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Conrad Opposes Robust Public Option--But What About Schumer's?
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In an interesting statement ahead of a public option vote earlier today, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) said he opposes a Medicare-like public option on the grounds that North Dakota providers get low Medicare reimbursement rates.
That's a parochial concern and one that would be easy to fix in theory. In practice he voted against the Rockefeller amendment. But here comes the Schumer amendment, which would not be tied to Medicare at all. That completely undercuts his objection. So let's see how he votes.
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Walter Mitty
September 29, 2009 3:18 PM
The vote will be 8-15, just like the Rockefeller vote.
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tosh
September 29, 2009 3:32 PM
Nah. They will get Nelson from FL.
Other than that... who knows. Conrad's state position against the PO has always been that "it doesn't have the votes". He's never given another rational that flies.
I *do* think that if Carper and Nelson voted for the Schumer plan that it would then be 50/50 that Conrad would vote for it. He'd have to give up his lovefest with the Co-Ops handout to Big Health.
Blanche isn't going to vote for it, having been completely bought off.
If Conrad and Carper did and it came 11-11 to Baucus, he would vote for it.
Instead, it's likely to be 9-14 unless Carper surprises us. Again... I just don't get Carper.
John
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Gator_fan
September 29, 2009 3:46 PM in reply to tosh
Baucus just said he won't vote for the PO at all b/c it won't get us to 60 - which means he must have cut a deal w/Snowe to keep it out of the Finance committee bill.
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Gator_fan
September 29, 2009 3:34 PM
Snowe, Carper, and Lincoln's silence on this speaks volumes.
They don't have a coherent argument against the PO and are in blue states that favor the public option. Today, however, is making me feel that coupled with the costs issue will lead us to a public option.
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mostman
September 29, 2009 3:47 PM
What a piece of work Baucus is. A grade A mealy mouthed spineless scumbag.
"Err..umm...this won't get 60 votes....errr...umm....I can't vote for it."
Screw you pal. 50 votes is all we need. 60 is for cloture. You won't vote with your own party for cloture? Hiding behind the cover of "we can't get 60" makes you weak. Scumbag.
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Gator_fan
September 29, 2009 3:51 PM
Lincoln couldn't even come and vote NO in person.
God. Conrad-Baucus are determined to keep a public option out of the finance bill.
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mostman
September 29, 2009 3:54 PM
That was actually closer than I thought. I'm now becoming more and more convinced that the final bill will have a PO in it.
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mcc
September 29, 2009 4:02 PM in reply to mostman
Chances are good. If they can get the public option past conference then it seems not that difficult to imagine the democrats finding a way to strongarm Conrad + Arkansas into voting for cloture.
Sure would have been easier to get the public option through conference unscathed if some version of it were in the Finance bill, though...
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