Some of the things they're talking about, I just cannot support. So I don't want to mislead anybody," Hatch said.
The remaining Republicans in the group are Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Charles Grassley (R-IA)--though frankly health care overhaul supporters have long doubted that any compromise that might have won the support of Hatch and Enzi would have constituted an adequate reform bill.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
So who are the other three senators in the coalition?
July 22, 2009 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope they fought over who got to close the door as he got up and walked out!
Baucus, are you gonna meet your deadline or throw us under the bus?
July 22, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why would Hatch even bother to walk out? I thought the whole point of his participation was just to drag the talks with Baucus out so that the GOP could run out the clock and kill the bill.
July 22, 2009 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting. Just a couple days ago Hatch was making kissy face with Chris Dodd on NPR over the issue, showing how nicely he could play with Democrats.
July 22, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106677786
July 22, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now if only Hatch would take a long walk off a short pier, preferably with his kids in tow.
July 22, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great! Now, all we need is for Enzi to walk out to show that Baucus is not giving away the store to these clowns.
July 22, 2009 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bi-par-ti-san (adjective): giving Republicans everything they want on a bill in exchange for a vote of "no." See also overrated and pointless.
July 22, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bi-par-ti-san (adjective): Ignoring an overwhelming national vote for change and demanding the status quo of the 1980's.
July 23, 2009 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goodbye, Senator.
Don't let the door hit .... etc.
July 22, 2009 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now watch him complain about Republicans being shut out of the process.
July 22, 2009 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I find his candor refreshingly honest.
It's too bad he didn't take Enzi with him, though.
July 22, 2009 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if this means Enzi, Snowe and/or Sen. Crankytwitter are weakening and Hatch wanted to get away before he got splashed with the taint of all that horrible, horrible reasonableness.
July 22, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buh-bye.
Good riddance.
July 22, 2009 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
That sounds reasonable after Hatch appeared on MSNBC yesterday and basically said that there is zero hope for any Americans to believe that government could run health-care effeciently. Hatch = No Hope. Hatch = No Government.
I mean if you listened to the interview one might find themselves asking Sen Hatch if there is anything that the US government has done well, and if not then why does he choose to be/believe in government?
July 22, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
More to the point why does he stay in government and let us pay his salary, his staff, his health care, his franking privileges, his subsidized lunches, his generous retirement package, his junkets to other countries at our expense,
oh, wait - just answered my own question.
July 22, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another "eat-shit-and-die" Republican.
July 22, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
58 votes to let people carry guns concealed, all over the country, but protecting and assuring childrens health?, nothing.
what a horror these corrupt hacks are.
July 22, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did anyone ever think that Orin Hatch was going to vote for any healthcare reform bill this year?
He might compose a song about it. . .
July 22, 2009 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
another Republican quitter. Must be catching on. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
July 22, 2009 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only ONE person has what it takes to truly lead this group, and as soon as she can shake the gig she's got in Alaska, she'll ride in to save the day.
July 22, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!! Well on second thought she could finance it with her loot she raised to defend herself against all those ethics charges.
July 23, 2009 1:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can't blame the guy he has been given millions from the murder for profit health care industry.
July 22, 2009 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good riddens!
July 22, 2009 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.
July 23, 2009 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Orin is taking his toys and going home because he isn't getting his way. So much for bi-partianship when your Party is not in power. Very childish.
July 23, 2009 12:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, Oren has surprised me recently for seeming much more interest in being constructive with democrats than obstructionists. He certainly as the stature to vote independently while flipping the bird to Boner and McConnell if he so wishes.
He is a fixture of the GOP ultra fortified stronghold of Utah, so he could show some gonads like Jon Huntsman and agree to vote with Democrats on issues that he agrees with and are important to him.
Problem is, I'm not quite sure if there's all that much 'common ground' with his belief system and that of democrats.
July 23, 2009 7:35 AM | Reply | Permalink