TPMDC Morning Roundup
Public Option May Be Dropped
The Obama administration appears to be getting closer to dropping the public option as a proposal, shifting to a co-op plan with a better chance of passing. "The president is going to continue to try to persuade everyone of the great value of having a true public plan," an unnamed Democrat close to the White House told the New York Times. "But at the end of the day, I believe he recognizes that there are other, arguably less effective, ways to achieve greater coverage, more choice, better quality and lower cost in our system."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at the VFW National Convention in Phoenix, at 2 p.m. ET. He and the First Lady will depart from Phoenix at 3:20 p.m. ET, and arrive back at the White House at 7:35 p.m. ET.
Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will be in Washington, DC, and will attend the President's Daily Briefing in the morning. At 4 p.m. ET, he will administer the ceremonial swearing-in for Ambassador to South Africa Don Gips.
WaPo: Economists See Further Headwinds Against Recovery
The Washington Post reports that economists remain pessimistic on the degree to which the American economy will recover, due to lingering effects of the credit crisis. "Credit fuels housing. It fuels consumer durable goods. It fuels business investment. It's in every part of the economy," said Carmen M. Reinhart of the University of Maryland. "Credit makes recessions after a financial crisis longer, and all the signs are that [it] is happening this time as well."
Budget Deficit Reaches Record High, But Smaller Than Expected
The Hill reports that the budget deficit is now projected to be $1.6 trillion when the fiscal year ends September 30. This is the single highest deficit ever, due to the stimulus bill and the financial bailouts -- but is in fact less than the $1.8 trillion that had been widely expected.
Energy Bill Work Goes On In Background
Roll Call reports that energy legislation has been pushed to the back burner, with most of the debate and publicity now going to health care reform -- but the work continues apace in committee. "In our hallway, it looks like National Airport with all the comings and goings," said a senior Democratic staffer on the Environment and Public Works Committee said. "We're pretty much at full tilt."
Despite Recession, Wealthy Self-Funding Campaigns Continue
The Hill reports that the recession has not stopped wealthy people in both parties from self-financing their campaigns. So far this cycle, 30 candidates have already spent $100,000 or more of their own money on campaigns for the House or Senate.
DeLay To Appear On Dancing With The Stars
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) will be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars, Jake Tapper reports.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
This is where the House members who signed the pledge not to vote for a bill without the public option MUST stick to their guns. Without their votes no bill can pass the House. I'm sick and tired of the Administration arm-twisting progressives to please Blue Dogs (not to mention Repukes who won't even vote for ANY health bill). It's time to force them to reverse that procedure if they want to pass anything.
Mandating that young voters purchase crappy, overpriced private insurance would be political suicide for the Democratic party (further compounded by cutting Medicare reimbursements to pay for the bill as Baucus and his cronies want to do- pissing off young folks AND old folks, what a great political strategy!).
It's time for Obama to show us once and for all whose side he's really on. I think the right answer is pretty damn obvious if he has any desire to be a two-term President.
August 17, 2009 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
August 17, 2009 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tom Delay spokesman just released a statement that they were misquoated by a FOX reporter. He will be making an appearance in Russia, prancing with the Czars!
August 17, 2009 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wonder if he will be tap dancing, or attempt the MC Hammer shuffle.
August 17, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah that's the change we voted for, Co-Ops invented by two douche bags Baucus and Conrad. Co-ops are an unproven method that will produce no reform. Obama is so dumb and naïve to believe he will garner republican support with Co-ops. They will vote no matter what he does including giving republicans everything they want. I wish Obama would finally cater to the people that brought him to the dance.
August 17, 2009 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
This isn't about Republican votes. It's about getting the votes to pass any bill whatsoever. No matter how much progressives wish it were otherwise, you can't pass a bill without Conrad, Baucus, and Nelson. Perhaps the left should have focused on rallying independent support for the public option instead of reflexively bashing Obama in a misguided, fruitless, and unnecessary effort to "apply pressure from the left."
August 17, 2009 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
We used to have coops, or something very like them. They were called Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and there was a time when they were, and acted like, true not-for-profits. There were also things called mutual insurance companies -- few of them are around any more, although some companies still have "mutual" in their names. For some reason, coops of any kind, not just health care, tend to end up getting taken over and turned into regular businesses. I have never figured out why, as it is the members who vote to do it. I guess the concept is just too "socialist" for us free-thinking Americans.
August 17, 2009 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's fun that the people in this country doing the most to undermine democracy and lower our standard of living are the people shrieking the loudest about how *others* are undermining democracy and lowering our standard of living.
A complicit corporate media, hundreds of millions of terrified, ignorant people, and an upper class that has gotten very, very good at keeping themselves on top. Goddamn, it's hard to be optimistic about my country.
August 17, 2009 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would hope that progressive Democrats would block any bill that does not include a public option.
August 17, 2009 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
for those of us with progressive congress critters it's time to write them a 'no support without a public option' letter. They need to know we will support them if they take a stand against the Blue Cross Dogs etc.
August 17, 2009 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Without a 'Public Option' there will be NO reform! The Insurers will still dictate! They are the problem and will never be part of the solution! Medicare works! This country needs a National health System! All the lies spread about the UK, Canada, Sweden, are just BS! Even if what they say is even close to the truth, and it isn't, it would still be better than what we have! If insurers have ANY say regarding treatments will be a continuation of what we have. Insurers are profit motivated and could care less about patients. People are cash cows to them and not patients in need of care. The less they give the care of their clients the more their CEOs can gorge at the trough to the tune of $10,000,000.00 bonuses and salaries. Is this what ANY democrat voted for in Nov? I don't think so. Get both Emanuels out of the White House and put Howard Dean in his place. And the President should start twisting arms and calling people out. What is going on now is inexcuseable and pitiful.
August 17, 2009 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink